Friday, December 26, 2008

My blogging anniversary (and a giveaway)!


Exactly one year ago today, I had just returned from the train station in Wilmington, DE after having dropped off our eldest son for his trip back to the Big City. I remember sitting down in front of the computer to write my sisters and my husband bringing me a drink.

I'd been toying with the idea of making the e-mail letters I send to my sisters look prettier. Rather than sending group e-mails to the 3 of them and attaching my photos to the bottom, I thought there must be a way to make them look more interesting. So I googled "how do I start a blog?"

I researched what people had to say about the various blog platforms and blogger looked fine to me, so I jumped right on in with this, my very first post.

I set it to private, and it wasn't until several days later when I sent the link to Adrienne to get her advice on it, that I opened it up to the public. She was so excited to see herself on the internet that she sent it to everyone in her address book.

And if you know anything about Adrienne, it's that she has thousands of people in her address book. I was seriously nervous about it all. I have no idea why.

Then I posted the first of some of the conversations I have with my husband. These are always pretty weird, and this one was no exception. I even had someone comment on it, which surprised me no end.

Surprisingly, after several days, other people actually began to find me and they began leaving comments. It was (and still is) quite exciting to have people write me. Sort of like having validation, I guess.
And so, in honor of this evening a year ago when I began this craziness, and on this, my 450th post, I'm having a Giveaway. I'm offering a STANDOUT of this print:



A standout is a print that's mounted on 1 1/2" gatorfoam and is sealed with a smooth textured black trim. It's 8 x 10 in size and will be shipped directly from my pro lab to your home. That is, IF you are the winner.

All you have to do is leave a comment. That's all! And just to make it fun, you can tell me what your favorite gift was this year for the holidays!

I'll leave this post up until Sunday at 6 PM. I'll then draw the winner and let you know Sunday night. Good luck!

If you'd like to get a better idea of what a standout looks like, check this post I wrote over the summer.

64 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your blogaversary. I know my first few posts were scary when I started mine a little over a year ago.

I enjoy your photos a lot... and the conversations with your husband are priceless.

RURAL said...

Congrats on your blog anniversary. I do love reading what you have written, and I love the photos. Frankly, I have no idea how I found you, but I am so glad that I did. I just started mine in July, and what a world it has opened up.

Do you really want to know what our best Christmas present was? It was being able to get my Dad out of the hospital, and to fly him home yesterday to his own bed. There is simply no place like home! And we are so thankful that he made it with such ease.

Thanks for producing such a great blog, I am looking forward to seeing your next anniversary.

Jen

Anonymous said...

Yours is the third blogiversary I have come upon today! What's with the 26th of december...it's like everyone got a blog for christmas!

Congrats on one year of entertaining the masses!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Congrats on the one year anniversary! Although i have been blogging for over 4 years, my recent blog, Nine Acres, will be one year old on Jan. 1, i think! Guess i should check on that! My favorite gift? Didn't have a favorite...liked it all!

Deb said...

I didn't realize that you only have been writing your blog for a year! Wow! I thought you have been around for years...:) Needless to say, I love reading it all the same.
Happy BlogAnniversary, Kate!

Leenie said...

Just found you a week or so ago. Fantastic photos! You really know how to capture light. Hope you will continue to share your abilities. Got my own DELL a year ago but it took me months to get brave enough to try a blog.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Another congratulation on your blogaversary, Kate. I didn't find your blog for a while, but I classify myself as a "faithful reader," and a great appreciator of your wonderful photos and stories.

My favorite Christmas present was an unexpected visit from my daughter & her family. She lives on the island of Okinawa, Japan, where she is stationed with the US Air Force. I'm hoping she'll be stateside for good come this time next year.

Wishing you, your DH and Handsome George a Happy New Year!

Debra (a/k/a Doris, Mimi) said...

I'm so glad you started blogging, Kate! Congrats on your 1st anniversary. Yes, please enter me into the contest. As the proud owner of a Kate Young photo (A Whiter Shade of Pale), I would love another. I look forward to what the next year brings for you. Keep blogging!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on a year of blogging! It's amazing, isn't it? We haven't done our family Christmas yet...the Texas Boys come into town tomorrow...so I'll have to hold off on the favorite gift, okay?

Anonymous said...

I enjoy your blog tremendously. It amazes me that other people have enough in their lives to blog about!! lol. Mine would bacisally be what my grandkids did that day!! LOL Hmm. My itouch so I can get organized & know where I am supposed to be & when.

Anonymous said...

oops....basically

Chere said...

I so enjoy reading about your life and times. We are empty nester and I can relate to you with your sons. Thank you for starting your blog and sharing some of your life with the blogging world. Here's to a wonderful 2nd year.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! Your photo is so beautiful!

Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your blog anniversary! Look how far you've come!! I have two favorite gifts. I got a really cute designer camera bag...I love it and I can't wait to show it to you. The second is for the gift I wake up with everyday...my family. I love the innocence of my children...rushing down the stairs to see what Santa brought. It's priceless.
Happy New Year!

Maria said...

You've only been doing this a YEAR? Oh my. I thought you had been blogging for years and years and years.

I am so happy I met you through your blog and I still have no idea how I found it, just that on one site someone was talking about your excellent photography and when I looked you up, there was that wonderful stylish praying mantis (and now I'm very happy to own a print of it). Big congrats to you today.

And best Christmas present? Well, my new sister-in-law decided this year that we should all draw names and buy just one good gift for our picked person. She drew my name and I got some beautiful earrings from Tiffany's but........I don't have pierced ears. Ha ha ha. And I was hoping for a man purse. >:-)

Karen said...

Congratulation on your anniversary. I don't comment often but have been reading for a long time.

My favorite gift was having my four kids home.

Here's to another year!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your one year anniversary, hope there are many more.
My favorite gift this year was a photo of my son, newly graduated from boot camp in dress uniform and my granddaughter was sittin' beside him and she had on his army beret'. My daughter had the photo enlarged and gave it to me. Love it.

Lawsy Mercy said...

Congrats on your blogaversary. I enjoy your blog so much, only recently finding you.

My favorite gift this year was having my young adult/older teen children spending the day with me (and of their own accord - ha!)

Here's to many more years of you blogging away!

Vanessa

GloryBabies3 said...

1 year, wow! I enjoy stopping by each day. My favorite gift was having everyone I love sitting around my living room.

Egghead said...

Wow! A year already. Congratulations. I really enjoy visiting you every day. Hmmm! What I liked the most for Christmas was seeing all my family. Nothing better.

MAPAGE said...

I found your site from a link on PW's page quite awhile ago, so I must have been following the adventures of you and your family from nearly the get go.
I don't blog but read several and you are on my list of daily favorites.
I really enjoy your photos, especially the frosted evergreen. However, the daisy reminds me that under the 3+ feet of snow in my yard there lies a bed of daisys that are waiting for the warm rays of the summer sun to pop up their golden faces.

Annie said...

Ah, congratulations Kate...that is great..a whole year of wonderful photos and stories to match!

Great daisy too! Must go read the links now...

Annie

Annie said...

oops...my best present was that all my kids and the little grandkids flew in for a week's holiday together at the beach..priceless!

Annie

Skogkjerring said...

Congratulations with a whole year of blogging! I can't imagine staying devoted to something like blogging for such a long period of time, but I'm always surprising myself, so we'll see in a year!!! In the meantime I'm having a ball reading your blog and seeing your gorgeous photos and hearing about George's adventures..so hope you keep blogging for many more years! My best present at Christmas was that it's now over and the kids were very happy with what they got, now I'm ready for a New Year and New possibilities!!!

Unknown said...

Congrats on your blog's anniversary! My favorite gift was the photo our kids gave us of all the grandbabies, love it. You really do have a gift with photos, love your work.

Jana said...

I do love your blog! Happy Anniversary! My favorite Christmas present this year was a hank of sock yarn picked out by my brave hubby, who ventured into a yarn shop all alone just to buy a gift for me :-)

Anonymous said...

Love your post a daily must read. Art isn't bad either. Happy anniversary..

Deb said...

Congratulations on your blogging Anniversary & 450 posts. I'd love to be entered into your generous giveaway :-)
My favourite Christmas gift this year was having our daughter Kate home from University for the holidays!

Woman in a Window said...

Such a pretty picture! And 450 posts! That's just crazy.

The evolution for us all of our own little places is such in individual experience. It's like we've all grown up out there with witnesses. You've grown beautifully.

So many favorites for Christmas but really my favourite came a week early, that day I spent with my family at the Nutcracker Ballet and our ride home. Pure perfection!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

WOW Happy Bloggerversary!!!!!! what a beautiful photo! I dont recall how I stumbled onto your blog but I am so glad that I did I have enjoyed it since the first time visiting and it makes my day each time you post! I am so excited to see what comes in the new year!
Hugs Laura

The Weaver of Grass said...

Blogging becomes addictive doesn't it. I cannot believe the people I have met through its pages. Here's wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year - oh and, by the way, my favourite present was eight inches of books - when I put them in a pile and measure them that means eight inches of unread material - now that is exciting!

susie said...

Hi!

I must have found you blog on PW, I've been following yours since last spring at least, and enjoying it every day. Still trying to get up the courage to start my own.

My favorite gift would have to be the kitchen aid stand mixer, got it early from my son, and made 7 batches of cookies in one day!

Carol said...

Congratulations! I love reading your blog...keep up the good work. BTW, your pictures are delightful!

Molly said...

I've long admired your photography, so to win would be wonderful! And, I got a new lens or two and am working on my photography as well. I can't recall when I found you, and am looking forward to spending time in your archives.

Jeannelle said...

Happy Blog Anniversary to you, Kate! I checked out your first post......look HOW FAR your blog has come! I still recall being stunned by a beautiful sunrise photo the first time I ever landed at your blog. I had googled "farm woman blogs" or something like that.

Yours was the first blog I really started following and I have learned much from your excellent photography and writing abilities!

Mental P Mama said...

Congrats to you! My blogoversary is Monday;) Great minds must be on the same track...

Anonymous said...

Congratulations. I have enjoyed your blog very much; especially your beautiful pictures. You have lived in some beautiful places, that's for sure. My favorite present was a gift card to my favorite store.

Anonymous said...

I hope one day to be brave enough to start a blog but until then I will just snoop and enjoy yours.

"Aren't daisies just the friendliest flower"? Name that movie.


Betsy

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Happy anniversary! My next post will be #100. It's been almost a year. We are still busy holidaying - my hubby's b'day was the day after Christmas, and our 30th anniversary is tomorrow! I got a lot of pleasant surprises, gift-wise, but I think my fav is the lovely and complete set of Jane Austen books my hubby got me. I don't know, tho, the GPS is way up there since I get lost so easily!

Anonymous said...

Just came across your blog today and I'll be stopping back! Congrats on your blog anniversary, I have yet to find enough interesting things to say to open mine up to the public. Your photos are gorgeous! I'm still learning to take great photos! My fav Xmas present was spending the day with my son building lego's.

Country Girl said...

Hey, all. I just popped in to check my mail and saw something that I couldn't resist. Oh, and before that, I LOVE reading about some of your favorite gifts.

Name that movie, Betsy?
"You've Got Mail"

And about being brave?
Only compared to some.

Ok. Now you can name THAT movie, k?
We could do this all night because I love naming movies!

I love giving stuff away, too. And I absolutely LOVE Frei Brothers chardonnay. It's just heavenly.

~ C.G.

A Scattering said...

I just had to read the "absorbent" conversation with your husband - I love it! Too, too funny!

My husband used to commute by train for a previous job. I would drop him at the train and then go to work myself. Often, about 20 minutes later, he'd call me at work and say "the train's late" my response "so...............?" He just needed to tell someone that he was still sitting in the darned station. What would we do without them?

My favorite gift(s)- donations made by 3 of my friends (+ me) to our favorite charities in honour of our friendships.

Toodles for now! Elaine

My name is Christine said...

Congratulations on your anniversary! I do love coming here every day to see how things are going. So thanks for being here!
And this year my favorite gift was a goft of experience from my husband. He registered us for a marathon in June. So we're going to train together and run together, and rehab together;-)
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family.

My name is Christine said...

oops, should have been "gift" of experience lol Sorry about that

Daryl said...

Late to the party .. congrats on your blogaversary ... I just checked and I will be blogging 2 yrs in 260 days, my first blogaversary slipped by unnoticed by everyone including me!

Now I must go back and read your early posts

:-Daryl

shara said...

Congrats and Thank You! I just found your blog not very long ago. Love your photography and the Daisy is my fav!

Mama said...

Big congrats on your year of blogging. Your art is lovely, btw!

Grace said...

Congratulations, Kate, on your one year anniversary in blogging. More! More! More!
Have a happy new year. :)

Pony Girl said...

Congrats on the anniversary! I just passed 200 posts and it was pretty exciting.
So get this~ I haven't had Christmas with my family yet! Because of bad weather conditions, we couldn't travel to get together with my sister. Now it's on hold until we can reschedule with everyone's work schedules....it's looking like mid-January! So my favorite gift is the one I've yet to open, LOL!
Happy holidays!

DesertHen said...

Wow, doesn't a year go fast....and 450 posts, you are one busy, busy gal....=)Happy Blog Anniversary to you.

My favorite gift this year for the holidays was.....getting to spend time with my family! We had a doozy of a snow storm on x-mas eve, the power went out x-mas day,I wasn't able to cook our meal at our house, the roads were awful, but my hubby got us to town to be with our son and my parents. It was a wonderful day despite all of the trouble the storm caused.Oh, and we ate dinner out, which was a first for all of us.

Suzysoo said...

Merry Christmas and happy 450th post! If you go over to my blog there is a prezzie there for you xx

abb said...

Congratulations, Kate! A wonderful feat. And considering the quality of your blogginess, I'm sure we'll see you around years from now!

My favorite present...having all the family together...tho that necklace GB gave me surely was lovely.

Anonymous said...

okay, I give up....what's the movie? LOL Afraid if I played the guessing of movies you would most certainly win.

Happy New Year!!

Betsy

Country Girl said...

Betsy,
The Princess Bride.

And I'd never win. I'm not THAT good!

~ C.G.

dlyn said...

Congrats on your Blog-o-Versary Kate - you can count me among those who are very glad that you keep blogging away!

My favorite material gift was definitely my new D90. I knew just what I wanted so I bought it for myself, thus absolving Larry from any Christmas gift giving for the next 10 years or so.

The best part of Christmas overall was spending it with the grandkiddies.

The worst part is a tie between Lauren being so far and the stomach bug I picked up from those same grandkiddies while we were there.

brneyedgal967 said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary - is that a word?

My favorite gift this year wasn't anything that was wrapped. Just being around my family - seeing their faces, hugging their necks and hearing their laughter. I could live without anything else I received materially. But not that.

Carin said...

My favorite gift was having my husband home and watching him play with our three boys.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your one year! You've had quite a wild ride the past twelve months, yet have managed to post some charming photos and daily musings. I also love your photo blog.

Hilary said...

Happy Blogiversay. I didn't realize you'd only been blogging for one year. Yay, you!

Kristin said...

Congrats on your year of blogging! I enjoy hearing what you are up to and I love, love, love your pictures!

I too am considering a blog for similar reasons. My family mostly lives 1000 miles away and it would be nice to keep them updated on our daily lives. Hmmmm... maybe a blog would be a better New Year's resolution... certainly more fun than the age old "get myself organized and thinner" routine I go through every year. ;0)

Deb said...

You won! You won!

cottage farm villa said...

I just found your blog through Willow Manor......I can't wait to come back and read past posts......I love it. Congrats on your blog anniversary. I am new to blogging, started early November...and still learning and finding interesting and talented bloggers! I know I was a little scared at first too...not knowing what was to come......I think what you said about "validation"...is very true. One woman wrote that she could paint the whole house and her family wouldn't notice, but if she put a pic on her blog, her followers would say "you changed the color of your house"! Validation! Nice to meet you.....I will be back! ~Cheryl

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Woot! One year!
My favorite thing this year for Christmas was when my son gave me his Christmas list and said "Now Mama, these are things I want, these are not things I need."
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