B2B-Day5: Why do you Blog?

This is really late, September has been a whirlwind of activities and emotions. Plus I've had Migraines every other day for the past couple of weeks, I haven't had that many Migraines in a long time, I was down to a few here and there. I guess it's time to go back to the Dr.

I did want to do the last day of this challenge:

Write about what blogging means to you. Why do you blog? What purpose does it serve you and how have you benefited from sharing a piece of yourself online this way?

I started my blog as a form of a learning to knit diary, the learning to knit quickly got set aside, and I started writing about day to day stuff, It was a way to feel validated. Most days I sit in front of the computer, answer phone calls and emails and at the end of the day end up feeling like I haven't accomplished anything. Today was really one of those days!




As I've been introduced to other blog's and wonderful community of blogger's - I want my blog to be so much more, I really want to learn to be a blogger that can post tutorials that will benefit other's in there crafts, and post inspiration pieces that will help others to say 'I can do that'. So my blog is currently in a transition. As I worked my way through the 31DBBB challenge I was able to keep to a schedule. I hope I can organize myself enough to be able to keep to a posting schedule. To help organize my brain and be able to bring a more defined purpose to my blog.

B2B-Day3: Why are men stubborn?

This week I will be participating in a Back to Blogging challenge hosted by SITS girls for a chance to win an Electrolux Washer/Dryer set sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath and Florida Builder Appliances.

Each day this week there will be a writing prompt, Today's is: A Post Title You Are Particularly Proud Of.

Here is mine, posted on Feb 15, 2008:




As most of the nation is nice and cold this day after Valentine's, and I don't have any new Fashion or Knitting news, I'll give you a good girl power story. We just recently started traveling as a family (probably because there is only one child left in the house) we decided to drive to Loveland Colorado to visit my brother in law and his family. As we left Indio (Palm Springs) California it started to rain, so I stopped about 30 miles out and asked my husband to change the windshield wipers. He insisted that they were still good. I stood my ground because I was the one that would be driving for 24 hours and didn't move until he changed my windshield wiper. We hit more rain, and then snow and more snow, and all the time he couldn't see anything out of his side of the windshield. The picture is actually at a good point, at times it would get a million times worse. But all the time I could see just fine. enjoy the pics, And remember stand your ground.

Sonia

I love this post and it's Title - It was one of the first couple of posts I did. If I were to write this now I would really expand on it, and add lots more pictures. (I don't have time tonight) I will try to redo it. I would have taken more pictures especially when the window was really bad - there was a point when his side had about an inch of snow on it and my side was clean! That was a great trip - I think I'm going to save my pennies for another one. That drive was so beautiful!

B2B-Day2: 101st Airborne Div. -Fort Campbell

This week I will be participating in a Back to Blogging challenge hosted by SITS girls for a chance to win an Electrolux Washer/Dryer set sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath and Florida Builder Appliances.

Each day this week there will be a writing prompt, Today's is: A Post You Wish More People Had Read.

Here is mine, posted on Nov 6, 2008:

101st Airborne Div. - Fort Campbell
I drove Michael to Fort Campbell very early Mon. Morning. It was dark, and there was a short blanket of fog. As we drove onto the base I could see ok thru the fog. There was lots of empty space between large buildings. I was focused on the directions Michael was giving me so that I wouldn't get lost on my way out, and out of the corner of my eye, I thought I had seen a small grouping of soldiers, poised in combat position. I recall seeing a grouping of helmets, and the points of guns, thru the fog. It was a strange feeling. It felt like I was driving thru the middle of a military operation. All I could think was - it can't be and if it is then they are training.

I dropped Michael off, and drove back to Nashville. The Sun came up as I was driving. And again all I could notice was the wonderful color scheme. I stopped and took some pictures. I thought to myself I can use these in an color excersice that Susan does, where you pull color from a picture.

So here it is before:



And the color scheme I pulled:

and another picture that would be good for the excersice.

Michael called around Noon, so I drove back out to Fort Campbell to pick him up. I couldn't stand the not knowing about what I saw that morning so I asked him. "Is there a field out here where I might have seen a Military exercise this morning, I remember seeing helmets and riffles thru the fog"

He said no, but there is a new memorial that has soldiers standing on a large grassy field. It's just around the corner, want to go. I said sure!

It wasn't the picture that I conjured in my head, but I can see how I would have taken key elements of the memorial and created a different vision in my mind.




Michael is part of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, they have had some high honors in most war's the US has been involved in.

The Marbel itchings were stunning:







And it was surrounded by soilder's names from all war's after WWII as they were new in WWII.





The statue's had such attention to detail that Michael was able to point at all the gear and tell me what everything was used for.


I was so glad that I asked. We then drove home (hotel) had lunch there, then went to the Mall and walked around. Then went to Target, and bought the game of life, we like board games. By then it was time for dinner so we went to dinner, and then came back home (hotel) and played the game of life. Michael and Stephanie wrestled they like to do that. They jumped on the bed. Like I said it feels like I still have 4 year olds. Then we went to bed, as I was going to have to drive Michael back to the base, before we drove out to the airport. We had two great days.

What follows for Michael is a tough adjustment period. He will be at Fort Campbell for 90 days before they let him get out. That will be a homecoming. Until then all we were able to due for him, is make him feel like home for a couple of days.

At this point I had been blogging for almost a year, I'm a very reserved person. My life is mine to deal with and not to be told around town, was and to some degree still is the way I think. Michael coming stateside after being in Iraq for 12 months was very emotional and I was having trouble telling people around me anything, so I chose to express some of it on the blog. This post gives a small insight as to my family life that's why I like it. but I love it because of the great history that exists on most military bases they are museums in and of themselves.

My Fist Post

This week I will be participating in a Back to Blogging challenge hosted by SITS girls for a chance to win an Electrolux Washer/Dryer set sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath and Florida Builder Appliances.

Each day this week there will be a writing prompt, Today's is: The First Post you Ever Wrote.

Here is mine, posted on Jan 27, 2008:

Getting Started


Well, here I go feet first. Last year I taught myself how to knit. I knit two scarves. This year I want to finish at least 2 sweaters by hand and learn to Machine Knit. I may be taking on to much but you can't reach the moon unless you shoot for the stars, and I think I'm aiming for pluto. I figure as long as I can keep my artistic side stimulated, I should be able to keep moving forward. Ravelry is great so much inspiration, I just need to make it a point to set some time and take a peek at least once a day. Creating a blog seems to be a good way to hold myself accountable at least once a week. So off we go on this year's journey.

- I knew absolutely nothing about blogging. And I don't think I was thinking that at some point I would want to grow it - definitely was not thinking to keep track of Analytics nor did I have SEO on my mind (which I still don't fully understand). I started as a simple write a paragraph or two about a goal that was made. I have yet to even start knitting the two sweaters I designed - They are designed the are patterned and swatched but still haven't casted on. I did knit a skirt! And a lot of scarves and purses. It was fun to see some of the old posts.