Category Archives: Blogging

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Another Gift of Blogging Connections

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One day last week I stopped by my friend Joe’s blog and saw a photo that I loved so much, all I could say was “Dang, Joe! Just DANG”!

Yeah … I have such a way with words 🙂

I fell in love with that photo and I told Joe so.  One week later, a beautiful framed copy was hanging on my wall.  My whole staff came in to view and admire it and I could not be happier.

Joe is a guy who has transcended blogger status and become a friend, and I hope to travel up north to meet him, and his wife, some day.  We share messages via WP, FB, and email, and Joe is helping me to wade through the ocean of information about cameras, computers, and software. If you haven’t visited his blog, please do so!!  This link will take you to the original view of the photo.

http://joeinfocus.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/lands-end/

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It’s not just Joe and his wife that I’d love to meet though.  I’ve been telling Boomdee, and Crystal and Liana and Lynda and Mike and Mae (and so many others of you!), that we need to have a big ol blogging cocktail party somewhere in the middle of North America and invite everyone to come!  No worries, my overseas friends, we’ll charter a plane to get you here, too.

Hey … a gal can dream can’t she?

 

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Thankful

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So thankful for all of you, my wordpress family

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On this day of Thanksgiving and beyond, may you enjoy health and happiness …

no matter where you live in this great big world.

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Joy Through the Mail – From Blogger Boomdee!!

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This past Thursday evening I arrived home, so very ready for a nap after just my second day back to work since the wreck. So what did I find at my door?  A package!!  The stickers let me know that this gift had come from quite a distance, but it was the stamp, that let me know I was in for a treat. Those of  you fortunate to know and follow this blogger, will surely recognize the AQUA sneakers!

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After opening the mailing bag, I found several beautifully wrapped treasures and I felt like a child on Christmas Eve!  And similar to the tradition of Christmas Eve, I took myself off to bed to give my body the rest that it needed, savoring (and saving) the presents for the next morning.

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As I opened each gift, I could not stop smiling!  I’m not much of a crafty person, but I know how much work went into these gifts and that made them even more special.

How had Boomdee made this T-shirt?  Six of my photographs, with the first part of the name of my blog, Life on the Bike, added to the motorcycle mirror in one of the photos. The six images are surrounded with the words that comprise the second part of the name of my blog, … And other fab things.  I could not love this more!

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I continued to open the gifts and found happiness in each one.

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Just look at all of the intricate pieces …

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… and this incredible homemade card (check out this link to Boomdee’s blog to learn how she did it!).

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The Jeannette Walls quote was timely given recent events …

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… and the words that Boomdee wrote meant much.

The Canadian Biker magazine was a perfect fit for me, because I WILL ride in Canada someday!  Boomdee even remembered my cat, and believe me, Abby loved that catnip toy.

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So why do we blog?  To share our words, our photography, our passions, and our lives, of course.

Why do we keep on blogging?  For the friendships and the connections and the love.

Previously I said that I was like a child at Christmas … but really, it’s all about Thanksgiving, my most favorite holiday.

Thank you Boomdee, for this wonderful gift and for sharing your remarkable talents with me.

If you have not met her yet, be sure to to visit!!

Boomdeeaadda: Blogging About Art, Life & Other Bits

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Gratitude

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I’m grateful, my blogging friends, for your incredible words of support, love, healing, and care since my motorcycle wreck.  These are the unexpected blessings of blogging.  You all bring joy to my life through your gorgeous photography, your beautifully written words, your stimulating ideas, and your love for the world at large.

Thank You.

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Next Post: The Great Smoky National Park – America’s Most Visited NP

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The “Pinking” of October

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When I heard about National No Bra Day I was appalled and angry on behalf of the women (and men) who have battled, or are currently battling, Breast Cancer.  If you have felt a similar concern about the corporate “pinking of October”, please check out these 4 bloggers (the first 3 are new to me) and their recent posts, and then make sure that the money you spend on “pink” in October really does go towards research.

Because that’s what it’s all about  … Saving Lives … not just breasts.

To quote Cancer in My Thirties “We live in a society that makes a huge hoopla about breast cancer while at the very same time trivializing the seriousness of the disease.  How can we be so contradictory?”

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Cancer in my Thirties:

http://cancerinmythirties.wordpress.com/

http://cancerinmythirties.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/national-no-bra-day-and-breast-cancer-awareness-month-or-please-put-that-pink-can-of-soup-down-put-your-bra-back-on/

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The Art of Breast Cancer: The Art of Living and Dying, While Trying to Keep Them Separate: 

http://www.artofbreastcancer.ca/introduction-to-art-of-breast-cancer/

http://www.artofbreastcancer.ca/fifty-shades-of-pink-the-rant/

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The Accidental Amazon:

http://accidentalamazon.com/

http://accidentalamazon.com/blog/2013/09/29/fifty-shades-of-pink-and-still-no-cure/

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And then there’s Mae, one of my favorite bloggers!!

Mae’s Day

http://maesday.wordpress.com/

http://maesday.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/pink-is-in-the-air/

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It’s Nice to be Home

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As much as I love to hit the road and explore new places, having traveled the last 5 of 7 weekends, I was missing what my friend Debbie calls “bonding with your house”.  

I missed the baking and cooking …

Chicken Salad for a friend’s birthday

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Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits for a couple other friends on Father’s Day

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The potting and planting …

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I can never have enough basil!

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The time for photography …

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Time to catch up on reading and blogging … currently reading Born To Run by Christopher McDougall

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And even the time for cleaning and laundry (but you don’t need to see a photo of that now do you?).

Of course, there was time to call my father …

This is my father, mother, and me at our annual Mothers Day / Fathers Day Dinner 2 weeks ago

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and this is Daddy, the most amazing father, back in the 70s.  He is now Captain USN, Retired

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If I’m lucky and it doesn’t rain, I’ll get some time on the bike …

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Yes, traveling and exploring are two of my most favorite things to do … but staying home isn’t bad at all.

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What’s in a Year?

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Or at least … what’s in a blogging year?

I’m contemplating that very question as I sit out on my finally clean screened in porch.  The rain and too many weekends of travel have kept me from enjoying it and I have missed spring and summer mornings out here.   Breakfast is done and I sit here now in comfortably cool temps, hot coffee at hand and a multitude of birds singing in the background.

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 How lucky I am to live where I do!  The house is far too big for one, what with the child moved on years ago, and 2 dogs and 1 cat also passed on.  It’s now just me and Abby, and every so often I consider moving to a smaller place.  Then I sit here on my porch, surrounded by nature (in the middle of my little city), basil growing in posts,  rabbits (and deer) eating all my hostas (damnit), and I drop all thoughts of moving … for now.

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But I digress.

One year ago, almost to the day, I started this blog as a way to communicate with family and friends while riding.  Each year, I take a solo bike trip and I’m loved enough to have people worry about my safety.  The first two years I typed a travel update via email from my Blackberry.  I’d find a fun little pub or restaurant, order the house special and a good imported beer and write the days news.  In searching for a better venue, I came to WordPress.

One thing led to another and I’ve now been posting for a year.  I started Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things as a travel journal and method of communication and it has morphed into something much, much more.

Story Telling.  Travel Journal.  Photography Portfolio.

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But after 12 months and 158 posts (now 159), it has become a passion, almost an addiction and has taken valuable time away from reading!

The two things that I did not anticipate?

1.  Growth as a photographer – because of many of you!  I have learned so much about the technique and artistry of photography and I have grown better (and more critical) of my efforts.  I can not wait to find a weekend photography retreat to attend so I can continue to improve.  Thanks to all of you out there for inspiring and teaching me.

2.  Connections – I had no idea that I would find such an amazing community of bloggers.  When I first signed on with WordPress and started trying to find my way around, I would read about the blogging community and was mystified.  How would I ever connect with people? How would they ever find me?  Then suddenly that first Like came … and then the first Follow (I still remember the thrill) and all of a sudden I was hooked!  I love telling my local friends about the connections I have made in Australia, London, Norway, Canada, and in many other countries and various parts of the US.  You all inspire me, uplift me, make me cry, and laugh out loud.

I have sighed, exclaimed and been envious over your photos.

I have been moved by your words and laughed at your jokes.

I’ve followed along on your adventures, been proud of your accomplishments, and wondered about you when you haven’t posted lately.

I’ve also lost hours of sleep and time spent with a books … ah well, it’s not all perfection.

To my family and friends: thanks for your patience with my requests to look at just a few more photos.   My annual solo bike trip is planned for August (details pending) and I look forward to having you all along for the ride as always.

To my fellow bloggers:  Thanks for coming sharing this amazing thing called blogging with me.  You have made my life richer for embracing me into your community.

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Withdrawals

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What do you miss most when your computer is down?

For me, it is most assuredly the lack of access to my photos, and the ability to edit and post new ones.

A friend has lent me a lap top so I am able to do online banking and use the internet as needed.

I do not have group contact lists on my phone and given that I maintain communication for 4 groups I am a bit challenged. At least I can send messages via those group FB pages.

So really, it’s about photography.

Some of you post beautiful photos from your iphone, but as much as I love my blackberry, the photo quality isn’t great. Perhaps I’ll give myself a photo challenge and see what I can do with the phone camera.

Until then, will you join me in prayer to the computer gods/goddesses, asking for resolution soon? I’d be grateful … I fear I’ll be experiencing withdrawal symptoms soon!

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One special moment in time….

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Mae wrote this lovely post … an uplifting moment after a terrible week.

maesprose's avatarMae's Day

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Yesterday, we flew over the storm that trapped me in Chicago.  We bumped and thumped over the clouds.  Belted in our seats, I was in the last row fighting back the urge to grab that little paper bag in the pocket seat.  I kept my dignity in tact as lunch remained where I needed it to be.

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When we landed in New York the sun was out and it was warm.  Having lived the storm that was coming, I decided to run to the park and capture some photos of the trees.  A now or never in case the intensity was the same as in Chicago.  I feared all of the blooms would be blown away.

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Central Park was beautiful and I was right to run up there to capture what already was a peak moment.  As I neared Bethesda Fountain I spied a gondola on the lake.  It was…

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A Gift!

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When I first began to blog 9 months ago, I would see and read about a variety of awards that bloggers would give to one another.  I was curious but didn’t know much about them.  At that point (and truly, still to this day), I was just thrilled if someone other than a family member or friend liked or made a comment about something I posted!

Then I was nominated for my first award and I felt so validated!  Even if it was just one person, at least that one person liked what I was doing.  How cool!

https://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/validation-and-gratitude-a-blogging-award/.

I know that there are those who do NOT want to be nominated for awards, but I was pretty tickled.

And then came Meg (http://athomeworkplaydotcom.wordpress.com/ ).  Like me, Meg was cherishing the new friendships she had found since joining the blogging world and she decided to let those friends know how much she appreciated them.  This wasn’t an “official” award … just an incredibly lovely message that made my day.   And the funny thing?  I had just been telling someone about Meg the day before.

Then came another nomination, this time the Beautiful Blogger award and it was just as exciting as the first nomination.  I mean really …  it is so rewarding to have someone tell you that they like what you are doing.

THE RULES:

Copy the Beautiful Blogger Award logo and place it in in your post – CHECK!

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Thank the person who nominated you and create a link back to their blog – CHECK!

Thanks so much to Susan at Gasm Travels for nominating me for the Beautiful Blogger award http://maedetera.wordpress.com/.

A traveler, photographer, writer and water color painter, Susan describes her love for traveling this way: “I was searching for the right word that would best describe my travel experience and my feelings whenever i am planning a trip or visiting a new place….that ‘ahhhh’ feeling when something excites me every time i see new things….that ‘oohh’ feeling whenever i have satisfied my curiosity….that ‘wooow’ feeling whenever i am awestruck with a beautiful scenery in front of me….that kind of exhilarating feeling that i always get every time i am on the road or upon arrival to my destination”.  Be sure to visit her blog and by doing so, vicariously visit many fun and interesting places!

List 7 Things About Yourself – CHECK!

1.  I love the Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball team (Ranked #1 in the NCAA – first time in the history of the University!)

2.  I have an amazing family!

3.  I’ve been a nurse in one setting or another for over 27 years and for the last 17, I’ve worked as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

4.   I’m passionate about reading.  I NEED to have books all around me in my home (I am not an e-reader – yet)

5.   I’m a community activist, especially when it comes to green initiatives.

6.  I served on Radford City Council, an elected position for 8 years; this helped me to learn that I am an ACTIVIST, not a POLITICIAN

7.  I did not find out until the age of 40 (yep, 13 years ago) that I am absolutely restored by water – river, lake, ocean, pool, bathtub …

Nominate 7 other bloggers for their own Beautiful Blogger Award – CHECK!

NOW comes the hard part? How do I choose only 7 out of the many, many wonderful blogs out there?

And what qualities make a beautiful blogger anyway?

In my opinion, a Beautiful Blogger is someone who not only has a talent for writing or photography but who also has the ability to interact and connect across the blogging world … they have made me feel welcome in that world, and I look forward to hearing their comments and reading their posts.  All these bloggers go beyond the likes … they engage, they comment, they share … and I love that!

http://ionicphotography.co.uk/ – Beautiful photography and conversations about our efforts to improve at the craft

http://beachbums1.com/ – a wonderful blog about one family’s travels and currently, their lives in London

http://badsphotoblog.wordpress.com/ – I love viewing Bryan’s photography and chatting about techniques / what works / what doesn’t

http://athomeworkplaydotcom.wordpress.com/ – – be sure to check out Meg’s blog … you’ll see why I like it!

http://unistudentsoutlook.wordpress.com/- I love the honest writing of this young woman and her efforts to move beyond the end of a relationship

http://boomdeeadda.wordpress.com/- While I’m not the crafter / artist that she is, I enjoy reading her blog and sending comments back and forth.  Enthusiasm personified!

http://retiredruth.wordpress.com/ – a diverse blog, full of information, recipes, stories and opinions!

and just one more!

http://greenhornphotos.com/–  Scott is endeavoring to post a picture a day, yet he still finds time to make and respond to comments.