Saturday, October 30, 2010

A Year of Fortunate Events

Once upon a time in a land far far away there was an Aussie chick who decided to start a blog......

I did that because Facebook is far too common and revealing and everyone knows MySpace is for dweebs. And, you can only use 160 characters on Twitter, which given my verbose nature isn't nearly enough.   After due consideration I decided the internet would be around for the next million years or so and that was my best  shot at immortality. And so a blog was born.

I've written about things that might have seemed inconsequential to some , but are  of actual importance to me  and as my  confidence grew and my  blog posts started to show more of my actual personality "Quilting in My Pyjamas" started to be a bit like the movie  Field of Dreams..."If you write it, people will come". 

To date I've managed to  rattle off 265 posts, amass a whopping 2500 comments, have had 2070 profile views (about 1000 of those were probably  my Mum) and good golly Miss Molly I have  98 readers. Thats 91 people more than the fiefdom  kingdom  I rule including all of the QIMP pets.  If current trends continue, by the time I'm 100, I'll have 5488 followers and 140,000 comments assuming the world doesn't implode before then.

You've shared Slack Tea Thursday, Translation Tuesday, and Favourite Things Friday. You've shared the trials and tribulations of renovation hell, the Bakerella wars, ups and downs, craft and sewing projects that didnt go quite right, and questionable tutorials. You've met Little P, Miss P, Mr. P , the P pets, and the rest of the P family. You've all stuck around through the Princess Whiny Arse Phase, Da Whoopy Cough epidemic of 2010,  the occasional rant, and me using Little P for illegal child labour by loosely calling him an "assistant". 

I've  been reflecting  on how this blogging experience has enriched my life and how  grateful I am for the connections I've  made, the people who read , the comments you make,  the stories and aspects of our lives that we share. A few of you have gotten to know me well and  I'm proud to call you my friends.  One of these days I'm going to lob up and visit some of you and you'll come for a return visit and stay in my guest room, assuming Miss P doesnt stay here forever. Being part of the Blog world has enriched my life in ways I could never have imagined. I've learned new things, shamelessly copied quilts and other craft projects,   been exposed to ideas out of the realm of my belief and experience, and been challenged and I am so thankful I've "met" each and every one of you. 

I've had my taste buds tempted by your recipes, (Kirsten- how I lost 25 pounds this year I have no idea )  been cheered on with never ending faith that I can eventually learn to FM quilt, and I've laughed out loud till I cried over many of your posts and emails.

I've spent nights playing internet sewing races with Marg, plotted a spiders death from 1500 kilometres away via email ,  drunk Skyped  Becks the day Mr. P lost his job, and I seriously wet my pants laughing  the day Cynthia posted her eating vegemite video.   I am constantly reminded by Shevvy not to become a Barbie Doll wannabe (I dont want to have a "Stepford Wife " blog) , Lisa gave me my first taste of Lucky Charms and helped me realise a childhood dream  and Elizabeth and I have deep and meaningfuls and save the world  via email several times a week.

There are too many other things that have come about as a result of all of you for me to list every single one individually. For the generous gifts, swaps, emails comments and chats, thank you to all of you for those moments over this past year. You all pick me up when I need it, kick me in the arse when I deserve it, and celebrate with me when I have something great to share. This is a community.

My blog  is one  year old today.  And all I have left to say is




P.S. The single most popular post from this past year is the toilet roll tute - go figure.  

29 comments:

Char said...

Wow Shay! Happy Anniversary! Reading that post just gave me chills. I'm so glad I discovered your blog!

Kirsten said...

Congrats..and keep on going...I love you and your blog..always makes me smile! Tahnks for sharing your life with us.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary, Mrs. P. Many, many more good blogging years to you.

thea said...

I don't know if I'm an official follower but I do follow you regularly. I look forward to slack tea thursday and am constantly amused by your writing.
thanks!

Helsie said...

Congratulations Shay,
I've not been following you long but now I never miss a day. Your blog ALWAYS gives me a laugh even when it also gives me pause for thought. Don't know how I stumbled on your blog but I'm awfully glad I did.
To the next year my blogland pal ( raising cup of tea here for a breakfast toast - oh God a pun !!!)
Here's to another good one.
Cheers
Helen
PS I need the secret of the 25 lb loss !

seabreezequilts said...

Hi Mrs P, your blog is entertaining to say the least and I look forward to a belly laugh every time I find a new post in google reader. I envy your comment total after just one year of blogging, most of my readers are Silent Witnesses but I know there are people out there, now that I track them lol but we will get there in the end. Hope to meet sometime in the near future, haven't met a craft blogger yet who I haven't liked.

Unknown said...

Happy Anniversary - Can't believe it has been a year. I am so glad I stumbled on to your blog and made a new friend! I look forward to your posts and your comments on my posts and most of all the friendship you share with all of us.

By the way, I am impressed with the math!

Michelle said...

Congratulations and Happy 1 Year Blog Anniversary!

I love your blog. You are such a humorous writer.

I had to look up the TP tutorial. LOL! And now I've helped add to it's popularity. :-)

Kirsten's Cooking said...

Shay -
Loved this post!! I was truthfully holding my breath a little bit - I was afraid you were going to discontinue your blog or something horrible like that. I find you one of the cleverest (not sure if that's a word) blog writers that I follow. Your content is varied and enjoyable and you are extremely likable - both as a person and as a writer. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and life with us and Happy Blogoversary!
Kirsten

Marg said...

I was about to cry I thought you were going to say that's it folks, I've had enough, and was holding my breath too. You like to scare us a bit don't you.

It's hard to believe I only found your blog at the beginning of this year, and I am very very pleased I did. I love the way you write, and look forward to every new post. Life wouldn't be the same without Slack Tea Thursday or toilet roll tutorials and your comments. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, renovation hell and all the other amazing things that happen at Casa PJ's.
Congratulations on a fabulous blog and Happy Blogoversary.

AMW said...

Wow! Happy Blogiversary! Like so many others, I can't remember how I stumbled upon your little slice of the WWW, but I'm so glad I did! Keep up the GREAT blog!

Alisa said...

Congratulations!! I was so worried when I started reading that this was your good-bye blogging world post! So very relieved to see quite the opposite. You could totally come crash in the travel trailer in our driveway. We'll even hook up the electrical, the water, AND the sewer.
What could be better?

AnnieO said...

That's a grand post for your blogaversary--verbose indeed. Here, here! Glass raised to you, Shay--may there be many more Slack Tea Thursdays and Whiney Arse Wednesdays (hey, what do you think of that theme?) I've enjoyed your journey these last months and look forward to many more laughs along the way to the next blogaversary!

Deb said...

Happy Anniversary Shay, heck a year old, that sure flew by. It honestly feels like I have known you forever. Our friendship has slotted together has if it was meant to be, I thank you for that.
I adore reading your blog, your honesty and tongue in cheek sense of humour at times is so refreshing. I thank you for being who you are. Big anniversary cupcake pretending to be posted your way.....

Mistea said...

Happy 1st anniversary - Looking forward to many more.
You really have a talent for injecting humour while telling it like it is. Thanks for all the laughs you send our way.
Enjoy - I sure do.

Mrs A said...

You would never think toilet rolls would be so poopular! Sorry i know thats lame, happy blogversary :)

Sarcastic Quilter said...

Happy Blogiversary. I would like to say more but well, it's morning and you can only get so much.

So, I'm glad you started blogging to, my friend!

Baa-Me Kniits said...

Yay for a 1 year blogiversary!!! That Toilet roll tutorial was the first post of yours that I ever read and I remember nearly wetting myself over it!! I thought now here is someone I can relate to!!

My first thought when I started reading this post was that there was no way FB would be any good for you as the character allowance is too small BUT you already mentioned that :-)

Keep up the great work, I love your style and all the interesting topics you blog about, would be lost without you :-) Thanks for the friendship...many hugs ((xx))

Baa-Me Kniits said...

PS...Billy said it was him at the Lions Den!! ;-)

Kate said...

Happy First Anniversary! Don't know that I can add anymore then others have already said in thier comments. You've made me laugh and you've made me think.

So here's to another year of Slack Tea Thursday and Favorite Things Friday. (Do you hear my coffe mug clicking in a salute, it's too early here for champagne).

Kris said...

Happy anniversary!

Hey! Are you sure the TP tute was actually the most popular? Are you sure you didn't just make it the most popular by naming it here? Then we said, "which one was that?", visited it and voila! Suddenly the most popular post!

Hard to believe you've only been at this for 12 months! Have fun!

Larri said...

What a fabulous post! Happy, Happy Blogiversary!

I, for one, thoroughly look forward to and enjoy reading your posts. Sometimes I even cling to every word. ;o) You have a gift, and I'm so happy you've chosen to share it with us in Bloggerville.

Happy Anniversary, my bloggy friend! :o)

Shevvy said...

Happy blog birthday, I haven't much more to add, expect I've a nice warm house now for visitors!

Oh, and don't diss FB, I love it over there as well, even if it is common.

cheers

Elizabeth said...

Mrs. P, thank you! Your blog is awesome, as are you.

xo -El

P.S. You now have 100 followers! Wohoo!

vawriter said...

Oh, Shay, you're behind already. It says you have 102 readers! How many lurkers are there, who surf in and never sign on officially?

You have been magnificent. I have been MIA lately, but so glad I returned for your anniversary!

Any time you want to visit Pennsylvania, the guest sheets will be clean. Love ya--Linda

Unknown said...

Happy Blogaversary...loved your Post..Keep it up I love reading your blog..your Thursday Meals crack me up..I would not Dare!!!
cheers

Anonymous said...

The day I clicked on your link through P. over at The Way I Sew It was a good day indeed. I love your blog and I love sharing your adventures. Keep it up and happy blogiversary.

Anonymous said...

The day I clicked on your link through P. over at The Way I Sew It was a good day indeed. I love your blog and I love sharing your adventures. Keep it up and happy blogiversary.

quilary said...

Happy Blogaversary. This is a great blog to visit and I always have a great laugh at your adventures. I love your quilting and crafting. Hope the next year is a great one for you too.