Today one year ago I started writing this blog. At times it feels like the year has gone by in a flash; at others it seems like I’ve been blogging forever. Looking back over all the posts, I still can’t believe I had so much to say!
I’ve written before about what I get out of blogging (in the post My blog is my happy place), so I won’t do it again. But I do want to say thank you. Thank you to . . .
- Willie for his input into this blog – which has been far more substantial than I thought it would be. Besides being one of my first regular readers, he’s been a contributor and guest blogger, a proofreader and sometimes a necessary critic. Although he rarely comments, he reads all the comments left by other readers and knows who you all are.
- Family and friends who encouraged me to start writing and keep writing. And who were my first readers.
- Riekie (AKA Clouded Marbles) for being my “blog buddy” and spending hours discussing blog themes and blog topics with me. We’ve also shared our exploration into photography – an old hobby for her, a new one for me.
- My guest bloggers who contributed some wonderful posts and shared their stories, and gave this blog an extra dimension.
- My “roving reporters” (for the most part people who don’t have their own blogs) who sent me their photographs and stories to write about. I appreciate their generosity in allowing me to use their material.
- All the fellow bloggers who kept me entertained, amused and educated me over the past year. It’s been a fascinating look into how other people think and live. I’ve travelled all over the world through your posts. And I’ve laughed a lot!
- And to all the readers of my blog. I really appreciate your interest and support.
Here’s to another year of blogging!
My Ultimate Blog birthday cake (Photo: pecinaroonaroo via Photobucket)
Notes from Africa 
Happy HAPPY Blogday, Lisa!
Time flies by so fast, doesn’t it? Thank you for sharing your happy place with us – it’s a really good place. 🙂
I wish you lots of fun in blog-world until the next one!
Thank you, Riekie – for your comment, and also for putting up with my obsessions! 😉
Happy anniversary, my friend! I love your happy place! Yours was the first blog I found when I started posting from Haiti! Keep up the wonderful work!
Kathy
Thank you, Kathy! Still remember that first email I got from you inviting me to check out your blog. Both of us have come a long way since then . . .
Congratulations, you have done well. It has been an enriching experience for many of us.
Thank you, Estie! I appreciate your kind comment and your support over the last year. And of course your contribution to the blog as a guest blogger. Will be publishing your next one once things have quietened down a little! 🙂
Congratulations! That is a great achievement as I think your blog is one of the best out there. A year is a great accomplishment. There are times when I wonder if I should keep blogging or not. You feel so alone yet the pleasure I get from having people comment and read it, plus reliving my travels and writing out my thoughts, seem to make it worthwhile. I love to write and have been at my blog since the end of February. I sure hope to be celebrating my one year anniversary as well!!!!
Thanks for your kind comments and for your support! Please don’t stop blogging – yours is one of those blogs I read when I want to escape to a different world. You seem to have gone a lot of the places I’d love to go to. The way I see blogging is that it is a journal of my interests and thoughts – which I share with other people. If you write authentically (as you do) people will want to read what you write and respond. What I particularly like about the way you write is that you are very honest in describing how YOU felt about a place. It’s so much more interesting reading a travel article which has no personal angle to it.
Congratulations on your first year. May there be many more.
Thank you! I’ve made it through the first year without running out of things to write about, so I guess I’ll keep at it.
Happy Blogiversary! I so enjoy your posts – always informative and fun. And congrats on being Freshly Pressed. I noticed it listed today. 🙂
Thank you for your kind comments and your support! It means a lot to me to have a “real writer” read my blog. Being Freshly Pressed was a bit of a shock, but I’m glad that a lot of people got to read my “themes post”.
Happy bloggiversary! I love your blog (and your photo blog). And congrats on being FP today.
Thanks for your comments and support, Laura! I just wish I had the ability to write the kind of humor pieces you do. Ah well, I guess we can’t all be that talented! 😉
Congratulations! I celebrated my first year of blogging last March and indeed, it’s great to see we have some kind of unlimited source to tap our stories. Our lives are full of stories and what better place than the digital fire to sit around and share them!
Keep on doing an awesome job!
Emiel
Thank you Emiel! You’re right about the value of sharing our stories online. I’ve benefited such a lot from reading about other blogger’s thoughts and journeys.
Wow! A year, I can’t believe it. Congrats!!!
It feels like yesterday we spoke about whether you should or shouldn’t. Well I’m glad you made the decision and that you enjoy it so much.
Thanks Sarita! I appreciated your encouragement when I was still thinking about whether or not to start a blog. It means a lot to me to have you still reading what I write.
Happy Anniversary – may there be many more! I certainly hope that you continue blogging for many years to come, you always write such inspirational posts that always give me something to think about… I like the Ultimate cheesecake for the ultimate birthday cake 😉
Thank you, Lu! Thanks also for being a regular reader. Yes, who wants to eat a boring old chocolate cake?! Unfortunately, I never got my grubby paws on any cheesecake this week.
Congrats Lisa, on the blog birthday and on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you and thanks so much for being a regular visitor to my blog! 🙂
Congratulations. I’ve only just started blogging. But I am so excited about the journey. Nicely done blog!
Hi Lisa, Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! I’ve really enjoyed the past year of blogging and wish the same for you. Your enthusiasm for life will certainly attract readers.
I have been at it for 3 months now and it is my happy place tooo !! Loved yours ! x
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! It’s always a nice surprise to come across a fellow South African on WordPress. 🙂 I love that you are exploring your hometown! We’re often so busy with our lives that we forget to look at the beauty around us. One of the bloggers I read is 2Summers (http://2summers.net/) an “honourary South African” from the United States who lives and writes about Joburg (and beyond).
Happy anniversary!!! cheers!! to another wonderful year!!! xoxo
Thank you Ellen! I appreciate you reading my blog. 🙂
Congratulations Lisa!
It is heartwarming to see what you have accomplished here. I haven’t been blogging for a while, nor reading blogs, but as I get myself back into this world I am thrilled to find you doing so well!
Wishing you all the best!
Thank you Jenny! I’m a little surprised that I haven’t run out of things to write about yet. Thanks for coming by again. 🙂
Congrats on one year! Your blog is just beautiful, I need to learn this CSS business. I haven’t read your posts yet and so I don’t know what your blog is about, but I am excited to see. Keep on posting. A year is a big milestone.
Thank you! I loaded a premium theme so the look isn’t my doing. But I am going to make some CSS changes in time.