And the award goes to ...

ME! 

M.J. Joachim of Lots of Crochet Stitches surprised me with the Beautiful Blogger Award.  We “met” during the A to Z April Challenge.  She doesn’t do family history and I don’t crochet, but for some strange reason we have taken an interest in each other’s blogs.  Her clear and precise tutorials complete with photos make her blog a must for handcrafters. And for non-crafters, her blog is just a colorful delight, quite a departure for us family historians who dwell in a mostly black and white or sepia world. 

I’ve been around the blogging block enough to have seen lots of awards:  One Beautiful Blog, Stylish Blogger, Kreative Blogger, Versatile Blogger, etc.  I know the concept:  Someone nominates you.  You thank them with a link back to their blog.  You tell random stuff about yourself.  You nominate others.  They link back to you. The point is to increase traffic by attracting people to your blog who might not have found you otherwise.

It is a genius networking idea. 

I’ve never received a blog award before, so I hadn’t really considered how I felt about them until now.  Quite honestly, I’m not worried about the traffic to my blog.  I know it has a very narrow appeal.  Since I’m not trying to make money with it, a small audience is fine. 

Then what if you don’t really want to participate?  I hate to insult a loyal follower who thought enough of my blog to nominate me.  How can you say, “Thanks but no thanks” without seeming ungrateful?  I don’t want to give the impression that I think I’m too busy to be bothered.  That’s not it.  I’m not even sure what it is.  I think I’m scared to nominate others.  Let’s just say it’s reward enough when people leave a comment.

So here is my compromise:  for this one time I’m accepting the award, but after that this blog will be Award Free.  I’m following the rule that I must share 7 random things about myself:

1.       I’m not a chocolate person – I prefer Skittles, red licorice, and Starburst.

2.       I play handbells at my church. 

3.       I support Virginia wine, the Napa Valley of the east.

4.       I can tie a maraschino cherry stem into a knot using only my tongue and teeth.

5.       I don’t like to wear maroon clothes.

6.       I enjoy stories of intrigue, primarily by Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham, and David Baldacci.

7.       I HATE when people won’t walk 10 steps to put a grocery cart in the cart return.  I routinely gather carts that are taking up perfectly close parking spots, but I cheer myself up by imagining that I am ramming the culprits in the ankles with a grocery cart.

The next requirement is to nominate others.  I nominate YOU.  Let me know if you want the award and I’ll gladly nominate you immediately.  I know of several bloggers looking to increase traffic and make a little income, so I fully expect some blogger-friends to take me up on the offer. 

In the meantime, I so appreciate the gesture, the mark of a true friend.  And I appreciate all who visit and take the time to comment. 

©2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.