MEFAs

[keiliss]

Today was almost perfect. Beautiful weather, picnic by a lake, stroked a six month old cheetah, had a Jackal Buzzard swoop down and take raw meat from my hand… I'll share some pics tomorrow when I've got the them onto the computer. For today - this is my (rather long) MEFA post.

I was thrilled to find several of the stories I nominated were placed and that all received good reviews. Congratulations to Kenaz, Elfscribe, Levade, Tux and Red. My own results were totally unexpected, and I spent a large part of yesterday smiling. There's no nicer feeling than when you discover people like your babies.

Huge thanks to Oshun, Rhapsody, Red, Min and Jane for the nominations. Thanks so much to anyone reading this who took the time to leave a review.

red_lasbelin has created winner's banners to fit my stories, and they are so gorgeous I just have to share them. Thought I'd use them for the post.

For Conversations she used fanart done for the story by Larakette, and I'm in love with the way it's turned out (I also have a Conversations icon now)


Hidden Within should have been difficult, but this picture has a shimmer like starlight that speaks to the heart of the story.


Nothing more suitable for Song than an Imladris picture


And the sea for Elendil - of course.


This is the most gorgeously 'right' Gladdy picture I've seen



Found you can write quite a lot of MEFA reviews in a very short time if you're really determined. Also found there is no way you can get to everything when you leave it to the last minute. I even missed people whose stories I like and have previously reviewed - you know who you are, I guess. Sorry, really sorry *blushes*.

Comments

[inwe-saralonde.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your wins and honourable mentions, Kei. They are well deserved :)

*hugs*

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much, Manon :)

*hugs*

[melusine6619.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! That is such wonderful news. :-)

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon.

Hope your New Year was good?

*hugs*

[elfscribe5.livejournal.com]

Congrats Kei. Well deserved. And the banners are lovely, Red.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I enjoyed making them to suit her brilliant stories.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) And congrats again to you, too.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Congrats! And nice banners. =)

*huggles*

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Thanks, CC! *hugs*

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

*hugs*

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks, CC :) And yes, they're lovely banners. I'm thrilled with them.

[minuial_nuwing]

Congratulations! The banners are gorgeous, Red.

**hugs**

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, Min. They needed something half as nice as the stories themselves, I think.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie.

*hugs*

[aglarien1.livejournal.com]

I'm so damned proud of you!!!!! Awesome, Kei.

*hugs*

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Aww *hugs Agie*. Thank you so much, dear. I never expected any of this.

[sbyte.livejournal.com]

Grats! You are awesome!

*hugs*

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Heh. Thanks so much, love.

*hugs*

[nikkiling2.livejournal.com]

You got to touch a young cheetah!?
Wow! I'm so jealous... They are such beautiful creatures. And so are jackal buzzards. What a fantastic feeling that must have been to feed them and be so close to them. Raptors are such wonderful, fascinating animals.

Anyway, congrats on the awards. :)
Those banners are beautifully constructed, as are your stories.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

I love the stories very much so it was necessary to make something to suit. Thank you, Nikki.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) And yes, the banners are gorgeous.

I planned to write a long post about my visit to the conservation sites at Spier but haven't gotten to it yet. The cubs weren't small any more, the youngest was about five months, and it's only when you compare them to the adults that you see how immature they still are. But the big boy I stroked purred for me, which was awesome.

The raptors were fascinating. I've always had a bit of a fear of birds, but I got brave and volunteered to experience feeing the buzzard. She missed the raw chicken in the palm of my hand first time, just grazed me, so I got a second chance. She was so quick and so precise, there's hardly anything to feel, just the wind from her wings. We met a kite, a (really naughty) goshawk and a peregrine falcon too.

http://www.spier.co.za/whattodoatspier/eagle.htm

http://www.cheetah.co.za/encounters.html

[nikkiling2.livejournal.com]

Wow. I now know what I'm gonna do if I ever make it to South Africa. That's just awesome, especially the purring. I love the big kitties, and cheetahs are probably my favorite.
And I've worked with raptors before doing field research... even held a goshawk and and touched a spotted owl in the wild. There is just something so intelligent and spiritual about them. I remember looking in the owl's eyes and seeing such wisdom and beauty... I now understand why owls were always considered wise.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

I need to resize some pics and post them, but here's a baby barn owl - http://pics.livejournal.com/keiliss/pic/0001yk92/s640x480. He/she was found and handed in but has imprinted on humans already so they don't know if he/she will be able to cope with being released in the wild later. It's still too small to fly and was walking around on a table. Quite calm, let me stroke its head.

[nikkiling2.livejournal.com]

Awwwwww! It's so cute!!! Thank you for sharing. I love it!

[chaotic-binky.livejournal.com]

Congratulations :D

Hugs Binky xxx

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Binky :)

*hugs*

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous banners Red and Kei: congrats with the wins. I am so immense happy that you placed so well (especially with Hidden Within, such a gem).

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, Rhaps! I was so thrilled when you wanted to use one of mine too. :D

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

Of course! I had two own made when they were nominated and I really liked yours back then. When I saw in that post that I could request it there, I did so, otherwise I'd asked you privately with a cherry on top + a naughty elf. You're the best :-*

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, Rhaps, and thank you for the nominations and the lovely reviews, too.

*hugs tight*

[tuxedo-elf.livejournal.com]

Ooh you did really well, congratulations! I got an honourable mention for Field of Flowers which was pretty good considering I don't write much these days! :P

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Saw the honourable mention, it was very well deserved. Congrats :) And - thank you.

*hugs tight*

[morethmusing.livejournal.com]

Congratulations - and very well deserved!

(Although I find myself distracted by the cheetah cub... How cute!)

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much :)

The Cheetah Outreach is part of a major conservation effort, as is Eagle Encounters. I waxed on about the experience to Nikkiling a few comments above and left links if you're interested. Best moment? Hearing a cheetah purr like a great big house kitty.