My dear, sweet friend, Kay, from The Barefoot Minimalist, nominated The Frugal Farmer for the Liebster award – isn’t she sweet? Here’s how the Liebster Award works:
- Nominated bloggers pay it forward by nominating at least 1 other blogger
- They then answer the following 11 questions, listed below
So here it goes:
1. How did you decide on the name of your blog? Honestly, it just came to me. I was sitting in the truck one afternoon. I had just returned from lunch with friends, and was telling them my idea for the blog, and the name just popped into my head.
2. Where does your blogging inspiration come from? Mostly from our life here on the farm, and from a deep desire to help others find a simpler, more peaceful life. We’ve changed as a society from when I was a kid. I remember stores being closed on Sunday, and going to visit family each weekend. It was a quieter, more peaceful time, and now that peace and quiet has been replaced with “do, go, see”. People sit at the dinner table, not talking but surfing the net on their smartphones. It makes me sad, because we’ve got all of these wonderful people all around us and we often don’t even take the time to talk and be with them.
3. What is it that you love most about blogging? Definitely the relationships. Through thick and thin, through failure and success, the blogging community has been there to support me and my family.
4. What is your favorite food? Ooooh, that’s a tough one. Regular readers know that I’ve been on this whole foods/macrobiotic thing since the beginning of the year. In the olden days I would’ve said my favorite food is a nice, medium rare ribeye steak. Today, probably a big ol’ veggie bowl at Chipotle. The kids will also testify that I am now officially obsessed with fresh blueberries. π
5. What is your favorite thing to drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)? Today, probably water with fresh lemon. In my old partying days (you might be surprised that in my twenties I could bring the house down with the best of ’em π ) either a glass of Bailey’s Irish Cream or a Watermelon Kamikaze. It’s a great thing for everyone’s sake that those days are long gone. π
6. What is an item that you cannot live without? My Bible. It is my daily inspiration, motivation and support.
7. What are 11 random facts about you? Β Okay…..this might be TMI, but here goes:
- I know I’m aging myself with this one, but when I was in the 7th grade, I met Bo and Luke Duke from the Dukes of Hazzard show at an auto show. Tom Wopat (Luke Duke) kissed me on the cheek as we posed for a snapshot and made my year. π
- I absolutely positively abhor mushrooms. They are evil, IMHO.
- The Lord has given me an immense compassion for the human race, and it’s almost too much to bear at times. I find myself randomly praying for all sorts of strangers, having a huge, compassionate heart for people I’ve never even met. Β I hope it helps
- In my partying days, my bff and I were these two tough inner city chicks who wouldn’t hesitate to kick a** on people who were messing with others or tried to mess with us. We usually didn’t have to, though, because one psycho look from our high-haired, MC Hammer pants-ed selves would send potential opponents running for the hills. π Oh yeah, we was bad.
- In the 8th grade, I spent a short amount of time as a punk rocker, having a spiked mullet and listening to the Clash and the Sex Pistols.
- I never touch coffee or cigarettes – never tried them, but I love the smell of fresh coffee beans
- My very first pet was a dog we named Mutly. I don’t remember much about him other than the fact that he ate sticks in the back yard that fell off of our apple tree. When I was 4 or 5, we came home one day and Mutly was gone. My dad said he must’ve gotten out of the yard. Even at that young age, I knew something was amiss and that there was no way a 35 pound dog could’ve jumped a 6 foot wooden fence. Good try, mom and dad.
- In Kindergarten, I had a crotchety old mean teacher who was biding her time until retirement. On Easter Monday, we came into the classroom to find that the Easter Bunny had been there. There were bunny footsteps to the door, but oh no! His little cottontail was stuck in the big, metal door leading to outside! It had gotten chopped off as he tried to leave the room! The teacher was trying to be fun, I think, but I was devastated. I kept having visions of this poor little bunny, tail chopped off, bleeding all over, running frantically around the city. I cried for the rest of the entire day and my parents had to eventually come and get me because the principal feared I couldn’t walk home from school safely due to the trauma. π For that reason we’ve always had fun with Santa and the Easter bunny but the kids knew from day one that they were fake. π
- When I was in my early twenties, my girlfriends and I used to go to Chicago every year to party and take in a Cubbies game. We were so naive and stupid. One night we met these college guys at a club and went back to their apartment to sleep off the drunk, not ever suspecting that they might try and hurt us. How stupid was that? Luckily, they kept their hands to themselves, but I marvel to this day at our trust (or should I say “ignorance”) in total strangers in a big city. Good times. π
- I am this weird combination of drill sergeant mom and super loving, huggy mom. My kids know for a fact that I totally adore them, and I show it often, but they also know that if they mess with the bull, they will indeed get the horns. Sometimes I think they just think I’m cray-cray π
- When I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I knew I didn’t have the stomach for it. I don’t handle blood, guts and violence well and you will never find me watching violent shows, unless it’s something like The A-Team: Season 1 (best 80’s action/humor show EVER) where everyone always crawls out of every harrowing situation alive and well. π
8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Somewhere quiet, in the hills of North Carolina or the mountains of Montana
9. If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be? I’m going to mimic KayΒ here and say the Apostle Peter. He was spunky, tough, yet full of passion about Christ.
10. What is your favorite outdoorsy activity? Probably hiking. Although in the olden days, I was a seriously awesome rollerblader. π
11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Debt free. π
And for my nomination, I’m going to nominate Mark from Bare Budget Guy, because he’s funny, super wise about money, and because I know he’ll have some good, juicy facts to divulge about himself. π
Well, that’s it, my friends: a little glimpse into the odd and crazy gal that I am. Hope you enjoyed it. π
Congrats on the nomination! Wow lots of phases in your youth and see in the end you turn out just fine. π
By the grace of God, my friend. π
Love hearing more about you Laurie. Thanks for sharing those stories with us. π
LOL, they’re interesting, that’s for sure. Thanks, my friend. π
Love these! I remember wanting to always go to auto shows to meet celebrities. And since we are about the same age I probably would have loved to meet Bo and Luke, although I was definitely more into Luke. My friend had a giant poster on the wall of him and we would take turns kissing the poster. LOL!! There’s an embarrassing fact for ya. I was also way more into industrial music when I was in my early 20’s. I’d be right there in the pit for KMFDM or Skinny Puppy. Now I’m like “oh hey Jason Mraz and assigned seats!” Ahβ¦gettin’ old!
ROFL! What a hoot, Tonya! It seems so NOT long ago, doesn’t it? I remember those days of kissing Bo on the posters too – yep, way too embarrassing for me to be admitting on the Internet, that’s for sure. π
OH MY GOODNESS, Laurie! I loved this post SO much! It’s nice to know that I wasn’t the only wild and crazy girl back in the day! Aren’t you amazed you made it this far? TRULY by the grace of God go we! I just loved this. You are a VERY multifaceted lady, my dear Laurie! What a fun read! π
“Multifaceted”, yeah, that sounds better than crazy, which was probably more appropriate for me back then. π
Congrats Laurie! It is well deserved! Hope everything is going well in Minneasota on the homestead! Keep blogging away!
Thanks, friend! Hope all is going well for you too. π
Congrats Laurie! It’s nice to know where you got the name “the frugal farmer”. Nice name and timing! Good luck my friend!
Thank you, Jayson! Your support and friendship mean so much!
i remember the Dukes of Hazard! It’s pretty cool that you met them π thanks for sharing so many interesting facts with us.
I figured you were way too young to remember them. Now I don’t feel quite so old. Thank you. π
Thanks Laurie, I’m flattered! I just got back from a trip and saw this! I’ll have to get on it! I loved your random facts!
Woohoo! Can’t wait to learn more about you!
I feel like I know you so much better – the partying days?! hahaha I love it!!
Oh yeah, wasn’t pretty. π
You made all of that stuff up about being a scary kiss a** kid! Right? Crazy – I can believe that of anyone. But Scary? Not you!
Haha this is well deserved in my opinion! π
Huge fan of your blog Laurie, though I have to say after reading your comments about mushrooms I may have to rethink my allegiances π
LOL, many people feel that way, Richard. I just never got it, why people like ’em, but it seems either you love ’em or you hate ’em. π