The form of Inspiration

Hello my friends! Today I want to show you one of the things that I find inspiring: The shape and texture of the simple dill weed umbel. This is the part of the dill that forms flowers and then seeds. Each flower and seed is tiny, but so detailed and beautiful.

Yesterday I began the process of putting my garden to bed. It is getting chilly at night, and I feared a killing frost would take my tomatoes, so Brian and I picked what remained (two laundry baskets full) and we will let them ripen in the warmth of our kitchen, where they will then be converted to sauce for our winter feasts! The dill weed also was culled, along with various other veggies and plants, which had given their all.

And I also need to thank Stephanie, of kitschicagoan, who generously nominated me for a blog award. I feel totally undeserving, but I am honored nonetheless. Part of the requirement of being a nominee is to list seven things about myself that others might not know. So here's my list:

1.) I spent several months in Pategonia, Chile, on 12,000 acres of wilderness studying misteltoe, Beech trees, and their understory. I was the only woman on this expedition of 4 others, and I slept in a tent every night.

2.) I rode my bicycle several hundred miles, all around Costa Rica just for fun.

3.)As a child, I lived in a hut on the beach in Mazatlan, Mexico. There was only one hotel there at the time.

4.) Among my childhood pets, I have had a skunk, a pigeon, a crow, and a squirrel.

5.) I have never been to Disneyland, nor to the Grand Canyon.

6.) I have a special fondness for all birds, but my favorite is a special woodpecker called a Flicker.

7.) As a child, I lived in a school bus on an exotic bird farm. I awoke to the calls of peacocks, gunie hens, parrots, cockatiels, and chickens. There were also ostriches, all kinds of water fowl, turkeys, and parrots of all colors and styles. I thought everyone lived like this.

The last obligation of this nomination is to nominate 7 others for the award. This is difficult because there are SO many fabulous blogs that I enjoy. So here are the seven that I have chosen:

1.)Victoria of The Silly Boo Dilly. Victoria is a fabulous quilter and designer and I'm inspired by her in so many ways.

2.) Judit, of Nemistom'..vagy igen? a blog written by an amazing and inspiring hungarian artist.

3.) Elsita of The Hidden Seed, a blogger devoted to personal style.

4.) Sam of Flow and Grow, a blogger devoted to personal growth, yoga, and running.

5.) Kristina of Inaluxe, a blogger who was among the first to welcome me to Etsy, and who I admire greatly for her artistic vision.

6.) Pam of the Business of Crafts; Pam is a mentor, friend, and fellow artist that I admire greatly!, and last, but not least,

7.) my good friend Jenni of Write the Journey: a blog devoted to The art of Motherhood, activism, and writing.

Tomorrow I have something VERY exciting that I will be doing. On Tuesday, I will come back and tell you all about it!