I'm A-Pickin' AND I'm A-Grinnin'

Do ya'll remember Hee-Haw? With Roy Clark and Buck Owens? They always did that segment where one would sing "I'm a-pickin" and the other would answer "and I'm a grinnin' ". Oh, just go with me on this one...because it describes how I'm feeling right now. Tammy over at My Gentle Retreat has graced me with this award:
How great is that? What a wonderful award to receive! Don't you feel like you've really, really accomplished something if you can make another person smile? I do. So thank you so much, Tammy. I appreciate it! And now I get to pass it on to a few people, too. So I've thought this over because, while I love reading everyone's blog, a few of them actually bring a smile to my face just about everytime I read what they write. Some blogs make me dream, some make me cry, some make me hope, some make me believe! Some make me think, some make me wonder, some of them even make me ashamed because I don't measure up to their author's goodness. But some blogs, usually in addition to one of these feelings, also make me smile. So here's a few of those: Joan because she has such an unabashed love of her husband, her family and her life, Kat because she is facing menopause with grace and humor (how can you do that, woman!) and, having learned the hard way just how much of an effort that is, I smile everytime I think of her, Kat ( a different "kat" than our Beach Kat) because she writes posts that will leave your head spinning with exhaustion as she describes her day to day life. Then, of course, there's Cassie because everytime I see a comment from her in my inbox, I know that a) she's going to say something to make me smile and b) I can go over to her blog and read a post that will also make me smile, Susie Q because...oh come on! Surely most of ya'll read her blog, don't you? You should already know why I smile everytime I visit her! And everyone also knows Sophie, right? Of course you do. Therefore, you know why I smile when I think of her, too. She's so charmingly British - and she always seems to be honestly amazed that any of us are so fascinated with her life! Crazy British chick. And I can't leave out Teresa because well...to read her is to love her. She's just so flippin' happy most of the time. And even when she's not, her "furiously angry"is like my "gee, I'm feeling ever so slightly less than sparkly". I don't think she knows what it means to be truly grumpy (but, sssshhhhh, don't tell her - she thinks she can be quite the terror at times! lol). And last, but by no means least, is Tauna. I have to smile when I read her blog (and her e-mails). Mainly because anybody who can get that much joy from the English language deserves a smile! And also because I find her writing to be extremely visual in that she paints beautiful pictures in my mind using words. I love that. Who doesn't? So these are who I'm passing this awesome award to. Okay, so the truth is, I could probably name lots and lots more, but do you have any idea how exhausting it is putting in those name links? Not to mention sending the messages notifying them. Geez...I'll be on the computer for hours just finishing the ones I've already nominated. Maybe I should have gotten "The Lazy Blogger" award instead, huh? I'm not lazy, though, I swear it! Just more like technologically challenged. All this linking is making my brain ache.Finally, I am shocked, hurt and appalled at the lack of response for my Christmas ornament giveaway! Guys! It's Christmas ornaments!! What could be better? It's not like they're used, you know. Unless Hobby Lobby, Tuesday Mornings, Ross's and my locally owned and operated Hallmark store are all combining to pull a fast one on me. I very carefully scoured this town (and the next) looking for special ornaments for my blogging buddies out here in Blogland and only about 20 of you have signed up! Although, let me say this - THANK YOU, YOU 20 PEOPLE! I wish you all the best of luck. And for the rest of you who are turning your perky little noses up at my ornament giveaway, you just don't know what you might be missing! There's still time to sign up, though. Just go to this link and leave a comment to be eligible. You have until I fall out of bed Wednesday morning and come upstairs to print out the comments for the drawing!