award – Dutch goes the Photo!

Dragon’s Loyalty Award

Welcome to my lair!

Dragon's Loyalty Award

Dear Reader, begging your indulgence, I’d like to share with you that I have been nominated for the Dragon’s Loyalty Award! As a small repayment for your indulgence, I promise that this is the last reward that I am posting. As much as I enjoy receiving awards, I want to make sure that my blog stays on point, as much as possible, which means that I want to focus its content on you, my much appreciated Readers!

First of all, a great big thank you to Sherri, aka MysticalWriter, who thought me deserving of this award. I have been following Sherri’s blog for quite a while and love her take on the universe and, particularly, her posts on crystals and minerals, which are extermely informative. So go check her out at MysticalWriter.

Here’s the rules for this award, should you want to accept it:

☆Award Rules:

1. Display the award on your blog.
2. Announce your win with a post and link back to the nominator.
3. Present 6 deserving bloggers with the award.
4. Link your awardees in the post.
5. Write 7 interesting things about you.

Interesting Facts:

What could be 7 interesting facts about me? It’s a little tricky; after all, what I might find interesting, might be mundane to you… However, here’s an attempt:

While I was still in elementary school, I learned to speak basic English from kids in a British family, who lived in a windmill close to where I lived in the Netherlands.
I learned to read basic hieroglyphics, so that I could understand some of the writing on Egyptian artifacts that I saw in museums.
My high school was closed to an excellent museum in Rotterdam, so I often spent lunch time looking at Dali and Bosch paintings.
I have walked with a wolf, who accepted me enough to even lean into my leg and let me photograph her at eye level.
I find moose amazing animals, who posses untapped grace.
I have caught fish by walking through gullies in a part of the sea that falls dry at low tide, and feeling the fish wiggle underfoot.
I didn’t see my first computer until I went to college.

My Nominees:

Enjoy!!

Another Versatile Blogger Award!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

1-versatile-blogger-award I’m very grateful that I was nominated by Bikurgurl, whose Bikurgurl blog is truly awesome, for a Versatile Blogger Award.

First of all, go out and read Bikurgurl, as her writing, point of view on the world and overall outlook on life make her much more than just a gurl!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The Rules (from The Versatile Blogger Award):

Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy.
Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it.
Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. ( I would add, pick blogs or bloggers that are excellent!)
Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award — you might include a link to this site.
Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

Facts about me:

As I was born in the Netherlands, I love licorice (Dutch licorice, of course)
I find Japanese culture very intriguing and want to travel there
I am owned by 4 Cardigan Welsh Corgis and a cat
My high school was founded in 1328
I love exploring areas where there are few people
My favorite photographers are Rineke Dijkstra, Dorothea Lange and Cindy Sherman
There are lots of areas where I want to photograph, when I’m independlty wealthy!

There’s the tip of the iceberg 🙂

My Nominees (go check them out!!):

Each of these blogs is as unique as the folks that write them. The one constant is that each blogger is devoted to running a great blog, which shows in the quality of what they provide, and the honesty of what they write. You’ll want to check each of these blogs!

Thanks again Bikurgurl!!

Sunshine Blogger Award – David Muñiz

I humbly accept this award (smiles)

David Muñiz of Chape Personal Trainer nominated me for this amazing award! Thank you very much, David, as I am truly honored. Go check out David’s blog, Chape Personal Trainer, for lots of inspiration, detailed explanation of exercises, playlist, meal plans and overall good cheer!

Sunshine Award

Are you following David’s blog yet?

What are you waiting for?

Award Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the questions from your nominator.
3. Nominate eleven other bloggers and give them eleven questions.

Questions for me:

Favourite subject at school?
Physics. This is what I studied in college, as I knew it would be my major before I entered college.
What 3 words describe you best?
Intelligent, creative and driven, although the latter can sometimes take a detour.
What is your favourite quote?
The root of suffering is attachment. This simple statement holds much wisdom and truth!
Why did you start blogging?
Share my photography with people and learn more about them and from them. It’s a community experience that makes this fun!
What aspect of blogging do you love the most?
The interaction with fellow bloggers, who have taught me much and are a fun crowd!
What do you feel is the most important takeaway for your readers (from your blog)?
Look around yourself, appreciate what you see and enjoy it!
What’s your favourite hobby (aside from blogging!)?
Photography, as some of my readers might be aware 🙂
Who is your dream dinner party guest (whether they are still alive or not)?
Paramahansa Yogananda, who everyone can learn from.
Where is your happy place?
In meditation, as I float through levels of consciousness.
How do you handle a stressful day?
Play some guitar to relax and enjoy the moment.
What was one of the most unusual experiences you’ve encountered?
The first time that my spirit left my body during meditation. It was a beautiful moment of extreme peace.

My Sunshine Nominees:

My questions for you:

What is your best childhood memory?
What is your favorite music?
Where is your happy place?
What was one of the most defining moments in your life?
What do you like to achieve with your blog?
What aspect of blogging do you love the most?
If you could witness any event in the past or future, what would it be?
What does a perfect day look like to you?
What is your favourite quote?
What is your favorite genre of fiction?
What’s your ultimate vacation spot?

Hope you enjoy this!

Versatile Blogger Award

Another award? You’ve got to be kidding!

1-versatile-blogger-award I’m very pleased that I was nominated by Ada of Gina’s Blog for a Versatile Blogger Award.

First of all, Ada is a truly interesting person (that’s why I read her blog). She shares creative writing, art works, quotes that inspire her and others, and lots of other fun and inspirational content.

So, go check her out at Gina’s Blog and tell her I sent you! You won’t regret it and might be a bit inspired after reading some of her posts!

The Rules (from The Versatile Blogger Award):

Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy.
Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it.
Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. ( I would add, pick blogs or bloggers that are excellent!)
Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award — you might include a link to this site.
Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

My Nominees (slight rule break at 11…):

Facts about me:

I was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
I came to the United States to go to college.
My degree is in Physics.
My ideal place to live is the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
I started learning my first musical instrument, the guitar, 2 years ago.
I have a collection of one-of-a-kind collectible toys.
I want to spend more time on Iceland to photograph it.

There’s the tip of the iceberg 🙂

Thanks again to Ada!!

A Blogger Recognition Award!

What, me? Someone found my blog deserving! Blushing!

blogger-recognition-award

I am honored and humbled to have received a nomination for the Blogger Recognition Award from Ada of Gina’s Blog, which brings inspiration to an ever-growing readership. She shares creative writings, artworks, quotes, life hacks, everyday inspiration and many more fabulous items that make you want to come back again and again; if you haven’t visited Gina’s Blog yet, go over there now and come back here afterwards.

Thank you very much, Ada for this nomination, as I wend my way from my little corner of the blogosphere (notice how I found a corner in a sphere…) into the world wide wonder of the web. Over the past month, I have made progress with the help and encouragement of a lot of people that I have met through their blogs and mine; there is still a long way to go, but I think the bug may have bitten me!

So, here are the rules for this award:

Rule 1: Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Rule 2: Provide a link to the award creator.
Rule 3: Attach the award to your post.
Rule 4: Nominate fifteen other bloggers, excluding yourself and the person who nominated you
Rule 5: Write a brief story of how you started your blog.
Rule 6: A piece or two of advice to new bloggers.
Rule 7: Comment on the blogs you have named here to let them know you have nominated them.

How it began:

This blog has actually been around for 4+ years of inexpert blogging and inconsistent writing. My original intent for the blog was to provide an additional outlet to get my photography known to people. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a clue, nor did I stay after it, so that the only people that read my blog were my friends and fellow photographers who already knew my work. A grand total of 721 views over the past 3 years sums it up pretty well 🙂

The revival is very much thanks to the Blogging101 course from WordPress, which gave me lots of good advice and an impetus to get my blog more together, and all the people that I met through the course and beyond. A real cadence and sense of branding is beginning to emerge and I think it may be off to a good start this year!

Advice to New Bloggers:

Probably one of the best items that I learned over the past month is that you need to communicate, not just write blog posts! Comment and provide feedback to other bloggers, start conversations and learn from each other!

Nominees:

These are some excellent bloggers who deserve your attention!! Go check them out!

Thanks again Ada!

I received a Liebster Award!

Now this was a real surprise!

liebster-lg

I was pleasantly surprised when Angel nominated me for the “LIEBSTER AWARD”. Thank you so much for considering my blog worth this award. As I am just finishing up the Blogging101 course, I am truly honored and excited!

Thank you very much, Angel! Please check out her blog, where she has lots of uplifting posts and interesting posts, as she tries to make things of the hard things in life!

Now, for those who have not heard about the award, here are the rules:

Thank your nominator
Show the award on your blog
Answer 10 questions asked to you
Ask 10 questions to 10 new nominees (who have less than 200 followers)
Notify them

liebster-sm

Thank you once again, Angel, as I can’t thank you enough for this nomination!

10 Questions asked to me by Angel.

What was your first thought when you read about your nomination? I was simply overjoyed, as it came completely out of the blue.
What is your favourite thing about blogging? The ability to interact with other bloggers, and get their feedback on what I post.
Would you take more classes like Blogging101? Why? Blogging101 was a tremendous kickstart to finally get my blog out of the doldrums; I’m looking for additional classes to continue this drive forward.
Is there a specific thing you would like to blog about but have not yet? There are some drafts building up right now, so stay tuned for some completely new material.
What will your blog look like in five years? Hopefully, it will continue to evolve and become ever more inspiring to my fellow bloggers. As my graphic design skills improve, the look and feel of my blog should grow with these skills.
What inspires you? A unique view into the world around me. A moment of perfect stillness. Completing a tricky task. Inspiring someone else to stretch their abilities.
What drives you nuts? Mindless people, by and large…
If you were reborn – who would you be? I’d come back as an artistic scientist…
From today’s perspective: If you could change an event that happened in your life would you do it? There are lots of things that I might do differently with hindsight, but it’s not too useful to dwell on the past.
What is your inner child’s favourite activity? Musing over things, challenging myself.

The following bloggers are my nominees for the “Liebster” award, and I hope they accept it:

Nominees are kindly requested to answer the following 10 questions:

Why did you start blogging?
How do you feel about being nominated?
What is your opinion about Blogging101?
What are your hobbies other than blogging?
What inspires you the most?
Is this your first/only blog or do you have other blogs too?
How would you describe your blog?
What are the things that annoy you?
who would you want to be if you were reborn?
What is the message you want to give to your readers through your blog?

Keep on blogging!!

Thank you all!

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