and the Award goes to............................

How thrilled am I that the extremely talented Jane @ Mamie Jane's thinks that I deserve the Kreativ Blogger Award? Thank you, Jane, for awarding me this honour.

Thanks also to Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen who recently bestowed on me the Honest Scrap award.

Jane creates some of the most interesting projects, for her home and for sale using flea market & thrift store finds, that you could ever wish to come across. She certainly has an "eye" for decorating and I love to visit her blog to see her new ideas.

Sam is a talented writer and food columnist, she is a member of North Carolina Writers Network and her chicken recipes are award winners. Thank you Sam for including me in your list.

I began my blog in April 2008 just after my dear Dad passed away. When we first bought this beautiful old house, deep in the Normandy countryside and began to restore it to it's former glory, my Dad often said that I should write a book about our experiences, a la Peter Mayle. I never did write the book but maybe by blogging about Normandy Life, I'm fulfilling his wish in some small way?

It wasn't until quite recently however that I discovered "bloggerland" thanks to my dear friend Sarah @ HyacinthsForThe Soul.

I've so enjoyed visiting the blog parties, Mosaic Monday, Tablescape Thursday, Foodie Friday & Blue Monday just to name a few and who can forget Barb's Rooster Party?

I love welcoming visitors to NL & amazingingly 40 of you have decided I'm worth following. Knowing that you'll be stopping by has spurred me on to learn about so many new things.

Mosaics in particular have become a wonderful creative outlet for me and I've invested in a new Lumix camera because of that.

The rules of the Kreativ Blogger Award ask that I name 7 things about me that you may not know. Honest Scrap calls for me to share 10 but some things need to remain private!!

So, what else can I tell you about myself?

1. My first name is Julie.

My paternal Grandmother had four daughters and she named them Joan, Jean, June & Jessie. I was the first grandchild and a girl so Nana S wanted me to be a J, too. My Mother wasn't too keen she wanted Margaret, so a compromise was reached and I was baptised Julie Margaret but was to be known as Margaret.

I can't tell you how many problems that has caused when filling out official forms & applications over the years! When I was 21 I changed my name to Maggie & now only family members call me Margaret.

2. I can speak German, fluently.

3. When I was 15 I sat on the stage at a Tom Jones concert and he sang "What's New Pussycat" to me whilst holding my hand.

4. In 1970, early one morning as I walked to work along an empty stretch of road, a limousine drove by and the lady inside waved to me. It was Queen Elizabeth II who was visiting the City of Manchester that day.

5. I have 2 sisters and one brother. Rhonda and Jonathon who both live in Australia and K.E. who lives in the UK.

6. I cannot swim and have a pathological fear of deep water.

7. Since we married 30 years ago, Mr B and I have shared our lives with 3 German Shepherds and 3 Cocker Spaniels. Bosun & George. Bella & Blue. Bess & Ben.

These are the 7 people that I would like to nominate for both the Kreativ Blogger Award and the Honest Scrap Award:

1. Barb @ the french elements

2. Cindy @ cottage instincts

3. Jacque @Campagne Maison

4. Mary @ Across the Pond.

5. Judy @ jdbeads

6. Joyce @ Flour Power

7. Mary @ little red house

Please do go and visit some of my favourite blogs, now the "clerical"bit..... the "official" rules of the Awards should you choose to accept:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo (s) and place them on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.
5. Nominate 7 other blogs

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each.

and finally thanks once again to Jane & Sam for being so thoughtful.

Passez une bonne fin de semaine ;o)

Maggie