With Humble Thanks

I woke up this morning to an award and a feature ~ so
much better than waking up to more snow, don't you think?

  What an honor and I don't know what to say

except "Wow!" and "Thank you!" and I

am truly humbled by your gracious kindness.

~

First of all I want to say "Thank you" to Mary at

Boogieboard Cottage for featuring me at last weeks

Masterpiece Monday.

I love all things beachy as you can tell by my office decor,

and I absolutely never tire of looking at anythingwith a water, beach or nautical theme.~Next up is a big "thank you" toLisa at Sall's Country Lifefor awarding me the "Stylish Blogger Award".

What an honor for which I am truly humbled.  Style isn't exactly

my middle name, but something I continually strive for.Be sure to visit Lisa and see her stylish country life and blog.Be sure to check out her photos and the beautiful workshe does with Photoshop.~And now it's my turn to pass on this award and this is how it works: 

1.  Thank and link back to the person/persons who awarded you.   Thanks Lisa!

2. Tell seven things about yourself.

3.  Award fifteen recently discovered bloggers with the award.
4.  Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award.

 So here goes ~ seven things about myself you never knew before: 1.  I love gardening with a passion and spend most of myfree time outdoors tending to my beloved gardens.2.  My daughter, Katie, is my best friend and it's been justher and I since she was 6 months old.  Although she livesin town on campus, she has accepted a summer internshipat a Marriott Hotel in Hilton Head, SC and I will soon be anempty nester.  Not sure how I'm going to handle that.3.  I am from a large family of eight children, with twoboys and six girls.  Thank goodness I will have my sisters and parents here to help me deal with myempty nest issues.4.  I was raised in a Christian home, where God and faithare always first.  I am a Christian work in progress withthe emphasis on "in progress".  Thank God for hisabundant grace which never ends.5.  Ever since living in Maryland 21 years ago,  I'vealways wanted to live near the water again ~hopefully when I retired.  I just may get that chanceif my daughter stays at Hilton Head.6.  I've always wanted to be a "Southerner".  I may havebeen born and raised in the North, but I surely don'twant to die here :)7.  Many years ago, I had a story published about achickadee that would eat out of my hand inFocus on The Family's magazine "Single Parent Family".
Next up ~ 15 stylish recently discovered blogs:

Maggie at Normandy Life

 Shirley at Shirley's World Laurie at Heaven's Walk Sarah at Cozy.Cottage.Cute.   Summerland Cottage Studio  Dining Delight  Susan at Ash Tree Cottage Holly at 2911 Jeremiah Avenue  Four All Seasons  d Reyne's  Sharon at Elizabeth & Co.  Linda at French Hen Farm  Connie at Hartwood Roses  Rebecca at A RE-purposed Life  Sharon at The Sweetest of Days ~And last, but not least, I wanted to thank Brenda Kulaat Cozy Little House for featuring meseveral months ago on "Welcome Wagon".I thanked her personally, but being a new blogger and notfully aware of blogger etiquette, I never thanked herpublicly.  So thanks again Brenda for your kindness and thewarm welcome you show to all of us new bloggers.