Spring blog cleaning...

Ok, I admit it.  I am horrible at the whole reply to comments part of blogging.  I love to read the comments, but I rarely reply because I somehow it seems impersonal to reply on my own blog.  Where am I going with this?  Well, I have some loose ends to tie up.  Comments I need to reply to, awards I need to accept, and thanks to give out.  Here it goes.

First, Alicia and  Alison commented on how I made a blog book.  Well, I used a company that sent me an e-mail.  I couldn't reply to their comments until I got another e-mail from the blog book company and finally I got one.  For those of you interested in making a book out of your blog, this is the company I used.  They were ok to work with.  My only complaint was I couldn't erase link buttons from blog hops when creating the book.  To save space and keep them out of the book I would have to erase them from the actual blog and I didn't want to do that.  It was a bit expensive, but worth it knowing that my brother would get to see the blog.  Here is a link to the company that publishes them:

http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html?utm_source=SharedBook&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Footer&utm_campaign=Feb27

The next housekeeping item is a huge thanks to Deborah Jean's Dandelion House for the apron I won at the 101st Farmgirl Friday Blog hop.  I have gleaned so many good ideas from her hop and am so excited about the apron.  I am always wear aprons when I cook, so it will definitely be used.  If you get a chance swing by her blog hop.  I can't wait to try the freezer meals I read about at The Thriftiness Miss Blog.  The hop is at:

http://deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/

 

 

Last, but not least, I have been nominated by two people for the Liebster Blog Award.  I didn't realize how quickly time had passed since the first nomination by Kristi at http://www.thankfulme.net/ and then another from Connie at http://frugallivingonthewatkinsranch.blogspot.com/   Somehow March went fast (sure didn't seem like it) and I am just now getting around to thanking them.  I enjoy both blogs and hope you hop on over.

The Liebster award  is for new bloggers who are just starting out. This award gets passed around by other bloggers who were nominated and they nominate other new bloggers. This helps getting the new blogs noticed. Basically, the purpose of the Liebster Award is to get blogs with less than 200 followers noticed.

Here are the rules:

  

1. Thank your Liebster Award presenter on your blog and link back to their blog.

2. Answer the 5 questions from the nominator, list 5 random facts about yourself and create 5 questions for your nominees.

3. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less whom you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have been chosen.

4. Copy and paste the blog award on to your blog. It is an award so show it off.

 

5 Questions For Nominees (Actually 6, three from each nominator):

1. Which would you rather have, 20 chickens or 1 goat?  I'm very sorry blogger world, but I HATE goats.  I did not have good goat experiences as a child.  I'm going with chickens on this one.

2. What would your ultimate vacation be?  Staying at home with my husband, family and friends.  I own a beautiful log cabin in the woods with my husband.  What more could life offer?

3. What are the biggest influences in your life? The people around me.  I have learned that everyone has something to offer. 

4. What is one thing you couldn't live without?  My husband.  He makes me laugh. We go on adventures together.  He has more faith in my abilities than I do.  He is my best friend. 

5. What is your least favorite thing to do? Clean the gook at the bottom of the drain after dishes.

 

6. What is one character trait you admire?  I have to pick two persistence and the ability to only say good things about others.  It is easy to quit when you aren't good at something or don't know how to do it.  For some reason I cannot quit and I admire other people that are that way. The other trait was one my Grandma Gregg held.  I never heard her criticize another person.  That is a trait I aspire towards, but it might be awhile before I get there. 

5 Random Facts about Myself:

I have to have two cups of coffee in the morning or life isn't good for anyone involved.

I am the 'mean old principal.'

I love wearing cardigans.

I have only had three jobs in my life: rancher's daughter, sawyer, and teacher/mean old principal (I count them as one since it is at the same school).

I am not a patient woman.

5 Questions for Others:

1.  What is your greatest strength?

2.  Who do you admire and why?

3.  What was your biggest adventure?

4.  What is one thing on your bucket list?

5.  What is your favorite movie?

5 blogs I am nominating are all South Dakota Blogs:

 

Gumbo Lily @ http://gumbo-lily.blogspot.com/  She is from my area and I love hearing about her life on a diverse ranch.  Her photos are wonderful.

 

Twin Bridges Nature Resort @ http://twinbridgesnatureresort.blogspot.com/  This is a very new blog and I can tell I will be enjoying it as we have the same interests. 

 

 The Ranch Wife Chronicles @  http://theranchwifechronicles.com/ She does a great job explaining life on a working cattle ranch and capturing the strength of ranching roots.

 

Sall's Country Life @  http://salls-country-life.blogspot.com/  has more than 200 followers, but she is a South Dakota blogger and I want to stick to my SD theme.  I just recently found her blog and it reminds me of growing up East river.

 

Last but not least is Pickles and Petunias @ http://picklesandpetunias.blogspot.com/  This blog has some wonderful recipes and I love how old advertising is incorporated into the posts.  I enjoy looking at the past. 

 

There it is.  I feel so good about getting my blog cleaned up that I may have to start spring cleaning the house.  Might as well clean during a snowstorm instead of waiting until the weather is nice and I'd rather be outside.  Hope everyone has a productive weekend.