I have been busy. Changing this blog. Freshening its appearance. Making the background entirely white. Smart. 2014. Airy. Fresh! Fresh! Fresh!
Not only that, I worked on mechanics. Took things off the sidebar. Tried to unclutter. Made things clean. Sleek. Bright. Trendy, but not ultra. Youthful, but not childish. Friendly, but not too.
And all because I'd read an article, and realized I was doing everything wrong. EVERY. THING. Goodness, I don't even have a single sidebar ad. Nothing shimmers, nothing flashes, nothing moves. Anyway, I've been looking at some really smart blogs myself lately. You know, the ones that look like magazines. Sooo up to date. And I say that with admiration - I think they look pretty cool (do people still use phrases like "pretty cool?").
(have you left yet? left me talking to myself while you google "Catholic blogs" to find something much more pretty-cool on which to spend your time?)
At least I had one thing "right" (according to the article). Whether I'm rambling (as right now) or sharing a quote, the posts here are brief ones. We can blame that on my own short attention span. You might be like me, I figure, and may appreciate just a thought, a prayer, a painting. And I must admit that I love thoughts of saints, I love prayers, I love art. Combining an appropriate painting with a great quote is downright thrilling to me, and in that I do not exaggerate. I love this kind of blogging. It's like digging for treasure, and then being able to share it.
Oh - and that new stark white background? You might have noticed that you don't see it. It took me about five minutes to realize that my improvements were no such things.
Let's face it. That's a great look for lots of blogs. But it's not such a good match for one with paintings from the 1800s and quotes from people who wrote four centuries ago.
So here I sit, still comfortable in my same beige surroundings.
And oh, I'm so happy to keep digging for treasure.
Thank you, You, for sharing the discoveries with me.
George Goodwin Kilburne painting, in US public domain due to age
Nancy,
ReplyDeleteSo glad you didn't change your blog's appearance. It is perfect as it is. Anyway, why be like everyone else?
Thanks, Sue. Why, indeed?!
DeleteIt's all about the content! I check here every day to see a beautiful picture with an inspirational quote from a saint, spiritual writer, or Scripture. I think I've looked at the sidebar once--maybe I should check that out. And the background? I notice that it doesn't get all in my face while I'm trying to look at the paintings and quotes.
ReplyDeleteJamie, I'm so glad to hear that the sidebar isn't distracting - nor the background. Because pictures are such a main part of this blog, I want their surroundings to be at least a bit "quiet." Thanks!
DeleteThis space is a comfortable, peaceful place that I always enjoy visiting. I appreciate you doing the "digging" and the rest of us enjoying the treasure you uncover. Have a wonderful day, Nancy.
ReplyDeleteP.s. I think you're pretty cool!
Kathleen, you've said the magic words. Comfortable and peaceful (and, tee hee.. "pretty cool" :) ). Actually, peaceful is what I felt after working with (but not applying to blog) new template colors... and then came BACK to the same ones. Something in me sort of "rested." Is that because I'm just used to this space the way it is, I wondered? Well, no matter!!!! If the blogger doesn't feel comfortable, the blog isn't "real" (I concluded). So I shall now put my feet back up and dig for treasure...... :) Thank you!!
DeleteLove!
ReplyDeleteSo agree with you and with Sue!
I may have read the same article. .The thing is though, your blog is kind of like your own online scrapbook of sorts...you have to try it on and feel like it's your home on the web.Frankly I love how my blog looks, but I SO know it is off-putting to many bc I have vintage buttons, blinkies, badges to hops I go to every so often, cute little banners, search bars, a feedjit, a most click to posts widget. It's really crazy and full and if someone has trouble reading with all that clutter on the bars, good grief, poor thing, she'll definitely click away. I hate to irritate people like that who are nice enough to click over, but then again, it's my "style." Let's face it, we Moms get little chance to completely have things "our own way" IRL. Let's create crazy online spaces that we can enjoy clicking to and filling up with silly welcome banners and all sorts of cutesy stuff. It's how I used to scrapbook ( before dig cameras came about....now I don't actually print pics unless I want to frame them....I just keep all my mem cards and stick them into dig photo frames so the family can enjoy AND I blog! LOL
Yikes, my poor readers are subjected to a lot. I DO love nice clean white blogs with simple header pictures and easy to find tabs. I admire someone who can let go of all the sweet badges on the side...I just can't.
And I LOVE THE WAY YOUR BLOG LOOKS bc it's YOU and bc you created the whole she-bang.!
I just love clicking to someone's blog and seeing that blogger's personality right away . I feel like I come to know her that way...
Thanks Nancy! Love your post and visiting here!
And now I must get to planning today's algebra lesson specifics. Algebra's killing me. Or maybe it's my almost 14 yo. There may be nothing left of me by the end of June.. We'll see. Kidding. But not really, bc it's a challenge right now.
Have a great day, friend xoxo
Chris, you have really pinpointed things, I think. "Let's create crazy online spaces that we can enjoy clicking to and filling up with...." anything we want!! Yes!!!
DeleteI LOVE what you said about clicking to someone's blog and seeing the blogger's personality right away. Bingo! I read that and thought "yes, and when I removed the colors I personally like, I truly removed something of 'me.'"
I really enjoy your blog, and I absolutely understand not being able to let go of the badges on the sidebar. I love every one I have! Those, too, share a bit of our personalities. What blogs do we read? What groups are we part of?
I'll bet your scrapbooks are fun and amazing!!!!! :)
I have been noticing those quite beautiful *magazine like* blogs. I know I have too much stuff on my sidebar...but I love every quote and every website that I added there. And I decided *no ads* a long time ago because I want it to be a place of peace and simplicity.
ReplyDeleteHey...I will always love brown as a Carmelite : ) Your blog is a beautiful space too!
I hope you won't mind my disagreeing with you, Theresa, but I have to say that I definitely do NOT think you have too much stuff on your sidebar. It's all nicely placed, pictures alternating with text, and I think it adds TO the overall beauty of your blog. That's my two cents, at least! Yours is a peaceful, gentle place to visit, and I always come away inspired.
DeleteI have always loved it here - but the little touches make it even better. Thank you Nancy!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sarah - that means a lot to me!
DeleteWhy mess with perfection? I like how different blogs have their own unique "signatures" that make me think of the writer. I don't care what the "rules" on trendiness are - I like individuality and uniqueness and you have this in spades :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Mary!! What really kind things to say!!
DeleteAgree. Glad you're still beige. :) Someone recently changed their blog font style to italicized and it's driving me crazy. I want to say something to him, but oh well...I doubt he'd change it back just for me. And thank you for sharing your creativity and treasures with us.
ReplyDeleteCharmaine, one thing I tend to stick with is plain text. I've thought before that I should enlarge it from "normal," but figure that if I (at my age) can read it, most people probably can. If I enlarge it, I then feel like it's SHOUTING AT ME!! I like text that doesn't call attention to itself, so that I can more easily read the actual content. Although, now that I think of it, I often put actual quotes in italics. Hmmmmm... maybe I'll think about that.
DeleteThank you for "appreciating my beige!" :)
Well I can say this about your Blog, the pictures are just marvellous ... just marvellous. Content too.
ReplyDeleteAs for short span of attention. I have that too. I often stop half way through ... ... ...
Thank you, Victor! I love finding the pictures. I'm the proverbial kid in the candy shop. Art gallery. And I, too, often stop hafwa
DeleteI agree with everyone here. If it ain't broke-don't fix it. For me what makes your blogs stand out is not only the content, but the beautiful artwork you choose. Keep up the beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Karin. One thing I read was advice to have an eye catching header. I agree. But sometimes a header picture can visually "fight" with artwork below. One thing my "experiment with change" taught me was - I'm quite content with things as they are! It might have just been spring fever at work..... and I can work that out in housecleaning! :)
DeleteThanks so much, Colleen :)!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the look of your blog! Just like it has always been! It's looks lovely now, too, if you've really changed anything :-)
ReplyDeleteNo, Monica, I didn't wind up changing a thing. Not that I saved, anyway - with the exception of a temporary picture behind the header. That looked awful (trust me: genuinely awful), and I thought "eeek! How fast can I change that back?!" Fortunately it took just a click and all was as it was. Whew. Thanks, Monica!
DeleteUmmm...I really like what you had going on. I fall into the simple, more clean cut, look. And that isn't to say all the links and flashiness isn't great. It is! We need a variety out there. We really do. Just look at the human race; God knew what He was doing (any screw ups come from man ;)
ReplyDeletePatty, yours are my sentiments exactly. We need a variety out there. And apparently God "thinks" the very same thing :)!
DeleteI know what you're saying, Nancy! A little change seems like a good idea sometimes..and sometimes it works well..but not always.
ReplyDeleteWe all love your blogs for the inspiring content more than anything. If you are happy with beige then beige it must be! But if tomorrow you go fluro yellow with pink dots..that'll be okay with me too. It's your personality and what our Blessed Lord leads you to share with us that makes this space so very special! Personally, I think it's pretty perfect just as it is :-)
Thank you, Trish, for such kind words. Fluro yellow with pink dots..... now there's an idea!! Why didn't I think of that?!? ;) Thank you for sticking around when I decide to go flurodotty.
DeleteNancy, I think I read the same article! And I had just updated the look of my blog, after 3 years with no changes whatsoever...but according to that article, I'd gotten it all wrong! So I almost undid the changes and made it really stark and clean and white; but then I decided I liked it the way it was. I'm never going to be one of those super-bloggers anyway. I'm not a professional blogger. I've decided that of it makes me happy the way it is, that's good enough for me.
ReplyDeleteAnd your blog is lovely, by the way!
Thank you, Laura! I love the look of your blog exactly as it is, and I've come to the conclusion that the blog world is big enough for all sorts of personalities and "styles." I think you really hit it when you said that if your blog makes you happy the way it is, that's good enough for you. To me, it's like home decorating - our blogs are our internet "nests." :) I violate a lot of what people say should be done and not done.... I use captchas (tried it for a tiny bit without them and that did it for me) and don't have my photo, nor photos or my family (some of the adults would protest very highly if I did :) !!!)... but this is not a family blog, so now I'm very comfortable letting it be just exactly what it is. The variety from one blogger to another makes it all very interesting...... like a marvelous potluck meal. A picnic would not be very interesting if everyone brought ham.....
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