A Blogging Tip

In a recent post I stated something about blogs that have all the favorites of the blogger on the sidebar and some go on forever. Well, after that, I saw one that actually went on for hundreds of favorites. I can't remember whose it was and wouldn't say even if I could so as not to embarrass her or him. I don't think I've ever seen so many. I think it was on their Profile page though. My goodness, that blogger had a lot.

Anyway, I received an email from someone saying that is how she can keep up with all of them and when they're been updated. It didn't occur to me that some of you didn't know the alternatives to have a Blog List on Google Reader. Yes!! You don't have to have them all on your sidebar. I actually prefer Google Reader. Anyway, I'm showing you how you can do it without having your scroll bar so tiny you can barely see it when you have so many things on your sidebar. I'm not meaning to embarrass anyone or be mean but just to show you there are alternatives.

I've done a screenshot of my desktop to show you how I view all my favorites. There could be many more as I do hop around but I've had to limit it to just a few who inspire me, whether creatively, emotionally or spiritually. I've also Photoshopped the screenshot so as to not make anyone feel bad if they're not on it. Plus, I like privacy. Yes, I know that's hard to believe with some of the things I post on here but there are certain privacy issues of which I prefer to adhere. Having been burglarized twice in California (once even walking in on them and being threatened with a screwdriver) and having once been burglarized here in Idaho. Actually, I don't think I've ever mention Love Bunny's name on here, but I do so in emails to people. It's all about privacy.

So, google Google Reader and create your own page and start putting your subscriptions in there. It will take a while if you have a few hundred but it's well worth the effort in my opinion. And, please, pass the word around. You may use my screenshots if you'd like. Just drag them to your desktop. (Mine looks a bit different because I'm on Apple Macs.) Or send your friends to this post. I'll also put it in my tutorial up at the top so it will be visible to anyone. That tutorial up at the top gives you a plethora of blogging tips on how to do a blog. If you haven't looked at it, I suggest you do. It can answer a lot of questions for you. It's a good tutorial I did in 2009. In fact, you might like looking at all of the "Pages" up at the topl

Oh, and those in the top left corner are ones that Google "advertises" and you could be in there for other people to see also. Those aren't ones I necessarily subscribe to.

Also, you can "view" each blog in the area to the right without actually going in there if you prefer. It'll give you a heads-up on the post for that day to see if you're interested in perusing the whole post. Saves a lot of time in my opinion.

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A Bit of Blogging

While I've been busy, I've also been a bit lethargic about life lately. Try as I may, I cannot seem to get interested in much of anything for several months now. Bear with me while I ramble a bit.



Yes, missing in action for a while, but I'll be blogging more soon. Which reminds me of something I've been seeing lately—not as much blogging around the internet. I've noticed it with myself and definitely with others. I've cut my favorites severely since I'm tired of seeing the same ol' stuff going on. I'm tired of simply viewing a blog that is promoting its owner's merchandise or viewing the same vignettes 20 times or setting tables with different plates or promoting "sponsors" on their blog. To me, it's just plain boring. They can absolutely do anything they want, but I'm choosing to stay away from those blogs.

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I've not gotten over watching videos on my Mac laptop since the surgery in April. I now know I've got to give it up. I'm not doing the things I need to be doing in life.



I've taken a 2 month leave of absence from my mission to deal with some personal things like the dreaded colonoscopy. Yuck! But it will soon be over. Then if that isn't enough, my left knee has been hurting. My son and hubby say it could be from the surgery on the right foot and the stress it puts on the left leg. This coming Friday will be my last day for PT on the foot/heel so I'm glad for that, and, yes, it has helped. I'll continue doing it at home though because the Achillles Tendon is still a bit tight.



So that's put me on a downward spiral with life. BUT this week I decided to get my backside in gear and do something around the house. I'm not one to change frequently, or change a lot, but I do change things.



For instance, notice the sofa below. I took off the slipcover to wash it (the skirt was filthy from visitor's shoes) and decided to leave it off for a while. I'm so glad I bought a washable slipcover; it washed beautifully but we had to spread it over 4 lawn chairs to dry it since it was so large and heavy for the dryer. I didn't want it to shrink either. But it was so big and heavy it took 2 loads to do it and even that was dicey! I also cut it down to 3 pillows instead of the 5 I had on there.

That sofa is almost 20 years old and still looks new. I just love it!

Then I decided I've got to get rid of some things in this house. So in our bedroom was a little footstool I had covered with a beautiful Waverly print years ago. I took it off when we moved here and stored the little footstool up in the attic. Last summer Love Bunny brought it down and parked it next to his bedside table. It's been there "holding" his clothes each night. It was just sitting there looking pathetic in its foam, soft stuffing covering and muslin that I thought I'd make another cover for it. Wasn't I just saying "get rid of some stuff"?! Sigh...



Well, one day I noticed a Battenburg lace small tablecloth I had stashed away and wondered if it would fit over it. Voilá, it fit just fine to cover the padding and muslin so I used some upholstery tacks to simply tack it. It took me all of 5 minutes to have a new little stool to have as an extra seat or a stool on which to prop one's feet on. Washable also! So now I don't have to sew anything...at least until I want to sew, which brings us to the next problem.

This sad and sorry looking craft and sewing room, which we're using more for food storage now. It's looked like this for almost a year. I usually just close the door and forget about it. There was way too much stuff in it. The antique school desk had to go. We took it out and it's now on Craigslist. I simply didn't have room OR need it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was an impulse buyer that day. I've curbed my spending dramatically!!!

I'll get to this before Christmas because I can feel my zeal coming back slowly. ;-)

A few roses from my garden today. They're still blooming. Aren't they just lovely? What would life be without beautiful flowers? God is so good to us!

If you've stayed with me this far on this post, thank you! I do tend to chat/ramble on too much. ;-)

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Answering Claudia's Post about Blogging

ME! And, yes, that's a good photo of me. I shaved my lip and chin hairs that day and put on makeup. I'm getting more wrinkles around the chin line. ;-( I've also included a few eye candy photos to "pretty up" the blog post today. :-)
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Update: At first I erroneously named the book by Jeffrey Deaver The Numbered Account. My mistake; it was called The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver. I have no clue why I called it that other than I'm a prolific reader of his novels. Sorry.
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Recently, Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage blogged about...well, blogs and the evolution and authenticity of them. I found it extremely interesting as she echoed some of my very own thoughts, and I'd like to expound on it with thoughts of my very own.

As with Claudia, my thoughts are on blogging frequently, and it is indeed a very personal thing. I also don't put much on here that would lead to someone stalking me as I've had that happen to me, and it's not something I wish to have repeated. [I've even seen blogs that have the house number and their last name on the front. Very easy to burglarize if they happen to post they'll be on vacation at a certain time. I know this because we've been burglarized twice in California and once here in Idaho. It will get worse. If you doubt me, just read The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver for a look into what the internet is becoming. It's an eye opener for me and the technology is there at this very moment for these things to happen.] I've tried finding my voice or own little niche for the 5 years I've been blogging. There have been times when I'd venture into different things but it just didn't feel like me. Hence, I went back and deleted every single one that didn't stay true to who I am. I have ended up just putting my thoughts on here many, many times. My very first post didn't even have photographs, but that changed very quickly as I love seeing photos. Photography has become a passion of mine, as has writing.

I don't journal, although our Church recommends it both for personal growth and a legacy for our children and grandchildren. I just could never get the hang of it because, mostly, it hurts to hold a pen and write. This is so very true for these old hands, plus my life isn't that interesting actually.


Giveaways also were a way to draw people. I'm like anyone and everyone else; I love people to visit. I tried different ways to attract viewers but gave up after realizing it wasn't for them especially, as much as it was a creative outlet for me. I joined just about any and every meme that came along but that didn't work for me and, again, wasn't true to who I am. I don't do swaps anymore unless I really, really feel like it, but I'm trying my best to get rid of 50 years of accumulation in this house; hence, I've only done one for the last 2 years. I don't particularly like them. I saw one blogger who only posts when she has a giveaway and has a very successful business in her area of crafting. I just can't do that. I won't do any giveaways anymore to draw people to my blog. I do them for the goodness it makes my heart feel and to truly make someone happy who, perhaps, has never won anything. But I wasn't even any good at that! One woman won a Christmas tree ornament I made that was truly lovely. I made three to see which ones I wanted to keep, so I tried to give away this Victorian one. It turned out beautiful. Well, I thought so anyway. I alerted her to the win a couple of times and never heard from her. I ended up sending it to a woman in Florida who was in my eBay group because I knew she'd love it. She did. This is that tree topper.

I have at the moment 1,035 blog posts with the very first several having been deleted by blogger because I suppose I've exceeded their limit. I've let trying to get more viewers NOT be my driving force for blogging. I do it for ME and only ME. As with Claudia, I'm a talker and love to write (type/keyboard) and share ideas and thoughts. And to write correctly. I'm sick to death of people trashing the English language the way it is today. I've yet to meet one young person who can articulate well and that's pathetic. I speak the way I write. Sometimes with a soft expletive thrown in, but I don't have a trashy mouth.

I also want my blog to be recognizable so I haven't changed it much. Nothing stymies me more than going to a blog I frequent and a whole new look stares me in the face. Usually, I'm not sure if I'm in the right place or not. Do as you please, but for me I'll not change much. And some posts will be long and some short; that's just the way it goes, chicks.


I shamefully lurk a lot also, Claudia, but I simply don't have the time to post at every single one I follow. Plus, some truly don't require a response and some others are ones for which I don't necessarily have a response. I love hearing from bloggers. I truly do. And I do try to hit everyone once in a while but I get so busy with other things I might not be able to. I've stopped viewing or following blogs that only do giveaways or blog mostly ads for things they sell. I don't do that; I have another blog for things I want to get rid of or sell. For me blogs are for regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, and graphics. Being somewhat OCD and a very visual person, ads, lots of blinkies or "fluff" and "sponsors" distract me quite a lot visually, so I don't visit them much, it at all. That is one reason I love Google Reader to peruse the blogs. You don't have to put up with all that distraction.

Having said all that, I truly don't see a time when I'll completely abandon blogging, but with all things, it has to end at some time. Also, who knows what the next social trend will be? I don't do Facebook except to see photos of my cute great grandchild, Caroline, and Twitter doesn't interest me at all. But someday there will be another thing that catches fire like mad and who knows; you just might see me over there. I'm a very young-at-heart old lady! And somewhat tech savvy also. I also hope you enjoyed the bit of eye candy I took with my Canon Rebel XS, Claudia. ;-)
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I'm Back with Some More Thoughts

I've been taking some time off to prioritize some things in my life, but I'm sure you've heard this before from other bloggers. Well, it is absolutely true. I've had other things pressing on my mind for a while and decided to just stay off blogging for several days to get things set straight in my mind. I suspect we all do it once in a while. All bloggers I mean. ;-)

I've been doing a lot of reading as that is probably my first passion. Then a friend of mine has been gently pressuring me to do more genealogy than I have done. I've also learned how to bake a loaf of edible bread; however, it's crumbly. Though not very pretty, it is still delicious. So I know now that I can bake it if necessary.

I've also decided to do an exercise routine and walk several times a week to get out of the house. I'm now understanding why older people want to stay in most of the time. I'm getting the same way. And that's mostly due to the fact that I rarely shop anymore except for food. I just don't need anything for this house and wish some of you lived close so I could give you things: pretty crafts I've made, ottomans, tables, desks, etc. I'm having separation issues and would love to know they were going to a loving house instead of Goodwill or Deseret Industries. ;-)

Also there was a break-in in our neighborhood. A young mother had returned from taking her child to school and walked in on a man in her home. That scared me so we immediately called an alarm company and had a burglar alarm installed within 2 days. We had one when we lived in California because we were robbed twice, but the 2nd time we walked in on the 2 men and they attacked us. I don't take chances anymore. Crime is coming even to smaller towns. I prefer a neighborhood because I can scream or phone and get help quicker than living out on acreage. If I'm in the house the system is armed. I'm taking no chances anymore. Plus after living through 2 burglaries I'm as security conscious as anyone can get. Times are changing dramatically and quickly in the world.

This is meant to be a scary post, just an alert to be aware. So now I'll show you some eye candy to make it worth your while visiting with me.

While I've posted these old shoes I couldn't throw out before, I thought some of you may have not seen them so here they are again. I redid them with Mod Podge and paper, lace, paper roses, pearls, feathers, birds and buttons. They now adorn my faux fireplace in our family room.

This lovely little pitcher sits on an old drawer I found and shabbied up with decoupage and decals. I love shabby chic romantic.

The garland of dyed coffee filters I have over the archway into our family room. I took them down and put up a bunting I made. Now I'm not sure where I'm going to hang them or whether I should just make some coffee filter roses and give them away. Hmmmmm......

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Update on Blogging

For a bit of eye candy before I begin. Look what Miss C just found—her thumb!

While here at our granddaughter's house visiting again with this precious great granddaughter, Kathleen Grace at Kathy's Cottage wrote a post about blogging and scheduling time for the other things in life, which brought up something I've been going to post about for a while but just couldn't find words to express it. I'll explain. And this is not meant to be a nasty or mean post. I wrote it with a soft voice.

I'm a stay-at-home wife, mom, grandma and great grandma and love doing it since retiring from being the highest paid woman in one of the very top Fortune 500 companies. I loved working. BUT keeping house and home for my hubby is my priority now and just because we're retired doesn't mean we have any more time than most other people. (We all find the time when we want to.) I love this even more than that job and, trust me, I loved it immensely. I have a great respect for women who stay at home with their children. It's sometimes a thankless job from other working women and the media, but it is the most important thing you can do. There is no success that can compensate for failure in the home. Just look around you.

I love blogging and don't ever see myself stopping it, although lately I had touched upon the thought, and it definitely gave me pause. I've always said I love blogging for the creativeness of putting my thoughts together to write a post, hone my photography skills, keeping in touch with friends and helping to bring a chuckle or two to some bloggers.

But we stay-at-home women still need stimulation, especially after all the kids are gone. Blogging is one of those things that I find stimulating for me. But, as I said, a few things happened that brought the thought of stopping flitting through my mind recently.

One reason was I fell and my legs and back still aren't the same. It absolutely still hurts to sit for any length of time. Plus before that I was having trouble with my arms, more specifically my wrists and elbows. My doctor and I attribute that to sitting at a computer for long stretches at a time. Like Kathy, I had to limit my time on my computer and that meant not as much commenting. I peruse almost 300 blogs on a regular basis. I couldn't possibly comment on each one. I try to hit several a day. But I love comments also and I saw the comments were going down. I wondered why. I don't think I said anything to distress or offend anyone. I try to keep them interesting, although, I'm not one to believe that my blog is the "be all/end all" for everyone. It isn't and never will be. Maybe it was because I wasn't commenting on some blogs that definitely don't return comments unless I comment on theirs. And yes, I've commented on some that do not take the time to comment—at least on mine—or even answer a question I've put to them. I believe that is just rude to not even answer a question and it has happened several times. If I can find time to visit your blog and ask a question then you should respond. I don't have any more time than you do, chicks. I try to answer questions but sometimes there is no return email address and if I go to their blog, there is no way to email them. Hence, I have no way to contact them to answer a question that is sometimes a bit private. I won't comment on a blog if the question isn't for all to see. And yes, I've probably missed a few.

I see some of the blogs that have hundreds and even thousands of followers. I've commented and even asked questions of them with absolutely no response and never having them comment on mine. I love perusing them though and shall probably continue to do so. I have one blogger who regularly receives upwards of 200 to 250 comments on each and every blog post but this sweet woman comments on my blog on a regular basis. She is either a wonder or sadistic trying to comment on all her commenters! I cannot believe she responds to each and every comment on her blog. She is a sweetheart and the funniest blogger I've ever read.

But bottom line: My blog is for me. If it delights someone and they wish to comment, I'm humbled and thrilled. I truly am. I'm not so haughty or too big for my britches that I don't get around and comment. But with my leg and arms still recuperating I simply cannot comment on each blog I follow. I love each and every single comment I get and if you comment on here, sometimes you need to awaken me and tell me to get over to your blog and comment. That truly does help me. Plus sometimes I inadvertently will not have you as a favorite on Google Reader or as a follower of your blog. Jostle my memory and I'll be over. After all, it's what keeps me going also. And if I ever quit blogging, it isn't because of anyone but me. No one has that kind of power over me but myself. I love blogging!! It's just that simple.
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Why I Blog

I bought a new camera today and practiced with it and wanted to show you some eye candy before my "monologue" so here it is first. Now on with the original purpose of this blog post.

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For the past couple of weeks I've read some blogs where women are giving up blogging. I wondered why. Oh, I can understand wanting or needing to take a break and I'm the same way. But for me, it's a creative outlet. One doesn't have too many "creative outlets" in a smallish town in southwestern Idaho! Trust me. It's a different world from the California life style we were used to. Don't get me wrong; I love Idaho and wouldn't move from it but it's a wee bit behind what we're used to. I truly DO love it here.

But I need a creative outlet - always did and always will. Blogging is my creative outlet. It hones my writing skills and my photography skills. I was the worst photographer before digital cameras were invented but they are improving dramatically! I love being in touch with the rest of the world and I do that with blogging. I love looking at arts and crafts and beautiful rooms and eye candy. I love creating beautiful things. I never buy anything that isn't useful or beautiful for my home - NEVER! If it gives me pleasure and makes me smile and/or is lovely, then it's mine.

I like meeting new people and sharing ideas. That is so easily done on the internet. AND as my daughter puts it so succinctly "virtual friends relationships" are much easier to maintain. She's absolutely correct in that! While I love lunch with the girls once in a while I do get that with a group of women from my church every month or so and that's great. (Feed me and I'll follow you anywhere!). But they might not meet a certain need that others on the internet can provide. That's why I love blogging with so many different kinds of people who share a kindred spirit with me. Plus I love encouraging and uplifting people and I think I do it well on my blog as others have emailed me and relayed their feelings about this.

I see blogs that blog about one thing, and one thing only, but that's not me. Ooooh, I love those blogs and visit them frequently but I have too much in this brain to blog about that to only blog about one thing isn't going to "do it" for me. I want to "get it all out" I guess. I want to uplift and encourage, share my random thoughts and musings (that may be redundant, not sure!), share my home that is very special to me, share my creations, share my town, share my life (limits, of course) and share our zaniness, humor and wit with all who can stand it. So I'm of the "don't subscribe to just one thing" type of blog. Frankly, there is so much to blog about I doubt if I'll live long enough to do it all! And yessssss, I live my life in "exclamation points"! I even talk that way, chicks. I'm just an intense and lively energetic person.

I don't want to change the world; I just want to be happy and to help others be happy with what they DO have and not lust for things that are of no importance in the scheme of things. Simply put, I blog because it gives me pleasure and makes me happy and to think it makes others happy just puts icing on my cupcakes!
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A rose in one of my bouquets in my home. Enjoy. ;-)

Book on The "Art" of Blogging

I was in a bookstore the other day and found this delightful book called Artful Blogging and bought it. What a delight for the senses it was, especially the eye candy in there. I must say I was impressed that others love blogging as much as I do. Mine isn't especially "artful" blogging but it's "art" of another sort I believe. I think their photography skills are much better than mine, but I'm learning, chicks; I'm learning!! I think I'll get more of this publisher's books.