Dear Blog
Dear Blog-
Dear blog, when I was a newbie in the big blog world I donned my floaties and timidly dipped my toe into the bloggy pool. You sat back and watched not knowing if I would sink or swim. You did not complain that my first posts were about being right smack dab in the middle of menopause. Or that I was sharing with the blog world (well not the whole blog world, just those sweet few who were reading my little blog) that I was frequently declaring just how “hot” I was. Not sexy hot…. Hot! Scorching, Melting, Boiling hot! Lava cools faster than I do kind of hot!
Thinking back my blog could have gone in a whole different direction. But you, dear blog, you threw me a life preserver and let me float for a while. Although I still write a post or two about the glorious undertaking our bodies past their child bearing years must endure. I also may mention how things that were once pointing north are now declaring the exact location of the South Pole. I put aside the journey of the menopause afflicted and the menopause survivors and I embraced it with an ice pack and a smile.
I moved on to better things, slowly sharing recipes, my photography, blogging tips and giveaways. You let me learn to swim in a blog world filled with little happy paradise islands and the occasional shark. You kept the waves small so that I would not feel inadequate. You encouraged me to search and find solutions on my own. Even when I cried out “can someone please help me with this whole bloggy thing”. Words floated and I swam harder and dove deeper and soon discovered that I could swim laps and dive into the deep end of the blogging pool. It became my favorite swimming hole.
Dear blog you will be happy to know that now I throw out the life preserver to those who are entering the blogging pool. I happily lend my floaties in the form of blogging tips and I encourage all new and established bloggers to enjoy the swimming hole and float on the happy that blogging provides.
Thank you to each and every one of you who have been with me from the beginning of my blogging journey. Those of you who have ridden the waves with me and floated along side of me. Thank you to those of you who have found me at my favorite swimming hole and who join me daily and weekly for dip into the deep end. I appreciate you,You help me to be a stronger swimmer.
What would your Dear Blog post be about?
See you on Wednesday night ( 8pm MST) for the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. 🙂
Linking to these great hops and parties Click HERE to see and share ♥
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He let His grace shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-6:26 NIV
Katherine, thank you for your beautiful presence in our blog.
We’re loving your blog.
When you can, again, be happy!
kisses,
Ligia e = ^. ^ =
Sweet post and very sweet blog! I just reread your about page. I read it a long time ago and forgot that you are from England. My husband and I are hoping to visit to celebrate out 40th wedding anniversary which will be in the fall of 2015. I have traveled very little but this has been on my heart for a very long time 🙂
This was wonderful to read, and for timely for me. I’m just dipping my toes into the bloggy world (1 month in so far) and it’s been a roller coaster. I have so so so so much to learn and it’s frustrating at times, but it’s also a great experience and it’s fun to meet so many interesting people. Some days (like yesterday, for example) I felt like I might drown without the proverbial lifesaver, but then a little positive encouragement seems to come along at the right moment and keeps me going. Thank you for sharing this and being so open and honest! I really enjoyed reading your post. ~Christin 🙂
Hello Katherine, I have just discovered you via Pam. Blogging has given me a space to be me and meet some lovely people. I am looking forward to visiting you often.
Ali xx
glad you’ve stuck with it , Katherine =)
What a truly lovely post, Katherine! I enjoyed a wee chuckle and felt a warm wave of nostalgia come over me as I read it. It made me think of more than a few of us who ventured into the blogging waters around the same time and reminded me that a few of my own early posts had me treading water in that old “mentalpause” pool along with you. LOL Some of us are still plugging along and some have made the decision to move on from the blogosphere altogether, for one reason or another. Lord knows that I’ve certainly questioned my own staying power over the last year or so, given some of the curve balls that life has pitched over the plate at me. But, for reasons that are well beyond my comprehension, something has kept me in the game. It’s been wonderful to watch you tackle that deep end and especially heart warming to have seen you succeed at it with such style and grace.Well done and Brava, m’lady!
giggle, two peas in a pod sweet Mary. Float along with me we’ll keep the water cool . Hugs!
That was really nice. Sometimes I think I’m drowning LOL!
grab on to my life preserver, and I will share my floaties with you too xo
This is beautifully written! I think many times I need a life preserver thrown my way….watch out for me in the waters 🙂
Happy to float along with you my friend xo
Katherine, I like this idea. Earlier today I was reflecting upon my own blogging journey. I might have to borrow your dear blog idea for upcoming post.
Thank you Wanda I am happy I inspired a post idea for you. I hope you will share my post too. Hugs!
I love this post! and it gives me hope that I will feel the same way about my blog one day, so thank you for that. I guess my “Dear Blog” at this point would be “Am I doing this right?” But this post is a true inspiration:)
Dina, thank you so much I am so happy you enjoyed the post. Hugs!
what a lovely idea. I guess my Dear Blog would be something like “I still don’t have a clue where I’m going but I’m enjoying the journey and making wonderful friends along the way.” Thanks for your daily postings and have a wonderful day.
Angel
Angel my sweet bloggy partner I am so happy we float together in the same swimnning hole xo
You are always so kind and encouraging! I’ts a pleasure following along with you Katherine!
Blessings,
Cindy
Cindy the feeling is mutual. You have a beautiful blog and I always enjoy my visits xo
Maureen my sweet bloggy friend, thank you so much, the feeling is mutual. ♥
Isn’t it funny how a blog never ends up being what we thought it would be? The first posts are the opening to a world of expression. You write beautifully and make us all feel we know you as a good and thoughtful friend!
Maureen my sweet bloggy friend, thank you so much, the feeling is mutual. ♥
Your blog is wonderfully inviting. I feel at home just browsing through your bloggy land! You have offered many floaties to me and I am truly grateful for your generosity.
Thank you so much Debbie, for your bloggy friendship and for your kind comment. xo
What a great letter. It succinctly sums up how all of us feel when we start the adventure of blogging. We are all different people, but with much still the same for all of us. It is so scary and new.What a lovely statement,”Dear blog you will be happy to know that now I throw out the life preserver to those who are entering the blogging pool” This is great keep throwing us life preservers we need it 🙂
Thank you , happy to float along with you and provide the life preserver whenever you need it. Big Hugs!
been following you for quite some time and I can see each post is better than the previous. Can see you took a lot of time to think and write. And thank you for all the good advices that you have been giving
thank you for floating along with me. Big Hugs!
You are so lovely and kind. I enjoy your blog. I love that nice guys can finish first. And you are one of the nicest!
sweet Rebecca, thank you so much. Your sweet compliment is so appreciated . I send big hugs of gratitude your way xox
I have only been following a little over a year I think. I missed the menopause blogs.. ( Ahem, as I fan myself now, having a hot flash this second) I love your blog and you wonderful support of all of us. Thanks Katie! xxxooo
Thank you sweet Marla, I appreciate your sweet friendship and would fill your pool with ice cubes if you needed it. giggle. xox
Thanks for this post, Katherine! As I start to change the direction of my blog I feel the encouragement that you are providing. I think my blog has grown significantly, and I’m excited about the future, both for my blog, and for myself. And, I can say that my blog journey has been with you at my side! Thanks!
Oh my goodness this comment brings a huge smile and feels like a hug. Lets continue to float along together my bloggy friend. Big hugs for you!!
I’ve been a follower for a good long while and I loved the personal posts, as well as this one. I’d like to see more of them!
So happy you have floated along with me my friend. Hugs
I love this post! My fave part is “donned my floaties”. It’s a great reminder that everyone started at the beginning; sometimes as a new blogger you just assume that everyone had it easy from the get go. The beginnings of my Dear Blog would be “thank you for coming back to life” after I inadvertently caused the “white screen of death” a little over a month ago! Thank you for some nice reading and a reality check! 😀
Thank you Heather, and so happy you recovered from the white screen of death my fiend. I look forward to your link ups on Thursday and enjoy my visits to your sweet blog. Hugs!
This is such a lovely letter. Sometime we need to remind ourselves of where we have been and where we hope we are going. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights, Katherine.
Always a pleasure to share with you sweet Katie. Hugs
What a sweet idea–a Dear Blog post! You have such a lovely blog!
Thank you so much sweet Jennifer I ♥ your blog xo
What a cute post. I’m still trying to figure out what my blog is and I don’t think I could write it a letter yet. I always appreciate every piece of bloggy advice
Bloggy should always be fun. I invite you to visit my blogging tips page Hugs!!
Katherine, what a sweet posting! I have felt the same way and have ran into a couple of wonderful experienced bloggers who are always willing to give advice. Me, I’m trying to discover my voice in the blog world. I want to build and audience from stuff I say, it doesn’t have to be a monster blog with loads of sponsors and readership, just a friendly little spot that gets regular visitors. At first I had the blog focusing on my art/crafting work, but feel like it has evolved into something else. I enjoy writing about the antics of my family and my life–but does anyone want to read this? hmmm…..
Thank you for your encouragement
You are such a doll! I enjoy your blog and I am happy to know that you can relate to this post so well. Big hugs and happy blogging my friend
This really made my day. So many times I just feel like giving up. Like I’m still trying to figure out just what the blog is going to even be about. But then, I’m still not really sure what I’m even going to be about. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Oh sweet Melissa, hang in there and just float… xo
This is a beautiful post Katherine. My Dear Blog………….the real friendships that I never thought possible when I started this blogging journey. And the frustrations that come when I just want to write and have to figure out all of this technical stuff too!
Thank you my friend. The friendships I have made are truly the cherry on the cake of my bloggy life. The tech stuff is a pain I know. But hang in there it all can be figured out. I have a few tips on my blogging tips page and I welcome your emails if you have any questions xo
Friendships real and virtual made via blogging have been an amazing support network to me over the last year. 🙂
So true my friend the friendships I have made on this wonderful blogging journey are cherished. Big Hugs!
I must’ve missed those early days!
We both took a while to find our groove. Once we did, we were good to grow. And how far you have come…
Oh sweet Alex we found it and made it our own. I love visiting your blog and I appreciate your bloggy friendship. Hugs!
Absolutely love your blog even tho I don’t comment all that often (shame, shame on me) but I do enjoy coming to read just to see what all is going on, etc.
Hope you have a wonderful day
I am so happy to have you as a reader and bloggy friend. Hugs!
I love this Dear Blog post. You never gave up and now look at your blog. Thank you.
Thank you so much. ♥
love your blog!!! keep up the good work!
and I love tht you reacd it ♥ thank you so much xo
Hi, Katie! I wasn’t aware that your blog began with a different theme and tone. To your credit you changed course and realized how much greater it could be if you offered helpful hints, recipes, decorating ideas, pictures of your adorably Izzy and other positive subject matter. I for one quickly grow weary of blogs that are black holes of negativity. Thank you for being a positive influence on the blog world!
My Dear Blog post would be similar to yours because, over the last 5 years, I stopped coming from scaricity and started coming from abundance. Blogging has made me a better person, I think.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Katie, and give Izzy a biscuit and a pat for me!
Thank you sweet friend. Originally I filled it with giggles and laughter filled “Menopause Musings”. I know what you mean about the black hole blogs. I have visited a few and they can be very difficult to read. Kind of like the ones that are laced with profanity. Our blogs are a direct reflection of us. I have spent my life sharing and it didn’t take long to realize that is exactly what I should do with my blog. Thank you for your bloggy friendship. I always enjoy my visits to your blog and the music you share. Hugs from me and tail wags from Izzy.
Absolutely beautiful “Dear Blog” post and will say that I think we all have certainly come a long way from the beginning days of blogging. I keep evolving my blog as I go along myself here and think we have to as we learn and grow daily. But will say I am so glad you blog and so happy to get to share with you each week here and over at my own blog! Hugs 🙂
Janine, I appreciate your bloggy friendship and your visits and comments always make me smile. I always enjoy my visits to your wonderful blog. It is so true that we learn and grow as we continue our journey in the blog world. xox
I’m not sure what my blog letter would be, it has brought me lots of different things….yours was very lovely. I am happy that our blogs brought us together as friends…have a sweet day doll xx
Sweet Kizzy I am too, the blog world set our paths to cross and I am so happy we found each other. xox
Hello Katherine,
I have only been following you for a short time so I didn’t know all about the beginnings of your blogging. I am going through the hot flash journey right now and am getting some good use out of it during this frigid winter we are having. Although the summer is a totally different story.
Your blog is great and I wish you many blessings with it in the future.
Have an awesome day.
SallyAnn
Sally you are sop sweet. Embrace your hot mama status my friend, invest in lots of tank tops for the summer. Thank you for your bloggy riendship. Hugs
This is nice, and your blog is wonderful! You’ve got an elegance about you and your posts that is very inviting. 🙂
aww Rosey, what a lovely compliment. Thank you for your friendship and kindness xo