Hello! I hope you had a great weekend! Did you watch the Oscars? I thought they were good, apparently I am in the minority though as I heard they received terrible reviews. I am not sure they could have gotten much worse than last year but what do I know.
Today though, my mind is occupied by other things, as I was tagged last Thursday, by Tina at The Enchanted Home. If you do not know of Tina and her breathtaking blog, The Enchanted Home you must go over and take a look. Tina has just spent the last four years building her dream home and let me tell you it is spectacular. It reminds me of the old Country Houses the aristocracy in England would go to spend their weekends at. Anyway, the idea of this game is to answer the 11 questions that Tina has posed and then to pass this tag off to 11 other bloggers with a new set of 11 questions. I love the idea, I think that it gives us the chance to get to know more about the bloggers that we log on everyday to read.
Without further adieu, here are the questions that I am to answer.
1. Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it, if not tell me a hobby you wish you had!
I do not really have a hobby, unless you call baking and making candy a hobby. Baking is really therapy for me, that and washing dishes. But if I had a hobby I would love to be an artist! Perhaps that is more of a talent but for the purpose of this question, I would really enjoy knowing how to paint in many mediums: oil, acrylic, and watercolor.
2. What’s worse, failing at something or never trying to begin with?
I think it is worse to never try than to try and fail. What is the worst that can happen? You won’t be any good? If you never try you will always have regret, I promise you.
I always wanted to play the violin, I simply love its sound, I love the emotion it conveys, the way I feel when I hear it, so many things. So when I was 28 I decided to learn to play and I I loved it. I even had a few recitals. Let me tell you, the first one felt a bit embarrassing, especially as I thought I was the oldest person taking lessons. But when I found out there was also an 80 year old man, my tune changed and I believed that anything was possible.
I am not a prodigy, no Joshua Belll, Regina Carter, Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg or anyone else, but me, and frankly, when I have my concerts for myself I think I sound pretty fabulous.
3. Would you rather be a great cook or a great designer?
I would love to be a great designer.
I would love to be a great designer. What a wonderful experience that must be most of the time, meeting interesting people, seeing all manner of houses, going around the world finding beautiful treasures to fill these houses with. Taking a blank canvas and making it into a beautiful space and a beautiful home for the occupants to make wonderful memories; cooking for holidays, decorating for Christmas, tucking the kids into bed and living life.
4. If you could only have two rooms in your house which would they be?
I could live in just my bedroom and my kitchen. My bedroom with attached bath of course, which is comfortable and cosy, and filled with stacks of magazines and books. I love to sit in my bed and see the tops of the trees! And I love to take long, hot baths, with candles, book and a cup of tea.
The kitchen is the other room that I have to have, it is the place where I relax and bake and get rid of all of the stresses in my life. It is also where I prepare my cocoa and frankly, if I do not have a cocoa a day than I am like a bear sort of like people who do not get their morning coffee.
5. Tell me which 2 famous people you would choose to have dinner with (dead or alive)?
I would love to have dinner with Pope John Paul II and Leonardo DaVinci
Being Catholic and he being the Pope for most of my adult life I am fascinated by the changes John Paul II made in the church, his role in the end of Communism and his life. I want to know what it was like to grow up in Poland wanting to be an actor and then ending up the Pope. I want to hear what it is like to live in Vatican City and have access to one of the most fabulous art collections in the world, all to yourself, if you prefer. I am also curious to hear about the “secret” library where everything from letters from Galileo, to Napoleon, to the Dead Sea Scrolls are. What other secrets are there that we do not know about?
My second choice, which I think would be a great accompaniment to Pope John Paul, would be Leonardo Da Vinci, after all they could also converse about the fabulous Pieta which stands at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica as well as many other fabulous works of art in the Vatican collection. I am a great admirer of Da Vinci, and I would love to find out what was going on in his mind and his life when he designed not only fabulous sculptures like the David, but the paintings La Gioconda otherwise known as the Mona Lisa, and the last the Last Supper. I for one would love to know who the real Mona Lisa was, and if that is a self portrait in the Last Supper, or perhaps if one of the people at the table is Mary Magdalen? What was he thinking when he designed a tank, a flying machine, and even a handbag! Not to mention his work as an architect, a musician, writer, botanist, and to many other things to list here.
6. What are four descriptive words that describe you well?
Shy, unless I know you. Talkative once I do know you. Honest, and Friendly.
7. Best book or two that you read in the last year?
I have read many great books in the last year but my favorites,( not necessarily the best of all I have read) were writtern by Marlena di Blasi. She is the author of One Thousand Days in Venice, A Thousand DAys in Tuscany, The LAdy in the Palazzo, and several more books including cookbooks about Italian cuisine. I loved these books for the simple fact that they combine my love of Italy, food, romance, life and culture; all of which are described with love and in great detail in these books.
8. What do you miss most about being a kid?
The thing I miss most about being a kid is spending time with my brother and sisters. As we currently live all over the place the only time we are all together is at Christmas, otherwise, between work, kids, in-laws, it is hard to balance life and all be together more frequently. Often times there will be three of us together and one on the phone. But when we are together we love telling stories about growing up, travels and adventures we have had and frankly, just enjoying one anothers company.
9. If you had a freaky Friday experience and had to trade places with one person for one day, who would it be? Why that person?
If I had a “freaky Friday” experience I would love to be Queen Elizabeth! I want to see the inside of Buckingham Palace, all 700 plus rooms, then hop over the Windson Castle and take in the art there. In addition a “spot of tea” with William, Kate and Harry would be great. They seem as if they are very funny and so animated with their grandmother and I would like to witness it myself. I think she is an incredibly talented, intellegent woman and would be so interesting to spend a day in her shoes.
10. Describe a perfect day for you from morning till evening…..
My perfect day is at home with my husband and pup, I would be in a pair of flannel pj’s, the snow would be lightly falling outside, a roaring fire would be going in the fireplace and I would be happily ensconced on the couch with a cup of cocoa and a stack of magazines and books nearby. I could snack on junk food most of the day, hopefully it is nearby so that I do not have to move to far from my cosy little perch. Then for dinner we would have pizza, watch a funny movie and then bed with a hot water bottle and a snuggle with my husband and pup.
11. A place in the world you have never been that you would love to go……
I would love to go to Ireland. In fact I have dreamed of going there forever but other trips come up instead, not to mention the fact that I think that to really experience Ireland I need to spend at least 3 weeks minimum. I need to see the beauty of the countryside and experience the excitement of the city.
I want to kiss the blarney stone, eat some colcannon, drink a Guinness in the pub and listen to an Irish jig.
Now, I would like to know:
1. What is your favorite season and why?
2. Do you prefer to watch TV or read? What is your favorite genre of books or television?
3. If you could step into a time machine and go anywhere in time where would you visit? Why?
4. Are you a dog or a cat lover?
5. What is your favorite aspect of blogging?
6. What is your dream holiday? A stay- cation, visit with family, a cruise or a trip around the world?
7. Sweet or Salty? What is your go to junk food snack?
8. What is your dream job? Advertising, Engineer, Designer, Full time Blogger, Artist?
9. Who is your favorite artist? Warhol, Manet, Monet, Dali?
10.What is your favorite city in the world, either one your have visited or hope to see one day?
11. Do you have a favorite saying? Or a motto?
I tag the following fabulous blogger’s:
Debra atAcquired Objects
Jeanne at Collage of Life
Diane atYonks
Irina at Witty and Wise
Anita at Castles, Crowns and Cottages
Jude atA Trifle Rushed
Natasha at5 Minutes Just for Me
Suzanne atPrivet and Holly
Sunday atCiao Domenica
Rosemary atContent in a Cottage
Sarah atSarah Jane Down the Lane
I hope you visit these fabulous blog, everyone of these blogs is an adventure, a learning experience and a joy to follow. Have a great week! Thank you for playing along.
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Mother’s Day Gifts from Blogger Stores: Parisienne Farmgirl, Yonks, Castles, Crowns, Cottages, The Enchanted Home, Velvet & Linen, etc.
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Happiness Cake
Good Morning dear friend!!
I love this, getting to know more about you…love it!!
(By the way, I agree with you, compared to last year, these Oscars were fantastic!) 🙂
I know that you find baking therapeutic, but are you and I in the minority when we say that washing dishes is a soothing activity?
And that is so fantastic that you play the violin, Elizabeth! Someday I would love to hear you…
You know, my mom loved to teach the instrument to mostly adults, because she knew that if you are an adult taking lessons, taking the risk, if you will, then you have true passion for it. And it then matched her passion for teaching!
"WHY NOT", and "FEAR NOT" have become my favorite mantras lately…(thank you precious Anita, and Elizabeth for your inspiration!)
Marlena di Blasi's books sound fabulous, will put on my list.
Thank you, Elizabeth dear, for choosing me to continue the tag…I am in esteemed company, and I will visit the lovely bloggers who are new to me, and I can't wait to read the responses of all!
Have a cozy, wonderful day, sweet friend,
Big hugs,
– Irina
(Oh, and I will post the responses on my main blog, Gypsy In Me)
Like Irina, I am flattered and delighted to be tagged by you.
It was fascinating to read your answers and get to know you a little more. I do hope you get to Ireland, it is a beautiful country, and the people are wonderful (or so my Irish husband says!)
There was a great programme on the BBC, about the Queen, 'The Diamond Queen', because of course we are all looking forward to the 60th Jubilee. I hope you get a chance to watch it.
I'll need a few days to come up with some answers, and will post on Simplicity is the New Black (my non food blog).
Thank you again Jude x
Hi Hunny!
This is really insightful. It's great to know these things about you and I am really looking forward to thinking hard about the questions you posed. I will aim to answer tomorrow after giving it some thought. So many of your choices I would agree with and would be some of mine too, especially the curling up with a cocoa, hubs and pup! Great thought!
I haven't seen anything about the Oscars, but agree that if AJ's leg takes precedence over real newsworthy reporting, something has gone terribly wrong with the world. I would have a few heads if I was a news editor. It's such lazy reporting. Where are the days when news hounds would go out and find the real stories. Any fool could report this just vedgeing out on their sofa and watching the Oscars on TV. Numnuts!!
Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has to say.
Much Love
Di
xoxoxo
Now I know why we get along so well Elizabeth…we share so many of the same interests! If I had to tick the box on each of these, it would be 'yes' the whole way through. I just love getting to know you better..and must thank you for all the lovely comments you leave my way,
Now…as to your questions, they have Elizabeth written all over them, I like that! You may have got me on one or two…I am going to have a good long think on this one. I will let you know when I reciprocate. 🙂 xx
MY DEAR, this post FINALLY came to me, but what is UNUSUAL is that on my blog roll, your new title of UPDATE ON DOWNTON ABBY appears, but I come here and it is not here! BIZARRE!!!!!
Oh, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET TO KNOW YOU MORE MY DEAR!!!!! Listen, I will play along but I will answer these questions on another post; the one I prepared for this coming Friday has a subject that is already off the subject of this….OHHHHH THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME with these wonderful people!!! And Ireland? Oh dear, take me NOW!!!!
You are a dear heart and I thank you. Isn't Tina also sweet? HER HOME REMINDS me of the mansion from REMAINS OF THE DAY!!
I am loving, just LOVING DOWNTON ABBY! We are on the second season and finished the episode last night where MATTHEW seems to have feeling coming back to his legs. AND….I am afraid, SO AFRAID that Lord Grantham is going to have a rendez-vous with that new maid! NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
We shall see tonight! LOVE TO YOU! Anita
Elizabeth, thank you so much for including me in your list of bloggers that you "tagged." I cannot wait to visit each one of them, they all sound fabulous!
I loved reading your answers and getting to know you better. I think my favorite answer was the one about your "perfect" day. You and I are so much alike in that respect, staying indoors with my husband on a cold snowy day with a fire going in the fireplace and not leaving the house is a delightful idea. It would be heavenly. Of course there is a big problem with that scenario, it doesn't snow in Los Angeles! Fortunately there are lots of places to travel to for that kind of day.
I will need a little time to work on this but look forward to answering your questions and coming up with some favorite bloggers to pass it onto.
xx Sunday