About

I’m apparently not happy enough to nag real people around me and feel compelled to invade also the virtual space. I’m an Eastern European in her early thirties, graduate of English Literature, a one-third-life crisis divorcee and custodian of a cat.

I’m a bad photographer and worse writer, which doesn’t prevent me from sharing my creations with complete strangers. You’ll find here regular outbursts of verbal sardonicism punctuated by snaps of my cats, shoes and other silly subjects. You’re welcome to enjoy yourself and share your sharp observations in comments.

312 thoughts on “About

  1. I just nominated you for the Liebster award . . . please recognize I am passing on the love from another blogger who nominated me and I realize it’s quite a rigamaroll to accept . . . nonetheless I do love your blog!

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    1. Oh, why, thank you!! This means to me a lot! I’m acquainted with the award, I actually was nominated once already and accepted – not sure if I can get it again? In any case, I appreciate it so much that you chose to send the love on to me!

      Incidentally, I absolutely adore the look and the feel of your blog (the cycling bird logo is just classic), alas, I’m neither a cyclist nor a cooking person, so I just occasionally take a peek and that’s it 😦

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  2. I am glad as a lark that your writing speaks about ‘irony’ and the words are real smart. I just love it. 😉

    Thank you for visiting my Blog. Thank you for appreciation. 😀

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  3. Cats are most definitely awesome, and you’ll get no argument from my sons about the awesomeness of cookies. 🙂

    I love your photography! Your monument post was particularly fascinating – I could study it for hours. There’s just something about trees that intrigues me, especially black-and-white shots of them. Lovely! 🙂

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    1. Thank a lot for stopping by and taking the time to comment! Glad to hear you’re a fellow cat and cookie lover 😉 I’m new to black-and-white shots, so I’m really glad that it’s working well! You certainly encouraged me to try more of these. 🙂

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  4. I’ve finally got home and guess what first major thing I do apart from unpacking is look through your blog as have been unable to whilst on holiday. It looks great, love the colours and OMG so organized, one could never get lost which is great. Did you make those black and white buttons on this page yourself? If so you should sell them, or re-create different types for others…..hint hint..haha…no seriously you have done a wonderful job and now I need someone to critique my blog xx huggles

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    1. Oh, you’re so sweet! And I’m quite relieved to hear you had a safe journey and are home and well 🙂 I’m very happy that you like the looks of my place, your opinion matters a lot to me!

      Sadly, I stole those black and white buttons from the internet, if you’d like similar ones, just search for, for example, “cat silhouette” on Google Images. I can’t make buttons, I can’t even draw a stick figure…

      Organised is what I am — you’d need to see my work table and my things and you’d see that I’m highly organised… Photo documentation here: http://maraeastern.com/2013/09/11/organising/. 😉

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    2. P.S. I honestly believe your blog is fine just the way it is — it’s very you, which I love! There’s a difference in that you have a premium theme, and an excellent one for that, so it requires very little additional work. And the work you did on your theme is good, I certainly wouldn’t spend any more time on tweaking your design and would just go blogging 😉

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        1. The East Sheen theme is so beautiful too! I think it suits your content well — I’d go for a more colourful theme myself but it wouldn’t work too good when most of my content are photos. That would be too busy, I guess.

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          1. Now I am confused…haha…well it is up to your body and mind whether you enjoy spanking. If you do that is fine but it is administered not as punishment, LOL…more as something else, but if you dont enjoy it then it is definately considered a punishment if administered…so…are we settled that you do not enjoy it?…To know that one would presume you have been spanked to come to that decision? ^^

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          2. LOL, you’re making me laugh really hard and hubby will think that I’m mad when I’m laughing for nothing (I’m of course not going to tell him what I’m laughing at)…. 😆 So, for the record, I don’t need the proof of test to be convinced that I would NOT enjoy spanking! 😉

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          3. Awe shucks again….so I have to resort to drawer messing now right? And that is the type of drawers you are putting pens in, not the ones you wear, sheesh the English language can really get one in trouble sometimes

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          4. Hehe, both my stationery and my lingerie drawers are perfectly organised (the latter by colour), so theoretically, you could choose any, but I appeal to you not to mess up with either!

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          5. Oh dear, too much to manage now, I still have the proofs to do that I mentioned yesterday, paint my nails, pack my things… Well, second world problems, you know. I’ll be overwhelmed when I return from my holiday!

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        1. Oh, I’ve got over 300 followers?! Let me check… I haven’t followed the stats in much detail recently. Many of the new followers would be Blogging 201 people, though, it’s a great opportunity for connecting 😉

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          1. I hope you’ll love Blogging 201, you like a nice chat, don’t you? The forums on The Commons are quite lively and I chat to people a lot 😉

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    1. Oh, thank you a lot for your lovely comment! It means a lot, especially from a major blogger like you 😉 I’ve just checked out your site in return and I’m impressed by its clear focus, unpretentious tone and friendly feel. Excellent!

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      1. Well, thank you right back! I am revamping as we speak, I mean as we write 🙂 I’m going to try doing a blog schedule and see how that feels…we’ll see.
        Happy blogging, new friend!
        P

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        1. A blogging schedule is a great idea, it works well for me, so I for one recommend it 🙂 I’m curious to see what you’ll come up with! Happy blogging to you!

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    1. Wow, thanks a lot, you’re very kind to pick me for the nomination! Alas, I’ve already been nominated, so I don’t think I can get the award repeatedly — but, I will at least acknowledge your nomination on my Awards page, OK? 😉

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    1. Thank you so much! What a nice surprise! 🙂 It’s a shame that I have already been nominated for this very award and happily accepted. I think the idea is that you only get an award once, so I I’m afraid I’ll have to pass on this one 😦 But I’ll proudly display the nomination as such on my vanity Awards page, OK?

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        1. Oh really?! Now that makes me unduly excited (though I’m hardly ever excited about anything that is neither cat nor chocolate) because I haven’t got the other two awards yet. It’s not like I’m collecting awards or anything. Not at all… But I’m flattered in advance.

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    1. Yay! I don’t have this award and I’m not sure that I deserve it: I’m afraid I’m anything but sunshine! But let’s not talk about it, I’m eager to grab the award when it’s offered, and I’ll happily look into the requirements for accepting the award within a few days 🙂 And THANK YOU!!

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    1. I must have been very good today to get not one but two awards!! Thank you a lot, I’m childishly excited about being awarded…! And thank you for your kind words. I think of myself as “Jack(ie) of all trades, master of none” rather than as a versatile person, but whatever, let’s pretend! I like it that it’s a “Versatile Sunshine Award” in your version 🙂

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    1. Ha! I’m amazed that I’m very inspiring. It feels good to be inspiring to someone else, if not to myself 😮 Thank you so much for the nomination! I’ve been actually nominated for this very award by another blogger recently, but I haven’t done the acceptance ceremony yet, so I think I’ll combine the two nominations into one! Thank you again and all the best.

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  5. Hi Mara,
    I am part of a Virtual Blog Tour and I have selected you to be one of the next participants. Part of the tour is to name three people and you of course are one of those. 🙂 You answer just a very few questions about your creative work and then select three other people you would like to spotlight. It’s a great way to help your friends and get them noticed in a different way.
    Below is the link to where I was nominated so you can see what it’s about, and of course you can do it in your own style.
    My article posts Monday, June 30th, yours would be the following Monday, those you select would be the next Monday and it would keep going on and on and on.
    Much Respect
    Ronovan
    You’re the only photographer I have chosen and I really want to see the answers to the questions.
    PLEASE accept. This isn’t like having to do all that work for an award. It’s a lot easier.

    Virtual Blog Tour – The Stars And The Journey

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    1. Oh, thank you so much! I’m excited to meet a crazy dog & cat lady, what an extraordinary combination! I love the name of your blog, I must go check it out right now 🙂

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  6. The doctor post brought me here. I love the fresh look of your blog. By the way, we have such similar descriptions. Have you noticed? And there’s a little bit of green in my theme as well. Oh, and we’re both Eastern Europeans, with messy hair in the morning. Nice finding you, Mara.

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    1. Aah, thank you so much for getting in touch! I have actually noticed something similar about us, or our blogs, but I couldn’t pin it down. I think that it’s much clearer now that I know you’re from the same region! I look for diversity in my blogging buddies, but at the end, I’m most drawn to bloggers who are the same like me. I’m looking forward to exploring your blog! 😀

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    1. Ha! I’m flattered and humbled. Though it looks like I’ve already got this particular award — how ridiculous! In any case, I thank you very much for this major compliment, and I’ll check out your post to see how I could join anyway 🙂

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      1. You can just display the award wherever you do them. You do not have to actually participate. I don’t force anyone to do so to accept. I know how much time it takes to do these awards.

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  7. Hello Mara! Thank you so much for the visit to my site – it is such a pleasure to meet you properly here on your page! I look forward to following and keeping up with you – cats, cookies and shoes are my most favorite things! Oh, and chickens, of course… Mother Hen

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    1. Oh, why, hello 🙂 I love it that you found me so that I could find you! It looks like I’ll be a huge fan of your humour. I’m not sure about my feelings about chickens, but I’m totally for a Mother Hen 😉

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  8. I’m in stalker mode to tell you a couple of things: 1. I’m again grumpy that I don’t have Instagram so that I can like your photos. 2. I’m even more grumpy that I blocked myself from having access to my Instagram account. 3. I really like the sticky snail. 4. I had hysterics over “yolo said no cat ever” 5. I like lists. *Stalk mode off* I’m going to bed, but will reactivate stalk mode in a few more days.

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      1. Yes. My lunch is over and there’s still so much time until dinner… Boo, life sucks.

        Also, thanks for stalking me, it makes me feel less bad for requiting your stalking. Sorry if that doesn’t make sense. As you noticed yourself, my lunch is over.

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    1. I never say it, but, ROFL!! You’re clearly the funniest person around. (After me, of course. Heh 😈 ) I *hate* lists as much as I *hate* BuzzFeed, so, here’s my response:

      1. I’m actually flattered that anyone looks at the photos. Liking is not obligatory. (Yet.)
      2. Bet I’m grumpier.
      3. Awe, thanks!
      4. That’s the truth. If your hysterics should continue, you might need therapy. I can give you a number, if you want.
      5. I *hate* lists. Really.

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        1. Heh 😀 You got me. I did write a list — but it was not an actual list, it was a subversive list. (That’s smart, right?) Also, hands down, humour showdown! Let’s start a countdown…

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  9. Your blog is such a feast to eyes!
    Even the most ordinary subjects seem enlightened under your camera lens! I always feel that someone who has the eye and understanding to click such gorgeous pictures, is a good person. How do you say? 😉
    Absolutely loved your photography and musings.
    Stay awesome!

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    1. Wow! Thanks a lot for stopping by and leaving such an encouraging comment! It means a lot. Happy blogging to you, now I’m off to check out what you’re up to on your own blog 😀

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  10. Hello there fellow cat lover !! I own two persian cats too, maybe our cats can go on a virtual play date ? lol
    So nice to meet you Mara, You have got a wonderful blog, I’m glad I wandered off here. Gonna stick around for your musings! ^_^
    With Love
    Zee ❤

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    1. Hello Zee *jumping up and down and waving* ! It’s my pleasure that you found me, and not it’s my turn to discover your blog! I have a hunch that I’ll love it, from one cat lady to another 😀 Thank you for your kind words and have a great day!

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          1. Awwh, Thanks a bunch Mara ! ❤ Don't get too comfortable with the cheerful side though I have tendency to write some depressing stuff (Which is not very often but I do) but hey you can freely skip that if you'd like, no problem at all 🙂 😀

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  11. I nominated you for the ‘One Lovely Bog Award’. If you’d like to accept and participate, check out the post on my blog. If not, you’re welcome anyway!

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    1. Wow! That’s so lovely of you! Thank you very much, it means a lot! I have already been nominated for the award, and I doubt I can get it twice, but I’ll at least mention you and thank you on my blog awards page 🙂

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    1. Wow, thanks so much! That means a lot 🙂 Strangely enough, I’ve already got this award, but the least I can do is to give you a shout-out and a huge thank you on my awards page 🙂 Again, thank you!

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  12. Hi there, I have decided to nominate you for the One Lovely Blog Award. No obligation on your part, but if you accept it, I would be happy. Here is the link to the post with rules of the award: http://wp.me/p4Do1g-mw

    Thanks for a lovely blog!

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    1. Wow! Thanks a lot for nominating me, it’s a huge honour! In fact, I’ve already been nominated for this award (strange though it is!), so you know what, I’ll just add your nomination on my modest awards page, ok? Thank you again, so kind of you!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much! I think I love changing my themes more often than it’s advisable; but I just can’t help my enthusiasm whenever a new theme just to my taste appears 😉 Happy to see you around!

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        1. Wow, excited for you! It’s true that sometimes it’s good to change your theme, though yours is looking very well, very clean, neat, and it’s obvious that much thought went in it.

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          1. Hm, that’s a fascinating analysis, except I don’t understand a word of it… My speed is apparently very low though, probably even worse than yours because I have got lots of stuff on the homepage, including some feeds. It’s always hard to make a compromise between design and usability! Keeping my fingers crossed for you 🙂

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  13. Your blog is so amazing,I don’t know where to start ,feeling like clicking everything at the same time 🙂 I don’t know why do you say you are bad photographer because that puts people like me to shame who are just learning 😀 Looking forward to see more from you. P.S the 1st picture of wooden bridge is stunning , regards,ady

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    1. Oh wow, you just made my day and I probably love you 😉 Thank you so much for your great comment, it’s surely very encouraging!

      It’s true that I wrote this About page when I started blogging, nearly a year and half ago, and meanwhile I’ve improved in taking photos a bit. I still suck though. If any of my photos looks fine, it’s because that I routinely photoshop them :-O

      Glad to see a fellow photo 101 classmate around, though! Here’s to happy shooting and see you around! 😀

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        1. Actually I work with Corel Paintshop, like Photshop, but in my opinion more user friendly (also significantly cheaper). It has in-built help and by test and trial, I learned to do quite a lot in it. Also, is has one-click smart photo fix — you click a button and your photo is automatically fixed to look its best.

          I’ve just discovered your photoblog and became your new fan 🙂 I still haven’t got over the enormous cuteness of your last squirell post… ❤

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    1. Awe, a fellow cookie and cat lover! I’m loving it 😉 Oh yes, one cat can be a handful already, and two can wreak havoc. Thank you for stopping at my place, it’s a pleasure to have you!

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  14. Love what you said about your skills as a photographer and poet. While you made have said this in jest, I really do not see myself as a photographer or writer. Rather, I have a strong desire to express ME and blogging is the venue. I look forward to following your blog.

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    1. Aw, thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment! Oh yes, I can very much relate to your desire to express yourself, that’s what I indulge in too, and perhaps most bloggers do! It’s great to be able to do it 🙂 See you around in the blogosphere!

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    1. A fellow cookie / cat / shoe lover, yay! *happy dance* Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the suggestion that I might be almost perfect, which is, of course, totally wrong, but enormously flattering 😉 Have a great day and see you around in the blogosphere!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Awe, thanks for the compliment, though I must admit that I “stole” the black and white drawings (they should be licenced for free use actually), I think I’ll need to fix this and put here something of my own! Great to see you around, thanks for stopping by!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi there and thanks so much for noticing the header! It’s a local wetlands area and the bridge crosses a small lake. Nothing too exciting, but a pleasant place to visit nonetheless 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Hello Mara,
    I’m new here. Very well organised page. Why do you say you’re a bad photographer?! I’ve seen great pictures here…

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    1. Hello, Rebekah, it’s a pleasure to see you around 🙂 I admit that the About page was written about a year and half ago, when I started the blog, and back then my photos were even worse than they are now. I might not have the worst pictures ever but I’m still pretty amateurish, so I think a warning for the reader comes in handy 😉

      I just went over to your blog and the first I saw was a beautiful British shorthair kitty — I’ll browse further now but I know already that I’ll love your blog 😉

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  16. Now that Photo101 and this madness of NaBloPoMo is ending, I am starting to have good manners again. I hadn’t yet visited your blog except for your daily photos.
    Your blog is fantastic and I’m not surprised. This about session is simply inviting; I had to go all over 172 comments to get here…worth every effort! Looking forward to having more of you in the coming posts. Cheers!

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    1. OMG, I have got 173 comments on my About page :-O ! I never even noticed… Well, thank you for discovering my blog for me. Seriously. No need to apologise, again very seriously, I don’t feel neglected, quite the contrary, and I’m very happy for each time we connect online. One must have a life besides blogging, right. (Not like I have much of one, though 😉 )

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      1. You see! You’re famous and you didn’t even notice it!
        Of course you don’t feel neglected because you couldn’t careless that I was mortified – and again sleplrss – because of you. 😉
        Oh, a life without blogging…tough one! You’re going to be part of the #photo 101 rehab project…Andy, Cardinal Guzman and I, chatted today about being addicted to this daily madness. I suggested to start the photo rehab as an event, as we can continue posting everyday.
        I just saw you did it already. Fancy doing it again? You don’t have a life, anyways!
        Hey, I’m happy too with our connections!

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        1. Yes, sure, I’m as famous as Kim Kardashian. She also did nothing and grew miraculously famous. Anyway 😉

          Please do have a life besides blog, it might be too late for me, but you still stand a chance!

          #photo101rehab? Haha! I’d love that! Could I be an on-and-off participant? I can’t commit to post every day, I still haven’t quite recovered from my Project 365 challenge, finished in August… Yet I would absolutely love to be part of your group! Albeit a tiny and unimportant part.

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          1. Love the comparison! Kim K…of all people on earth? You are better than that. Unless you are on the butt competition. 😉

            I’m not addicted, just love it! Isn’t that what you all say?

            You’re in! Yay!! Of course it can never be a rigorous well organized rehab; remember, am a gemini….;-)
            Unless it had been organized by you, the master.

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          2. Heh, a fellow anti-Kim K fan, I see 😉 Nope, no butt competitions for me, thanks. I’m very happy to have a normal human-sized bottom.

            I am addicted to blogging while I love it… Ooh, thank you for taking me on the team! Now, what do I do? I guess I will learn in due time on your blog? And don’t worry, I’m absolutely not going to terrorise you with organising anything.

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  17. Hi Mara, I found your blog by way of Justine at Eclectic Odd n Sods. I’m so thankful to her because this place is fabulous!! You do lovely work with words and photos. I know I’m going to enjoy getting to know you here. 😉

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    1. Hello, Pixie, a pleasure to meet you! It’s great that we have Justine for a mutual friend, she rocks 😉 Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment, now I’m looking forward to exploring your blog in turn, and see you around in the blogosphere!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, you’re so kind! Surprisingly, I have been nominated for this same award before, so I’ll just add your nomination on my awards page, if it’s ok… Thanks again!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Andy. Your nomination is a major compliment for me. I appreciate it very much. Thank you again, and though I have been nominated for this particular award before and accepted, I will at least proudly display your nomination on my awards page…

      Liked by 1 person

  18. BAD photographers? You are too modest! Your pics just rock! I wish I could capture pics like you…sigh…sigh…sigh…Too tired to sigh again, but for God’s sake, take out that ‘bad photographer’ bit! 😛

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    1. Well, I know, I have been actually called out on the bad photographer part a few times already — I admit that I’ve improved immensely since I wrote this introduction. Yet, I still feel as a bad photographer, so I think I will keep this phrase for a while 😉 Thank you for your kindness though! I’m much flattered!

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    1. Thank you a lot for stopping by! I’m a fan of your blog already (I discovered your place about five minutes before you discovered mine 😉 ), so it’s great to get in touch! Hope to see you around in the blogosphere!

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    1. Ooh, thank you so much for this lovely nomination!! I appreciate this compliment a lot! The thing is I have been nominated for this award and I don’t think you could receive it twice, so what I’ll do is to display your nomination on my Awards page, ok?

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  19. “cheerful negativism, morbid self-depreciation and bleak humour” – then this blog is right up my alley! Great to have found your blog Mara. Enjoyed what I read and saw so far. And, you aren’t that bad a poet 🙂

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  20. Pingback: Thaw | EAT ME
    1. Oh, thanks a lot, Laura, I appreciate it! I’ve been already nominated for this very award and accepted, but the least I can do is to give you a shout out on my awards page, if that will do for you? Thanks again!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Awe, thank you so much for your nomination, it means a lot! I have been nominated for this award before though and accepted, so I’ll just mention you on my awards page, if that’s ok with you? Thank you again!

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  21. dear Mara, I´m glad I found your blog, such an inspiration 🙂 more than a good photographer and a better poet, I believe that we should challenge ourselves and overpass our limitations and you’re doing it very well here, so please keep on going and enjoy life 🙂 all the best
    PedroL

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    1. Thank you so much for your lovely comment, you’re too kind! It’s true that I wrote this About page almost two years ago when I started blogging and since then I improved a little, so I agree that we should challenge ourselves! Thanks again for stopping by and see you around in the blogosphere 🙂

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    1. Oh hello Nitin and thanks for your nomination! I wish I had the time and space to look at it, but I appreciate very much that you thought of me all the same 🙂

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    1. Oh dear, thank you for the nomination! Sounds pretty challenging! I’d love to do that, but I’m too busy with my studies now, so I’ll take the liberty of postponing this fun challenge for when I have more time and less stress, if that’s ok! Happy summer to you 🙂

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      1. I think mice are cute – if they’re the domestic kind… I wouldn’t want to find wild mice or even rats like I did before in my cellar^^ Oh, but me too!!! All those legs…!!! And hairy big fatso spiders… they really scare me 8-o !!!

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          1. awww, cute white mouse ❤ Oh, a few weeks ago I photographed a yucky looking spider, intending to post the picture for a Halloween post… It freaked me out so much I blew the whole thing though^^

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    1. It’s lovely to hear that! I’m so flattered with your nomination, and I’ll definitely have a look into it. Thank you for it, and thank you for being my reader, via the Reader or otherwise 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Awe, thank you so much for your nomination! I was lucky enough to have been nominated before, as you correctly say, so I won’t be really accepting this award and forwarding it to others, but I hugely appreciate the nomination. Thank you again and see you around!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s a pleasure to have you! I’m always happy to meet a fellow suffering teacher (the premise being, of course, that all teachers suffer from indescribable torture), and your faking it is a skill I want!

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  22. Hello Mara, Your views on what I hate the least today have often curved my sometimes grumpy lips into a smile. For doing this I am passing on the MakeItUltra award to you. I hope you will accept this with honor and follow along. Here is my link and response to the award. https://wordpress.com/post/carmelasnelbaker.com/3544

    and here are the rules 🙂 hope you take the torch and run with it.

    ABOUT THE AWARD
    The MakeItUltra™ Blogger Award is an award given to bloggers by bloggers for quality content, originality and presentation. The intention of this award is to encourage connectivity and support in the blogging community and to increase exposure for individual bloggers.
    THE RULES
    If you have been nominated for the MakeItUltra™ Blogger Award and choose to accept, write a blog post about the MakeItUltra™ Blogger Award in which you:
    1. Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their blog on your blog. Take a moment to positively promote the person who nominated you.
    2. Display the award on your blog by adding it to your post and/or displaying it using a widget on your page (Save the image to your computer and upload it to your blog post).. Don’t forget to use the tag #MyUltraAward when you make your post!
    3. Answer the following MakeItUltra™ Blogger Award questions.

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    1. Aww, thank you so much for thinking so highly of my little posts and choosing me for the award! It made my day instantly better. I’m not much of a good blogger these days, so I probably won’t have the space to follow up on the requirements of the award, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate it very much. Thank you for this, and happy blogging!

      Liked by 1 person

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