Woot! I got an Award!

Dawn Marie at Big Girl Panties, one of the readers of my blog during the A to Z Blogging challenge, has nominated me for a Liebster Award.  Check it out!

Such pretty bling, and the first for this blog!  The reason for the award is because she thinks this is such a great blog. **Ahem.** I won't tell her if you don't...

For me to actually EARN this award I have to do a few things.  First I have to share 11 fun facts about me. Then I have to answer 11 questions from the giver of this prestigious award, then I need to nominate 11 other bloggers to receive the award and ask 11 questions of them!  Whew!  According to my limited math skills, that means 44 steps to be able to post that little vase of flowers on my sidebar!  I love flowers, and I need some more decor at Zoe Cottage, so here goes:

1. I love the color green. 
2. My purse is a green Fossil. 
3. I was once stopped by security at the court house because Fossil purses have a little metal key as a decorative piece and they thought I had a hand-cuff key in my purse.
4. I laughed at the security guard... he was not impressed.  Then he showed me the x-ray photo of the key. My face was red when I pulled out the key to show him.  Oops.
5. I tend to laugh at the wrong moment because spontaneous laughter seems to happen to me!
6. I blab and yammer when I am nervous, saying things I would NEVER say any other time.
7. Ornery says I am not as bad as I used to be, and I think if I hadn't improved he would have fitted me for a muzzle...
8. My first "real" date with Ornery (other than to the cafeteria at school) was a double date to see Star Wars--the original movie--when it first came out.  
9. Ornery watched the movie, I watched him. :)
10. I adore purple petunias.  I have been known to inhale whole petals while sniffing them. 
11. I did this last week at Lowe's because I LOVE the scent of purple petunias!

Okay, now to answer Dawn Marie's questions:

1. What do you value most in life? My relationship with my husband and kids.
2. If you had to pick up and leave now, to move to another country, where would you go?  Texas. s'truth.  No passport needed, only have to drive a few hours, temperate (mostly) climate, they speak English!
3. How do you deal with someone you don't like? Avoidance seems to work fairly well for me...but really there are not many people I really don't like.
4. Name one Television character that you simply adore? Simon Cowell
5. What would you chose, love or money and why?  Love. Money is of no good if you are alone.
6. If given a choice, what animal would you like to be and why?  A spoiled dog because owners are so goofy with them!
7. If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what 5 things would you hope you had with you?  Ornery, my Nook, a blanket, some water and my cell phone because I wouldn't want to be stranded for very long!
8. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?  Poke the Rock.
9. What do you miss most about being a kid?  My mom (who died when I was 9)
10. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? Gracie (rhymes with Tracy so I wouldn't have to get used to a whole new name... sorta.)
11. If you could know the answer to any question, besides “What is the meaning of life?”, what would it be?  Why? There are so many answers for that depending on the rest of the question, but I spent many years trying to find answers to those "why" questions when my daughter was little.

Half way through!  Now, for 11 bloggers I would like to share this illustrious award with:  (sorry if you are a repeat customer--Just thinking these are some of my faves...)

1. Maggid at Jubilee Street
2. Poke the Rock
3. Coffee Lady at My Morning Cup of Coffee
4. Mare Ball at Adventures in the Ball Park
5. Jen at We're Living a Full Life
6. Kellie at Delightfully Ludicrous
7. Crystal Collier at Compulsive Creator
8. The Giggling Trucker's Wife
9. Julie at Empty Nest Insider
10. Cathy at Life on the Muskoka River
11. Hilary at Positive Letters; Inspirational Stories

Phew!  That is always the hardest part!  Now for my 11 questions: (Feel free to modify them any way you like!)

1. What is your favorite location from which to blog--home or away?
2. When and where was your last vacation?
3. Are you a piler or a filer when it comes to organization?
4. Coffee, tea or "pop" (soft drinks)?
5. Have you ever yelled at an inanimate object? 
6. Would you rather read fiction or true stories?
7. Have you ever met anyone who is "famous?"  If so who?
8. Do you have indoor plants and are they thriving or just surviving?
9. At home do you always wear shoes or prefer bare feet?
10. One of your guilty pleasures is...
11. If you were to become famous overnight, what would you prefer to be the reason for your fame? Politician? Writer? Performer? or...

Okay, folks, that's it.  I worked really hard to earn that award!!  Now I am fixin' ta put it on my sidebar.  If you decide to accept the award, (and you really don't even have to be one of the eleven I put in here--just grab the award and follow the rules) do as I did:

1. List 11 fun facts about yourself
2. Answer my 11 questions on your blog
3. Link back to me as the giver of your award
4. Select 11 bloggers to present the award to and link them in your post
5. List 11 questions for them to answer.

Easy as pie. Now, off to the rental to throw a bit of paint around. We have the drywall man coming today, so maybe we can finish painting the kitchen next week! Happy Saturday!