Today is the Fourth Anniversary of My First Blog Post.

As I've mentioned before, this Blog began as a class project, with a poem by Langston Hughes and a quote from Erasmus, and has never looked back - figuratively speaking, that is. The quote has hung in my office for ever, (alright, almost forever) and is closer to the truth than my husband would like.

When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.

                                                                                                                        - Erasmus
 

Through this blog I have gained so much. I learned more than I ever expected to about computers. I discovered a world of writing - many worlds, actually. I found that information on any subject was literally at my fingertips. All the information from every side, so that I could make up my own mind. And once I lost my timidity, I discovered the most important thing - the many wonderful people I've gotten to know through this blog.

Writers, readers, critics, fans, people who ended up here accidentally while looking for something else: all have enriched my life, and I want to take a moment before I start my day to thank you and say that I hope you have gotten something in return. I hope the weeks and months ahead are filled with happiness and security. That second thing is in short supply these days.

I'll close with something that my Gran used to say:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

They're Talking About MY Blog . . .

Savage Chickens dot com

This Blog Celebrates its Third Birthday Today

And since I've been spending every free moment in the garden for the past few weeks, I thought this cake was a perfect way to celebrate.

Have You Ever Pushed a Button and Watched Years of Hard Work and Love Self-destruct?

You may notice some major changes in the look of my blog today. Although I've wanted to update for quite a while, this update was the result of a major F . . .  Well, lets just call it a boo boo and leave it at that.

I pushed the wrong button and all h . . . Well, my blog changed into something pink and bizarre. After a while I was able to reinstall the original template, only to find that my links and widgets were completely gone. 

But wait. There's more! Not content with a small . . . boo boo . . . I was able to make it much, much worse. When I followed Blogger's instructions to reinstate my back-up, a white page, full of what I can only surmise was code, came up in place of the entire blog.

Desperate at the complete loss of three year's work, I turned to my hero - my lover, best friend, and husband. You know, my own private superhero. In just a few minutes he had my blog up, with a new but working template that I was able to customize.

This isn't the first time he's saved my bacon.

He can fix anything.

And believe me, after more than twenty years together, he's had plenty of practice! 

So this post is for him.

Thank you, my love, for never shying away from the challenge.

A Different Kind of POETRY Challenge

 This challenge is hosted jointly by The Written World & Regular Ruminations.
  

UPDATE 7/5/12:

The challenge has evolved. Make The Poetry Project about your goals. You still post monthly about poetry but a). there is not an assigned day and b). you can post as often as you like. Just be sure to link to all your posts by the end of the month so they can be included in the round up. 

Not sure what to talk about? Follow these (optional) prompts!

July – Meet and Greet Questionnaire - (posted 7/7/12)
August – Poem by a Pulitzer Prize winner - (posted 8/1/12)
September – A classic poem - (posted 9/5/12)
October - Halloween poems - (posted 10/2/12) 
November – War remembrance - (posted 11/11/12)
December – Holiday Poems/Mid -Year Reflection - (posted 12/5/12)
January – Poems by Christina Rossetti (posted 1/6/12 Oops! 13)
February – Poems about love, hate or heartbreak (posted 2/6/13)
March – A new release poem/book of poetry (pub. 2012/2013) (posted 3/6/13)
April – What could have made you appreciate poetry more when you were younger? How would you raise a poetry reader? (posted 4/5/13)
June – Read a poem from the list that started it all. (posted 6/7/13)
July – Shakespearean sonnet (posted 7/9/13)

MONTHLY ROUNDUPS 

of participants:

July / August / September /  October / November / December
January / February / March / April / May / June / July

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

ORIGINAL POST 1/8/12:

Instead of a readalong or a reading challenge, this is a blog-along, with one goal: blog about poetry once a month. It is a laid-back way to get the book blogging community posting about poetry.

I post regularly.

I post things I love.

I post things that amuse or intrigue me.

I post things that force me to think.

I post things that I think might help others in some way.

I have, however, purposely kept my own commentary to a minimum, sinceI have had little time to put together what I consider to be thoughtful, insightful, and enlightening blog posts. But I would like to do more.

I'm hoping that this challenge will help by giving me a manageable goal. Well, I guess I'll find out soon enough.

1). Sign up link on regular rumination. (Some poetry suggestions if you need a push.)
2). Post about poetry on your blog on the following dates:

January 31th / February 28th / March 27th / April 24th / May 28 - 31 / June 25 - 29

MONTHLY ROUNDUPS of participants:

 January / February / March / April

Why do I still have the sneaking suspicion that they all landed here by mistake?

I've had visitors from 142 different countries land on my blog in it's nearly three years of existence. I average about a hundred hits a day by the stats counter, but have only received a handful of comments.

I guess since I don't have much in the way of commentary or original content that's to be expected. But still, a line now and then, just to say 'hi' would be nice.

Don't get me wrong. The traffic on the counter lets me know I'm not alone. But it's a bit like living in a house full of ghosts. You feel their presence without being able to touch them or carry on a conversation.

Anyone know where I can find a 'Blog medium'?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Two years ago today 
this blog was born.

I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I.

BLOGGIESTA . . . ACROSS THE FINISH LINE

Boy, am I tired. 

I'd like to say it is because of my 72 hour blog housekeeping marathon. But that would be a lie.

We took a break last night to check out a friend of ours in his band, Superlicious, and the night took on a life of its own. 

The band is an eighties cover band (you know you like it, admit it) and they were great. We had a wonderful time with friends. And Then . . . . 

On the way home the truck broke down in the middle of nowhere. Our cell phone was dead. And it was a foggy fifty-some degrees.

We had to walk to the call box. Thank heaven it was there! We woke our daughter up to come get us and walked back to the truck. This was after dancing all night. Our daughter got lost and we shivered there nearly three hours with no heat while waiting.

Well, we got home this morning and after some sleep, went back to pickup the truck. So I lost time, sleep, and productivity. (THIS was my starting line post).

What did I accomplish?

I Did some soul searching about my blog and how I would like it to be,

Visited blogs I wouldn't have otherwise and gotten a lot of new ideas, 

Cleaned up my links, 

Made the sidebar more user friendly, 

Drafted and scheduled future posts, 

Bookmarked information regarding improvements I still want to make but haven't,
and
I enjoyed spending time in the company of other bloggers. I love blog hopping.

I also participated in a mini challenge at Word Lilly, called '10 Things Bloggers shouldn't do.' It gave me some direction as well as good ideas.

I went to Website Grader for a report I don't quite understand yet. (But I will)

No, I didn't accomplish all that I wanted. But that's OK. I gained a great deal from the experience, and I thank Natasha at Maw Books Blog for hosting the challenge. And I thank all those who participated for being my teachers and my inspiration.

But now I'm off to bed. Night all.

Ole! Fiesta Time! Suggestions Welcome!

Well, it's begun.

I know a few things that need to be done with my blog. But some feedback from others would be helpful to get a feel for how it looks to outsiders. Any thoughts would be great.

First, A couple of things that I am quite proud of: 

1). I taught myself how to give my pictures coded descriptions for those visitors who may be vision impaired. Their readers will read the description of the picture to them. I occasionally forget and let one slip by, but I try hard to do this with each image. 

2). I searched high and low for a widget to allow visitors to change the print size to suit their needs. At the time all I could find was some code that I couldn't make work (I am NOT a programmer), but through trial and error I got it to work. What else can I do to ease the use of my blog?

Now to work . . . . 

A. My first task was to comb through my links, weeding out those that no longer work. Question: As time goes on, links in past posts may end up broken, and combing through years of posts seems daunting.  Is there an easier way to track broken links in in very old posts or should I just wait for visitors to point them out?

B. I am reevaluating my sidebar. What needs to stay / go? How can I make it better? What do I need to offer that I don't?

C. SEO, promoting, and networking are big weaknesses for me. I found a TEN THINGS BLOGGERS SHOULD NOT DO mini challenge on Word Lilly (Thanks a bunch Word Lilly!), and evaluated my weak points. These were the top three. I'll be attempting to address them also this weekend.

D. The bulk of my efforts, however, will probably be put toward setting up content for the future. I love being able to draft and schedule things ahead.  I can then drop in current events without feeling rushed. (when I'm actually ahead, that is)

I would appreciate

any suggestions you might have.

Thanks.

I SEEM TO HAVE INADVERTENTLY DELETED MY POST ABOUT THE 4TH ANNUAL BLOGGIESTA THIS WEEKEND.

 

Bloggiesta is scheduled for January 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. 

(Did I mention it's this weekend?)

It's hosted by Natasha at Maw Books Blog. 

 

"The beginning of the year is a great time to evaluate your blog, see how you’re doing, and get re-energized for the rest of the year! 

Some of you may be asking what is Bloggiesta? In short, it’s a blogging marathon.  An opportunity to cross those nagging items off of your to-do list and improve your blog while in the good company of other awesome bloggers doing the same thing. Our awesome mascot Pedro (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize) is ready to break out the nachos, enchiladas, drinks, mariachi music and whack a pinata or two!  It’s nothing short of an awesome fiesta!"

And you will find many great bloggy consumables if you wander over to the fiesta. 
There are links and hints, 
but most of all there are others to party with; 

so come join the fun.

I plan to tackle some overdue housekeeping.
I also want to stretch my knowledge and skills a bit so I will try some of the hints offered by my betters and scour the many links offered. 
It is also a great opportunity to trade ideas
among the many inveterate bloggers participating.

So, 
see you there!

SAY IT LOUD, SAY IT PROUD.

ANOTHER PESPECTIVE ON BLOGGING - SLOW BLOGGING

Just something to think about

in this competitive, fast paced world.

from Slow blog manifesto: 

1). Slow Blogging is a rejection of immediacy ...
2). Slow Blogging is speaking like it matters, ...
3). Slow Blogging is a reversal of the disintegration into the one-liners and cutting turns of phrase that are often the early lives of our best ideas. ...
4). Slow Blogging is a willingness to remain silent amid the daily outrages and ecstasies that fill nothing more than single moments in time, ...
5). Slow Blogging is a response to and a rejection of Pagerank. ...
6). Slow Blogging is the re-establishment of the machine as the agent of human expression, rather than its whip and container. ...  

a few additions:

7). Slow blogs are well written ...
8). Slow blogs are focused on content over format
9). Slow blogs posts are sometimes long
10). Slow blogs are original
11). Slow blogs are not unfairly critical of bloggers with different agendas.
12). Slow blogs encourage community building
13). Slow blogs are worth the time

SOME EXAMPLES:

Todd Sieling: www.toddsieling.com/slowblog

NY Times:  Blogging at a Snails Pace:

Barbara Ganley www.bgblogging.com

Russell Davies’ Dawdlr blog:  dawdlr.tumblr.com

A “Slow Blog” Or Rather, A “Bright Blog” Manifesto

SlowBlogs @ Blogspot slowblogs.blogspot.com

The Guardian: The bloggers who take it one post at a time

This is a Slow Blog

I ADDED A NEW Poetry Blog TO MY

Fellow Travelers list.

It's THE PASSIONATE CRONE by Rosemary Nissen-Wade,

aka SnakeyPoet, 

and contains some BEAUTIFUL writing. 

Oops, I'm gushing. 

I can't help it; she has a wonderful voice and I love her poetry.

Please, click on the link above and discover her for yourself. 

Here is an example:

The End of the Day
by Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Her happiest time of day is night:
bedtime, when she snuggles
and receives the caresses
that aren’t always spared
during busy daylight hours.
At some point she just decided
night was her cuddle time.

It’s a threesome.
When he and I draw apart,
she enters the space between us
and we both stroke her
as she purrs,
and purrs and purrs,
settling herself against us.

Funny little grey cat,
getting old, as we are —
she’s even more determined now
to have what she needs,
and she knows her needs.
She has grown ever more loving
as she ages; we have too.

  

UH OH

Push the button

If you dare

I CAN QUIT ANYTIME

 

(I found this floating around the interwebs with no citation, so if it is yours or you know to whom it belongs, please let me know so I can give the proper credit. Thank you.)

(Not that it applies to me or anything!)

SOME THOUGHTS ON BLOGGING

I realize that my actual audience is minuscule, and that is fine. I want you to know I appreciate each and every one of you. But I confess, occasionally I wonder why I continue. The only reason I ever come up with, is that I really enjoy it. And, like my poetry, even if no one else ever reads what I write, that's enough.

I'd like to share with you intrepid few, a little something I found on The Daily Dish, from blog scholar Scott Rosenberg:
(The emphasis is my own)

"A blog lets you define yourself, whereas on a social network you are more likely to be defined by others. [...] A blog lets you raise your voice without asking anyone's permission, and no one is in a position to tell you to shut up. It is, as the journalism scholar Jay Rosen puts it, "a little First Amendment machine," an engine of free speech operating powerfully at a fulcrum-point between individual autonomy and the pressures of the group. Blogging uniquely straddles the acts of writing and reading; it can be private and public, solitary and gregarious, in ratios that each practitioner sets for himself. It is hardly the only way to project yourself onto the Web, and today it is no longer the easiest way. But it remains the most interesting way. Nothing else so richly combines the invitation to speak your mind with the opportunity to mix it up with other minds."

When I open my blog page, I feel at home. It is a comfortable place where I can share some of the things inside of me. I make full disclosure here no more than I would in a classroom or on the job. That's only common sense.

My thought here is that I am using reading and writing skills, as well as research skills and critical thinking. I am also building technical skills.

There are plenty of voices warning us to keep our kids away from the internet with its snares and pitfalls. But I think teaching them of its wonders and potential is a better way. For educators, it is a wonderful, barely tapped tool to both capture and expand the imaginations of our students. We can use it to teach the aforementioned skills, along with responsibility and making good choices.

A Quick Note

To all of you who stop by my BLOG and tell me what you think,
or just say hello,
I would like to say,
" thanks for noticing."