I really have no idea as to what celebrating a 15th anniversary should be about. . . . especially when it comes to talking about blogging, bloggers, blog friends. All I know is that somehow I've hung around here for a long time, first with Across The Pond and then A Breath of Fresh Air, sharing so many posts (2,590 here on ABOFA plus 4 years of posts on ATP). I've covered a lot of ground - literally when I traveled the world before the pandemic - and here at home in the cottage and garden, tucked into a cul-de-sac on the edge of the city, weathering the ups and downs of life as I age, along with everything else around me!
Today I just want to thank every one of you, my friends who are my 'blog family', who visit here from around the world, leave lovely comments, share ideas and tips, support me when I'm feeling down, and have stuck with me for so long. All I can say is thank you so much, I hope I can continue to take photos, post them, and add some words and stories that make sense, most of the time!
I'm posting some of my older photo collages today.
They remind me of lovely places and times gone by in the
past 15 years, with hopefully many more to come.
I actually wrote this post early, before the tulip petals dropped and the third
and fourth buds on my second Apple Blossom amaryllis opened.
This is my spot in the dining room where 99.9% of my posts are
created, and where I read your blogs when at home - which is just about
always these days!
Again, thank you for being such great blog friends, see you next time.
Warm hugs, I'm thinking of you as I celebrate.
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Always enjoy your posts/photography. Blogging is such a nice way of connecting, slow enough for me to manage - other forms of social media just seem so fast to me. You have a lovely spot to do your blogging :)
ReplyDeleteDear Mary,
ReplyDeletehurrah and thank you for such a long time of sharing your stunning photos and posts with us!
To put something we see - or feel - into words is a great way to "look with new eyes" as Zen philosophy calls it, and photos (my impression) create an even more vivid memory.
Ain't it good we choose to go through the world and pay attention to what we see and experience?
I believe that - though of course the novelty of a far away surrounding sharpens our senses even more - the attentional glance at the small things around us is as precious as the other.
A robin in your garden, a lion in Africa - both wonders of creation. Though of course - as the "rare" things often seem more valuable - the lions make us more awake (as they should, come to think of it, more caution than for the robin - for that (maybe) more love...)
Thank you for the long time you share your blogs with us, and I am grateful that, though late, I found it. Britta
Happy blogoversary, dear Mary! I can not remember how exactly I found your blog; probably by seeing your comments on someone else‘s blog. Anyway, I am glad I found it! Yours are the most beautiful photos of garden birds, and your collages are unique.
ReplyDeleteHere‘s to the next 15 years!
Happy Blog Anniversary! I really enjoyed looking through all of these photos today. I am happy we met through blogging and became friends in person!
ReplyDeleteWarm congrats on 15 years. That is no small accomplishment. Your collages have always been beautiful and intriguing. While I enjoy the exotic, it is the collages of home that speak to me most. That said, I hope that you get to travel again because you love it so.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your blog writing milestone. 15 years is quite an achievement.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading blogs and thank you for continuing to write yours.
It's always nice to come to this spot and catch up with what you've been doing. Your photographs are lovely - I always enjoy seeing photos from around your home as well as the bird images you capture. (I am looking forward to seeing those bird prints framed)
Debra
oh, Mary, that's been 15 years of joy for us. We love you and are so happy you blog. Happy blog anniversary, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteDearest Mary,
ReplyDeleteThat's a long time and it passed by so fast...
For you these photo collages 'speak' but not for your readers who have not been there in person.
Always love to read information about any photo, for fully understanding what we're looking at.
You at least are an excellent photographer!!!
Hugs,
Mariette
I think i started blogging at about the same time as you, and have certainly followed you on your journey for many years, and enjoyed every minute!
ReplyDeleteAh, what a lovely post, dear Mary. Congratulations on your anniversary, and the thousands of beautiful posts you put together! Today's selection is perfect - a harmonious palette, incredible variety, and, so important, a good peek at the gorgeous vignettes about your beautiful home. A treasure trove for us sticky beaks! I should like to say I, too, have a similar beautiful corner within which to inspire creativity, but alas, not so organised. No wonder the world you've created online is so lovely!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure to have recently "met" you and thank you for your warmth and friendship across the seas! x
What gorgeous photos! I only just started following! I am now wondering how long I have been blogging, will have to go look at my oldest post on my oldest blog, I guess!
ReplyDeleteHappy blogging anniversary! And now that Covid is on the wane and mask mandates are being lifted, perhaps you can travel again soon! We're planning a trip to California to see our son, hopefully later this year.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Mary! Your photos and posts always enchant me. You share such beauty and we thoroughly appreciate all you have done to share it with us. Thanks also for friendship along the way.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, dear Mary, on your blogging anniversary. I have so very much enjoyed your travels and your around home posts. You inspired us to choose a particular river cruise company, and we're hooked! Can't wait to do another one in a year or two.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being a great blogging friend!
Congratulations. Your posts always give me great fun and tell me how wonderful the world is.
ReplyDeleteHappy, happy blog anniversary Mary ….. wonderful images/collages …. everything that I love. I still like blogging the best …. so many bloggers from when we started blogging have left and moved on to Instagram but, I much prefer blogging. It’s like having lots of pen friends from all over the world. Keep blogging and carry on !!!!! XXXX
ReplyDelete