Coming back from holiday at the beginning of the week and having been without internet access for the previous 10 days has left me with a lot to catch up on. Imagine my delight when trawling through my blog trying to make sure I had not missed anything, I came across a comment from Chloris of The Blooming Garden linking back to her blog and informing me that she had nominated Peonies & Posies for the One Lovely Blog Award!!
I am thrilled – I have never considered that I might get a blog award, so it came as a complete surprise. Although I am not new to blogging I still struggle with the mechanics sometimes, so it took me a while to work out how to display the award in my sidebar – after a few false starts I now have it proudly showing at the top of the page.
Thank you so much for this Chloris – I am genuinely touched that you thought my blog lovely enough to include in your nominations. For readers who have not already come across Chloris before, she is the author of the inspirational and informative blog The Blooming Garden. Chloris is a self confessed plant obsessive with a knowledge to match – if I have a horticultural question I can rely on Chloris knowing the answer. Chloris’s blog also provides so much more than plant knowledge – she posts some truly fascinating insights into places she has visited and books she has read. A favourite of mine was about the Highgate Cemetery, published to coincide with Halloween.
One of the requirements of accepting the award is that you must post 5 things about yourself that your readers do not already know. Reading Chloris’s list I was amazed by how much we have in common – particularly a dislike of ball games and sewing!
For my five:
- Whilst all my readers will know how much I love photography as it plays such a large part in my blog, you will not know that for Christmas my lovely husband bought me the macro lens that I have been wishing for – I am now the very proud owner of a Canon 100mm f/2.8L lens and the photos accompanying this post are the very first shots I have taken with it. I am delighted and looking forward to being able to get so much closer to my favourite blooms this year.
- When I moved to our current home five years ago I was a computer dinosaur – barely able to send an email let alone attach a photograph to anything. Thank you to our village computer club my life has been transformed. Run entirely voluntarily, this village group has given me the confidence to learn my way around a computer – here I am 5 years later with a blog, social media accounts and thousands of photos digitally edited and stored on my very own Mac Book Pro (with 2 forms of back up!!). I cannot praise the work of this group enough – so many people can now make use of all that technology has to offer them as a result of the work of this group – thank you GBCC!
- I have recently started learning to play the piano. I have never played an instument before (discounting the ubiquitous school recorder) and do not read music, so my brain is finding this quite a challenge. I am plugging away though and hope to make some progress in time for Christmas carols next year.
- My fridge essentials are a bottle of champagne, yogurt and chocolate – anything else is a bonus.
- Before we moved to the country we lived in London, where I was barrister specialising in corporate tax – suited and booted our life was pet free and most of our food came from M&S – 3 children and numerous pets later how different life is now!
So there you have it – the city loving, dog phobic barrister who now relishes her ‘grow your own’ country lifestyle!
Finally I need to nominate 5 more blogs for the One Lovely Blog Award – if you haven’t got the time or inclination to accept I won’t be offended – but at least you will know that I appreciate your lovely blog! It is hard to make a nomination as all my dear blogging friends have such lovely blogs, but I have concentrated on blogs where the photography is an essential part of the experience. I also think I met most of these lovely ladies on the excellent Blogging Your Way courses.
Once again thank you Chloris for this nomination – I am so pleased to have been identified as a ‘lovely blog’!! All my photos today are taken with my new macro lens and feature a lonely rose I found in the garden this morning. I am astounded at the level of detail this lens picks up and really excited about learning to get the most out of it!
I will be back tomorrow with my first vase on Monday of the new year.
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Julie – is there anything we can do to vote to help you win? Ruth
ps – new images very amazing
Thank you Ruth – I am glad you like the images taken with my new lens! Thank you for your offer of help but there is no need to do anything – a nomination is enough for me to display the logo on my blog.
Great photos on this Lovely Blog, Julie – and what fun you will have using your new lens.Look forward to some macro shots of tomorrow’s vase! I know what I am using in mine, have chosen my vase and am awaiting inspiration for title and props….. 🙂
Thank you Cathy!
Congratulations Julie on your award and also on the new camera lens. What a fun new toy that lens is.
Thank you Susie!
Lovely roses Julie – enjoy your new lens and congrats on the award!
Thank you for your positive comment Cathy!
Congratulations, Julie. I will eat a pound of chocolate in your name!
Thank you John – perhaps you should stick to a few squares though – I wouldn’t want you to make yourself sick!!
Oh Julie, lucky you with that lens!!! Can’t wait to see all you do with it. And thank you for the Award. I’ve been visiting the other blogs, and will get busy with my own 5 things (hmmmmm) tomorrow!
Also, now that it’s the new year, we must talk about the summer and possible visits!! Will be in touch.
Thank you Libby & I am so pleased you will be accepting the nomination. I am looking forward to hearing from you – it would be lovely to be able to get together again.
Your beautiful blog really deserves this award. I know your flower arrangements are an inspiration to so many people. I am very envious of your new macro lens; what lovely rose shots. You are going to have such fun with it.
Thank you for your lovely comments about my blog.
Thank you again for the nomination Chloris – I am going to email you to see if we can get together to talk snowdrops soon.
That would be fun. I intend coming over to Roger Harveys soon to look at his Hellebores and snowdrops, perhaps we could meet up there and have a bite of lunch.
An excellent idea Chloris – when are you thinking of?
I am soooo pleased that you are learning the piano!!!
I have my first lesson of the year tomorrow and am very rusty after a few weeks away from practicing – I am very impressed that you have learnt to play so well as an adult!
Ohh – thank you so much Julie for the nomination! I am really honored.
Really interesting to read the 5 things about you – and get to know you better 🙂
I will also look forward to more photos with your new macro lens.