Top Five Posts of 2019

Wandering through blogs stats this last Friday of the year I decided to share my top 5 posts by views of the year. I have found this year that blogs don't get the traffic they used to just by people exploring blogger or blogspot like they used to. Now I find that to bring folks here I need to post about whatever I share on Twitter. I have a wonderful bunch of followers on Twitter and sharing a nice tweet with a picture can bring views here to the blog.

Do any of you remember when at the top of a blogger blog there was a button for next blog? I used to discover so many amusing, instructive, creative or varied themed blogs that I followed and enjoyed. At one time I think I followed more than 1000 of these. Remember Google Reader? Still not happy with Google over doing away with that! Nowadays I use Feedly and it is good but not the same. So many of those blogs are inactive now and the days of a simple little blog seem to be ending. However as long Google keeps blogspot going I will be here writing, not consistently even though I want to be a reliable blogger.

Back to those top 5. They are an interesting group of posts and the topics weren't any one particular theme.

Currently Crocheting Dishcloths

The most viewed post was about crocheted discloths. I made these for my son's family and last I was at his house I saw that most of them have avoided being chewed up by the family dog. LOL

Photographer Randy Nyhof

Number two this year was about an Etsy shop that made me say "Wow". This post was about photograher Randy Nyhof. His work still causes the same reaction when I see it. Check out his shop if you are interested.

#dearjesus

Third most viewed popular post was about You Tuber Brandon Farris. I haven't really kept up with everything on his channel, but maybe I should make time. Laughter is the best medicine after all.

A Vintage Mystery

This post was about a piece, I think, of old wallpaper I found in an old buffet that has been passed around in my family. I found it lost behind a drawer. I asked family members, readers of the blog and twitter followers then if the paper looked familiar to anyone with no luck.

Black and White Art on Zazzle

Last of my top five most viewed posts share black and white art on Zazzle. I have an affiliate account with Zazzle. That means that if someone uses my referral link and then makes a purchase I get a small commission. That hasn't happened yet but I am an optimist. It will someday and in the meantime I get to share some really great things.

So there you have it. Looking back on these was enjoyable for me. Writing this post also helped me form some blogging goals for the coming year. More posts about cool Etsy and Zazzle shops and more about my current and finished projects top that list of goals.

Also if you need a laugh I still recommend Brandon Farris on You Tube.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Hawaiian Mamaki Tea

In November Jim and I cruised to Hawaii from San Diego and back on Holland America's Oostercam. If you like days at sea I highly recommend this cruise. From San Diego you spend 5 days getting to the islands. Once there you spend 2 days in Honolulu, 1 day each on Maui, in Hilo and Kona. Coming back to San Diego is another 5 sea days with a quick evening visit to Ensenada Mexico.

We kept busy with excursions in every port. Lots of shopping souvenirs was done too. My favorite is pictured here. I bought some Mamaki Tea from Hilo Coffee Mill. I bought this type of tea on another trip to Hawaii and was very happy to find it again. When brewed it tastes a lot like a very nice green tea. One of the big benefits to me is that it is caffeine free.

You can check out Hilo Coffee Mill on their website and let them help you put paradise in your cup.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Holiday Thinking

Yes this year I am thinking about the upcoming holiday. Christmas will be quiet, no kids or grandkids around. Jim will be administrator on call for the hospital. With that in mind I did a bit of decorating, put up the tree and tried out a new cranberry bread recipe.

In other more boring news I went for an annual checkup and will be getting a mammogram and DEXA scan done in January. All this is part of trying to be a healthy old lady.

I finished the knitting on the baby blanket for the 1st baby of the new year. I have to weave in the ends and that gift will be all done.

As far as gifts for the family we do Amazon gift cards for everyone. Sometimes I miss the days of shopping for gifts but here in this small town that is much harder to do than in the years I lived in Salt Lake or Phoenix. It is what it is. No one complains about basically getting cash to do their own shopping.

With this post I have now posted on Friday 2 weeks in a row. Posting consistently on Fridays is my goal for getting back into the habit of writing blog posts.

If you have hung in there and read all this, thank you and see you right back here next Friday.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Knitting with a Deadline

Like so very many knitters this time of year I am working on a project with a deadline. Once again I am knitting a baby blanket for the first baby born in the new year at the local hospital. After doing several bright little blankets in the previous years I am doing a soft, kind of traditional cream color this time.

The pattern being used this time is Sunny Baby Blanket. The pattern name link goes to Ravelry where I have saved this pattern. It is a free pattern that I have knit before. For any of you looking for tv knitting, this pattern works for me.

What's on your needles (or hook) these days?

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!