Virtual Blog Tour – Let me introduce you to:

– Virtual Blog Tour: I was chosen for this by Belsbor:  http://belsbror.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/genuine-gems This is his blog about this. Choose three people to introduce – that is hard!!! I follow so many terrific bloggers. I would suggest you look down on the gravatars of folks I follow who follow my blog to see future new friends.

Not only must I do the hard job of choosing three bloggers, I must do the easy part of answering four questions. I’ve been working erratically on my blog process for awhile and this just spurred me on. We all follow blogs for different reasons. I was told in the beginning, it is courteous as a blogger to: (1) Follow the blogger in return who is following you, (2) Thank them for following, and (3) Respond to comments. Nothing elaborate, a smiley face is okay, a thank you is okay, a response is okay.  And at some point, it is okay to stop following a blog that doesn’t interest or inspire you.  Just be courteous!  Always say Thank you.  And before you hit that “like” button, really read or look at the post.

THE TOUR RULES:  The invitees need to answer the four questions I posted answers to, choose three bloggers, inform the three bloggers, give those bloggers a Monday to post on, and publish their post by July 7, 2014.  Enjoy your tour.  Visit, read, look, enjoy.  Writers and artists – oh my!  Look at those smiling faces and tell me they don’t make you smile back.

  So:  the person who invited me to participate:  Belsbror    The link to the post about the Virtual Blog Tour http://belsbror.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/genuine-gems/   The link to his site:  http://belsbror.wordpress.com  TAGLINE:  Like it or not, it’s already written, my way.  He says he is a “simple farmer”.  He is a simple farmer in the way Ryoanji is a simple gravel garden.  Word play, fiction, musings – always something going on at his blog.  Good read.  Thought provoking, laugh inducing, tear starter.  It’s all there.  Thank you Belsbror for inviting me to participate.  I am humbled by this.  Anyone who follows your blog knows the thought behind your words.  Maraming salamat sa ‘yo.(I hope I got this right!)

  My Invitees:

  How the Cookie Crumbles  http://letscutthecrap.wordpress.com  “An Irreverent view of life after 65”   The more I read and converse with this wonderful lady, the fonder I get of her.  Realistic, pragmatic, intelligent, grounded, and a real true sweetheart.  Right now my friend is writing about her recent trip to China.  I love it.  Other people focus on the arty stuff, the food, the culture.  She does that but….she tells about the toilets and toilet paper in other countries and their rules about them.  I must say, I was just overjoyed to read her take on this subject.  Haha, I have to say this:  let’s cut the crap, indeed.

  http://lorriebowden.com/  “Blessitude – I am so blessed and full of gratitude”  Her tagline says it all.  Poems, musings, lovely lovely lovely, positive, kind, encouraging.  I look forward to her posts knowing it is something that will lift me up.  You will discover “blessitude” as well.

   http://moorezart.wordpress.com/  “An artist must never be a prisoner.”  He truly follows his muse and great artistic instincts.  Today, a wonderful piece of his art, Koi, is posted.  Saturated colors, natural subjects – visual delights and soul satisfying art.  I always look forward to seeing what is new and today really made me happy.  I have a weakness for koi and this just made me smile!

1) What am I working on?
At this point, I am working on a blog: 50 Japanese words for “rain”. I think this is going to replace my great American novel because it seems, every time I have it down, I find another quirk. Because I write classical haiku, seasonal words are important.

I am also researching some antique and retro recipes. What we as Americans ate and cooked in 1900 is different from now, but still some similarities. I am a foodie and a food historian and trained chef. So research about food and history is always in the works.

And homework – I have mid-terms soon!

How does my work differ from others of each genre?
A Southern woman writing haiku, some in Japanese and who cooks and posts Japanese recipes is a bit different.  I research antique/retro recipes and post about those and I also post about NC style Southern cooking.  I also I also do not use any swear words, gratuitous or otherwise. I keep my posts at a PG or PG14 level.

Otherwise, I don’t do anything that different from other bloggers. I write about what I enjoy, inspires, touches, teaches me and spreads the same to others.

Why do I write/create what I do?
Because I like what I write about. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother. I write to hopefully engage people, make them smile, think, dance, laugh, cry, cook, dream, respond. I think of my blog as a virtual tea or coffee house. I want to get conversations started. I truly enjoy comments from other bloggers.

I do not accept or forward awards. I would rather really read another blogger’s work, hit “like” sincerely and truthfully, and make more comments about their work. Like is great – comment = conversation!

I keep the “Inner Peace” award posted on my blog to remind me that my blogging (for myself) isn’t about getting awards, making money, running up numbers, being Freshly Pressed.  I blog because I enjoy it, I enjoy reading other blogs, I enjoy getting to know folks in the Blogosphere.  I blog because I must and I can.

How does your writing/creative process work?
My writing/creative process does not work. It just is. Something in nature, a memory, a song, a word, being homesick and missing my family – these things fan that spark in me. The outcome is a haiku, musing, recipe….

My writing is from me to you. Hopefully, the circle will continue from you to me – that small comment or smiley face means so much not just to me, but to those who read the comments and continue the conversation.

Let the conversation begin!