Today, I received a notification for the Liebster Award from https://peaksofcheeks.wordpress.com  I am honored to be nominated. Thank you so very much for thinking of me.

According to Google, the Liebster Award is an award that exists only on the internet and is given to bloggers by other bloggers, with the earliest case of the award going far back as 2011. It is said that the Liebster Award was created to recognize and/or discover new bloggers and welcome them into the blogosphere. It’s increased to 11 bloggers and 11 questions from the original 2-6 bloggers and 5 questions.

https://theglobalaussie.com/the-liebster-award/

The Rules:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and add a link to their blog
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you
3. Nominate 11 bloggers that you think deserves the award
4. Ask 11 innovative questions to the ones you have nominated
5. Remember to notify your nominees once you have uploaded your acknowledgement post.

https://peaksofcheeks.wordpress.com/2020/08/04/liebster-award-nomination/

My questions for the nominees from SMB

1.What is happiness according to you? 

Happiness is seeing my husband’s smile, cuddling with my fur babies,  seeing and hearing my children and grandchildren, talking with good friends, the smell of the trees and flowers, hearing the birds sing and writing everyday.

2.Which one memory of yours will you always cherish?

The expression on my husband’s face when we exchanged vows.

3. What is the latest thing that made you laugh your belly out?

This morning there was a knocking outside the window and Macavity raced to see what was happening when a woodpecker’s head bobbed up. Macavity sprung back so fast. I couldn’t help but laugh at how comical he acted with such a tiny little woodpecker.

4. Which embarrassing memory of yours makes you laugh even now?

I was a very young wife (16) and had never cooked at my parent’s home. This was before the days of instant search on the internet. I didn’t even have a telephone, land line as they’re called today. My husband wanted carrot cake for his birthday.   I had never had carrot cake before so I relied solely on the cookbook which didn’t specify grating the carrots, so I sliced them very thinly and layered them in the cake batter. It looked beautiful when was done until it was sliced. My husband threw a tantrum that I ruined his birthday and wasn’t the least compassionate about my lack of cooking skills.

Thankfully, that man is in the past and I’m married to a very loving man now. The carrot cake story makes even laugh.

5.What about Mother Nature do you admire the most?

I love the ocean, the salty spray in the air, the way the waves break on the sand. It’s my zen place.

6.Which is the first song that comes to your mind now? Can you share it?

LeeAnn Womacks’s I Hope You Dance,

7.What do you do when you cannot fall asleep?

I read, there’s something about a book in one’s hands. The smell and feel of the paper are soothing to me.

8.Have you miserably failed in delivering a joke? How did the experience go?

No, I can’t say I’ve participated in delivering jokes. I’m not comfortable with jokes in general, feelings are too easily hurt and I don’t like to hurt anyone.

9.Is there anyone in your life you want or wanted to apologize to?

My grandson, for not making more time to spend with him, all those missed opportunities because we live so far apart. It’s my biggest regret. Now, I can’t change it. He’s dead. And I would give anything to turn back that clock.

10.What is the one thing you are proud of? 

I wrote a book of poetry about my experiences in my first marriage. Domestic violence is difficult anyway you look  at it, so I decided poetry would deliver encouragement to other women like me but in smaller doses. In My Shoes, My Poetic Journey from Abuse to Victory.

11. Can you share one of your classic jokes or pick-up lines?. 

I once told a man singing in the band that his jeans would look better on me. He looked me and agreed. We hooked up at the end of the night. I have to admit it was fun undressing him. I kept those jeans for ten years and they did look better on me.

I nominate these awesome bloggers. I look forward to reading their blogs everyday.

https://teepee12.com/

https://jilywily.wordpress.com/

https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/

#FDDA

https://fivedotoh.com/category/dog-days-of-august/

Today’s theme is “Lost Love.” Share a story, a poem, a photo, a drawing, some music, or whatever you wish to about a love you lost. Is it a person? A pet? An object? It’s up to you.

Some of you know from reading my blog my grandson, Johnny was killed a year ago by a fluke dirt bike accident on July 1st, 2019. Johnny was 13 years old. He was my eldest son’s only son. I wasn’t sure our family was going to recover from the loss, it was touch and go for a while with my son. He was consumed with guilt for he had let Johnny buy the bigger dirt bike the day before. No one expected it to be an issue because Johnny had been riding dirt bikes for years. Hold your children or grandchildren tightly because you never know.

I’m going to redirect this conversation to a less painful loss. Since Vic and I’ve been together we’ve had to take two of our feline fur babies to the vets to end their suffering.  I’ll share a little about each with you.

Quasimoto was our Maine coon cat and in his prime weighed thirty six pounds. People often commented on his footprints in the driveway in Maine because they thought a bobcat was hanging around. Yes, he had huge feet. I rescued him at Agway where I used to live so he spent his youth with me until I began dating Vic. We lived 8 hours apart at the time so when I went to visit I took Quasi, Purryl, and Yeatsie with me for the weekends. Quasi was never keen about the car rides so once Vic and I decided we were taking our relationship to the next level, Quasi was the first one to relocate. He enjoyed spending time in the new house with Vic alone.

Purryl I rescued here in New Jersey on one of my early visits Quasi was at home in Maine with one of my friends checking on him. She was on the back deck and it was really cold. I initially thought she couldn’t get over the five foot fence but when I picked her up I realized there was a lot more to the story. Vic at the time didn’t have cats but he did have tunafish. She devoured it and then a bowl of water. Cats don’t consume food or water in one setting. I asked Vic to go to the pet store and get a litter box and food for her. We posted signs at the development office but no one replied. I took Purryl back to Maine with me. I didn’t bring her directly home, I had called my vet and he waited up for me. Yeah, in Maine we still have vets who will do that. Purryl was malnourished, dehydrated still and had an infection. He put her on antibiotics, neutered her for me and three days later she joined our family. The vet estimated her age at two.

Quasi developed later in life thyroid issues and that became a constant juggling act of medicine doses but unfortunately they couldn’t do anything for his renal failure. We had to put him to sleep in May of 2012. He no longer could control his body functions. Quasi was just shy of his 20th birthday in August.

Purryl also had urinary issues but the vet determined hers was from the malnutrition days before us. It was a lifetime of special food and constant urinary infections for her. In April of 2019, Purryl stopped eating, she wouldn’t take food. I took her to the vet, she had been losing weight that winter but I hadn’t realized it was that much. She was a furry cat that hid her actual body. The blood work determined she was dying of renal failure as well. Her kidneys were backing up into body and poisoning her. Purryl had just turned 20 if the vet’s estimation was correct. I know she lived with us 18 wonderful years.

We still have Yeats and Macavity but when it comes their time I will not be replacing them. I’m a firm believer that when we reach a certain age we need to consider our life expectancy in addition to our pets. I’m a cat fan , both of my sons have dogs and my cat’s aren’t used to being around dogs. My daughter has a cat but cat’s are fickle creatures you can’t force them to co-habitat. I will out live Yeats who’s 16 and Macavity who’s 6. Unfortunately we will most likely be taking Macavity next if the doctor’s diagnosis is correct he has a heart condition. He’s taking the same medication for congestive heart failure as my ex-husband did before he passed. How strange is that? I see everyday as a blessing with our boys.

I look at life in a very practical manner. Our pets are part of our family and shouldn’t be bounced around from home. It’s not fair to them. We’ve made a commitment to be their parents for the duration of their lives but as much as I love cats I cannot make that same promise to another cat. I’ll volunteer at shelters and contribute that way.

We’re hoping on The Ghan for one of the world’s great train journeys. Travel through the heart of Australia in luxury while enjoying the all-inclusive food and beverages, well-appointed cabins and the Off Train Excursions that allow you to get a feel for the places the train travels through.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g255093-d12951577-Reviews-The_Ghan…

30 day prompt, check out these links and discuss. You must discuss a minimum of 3 of the links. I’m very aware there’s a lot of reading to do but if we were actually traveling we wold be looking things up too and trying to figure out what to see and what to skip to maximize out enjoyment.

https://www.pinkroadhouse.com.au/oodnadatta-track/

my response: We’re traveling where John McDouall Stuart explored in 1859, and it would later become the path for telegraph cables. Can you imagine how amazing it must have felt to have communication from point a to point b? We take it for granted everytime we just grab our cell phones.

https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/northern-territory.html

my response: Alice Springs was a surprise, I felt like it was mirage at first. I blinked to make sure I wasn
t imagining it. Come to find out it’s the largest city in the Northern Territory and there’s tons of art and cultural exhibits, great food and clean bathrooms. I don’t know about you but I prefer my bathroom not to be moving. Yeah, I know I’m showing my age with this comment. I felt so guilty seeing the Kangaroo Sanctuary after knowing some of our group had kangaroo for dinner. They’re so adorable, especially when the little ones pop their heads up to look around.

https://alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/

My response: It’s sad that the desert park has remained closed to the public because of covid-19.

https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/

My response: Wow, the video gave some insight how the medical services work in the remote areas of Australia. 90 years of servicing rural Australia I can’t imagine not being able to walk into a doctor’s office if needed. Though with covid, it certainly has changed a lot. My yearly physical exam is coming right up and it’s business as usual except that I have to have my temperature checked prior to entering and confirm I haven’t been in contact with anyone. But there’s a huge difference when you don’t have the same instant access to the news, to medical facilities and household necessities to maintain your safety like bleach, masks, and hand santizers.

we’ll be dining in https://journeybeyondrail.com.au/guest-information/food-beverage/queen-adelaide-…

My response: It wasn’t five star but not for lack trying. The decor was interesting. The food presentation on the plates definitely could have been what you would see in Manhattan. I’m glad there were three courses because I’m a hearty eater and the portions could have been larger especially after being outside all day. I was starving.

BCoF prompt is about Australian literature:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_literature

Scroll through the different sections and discuss things you know about authors and the topic they wrote about.

My response: My first exposure to Australian authors was a children’s writer named Ethel Turner. She wrote Seven Little Australians which takes us on the adventures with these mischievous children. Until looking it up I had no idea that it was first published in 1894 and is still in print today. How cool is that?

Alternate prompt sent by Neva. Day 4 we catch a Ghan train in Adelaide. Have you ever ridden a train? What was it like? If you haven’t ridden a train what do you think it would be like?.

My response: I have ridden a train from Trenton, New Jersey to New York City. On another trip I went from New York to Boston with the older granddaughters where we met their mother and then they rode the train back onto Maine. And other occasions I’ve gone from Portland Maine to Boston and back to do holiday shopping. My most recent trips were to meet Vic in DC when he was working there, I’d leave out of Trenton, New Jersey which is 8 minutes from my house and three hours later I would be meeting him in DC for the weekend. I love riding on trains so this part of our trip is delightful. My only complaint is the bathroom moves, what can I say I’m getting older.

I’m enjoying spending times with the ladies in the dining car, enjoying coffee and tea as we all compare our adventures.

Another day on our virtual continent hopping adventure. Reading and engaging on each other’s blogs makes it fun just like when we comment here on wordpress.

Take advantage and do your laundry and whatever because we’re going to be roughing it on a train next.
we’re all staying at Hilton Sydney.
https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Sydney/entity/CgsImO_m76TC4eXkARAB?g2lb=250…

30 day prompt:
There are a lot of great things to do and see in Sydney but you have one day so pick from the links what appeals to you and discuss what you discovered. Make us envious. Let your imagination get carried away.

https://www.thecrazytourist.com/25-best-things-sydney-australia/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g255060-Activities-Sydney_New_South_Wale…

My response: I really wanted to see the beach after being on ice the last two days. Bondi Beach is on the Australian Heritage List, and is also noteworthy for holding the Guinness World Record for the largest swimsuit photo shoot, with 1010 bikini-clad women taking part. I wonder if we could set our own Guiness Book record with virtual travel blogging.
It was nice to simple walk and dip my toes in the warm water.
I decided after seeing Wies’s excitement about the bridge climb I joined her. Wow, it’s the largest steel arch bridge in the world, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is an iconic landmark spanning one of the finest natural harbours known to mankind. Opened in 1932, the bridge is fondly nicknamed the Coathanger by Sydneysiders. You can walk and cycle across the bridge or climb to the top for stunning views. They’re right the view is stunning and then some. I took at least 200 pictures, so glad I bought a larger memory card for my Nikon.
I decided to end my sightseeing with Botanical Gardens and the Taronga Zoo. I set my phone so I would only be at the gardens for an hour. Thank goodness, I discovered the Choo Choo express, it offers a quick, scenic way to get around the gardens. The guide was very knowledgeable as well as entertaining.
The Targona Zoowas my highest priority, I really wanted to see a Tasmanian devil. They don’t look nothing like the cartoon version. I lucked out again because it’s quite a large zoo, and discovering  the zoo train and the Sky Safari was perfect so I would still have some energy to check out the nightlife.
I’ll sleep when I’m dead, I decided to give the 4-hour historic pub crawl a try, it took us to four of the oldest pubs in the city. We learned about the sometimes-seedy, always fascinating history of the area: gang life, brothels, unsolved murders and more. Man, I wish you could have seen Nanna’s, Neva’s, Apondia’s , Wies’s faces when our guide began his cocky spiel. Oh man the accent was so thick at times but hilariously entertaining.

https://www.bridgeclimb.com/

BCoF:
Take advantage and do your laundry and whatever because we’re going to be roughing it on a train next.
we’re all staying at Hilton Sydney.
https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Sydney/entity/CgsImO_m76TC4eXkARAB?g2lb=250…

Prompt: Discuss one athlete and one actor or actress from Sydney. I’ve provided you a link with lots of options. Please, don’t write a book report, instead write an interaction you had with them or something you saw them do that amused you and why. Let your imagination go wild.

My response: Oh my, oh my that can’t possibly be Hugh Jackman at the bar talking with a woman. Oh, he was amazing in Les Miserables. I decide to venture a bit closer to grab a picture. Double bonus he’s talking with Claudia Karvan.  She was on Dancing with the Stars this spring.My hand is shaking so bad, damn it these pictures are going to suck.
Hugh Jackman asked if I needed help. He took my phone and snapped selfies with me and him and then pics of Claudia and me and then the three of us. I always thought he was nice but man he’s sweeter than I imagined.
I remember reading this blurb “With over a decade and a half of experience, Jackman has acquired the label of “Nicest Guy in Hollywood.” He’s opted out of a disingenuous media-friendly facade for a more honest and direct projection of himself, oftentimes disregarding the advice from publicists who say that he moves his hands too much, or shouldn’t talk about a certain topic or express himself in a certain way.” and thinking yeah right, well its true.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Sydney
https://www.factinate.com/people/24-humbling-facts-hugh-jackman/#:~:text=With%20…

https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/getting-something/

Written for Song Lyric Sunday where the prompt is Acquire/Collect/Gather/Secure.

This week we have the accumulation related prompts of Acquire/Collect/Gather/Secure and hopefully this will fit for everyone.  

I’m going with Alabama’s She and I because my interpretation is more than simply using the words suggested in the prompt. She and I are secure in their love in the song. They did acquire or collect things over time in their relationship. And they did get together with their friends so they did gather. So I feel the prompt is covered on many levels.

“She and I” is a song written by Dave Loggins, and recorded by American country music band Alabama. It was released in December 1985, as the only single from their first Greatest Hits compilation album.

The song was their 19th consecutive No. 1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in April 1986, ~ wikipedia