In answer to your question...

{The Eastern box turtle could turn self into a rock.}

From dear Hila of le project d’amour a real lolly of an award she has handed me. To Louise, too, and perhaps you. I am this grey Wednesday morning the proud recipient of the I Love Your Blog prize. I am one of many lucky souls, and the ribbon for such a prize I choose to imagine to be rich saffron yellow in hue.
 
The rules of the prize are:
Do an entry with the prize
Answer the questions
Give the prize to 10 blogs
 
1. Why did you create the blog?
In the New Year of 2006, I decided to start this blog. I signed up one January day with little knowledge of what blogging entailed. I was not a regular reader of blogs but of the ones I had seen, I liked what I saw. Moreover, I wanted to join in. I created High Up in the Trees with little knowledge of what I would actually do with the space. All I knew was that I wanted a space comfortable and mine, a place to show my postcard collages. The name I pulled from a line of text featured in All These Black Days — Between by Rebecca Horn (and to lesser extent a visual painted in Chekhov's The House with the Mezzanine (An Artist's Story)). I did not think that it would be a name long in the keeping, but four years later this is clearly not the case. This space proved then, and still, a comfortable and somewhat orderly repository for my thoughts and hopes. From my comings and goings (upon occasion), to a sprinkling of visuals from both worktable and day, I hope it is something I have an interest in maintaining for a few more years yet.
 
2. What kind of blogs do you follow?
The blogs I follow have several shared features. They feel personal, engaging, welcoming, and are creative in some way. Visual content features high, from photographs to crafted creations, illustrations to paintings. They afford me a look at a day unlike my own. They afford me a look at a day similar to my own. And on days when working from home I have no reason to feel lonely. Many of the blogs I follow now I have followed for years, and this is something I like very much indeed.
 
3. Favourite makeup brand?
A little of this and that sums up my makeup regulars, I could not choose a favourite. Chanel, Stila, Yves Saint Laurent, Nars, By Terry, and Philosophy, why, the happiness they bring justifies all expense, and to this many will attest. No, I cannot resist their alluring packaging. I cannot resist the thrill of the quick and decadent purchase.
 
4. Favourite clothing brand?
A Karen Walker Marcel Blazer is a relatively recent spring purchase that I love to wear, though now that summer feels to have truly arrived its outings are becoming less frequent. Favourite thing to wear must equal favourite clothing brand according to my pre coffee logic.
 
5. Your indispensable makeup product?
A light coat of Chanel Inimitable mascara (in Noir Brun) on the top lashes for they are fair. If pressed I would also find it hard to do without YSL’s Touche Éclat and Stila’s Convertible Colour in Rose. And something for my hair, too. This humidity and rain is curling my hair into many ringlets.
 
6. Your favourite colour?
I am often drawn to rich golden yellows and blues that are almost green. I like my colour with a little earthiness to it, muted over bright. I like them with a warm base.
 
7. Your perfume?
Kai Perfume Oil most of the year round. It's the gardenia.
 
8. Your favorite film?
Too hard to pick right now. I am feeling too indecisive. A storm is forecast for today and my mind seems elsewhere. Perhaps it is best if I tell you that the last film I saw at the pictures was a half-price Monday screening of Copacabana starring Isabelle Huppert. The tower of recently watched dvds will tell you that of late I have been in the company of Fred & Ginger (Swing Time, Shall We Dance) and Pedro Almodóvar (Volver, All About My Mother), and To Catch a Thief (which goes hand in glove with warmer days) and Welcome too.
 
9. What country would you like to visit and why?
I’m with Hila in her wish to see the majesty of the Northern Lights, but this morning in answer to question I will say please take me to the Czech Republic for I have never been there and am unlikely to in the near future.
 
10. Make the last question and answer to yourself: what are you looking forward to today?
Pottering in the garden with a cat or two in tow, if the weather permits. There is little I love better than to spend time garden investigating new growth and removing dead leaves. My two tomato plants are as tall as I am now, and they are covered in tiny yellow flowers. High in the trees I recently spotted White-plumed honeyeaters. How glorious a name!
 
And the 10 blogs I give the prize to:
From Sundari passed to Hila. From Hila passed to me. From me to… Lea Bolvig, Alexandra Hedberg, Nathalie et cetera, Deleilian, Christine Clemmensen, Made by Katrina, Chez Denisse, Tiny Happy, Natsumi Nishizumi, Marie-Louise Sundqvist… and you. If it appeals and if you have time please play along.

Thank you.