Two lovely surprises

I really enjoy blogging and reading other peoples blogs. What started out as a web log/diary to let family and friends keep up to date with our life in NZ seems to have grown. I did stop posting on for a while no-one was leaving any comments and it's always a bit disheartening when you've spent your time writing and loading pictures and not knowing if anyone was actually reading it.
But then I discovered more things to do with the blog, with add-ons and all the little gadgets made it much more fun. The best thing I think was the counter that let me know how many people were visiting, so I added the neo-counter that tells me what countries those visitors are from, it was really cool stuff. But it didn't stop there, I installed the Feedjit live traffic feed which told me exactly where the visitors were coming from, so now I was inspired and began posting much more on the blog, it's rather lovely knowing that there are people from around the world reading your blog and that some of those people come back or choose to 'follow' you. So when I checked the comments left this week I was chuffed to find I had been given two awards by two lovely ladies who follow my blog. It's enough to know that people think what you have to say is interesting enough for them to want to follow you in the first place but to give you an award because you brighten their day really is such a lovely thing to do.
So without further ado here they are:

Firstly a big thank you to Jo, of Jo's Health Corner who gave me a Beautiful blogger award here
The rules for accepting this award:

1.Thank the person that gave you the award

2.Pass this award on to 15 bloggers you've recently discovered
and whom you think are fantastic!

3.Contact the Bloggers you pick to let them know they've won

4.State 7 Things about yourself!

1. Thank you Jo xx

2. I give the awards to:

1) Jo's Health Corner
2) Lally
3) Critter Cottage
4) The Whites in New Zealand
5) On the way to Critter Farm
6) Journeys into Juneyville
7) Caitlyn Nicholas
8) Our Wee Farm
9) At the Good Life
10) Homemade Serenity
11) Heather at Home in the Townships
12) Bless you Homestead
13) Girls Wear Blue too
14) Aileen Clarke Crafts
15) It Blows Here

3. Pending!! Done! At last! Man that was a mission, but worth the effort! :D

4. 7 things about me:
1) I will have been married to Joe for 20 years in October this year
2) Our son Michael turns 18 in June this year
3) I love blogging
4) I am living my dream
5) I breed Boer goats and enjoy showing them
6) We also have dexter cattle, kune kune pigs, Jo-Jo the sheep, chooks, 3 dogs and 3 cats on 8 acres of land
7) I never thought I would be doing all of the above :D

My second award came from Rina at Our slice of heaven

Thank you Rina, you brightened my day for sure.

The Rules:
1. Post the award (Done)
2. Pass on to 12 bloggers that brighten your day
1) Our Slice of Heaven
2) Making Good
3) Lindercrofts Homestead
4) The Narrow Path
5) The Cottage Garden Farmer
6) Mels Backyard
7) Rural Writings
8) Kismet Farm
9) Kaz's Journeys
10) Little Cottage in the Country
11) Talisman Farm Sport Horses
12) Unbought Delicacies

3. Link to nominees. (Done)
4. Link back to givers. (Done)

Once again, thank you Jo and Rina. And thank you too to fellow bloggers for sharing your world. I've tried to give you all an award, so apologies if I've missed anyone, some blogs would open! :( But to you all, you're all award winners.