Growing up I learned to count by seconds saying “one/one-thousand, two/one-thousand” and so on. This counting device has been rattling around my brain all week as I pondered my 1,000th post. I considered other titles but you know how it goes: this one (one thousand) stuck.
Of course as soon as I realized I was a couple of posts away from 1,000 I panicked. Should I write something profound? What if I don’t have anything profound to say? Could I just keep writing and ignore the milestone? Who would know or care?
Is it time to check my ego at the door?
After all, it’s just a number. I don’t remember my 100th post or my 650th post either.
Somewhere along the way I transitioned from being a writer who blogs to a blogger who writes to connect with kindred spirits around the world. To blog is to be a part of a community. I found my people!
Of course it didn’t take 1,000 posts to figure this out. I wonder, though if I would still be blogging without you. Here is what I know:
Bloggers are kind:
Beautiful and creative gifts from fellow bloggers
After starting a blog, trips to the mailbox became fun again. My heart still skips a beat when I see postage from another country on the top of a package or on the corner of a postcard. There is a special thrill receiving happy mail the old-fashioned way. It’s ironic too, since bloggers meet in a uniquely on-line medium. When my sweet Slinky died, I received heartfelt condolence cards in the mail. They meant so much to me. I love the sweet notes and the clever postcards you send and I’m aware of the time and care that goes into sending them. We all hear about on-line nastiness, but I seem to reside in a bubble of blogging kindness.
Bloggers are generous:
Framed picture,left: Pauline made this art using my father’s vintage stamps. It’s a stunning piece. Framed picture, right: A blogger give away (artist Pauline King) Bavarian quilt in background, right: A a blogger giveaway from Dani who sadly is no longer blogging.
Where do I start? Bloggers carefully and thoughtfully read your posts, then leave amazing comments. It’s an extraordinary gift. It’s also common to find that a fellow blogger took the time to do a bit of research, before dropping a link relevant to the topic at hand. Several of you have hosted generous blog give-a ways. It’s always something clever and unique. I’m delighted when I win, which has happened twice! and equally charmed to see others take home the prize.
Bloggers are creative:
When I first learned about blogging, I thought of it as words without pictures, more of a log than anything else. Boy was I wrong. I follow mixed-media artists, painters, and card-makers, as well as bloggers who sew, quilt, knit and crochet. Extraordinary photographers expand my world while brilliant writers can make me laugh or weep. I’m learning about weaving, what it means to throw a shuttle and how to turn an IKEA chair into a work of art. I took part in a Sisterhood Traveling Sketchbook, a Craft it Forward Project and a Cards for Katherine celebration. Beautiful art graces my wall and a light-catcher bounces sunlight around my kitchen. Each year a growing number of hand-made Christmas ornaments decorate our tree.
Bloggers are a wonderful excuse to travel:
Bloggers here, bloggers there, bloggers, bloggers everywhere: New York, Alexandria, VA, Washington, D.C, Jasper, Alberta, Canada, Victoria, BC, Canada, Radford, VA
Ten years ago, I couldn’t imagine owning a mobile phone the size of a deck of cards that doubled as a camera while holding all my contact information, allowing me to listen to music or watch silly cat videos. Five years ago I couldn’t imagine that I would travel to Virginia, Washington, D.C., New York, Victoria and Edmonton to meet and spend time with fellow bloggers. Blogging opened up a whole new world. Friendships cultivated online continue to grow and thrive in person. It’s extraordinary.
And finally, what anyone who blogs, knows: A blogger’s comment can make your day.
Here I am at the end of my 1,000th post. Have I written something profound? Definitely not. But the experiences I’ve gathered along the way are profound. I owe it all to you.
Two, one-thousand…
Gardening Nirvana 
Congratulations on reaching 1,000; what a milestone (and an epic journey along the way)! Your very first comment on my blog sure made my day (and they still continue to do so). Cheers to connection, creativity, kindness, wanderlust, generosity, positivity and for sharing all those gifts with us too 🙂
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Thank you, Sara! I remember that first comment exchange between us. I followed you from Hometalk when you were first starting your blog. Your posts are inspiring and fun. Thank you for the email today. What big news! I promise a proper reply soon.
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Congratulations! I like milestones, and 1000 posts is a /lot/ of thinking and creating and writing. The fact that it’s a passion and enjoyable doesn’t take away from the fact that…it’s a lot of writing! And commitment to a community that commits right back.
I’ve made so many friends since I started blogging, and they’re all real despite being ‘digital’.
-massive hugs-
Meeks
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Massive hugs to you, too, Meeks. Thank you for your kind words. You’ve expressed it well: “commitment to a community that commits right back.” I enjoy a wealth of friendships I would never have thought possible.
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Same here. It’s the reason I’m still blogging and will continue to blog into the future. Race you to 2000! 😀
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Bloggers rock and so do you!
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Thank you, Cindy! Right back at you.
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Congratulations on 1000 posts!!!!! I’m tooting horns and waving a bunch of balloons for you. That is an immense accomplishment. You have made some wonderful friends here as have I. Especially in you. You deserve a party and I wish I could throw one for you. I don’t know how you do it with all your other responsibilities but somehow you manage to put out a delight filled post every single time. I too, love the diversity of followers. We learn so much from each other. I so look forward to seeing the message pop up that you have a new post for me to read. Here’s to 2000. 🙂 Thank you for being you! Giant hugs. M
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Dear Marlene, we found a tiny kitten shortly after this post, and I’m just now getting back to your incredibly generous comment. Your words are always a gift. Thank you for the virtual tooting of horns and waving of balloons. What a party! Thank you, thank you! We’re a lucky bunch, aren’t we, to have found each other in this big, wonderful world? Thank you for showing up to all of my posts, with your kind, generous, honest, thoughtful and thought-provoking words. I’m so happy we met. Giant hugs to you my friend. xo
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I’m busier than a one armed paper hanger and I don’t have a job, husband or kids to take care of so I’m always surprised at how much you do get done. I’d bet I have less than 200 posts. If I’m lucky, I can do one every couple of weeks and that’s pushing it. I don’t know how the rest of you do it. I’m happy we met too. I keep blogging so I can come by and visit you and Pauline and Kelly and… You know what I mean. Have a wonderfilled weekend. I’m spending mine kissing weeds. 🙂
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Marlene, from where I sit it is *you* that gets so much done, with your home, your family, your quilting group, embroidery and your wonderful garden. I’m so glad you continue to blog. I look forward to reading all of them and to joining the always-interesting conversation that follows. Kissing weeds, eh? It’s back up into the high 90’s again. Ugh, this terrible heat. Love to you.
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Down on hands and knees pulling them up till they all but touch your lips. I do get into my work. 🙂
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It’s always the quiet ones. 😉
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Congrats Alys on your 1,000 post! Although I’m not a blogger I sure have enjoyed following your posts. You are so creative with writing, photos, art work, custumes, gardening, and so much more! Then to see the love you have of your family, including your cats, and your friends is inspiring. I think it’s so cool you’ve traveled to meet your fellow blogger friends. I have to add when I first read one, one-thousand I thought of myself as I count like that often. My best to you on your next 1,000!
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Maria, I’m happy to hear that you too count by the one-one-thousand method. It’s fun what we carry forward from our childhood. I so appreciate all your comments. I’m glad you enjoy reading and it’s nice to have you join in the conversation. xo
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Wow! One thousandth blog. That’s some milestone. Congratulations! Keep it up!
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Thank you, Senthil! Much appreciated.
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Congratulations on your thousandth post Alys what a milestone 😀 This wonderful blogging world has enriched my life tremendously and the icing on the cake is getting to meet people like yourself, Kelly, Laurie, Patti, Stacy and a few you might not know but at one time we’re all contributors to Monochromia such as Rico Rodrigues from Glasgow, Scotland, Susan Licht from Massachusetts and Robyn Graham from Pennsylvania. Each and every meetup has been a pleasure. So here’s to the next thousand posts Alys 🍻
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Thank you, Joe. I’ve been slow circling back to all these wonderful comments (we found a kitten and suddenly life is *quite* full.) It was a joy to finally meet you in New York this past spring. Your so good at bringing people together. I love your sense of humor and your talent as a photographer. This blogging world of ours is really something. Cheers!
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I must add my congratulations too. 1000 posts is an incredible feat! 🎉This post sums you up, Alys. It is warm, and welcoming, with a hint of self-deprecation, but most of all it is generous and sharing and inclusive. Finding you has been one of the delights of my blogging world. All good wishes to you….
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I thought this a most profound post! Not because of the number count celebration – even though that is a VERY BIG number 🙂 but because you enunciated so clearly the way blogging steps away from the computer, adapts to an off-line life, to become a part of our daily lives – at the letter box, inside our homes, inside our hearts. I remember how deeply surprised I was the first time I received a private email inquiry if I was doing okay when I went a while without posting. The fact that someone who was not part of my physical, daily reality cared enough to reach out changed entirely the way I felt about blogging and about bloggers. I agree with all you said and most especially that we are blessed to have found our people!
So congratulations on 1001 posts – such a VERY BIG number!! Keep it up, you are much loved and appreciated everywhere!
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On such a landmark post, I wish I could come up with something more lasting and profound than merely adding my congratulations and gladness that I ‘met’ you online through the Sisterhood of the Travelling Sketchbook and other places… I count myself privileged to be among your blogging friends, and one day, I hope to welcome you Down Under, as the ultimate extension to your blogging outreach. Long may your garden flourish, and long may you share it with us!
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Congratulations on your 1000th post – if it were me I would have had to call it “One, Elephant” 😉
You’ve done much better than me as I’ve only got to half that and I’ve been doing it since 2009 but then I am an ‘intermittent’ blogger. Looking at my stats for that information, I realised that my readership grew as soon as I started responding to comments. I don’t know why I didn’t at first – maybe because a couple of bloggers I admired didn’t do it – but it always seemed a bit impolite to me and now I don’t follow bloggers who don’t respond to comments. I would really miss the blogging community now – it worries me that lots of people seem to be defecting to Instagram – because I feel connected to people with similar interests in a way that isn’t readily available to me in ‘real life’ for various reasons. I hope one day you might achieve your round the world tour of blogging meet ups – you’re off to a good start!
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Profound? Well, I’m not sure, but you have certainly described what blogging is all about. I had forgotten that Dani’s Bavarian crochet went to you – I’m very sad that she has taken her blog down (I looked not long ago), but I think I have her email address, so I am planning to contact her just to say hello.
I too have found that we reside in a kind and caring bubble… long may we continue to do so. And, finally, congratulations on reaching 1000.
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Reaching 1000 is a wonderful accomplishment. You are generous and kind yourself. Fun to read your blog. Congratulations.
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What a marvelous milestone. CONGRATULATIONS! I think the friendships you’ve made through your blog are a testament to your own generous spirit and kindness, dear Alys. You send such positivity into the world! I’m grateful to be among your online friends and followers.
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PS: Although you say you haven’t written anything profound for your 1000th post, I beg to differ. I think you’ve summed up the meaning of life! It’s important to tend our gardens and blogs and careers … but what *really* matters when it’s all said and done is our community and our friendships, and the people we love. You prove that through your words and deeds. xx
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Dear Alys
Congratulations on your milestone post. I agree that you have nailed it in this post. There are so many kind and generous people out there to connect with if you are open to it….it does not matter what they blog about, it is the capacity to appreciate the gifts of another and to take the time to encourage them. It is the same with the people in our daily lives really, when you think about it.
Thank you for including me as one if your peeps. I feel the same about you.
😆.
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Encore! Bravo! Encore!
You’ve written the absolutely perfect post today to celebrate (( Alys )). Lucky, lucky me to have drifted by and be sprinkled with your magic dust so I could find my kindred spirit at the perfect time in my life. It’s when I’ve been blessed with the time and means to travel and cultivate our little community of friendships. I think maybe there’s more than a few of us here at WP that are surprised at what ‘being a blogger’ transpires in to. I feel like an imposter some days, trying to keep up. But, that being said, every single friend and visitor is always so welcoming and giving and make you feel like part of the fun no matter what. Especially you hon! Thank you for your input, constant support and cheering. You’re extremely special, I hope you know it. To me, if I imagine this community as a street, it’d be tree lined and full of colour. Everyone has a porch and enjoys it year round. There’s no fences because they’re not needed. Of course, I’d get to live next door to you. Congratulations dearest, reaching this milestone is no small feat!
Two-One Thosand hugs and kisses xoxo Kelly
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I adore this comment: “To me, if I imagine this community as a street, it’d be tree lined and full of colour. Everyone has a porch and enjoys it year round. There’s no fences because they’re not needed”.
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Hey LB! I meant to come back and say thanks at the time but then life happened, ha Thanks for being you! Always supportive, cheerful, giver, doer. You are inspiring xo K
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PS. phooey, dang, gah! I was logged into Urban. I wanted my Love and Kisses to come from me La Boomdee………all that there about and I’ll throw in another thou…Three-One Thousand and counting!
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(((Boomdee))) Thanks for logging back in as wonderful you, Boom-boom-de-boom. xo
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LOL…BBDB
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🦋 Congratulations! That is a wonderful round number, and a great achievement, and I know myself how much fun blogging is too! Am so glad I have met you Alys, albeit not in person (yet!), and I hope the next 1000 posts bring you as much love and joy too. 😀 xx
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Congratulations Alys!! What a great milestone. I appreciate the time it takes to write a blog though I am not a blogger I can see that many who are spend a LOT of time and care on it and I appreciate that in a world that sometimes doesn’t spend a lot of time on anything. I will be looking forward to reading many more of your posts. Onward to 2,000. 🙂
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Congratulations Alys – quite an achievement – it has been a pleasure getting to know you and maybe one day we might meet – I do hope so. Best wishes for your next 1000 posts I know I will enjoy them just as much as your previous posts. Viv xxx
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Wow, Alys, congrats! You are so right about the community. I want to meet more of the people I know through blogging. And you nailed it on all the good stuff that happens as a result. It’s so funny when I describe blogging to people and they expect what we all hear about in the news. Well, I think we’ve been lucky to find a group and the group is lovely and caring. Onward to 2,000!!!
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you know, Alys, I have read many of your comments, whether on FB or WP, and you have such a way of elevating people by pointing out their gifts. I know this because I have been the recipient of you generosity in words, and deeds for that matter, many times. We reap what we sow and you sow love and kindness in your blog. You give of yourself freely and because of that you are adored in return.
Love this post, love the 1001, and love you, too.
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Mind blowing accomplishment! Congratulations ;0) I wish I liked to write, or even could for that matter. I’ve enjoyed reading all 1001 of them, you get better with each one. Here’s hoping for another 1000. Your photography skills have impressed me as well.
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You made me look! At how many posts I’ve written . . . and it’s not even half as many as you’ve accomplished! But I have learned, in my time blogging, that you are 100% right in all you say about the wonders of engaging in this community! But you should take a good deal of credit for the relationships you’ve made through blogging–your endless interest in, and support of, so many of us brings out the best in us! I will look forward to the next 1000 posts, and hope to meet face-to-face someday!
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I’m with you…I think I hit my 4th year and wondered if I should do something profound! I also like gardening in my little north Alabama acre of land, and I also enjoy writing. I don’t get a whole lot of comments and was wondering your secret?
This week I’ve posted the second part of a suspense story at http://www.sweetgumlife.com. It’s a short story, and I’m almost done. If you like suspense, maybe you can pop on over and let me know what you think!
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Oh, and P.S.: I started out elementary school in the state of Mississippi. So I learned to count seconds off by 1-Mississippi, 2-Mississippi…
Since I live in Alabama, I changed it to 1-Alabama, 2-Alabama… 😉
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When I see one of your blog posts there is a decision to make…..do I dive in immediately and read ….or do I wait for some quiet time when I can savor every word…..Whenever I stop to read, your blog is always heartfelt and honest and kind. Here’s to the next 1000….and many more. You are wonderful, Alys!
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Congrats on your 1,000th post. Amazing!
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Thank you, Cynthia! I’m a bit surprised to be here myself. 🙂
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I imagine so!
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What a treasure you are, dear Alys! ♥ I can still remember the day that I ‘discovered’ you! You were carrying water from your bathtub to try to save your trees during the terrible drought. I knew right away that this was someone very special! Over the years, your posts have touched my heart and inspired me in so many ways.
Huge congratulations on your 1,000th post, dear heart! You have embraced the blogging community in all its richness. Thank you, dear Alys, for being YOU! ♡
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