Blogger supreme Holly Jahangiri (It’s All a Matter of Perspective blog) was kind enough to include me in her list of eleven folks for the Sunshine Blogging Award. I don’t always pick up awards and pass them on anymore, but this one is a little bit of fun and the bright, shiny award badge is enough to brighten anyone’s day. Many thanks to Holly for including me. Here’s the badge:

With apologies to whoever wrote the original rules, instead of coming up with new questions, I’m going to answer the same set given to Holly. And because I’m not connected to a whole slew of prolific bloggers, I’m going to refrain from forcing the once-in-a-while bloggers I know to take on the responsibilities of this award or feel guilty. I hate making folks feel guilty.

These are the rules of the Sunshine Blogger Award:

• Thank the person who nominated you.
• Answer the 11 questions you’ve been asked.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers, making sure to let each one know that they are nominated.
• Ask the nominees 11 questions.

These are the probing questions which must be pondered – and answered (and by the way, look at all those extra “u”s in the questions–the person who originated this award must be either a Brit or a Canadian):

1. What is your favourite drink?
2. Where is your hometown?
3. Do you prefer sweet, sour, bitter or savoury flavours?
4. What is your favourite song?
5. Where do you find inspiration for your blog posts?
6. Are you a minimalist or a collector?
7. What colour is your suitcase?
8. Which trees do you like the best?
9. Do you have a day job as well as blogging?
10. What is your favourite smell or scent?
11. Do you prefer to eat meat or vegetables?

My answers (which will be short and sweet):

1. My favorite drink is coffee. Lately I’ve had to switch to decaf by noon or forfeit a good night’s sleep, but that’s okay. In the summertime I switch to iced tea anyway and I don’t mind decaf tea.
2. My hometown: I grew up on a farm near Champaign, Illinois but still consider Muncie, Indiana as my adopted hometown. That’s where my kids grew up so it feels more like home.
3. I definitely prefer sweet, which is not a good thing. I could eat dessert at every meal and again as a bedtime snack if I could. But I don’t. When the sweet craving attacks, I break off a little piece of Lindt’s 90% dark chocolate and savor it. Once in a blue moon I bake a batch of cookies. Or enjoy a pastry at Panera Bread when I meet the girls for coffee.
4. My favorite song is Jim Croce’s version of “Time in a Bottle”…or the Statler Brothers singing “Flowers on the Wall”…or Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”…or Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places…or…never mind. There are too many to count.
5. I’ve only been posting once or twice a week plus hosting a weekly guest so I just reach for whatever grabs me the day I choose to put something up. The weather, Katie Cat, something going on in my writing life, and I’m putting up my series on self-editing, too. Frankly, I’m lots more interested in what other people have to say than in my own ramblings.
6. I’m a collector who’s trying to convert to minimalist. I’m not a hoarder because I don’t feel attached to stuff. I am a procrastinator, so I let things pile up and then go on a clean-up-and-clear-out binge. This applies to my email Inbox as well. Occasionally I go in and start deleting old stuff without even looking at it. It’s the only way.
7. My suitcase is grey with yellow trim. It’s always easy to spot on the airport baggage carousel.
8. I love the flowering plum trees that flourish in Northern Colorado, but my all time favorite doesn’t seem to show up here too often. It’s dogwood. I love the shape of those trees and I love their flowers.
9. I’m retired now and try to write novels. Back in the day, I worked for some larger-sized companies in warehouse accounting and financial control.
10. My favorite scent is definitely lavender, whether fresh cuttings, essential oils, or hand lotion. It’s soothing and relaxing.
11. I’d have to say I prefer vegetables although I do crave a good piece of rib eye steak now and then. And bacon. But overall, nothing beats fresh asparagus, green beans from my own garden, acorn squash, homegrown kale and spinach salad, etc.

And there you have it. Consider yourself tagged if you’re interested in putting this lovely award on your own blog. If you’re here, you are my sunshine and you’ve earned the sunshine award.