This has been a great weekend for catching up with not only my blog, but those of others whose writing style and/or photography I admire. If you have been following then you know that I participated in the novel writing challenge during the month of November and am just surfacing for air.
But also during that time, I received a few awards and have been busily passing them along. This is the last one that I am in arears on. And it is the Versatile Blogger. 
Bliss Travel News – specializing in holidays in France – nominated me and I am so flattered and honored. They do a great job in taking readers along with them, whether they are tasting wine, eating at a Bistro, or looking for bargains. You’ll get great ideas from them about places you may want to visit if you have the wonderlust – as I do.
The participating rules for the Versatile Blogger are as follows:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
Many thanks to Wendy and staff at Bliss Travel News! I am honored.
2. Reveal 7 things about yourself.
1. I am an adventurous eater, having once had turkey nuts – yes I mean those things only male turkeys possess. I have also eaten Morton Bay Bugs in Australia and possum many, many years ago at the funeral food table of an older relative.
2. I have a pierced navel. Most of you would never know this as I do not wear revealing clothing.
3. The only thing I collect is memories.
4. I am a sucker for Christmas tree ornaments and often bring them back from trips with me. But I don’t think of it as collecting as sometimes I don’t even think of it. It all depends on the type of adventure and the time allotted to shopping.
5. I am not a great shopper – must be in the right mood and it must be a time that isn’t busy. I cringe at the thought of having to go Christmas shopping. Generally, I know what I want or need and where to purchase it. In and out – no browsing about. I am told this is very unwomanly. Sorry sisters.
6. This may have been revealed somewhere before – maybe even in a blog post. But for those of you who don’t already know it, I once worked at a cemetery. Interesting!
7. My favorite Christmas treat is a Black Forest Truffle, preferably from the chocolate shop in Williamsburg Virginia. I used to get a half dozen at a time when we would visit, cut them into quarters, pop them in the freezer, and pull them out on those special days when a special hit of chocolate and cherry was all that kept me sane. Try it!
3. Nominate and link to 15 bloggers.
I took this seriously and reviewed all of the recent blogs I’ve read – recent meaning in the past three months – and those who have been reading mine and tried to determine who hadn’t received the Versatile Blogger Award before, or an award from me. So if we are blog neighbors – sharing ideas like cups of sugar – and you haven’t received an award from me, then you have them already. I feel certain that a few of the ones I am nominating probably have received this award before, but in the absence of its visibility on their sites, I’m sending it out anyway. Some of the beautiful bloggers, such as Winsomebella, made me hunt for the award on their sites.
So the nominees are:
3. Totsymae
4. Annie
5. Anita Mac
6. Monica
7. Jessica
8. Janice
9. Gypsy Bella
10. Susan
11. Ursula
12. Barb
13. Lynn
14. Ms. Maven
There we have it – fifteen fab sites and I’ll be double checking the links as I notify each of their beautiful awards. Congratulations all!
Writingfeemail's Blog 
Wow, girlie, you have been raking in the awards, haven’t you??
Congrats, again!
I was a little surprised at a couple of the things you revealed today: turkey nuts…?? Possum?? You are a BRAVE girl.
And I’m still upright and living to tell the tale! Who knew?
Renee one more time congrats to you 🙂 Your blog is on demand right now.
Thank you Arindam.
Congratulations on earning so many awards. And I do hope that participating in the NaNoWriMoBooBoo, didn’t leave your fingers all cramped and out of sorts.
I am most honored to be on your list and it is with great joy that I accept the award! Thank you, thank you very much! 🙂
You are certainly welcome. I love your blog and was pleased as punch to present it with an award!
You are truly chalking up the awards! I couldn’t be happier for you! Also, thanks so very much for passing on the honor. You made my evening!
It feels nice to get appreciation from fellow bloggers doesn’t it!
Thanks Renee for passing along the honor. You’ve been very busy. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts about NaNoWriMo. I found it squelched my inner critic. There wasn’t time to listen to the mean voice that said, “Don’t write if it isn’t perfect.” Because of time limitations, I had to turn up the volume on the “Get those thoughts on paper. Edit later.” voice.
I’d be interested to hear what you learned.Count me as a follower.
Thanks again…
and I think I’ll photo shop something for Dan for Worlds-Longest-Comment. I kid you not…I printed it and it was 11 pages (all of them funny).
I think the real beauty of nanowrimo is the ‘squelching the inner critic’ practice. And, it has helped me to learn to listen to the characters instead of insisting on following the plot as outlined.
I love your blog and that you are going to send an award to Dan for his comment. That was the funniest thing! Such a hoot. Enjoy your award!
I;m so glad you got through this! Congrats on your award lady you deserve it. This is the very first award I got when i started blogging!
I’m with you on the shopping thing. I hate it! Especially during busy season. ARRRGGG. Yes I do turn into a tyrant when that happens. 🙂
Blogging gals unite – let your fingers do the shopping – online!
Congratulations….. 🙂
Thank you!
Whew, I am honored! Thank you so much for passing an award my way. it is almost 6 mos. since my first blog! I enjoy any creative outlet; but this has been so much fun, I have “met” so many great folks and learned so much.
Lest I forget, Congratulations to you!
🙂 Jessica
Thank you Jessica! You do a great job and the award is well deserved!
Renee, for a couple reasons, I’m not participating in awards right now (If I had your contact info, I’d give you my long-winded explanation). But believe me when I say I’m really honored to have received the shout out. And I’m delighted that people recognize what a fine writer you are!
No explanation required. Thank you for the kind words and enjoy your award anyway!
I so enjoyed reading this “about” facts of yours! Consider me officially intrigued over the Black Forest truffle. And congratulations on your award! I’m tickled pink to be included on your list and truly honored to be in the company of so many fine writer! Thank you very much! 🙂
You are such a talented writer that even your comments are delightful. Lovely.
Congratulations…AGAIN! Love #3 and I’m totally with you on #5! 😉
~d.
Maybe there is a connection between collecting and shopping that some of us just didn’t get. But memories and experiences can’t be beat!
Hearty congrats. Sorry you had to hunt for my award but still learning the tech aspect of blogging and always glad just to successfully post 🙂
I wanted to give you a shout out and use your example of putting the awards in another location for people who prefer not to place them on the blog page. Your site is such a beautiful one it was just my way of recognizing it. You can teach us all a thing or two!
It’s Awards Season! Congrats! Well earned!
Thanks John. I like Awards Season. I don’t have to shop for it!
Congratulations on your awards, my friend!! You certainly deserve it!! I love #3 on your list… “The only thing I collect is memories.”
This brings my award situation to mind… I’ve still never posted any I’ve received… I suppose I need to figure out how to do it!
~Piper
There’s probably a better way than the one I use, but what I have done is copy the award picture to the blog post and then that media file address in the widget area named ‘add an image’. If anyone knows a quicker better way, please share with both of us. Thanks Piper.
Congrats!!! : )
Thank you Storm Rider.
Wow! You are a PR superstar. Good pub for so many bloggers. Thank you!
It’s all good and all deserved. You are doing a ‘superstar’ job yourself! Thanks!
Congratulations! 🙂
Thank you.
Liebste Renee,
No sooner have I recovered from your bestowing the versatile award on me I start fretting why I am not one of your Liebsters. Though strictly speaking, “liebster” being the superlative of lieb, one can only have one “Liebster”, unless you are most generous with your favours (and versatile)
I am slowly working my way through ALL your recommendations – and so far, oh yes, found one who is just so up my streak (which is no reflection on those who don’t immediately spark my interest). So thanks for that alone. And, thank you for remembering me at all. I know “soppy” doesn’t go with my image but even I (maybe particularly I) can be touched by kindness.
Other than that, and I’ll come back to it separately: Congratulations on November’s achievement. Talk about running a marathon.
Black Forest Truffle Greetings,
Ursula
Thank you Ursula. ‘Black Forest Greetings’- how fab! I’m glad you are enjoying the award. I would have ‘liebed’ you but I figured you had more than 200 followers. If not, I bet you will get your Liebster very soon, as your site definitely is fabulous! After the November challenge, I do feel a bit like my head is full of marshmallow cream, but I am recovering – slowly.
Congratulations, Renee. I love your list of bloggers, as well as the seven things about yourself. My favorite was number 3; memories are the best things to collect.
Thank you. I couldn’t agree more about the best things to collect – no shelf space required and you can take them with you everywhere you go.
I like your #4. I’m sure you have a lovely and interesting collection of those and #3 to go with them. Why not decorate with memories of trips past? The tree branches are strong enough and number enough to hold them. Congratulations on all your recognition lately!
Thank you Georgette. I love reminiscing as I decorate the tree. It makes it much more than just decoration. Merry Christmas.
Renee, I just realized that I hadn’t thanked you visibly on your blog! So, thank you so much for blessing me with The Versatile Blogger award. It gave me a boost of encouragement, which I appreciate. (Perhaps I should leave this in comments after a more current post?)
I am late doing anything about the award, life is quite complicated for me now with it divided in half. I think it’s correct to say that I don’t live life in two halves, I live a double life now .. for as long as it takes.
Blogging, my writing in general, have been harder to take on but I am trying. So, thanks again for the vote of confidence. Blessings to you.