I remember when....

I started this blog on March 6, 2009, a little over 10 years ago.  My goal was to "journal"....sharing my everyday life, talents and ideas.  I have followed bloggers who got married, some divorced, and a few remarried.  Babies were born to a few who didn't want children, and they became great moms!  Lots of grandmothers shared their little blessings!  Some lost their spouses and a few bloggers even passed away.  I was saddened by some with illnesses, others who struggled with personal problems and a few who felt hopeless.  

I watched homes be decorated in a variety of styles, learned myriad of crafts and tried numerous recipes.  I made "friends" with bloggers from all over this country who have enriched my life.  Some I communicate with regularly, some I have had the blessing to meet in person, and others who probably don't even know that I exist (but I feel that I know them personally!)  

I watched some succeed professionally: books have been published, businesses have been created and products have been designed.  It is so exciting to walk into a book store, see a book and think "I know this blogger", or to walk into the hardware store and recognize a brand name as a blogger I used to follow!

There were many times I found myself feeling like I could never be good enough, rich enough, smart enough, happy enough, skinny enough, cute enough, clever enough, or creative enough.

So, I simply unfollowed.

I hope that my posts never made my readers feel that way!

 Blogging has certainly changed in the 10 years.  I have stopped following many due to the fact that numerous "ads" pop up, other pop ups ask you to sign up for their email list, others do not return to visit my blog (which used to be a courtesy) and some are not as "positive"  or enjoyable as they used to be.  

Recently Link Parties seem to be used only to "drive" traffic and not to create connections or friendships.  A few bloggers "fell off the face of the earth" and some pulled the wool over my eyes and cheated me.

I learned to make wreaths from the pages of a paper back book, I glued glass bowls onto candlesticks to make pedestal serving pieces, I covered lampshades with fabric, I used tutorials to learn how to paint MacKenzie-Childs black and white checks, I tried many decorating styles and so on.  I was inspired by many!

I just don't seem to have the time to read as many blogs as I used to and I have lost touch with many.

My point to this is to share what happened recently. 

 My husband and I took a trip to Virginia from NY. to see our daughter and SIL who recently moved outside Washington, DC.  While traveling on a back road, in VA, not far from the Maryland border and the Potomac River, we came to a red light.  A large building sign caught my attention: LUCKETTS. 

How did I know that name?  

And slowly it came to me.....

Marion from Miss Mustard Seed had a booth there and I watched her business grow as I followed her blog years ago.  I lost touch with her throughout the years, but we had to stop to visit the shop!

After my visit to the store, and for the last 30 minutes of our drive,  I reminisced about my 10 years of blogging and thought about those of whom I lost touch, those who stopped blogging and those who are no longer with us.

I also tried to remember the names of some of the old blogs who were "bookmarked" on my old computer. It was so much fun to reconnect with Miss Mustard Seed's blog, read some of her posts from the last few years and to learn that she moved away from the area and no longer had a booth at Lucketts.  She is someone who probably never knew of me, but certainly had an impact on some of my creative endeavors years ago!

Blogging has been a rewarding 10 years for me and I look forward to many more years of sharing my adventures with you!  It has been a creative outlet, allowing me to share my creativity, everyday adventures and family with you and I appreciate you following along with me!

 Thanks for stopping by!