7 Random Things...
But making this list turned out to be a bit more difficult than I imagined. It was hard for me to know how much to really share about myself on a public forum like this. Anyway, I gave it my best shot. So without further ado, here are 7 Random Things about Me, followed by the seven people I'm tagging as well...
* I spent my childhood on an 800 acre farm in the Ozark Mountains until my father died unexpectedly when I was 10. We moved to Independence Missouri shortly thereafter.
* When I was 15 I had spinal surgery and spent my first year of high school in a large body cast. This was fortuitous, as I learned to detect fair-weather-friends; a gift which I still use today.
* I wanted to major in Horticulture in college, but was talked out of it by a rather sexist adviser in my freshman year at MU. I ended up getting my degrees in Child Development and Developmental Child Psych instead, doing some of my field-training with autistic children. My training turned out to be helpful in the long run when I discovered, years later, that my son was in the autistic spectrum.
* I love to travel and learn about people in other countries. So far I've visited the Bahamas, England, France, Japan, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Unfortunately I had a very bad flight in 2002, but hope to conquer my flying phobia so I can travel again someday.
* I'm a shameless information junky. I love reading and have tons of books, but instead of letting the piles grow too high I started selling them online via Half.com. Now I buy and sell books as a semi-lucrative hobby.
* As a young person I tended to be gullible. After being burnt a few times, I now examine extraordinary claims with a heavy dose of skepticism. Some of my favorite sites are Quackwatch, Snopes.com and The Skeptic's Dictionary.
*I love Pre-Raphaelite and Renaissance art as well as the Arts & Crafts Movement. Some of my heroes are William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Sandro Botticelli. In keeping with my more idealistic/romantic side, some of my favorite writers are Alfred Tennyson, Henry David Thoreau and Jane Austin.
I'm tagging the following 7 Garden Bloggers. Hopefully none of you have been tagged for this particular meme yet.
Andrea from Andrea's Garden Blog
Annie from The Transplantable Rose
Julie from The Human Flower Project
Sanni from Villin pihan tarinoita
Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their own blog with their 7 random facts as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.
In other news, I have a squirrel who's decided she is a hummingbird. She's drinking sugar water everyday from my hummingbird feeder. Forgive the quality of the photo, but I haven't found a way to sneak up on her from outside, so must be content for now with a photo through my window.
I smile every time I see her do this. Hope she gives you a little chuckle, too.
BTW, I hope to visit the APS Pond Tour 2007 on July 14th & 15th. It sounds like a great tour. If I attend I'll take lots of photos and share them here.
"Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives." ~Mary Ann Brussat
Copyright © 2007-2009. Suburban Wildlife Garden. All Rights Reserved.
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22 comments:
What a wonderful shot! Really made me smile...now how does the squirrel get back?
Great to read a little more about you too, sounds like you learnt some great lessons early on in life!
{{HUGS}} to you :o)
Thanks Talj!
Yes, life has a way of giving us lessons along the way. So, good comes out of bad sometimes, thankfully.
As for Ms Sugar Squirrel, she simply dismounts like a gymnast when she's finished supping. Though sometimes she's rather awkward and it can't be called anything except free-fall. She doesn't hurt herself though because the feeder is only about 5 feet off the ground at best. She's drained one feeder today and the other is pretty low. The good news is the hummingbird sugar water does not go bad much lately before we have to put in a new batch. *wink*
:-)
Dawn
Thanks for your comment...........music on blog? Well currently I have Enys cos it is raining all the time in UK!
Click on link and add as html on side bar....any problems give me a shout.
What is your favourite music?
Dxx
Love the squirrel; what a character. Re your 7 things...thanks for sharing...it truly seems that the adversities of your youth have stood you in good stead for the present....though at the time they must have been so hard to bear.
I must have a look at the sites you've mentioned...been burnt a few times myself!
Hi Mrsnesbitt!
Thanks for dropping by. I absolutely love the music on your "Mrsnesbitt's Place" blog! That's Enya? Wow! I haven't heard her sing that before. I like it. It's a sort of new sound for her; though the background is similar to many of her songs.
Sorry I'm so dense, but I cannot for the life of me to find a link for the music on your "Mrsnesbitt's Place" site. My e-mail addy is: gifthorsie@gmail.com if you have other instructions.
Oh and I love Enya, Loreena McKennett, Maire Brennan of Clannad, Cristina Crawlay, Regina Spektor...actually I like a lot of different kinds of folk & neo-folk music; especially women artists.
Hi Ruth,
You're right about adversity being hard to bear at times. I like to think mine is no worse than anyone else's; just different. It's difficult to see the big picture when one is going through it, though. Even now the situation with my son is sometimes painful, but he's doing so much better than we ever imagined...we're all quite lucky.
Speaking for good fortune, I feel lucky I found your blog as well as Mrsnesbitt's Place. Two very talented ladies for certain. Everyone needs to check out your sites. I'm adding both to my blog links.
Cheers!
Dawn
Hi Dawn, Love the pics....the squirrel is a real daredevil. I was interested to read that you had carved a career out in Child Development and Child Psych....i manage a CDC and Child Psych units locally - it's very interesting what can be achieved these days for children with ASD.
Hi Ziggywigs!
You're right about new therapies for ASD kids. Many more now than when I was in university. Occupational Therapy, especially Sensory Integration, helped my son so very much. Thank you for your work with children. You're doing a wonderful thing! :-)
And yes, Sugar Squirrel struck again this afternoon and completely emptied one of my hummingbird feeders. I may have to rethink my feeder location/setup so she can't get to them so easily. Either that, or buy stock in white sugar.
;-)
Dawn
Thank you for visiting my blog. You have a very beautiful garden full of lovely flowers and amazing wildlife too. I shall look forward to popping back.
The joy of discovering a new to me blog (yours)'across the pond' is both fascinating and wonderful. Like having a peek into someone's garden without disturbing them!
Seeing familiar plants, and new exotic ones - and creatures too.
I will be 'back' in Texas soon to pay you yet more visits.
Lottie - in the UK
Squirrels make me happy too. We have few squirrel families in a forest near by. They are funny creatures with a brilijant mind. No matter how you try to hide birds food, squirrels will find a way to find way to take it. ;)
Not even the most beautiful garden is pretty, if there lives no animals at all!
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for visiting me today! I think we have similar tastes in photography :o) Your blog is beautiful. You are a new blogger, enthusiastic and I'm take a little breaking from blogging for the first time in 9 monhts! I'll be back soon, though.
Those squirrels will do anyting! She must be thirsty. Cute photo!
Hi Libby,
I'm impressed by how lush & tropical your garden looks in the UK. And of course, I love your cats & chickens! I'm going to keep checking in to see how your garden grows.
Thanks Allotment Lady
Everyone needs to visit your blog to see what hard work really is and to read the funniest conversation by two chickens that I've ever read! :-) Well done!
Dear Quu,
I totally agree with you: wildlife makes a garden feel alive!
Your gardens are beautiful. I love the round patch of grass you've created as the center of your garden room in Oulu. And I'm very impressed by your ability to blog in both Finnish and English.
It really is a privilege to get to 'meet' all of you and see your handiwork. Your gardens, photos and clever essays are a real joy to behold.
Thanks to all of you and...
Happy Gardening!
Dawn
Dawn I am delighted that you came by my blog and introduced yourself to me! I love your style of writing..humor to it! I also LoVe the writings and quotes of Thoreau and I see that you have cats!! You may have seen my past posts where I have shown my little fur companions!I have 3 ..only 1 allowed out in the garden with me so she has become an internet celebrity.
it is always nice meeting gardens located in different parts of the globe!That squirrel is smart to get his energy from the feeder!delighted to meet you! hugs NG
Thanks Mary!
My squirrel is a sugar addict. She seems to prefer the sweet hummingbird water to the regular water in the 2 birdbaths and container water garden I've provided. :-)
In regards to your break: Anyone who's visited your blog can see how much time and effort you've put into making it so lovely. You deserve all the R&R you want. Bloggin should be fun, IMO, and there should not be pressure to perform. While you enjoy some down-time many of us will still benefit from reading all you've created in the past 9 months.
Take good care!
Dawn
Hi Naturegirl!
Thank you! I saw the photo of Paisley with the heart-shaped white patch of tummy fur. And after a little search I also found your photos of Freddi, Babie & Halo. They are so sweet! One of my goals is to learn how to relax as well as my cats.
Yes, I love Thoreau. In looking at your profile I see we have similar taste in literature. I've read all on your list except The White Bone.
You have such a lovely garden and an beautifully positive attitude. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
:-)
Dawn
Hello Dawn - I'm not a fast writer, so my seven things just went up.
Your answers were fun to read!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Such a cute photo of your squirrel! They are such sweet little quirky things, I just adore them!
Thank you for sharing your 8 interesting facts with us, it was nice to get to know you better!
Kate
P.S. Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog - you are welcome back to the nest any time!
Hi Dawn, your squirrel seems to be as naughty as the ones in my neighborhood. A sweet tooth on that one, to be sure!
Enjoyed your 8 interesting facts and your lovely ceramic pitcher!
Dear Annie,
I love your list! Just had a chance to read it. Well done!
:-)
Thanks Kate!
You're right about the squirrels. They are quirky and fun to watch. I cannot imagine a garden without them.
Your blog is a beautiful treat. I love your creative ideas. I'll definitely stop by often.
Hi Lostroses!
Yes, she's very naughty to steal the hummer's treats. I wonder if squirrels can get cavities. ;-)
Take care!
Dawn
Thanks, Dawn, for tagging me. I hope you don't mind if I don't follow up right away because I am rather busy at the moment (seeing doctors still for follow-ups and such). I am just glad that I can keep up with my blog. :-) Greetings from Germany, Andrea
Hi Andrea!
I hope your doctors appointments go well. It is good news that you feel well enough to blog. Don't worry about the tag, though. These things do have expiration dates.
:-)
Please take very good care of yourself!
Best to You,
Dawn
I believe that this shot makes ultimately everyone smiling :)
greetings,
ewa
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