Ten years ago. . . . . . . . .

Ten years ago, in January 2013, I was heading toward Antarctica. Some of you were already blog friends and followed that amazing journey as, dressed in many warm/waterproof layers, and often sporting a red nose, I sailed to the "end of the world" aboard an expedition ship with 120 excited passengers and a fabulous crew. Shipboard life was not new as I had already sailed the sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia in 2011 on another ship, and then traveled by that same ship to the Kimberley region of Western Australia in 2012. I had earned my sea legs, learned how to fend off seasickness, and become an adventurer rather late in life!  Other expeditions followed where being at sea for long periods became the most exciting times of my life.

This year January is following a December that was a month of joy and sadness. I'm not doing much here in blog land as my mind is still so busy with other things. My daily routine feels different. The weather is changeable from below freezing nights to a balmy 70F today. Brilliant green bluebell leaves are poking through the ground. Will the deer nibble them, will the cold nights freeze them? The garden looks sad and uncared for at this time of year. Thoughts of spring are mostly of hard work waiting out there to get plants and shrubs back to growing and blooming, and general cleaning and tidying up. 

In all honesty, I would like to be back in Antarctica. Any thoughts of green gardens and all the work they entail, would be struck from my mind as I once again sailed silently between mile long icebergs, viewing whales, seals and delightful penguins. Boarding Zodiacs to go ashore was a daily ritual I really loved. You do know I hope that Antarctica is not all white!  Blues of every shade are a feast for the eyes. . . . . you don't even miss the greens!

If you have the opportunity to go, do it, you won't be sorry!

This time two years ago. . . . . .

. . . . . . I was here!

Yesterday, enjoying lovely sunshine in Victoria, British Columbia, I was introduced

 to a lady who is a professional photographer. She was chatting about her 

upcoming first safari trip to South Africa and what camera equipment she might 

require etc. I told her a lot about what to expect and how wonderful it is

to experience close up contact with the wildlife.  

Remembering all those adventures during three exciting safaris,

 reminded me I was there in Kenya at this exact time just two years ago.

I was able to view these animals and birds I photographed, and more. 

Memories are still fresh and will always be here on my blog (hopefully) for me.

Masai Mara, Kenya - September 2016

My blog is my journal - how would I remember all these amazing places

 without being able to look back here and continue to enjoy those trips 

of a lifetime!
Do you ever come back to your blog when you want to recall a 
special occasion, or just want to know where you were or what you
 were doing on a particular day?

Do you consider your blog your journal?

When so many are leaving blogging, do you plan to stay?

Blogging news and an anniversary. . . . .

Carolina wren on my front porch last week.

Sometimes I too feel like I need more balance in my life! I'm finding at this age I am not so good standing on one leg! I struggle to get into a pair of tights now, usually ending up sitting down! Trying any type of physical exercise which demands balancing sometimes makes me dizzy. Lately even getting up too fast from bed causes me to be off balance. Blood pressure is good with a little medical assistance. Guess it's 'an aging thing', like kneeling - why is that so difficult also?  Oh these golden years, so full of challenges!

Anyway, not to worry. Here I am, past seventy and still blogging! Yes, today is my anniversary. Nine years ago today I put up my first post on my first blog named Across The Pond (still available via the link on the top of my sidebar).

My guess is anyone starting a blog wonders, what the heck shall I write about that would be of interest to anyone who doesn't even know me? Who would even want to look at tiny photos, most of which were blurry and nondescript as I'd never used a good camera or had any formal instruction.

Perhaps my saving grace was that I had worked in art and advertising for several years. . . . all before computers became commonplace. This had given my untrained eye a path to creating lovely things to look at, whether through a lens or on paper. I learned about design and color, I tried basic airbrush retouching - the old way with a huge tank of compressed air standing next to my desk. I did line drawings and calligraphy. I learned about typography and choosing fonts. I wrote copy for page layouts, edited copy, and sometimes assisted art directors with ads designed for national companies. I was used as a hand model (my other bits apparently not marketable!) as I have long fingers and always kept my nails looking good! I used hundreds of rolls of Kodak film in cheap cameras. Don't laugh. . . . . I was actually the studio manager/admin. assistant but I so wanted to be an artist like all the talented people I worked with! All those things brought me to the understanding that I loved to be creative with pen, ink, paper, and a camera, that I could do things without being a real 'artist', and that I had found my niche in the world of art. I enjoyed those years more than any others in the workplace.

I realized how much I missed that creative part of my life when I retired. But then I found blogging! Here was a platform waiting for me to step up on, a place which might allow me to become creative again. This time I would be my own boss, working at my own pace and on my own terms, but with the help of an amazing computer and digital cameras. So here I am, nine years later, still blogging with no plans to cease quite yet. As far as what I write about - anyone who's followed me for a while knows that can be just about anything and everything - and that I take a lot of photographs both here around town and the world.

Last, but by no means least, you are out there and actually reading my posts, and seem to like them! Because of this blog I have a wonderful relationship with each of you. I love learning about you, your lives, your loves, your homes, your pets, what you cook, where you travel, everything that makes you tick! Sadly, some of you I may never meet in person. Others I have met, several more than once, and we have done fun things together. I do hope to meet more of you this year - who knows where or when - but it may happen, it's one of the big perks of having a blog.

So here I am, often feeling a bit like the squirrel, off balance, feeling my age a bit,
 but still ready to climb a tree in the sunshine, take a trip to a new place to share
 with you, or go on an expedition. 

Thanks to each of you taking time to stop here, read my words, or perhaps just
 take a look at my photographs. 
I always love reading your generous comments and understand how much time
 it takes to comment on the many blogs we each follow.
 I cannot thank you enough for stopping by as often as you do.

Hope you are having a great day. I am - and I'm enjoying my 9th anniversary!

See you next time.

Blog tour 2014~~~~~~~~~

I've been invited by my dear friend Jane, well known in the blogosphere as "Blondie"

at Blondie's Journals, to be a part of the current blog tour……known as 

Touring Through Blogland.

I've met Jane, and her charming husband in person - in Asheville, NC and here in 

Raleigh, NC, and we had so much fun each time.

Jane's blog is awesome and enjoyed by a lot of gals who are into decorating their homes, 

enjoying time with their families, spending time lakeside in Summer, gardening, cooking etc.  

She always writes candidly and has a great sense of humor. Jane is the perfect blogger and if 

you don't already visit her I suggest you head on over soon.

I started my first blog, Across The Pond, in 2007, this current one in 2010, so have been 

blogging over seven years. In the early years it was a lot different of course, fewer 

bloggers and limited editing programs for posting great photos - and let's face it, we all 

want to share our photos don't we?

I'm to answer four questions………so here goes. 

All photos are my own.

My cottage home.

1.  What are you working on right now?
To be quite honest, not much!  In the oppressive heat of Summer here in the southeast,
being lazy seems to be the best thing, and having recently returned from a busy trip to the
Baltic and Russia, I'm just catching up on regular things around the cottage, while sipping
chilled beverages on the side!  Being British I do not like hot weather one bit. If it wasn't for
the humidity, bad evening storms bringing an overabundance of rain, followed by clouds of
mosquitoes, I would be outside gardening, perhaps painting some bits of furniture I see waiting
out in the potting shed, and of course walking much more. I am cooking a lot lately - easy hot
weather dishes - after buying a really great new vegetarian cookbook - will share that with you
another time.

2. How does my work differ from others in this genre?
I travel often and love taking photos of amazing places around this awesome planet.
Besides the usual vacation venues, I have been fortunate to do a lot of expedition travel via
small ships, not something enjoyed by the majority perhaps, but a special way of seeing areas
of other countries usually off the radar for regular travelers. Having now visited all seven
continents, Antarctica last year being the 'jewel in the crown', I have so loved sharing these
wild and wondrous places with blogging friends.

There are several thumbnails in the right column of my blog page which open up to many of the
places I've visited.  If you've not read those posts and would like to see my photos from around 
the world, please click on them.

My Garden over the past few Summers.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?
I am a creative person, born and bred, sharing my late talented mother's genes I suppose.

She was an amazing dressmaker who actually made clothes for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the mother of our present Queen, in the mid-1900's, then taught me to sew and acquire a great interest in textiles and fashion.

She let me redecorate my bedroom, over and over again, helping me choose wild
wallpaper designs of the '50's - hence perhaps my love of interior design.

She was a great 'from scratch' cook - doing it professionally for a while, and yes I love to cook too.

In my childhood garden she showed me how to raise and care for beautiful flowers,
from climbing sweet peas to dinner plate sized dahlias, fuchsia bushes the size of small trees,
and always gorgeous roses. Gardening, a very creative pastime and, as they say,
"A thing of beauty but a job forever",  I certainly agree.

Having worked in several professions, my most-loved were the years spent in the art and advertising business. My blog, though started as a way to journal and hopefully share aspects of my life for my children/grandchildren in the future, has really become my personal creative outlet. I love words and therefore try my best to write interesting content on my blog. As for photography skills, those I've had to teach myself. I was a lousy photographer with a basic camera when I started blogging, now with better equipment and fabulous places, wild animals, flora and fauna appearing in my lens, I'm doing much better but still have a long way to go. I am also prepared to spend hours editing my photos - this alone is probably the most creative time for me these days - I love playing with my photos!

Places I've been around the world.

4. How does your writing/creating process work?
I confess I spend perhaps too much time on blogging! Each morning when at home I'm here raring to go - to bring something cheerful to my readers' day. I don't post every day, sometimes writing one and then leaving it in draft for a later date. I could post daily as I'm never without something niggling at my brain, some subject to expound on, or a photo about which I can tell a little story. I do understand though that we bloggers already have a hard time keeping up with each other……there's just so much to read and comment on, right? When traveling I always carry my trusty MacBook Air, using it to post when Internet is available, and also downloading the photos I take each day so they are backed up in a second safe location. Although I have no further 'big trips' lined up for 2014, next year appears to be another busy travel period and I'm hoping to share many more interesting places with you here.

Thanks as always for stopping by - I love it when you have time to leave a comment but understand if you're too busy, then I just hope you enjoy peeking at something I've enjoyed sharing with you.

I now have to pass the baton to two more bloggers who hopefully will share their stories with you.
How about these two lovely ladies who lead interesting lives and take us along to special places~~~

My wonderful 'keeps me young' friend……whom I've spent so much creative time with 

over the past several years……Vanessa of Dreaming Shabby

My 'hope to meet in person' some day……long time, very kind Southern California blog friend
Sara of Come Away With Me 

Happy weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by.