Thank you and a bit about blogging

In the last couple of days I've been given two blog awards.  I would like to thank Cheryl at  Time to Craft
for the Versatile Blogger award and Terrie at Creative Haven
for the Beautiful Blogger award.  I appreciate my blog being thought worthy enough to receive these awards but to be quite honest, I don't really know what to do now.  You see I blog for a number of reasons, none of which include being given awards.  As I'm still fairly new to the blogging world, I'm not sure of blogging protocol when it comes to awards.

I'm not really sure how to go about expressing myself here, so bear with me if you will as I struggle to tell you what's on my mind.  Let me first say how much I appreciate Cheryl and Terrie passing the awards my way.  I'm surprised and delighted.  Bearing that in mind, I'm hesitant to keep the ball rolling and pass on the awards, not because I can't find anyone worthy of such awards, it's more like how can I not pass awards on to everyone I follow and it's many.  Far more than on my blog roll, I haven't updated it recently.  I just can't show favouritism, because everyone I read, I read for a purpose.  Either their blog is beautiful, interesting, creative, gorgeous, helpful, inspiring, makes me think, enlightens me, encourages me, broadens my outlook, uplifts me, helps me to love the people in the world even more, gives me friendship and companionship, and so much, much more.  Some blogs give me all that and then some more, but I can't show any favouritism because they all make a positive impact on me in different ways and for that I THANK EVERYONE OF YOU!!!

So I'm wondering if I might graciously thank Cheryl and Terrie for their appreciation of my blog and leave it at that.  I would also like to share one very important reason why I blog and love reading all yours.  I suffer depression and anxiety.  If you've read my other blog 'Standing Up While Falling Down', you will already know all about this not so wonderful part of my life and I don't want to go into that on this blog.  However I would like to say that blogging has helped me get through some very nasty times I've had this past winter.  I started blogging in July after first reading about Lucy
over at Attic 24.  Her blog was/is inspirational, a bright, beautiful, colourful light in a very dark hole in which I sometimes live.  I found Lucy through Kathreen at  http://whipup.net 
who had a link to one Lucy's fantastic crochet projects.  So that is where blogging all started for me.  And it helps me on so many levels, too many to list here today.  I started my own blog because I thought I might have something to offer, something to share with all the beautiful people out in blog land who very generously share their ideas, creativity, love, humour, life and even sad times with us all.

At the risk of boring you too much more with my words, thank you to each and everyone of you who read my blog, to my followers, I'm amazed and very happy you do.  :-)  I hope my thoughts on this subject make sense and I certainly hope I've offended no one, I just don't want to be seen as unappreciative.

Have a fantastic day everyone,

Anne xx

Twenty three years

Today hubby and I celebrate 23 years of marriage.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  Every time I look at my man I know exactly why I married him.  He is kind, compassionate, understanding, loving, caring and patient.   Oh so patient.  He's the world's best handyman as shown in yesterday's post.  In fact I've got two or three more posts in the pipeline featuring his skills.

He is tall, handsome, has the most gorgeous blue eyes that twinkle at me (his special look for me), sigh.  He plays the piano, the drums and the recorder on the odd occasion.  He loves classical music and late 60's early 70's rock with a bit of Roxy Music thrown in.

He eats my cooking, phew, doesn't mind if the house is a bit messy and tolerates my different obsessions ranging from magazine hoarding to never ending craft supply accumulations.  He has supported me through two bouts of severe post natal depression and continues to love me despite my continuing struggle with depression.

This remarkable man once owned a sewing machine and altered a pair of his work trousers to make them more fashionable.  He also made me a dress when we were dating (a challenge from me) and cooked a three course meal to impress me, (it was yummy and I was impressed).  He cooks for our family on Saturday nights and makes the best home made pizza, tacos and savoury crepes I've ever tasted.

Thanks to his hard work, we live in a beautiful home with a yard that allows me to indulge my passion for gardening.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DARLING!!  I love you.  xxxx

The Nutcracker ballet

This past Saturday evening our family, hubbie, Miss C., Miss G., and moi together with two of Miss G.'s friends and a nephew were privileged to see The Nutcracker ballet.  This particular production was choreographed by Peter Wright and all I can say is WOW!

We had seats that gave us a spectacular view of not only the stage but also the orchestra which was a real treat for the instrument playing members of our party, (violin, cello, flute, piano and drums).  The experience of attending a live ballet performance was new to everyone except me and I'm delighted to say that they were all totally enthralled.  It was so nice to introduce such a beautiful ballet production to young people from aged 16 - 20 and for them enjoy the experience.

The photo below is of the snowflakes dancing scene.  These costumes were beautiful, the tulle floated, drifted and whispered as the dancers moved.

The costumes and set were unbelievably beautiful and the music, words cannot express how beautiful it was with the orchestra playing to perfection.

More snowflakes.

The opening scene, the Christmas party.

Above, flowers dancing.   Ohhhh, the costumes!

One of my favourite scenes was the Arabian dance, unfortunately I can't find and image to show you.  That particular piece of music is so serene, peaceful, still, ethereal, an absolute joy and I was reduced to tears of wonder at the beauty of the combination a dance and music.  The grace of the dancers, the skill and strength was amazing.  They made every move seem effortless, yet  you could see and hear the strength and control needed to execute their every move.

  I am so grateful for the opportunity to have enjoyed such an amazing experience.   Words are not enough.