American Red Cross

A big thank you to Sandi for nominating my site for the “One Lovely Blog Award.” I have only recently met Sandi through the Blogging 101 course and have found her blog, Sappy as a Tree, wonderful inspiration and a welcome read. Thank you Sandi for nominating me. I humbly accept.

Now, for the seven fun facts about me, the woman in the Cow Pasture:

I have a Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration.
My career spanned from delivering babies to end of life Hospice Care.
During my career, I was the first Bone & Tissue Transplant Coordinator for Red Cross, covering seven counties in the state of SC.
I have 8 grandchildren.
I spent 10 days in Paris this past April with my youngest daughter, for her birthday.
My first published article was, “How Do I Ask?” published in 1989 in Nursing ’89 on transplantation.
My favorite genre to read and write is crime. I love exploring the dark edge of humanity.

I happily pass on the nomination to the following 15 blogs (in no particular order). The rules to accept the award are as follows:

* Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
* Add the One Lovely Blog logo to your post.
* Share 7 facts/or things about yourself
* Nominate 15 bloggers you admire and inform the nominees by commenting on their blog.

Fiction Notes

I’m surprised and honored. My blog has been nominated for the Very Inspiring Blog Award and I’d like to pay it forward.

I’m up every morning around six o’clock. The smell of hot coffee permeates the air as my oldest Bichon dances around my feet ready to start our morning routine.

It takes his sister, Piper a little longer. She’s still snuggled underneath the covers where she’s managed to wiggle her way in, the same way she wiggled her way into our lives some four years ago. We still can’t resist those adoring dark eyes staring at us, especially, in the wee hours of the morning.

My husband sleeps while the three of us walk out to grab the morning paper. They get a doggie biscuit, I get coffee, and we settle in front of the fire to catch up on the latest news.

But, headlines are the same they were the day, week and month before. Stories of the dreaded fiscal cliff, threat of nuclear weapons, or the ongoing clashes between the political parties long after the election, cover every page. I stop reading, and close the newspaper on the never-ending rhetoric.

It’s Christmas! Time for joy and inspiration.

Elizabeth Cutright has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me. It was through becoming acquainted with The Daily Creative Writer, and the many other talented bloggers that Morning Pages from the Cow Pasture Chronicles, sprang to life.

My blog, Cow Pasture Chronicles focuses on the how-to’s of writing while Sheila’s Morning Pages is my chance to share my words and stories. Perhaps, one such story, Christmas Magic, was the reason my blog came to be nominated for this special honor. It appears my seven-year-old granddaughter, Mallory, has touched many hearts and I’m happy to have shared it with you all.

I challenge you to Pay it forward. Write a good story and share it with others.

Now to the business end of the award nomination:

I’m southern born and raised and I love sweet tea with lemon and lots of ice.
I was climber as child; my exploits included the ironing board, the refrigerator, and the top of the frame of a house being built. I was three years old. My mother and the builder talked me down.
I’m a Registered Nurse by profession but have long been retired.
I spent half of my career delivering babies and the other half as a transplant coordinator for the American Red Cross bone and tissue program, and Administration; Polar opposites.
One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited has been the Grand Canyon. I rode all the way on a mule and saw the handiwork of God.
I collected clowns, dolls, and figurines for years. The clown and the character behind the face intrigued me. I eventually packed them away when my daughters reached an age they found them creepy.
And, although I love uplifting stories, my favorite genre is crime thrillers.