Candy Animals 2 and Awards for All

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

And then turn it into an award to share with fabulous Invisible Friends!



My dear friend Marie gave me this fabulous award last week, and I can't help passing it on. Marie is a fabulous artist and cook. If I ever get enough saved up to go to England, I'm going to go visit her. She'll have to extract me from her cottage with the jaws of death, because I'll probably eat myself stupid on her good food and forget all about running and kickboxing.

The rules state:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE &/or GRATITUDE!
3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love & link to this post & to the person from who you received your award.

And the winners are:

1) Blue Violet

2) Jiggety Jigg

3) Kristina

4) Francesca

5) Molly

6) Kristen

7) Pam

8) Cakelaw

9) Lorraine

10) Katherine





In addition, Bee and Rose, Shalee and Debra all saw fit to give me the Honest Scrap award. It was so kind of you girls to think of me! If ya'll haven't had the pleasure of meeting these fine ladies, click on their blogs right away and check them out. They're fabulous.

The rules state:

1) List ten honest things about yourself, and make it interesting!

2) Pass the award on to seven bloggers you feel embody the spirit of the honest scrap.

Honestly, I can't imagine what else you would want to know about me after my confessions Friday.

But for my Invisible Friends, I'll do anything. I'll give you seven new tidbits about me, one for each award winner.

1) I really don't like weddings. I saw so many girls get married for the wrong reasons in college that the idea of going to a big white wedding makes me want to pluck my eyes out. But I always wind up there anyway.



2) I dance in public places. Wal-Mart, a parking lot, fancy restaurant...you can't take me anywhere.



3) I talk to everyone. And everything.

4) Amusement parks and loud, crowded places make me really nervous. Usually I have to leave because I have trouble breathing.

5) One day, Ben and I want to start a rescue center for stray dogs.




6) I'm very curious.



7) And just for you, another wedding picture.

And the winners are:

1) Theresa

2) Maki

3) The Rambler

4) Lucy

5) Natalia

6) Dee

7) Esi

In addition, the darling Bee and Rose also tagged me with a photo tag.

The rules are:

1. Go to the 4th folder in your photo files on your computer.

2. Find the 4th photo in that folder.

3. Explain the photo.

4. Tag 4 people to do the same.




This was taken when I was in college. My friend Val (center) from high school was getting married and I was her maid of honor. This was a test shot so she could choose the dress I was to wear. Ben and I had been living in the Pond for about a month, so I missed the official fitting.

I ended up wearing the one I'm wearing.

I tag:

1) Marie

2) Linda

3) Abby

4) Illegally Blond

And now, for Candy Animals...For the previous edition, go here.

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"What is it?" Bubbles cried. He and Sasperilla leaped on to the end of Callie's spoon and hurried over to join George Hambleton Leafton the Third at the bottom of the hutch. Squatting down, Callie held the spoon over the drawer so they could peer into it.

"I don't see a thing," Sasperilla complained, peering into the drawer. "All I see is dust."

"And dead bugs," Bubbles pointed out, bubbles streaming out of his nose in disapproval.

George Hambleton Leafton the Third stretched his long caramel neck out and shook his head in disapproval. He tugged the drawer open wider, revealing delicate porcelain cups. Peeking around the corner of the cups was a bird. The other animals stepped back in shock.

"What is it?" Bubbles cried, bubbles filling the air.

"It's a bird!" Callie cried.

"It's moving!" Sasperilla shouted. "It's alive."

"It's an enchanted napkin ring," George Hambleton Leafton the Third snapped. He leaned his head down towards the bird. Peering closer, Callie saw the cranky caramel giraffe was correct. A long silver bird with blackened feathers etched into his back blinked up at her. It's wings tapered down into a steep curl that nearly connected with it's long feet. With it's wings plastered to its sides, it could merely blink and cock its head up at them.

"Why, it can't fly!" Sasperilla cried. "How terrible! We must help him!"

"How?" Bubbles asked, hiccuping as a bubble caught in his throat.

"Are you the only one?" George Hambleton Leafton the Third asked the bird gently. The bird nodded, tucking it's beak under it's wing in shame. It motioned to the other dishes, all which were chipped slightly, the edges yellowed with years of washing and poor care.

"Poor little thing was separated from it's set," George Hambleton Leafton the Third muttered, his face creased in concern.

"How can we make him fly?" Bubbles asked.

George Hambleton Leafton the Third shrugged. "The only way to make him fly is to make him happy enough to fly. And after living in a drawer in the dark for so long, I'm not quite sure what would make him happy." The animals all hung their heads. The bird shuffled in the drawer, ashamed at being an object of pity.

"A tea party," Callie exclaimed suddenly, her head snapping up. "We shall have a tea party! He can be the guest of honor! Would you like that?" she asked the bird. The bird's silver head bobbed up and down, and his beak popped open in delight.

"Then a tea party it is!" George Hambleton Leafton the Third declared.

The animals sprung into action. Sasperilla made her famous seaweed tea while Callie whipped up some tasty cakes and mini pies. Bubbles entertained the bird by making bubblegum animals while George Hambleton Leafton the Third set the table and wiped off the dishes. They spent the morning dining on chocolate and caramel cakes with rich butter cream frosting, and apple pies with crumbly toppings. The table was full of laughter and vivacious chatter, with plenty of teasing and kind jokes.

The smile on the bird's face grew greater and greater. A shot rang out through the air. Without warning, he shot into the sky, his wings creaking as they flapped back and forth in the air.

"He's flying!" Bubbles cried as pink bubbles surrounded the bird.

"Hooray!" Sasperilla cried.

Even George Hambleton Leafton the Third seemed pleased. He leaned over to Callie and nodded his caramel head. "Thank you for making our new flying friend better, Callie," he replied. "It was a fabulous tea party. It's a shame you start school soon."

The bird in the air trembled, and all the animals lost their smiles. Callie beamed. "Don't worry," she replied. "There's plenty of time on the weekends for tea parties."

And that was a perfect reason for more cake.

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Tomorrow we have a new edition of the Gift, followed by a week of whimsical fun! We have a new recipe, a statement from Bear, a date with the Fuzzy Duck and Rubber Chicken and of course, a new Twirl! Stay tuned!