Friday, May 1, 2009

Beautiful Blogging Party

I'd like to thank Joy at CUPIDS CHARM for hosting today's
Beautiful Blogging Party.
Visit her here for links to all participants.

WHY I LOVE BLOGGING

Even though a blog is a very personal thing, and we all create our blogs to reflect our viewpoint….I think the two things that I love most about blogging are the sense of community and sharing.







I’ll never forget the day that I stumbled upon a blog, while doing a search on the web. I knew nothing about blogging. I’d heard the term batted around during political campaigns, but had never read one. I clicked my mouse and there before my eyes was the most amazing "article," for lack of a better description, complete with beautiful photos. I was speechless! I lingered........
There was a Flickr slideshow.
“I love taking photos and creating slideshows!”
There were beautiful handmade paper and fabric items.
“I’ve always loved making things!”
There were collections of vintage items.
“I’ve been collecting vintage items my entire adult life!”
I added the site to my favorites…and made return visits. I discovered links to other blogs with interests similar to mine. I read them all, pouring over the beautiful photographs.
“Photography is a hobby of mine, as well!”

I began to feel that a real sense of community existed among these women. In days past, we worked, played, worshiped, were educated, and grew up in our immediate surroundings. Women chatted over fences, formed friendships, and helped one another.







Today our lives are more insular. We are a very busy society. The constraints of distance and time have rendered the “chat over the back fence” improbable, at best…….and yet, here were women chatting over virtual fences. Sharing their latest endeavors, as well as, snippets of their personal lives.


I wanted to be a part of that community. I wanted to chat over the fence with all those interesting women……but, I would be the new kid on the block. Would they be interested in anything that I had to say?…..and would my interpretation of our “shared interests” be worthy of anyone’s attention? I needed to find out. I sorted through the process of setting up my blog, and jumped in. I didn’t know what to write about. I was apprehensive. I typed some words, added a photo, and hit POST. I waited….would anyone really read this? How would anyone know I was there? I’m a grain of sand on a beach! I posted a few more times…….nothing! And then…..someone read my posts and left me a lovely poem, in return. I was thrilled and amazed at the same time.
I wondered how anyone had ever found my needle in that great virtual haystack.

I’m still relatively new at this. I’m still figuring it out, but I’ve made some wonderful friends. Yes, I do consider them friends, even though we’ve never met face-to-face. I’ve discovered that in addition to being a place to showcase your ideas, artwork, latest vintage finds, collections and photography…..this virtual community, has a great deal in common with the communities of old. People genuinely care about one another. They support and encourage each other. They offer an ear , if you need to vent…..a shoulder, to cry on…..always ready to have ideas bounced off them…..they offer a place to laugh….a place to play, and a place to learn. Our common interests bring us together where time and distance are no longer obstacles.

OK, When I joined this community, no one showed up on my doorstep with a freshly baked pie……but many have shared their favorite recipes. The key word here is…….shared.

Everything in life is more meaningful, when shared.
Best Wishes,
Kay

25 comments:

Saucy said...

The connections we make with each other via blogging are powerful and very satisfying! I have made some true friends via this platform... I'd have never imagined sharing such beauty and ideas with such creative women!

Enjoy the party!

Gabriela said...

Hello,


Blogging is so wonderful!


~ Gabriela ~

Debby said...

Hi Kay,

So happy to have found you through the blog party. Your blog is beautiful and I love your blog name and your header is gorgeous. It is amazing, the wonders we find in the blog world.
Debby

Deb said...

Hi Kay
I've found so many wonderful new blogs this morning through Joy's blog party :-) Your Spring's Bounty collage is gorgeous!

Carla said...

I agree, blogging is a great way to forge relationships. But hey, if anyone wants to show on my doorstep with a pie, I am all for it!
c (of leafdays.com)

Geralyn Gray said...

I too have been collecting victorian images for my entire adult life.....today I included a picture of two Victorian ladies chatting...like your vintage image except a different timr yet with the blogging world so timeless.

the wild raspberry said...

very nice!
have a lovely weekend.
chasity

Tara said...

I agree with every reason you've found to love blogging. Isn't it fantastic!

Have a great day and have fun at the party!

Outstanding Stranger said...

Hi Kay, just thought I would stick my head over the fence and tell you how fond I am of our visits. Your blog is beautiful and I always enjoy stopping by. Diane

Anonymous said...

I agree. Blogging is a wonderful thing. I never dreamed I would enjoy it so much.
I love your header picture.
Happy Blog Party Day!
Charlotte

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

Life is more meaningful when shared. Very nice post, glad to meet you, Kay!
~Tracie

Fete et Fleur said...

Beautiful post! I love the photos of where your comuputer sits. While I read, I felt like I was sitting there, right with you.

Hugs!
Nancy

Theresa said...

Happy blog party. Nice to visit your site. I love your inspiration board.
Will be happy to visit again. Off to party hopping ;)
~Theresa

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

Love your blog Kay! It's beautiful! It sounds like your life has been very enriched by your blogging experience! ~Stacy~

Lori said...

Your post on why you LOVE blogging is beautiful! I couldn't have said it any better! I love your blog and will visit often. So glad I found you!

Lorrie said...

Isn't blogging great? So happy to meet you at this party!

Lorrie

Ingrid Mida said...

Hi Kay,
Sharing is a wonderful thing. You expressed this part of blogging so beautifully. What a generous and giving community of blogging friends there are. I feel very lucky to be part of it.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post! I like how you compared blogging to chatting over the fence. It's true. I'm very glad to have met you ♥

Anonymous said...

Hi Joy,

Your post is so thoughtful. Thanks for sharing. There are so many amazing talented and gifted women who share so much through writing a blog and visiting blogs to leave a word or two of encouragement.

Like you, I am very new to blogging--have only been writing about life at Rose Cottage just over two months. I have learned so much and have been so blessed, too.

Happy May Day!
Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm

dragonflydreamer said...

My initial experience with blogs was just like you describe in your post. It was like peeking in on a conversation between people who knew each other. It took me a long time before I left a comment. I never imagined I'd go from being so utterly lonely to having so many connections. I love how you put it. I've been thinking about that a lot lately, how women have always held each other up when their husbands were at war, died, left them, whatever...most women forgot how important their connections with other women were. Now they are realizing how deep and meaningful those relationships can be and how nourishing to our souls. I am so glad to have stopped by your blog. I look forward to returning so I've bookmarked you. I'm having surgery on Monday morning and will be back on bed rest for a bit so I'll have plenty of time to come and spend some time looking around and enjoying your eye candy. Have a great weekend.

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Kay...that was neat reading how you first got started with your blog. I too, love the sharing of ideas...met so many wonderful folks in Blogland! :-) Susan

Rose Brier Studio said...

That is exactly what I would have written! I couldn't join the party due to family obligations. Thanks, Kay for saying how I feel about blogging!
~Marilee

Robin said...

Fabulous post......I should like to stay a bit and read more.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

I hope your weekend has been beautiful.

Joy Jones said...

Hello Kay! I wanted to stop by and thank you for participating in the Beautiful Blogging Party!! I hope you enjoyed the event and also enjoyed meetings lots of new bloggers. Have a beautiful week ~ Joy

Betty said...

OH my goodness Kay ... You just wrote "for me" ... that is exactly how I felt when I first started my silly blog .. did anyone really care? ... lol ..It was my daughter who found the blogging world and would forward some blogs to me ... she told me I should blog ..I didn't even know what she was talking about ..but then I did it ... I stayed up late at night teaching myself how to post .. and believe me ..I am not a "computer person" .. I've only been 'blogging' for a couple of months ..but like you, I already feel like I'm making friends .. my problem is that I need to slow down ... I'm like a butterfly ..going from one blog to another .. just when I think I'll spend an hour reading every word on a blog ..I go to one of the blogs they follow .. and then to another and then another ... My goal is to slow down so I can really get to know all these great people with the same likes that I have .. in fact Kay ..I was tagged by Sue at Sullivan and Murphy to write 6 things about myself to help people know me better ..and then to pick 6 people to write 6 things about themselves ... so you are one of the lucky winners .. I tag you. :^)
Hugz ... Betty