Bill Mowry, who writes the blog MowryJournal.com, shares his views on a variety of subjects as well as some of the recipes his wife Velda creates in the kitchen. He’s nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award, but actually his blog inspires me to keep reading not just his blog but that of others. Perhaps I should start a new blog entitled “Oh, the people I’ve met through blogging” because I’m living vicariously through many of them and their adventures. Thanks again for this nomination.

The rules of the award are as follows, but I’ve chosen to alter them a bit.
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 interesting things about yourself.
3. Nominate 7 bloggers you admire.
4. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

Instead of 7 interesting things about myself, my husband (who helps me write our blog) and I want to share 7 places we’ve seen that have inspired us! Each place holds a special memory — and we’d love to return to any or all.

• The town of Cobh (Queensland) in Cork, Ireland — the last port of call for the RMS Titanic and a lovely, quiet harbor town where cruise ships dock for the scenery and the historical tours. Towering above the harbor is St. Coleman’s Cathedral (Cobh Cathedral) with its carillon of 47 bells.  Impressive.
• Big Sur — Drive along California’s Highway 1 for commanding scenery of high cliffs that meet the crashing surf head-on.
• The Thamel — Walk carefully through this teeming shopping district in Kathmandhu where motorcycles swerve through narrow streets barely missing shoppers searching for pashminas, gemstones, and carved Buddhas to take back home.
• The Raffles Hotel in Singapore where, after a long day of touring, you can rest your elbows at the Long Bar and sip an original Singapore Sling.
• Arrive before sunset at Mallory Square in Key West to watch the one-man band, the guy with the cats, and the magicians before toasting sundown while applauding the end of another glorious day with fellow revelers.
• Drive almost anywhere on Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and you’ll be fascinated by the verdant fields and the blue, blue, blue of the ocean.  Not only that, you’ll want to read Anne of Green Gables if you missed it as a kid!
• Plan an extra day or at least stay ’til they close at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Even if they never hung one piece of the fabulous world-renowned art gathered over time and protected during WWII, you would be in awe of the architecture, interior decor, and simply amazing craftsmanship.

Here are seven blogs that inspire us:

Design by Lulu

elkemurphy

Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast

Mary Gilmartin

A Word in Your Ear

Stuff I Tell My Sister

SETHSNAP

Finally, I’d like to thank MowryJournal.com again for this nomination and let you readers know that my favorite post on that blog is entitled “Shrimp Boil” which you can access by clicking here.  Terrific pictures and a recipe to copy — all reminding me of good times in Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, Louisiana, and our family reunions. We, too, cover the table with paper; toss the shrimp, crabs, corn, and potatoes in a pile; and commence peelin’ and eatin’ ’til the juice runs down our arms! Let the good times roll!