My friend Mere over at Mercedes’ World has honored me with the Arte y Pico Award, “given to those who are creative and have a penchant for art.” Mere cited me for my writing and photography posted here. I am truly and extremely flattered! Thank you, Mere!
When receiving this award, there are some actions to be taken. They are:
1. Pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog.
3. Each award winner (upon acceptance) should show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4. Show the link of Arte y pico blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Show these rules.
After some careful deliberation, I hereby bequeath the Arte y Pico Award to the following blogs/bloggers:
Aafke, at Clouddragon, for amazing artwork (Netherlands)
Carol, at American_Bedu, for cultural writing (Saudi Arabia)
Damyanti, at Daily (w)rite, for freelance writing (Malaysia)
Intlxpatr, at Here There and Everywhere, for writing and photography (Kuwait)
Tony, at A Cyberspace Odyssey, for ‘laugh-out-loud’ humor (Tasmania)
I enjoy each of these blogs (as well as many others!) and hope that you will, too! As you can see, one of the most wonderful thing about blogging is the opportunity it gives you to meet and become fast friends with people all over the planet. I’ve truly been blessed with those whom I’ve met and am thankful for each one.
Thanks, again, to Mere for thinking so highly of my efforts here to include me as one of her award recipients. I’m humbled and grateful.
“I won this award for keeping my mouth shut, so I think I’ll do it again now.” – Jane Wyman
P.S – With this post, I’m proud to say that “Life at the Foot of the Stairs”has surpassed 7,000 visitors! And what really blows me away is that those visitors represent 67 countries, literally wrapping the globe! That leaves this fat, old man leanin’ back in his folding chair and thinking… “Ain’t it cool!” Thanks to everyone! 
Congratulations! Woohoo! You have such a way with words and with finding appropriate quotes!
Peachy
Thank you, my friend… you know you made my day!
I am truly honored, Lofter, and now I have to figure out all the technical stuff that goes with the award, like how to put it in my blog!
I always love your insights and comments, and I love your values and international perspectives.
Thank you for the award!
Totally my pleasure, my friend! I have learned so much from reading your posts, and your photographs are always so wonderful… it’s my honor to share cyberspace with you!
Mercedes Pic is just PERFECT!
Brother your blog is also PERFECT as it is real rather than the contrived boring blather we face in so many pages of muck.
Bravo again sir!
http://www.shorpy.com/node/3496?size=_original
Thanks, my brother. You’re always among my greatest sources of encouragement.
Oh, and that photo… that’s my shoe in the foreground! I never could remember where I’d left it! LOL!
Thank you very much for awarding me an award, it is so rewarding!
Same problem as Intlxptr, I’ll be looking at the technical difficulties tonight, while basking in a rosy haze from now!
It is truly my pleasure! You are absolutely one of the most talented people I’ve ever had the pleasure to communicate with, and I count your friendship among my treasures. Bask in that rosy haze for as long as you want… and have some chocolate with it!
Lofter, Thank you thank you thankyou:) *bows*
You are an absolute sweetheart!
Had to run off yesterday after seeing your comment, and could only reply now:)
Must try and follow all the “acceptance clauses”, as am equally technically challenged as some of the other receivers
You had me hooked for real after your post about the puppy. I don’t tear up too easily, but you managed to get me there in such a small amount of words. You have a gift. It goes beyond talent, and into the higher realms. Thanks for sharing your words with us!
(And, it’s hard for me to imagine any of you being technically challenged!)
I have one more award for you at my place! I am trying to catch up on passing awards received on. This one is from April 21, 2008. It’s Awards Week at my place and in my bogosphere-lol!
http://mercedesrules.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/you-make-my-day-award/
Peachy
Thank you so much! Once again, I am truly honored and will display this beautiful award with pride!
Thanks for your kind words, Lofter, I am sure I do not deserve them. I am happy you liked the puppy story.
Whoever else saw it did not get it. My writing group was pretty indifferent to it.
Is there a way I can make it more structured or add to the impact?
Maybe it only works as a blog post, and with the picture of the puppy?
I’m sure you do. And, to be honest, I didn’t remember a picture of the puppy. As far as structure, or how you could add to the impact, my critique would be not to change a thing. The impact of that story was contained in what you didn’t write. Your words worked so perfectly in causing my brain to conjure the imagery of the subjects – to paint conclusions from one sentence to the next, until the shocking realization came. I thought it was quite well done.
As for those who didn’t get it… well, my friend, you can’t help people read. Either they can, or they can’t. And I’m not speaking literacy, I’m speaking to the ability to be open to what the writer is presenting, both written and unwritten. Some people won’t ever get it. Those aren’t the people you’re writing to.
And don’t get me started on writing groups. Personally, I’ve found every one of them to be long on criticism and short on constructive assistance. Too often, they spin into a competition and fly off in one direction or another. My dear friend, firefly, is one of the most prolific writers I’ve ever been honored to know – but her writers group (the one she told me about, there may have been others) was totally dysfunctional!
Sorry for the lengthy reply! Stick to your gut instinct. You’re good. Believe it, trust yourself, and go with it!
Thankyou for the long comment, Lofter.
I haven’t changed a thing in the story, because I don’t think it needs changing. I am glad at least one person agrees.
The other people who commented seemed to get it too. Maybe you are right. Maybe my writing group just does not dig this kind of writing.
Just keep on doing what you’re doing… you rock!
Hi Lofter & thanks heaps for the reward, I havent posted it yet but I did remove the wings ‘cos it looked too much like a statue from a catholic church…..
Been busy & havent had much time to personalise my blog sidebar much yet.
Cheers amigo
LOL! Now that you mention it, it does look rather papal… Glad to have you back!