Look what my friend Melody at The Donkey Whisperer passed on to me! You all know I love getting these little awards, and I thank Melody for remembering my blog when she set about nominating blogs she likes. Thanks, Melody!! Melody was in a terrible accident that ripped her poor body apart, and she deals with chronic pain every single day. Please visit her blog. She’s clever, funny, and most importantly, honest about how she is feeling and what she is learning about life. I enjoy her little corner of blogosphere and I know you will too!
I believe the first thing I’m supposed to do is to say why I started blogging and how it has helped me. Well, it started out that I found out my sister, who I haven’t had any contact with in several years, was blogging, and when I read hers, I thought it was a good idea and I wanted to create my own to write stuff my kids would like to read later on. I didn’t like hers, frankly, but I figured I’d just do mine differently.
But, it quickly took on a life of its own, as my husband’s addiction left me alone a lot, locked in my bedroom with just a television and a laptop. It became a diversion from my train-wrecked life, and I made a ton of really good friends on it that have held my hand through this major change in my life. Anymore, this little blog has some power to make me calm down by writing out my thoughts and feelings, plus the added bonus of be a great medium to receive advice and encouragement. Frankly, this is the most fun I’ve been having in a year!
So, on with the nominations. But first, the rules.
Here is instructions for the Blog Of The Year 2012 As you can see there is one gold star with the possibility of six in total. The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:
1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award
2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars… 
Yes – that’s right – there are stars to collect! Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different! When you begin you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star! There are a total of 6 stars to collect. Which means that you can check out your favourite blogs – and even if they have already been given the award by someone else – you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!
My Nominations – These are some of my very favorite blogs, although by no means all of them. Please check them out. You won’t be disappointed!
Confessions of an Apple Junkie - Incidentally, the only kind of junkie I want to be around these days. 
Like I said, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but it is a good start. Thank you again, Melody!
Love,
Bird
