Blogging Insights- Year of the pandemic

Tanya is the host of Blogging Insights

TODAY’S QUESTION 

How do you think this pandemic year has been for blogging in general and your blog in particular?

Blogging is one activity that can be done when one is home bound and alone.

I was visiting my daughter in Seattle when we were informed that the city will be going in 2 weeks of lockdown. Everyone knows how these 2 weeks extended into months and then more than a year of covid restrictions.

Blogging saved me from boredom. It helped me stay connected with my online family and gave me something to do with the free time I had on my hands. In short, it turned the enforced inactivity into a great pastime.

My blog grew in followers as many new people started blogging. Though I curtailed my posts from a minimum of 4 to 3, the traffic and visitors increased.

Blogging during the pandemic also brought the community closer. We connected on a more personal level with each other and shared our concerns for each other’s safety and their family’s safety. Exchanging notes on getting the covid vaccination too.

The down side was that we saw a few very loved bloggers, leaving the blogosphere. They were either overwhelmed or had some personal reasons for not posting on their blogs but it was sad to see them no more. I miss Becky and Punam most. I hope to see them back.

Thank you Tanya for this opportunity to take a look back at the last year and assess how it was.

Thanks for reading!

#Keepitalive

#BloggingInsights

Crimson Creative Challenge # 130

Crispina is the host of Crimson Creative Challenge

CCC130

Welcome to my weekly challenge—open to all—just for FUN, FUN, FUN

♾♾♾

She left it here, as a marker. She hoped that he would see it and understand why she had to leave.

A white feather, much like a white flag a symbol of peace and surrender. She has flown away to warmer climes but left an offering, a token of her soul for him to find and accept her need to be with her own kind.

Next day people saw another feather has joined the white one, this one was black together they looked good.

Loving someone can also mean giving them up!

#Keepitalive

#CCC

MLMM- Sunday Writing Prompt – Beautiful Mistake

Sara is the host of Sunday Writing Prompt

Welcome back to, Sunday Writing Prompt!

The prompt I chose for this week resonates with me for many reasons, as I’m sure it does for others. But, even if it doesn’t, hopefully it gets your creative wheels turning. 

Image from pixabay.com

I find the term, Beautiful Mistake very intriguing in its complexity. 

Did you choose the wrong partner, but developed boundaries and self-confidence that prepared you for the right one? 

Did you accidently knock your coffee over your written manuscript, but when you re-wrote, it turned out even better? 

Did you take a job you ended up hating, but made a new best friend? 

Today’s Sunday Writing Prompt:Beautiful Mistake

♾♾♾

I regret nothing 
The mistake I made, led me to you
If I hadn’t taken the wrong turn
Or was on time, this never would have happened 
But they do say that everything is destined 
Even if our meeting was not accidental, it would have happened 
So I need not worry that I might have missed
The best, the happiest coincidence that happened to me
Because though it was a beautiful mistake 
It was always meant to be

♾♾♾

#Keepitalive

#SundayWritingPrompt

Reblog:First in this week in response to WDYS # 81 from Chris Hall; Enjoy! Biding my time — luna’s on line

Concealed behind that plain façadesilently observing yet unobservedyou creep along obscure corridorslistening at keyholes, capturing confidencespocketing intrigues and salting them away. Green mantle cloaked, you traverse the townsniffing out secrets, ferreting for indiscretionslicking spoons that stir the potsnatching skeletons from cupboardsto one day share and spill. Nothing escapes your inimical attentionunder your watch, people scarcely […]

Biding my time — luna’s on line

What do you see # 81 – May 10, 2021

Today is Monday. Welcome back to another prompt.

Rules;

You can write a post on your blog and create a pingback to link to the original post.

Write an original story, poem or a caption.

There is no limit to words or format but keep it family-friendly.

If you post a response before next Sunday, I will be able to add it to my roundup post.

I will do a round-up next Sunday before the next Prompt is posted.

It is always helpful if you can give your post/story/poem a title.

Paste a link of your post in the comments section so that I don’t miss anyone in the roundup post.

Please tag your responses with #Whatdoyousee

Or

#WDYS

Does this picture inspire you to write something?

Image credit; Victoria Strukovskaya @ Unsplash

( For the visually challenged reader, the image shows a closed wooden gate with the number 28.5 written on it with chalk. The gate is surrounded be thick green creepers)

Waiting eagerly for your responses.

Thanking you all for joining this prompt.

#Keepitalive

#Whatdoyousee

#WDYS

What do you see # 80 – A Roundup

♾♾♾

Plans to travel 
Plans to see the wonders of this world 
All held on abeyance, we need to wait for the time
When it’s safe for us to venture out and explore 
When we would be free again to step out
To a world that’s no longer hostile to human beings 
A world where our transgressions are forgiven 
And we are let out of our self-constructed cages
And then maybe.......
We can visit the Sphinx of Giza
Or the Taj Mahal 
Or the gay city of Paris

♾♾♾

For the past few weeks, I have shared images of iconic places where I would like to visit one day. Sphinx is one of the wonders of the world that I long to see. So this poem reflects my desire to roam the planet freely!

Perhaps one day!

My heartfelt gratitude to all the people who participated this week. Please click on the links to read their wonderful contributions.

Michnavs; Ode to the Sphinx in the desert of Ghiza

Chris Hall; Enigma of Giza

Mason; Me, my demon and a date

Di; What Do You See # 80

Reena; Anti- god

Jules; Nosey ku

Eugenia; A sculptured soul

Susi; Stoic

Rory; In comments

Jim; Hippies on camels

Don; In comments

Books and Bonsai; What do you see # 80

Jeff; Tanka # 12

Kritika; The traveler

Suzette; Empires in sand

Radhika; The Sphinx’s Lament

Goutam; The Sphinx

Kittysverses; Grant a voice

Fandango; The Sphinx

Happy Soul; Sphinx

Crazy Nerds; Monolith’s Mind

Animar64; A very sad Lion

I also want to express my thanks to everyone who have read, commented and shared these posts.

I will be posting next week’s challenge on Monday at 12:00 pm PKT.

Thanks again for your support.

#Keepitalive

#Whatdoyousee

#WDYS

Friday Fun – Paddling

Kate is the host of Friday Fun

Friday Fun – paddling

Do you paddle against the tide
or 
ease off and go with the flow

any memories of getting a paddling – we got caned

share your adventures and memories of paddling
then link it back here and read a few others!

♾♾♾

I try to paddle my boat on my own
I do hate to be dependent on anyone 
Or ask others to help me when I’m in a fix
It’s just my stupid ego, I keep on telling myself 
My family, my friends will be eager to lend a hand
And sometimes they even feel excluded when I don’t ask
This I’ve learned the hard way that it’s alright 
To ask for assistance when we cannot manage alone
If someone lends a hand, the boat would sail better 
On an even keel

♾♾♾

#Keepitalive

#FridayFun

Sunday Poser # 27 & Happy Mother’s Day

A very happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, grandmothers, daughters and mother figures.

My question this week is what are your best memories of Mother’s Day?

I never got to celebrate my mom. She died when she was 26, and I was 6. This not only left a big gap in my life but also left me a bit unprepared to fulfill the duties of a mother when I became one.

Well Time is a great teacher and I learned to be the best I could be as a mom. I am so proud that both my daughters and daughter-in-law are great mothers. They are wise, loving and are raising their kids so well. I must say that the mothers nowadays have access to great resources via the internet but the effort is all theirs.

I have some beautiful memories of when my kids surprised me on Mother’s Day. I remember six years ago when I had had my second knee replacement surgery and was not very mobile, as it was just a few weeks after my surgery my kids went and got me a pair of diamond earrings. They were very beautiful! But more so because they were a very special gift from all three of them. I treasure them very much.

This is the card I got today!

These are my memories. I’d love if you could share some of your best Mother’s Day moments.

#Keepitalive

#SundayPoser

Some Questions for the weekend

Rory is the host of Weekend Quickie

6 Quickie Questions

How do you like your sausages – straight, curved, short, long, fat or thin or do you not even like sausages?
Interpret as you wish ….

I don’t like sausages!

How often [under normal circumstances] would you visit a hairdressers/barbers in one year?

I have graying hair so before covid, I would go after every 4-5 weeks to get my roots colored. After a couple of months for a haircut. And while I am getting my hair done, I’d use the time to get a manicure and a pedicure.

What is it specifically do you think about humour that makes you laugh – as in ‘what’s so funny to you?’ Why do you laugh at some things and not others – what is the magical ingredient for you?

Now I don’t think I can pinpoint one specific thing that makes me laugh. It can be humor of the situation, or the lines themselves. It could also be the character or how they act or deliver the lines. But I really don’t like when people laugh at the misfortune of others.

If you were convinced you had seen an alien or a UFO [from another planet] how would you make people believe you or would you not tell anyone?

I would do what’s done these days. Make a video of it and upload it on social media or send it to a local tv station. They will be better suited to convincing people that it’s real.

Do you know what your place is in the world – where you fit in – and is that important to you?

It is important to know your place in the world. A place where we belong. I think my place is right here, in my home, in my city and country. I’m happy visiting other countries and places but I am happiest when I am home. It’s where I fit in best.

Is it important to you to get ‘noticed’ or are you happy enough to just be seen and is there really a difference do you think?

When I am with people I know, I want to be noticed and given some attention. If I am with strangers, I’m happy to stay in the background, and just be seen.

And yes there’s a difference and people we love should always be noticed and not just seen.

Thank you Rory for these wonderful and “thinking” questions!

#Keepitalive

#RoryAsks

WQWWC # 23 – Writer’s Choice – Living a good life

Marsha is the host of WQWWC

Today I’m leaving the Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays Writing/Photo Challenge topic up to you. Since you know I love challenges, I’m aligning my post this week with challenges and some tips for better blogging.

My Choice;

Living a good life;

THE GOOD LIFE requires that we take pleasure in new things; A GOOD LIFE requires that we take pleasure in moments.

To enjoy THE GOOD LIFE we have to get ahead; to enjoy A GOOD LIFE we have to make the trip worthwhile.

THE GOOD LIFE is supported by feeding our pocketbooks; A GOOD LIFE is supported by feeding our souls.

Steve Goodier

I really loved this quote. It tells us all the secret ingredients of living a good life. We often contribute the lack of having a good life upon various factors surrounding us, but mostly, never on ourselves. It is very essential to realize that it’s only us who can really change the way we live, think, and celebrate life.

We think that the things we are going to regret are the things that we didn’t attain; but that’s not what we’re going to regret. We’re going to regret the things we didn’t give, the love we didn’t show, the time we didn’t spend on someone who mattered… what we didn’t GIVE. That’s what we’re going to regret!

C. JoyBell C.

This is one reality that’s often ignored in our rush to get everything done. I hope no one lives with regrets in their lives as they are the leaches of happiness. Just find or rather make time for all that is really important in your life.

Life is about choices. The better you become at making good choices the better your life will be.

Germany Kent

Making good choices doesn’t come without making bad ones. But with practice, we can because better at making good choices.

You can find a temporary happiness in things like drinking liquor or smoking a joint. But the true one comes when you start embarking on a journey of doing something worthy of esteem and emulation.

Michael Bassey Johnson

For me, this quote states the gist of a happy, contented existence. What we gather in life are the good memories we leave in the hearts and minds of people. People whose lives we touched during ours. Make a worthy goal of trying to make life better for someone, and your life will improve automatically.

Thank you Marsha for hosting this challenge every Wednesday.

#Keepitalive

#WQWWC