Many of you have seen the posts circulating – some call it “homework” some Sharing the sunshine . . . But it basically works like this.

Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
 Share 11 random facts about yourself.
 Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
 List 11 bloggers.  They should be bloggers you believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love!
 Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. (You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.)

I am honoured to have been “tagged” twice – first by my friend and fellow B.C. teacher Karen Lirenman who writes this blog Learning and Sharing with Ms. Lirenman but also blogs on a classblog and has all of her Grade one students blogging and connecting with the world. I am constantly learning from Karen. I was also asked to participate by Vicki Vinton who writes the blog To Make a Prairie – reading this blog means a fresh cup of coffee and some time to let all of her wonderful writing about teaching, reading and writing sink in.

January 3rd update: And one more -thanks Sarah Soltau-Heller at Singing My Song -I’ve now answered some of your questions below. Sarah’s voice in B.C. Education is one I absolutely respect!

So here goes . . .

Eleven facts you might not know about me:

1. I have two beautiful children – eleven year old boy/girl twins who I adore. I love to read to them daily, explore amazing places and listen to their big questions.

2. These beautiful children landed me on 13 weeks of bedrest at the end of my pregnancy. Where I began #bookaday 🙂

3. I taught for two years in Nitra, Slovakia

4. My husband proposed to me by writing in the back a of picture book that he had me read aloud to him.

5. Numbers stick in my head – I can remember phone numbers and birthdays of childhood friends. But I often have to do the math to remember how old I am.

6. My first degree is in philosophy.

7. I moved nine times before I was seven years old. But my husband and I have lived in our home for 16 years except for the 10 months when we moved out to renovate a few years ago.

8.  I base my opinion of small animals on what they do to my garden. Birds = love. Squirrels = evil thoughts.

9. I walk to work every day. Rain. Shine. Snow. It takes me 35 minutes if I hit the lights correctly. It’s what keeps me grounded.

10. The only food group I’m guaranteed to have every day is coffee (that is a food group isn’t it?)

11. I love puzzles. Of the jigsaw variety. I don’t do them often but when I break one out, I become obsessive. And I don’t like anyone to help.

My answers to the questions. I’m doing 5 from each blogger

Karen’s questions:

What have you been served, that you ate out of respect, but really didn’t like it?

Once during my years in Slovakia,  I was given a full glass of wine at 8 a.m. for helping to interview a librarian candidate in English. I took a sip and smiled and promptly switched glasses with my Slovak colleague who had already emptied his glass!

What scares you?

Top 3: 1. The boxes in my basement 2. The prospect of any type of infestation – mice, bugs . . . 3. The idea of my children getting sick.

Runner or walker?

Always walking! It is exercise and therapy all rolled into one. And a very green mode of transportation.

What’s the biggest surprise of your life?

That I couldn’t get pregnant. I am thankful everyday for advancements in assisted reproductive technology. My twins are IVF babies and we know how very blessed we were to have success finally. A long road with an absolute pot of gold at the end! Times two!

What is your favourite season and why?

Fall. The colours on the trees . . . Wow.

Vicky’s questions:

What did you learn from your mother?

To be with people and find the humour and spirit in everyone. My Mom was a nurse in an intermediate care facility for seniors. I remember watching her with patients and thinking she had some kind of magic. But the magic was all about sincerity, love and graciousness. My Mom is my hero.

Where do you find joy in your classroom or work?

In the tiny moments of laughter and silly and strength. The children I work with are resilient and all kinds of amazing. Everyday I find multiple moments to celebrate and hang on to those.

How do you feel about being the age you currently are?

Mostly fine because I never believe I am the age I am. And also my students often guess that I am 22 (or 75 but that’s another story). With age comes wisdom and wrinkles. I like to focus on the wisdom.

If you could have dinner (or coffee or drinks) with anyone living or dead, who would it be and what would you want to ask him or her?

I would love to have coffee with Linda Baie from Teacher Dance. I know Linda only through blogging and sharing books but I have the feeling we could talk all day. What would I want to ask her? All the secrets books have taught her. Us readers, we know a lot.

What do you do to recharge?

Read. Stories allow you to steal inspiration, hope and wisdom from the pages. Every book I read enriches who I am.

Sarah’s questions:

If you could do any other job what would it be?

A detective. I love the idea of sifting through information, reading people, trusting instincts and being smarter than the “bad guys”

What is your favourite colour? Why?

Green. Trees. Forests. Ferns. Limes. New growth. My wedding dress.

What is in your freezer right now?

Never enough coffee. Although we stockpile. Frozen fruits. Banana blueberry muffins (that I made).

What were you afraid of as a child?

Slow moving white vans (Scary news story) The Green Finger (Scary story told by older cousin)

What do you do that you wish you didn’t?

Make to do lists that are not humanly possible. And then attach very human guilt/angst. Working on this.

My eleven questions – feel free to only pick some. And avoid others!

1. Go anywhere for a weekend – where would it be?

2. Who in your family is most like you?

3. What 3 strengths do you have that you would use confidently to describe yourself?

4. What is your “successful” dinner – always good and one that you might have made and shared often? (It can even be the only thing you can actually cook)

5. What household task do you always feel behind with?

6. What genre do you need to read more?

7. What change would make your current work/job better on a daily basis?

8. What do you wish you could be braver about?

9. If someone were to describe your personal style, what would they say?

10. What makes a book a 5/5 stars book?

11. Fill in the blanks. I spend too much on ____________ but it’s okay because __________________________.

I am nominating seven brilliant and inspirational bloggers to share some stories and questions.  I feel like I am a little late to this “sharing” and so am bending a few rules 🙂 Anyone else who wants to participate – please add yourself to the list!

1. Adrienne Gear from Reading Power Gear

2. Beth Shaum from Foodie Bibliophile 

3. Susan Antonelli from  Wonder Teacher

4. Elisabeth Ellington from The Dirigible Plum

5. Lorna Wheaton from Not for Lunch 

6. Ann King from King and Kids

7. Nicole Levesque from BlueStocking Thinking