“Leibster Award” Questions Answered

Thank you very much to @rosyhappylife for nominating my tiny little blog for the Liebster Award. I’ve been requested to answer various questions about some facets of my life (easy ones 🙂 ), so here goes.

Her questions for me are:

1. If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?   That’s a hard one! Let’s stick with the positive. Ethical. Generous. Chameleon. This last one because I’ve always been able to adapt to situations as needed, although it can be challenging.  I have many facets.
2. Have you ever carved a pumpkin? If so, what design did you make it?  When I was a child, I carved pumpkins every Halloween, and dried and roasted the seeds.  The last time I carved a pumpkin was about 20 years ago.  Now that you have asked me this question, rosyhappylife, I want to carve a pumpkin 🙂
3. Do you believe in the paranormal?   Not at all.  That might make me uninteresting, or closed-minded? I do enjoy watching or reading fictional accounts of paranormal stuff. As a kid I loved Ambrose Bierce (I know – heavy), and these days I occasionally listen to a podcast called “Dark Histories,” which is brilliantly researched and recommended listening this time of year!  I also like ghost stories in general. I have a couple of books of ghost stores with me here in Korea (E.L. James, Elizabeth Gaskill etc. are in there). Another factoid about me is that I read tarot cards, but purely as a door to the subconscious.  
4. Have you ever experienced anything paranormal?    Since I’m in denial about the paranormal 🙂  probably not. However I’ve had some unsettling experiences, including the feeling that someone is watching me although I am alone;  knowledge that seemed to come to me telepathically. I think there must be reasonable explanations for this stuff, though.
5. Your ideal day would be what?    It would involve location, weather, food, and special people, doing nothing in particular. Let’s say, with friends/family in northern California in late August (best weather), and a meal with local produce and wine.  No digital devices allowed, except to take photos.
6. Do you have a favorite treat you’re looking to make this fall?    I just looked up a recipe on Pinterest for divinity.  Divinity is a kind of Italian meringue / candy with pecans – it’s very “Southern” (as in, U.S.) and a childhood favorite.  The lady who took care of me until age 8 used to make it and it is emotionally embedded in me, so I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to try and re-create it.  I think I’m a little intimidated by candy-making and meringues in particular?  Maybe I’ll make it soon, and blog about it.
7. Do you have a hobby you would like to pick up?    Errr, not ANOTHER one 😀 😀  I have so many interests, it’s kind of ridiculous.  My main hobbies now are crafts with yarn and paper. Plus, I have a dog that keeps me busy, and a travel bucket list that’s miles long.  If I had all the time in the world, I might just improve on some things – like my French, Korean, sewing skills, or cooking.
8. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?  There are several places I want to go back, again and again. If I had to choose one brand new adventure, it would have to be Iran. 
9. What is your go-to outfit?    It depends on what I’m doing and the weather.  When I’m in the classroom, I wear a tailored dress, or slacks and a blouse.  Dog-walking means jeans and a t-shirt, or a sundress.  Earrings and a watch are my only two regular accessories.
10. Are you a cat or dog person?    I’m a dog person, but adore cats, too . I make friends with dogs and cats in my neighborhood.  As my blog readers know, I have my dog, Bodhi, who is a rescue from Korea. I always adopt older dogs, and Bo is my fourth dog since I’ve lived in Korea.  I have also pet-sat for friends’ cats, dogs, and even a hamster. I run a pet sitting community service group on Facebook.  
11. Will you decorate for Halloween or fall this year?   Probably a little bit.  I’ve already set out one tiny, crocheted pumpkin. I’ve never really been into Halloween decorating, even though I love the fall season.  Maybe it’s my denial of the paranormal? 😉  This year, I will make an effort to decorate, even though Covid will keep the little ones from coming to my place for candy (in the past, some of the foreign parents in Korea organized trick-or-treat outings, and I always participated).  

Wow, rosyhappylife, those were hard questions!  I’m not sure I even know enough bloggers well enough to participate.  I can nominate a few lovely bloggers and/or readers:

@nothingbutknit

@knittingjane

Elaine Howlin

Erin Hunt

Patricia Williams

There you go. My questions are:

1. What gets you excited about life?
2. How do you manage stress?
3. If you could have chosen your own name, what would you have picked?
4. If your home was on fire, and you could only grab three things, what would they be?
5. Do you think it’s too late to do certain things in your life?
6. What are three things you value most about a person?
7. What is your most cherished childhood memory?

Seven questions is enough! Plus, those are deep ones. Anyone can answer, really – just let me know if you do, so I can read your answers. Then you can pass it along, if you want.

Rules for the Liebster Blogger Award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and give a link to their blog.
2. Answer the 7 questions asked of you.
3. Nominate 7 other bloggers.
4. Ask ‘your nominees’ 7 questions. (or, change the number as you see fit.)
5. Notify your nominees once you have uploaded your post.

CAPTION: The Liebster Award is an award that exists only on the Internet and is given to bloggers by other bloggers, as a way to promote and support blogs with fewer than 200 readers. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules so you can give the award to any blog you want to support. The earliest case of the award goes as far back as 2011. Liebster in German means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.