Amazing to think that three years have gone by since I started this blog and hope that several more are in me to least keep it going. We all know how much energy and time it takes to maintain a blog, besides our life, relationships, responsibilities and side passions:
- 1,057 followers: thank you – wouldn’t be worth doing if no one took the time to stop by. Some new and some old, but many with a frequency that’s amazing to me. A community of sorts has developed with many of you that would be difficult to replace. If you want to increase your following, take time to visit and comment with a disciplined approach – it will come back to you with many benefits.
- 15,651 comments: Not only do you guys visit, but you leave generous comments of support and encouragement, that has pushed my art forward. Can’t thank you enough.
- 136,949 views: amazing to me, thank you for taking a moment to view my art. You guys are the only ones on the planet, besides my husband, who has seen my work – perhaps one day I’ll show and even sell.
- 445 posts: I’ve given up on doing a post a day, I try for three, but I’m lucky if I do more than two a week. I’ve learned over time that not everything is worth a post – no one has the time or patience to plow through 5 posts of mine a week. So I’ve settled on no more than three/week maximum.
The problems are few:
- Time: blogging takes up a lot, most of it is what’s sitting in my Reader every day. I hate un-following, so for me once a follower, always a follower unless ~
- Taking my images: really! The problem still continues today, can you believe with all the mentions and warnings. My husband and I saw many yesterday all over the internet when we were doing an unrelated search – my radar is always going off. Two days ago I had 484 views from one country and earlier in the year a huge spike from another. Not saying anything, except that I analyze my stats every day and note unusual spikes. This has become a reality if your work (art, writing, other) is on the internet – the situation makes me mad and sad.
The benefits are many ~
- Community: its an awesome experience to meet and get to know people from all corners of the world, a rich and rewarding experience.
- Art: love seeing everyone’s creativity no matter the medium or venue, it’s invigorating and inspiring.
- Poetry and Stories: a whole new world has opened up for me that I didn’t participate in before. Your writing has enriched my life ~
- Photography: amazing shots that bring a whole new meaning to stunning, glorious and drama.
- Food, Wine, Family and Other: It is what makes the world go round ~ the seeds of life that keep on giving through your eyes and souls.
Thank you, onto number 4!
DON’T TAKE MY IMAGES!! MY ART IS COPYRIGHTED.
PLEASE DON’T COPY OR USE THE IMAGE WITHOUT RECEIVING MY PERMISSION FIRST – SEE DISCLOSURE ON THE RIGHT PANEL.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Congratulations Mary and thank you for the time you take to visit my blog and comment on my work.
On the Copyright issue, my brother uses watermarks over all his images before he posts. It doesn’t stop the copying, but it does slow it down.
I have decided that in the digital age, there is no such thing as Copyright. It’s impossible to enforce and I’m happy that those who love my work will purchase from me. Those who just want an image, or someone else’s copy of my work, are welcome to it. It isn’t mine then.
Thanks Jan for your congrats and comment. I understand about the copyright – I think it got to me when I found several of my images on “not so nice” sites and was like what?? So I police as best as I can, knowing that I won’t stop of all it. Thanks and your work is vibrant and gorgeous.
Happy Blogbirthday! It’s always a pleasure going through your post, interesting to see how you develop you art.
robert
Thank you so much Robert for your kind words. I’ve most enjoyed your writing and photography – a wonderful and emotional depth to your writing and a human element to your photography. Looking forward to enjoying your blog for a long time.
Belated happy anniversary, Mary! Great summary of the joys and challenges of blogging. I’m so glad to know you and wish you every happiness in the upcoming year ❤
Thank you Angie for your lovely thoughts!!
My privilege, Mary ❤
I couldn’t agree more. Happy year 4!
Thanks so much Elena!
Congrats that is fantastic! And I share many of your sentiments!
Thanks Elizabeth! Love your photography, especially of the Cape!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!
Thank you Resa!!
Congratulations and Happy WordPress Anniversary! Enjoy your art and posts. 🙂
Thank you Bette!
Happy 3rd anniversary Mary and please have many more. I find your work to be outstanding and I enjoy it very much.
Thank you Dom, appreciate it!
What a nice and thoughtful post! Your commitment to blogging is impressive, something I don’t think I could do. Keep up the great work 🙂
Thank you Pauline – limits though with blogging and I know when to takes needed breaks. I love seeing your creativity through your art, beautiful works!
Wait a minute.
You’re saying you don’t exhibit or sell your art? Really? I was stunned to read that.
Congrats on your 3rd Blogaversary! *Clink*
Ah thank you – no really, I don’t sell my work but that could be changing in the near future. Thank you very much!!
Congratulations, Mary! It’s always a pleasure – and sometimes surprise – to follow your work. Great talent and diversity along with keeping up visiting others…I wish I was as good as you at this. Forever grateful to have found you!
Ann-Christine you’ve been a follower for a long time – I love your generous comments and time you give to always being present, because you have a very busy life. Thank you so much and back at you – I love your photography, it’s an incredible body of work, you seen to always know what will translate so well to the viewer. Thank you Ann-Christine ~
😀
Your paintings are so beautiful and I feel so grateful that you share them with us! Thank you. ❤
Thank you so much for your lovely thoughts – I’m happy that you’ve been a follower for a long time. Thanks ~
Congratulations, Mary! I always enjoy watching you at work through your blog and it’s amazing how often your pictures spark happy memories for me. There’s a special something in your work and I’ve no doubt it would sell like hot cakes should you decide to go that route. Yours is one of my favourite blogs and I hope you’ll keep it up for many years to some.
Very best wishes from North Wales,
Paul
Hi Paul, thanks very much for your kind thoughts and generous comments. There is nothing more satisfying as an artist than to bring special memories to viewers when they view a piece of art – so thank you, you’ve made my day. I do love your writing – hope to see much more of it.
Congratulations!! This was a great post to read. Has given me renewed faith in persevering with my blog 🙂 Wishing you continued success!
Thanks so much Claire for your generous comment! Keep on, keeping on – you’ll find before too long it’s more than what you ever thought possible.
Congratulations, Mary. I am always amazed at how you manage to post as well as produce art work. But how horrible people are still pinching your artwork. A horrible backhanded compliment I suppose, but so annoying.
Thank you Gallivanta – it’s become a bit of a struggle these days to keep up with blogging and get time in for art. I’m at the point where I need to switch it around and make art first, so I can continue working towards meeting my goals. I’m so glad you are following – I do love your blog and writing, especially your garden photographs too.
Thank you Mary. I am struggling to keep up to date with blogging at the moment. We do what we can. 🙂
Congratulations Mary!! Well done, that is a lot of views, followers and likes! Thank you for sharing and for being so generous with your time. Cheers! 🙂
Thanks so much Susan – it means a lot. I love your work and hope to start seeing it again once things start settling down for you!
Congrats, Mary. Well said.
Thank you Cynthia – doesn’t surprise me that you understand. Thrilled to have discovered your blog, appreciate your incredible courage and tenacity, and awesome writing.
Congratulations and best wishes for the next years of blogging 🙂
Thank you Indah for your beautiful comment – really appreciate it!
Congratulations, Mary
Thank you Derrick!! Love your gardens and writings – so glad that I have discovered your blog.
Me too. Thanks
I’m not into the numbers, Mary, quality is more important to me than quantity. And excellent quality is what your site is about—-your own original work, your sharing how it’s done, your openness and sensitive commenting, and your basic generous and genuine nature. Congratulations and bravissimo!
Thank you generous comment Cynthia, good friend and Mainer in spirit – your words of encouragement and observations have pushed me to strive for higher levels in my art. I have learned to appreciate and love poetry through your remarkable writing, you have a talent, gift really, that is extraordinary.
I agree wholeheartedly with your views on blogging, Mary. Congrats on 3 years. 🙂 It’s an honour to have you as one of the people who visit me regularly. I’m astounded that you don’t show and sell your work, and dismayed by the theft.
Thanks so much Jo – amazing that people continue to steal images that aren’t theirs to take, still making a decision on whether to sell (hope too decide soon). Love your Monday Walks and Saturday six-letter word photo diary – your blog is one I look forward too.
Congrats of three years! I hope you do keep it up, love seeing your work 🙂
Thank you Mark, much appreciated! Love seeing your actor sketches, always amazed at your incredible talent.
Happy big 3! Keep up the great work.
Thanks so much Laurie! Best to you and your family – your photographs are always the best to see and enjoy!
Congratulations, Mary! You and I began our blogs right around the same time, and I’ve enjoyed and admired your work right from the start! Thanks for all your support of The Eye-Dancers, too! Here’s to many more years in the blogosphere.:)
Thanks very much Mike for your generous comment and I do remember that your blog was one of the first I started to follow right from the start. You guys write some incredible pieces – love the imagination and creativity. Here’s to wishing you much success and also many more years of blogging!
Congratulations, Mary! That’s quite an accomplishment. Thank you for sharing your work on WordPress. I enjoy your blog very much and I look forward to year 4. 🙂
Thanks so much Jackie! I love your photographs, best wishes with your surgery and hurry on back!
Will do Mary! 🙂
Congratulations on your success, Mary. I have enjoyed watching you develop your talent, and as one of the three people following my blog, I admire your commitment to reaching out to others.
Thank you my dear friend for your continued interest and encouragement to keep at it. Prospero you are one of the first blogs that I followed – always an enriched learning experience with your vast knowledge of words, concepts and interests but always sprinkled with humor. Love it – thanks to you and Princess Ariel!
It was interesting to learn that my blog was one of the first. Now I feel somewhat responsible for your success!
Well now, there you go my friend!! See what you started?
Cheers to your milestone … love the fact that you are pressing forward into year 4 … and cheers to your efforts in developing a warm, friendly place.
Thank you Mr. Frank for your kind and generous words, means a lot. You are the master of the blogging universe and know how to make this world go round – I always find, with incredible interest, the range of topics and animation with which you post. Have an awesome week.
Many thanks for the praise. I do have longevity, and can be an example for many … well, at least for those who aren’t stat driven.
Congratulations! Here’s to many more happy years ahead…
Thank you so much Fiona!
Congratulations Mary!
It’s such a pleasure to be able to ‘meet’ you via your wonderful blog and follow you for the past year. I am really sorry about the stealing issues – there is no excuse for it, and it’s maddening – but am glad you continue to share some of your beautiful work with us. Here’s to many more years 🙂
Oh Takami you really know how to make my day – thank you for always being present and understanding how heart-breaking it is to have your images stolen on the internet. I love your photography, the special scenes of animals are always incredibly special – have a wonderful week.
Happy blogiversary…and many more!
Thank you Audrey for your beautiful wishes!
Congrats, dear Mary. I’m so glad to have met you and I really enjoy your blog! All the best for #4!
I am not very good at blogging,Mary,but I do follow everything you write and love the Thurs. drawings.. Congratulations on 3 yrs of your sharing!
So great to receive this note from you, I can’t thank you enough for your kind words. I have loved watching you grow in your art, each of your drawings show this amazing progression – while you might not post often, I wouldn’t miss any of your posts and creativity.
Congratulations on 3 years, Mary. Look forward to following you and seeing your beautiful art.
Thanks Geralyn I really appreciate it! It’s been my pleasure meeting you this year and I look forward to reading more of your adventures – especially the trip coming up in September.
Wow, Mary! Amazing stats, but in a way, not amazing at all (even the stealing!), because your art is soooooo fine. It is fine and polished, and free and beautiful. Anyone couldn’t help but admire it! I just love it, and your kind comments have made my day numerous times! So glad to have found you out here in the blogosphere, Mary! Happy August and a creative one to you, my friend. ❤
You are something else Laura – thank you your words have made my day. I love watching you learn and grow as an artist, thirsty for knowledge and dedicated to creating everyday – the two most essential ingredients and you’ve become the model. I’m thrilled to have found your blog ~ have a great and creative month of August yourself!
Thank you, my friend! 💛
Congratulations, Mary..happy birthday to your beautiful blog…definitely I’m one of those who love to visit this place often… 🙂 ❤
Thank you so much Maniparna! I’m so happy that I found your blog and your elegant writing ~
Aww…thanks a lot for such generous words, Mary… 🙂
Awesome Mary, keep it up, your a true gift – wish I could see more of you. Martha
So great to see you Martha – thank you so much for your kind and generous words. I feel the same, it was great seeing you ~ did the recent apple tree paintings remind you and Bill of home?
Congratulations, Mary! What a milestone! Thank you for educating us to appreciate your beautiful artwork. I have learned so much from you. 🙂
Thanks so much Amy! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the blog. ‘m so happy that I found your blog this past year, I’m also learning about photography through your shots and explanations, as well as finding new places to explore.
Happy Anniversary, Mary! Three years goes by in a blink, doesn’t it?
Thank you Jill – so fast, amazing because sometimes it feels like I’ve been doing this forever and then overs, well there is so much to discover. So happy to have found your blog!
Me too! 🙂
Happy Anniversary and many more!
Thank you so much Cindy!
Congratulations Mary you are certainly one of my favorite people on WordPress.
Thank you so much Lee, means a lot. Have a great week ahead – looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful Planet Earth photographs, always incredible shots of the place we call home!
Happy Blogiversary, my dear Mary!!!! Here’s to many many more of those and here’s to lots more people viewing your beautiful art – live too! 🙂 xxxx
Hello my friend, thank you so much for always being present and encouraging me. I like that “live too” – have a wonderful new week on your much needed break!
A lovely post, Mary. Congratulations on your three years. I really hope you do keep going, as I so enjoy seeing your wonderful art. 🙂 xx
Congratulations Mary!!! Wow, 3 years!!! I’m so glad you’re still here and I was lucky enough to find you, well, we found each other, in this giant virtual haystack! Cheers and to many, many more years!!! 🙂
Thank you so much Donna, really appreciate it. Love your writing, always filled with life lessons and wisdom.
Congratulations Mary! 🙂 I got my 3 years notification from WordPress this week too, and I remember yours was one of the first blogs I started to follow. It’s been a great journey! Here’s to #4 😀
Thank you Calee and how cool is that! I also remember that you were one of my first blogs to follow – your stunning photography continues to amaze me. See you at #4 anniversary!
Much congratulation!
Thank you Sarah!
Congratulations on thee years of blogging. So pleased I met you through this amazing medium. Janet:)
Thanks Janet – back at you! Love seeing your work, your mastery is inspiring ~
Congratulations, Mary! Truly you are an incredible artist and I so enjoy your blog! Cher xo
Thanks so much Cher, really appreciate your thoughtful comment! And I enjoy experiencing Chicago through your blog ~
Thank you, Mary! 🙂
Best wishes for your continued success.
Thank you Carl!