An Interview by THE Blog "In the Garden" and a Wee Contest

Oftentimes when I write I write in a strictly straight to the point manner in a way that my mother says shows my 'intellect'. I think that showing any intelligence is a good thing, never a bad thing-but I guess it can be a bit boring on occasion. I like to teach and thus I share my experiences with others; which is teaching. Yes, that is what I do on here I think. One thing I learned awhile ago when learning about blogging is that you must find your voice and brand and stick with it. It is what comes natural and if folks like it, they read it, if not, that is fine too. Well today I am going outside of my intellect and voice and throwing caution to the wind. Today my blog, "In the Garden", is going to 'interview' me in honor of my Blogiversary this week. Yes, it is HARD to believe it has been one year since I began blogging, but it is the truth. All this week I will be talking of the blog, and perhaps a little of the garden; which is WHY the blog is here! I will look at myself and others and try to reflect in general on what this blog is, what it means to me, and what benefit it is to me. There MUST be a benefit of course! Otherwise why blog? Let me use a little creativity in my postings this week and quit trying to be so intellectual-though I warn you-it is my natural state and I really don't know how this week will pan out. Now, on to the interview by THE blog.

THE Blog: Why do you emphasize the word 'the' when referring to me as THE Blog?

Tina: Over the past year you have become such a big part of my life that you have grown very LARGE. Sometimes I feel you own me and not the other way around (in a good way of course). So, in order to let YOU know how I feel about you I chose to emphasize THE as in THE Blog.

THE Blog: Oh, okay I get it. Ha ha! Just how much time do you spend on working on me that I am so large?

Tina: I spend at least one to two hours a day and usually more depending on how many comments I answer and depending on how many OTHER blogs I comment on. On average I guess you might bump the time spent up to about 15-20 hours per week if I am preparing posts or uploading photos. I try to check in the morning, lunchtime, and prior to going to bed, depending on my schedule. I've gotten pretty good at my system, though it is still time consuming as Mr. Fix-it is wont to let me know.

THE Blog: Wow! What do you mean comments? You mean those people coming here and leaving messages on your articles and posts?

Tina: Yes! You know what I mean. I started this blog to share and in sharing you learn. I learn when others share their experiences. I just could not tell you how valuable blogging has been for me to learn how to be a better gardener. Sharing should be a two way street. Just like relating in real life. We people can only do this by commenting on each other's blogs since oftentimes we are not within close proximity to one another. People visit you, and I visit their blogs and comment to let them know I have visited. If we didn't comment and I only wrote my notoriously long articles and posted pretty pictures without anyone talking by commenting, then sharing would be only a one way street. And who likes a one way street when sharing?? And how would I ever learn anything if we didn't talk? I tend to ask lots of questions and share my experiences not only on you, but on other blogs too. Oftentimes little tidbits stick with someone and the learning process takes hold. I love to learn! Probably why I am a career college student, but we'll just leave that part out of this interview!

THE Blog: Oh, I get it. Does everyone who visits here leave comments? And is that the most important part of me?

Tina: Comments are not the most important part of you, I like to talk with others and I also like the journal and photo album aspect of you. It is nice to look back at prior posts and see my grandson and son, to remember my a special post that made me cry with joy, to see the work I have done with the gardens and so on.

No, not everyone comments. Just like in everyday conversations not all folks will get to talk or even want to talk. It is kind of like Show and Tell when you were in elementary school. Half the class can show and tell today, and the other half tomorrow. All kids can talk if they wish to comment on the show, but they don't have too. It is the same way with blogs. Not all will want to talk at all, some only sometimes, and others all the time. Does that make sense?

THE Blog: Kind of, but since I didn't go to school and was only born one year ago, I don't really know about Show and Tell, but I'll take your word for it Tina.

Tina: Thanks!

THE Blog: Okay, now that I understand the commenting thing, what is with this Blogroll on my sidebar? I notice it pops up and shows other bloggers' posts and there seems to be a LOT of other blogs! This thing grows each day.

Tina: Ah yes, the Blogroll. I simply adore your Blogroll function. I add blogs I like to visit and who have a blogger who has established a two way communication with me to your blogroll. The blogroll shows me exactly when others post and what the subject is that particular day or time. It is a timesaver-truly! It is kind of long though and I am trying to be selective in choosing blogs for it. Blogs who are not on my blogroll will usually show up on the blog link on the bottom of your sidebar.

THE Blog: You visit more blogs than just those though Tina, how do you keep track of them and why aren't they on the blogroll?

Tina: I really wish I could add all blogs to my blogroll but it would not be practical. As it is the blogroll is rather large. It is so large that I have had to try to categorize the blogs into a few categories. First and foremost is my sister Dawn's blog, then the Tennessee blogs, then other blogs I like to visit. For blogs not listed here I can still visit them via the sidebar list, subscriptions, and through Blotanical. I do try to fave bloggers and their blogs not on the blogroll via Blotanical, though not as often as I'd like. Sigh, it is a time thing again and I have come to realize I simply cannot comment or read all blogs that are out there-very good ones too! So, I have to be somewhat choosy and I do try to include them all often and in the same way, some are on my blogroll and some are on Blotanical and even more are on others blogrolls that I visit so I can get updated from those blogs. A great feature indeed.

THE Blog: What is this Blotanical and how can you view other blogs and blogroll other blogs there?

Tina: Glad you asked! Blotanical is a directory of I guess about 1000 garden blogs. It has a feature on it that allows registered users to blogroll other registered users. It also has a feature where garden bloggers can interact in a common manner that is somewhat standardized. It has so many features that I can't possibly use them all. It is kind of like a big huge blog owned by this guy named Stuart. It also is not working right right now, but hopefully it will come back on line soon so ALL garden blogs can use its "one stop shop" features.

THE Blog: Okay, I get it about the comments and the blogroll and sharing and all. How do you judge your success?

Tina:Very good question! Very personal too but I will try to share. I LOVE each and every comment in your comment section but it is not totally how I judge whether or not you are successful. There are many readers who have never commented on here and who probably will never comment, and that is fine. If everyone who read commented, I would easily spend triple the time on you that I am already spending. I do have a few bench points I set for success though.

a) The first is in readership. I like to know people ARE really reading you and the comments are but one way to show me yes, folks are reading.

b) The second bench point is whether or not folks return for a second look and even a third look. This is sometimes fairly easy to determine and sometimes not. For commenters it is easy to determine if they return-they consistently leave comments. They either become regulars because they like it, or they go elsewhere. Not all commenters will become regulars, just like in real life. Each person has their tastes and you and I may not appeal to all readers each and every day, and that is perfectly acceptable! Don't feel bad about it as we cannot please everyone and have to do our own thing. Plus, like me, there are so many bloggers out there that they can't all visit and comment on all blogs! That to me is the beauty of blogging, we can be choosy and we can do as we like with blogging.

For readers who do not comment, I have a hard time determining if they return on a regular basis. I do use something called Sitemeter to track your stats and visitors-by location and referral only. Sitemeter does not disclose personal information. I cannot follow all locations and visits so I don't worry too much about readers that don't comment since I can't determine if they return unless they do comment. I do know some locations are regulars and assume someone from that area does return to read without talking. That is a good thing and makes me think that even if readers don't comment, they do like to read. Their visits count in the stats just like regular commenters and those visits add up to success.

THE Blog: What is up with the text "No blog awards or meme's please" on my sidebar?

Tina: Well this can be a sticky question. Amy touched upon the problems with blog awards and memes in a post she did quite a while and I won't rehash what she said but give you my take on blog awards and memes. I appreciate them and realize there are nothing but good thoughts sent the recipient's way from the giver, but blog awards (there are tons made up by many) are a bit distracting and intimidating to me and to my readers. Distracting because you not only have that much more to look at on your blog, but now you have to post about the award and give it away to other unsuspecting bloggers, who may or may not appreciate the gesture. This has been a common problem with many bloggers. So some of these bloggers have decided to just put it out there for whoever wants to participate in the award or meme. Well then what kind of award is it really if anyone can get it? I consider the awards to be memes; which are mainly chain letters. I never participated in these as a kid and don't with my email either, so I decided early on not to do so here.

Memes also are a way to increase one's statistics and comments. I feel if I wanted to comment on a blog then I would do so without a meme. So I think it is a bit hypocritical to do so just for a meme if I have never visited that blog or commented on that blog before. Remember, I said I like two way communication and memes don't usually foster two way communication. What happens is both the blogger who started the meme and the visiting blogger who comments on the meme gets a bit of a higher traffic count for that day or week or whatever, but no two way communication. If you normally visit and comment on that blog, then great! Go for it! Any one I talk to regularly and who starts a meme and may like me to report back on a posting they have done, I am willing to do so, but not to a blogger I don't normally comment on. And I don't expect this to happen on my blog either. I want people to comment here because they want to talk and not just get exposure. I may have made a mistake in popularity by choosing not to participate in memes and awards, but again, blogging is a personal choice and I have to be true to me for it to be fun. I like conversation and getting to know the bloggers and this does not seem to happen on many memes where the conversation does not continue past that one day. I have opted out because of it.

Blog awards are a bit intimidating. As a brand new blogger I was cowed by visiting blogs that had TONS of blog awards. I thought wow! This must be an awesome person and awesome blog and what am I doing blogging or even visiting? I was intimidated for sure. Then my next thought was how can I get awards? Yes, it is true. Now that I know how awards are awarded, I am not so cowed anymore and made the choice not to post any on my blog. One year of blogging has increased my confidence level tremendously and I realize that for me to continue blogging, I have to be true to myself and realize blogging is NOT about competing with other blogs for awards and readers and comments. No, it is about relating and talking and sharing with others who have the same values, likes dislikes, and ideas as me. If our experiences here at "In the Garden" can help others, then we are successful. Otherwise it doesn't work-and that is okay! There are more than enough people to go around for another 10,000 garden blogs! Never fear, readers will come regardless of the awards and memes. Skeeter helped me tremendously on clarifying my point of view and I am sticking to it. Sometimes you just need a sounding board and I have talked to a few readers about this situation. I hope all understand my point of view.

THE Blog: Why are there no advertisements on here? They are kind of colorful and look neat.

Tina: Yes, advertisements are neat, but kind of distracting too. The same as memes and awards. I blog to talk and share so advertisements were never an option. Loyal readers like it like that. Though, if I thought there was real money to be made in advertisements on my blog, I would consult with Skeeter and loyal readers, and MAYBE consider advertisements, but for now and the foreseeable future-no ads. Sorry!

THE Blog: It is a very nice change for you and for me when Skeeter, Dawn or even Christine post. Is this why you added contributors to me Tina?

Tina: Yes, partly. The other part of it is that I really needed a bit a break and I felt others who did not want the responsibility of a blog would like guesting on here with the added benefit of me taking a break. Now don't get me wrong, I would work every day and maintain you but having other contributors has been a super great thing for me and for you too! And for the readers!!!! They get to read THREE bloggers while visiting JUST one blog! We get to hear about Maine and Georgia and all sorts of different points of view. Different points of view is a good thing-even if they aren't my point of view. Laugh! And Skeeter and Dawn usually comment on others blogs so it is almost like a three for one on here. One comment on here could possibly result in three comments back to the blogger who comments. Not always and that should not be why folks comment here, but a nice side line if it does because most (if not all) bloggers like comments. Dawn has quite a following on her blog, and Skeeter herself is a one woman super-de-duper blogger who comments on many blogs she likes. These are all blogs where she has established communication with the blogger. I think Skeeter and I are a bit alike in the manner.

THE Blog: Why do we post every single day at a predetermined time? What is up with that? It seems like an awful lot of work and I'd like a break sometime.

Tina: You'd like a break! HA! I think it is important to post daily because "In the Garden" (you blog!) is kind of like a morning garden fix that fits right in with the newspaper. Plus, much of my military training has carried over to you. I am used to being regular, dependable, loyal, and on time-usually o'darkthirty in the morning-hence the 0500 role call for "In the Garden" posts. Skeeter and Dawn oblige all on their own. They like it regular and so I have found a pattern that I plan to stick with.....at least for now. It may change later but I have played with this idea for a while and still time goes on and posts come regularly. Are you sure you don't write your own posts???? And just pull the pretty garden pictures (even the vomit one) from my computer's hard drive Mr. Blog?

THE Blog: Oh no! Never! You bloggers are responsible for all these posts. By the way, are you going to share the stats with our readers? I don't know much about other blogs but we have a lot of folks visiting us here and commenting too.

Tina: I am not totally sure as yet. I have tallied up the comments and posts but we'll see about sharing stats later this week-can I sleep on it?

THE Blog: Yeah sure.

THE Blog: Do you have any regrets or anything you would've done differently with me?

Tina: Yes, I would do two things differently if I had a chance to do it all again. The first is the fact I used my name with my url when I switched you over to blogger from the ftp website. The Internet is a big world and using my name puts me out there in it a bit more than I'd like to be. When I blogged you through the ftp website it was a community thing and my real name was required as a pseudo would not have been acceptable. Once I switched I could've made myself more anonymous like many bloggers do, but it is too late now. That is the first thing I would change.

The second thing I would change would be your name. "In the Garden" is a great name! So great that many other blogs have this name. I have contemplated changing it but for today, that is not an option. "In the Garden" is your name forever but I have added TN to your name in Blotanical in order to differentiate you from the other two listed "In the Garden" blogs. I am not sure what I would name you if I could do it over but it would be different I can assure you.

THE Blog: Hmmmm, that leaves many possibilities! Okay, you didn't mention your regrets?

Tina: I have a few regrets. I regret if I have ever offended anyone when commenting on their blog or when responding to a comment on my blog. I regret if I have made someone have to moderate my comments or not post my comments at all. I can bet over the past year I have easily commented more than 1000 times, not including the responses on my blog. This is a lot of commenting and it is possible something could've been misconstrued at some point. Sometimes I can be too honest and too outspoken, but it is me and I have to be me! As much as I blog it would be difficult to be someone else-wouldn't it? Those are my only regrets with blogging. Such is life.

THE Blog: I think we all have regrets in all we do at some point or another, so don't worry about it Tina. Okay, what have you learned from blogging?

Tina: How much time to you have?? Oh goodness, can we save this for another day? I have already used up my allotted time today.

The Blog: Okay, I guess so-since I really don't have any choice! You are after all the blogger and own me-not the other way around and we need to work on downgrading "the" as in THE Blog. Okay?

Tina: Already done.

Thanks for humoring me and reading along on this long interview. I will continue with some more Blogiversary posts this week-once I recuperate from this interview! I promise there are some short ones and some pictures and some 'intellectual' ones too:)

If you are still with me-great! We are not finished yet, see a contest below.

Regular readers of "In the Garden" know we post frequently, very frequently. Can you guess how many posts we have published over the past year as of today? I will give you a hint, it is MORE than 365. The person who comes closest to guessing the number or who gets it right, AND comments first will receive a $10 gift card to Wal-Mart OR a custom made marker stone, your choice. I will post the answer in Friday's post, so be sure to check back. Remember, if more than one person gets it right, only the FIRST commenter on here with the right answer or closest to the answer will get the card or marker stone. Thanks! And good luck! P.S. Even if you have never commented here, feel free to comment since you are at least reading! Should be interesting and I have NO idea what kind of answers folks will come up with-so let the counting begin!

in the garden....