OVERDUE

Way back in October, Sam at My Carolina Kitchen nominated me for an award. Between trips and family stuff I haven’t yet been able to accept it. Today’s the day!

I’ve seen this badge on several blogs and always secretly envied those who had received it--now I have one! (Don’t hate me ‘cause I’m beautiful, ok?) Thanks, Sam, I’m touched and honored to receive this award, even if this post is long overdue.

Besides the cool badge there are, of course, some rules:

1. Post the award on your blog. Present this award to seven others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.
2. Tell those seven people they’ve been awarded HONEST SCRAP, inform them of these guidelines, and ask that they link back to you.
3. Share “Ten Honest Things” about yourself.

When I received this award, I was in Japan. I started a list of things you probably wouldn’t already know about me, and ended up with a nice loo-ong one. Can I find it now? Of course not. So I made a new one:

1. I prefer baths to showers. If there’s a tub, I immerse myself. I think I came by this honestly, as my Dad did the same thing for as long as I can remember.
2. My favorite meals consist of small dishes of intensely flavored food. The food in Japan was exactly what I love most.
3. The most exotic places I’ve been are Japan and Ukraine. (So far...)
4. I bite my fingernails. I know, I know, but I’ve always done it and I don’t seem to be able to stop. (This is an HONEST award, after all!)
5. I sleep on my side. Dan says I snore sometimes, but HE doesn’t have an HONEST award, does he? That’s all I’m saying about that.
6. I’ve just discovered the music of Jacques Brel. They don’t make them like that anymore. Just a man and a microphone, that’s all. No fireworks, no special effects, no backup singers. Just him and me. And his hands.
7. I LOVE spicy food. This is probably due to early culinary experiences with my Dad’s barbecue sauce. If you’re good, one day I’ll share the recipe with you.
8. I love to eat with chopsticks. I’m pretty good at it too! I have about a bazillion pairs.
9. Lemesee, lemesee... Two years ago I traded my PC for an iMac. My life has been easier all round since then. I can’t imagine ever going back.
10. My favorite season is autumn. I love the cool air and seeing the trees deck themselves out in colors and the wonderful smell of it. A couple of years ago I walked outside one day and there was a gorgeous smell in the air. I couldn’t figure it out--was there a new bakery somewhere? Was there a tree blooming? What WAS it? AHA! I finally realized that it was fall. My favorite season. I was born in the fall.

That’s it, at least until I find that list. I’ve thought a lot about who to pass this on to, and I’ve chosen seven blogs that I love to read, which inspire me for one reason or another, and to whom I haven’t given an award already. Give them a visit; I think you'll enjoy them:

The Hungry Dog

The Gypsy Chef

Serendipity (another one!)

Once in a Blue Moon

Night Owl Chef

Moveable Feasts

Jillicious Discoveries

Thanks for reading this far, if you have. If you haven’t, then please don't tell me. Ignorance is bliss, after all.