Think Write Thursday | If You're Reading This.

...I have successfully completed the first step on a project I've been putting off for months: posting on my blog from my iPad. 

Three things happened early this week that finally made me move on it:

1. I got a new-to-me iPad (because Marc upgraded to the iPad Pro);

2. I realized this weekend's trip to Madison was the perfect trial run (my biggest reason for wanting to post from the iPad is Alaska ... I really want to blog while I'm on that trip and I really don't want to take my laptop); and

3. Today's Think Write Thursday topic is procrastination. (please forgive the lack of links...taking baby steps here!)

Longtime readers might recall blog posts from Sara's post-graduation trip to Paris and Florence (back in May 2014). Those were all done from my iPad. But since then, the app I was using turned into a pumpkin and I've been comfortable posting from my laptop. and frankly, too wrapped up in other things to bother with it. So I'm grateful for this push from the universe to figure it out.

My plan is to share posts every day while I'm here to get the hang of it. Hopefully by Tuesday y'all won't be able to tell the difference between the iPad and the laptop. That gives me a few days to figure out the kinks, right?

From my trial runs, I think photos are going to be the biggest challenge. I like to post them centered, and sometimes with a caption. I haven't figured that out yet. 

But I do have two photos to share. This first is my standard in-flight entertainment shot. I cast on for a new sweater at the gate in Atlanta. The pattern is Amy Miller's Michigan (I'm going to name my project Wisconsin). Short rows and a new-to-me centered double increase meant no book...just knitting (I even waited on the wine until I was sure I had the pattern down).

 

And the almost landed view to the west. On previous flights, we've flown right over (Sara's) Lake Wingra...not today. If I had my bearings right, it's the shimmer off to the far right. Much of the flight up was cloudy (and bumpy), so seeing the ground - even with snow! - was welcome.

 

If you've read this far, thank you! I really appreciate your patience. and if you have any app suggestions for Blogger posts, please share (I settled on BlogTouch Pro, but maybe there's something better out there?)

Hope to be back tomorrow with a better (looking) post!

Throwback Thursday | Mere-et-Filles.

photo that was part of the first blog banner - which sadly, I can't locate

This blog had a birthday last week. Yep, my very first post was Sunday, February 18, 2007. Time flies and all that... but whoa, it's hard to believe I've been at this for over nine years. It's fun to revisit those early archives and remember what life was like. 

I was working for Hewitt, with thoughts of "retirement" but no definite plans. Katie was a sophomore at Georgia Tech and Sara was a freshman in high school. Marc was working hard and playing golf (that's one thing that hasn't changed!) We had a big lovable yellow lab named Chance. We loved our iPods and digital cameras. No one had a smart phone. I didn't know anyone personally who blogged. I was on a break from knitting and didn't know about the on-line world springing up around our craft. 

Back then, Katie and Sara also published posts. It was always a highlight to open the blog and see a new post from one of them. I spent a few hours last night and this morning reading through those old archives. Mostly wonderful memories.

My first post

Katie's (February 21, 2007)

Sara's (February 24, 2007)

Our first trip to Beaufort

Spring break trip to Chicago

That summer Katie traveled to Europe for Study Abroad (she met her future husband Rob on the flight over there) and Sara went to camp. It was a trial run for empty nesting.

The funniest post I read was this one, from Sara, late that summer.

I couldn't find a photo of the three of us together from those early days, but there are plenty of "two of us". Here's what we looked like back then.

Sara and I - Chicago - April

 Katie and I - a coffee date - February

Wow, huh?

Thank you for reading...and being part of our story.

Ten on Tuesday | Daily Blogging.

...tips and topics. I suggested this week's list, hoping to learn from y'all. Because Sunday marks my third attempt at NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month for the not-so-crazy people who might be reading this and not realize that there a lot of people who try to post on their blogs every single day in November). My first attempt was in 2011 - I had a long string of days and then B-A-M, November 29...and nothing. I did manage a November 30 post, but after missing the 29th, well.... Last year, I tried again, but got a late start (as in I didn't realize the "thing" was still a thing until I caught up on my feed reader Monday and realized I'd already missed two days.) I managed 28 more posts, though. So this year, I think, will be the year I manage to start and finish and cover all those days in between. with a lot of support from y'all! so huge thanks to Carole for hosting this week's list!

I'm pretty sure one of the tips will be writing in advance. I've done that a handful of times, but only a handful. When I started blogging in 2007, Blogger didn't support "scheduling", so I wrote and published and ... that's my habit. Plus, Tuesdays with Charlie wouldn't be "with Charlie" if I wrote them on Monday (or Sunday?).

Because today had this

and then this (shortly after which if I was really a dedicated blogger I'd have been writing this post?)

but the nap was short-lived. and we had more of that "shared nap" that I posted about last week....and then Charlie & I went to the church for our monthly Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting, I dropped him back at Katie's and went to the visitation for a friend who died of cancer...just past her 60th birthday. The day got away from me - not only in time, but also emotions. All of which is just a long way of saying - it's nearly 8pm and I'm still on the first draft of today's post!

1. take a lot of photos. photos spark stories. and blogs are really just stories.

2. be ok with posting "just" a photo - without or with just a few words.

3. embrace the meme - Ten on Tuesday, Wordless or Words in the Wild or One Word or WIPs Wednesday, Thankful (especially appropriate in November) or Throwback Thursday, Eye Candy or Five Things or FO Friday.

4. make a plan. I think this is really about spreading out the stories. at the beginning of each week, I think about the stories I have (or hope to have) to tell and when they'll fit with the time I have to blog.( sometimes this works.)

5. steal from others imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. there are a lot of really fabulous bloggers out there. when they post about a topic that inspires you, post about it yourself. but be sure to credit the idea back to them.

6. share "older" stories.

7. and truly mundane ones. am I the only one who has a "blogger" voice in my head as I walk through the aisles at Costco and wonder...

8. share recipes.

9. and books. I love hearing about both. not only what you love but also (although maybe not in quite so much detail) what you didn't.

10. just do it. at the end of the day (or really the month), I'd like to look back and see a good story... with photos and words to remind me what we did ... what mattered and what maybe didn't ... but what it was like this November.

I can't wait to see what ideas y'all have to share!

and if you're not already playing along with Carole and her Ten on Tuesday fun, you should be! click here to join!