The Liebster Award

Last week, I mentioned that the extremely well-named Lovely and Grateful (with the emphasis on the lovely!) had nominated me for a Liebster Award. Liebe is the German word for love, and this award is an opportunity for bloggers such as myself to share thelove and spread the word about other bloggers that we follow, in the hope that you lovely readers will enjoy them as much as we do. The result is that, as bloggers, we get more readers and, as readers, you discover new blogs to follow.

As a nominee my mission, should I choose to accept it, is to answer a few questions about myself then pass on the challenge by nominating other bloggers. So, here goes with my answers to Lovely and Grateful’s questions:

What advice would you give to other bloggers?

My advice to new and aspiring bloggers is to echo what I was told when I was agonising over whether to start my own blog – just do it! Don’t worry too much about your writing or what you have to say, all that will come with time as you discover your own voice. The best way to learn is to be brave and put yourself out there. And don’t be afraid to make contact with other bloggers along the way. I can honestly say I have only ever “met” really positive, inspiring, friendly people and some of them I feel a connection with that I truly believe would make us friends in the real world too. I hope you know who you are!

 

Other than blogging, what are your hobbies?

As a librarian, I have always read a lot and I also love to sew (which has inspired my ongoing career change into a soft furnishings maker). I have recently learned to crochet too and it is my new obsession. I am told my wool stash will only get bigger as time goes by, so I am always on the lookout for new storage solutions. And I am very excited about my first trip to Yarndale next month – I’m sure you will hear all about it after I get back.

 

Do you have any pets?

As regular readers of the blog will know, we have two grey and white rescue cats, known as the Calamity Cat and the Princess, who are the real stars of my blog, as they supervise our attempts to manage a (for us) fairly large garden in beautiful North Yorkshire. If you are new to New Simple Life, then welcome – I hope you will explore and get to know our little family 🙂

 

Tea or coffee?

Both. I take my coffee black and strong and my tea (it has to be Earl Grey) also black but very, very weak.

 

What’s your favourite book and why?

Ooh now that is a hard question to ask a librarian! Probably Pride and Prejudice, thanks to a fabulous English teacher at school who gave me a lifelong love of Jane Austen. Although I also love Wuthering Heights (I have a poster on my living room wall which contains the whole text). And I’m a sucker for modern romances where the woman sets up her own small business somewhere beautiful, where there just happens to be a tall dark grumpy hero waiting to sweep her off her feet. Anything by Trisha Ashley for example.

 

Where in the world would you most like to visit?

I have wanted to go to Pompeii ever since I was 11 and started Latin at school. One day I will get there …

 

What’s your favourite quote or personal mantra?

At the moment, as I try to live life more mindfully, my mantra is to accept what is, look for the positives and to remember to breathe. However, I have always loved a quote that a friend sent to me when I upped and moved to Aberdeen all alone a few years ago – “Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone”. It certainly did for me. the move brought me D, the cats and a whole new life.

 

Have you ever won any awards or trophies offline?

A Modern Languages prize at school (I bought an Italian dictionary with the voucher) and last year, I took 3^rd prize in our Village Show in the Needlecraft section.

 

What’s your favourite weather?

A sunny spring day, warm but not too hot, with a nice breeze.

 

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Neither really. I hate getting up in the morning but, if I manage it, I do my best work then. I’m definitely not a night owl – I am usually ready for bed just after 10.

 

 

So, now on to my own nominations. For information for those nominated, the rules are:

• Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog
• Answer the questions your nominator asked you
• Nominate 5-11 other blogs (and don’t forget to let them know)
• Ask your nominations up to 11 questions or facts about themselves.

I would like to nominate:

• Kettle Acres for the wry sense of humour and all the gardening advice
• Nina the Writer, who has supported me all the way and who really knows her stuff
• HomeduJour, who works incredibly hard to create a stylish and beautiful home
• Madbirdtextiles, who took the time to respond when I asked for advice and who is a talented artist as well as a blogger
• Herbalblessingsblog for more gardening advice, this time from the USA
• Exploring Yorkshire, who blogs great suggestions for places to go to explore my adoptive county of North Yorkshire

There is absolutely no obligation to accept and I really hope that everyone who reads this will check out their blogs anyway, follow them and enjoy them as much as I do. However, for those who would like to take part, here are my questions:

1. What led you into blogging?
2. Which is best, the book or the film?
3. How would you spend a perfect weekend?
4. Tell us one thing about yourself that not many people know
5. If you had to sum yourself up in 3 words, what would they be?
6. Pint, cocktail or Pimms?
7. If you have a pet, what is the thing you love about them most?
8. What is the most challenging thing about blogging?
9. And the most rewarding?

Thanks again to Lovely and Grateful for the nomination – I am truly touched that you enjoy my blog enough to think of me for this award.

Next week, I promise we will be back to seeing what the garden has been doing this summer. It’s been a while …