Well, how did that happen?
A whole year has passed since I posted my first post, and this will be post number 200. It kind of crept up on me so I haven’t a plan ready.
I started like many of you, very tentatively, telling no-one. I bought ‘Blogging for Bliss’ and learned lots about blog etiquette, and how to do this or that. Some I do some I don’t.
I didn’t comment, I felt like an intruder in a private club. I made myself do it. Amy helped there. And so it continued on and on posting this and that, whatever came into my mind, comments or no comments. Trying more than anything to be just me.
I am still not very gregarious, I don’t join in everything but I am feeling less anxious and more content with what I do.
I have learnt that there is insufficient time in my day to do this!
It is such fun, it is my stress reliever.
I have learnt how to use my DSLR and now I love love love it. I decided, all by my self that I wanted a new lens. If you knew me you would know what a major breakthrough that was!
I have learnt a little photoshop, I think it is the most fun you can have with your clothes on or off! As long as I don’t have that little camera at the top of my screen on so as not to scare you.
I have learnt some html, gosh that makes posting easier.
I have learnt, and am posting some digital layouts.
There are so many inspirational people out there in blogland and I have ‘met’ just a few.
And all because one day last May I began to wonder if I might think about having a blog!
And in June I made it so….
So to you reading this, whether you have visited me once or many times, commented or not.
Thank you!
I have been photographing a pretty pale pink peony over the last seven days. I made this collage in Picassa which I don’t find particularly intuitive but I do like the results that you get from playing!
A giveaway
Later
I went into town today to look for something to give away on my blog to celebrate 200 posts and being 1 in blogging years.
I looked at sooo many craft books and art books and funny books and fabric and bead books but nothing was right. I put them all back, took a deep breath and just walked around the shop until I saw the book I am giving away on my blog. The book called to me, I wasn’t looking for it.
Typical of me, it has absolutely nothing to do with blogging, craft, photography or anyone of the myriad of things that I blog about.
This is what I was thinking. Apart from one or two people I have no idea where any of you live, and unless you read all my posts you have little or no idea where I live. So this instantly appealed to somewhere dark and mysterious in my fuddled brain, it’s the place that only I understand.
My giveaway is a really lovely book about the town I now live in. It is definitely not a tourist guide.
…It came as a shock to me to discover that a busy, jolly lady who had spent more than sixty years in this town had never visited Anchor Head…
…The perception of the town is so locked into the tripper zone of the sea-front that much of it is left unregarded and undiscovered….
And It has beautiful watercolour paintings to accompany the text.
And just because it appealed to me I bought another book as well, just for you.
Ok, in the comments, if you would like to receive my gift to you, tell me a hint or tip or secret you have learned that makes blogging better for you.
Congratulations on your birthday. I love, love, love Peonies – they are my favourite flower and I have a vase full of the same lovely pink in my kitchen right now (pinched them from Mum’s garden because mine aren’t flowering yet). What have I learnt from blogging, hmmmm – I think I’d have to say ‘to make the time to comment’. I read so many blogs that overflow with ideas, inspiration, funny/entertaining stories, tips, techniques etc etc – but sometimes I forget to thank those folk by commenting. Guess I need to label that as ‘work in progress’ lol
Many congratulations Miriam! It’s so good to read that blogging has brought you so much pleasure. I feel exactly the same way myself.
A tip? I keep a notebook to write down ideas as soon as I think of them. If I don’t, they disappear. Sometimes it might even just be a title or a couple of words I know I turn into something.
Enjoy your second year of blogging x
congratulations on a year of blogging
I love using livewriter to write my posts – so much easier than blogger.
I tend to write several posts in one go and then use the ‘post at this time’ facility to post them over several days
Congratulations! It’s such a special landmark to reach 🙂
My tip would always be to Blog Without Obligation (it’s something of a mantra with me!!) It helps me not to feel guilty if life gets busy and I can’t blog as often as usual, and it helps me to remember that while my blog friendships are extremely important, in the end I’m blogging for me and I blog because I enjoy it, so I need to keep it that way 🙂
Many congratulations, Miriam! and hoping that you enjoy your second year as much as your first :). Love your peonies – such a richly crumpled look! A hint or tip? Mmm… to keep a post focussed and brief. It’s easier to write and also to read. I have sometimes come across blog posts which are brilliant, but very, very long and they would have made a wonderful weeks’ worth of posts!
Congratulations! Until I started reading about other blogger’s anniversaries, I never paid any attention to mine or to the number of posts I’ve written. Love your peonies. Mine are just budded, and on Saturday I bought a bright red Chinese peony. We won’t see blooms this year, but I’m very hopeful for next year.
What have I learned? Like you, I started blogging for myself, and was quite surprised to find that I belong to a wonderful community of bloggers around the world. Recently, I had to make a decision not to join Shimelle’s most recent class because I knew I didn’t have the time to commit to reading everyone’s blogs. I used to feel guilty about not expanding my horizons, but now I know if I’m not careful, I won’t have any time left to create things to share on my blog!
Congratulations on your 1-year anniversary…quite an accomplishment!
I write my posts in MS Word and then copy-and-paste the text into the posting window of my blog. If a post includes a link to a website or blog, I use the name of the site in the text of my post but I put the web address at the bottom of the page I’m working on. Then when I transfer my work over to the posting window and start adding links, it’s easy to grab the web addresses needed to activate the links.
Hi Miriam, I keep trying to email you a reply but it keeps coming back to me…you asked about using my photo of those plants for your story on Sunday, if you still need the picture yes you may use it. I would love to be the photog for a story. =) Thank you for all the kind comments as well.
Yay Miriam! My top tip is to enjoy yourself and write about the things that interest you 🙂
I am loving all your beautifully photoshopped photos, you have actually inspired me to play around a bit more!