In which we get another prestigious award, and answer questions

Thanks to Kate who identified this blog as Beautiful. Thank you so much, Kate! We think you're beautiful as well.

The rules of this award are:
* Link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Tell 7 things about yourself
* Pass the award on to [up to] 15 other bloggers
(pretty soon, with math like that, unless we do a lot of duplicating, every blog in the universe will have had the award!), especially blogs that are newer to you.

If you're named below, please feel free to do this to whatever extent you wish, or not - it's your choice.

So here goes - 7 things about me that my readers have probably always questioned:

1. I am a grouch in the morning, and don't like to talk much until I've been awake for a while. At home, as soon as I'm awake, I put a kettle on to boil and go immediately outside to feed the horses, goats, and chickens (usually in my pajamas + rubber boots, plus a parka and toque in winter!). By the time everyone is fed and pens are cleaned, the kettle is whistling and I can make some tea and start becoming more civilized. In camp, I'll get up at least an hour before everyone else and do all the outdoor chores, then take the dogs for a walk in order to avoid talking. Yes, this does mean that I don't get much sleep on ride day.

2. I have trouble saying "no" to fun. I think that's how I became a storytelling librarian trail-building pirate endurance-riding radio disc jockey. All those parts of my life go together, but not in a very logical way until you know that the common denominator is the fact that I think fun is, well, fun.

3. Speaking of pirates, I play the "pirate librarian" in a forthcoming short movie made by my buddy Charlie Williams, which will be shown to schoolkids around the county to promote the library system's summer reading program.

4. I met Jim after he heard me on the radio and showed up to an event I was hosting. He started coming to storytelling events, learned to tell stories, and then joined me as a radio host soon after...and started taking riding lessons and then started riding endurance as well. What a cool guy. He cooks, too.

5. All my pets have always been named out of books, beginning with the kitty I got at age six, whom I named "Puff" after the cat in the Dick & Jane readers.

6. I hold a third-degree blackbelt in GoJu-Ryu karate, but I don't practice anymore. I consider the confidence given by the training absolutely priceless in my dealings with green horses and unruly library patrons.

7. Life goals I still haven't met: touring Mongolia, Iceland and Tanzania on horseback; learning to drive a chariot, and riding the Tevis.

Sharing the beauty, here's my ten faves:

1. Lytha at A Horse Crazy American in Germany who inspired this blog in the first place. She has a unique view of the world, which I treasure.

2. Leah Fry at Barn Door Tagz whose life in Texas is so different from mine, and yet so similar!

3. Jared at Moon over Martinborough who experiences the seasons exactly opposite of my own on his beautiful olive tree farm in New Zealand. His summer blue skies keep me sane in winter, his rain cools me in summer.

4. Mel at Boots and Saddles, who is wonderfully brave about learning new things and pushing herself further down the endurance trail.

5. Monica at Horsebytes, a local gal who gives me a new perspective on horsey events in my native land.

6. Funder at It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, who moved recently from the American South to the area near Rena NV with her pretty gaited mare. Funder's a busy lady, but never too busy to share the interesting details of her life with Dixie.

7. Janet at Mugwump Chronicles, a real-world horse trainer who doesn't hold with weird gimmicks or trendy techniques. She's also a helluva storyteller, bless her.

8. Now That's A Trot is a terrific chronicle of a standie in training on the other side of the U.S. Willie is such a handsome horse, it's always a joy to see photos from their adventures together.

9. Jane at The Literary Horse is able to make ordinary events funny, and make funny events outrageously hilarious. Treat yourself to some fun by reading her stories about the demonic pony Mr Chips.

10. Jonni at Trot On Hank has been doing the "endurance thing" a lot longer than I have. She's a bunch better at it than I am, no surprise--or else she's able to make herself appear more graceful in print than I've ever been.

Life (you know this part, right?) is good!