how this started
I have read a couple of interesting accounts recently by bloggers of how they got started. I’m coming up on my second anniversary of writing in this blog and it occurs to me that I never have recounted my own story.
About two years and a few months ago Tricia and I finished remodelling our kitchen. It was a time-consuming project. We pulled everything down to bare studs and started over, doing most of the work ourselves including electrical, plumbing and drywall. It was finally over in time for the holidays that year and then that winter I went into the hospital for a gall-bladder operation.
My life changed a little. I had lots more time and I wasn’t supposed to do anything strenuous. I had always been an Internet fan but I started spending more time than ever surfing and especially reading this new kind of website called blogs. It was the political blogs that I started out with, but soon I was reading all kinds of stuff and I knew that I wanted one myself.
I used Blogger until I was sure I was serious. At first I called the blog Vertigo. I did not know just what I wanted to write about either. I mainly just wanted to write but I was not an expert on anything and wasn’t particularly funny or entertaining. I spend a lot of time working in my garden but it never occurred to me that someone would want to read about gardening. I kind of had this idea of writing about all kinds of things using the persona of a country gardener. Eventually I did wind up writing a lot about the garden itself just because that was what interested me.
After a few weeks I changed the name to praire point which is the name of a community that ceased to exist decades ago out where my parents are from. Also I had noticed that most of the sites I liked then used Movable Type. Clearly that was the way to go and I decided to get my own domain and try to install it.
The very first gardening blog I stumbled across was Garden Spot. I once lived in Houston and I think I was just looking for blogs in Houston when I found it. From the list on Erica’s site I discovered a handful more, many of which are no longer active.
I don’t know what I expected from blogging, but I can say that I did not expect it to be like the way it turned out. For one thing I am surprised by how much I feel like I am writing to a particular audience all the time. Many of the readers have become friends - even if we have never met.
I don’t seem to have as much to say as I used to. Nor do I have as much spare time. I have planned for months to redesign the site and to either upgrade to a new release of MT or switch to WordPress. I can’t seem to get off my duff to do those things and with spring around the corner I imagine they will be postponed even more. However I am definitely hooked on this.
February 19th, 2005 @ 12:02 pm
I am glad to hear you are hooked on writing your blog, because I am hooked on reading it. I wonder who influenced Erica (of Garden Spot)? She was the first garden blog I ever read, too.
February 19th, 2005 @ 1:25 pm
well I for one miss the HAT!! and the CAT!! But you just keep on blogging and I will keep on reading.
February 19th, 2005 @ 1:26 pm
Now if only we could get Tricia to blog about quilting….(wink)
February 20th, 2005 @ 5:29 am
your blogg site ,read because your my cousin, inspied me to start a site also.I have found your site intresting and it is a way to keep up with how you are doing . My site sits empty and devoid of entries. It has been said that you can tell a writer not by the quality of his writing , but the regularity of his attempts. I have often though of myself as a writer but my defination excludes me from that catagory. My Father wrote letters all his life and had a pen pal that he conversed with for over 50 years and only met one time. He became a sports writer for a daily newspaper late in life. My Father was also an avid reader {and a garderner} . Do you supose a writer has to first be an avid reader? [rather than an ocasional reader] My Father could spell well-I can’t–are most writers good spellers? I have many questions-few answers. next time your around this old town, give me a call. Byron
February 20th, 2005 @ 9:35 am
I’m still using Blogger and seem to have not too much trouble with it compared to some.
I remember the first time I came across your blog. There’s a serenity to it that appealed to me and I recall oohing and aahing at your photos. I’m glad to hear you get as much enjoyment from it as you give.
February 21st, 2005 @ 8:25 am
Mary Lou: The hat is still around - you just have to look for it. I have been neglecting my cats in this blog lately - must rectify that.
Byron: Hi, cuz. I did not know your father wrote letters or had a penpal. I am sure that I must have read some of his newspaper articles but I cannot remember them. I would like to read some of his stuff sometimes.
Leslie: I like Blogger, especially now that it has been improved. I recommend it to people all the time. I switched away because it was slow at that time and also because I did not like the design templates available and the lack of comments (then).
Kathy: Good question. I wonder who were the earliest garden bloggers?
February 21st, 2005 @ 10:50 am
“…not an expert on anything and wasn’t particularly funny or entertaining.”
We are voices in the wilderness. Just knowing that there are others out there like us, in small ways and in large, lends some peace to our day-to-day.
“are most writers good spellers?”
Um. Speaking for myself? No. I think you might have something with the connection to reading, though. Writers do tend to be avid readers…
“I wonder who influenced Erica (of Garden Spot)? She was the first garden blog I ever read, too.
Wow. She seems to be common ground for a lot of us. Garden Spot’s been awfully quiet. I’ve been hoping that real life has been vital and busy for her… keeping her away…
February 21st, 2005 @ 10:58 am
It ain’t going ta happen, Mary Lou >^..^< I have a 20′x14′ sewing room with a computerized professional sewing machine, an embroidery machine, the long arm for quilting and a good old 1949 Singer, plus a book case full of patterns & several 100 yards of fabric. Every minute I spend at the keyboard is less time I have to make quilts.
But thanks for thinking about me. I have enjoyed all you Bloggers thru Bill and the joy you give him.
February 21st, 2005 @ 7:10 pm
I enjoy reading your blog. Your spot is a place of serenity; I like that. We all need that considering how vile the internet can be at times. Glad that you are still blogging away. I can’t even remember how I found your site, but I’m glad I did.
February 28th, 2005 @ 9:33 am
Bill - congrats on your two year anniversary. I certainly enjoy reading your blog. As a former Central Texas gardener, your blog is one of a few that keep me connected to a gardening world that is familiar and missed. All best.
February 28th, 2005 @ 3:51 pm
Well Then Bill, Why dont you give tricia a DAY of her own, on your site, she can blog about the quilt she is working on at the time,. or at least post pictures of it. I am so envious of her and the projects she works on.