What's up with the title? Well, on that first post, I described myself and you, if you blog, as narcissistic. Blogging=Narcissism was my belief. I might hedge about that statement today for I have learned that the great majority of bloggers are the most generous, helpful, creative people I know.
In times past, I would have said "know" using quotes. I don't bother with quotes anymore because I feel as if I know many of you better than I know some members of my own family. It is a privilege to visit with you and to learn more about your life, your corner, your family, the way you cook, create, and dream. I have been especially blessed by those who openly share faith and values and what the Lord has been teaching you.
Let's talk about creativity for a moment. I used to say that I didn't cook, bake, knit, crochet, sew or go (anywhere). I just pretended to do them here. I can not say it anymore. Initially, I may have tackled more projects so I'd have something to discuss, now I really do all these things and I enjoy them. Immensely. And I owe it to blogging and you who read and link and pin and visit over and over again.
~A Sampling~
If you've been reading here for any length of time, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you just showed up today, thank you for taking the time to read this post.
To my oldest and dearest blogging buddies, I hope for more years of blogging — five more? (By then, I'll have used up all my Picasa space and will bid a fond farewell.) Speaking of which, how long do you think blogging in general will continue? Do you ever give a thought to how long you will blog?
No farewells today. I thank God for the joy of blogging and for the joy of getting to know you better.
(This is a secret giveaway open to all bloggers everywhere. A comment is the key—no hoops to jump, no word to get out. A winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon at this time. Shhhhhh...)
ETA: 3:41 Saturday
Comments are now closed...
Winner to be announced soon.
Barbara at Two Birdies and a B!
Edited to Add: Barbara discusses her win *here.*
A warm thank you to all for the lovely comments and for participating...
I think blogging is one of my greatest joys. I have some dear friends that I actually have met...some I probably never will...I am inspired, encouraged, prayed for, and challenged. Don't you don't stop blogging....you and I will go down at the last blog....but I don't think we need to worry about that anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. I've made some close friends in the blogging world. Blogland is amazing. I had no idea where my first post would lead. What a fun adventure!
ReplyDeleteFive years?? I never did ask you how long you've been blogging and that is a long time. For me it's almost 2 years (next month) and I can't believe the time has passed so quickly. I don't know how long I'll blog. As long as I take pictures I guess. I am privileged to have met you Vee, here on your wonderful blog. I hope to meet you in person one day. Keep up with it. I'd really miss you and so would all your followers. Blessings to you! Pam
ReplyDeleteI hope I can continue for a good long time- I sure do enjoy blogging and meeting new folks. Taking photos is such a nice outlet for me, after years and years (36+) of doing genealogy (which I still love). It's like a breath of fresh air!
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad you decided to blog. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know what a blog was until Stephanie kept telling me I "should write one".
It took awhile but she persisted and my six year blog anniversary is about two weeks away.
I was thinking recently that blogging has to keep one's brain younger.
My husband's doctor has him filling out crossword puzzles each day for his brain health.
I figure having to come up with something new and spelled correctly almost every day HAS to keep the brain going, right?
I am so happy and blessed to have found your blog. I've given up the morning paper in favor of blog reading and your is always one of the first visits of the day. I (selfishly) hope you never stop. It makes me sad to think that could happen. It is so interesting to me how we connect to one another in the blog world without ever meeting face to face.
ReplyDeleteFrom time to time I think about bringing my blog to a halt, but it's mostly because I can't think of any "new material."
Congratulations to you on five years.
Blogging has opened my eyes to so many things - new friends from around the world, new ideas to contemplate, new crafts and recipes, and a new appreciation of faith in God. I'm so glad that you are one of my blogging friends. I never miss your posts, even though I may not always comment.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Vee!
Oh, while driving the other day I noticed the licence plate in front of me: VEE 199 - and I thought immediately of you.
I think social media is a wonderful tool. It allows us to reach out and "speak" to people we would other wise have never met. Like you, I use to wonder if I had anything to say when I was encouraged by a good friend to start blogging. I'm happy to have found a voice to share my thoughts, hopes, dreams and achievements.
ReplyDeleteCheers to blogging to "infinity and beyond!"
Great post, Vee! I've been blogging for almost 4 years. It has been so much fun meeting great people like you through the years.
ReplyDeleteI made a goal on January 1st to do 365 posts in 2012. I wanted to challenge myself to keep my brain thinking & creating.
Smiles,
Carol
I have so enjoyed reading your blog and glad that I discovered it some time ago. I like how you think and write! I'm still a newbie (8 months) but love it and find it's such a fun way to connect, share ideas and recipes, journal and get inspiration from so many wonderful women. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteWow five years!! That is awesome...and I agree with my whole heart on what you said...I haven't understood it all yet, but I know God has transformed me for His glory through the use of His tool...blogging.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!! 5 years blogging, at the same spot. Wonderful...
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging a lot longer, but I *jump around* a lot. ,-)
Which way is better? Consistent or moving? It's like everything else, up to the individual.
Sorry but I can't accept your *plan,* to blog just till your pic storage runs out. -chuckle-
Gentle hugs,
"Auntie"
I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into when I started blogging. How much I LOVE it would be hard to describe. I have laughed with, cried with, prayed for, and thoroughly enjoyed every little minute of it, with women from just all over. I have discovered MANY kindred spirits, and came upon recipes, creative projects, and wonderful testimonies of God's love and blessings. I can't imagine ever giving it up. I am relatively new to your blog, but you have quickly become one of my very favorite places to visit. Your sense of humor, wit, and inspiration keep me coming back for more again and again. Enjoy your week-end!
ReplyDeleteVery well stated. I've learned so much from other bloggers and I continue to learn. Congrats on your five year blogging career!
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging for over a year now and have enjoyed it and having something of a connection with those beyond my immediate circle. It's interesting to hear that you've become increasing creative, as that is an area in which I want to develop. A thought-provoking post, Vee.
ReplyDelete-Karen
Well, I LOVE your blog and I, too, have made many friends out there in the blogging world.
ReplyDeleteI began blogging as a way of keeping my family up with everything......I never even thought about meeting OTHER bloggers OR that anyone other than family or people I know personally would ever read MY blog!
And finally I have been so blessed by the outpouring of prayers on behalf of my daugher, Amber, and then the quads - especially Harrison! I found that Blog and Facebook are the modern day equivalent to prayer chains in local churches. This has humbled me and made me especially sensitive to the needs of my sister bloggers and their families. I take time each day to pray for the current 'prayer needs' of each day's posts.
I hope blogging last for a long time! I welcome each change that comes with blogger in the hopes that change means long life! When we stop changing - we die! Nothing ever EVER really stays the same. We either make progress - or regress.
I am happy I 'found' your blog some time back. Not even sure HOW I found you - but I'm glad I did!!
It's an honor to 'know' you and through our blogs we learn so many of the private details that make up who we are...and how we live. I look forward to each and every one of your posts and I always look forward to your visit when I have a new post up. I quote you...and use things that I learn from your blog to make mine better. So happy blogging, my friend! I'm sending you extra...warm Southern hugs! Your blog buddy, Diane
ReplyDeleteWOW - five years, huh? That is truly a remarkable feat, Vee - congrats on that very impressive bloggaversary!
ReplyDeleteAs for your sentiments, must agree with you about being blessed. I truly feel blessed each and every single time I read a blog.
I truly enjoy reading yours.
♥
Well Vee, over 1000 posts in 5 years. That is something. I have recently passed the 5 year post but with only about 600.
ReplyDeleteBlogging certainly opens one up to lots of new things and for me it has brought a renewed interest in the history of my country among other things, not to mention photography.
Please don't give up, Picasa storage is not expensive.
Am in the middle of watching the Olympic opening ceremony while on holiday (the greatest show on earth) until it got a bit boring bringing on all the athletes. As it is a three and a half hour programme I thought I would take a break and visit you and there you are celebrating 5 years so Congratulations. Don't stop!
Congratulations!! I have been blogging for 7 years now. I have met kind generous fellow bloggers, several have been with me from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you hit the publish key on your first blog post Vee. It has been a joy getting to know (no quotes) you.
ReplyDeleteI will plug along with my blogs until it is time to start something new.
Happy Anniversary.
Hugs,
Penny
Vee,
ReplyDeleteYou have become the blog I most look forward to reading. Your wit and gift with words never disappoints.
I think more than anything bloggers just love to share. We were the kids in Kindergarten who couldn't wait for Show and Tell.
I will blog forever, because it has enriched my life, and it gives me a place to have a daily Show and Tell. I love all the friends that I have met over the years.
The Land of Blog feels like a private virtual doll house filled with the loveliest folk.
Happy Anniversary.
Karen
Beautifully written. I can echo many of your sentiments. It has been great fun (and encouragement) to read others' posts and finally to share my own. When we all do meet -- one of these days, maybe in the great by and by -- it will be like meeting old friends.
ReplyDeleteBlogging has changed my life. The way I see things. How I think about people all around the world. It has made the world smaller.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful that you did begin a blog and that I have had the honor of getting to know you over these past several years. You are a true blessing!
Congrats on this milestone!
Becky
What a nice post! I found my blogger button and I feel like a new world opened because now I can see people again. I have to say with you, amen to every single point you brought up about blogging. My life is richer and blogging has given me courage to attempt things I was afraid of in the past. So amen and thank you.
ReplyDeleteDear sweet girl...CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am SO, so glad that you took the plunge and decided to blog, to share your life with us and all of your adventures in cooking and creating but most of all, I am thankful for your wit! You always, always make me smile dear Vee and I do wish you many more years of blogging and sharing your life with us....carry on...we love it!!!! hugs and love, Dawn
ReplyDeleteI'm another one who is glad to have found your blog - I think it was via Judy's Front Porch. I hope your Picassa doesn't fill up anytime soon! I've enjoyed blogging too, and meeting new friends - learned a lot and tried some new things because of blogging!
ReplyDeleteWell I was wondering where you were going with this post. I am glad you are not leaving! sandie
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you started blogging, I must say that I always learn or laugh with you, and most times learn and laugh!!
ReplyDeleteI suppose each of us started for a different reason. Mine, just wanting to journal the journey of Alzheimer's with my beloved David.
I didn't know I'd be rewarded with so many precious friends. I feel blessed with the friends I've made through blogging.
Hugs!!!
Blogging is great fun, isn't it? And you meet the nicest people... I really enjoy reading your blog, Congrats on 5 years!! You keep writing and we'll keep reading!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Amen! Sista. God has opened up a whole new wide world to me through blogging. I'm happy to have met you and so many true blue bloggy friends!
ReplyDeleteI began blogging a little over three years ago, not long after I had served as editor of my local homeschool newsletter. I felt the need to continue writing, and blogging seemed to be the perfect outlet.
ReplyDeleteAs it turns out, the writing is only part of it. Another integral element is the sharing--the community, the friendship, the inspiration.
I feel so blessed to have found your friendship! Your blog is a delightful oasis!
(So glad that you're planning on going another five years...especially since I found you less than a year ago!)
I agree with you wholeheartedly! Blogging has opened up doors and windows to people, places and things I never imagined.
ReplyDeleteDo you know how I came to read your blog? As I began poking around I noticed that your name was on so many of the other bloggers list of favorites. In no time at all I understood why :)
Thank you so much for sharing your time and talents, wit and wisdom.
And about the Lord? He has answered some of my biggest prayers in the past few weeks. I'll be sharing soon.
God bless!
I started blogging in 2007, too! I can hardly believe it!
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful that Becky kept mentioning you to me, and then I would see you comment on blogs that I regularly visited.
I am glad you blog and share and encourage others!
Deanna
Happy Blogaversary, Vee. You share wonderful things with all of us. I enjoy my visits here. xo
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful the many things you've challenged yourself to learn since becoming a blogger. And,everything looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging almost ten years, although the first five under a different name. And, feel so very blessed to have met many nice people! I don't blog nearly as much as I used to; I figure everyone knows more about me now than even I do. LOL
Keep up the good work! And, may God bless you, Vee!
I so very agree with you and your thoughts on blogging. Generous. Giving. Caring. Real people. Blogging friends [like you] are a real blessing!
ReplyDeleteLaTeaDah
Happy blog anniversary! It shall be interesting to see where blogging will be in 5 years. I've never quite thought of how long I will blog (although I do intend to post more often) but for now am not ready to stop. Meanwhile will keep visiting.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blog Anniversary! My blog will be five years old in early December. I never imagined at the time that I would still be writing it five years later, enjoying it so much and learning so much from so many other bloggers! It has been a pleasure to make your friendship through blogging and share your life the past five years, Vee.
ReplyDeleteAs far as when I will stop blogging I don't know ...I haven't set a date ...I'll see where life takes me! :)
Hi Vee
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to visit over at my place and for leaving a comment.
Great post - blogging have totally changed my life and I can´t imagine living without. I hope to blog many more years. You´re so right about the generousity in blogland
Wow to your number of posts! I have been blogging for just about exactly half the time that you have, and I have a mere four hundred and change.
ReplyDeleteI think blogging has given me the oomph to do some things that I had been overlooking and/or procrastinating. It's a combination of the inspiration from other bloggers and a fresh new look at my time and space.
Congratulations on FIVE productive blogging years!
I don't blog and I don't comment often, but there are a handful of blogs that I have continued to read pretty faithfully over the years, and yours is one of them. Thank you for taking the time to do this! Happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteJuly 28th...
ReplyDeleteNo new post here yet. So I might as well finally *answer* your question. :-)
Are bloggers narcissists?
Depends on one's definition of being-a-narcissist. If the definition is, that a narcissist is someone who has a way-too-high opinion of him or herself --- The traditional definition... Well NO! Bloggers are not THAT kind of narcissists.
But Yes, they do have to have some narcissistic qualities. Some. Good ones. Useful ones.
Such as;
(1) not being afraid to put-themselves-out-there and say what they think.
(2) Not being afraid to post the pics they take, even when just beginning to learn how to take a pic.
(3) Be willing to kind of go-out-and-meet-other-folks (bloggers).
(4) Being unafraid to get COMMENTS. Which can be positive or negative, of course.
(5) And if they continue to blog, being willing to put themselves through all the possible stages of joy/pain of blogging. 'Cause there can be both kinds of stages!
(6) So, bloggers are good narcissists! :-) Whom I am proud to call my Friends.
"Perfectionism is a dangerous state of mind
in an imperfect world."
~Robert Silliman Hillyer
I'm so glad I backtracked and found this post. You discuss what other bloggers have done to expand your world, but you have provided so much to each of ours. I've often come to you with blogging questions - remember all of my how did you do that questions? I hope that you'll open another blog when your space is filled. Yours is the first blog I visit each day. Your Sunday devotions make me wish for your knowledge of the scriptures. Thank you for sharing your world with us.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy blogging and getting to know people. It is such a relief! Congratulations on five years! That is so awesome! You have so much wit and wisdom to share making a visit here so enjoyable! You are a very special lady, Vee!
ReplyDeleteVee, what a lot of ideas in this post....I enjoy blogging and even more reading blogs! Yours is one I look at every day and I'm really glad you are not about to stop any time soon! I began blogging in 2009 and like being able to look back at the pictures on it. Hope the internet doesn't die in the near future! The big joy of it all, for me, is the people that I feel I've come to know - good and interesting and generous people with ideas I might never have encountered any other way.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 5 years! Wowsers! I'm coming up on 5 years for me too, and it's hard to believe how fast the time has flown by.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember when I discovered your blog (a year ago or two?) or how. But I am glad that did! I just wish I had "known" (LOL) you before we took our last trip to Maine in 2006, because we would have made a point of meeting up with you!
I don't think bloggers are narcissist at all! I think bloggers want to connect with others and the internet makes that easier. We get to share about our lives and visit over the virtual backyard fence, so to speak. I had admired blogs for several years before I started one. And I promised myself that I would begin one shortly after retirement, so that I could devote the time and effort at it. Little did I know that blogging has resulted in me getting passionate about photography and improving my skills! What a journey that has been, and many of my blogging friends have seen how I have progressed over the years. In turn, I try to reach out and help others that may be struggling with photography too.
All in all, blogging has made our lives richer. How long will I keep at it? I can't imagine ever stopping...
I've been blogging for just over four months. I find this place a delightful window to bright light.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how people connect.
Congrats, Vee on 5 years!
ReplyDeleteWho knows how long it will last?
It filled a void for me when I retired. I missed sharing with my fellow teachers, showing them my bargains, lol!
I guess everyone one blogs for different reasons, some to sell their merchandise. I just like the interaction with others.
Lots of rain here today, the garden will be happy! My gkids who came out for the weekend, not so much! They want to go to the beach.
Hi..I've been visiting for about a month now and thoroughly enjoy your blog. No, I do not think bloggers are narcissists :) I have one, but have been away from it for awhile.
ReplyDeleteI loved it but then Facebook came along :( Have been recently thinking of getting off FB and back to blogging. Have met so many wonderful people THIS way :)
Happy Anniversary!