Rewarded

Ok, that was a stretch, but award doesn't start with R, so I fudged a wee little bit.

One of my favourite writers - and the author of three of my favourite blogs - Nancy, has nominated The Lighthouse for a Liebster Award. I was stunned but excited (extunned? stunited?) to see my name in her list of nominees, but rather than go all Sally Field about it, I'll do as my mother taught me, and say Thank you very much, Nancy!  It means a lot, coming from you, so I am honoured to accept.

Thankfully, instead of a skill-testing question involving numbers requiring more fingers and toes in my possession, in order to receive the award, I must use words to answer 11 questions devised by Nancy. I will then nominate my own Liebster Awardees, and bestow 11 questions of my own upon them.

Here we go:

1.    What is your favorite Bible verse, or book of the Bible?

Isaiah 61 (The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me...).  Favourite books are Isaiah.  And Jeremiah.  And Habakkuk. The prophetic, poetic books.

2.   If you could re-live one year of your life, what year would that be?

There was a year in my mid 20s that seemed absolutely perfect. I knew it at the time, was aware of it as I lived it so I have no regrets about missed moments or anything like that. It was a golden time, and it was good.

3.   If you could live in any period of time besides this one, when would it be?

I love this question!  It’s also a difficult question to give one answer for.  I’m drawn to the late 17- to early 1900’s (A happy blend of yore and plumbing). I’d also like to be in Vienna during the time of philosophical and musical flourishing – or Oxford during the Oxford movement or later for the Inklings.

4.   What is your favorite colour?

Tiffany blue.  Or that exact shade of orange.  Or green.

5.   What's your favorite song or piece of music?

My favourite song is What is this love by Blue Rodeo and Sarah McLachlan. And Brothers in arms by Dire Straits.  Also The Love you save by The Trews (an excellent Canadian band – check them out!) My favourite piece of music is the Adagio in G minor by Albinoni. (Disclaimer, these answers suppose that unwritten in the question was “Aside from Depeche Mode...”)

6.   What are your three favorite books?

Ack!  The others will feel snubbed when I don’t mention them!  But ok, I’ll give it a try:  Jane Eyre, Brideshead Revisited, Anne of Green Gables.  Unless it’s Persuasion, Fr. Elijah, The Little Princess.  And some days it’s The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society, Outlander, and Abandonment to divine providence…

7.   What was your best and/or favorite subject in grade (primary) school? 

Language Arts was my best, and social studies was my favourite.

8.   Favorite subject in high school? (for Australians, that's ages 14 to 18 or thereabouts - I don't think you call it high school there?).

The same two, only in high school we called them English and History.

9.   If you could return to or go to University today, what would your major be?

For my own interest, I’d major in history. I’d like to study the cultural life of different time periods in Europe. If I went in order to change field of work, I’d like to study disaster management.

10. Make up a question you'd like someone to ask you.  Then ask you.  And remember to answer you.

Question: Is it true you know everything?

Answer: No. I only like to pretend I do.

11. Tell us one random thing about yourself.

I was born without wisdom teeth.  That explains a lot.

 

I don’t read many blogs – not regularly, anyway.  The ones I do keep tabs on, quite naturally enough, I believe are terrific, and am more than happy to nominate them for a Liebster Award.

KR Smith (A straight-up writing blog, featuring the work of KR himself.  I admire how polished, inspired, and witty his writing is – even the somewhat dark and twisty bits.)

Out of her tree (Carly writes about her family, the quirks and foibles of life, customer service, and education. She also shows off her creative side with photos of the stunning cakes she has made, her beautiful photography, and the occasional craft project. While I read her as a friend, I find the voice of the writer is so truly ‘her’ that I feel as though I’m listening to her tell me the stories in person.)

Peter’s Barque (An unstintingly honest and heartfelt blog about Catholicism and the life of a Catholic. Coming to The Barque is always a thought-provoking visit. I appreciate the conviction and thoroughness he brings to the topics he writes about, and the fact that he writes, as he has called himself, as an Ordinary Catholic, not an academic or specialist.)

 

With these three I am far short of the desired 11 nominations but I offer them with all due enthusiasm and appreciation for their fine contributions to the blogosphere.

Here are my questions for them (and you, if you like) to answer:

1.What is the clearest memory of your childhood?

2. If you could be teleported anywhere in the world, where would you go?

3.What is your favourite Christmas tradition?

4.At the end of a long day, what is your go-to meal for supper?  (Share the recipe!)

5.You’ve won the lottery!  After gifts to family, friends, and charities, what would you do for yourself?

6.Why do you write? And, if you care to share (and have the time) why do you blog?

7.Do you have a favourite word? Is there a word you overuse?

8.Whose writing do you most admire?

 

9. What skill or superpower would you most like to have - that you do not already possess.

 

10. Someone else is doing the cooking and cleanup. Invite one living and one dead (This is imaginary, so both will accept, and neither will be dead when they arrive at your door) person to dinner.

 

11.Is there a book you reread over and over again and it's always as good as the first time?

 

There you go!  If you accept the award, let me know, make your own nominees (if you'd like to) and 'Liebster it forward'.