It has been a bit challenging to blog on a regular basis
lately but today turned out to be a ‘snow day’ here in Maine
and that means an unexpected opportunity to get caught up at my desk.
A couple of weeks ago Monica from Splendid Willow sent me the
Honest Scrap Award (where in the world did that title come from?). Splendid Willow
is a wonderful blog by a Swedish/American woman who has a spectacular eye for all
that is beautiful. The idea behind this
award is to tell readers ten things about myself that might not be known, and
then extend the award to seven other bloggers.
So here goes…
1) I’ve lived
in Maine for 37 years yet I’m probably
not considered a true ‘Mainer’ because I wasn’t born here.
I am extremely lucky to live in the town where this light house resides.
It is considered one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country.
The photo on the right is what it looks like on a day like today.
(images via www2.wunderground.com)
Yes, that’s right….Maine people take their heritage very
seriously and unless you are born here you are considered to be ‘from away’. I
was born in New York State
and moved eleven times before my ninth birthday. When we left Saratoga Springs, NY to move to
Bangor, Maine I was eight years old, had attended four different schools and it
was time to put down some roots.
Living in Maine
is wonderful and I admire the tremendous work ethic, humble nature and pride
that Mainer’s have. The state is
incredibly beautiful and I am proud to call it home.
2) I need a
taste of chocolate every day. It doesn’t
have to be much but it does have to be every day.
3) My proudest
achievements are my daughters.
That might sound corny and cliché but it’s the truth. They are amazing young women with tremendous
intelligence, potential, spirit and heart. They will make a difference in our
world someday I’m sure. It may be simply
teaching children to read or bringing smiles to the faces of the elderly but
either way these simple achievements matter.
4) I’ve found
it really hard to finish a book lately.
On my bedside table I have four books that have been started but not
finished. Each quite different from the
other: Marley & Me, The Lost Symbol, The Gospels of John, Songs of the
Humpback Whale.
Wow! Now that I’ve put it writing I’m a bit embarrassed by
the lack of depth in my choices (with the exception of the Gospels of course)
and habit of not finishing a book. I better get on that!
5) I am really
quite shy and reserved, especially in a group. I am much more comfortable in one-on-one or small encounters
and will fade into the background in groups.
6) I love to
travel but don’t get to do as much of it as I would like. The places I have visited outside of the
contiguous United States: Bermuda, Bahamas,
Denmark, England,
France, Puerto
Rico, Spain, Sweden…and
Canada of
course but that doesn’t count when you live in Maine.
7) I am a very
spiritual and religious person and find great strength, guidance and peace from
following my faith. Evangelizing isn’t
an interest of mine but my hope is that by simply living my faith I will be an
inspiration to others.
8) In spite of my profession I do not live in a home full of
antiques. We purchased our home and
completely redecorated about ten years ago.
When Avolli was started about four years later I had no space to add large
quantities of Swedish antique furniture so I would bring back smaller, very special items from my buying trips add to our families collections. One piece that I am especially excited about
is a spectacular yet small oil painting.
It is unsigned but has an ‘old world’ quality to it...Dutch Master if you
will. The back has a primitive painting
that could have been a ‘study’ or this was simply a canvas that was
reused. I have a secret dream that one
day I’ll learn from an art expert, like they do on the Antiques Road Show, that
this was painted by a very famous painter and I’ll become ‘really, really rich’.
When I had the painting cleaned and framed, the experts at Jameson Gallery
here in Portland created a back that allowed the second painting to be seen as well.
9) I’ve become
one of those crazy people that are obsessed with her dog. Yes, I never thought I’d become one of those
people (you know who you are) but as my daughters have gotten older and don’t
‘need me’ as much as they did, my beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, Gus, has become
a wonderful substitute because he always needs me and is happy to be with me. We have two cats and another dog that I adore
as well, but there is just something about Gus’s spirit and soul that is
incredibly special (hear the crazy in my voice?).
10) My husband is
my very best friend. We have been
married for 21 years and I would rather spend time with him than with anyone
else. Enough said!
Now I would like to extend this award to seven wonderful bloggers in no particular order:
