I feel like stomping around and throwing a fit. I’m home today. I love my home, don’t get me wrong, but I’d much rather be playing with my friend than blowing my nose every 30 seconds. I had the sniffles at the beginning of the week and thought maybe it was just allergies. But sometime in the middle of my nice romantic night in the big city, it turned into a full-fledged cold. So no Spinning Guild for me. No fun. Just snot.
I will be spending the next 36 hours doing everything I can to rest and rest and rest. Three kids, 6, almost 4 and 2 weeks from 2, are depending on me for FUN FUN FUN this weekend and I cannot disappoint. At least if your nose is stuffed you can’t smell the poop when you change the diaper. Right? RIGHT???
PS – Steph inadvertently started an interesting conversation on blogging. In this post, she asks the question “Why blog if you don’t have people pop in and say hello?” in regards to blogs she’s visited that don’t have any comments. It didn’t go over too well, so she explains herself here. I jumped in with my opinion. It’s slightly incoherent – but I’m SICK so give me a break. I’m sure Steph would love to hear your opinion – no matter what side you’re on – she’s open minded and terrific like that.
PPS – Okay – so I just read some more of the comments over at Steph’s and because I don’t want to take up all her space I’m going to write some thoughts on commenting on blogs over here. One of the commenters mentioned how hard it is to get people to comment on blogs when you’re not in the “clique.” Oh man do I understand that feeling! What the fuck is she talking about, you’re saying – she gets like fifteen million comments a day! She IS the clique. Biotch. Comment Ho. Yeah, yeah, yeah. NOW I get a lot of comments (comparitively – there are bloggers out there getting WAY more comments than me – unless, of course, I’m giving something away – NOT THAT I’M COMPLAINING. I’M JUST STATING FACT.) but when I first started blogging – I got a handful of comments here and there. For the first year or two in fact. Blogging in a community (as opposed to blogging for yourself – which I also think is VERY legitimate if that’s what you want) takes work. It’s a RELATIONSHIP. Community is a RELATIONSHIP. I’ve been asked a lot – recently in fact – how to get new blogs on the map. My answers to these questions: read and COMMENT on other people’s blogs. I like to go and leave comments on blogs that are new to me. Link to people! It may be narcisstic of me, but I like to check my stats. I like to see who’s linking to me and what they have to say. I often leave comments on blogs that have linked to me. Be a part of a swap or an online blog ring but most of all, people will engage with you if you engage with them. There are literally thousands of blogs out there – not everyone is going to read your blog. If you want an audience, go out and get it.
I’m sick. I can’t hear very well. Did that sound bad? I don’t want it to sound bad. I want it to sound honest and truthful and not pedantic and oh whatever. I have to go blow my fucking nose again. HONK!!!!! SNIFFsniff. Please excuse me. Thank you.
Well said. So well said in fact that if you weren’t so far away, I’d pack up some cookies (known for their sniffle curing properties) and shuffle them over to your place pronto. As for blogging, I do it as therapy I think. But I much prefer when others drop in on the group and nod in agreement…
I love reading your blog. I found it mostly when Harlot said that she will sometimes stare at the monitor and refresh your site to see your photography. Me too. It’s a guilty pleasure. I have been so inspired by your knitting and also spinning. Thanks!!
I used to worry about how many comments I got, but not anymore. My blog has become much more than knitting once my son was born and it’s more of a personal journal at times. Today’s post reflects that.
Sending you get well wishes. Chicken soup has been shown to have curative properties. It’s what I’m making for dinner. I’d send some to you (unless you’re a vegetarian; I don’t know), but it would probably be all yucky when it got there.
I agree with you completely. You only get out of a community what you put into it. When I first started my blog I was always sad about not having comments, but then I got more involved and started to comment on other people’s blogs actively, and reciprocate links, and now I get lots more comments.
And the cool thing is now it’s not about the comments anymore, because I have made lots of friends, so the number isn’t so important.
For me that’s the most rewarding thing about blogging, is that I’ve made friends and become part of a larger community. Which is good, since my friends from before I started the blog think knitting is weird. 😉
I’m sorry you’re feeling crap. And btw, i never find you incoherent. Feel better, and hope to see you soon. xo
Back when I started blogging, I don’t know, I thought people would come flocking to my site if I left comments on their blogs. I was stupid.
It took months for me to have any regular readers and in that time, I kept having to remind myself that I was blogging for me and to help myself process and remember things. I don’t write for anyone else, I write for me. Then I got readers and found friends online, became part of the community (although I’m far from being “in the clique”) and the comments are just icing on the cake, you know?
Sometimes when I find a blog with no comments, I do leave a comment. I know how blogging can start to feel a little unrewarding with no feedback.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. People need to get a grip. Good grief! If someone has an opinion let them state it. We do not all have to agree nor do we have to attack the owner of the opinion.
I love your blog and I am going to go publish the very same comment on the other blog that you referenced.
I used to have a blog. It was only for a few months, but commenting went pretty well. I decided to shut it down, because it wasn’t as fun for me as I wanted it to be. I did meet a lot of fabulous knitters, though. Which is great and I like them all, but honestly, it wasn’t my goal. I just wanted a place to journal my knitting, and give an occasional reader a picture and commentary on my FO’s so that perhaps I could help them decide whether they wanted to knit a particular project. I started a Flickr account instead. I like it waaaay more. (For me, that is.)
I think its funny – this discussion. Some blogs are written as a diary. They aren’t directed to a reader, just as a note to self. Other blogs seem more directed towards the reader. If it is reader-directed blog, and there is no sign of any readers, then I admit – I don’t get it. Unless, someone really really enjoys the writing process.
funny I was just today thinking of reactivating my very very lame, ignored, unposted to blog. I am such a lurker on your blog and many others… I feel like I “know” so many people, you, Kay, Ann, Stephanie, Laurie, Bonne Marie BUT you all don’t know ME. It is a community, and I’ve been looking in the window. I’ll link to my blog once I’ve posted (gotta remember the login!).
Hope the snots go away soon! They just suck (or blow, you know what I mean). I believe you are right about the relationship thing and that’s why I very RARELY drop my blogs addy when I comment. I’m awful with reciprocation (even with those I’m very close with-I know I’m a crapper), not by choice but rather by “issue” (still working on finding a therapist for that). When I blog, I goal is to post because I want to–not because I feel a need to. When I’ve gotten comments (and I know this sounds COMPLETELY nuts), I suddenly feel obligated to continue posting, and to try my hardest to make it good or funny or whatever. And that just doesn’t work for me, I end up completely abandoning my blog for long stretches of time. I honestly hate that result. I blog (such as it is) as a multimedia form of journaling, or I’d like to think so at least. It’s cool to hear opinions (I’m a big lover of the almighty opinion, I have tons of them!), but they can also at times freak me out a bit. This prob makes close to no sense whatsoever and I’ve taken up enough space, so I’ll end it here. In short (snort), I agree with ya.
Your post got me to go to a new (to me) blog and comment there, so I guess I should delurk here.
Blogging is a conversation and a relationship. It is also work. I have actively tried to develop a readership. In the long run, I think we get out of our blogs what we put in to them.
Thank you for calling it like you see it. I hope you feel better.
So sorry you’re so snotty…………hope you feel better soon!
And I agree with you…………on the community and building relationships. Unfortunately, I read many more blogs than I comment on…just for lack of time.
I’m a new blogger. It’s kind of odd that I started a blog, because for the most part I’m a very private person. But I was so craving conversation with other knitters (none of my friends knit) so I started one. I’m not looking to become a superstar or anything, I just want to talk about knitting. It’s been fun watching the numbers slowly creep up. No comments for awhile, then a couple. Then my last post had seven and I was so excited. How do you check to see who links to your blog? That’s the one thing I can’t figure out. Hope you feel better soon! I really enjoy reading your blog.
I woke up this morning and I thought about you and Ann, whether you had fun at spinning guild last night, how many times you’ve hollered at Poe to get lost already…
Sorry that you’re all snotty. Get better soon.
Love.
“It’s a RELATIONSHIP. Community is a RELATIONSHIP” shhh don’t give away the secret to new media marketing 🙂
Sorry to hear that you’re sick. you definitely need to get better by this weekend so you can have fun with the kids!
Anyway, I’m a pretty new blogger, and I agree. I don’t necessarily expect a lot of comments, but it is fun when I get them (someone is actually looking at my knitting!). But, I understand that there are like a gazillion knitting blogs out there and I have to be persistant to be in the “clique” or whatever. I agree with exactly what you said, and I don’t think it came out wrong at all.
Damn cold!! I’m sorry you missed you day with Ann and hope you feel better in time to deal with the kids!
I’m at a place with my blog where I’m not sure I want to do what needs to be done to gain in popularity. It takes a lot of work to blog and ‘grow’ your audience. For now my blogging is more about community and making and keeping connections with bloggers that I want to maintain as friends.
I find it harder and harder to make it to all the blogs, good blogs, friends blogs that I want to read.
Oh man, it sucks to be sick. I’m just getting over the flu- I feel your pain!
The commenting thing is a tough one. Sometimes people don’t comment because they feel they have nothing more to add to what’s already been said, but I think it would still be nice to get a hello once in a while. You know? Of course you know. You’ve commented on my blog! 🙂
I think the weirdness comes in when you look at your stats and see that you’ve had over 10,000 hits and hardly get any comments. At least, that’s what feels weird to me…
Whew. Comments are serious business. I’m a bad blog reader as I usually don’t comment if someone’s already said what I was going to say. Your point about getting folks to comment or getting your blog “on the map” is spot on. Read and comment on other people’s blogs. And give stuff away.
Feel better.
Oh no, a 2 year old’s poopy diapers are so potent they clear the snot from your nose briefly while you change them.
I’m a new blogger, so I don’t expect too many comments. I’m doing basically what you talked about, though. Read other blogs. Link to them. Comment on other blogs. But my natural tendency (even in face-to-face conversations) is to just listen, so sometimes I’m a reclusive lurker.
And if I never get in anybody’s clique, it won’t bother me.
I am a very loyal reader of your blog but don’t comment too often, maybe I should change that.
I love your photos and color sense.
Feel better soon and before the weekend of course.
,,,and stop this horrid noise please,,,
I agree with the whole comment on other people’s blogs. I don’t get many comments, but when I got one from Ann while knitting on my MDK nightie, it just made my day. Hearing from other knitters and non-knitters really makes the blog thing worth it, even though I don’t hear from them very often. Love your blog by the way!
I agree. I started my blog for myself, then it was to keep in touch with family, then my SnB group…I like comments, but I certainly don’t expect them.
So impressive that through the boogers, you posted something so amazing and important. Community and relationships *are* work, but people tend to think they should just happen “organically.” And that’s where the trouble often begins.
I really appreciate what you wrote. It’s such a clear reminder of what we’re all trying to do here. I’m also reminded of this relational phenomenon: “It’s been so long since I talked to/commented on/sent a note to so-and-so, I’m embarrassed to call/comment/write now. Maybe tomorrow.” That one’s the worst for me. Thanks for reminding me it’s never too late to engage in community.
Feel better!
You are right on the money regarding commenting. I just wish that I could respond personally to some of the comments I get. It’s often very hard or impossible to find an e-mail address. And I want to write about my own stuff, not always write posts that are essentially a response to the comments. Wendy at Wendy Knits! is a good example of that kind of writing. But it’s her thing. Not mine.
I hope you feel better soon. Stock up on a couple of building toys (check the age range) for the kids and then give it to them when you need a break. A new toy should give you an hour’s rest or so.
I’m sorry you’re sick! Thanks for pointing us to an interesting topic… I just started commenting more on the blogs I really enjoy reading, and it was a huge surprise when you commented on my blog the other day. And also, I’m sorry if I sounded crazy in my reply.
Poor J1!!! I’m sorry that you’re sick & I hope that you get better soon! I know it doesn’t really help, but as they say, it’s the thought that counts. hee hee
I sometimes wonder why people don’t comment more on my blog, but I know that they’re reading it so I try not to take it personally. I’m guilty of reading & running too; I have to make a conscious effort to remember to comment.
You commented on my first post after I created my blog and I felt so honored! I don’t comment as often as I should so thanks for the reminder. I check your blog daily if only to see the beautiful photography in the header.
That IS an interesting topic. I left a big ‘ol comment over there, hopefully not an annoyingly long one.
Feel better!!
When I started blogging I had been a regular commenter on several blogs as well as a member of a couple of knitting groups for a while, so even at the beginning I got a few comments on every post. I now average ten or so, and I try to reciprocate and/or respond to everyone, but don’t always succeed — proof positive that I’m not cut out to be a big-time blogger. Some bloggers who get way more comments than I do respond to everyone, which I find commendable.
As the kid everyone picked on in junior high I find it hard sometimes not to look at it as a popularity contest and not to worry about how (or if!) people will respond if I post something personal. I even had major heebie-jeebies when I posted my first pattern — was I sending it out into the world to be mocked and scorned? So far it’s all been good. (If there are any mockers or scorners out there they have to date kept their opinions private, and I appreciate that.)
As the most insecure human being on the planet, I forget all too easily that everyone else has issues too, whether they get scads of comments or none. You are so right that it’s all about reciprocity.
Oh, and I can’t believe I forgot to say: keep warm, drink plenty of fluids, and take Cold-eez. It really works, for me, anyway. Last cold I didn’t take it and the cold stayed for over a month.
Thank you so much for posting about the new blogs, I have tried frantically to get mine read too. Its just not happening. But, I figured out that if your in a netring it is a little easier.
Thank you for adding your voice to this conversation on why people blog. It certainly is an interesting one to have.
I am a relatively new blogger with light readership, and I echo some of the comments above. I don’t expect tons of comments, but I do get a kick out of getting them.
I love the knitting community, and I wanted to add my own small voice to the conversation. As time goes on, I get more confident, and I speak more loudly and more often.
Thanks for pointing out the discussion 🙂 How interesting! As a new blogger (about 6 weeks) I’m really starting to understand the commenting thing. I used to comment sporadically, but now I try to comment on the blogs I like as much as I can. Hey, I know how happy one comment can make me, and it’s so easy to spread that joy to someone else!
Feeling snotty is no fun :(. I hope you feel better soon.
For me, it has been all about the community. I feel closer to some of my blogger friends than I do to friends I have known all my life. I don’t get a ton of comments like some do and that’s ok, what I do get from my blogging community is a strong sense of bonding with likeminded women who I not only respect, but enjoy :-).
If you don’t leave a comment, then how will anyone find you, other than by accident? It’s definitely give and take 🙂
wow, look at all 34 of your comments. about the clique knitters/crafters. are we all agreed on who they are? people mention them, but is there consensus on who they are? maybe there should be a list of the top ten somewhere, out there, that we can look at and ponder. or not. best not to take those kinds of fascinations too far.
I’m sooo sorry. I’m one of the no commenting(well sometimes)blog readers. I’ll work on changing that…
I so hear you(or don’t, part of the sickness is going “what?” all day) on the nose blowing thing..I guess everyone has this awful sickness that makes you just want to die. I’m on the getting better side of it, it only took 8days:( hope yours doesn’t last that long and you start feeling better soon..btw love your blog
You are absolutely right. You get what you give in blogland. When I comment more, I get more comments myself. Unfortunately, I tend to be a little comment shy, hence the first comment ever on your blog. You are also right about the linking. I posted a link to my bloglines subscription on my sidebar, but that doesn’t necessarily lead people back to my blog if they are looking at their site stats. I’m glad that you brought this up. I was just discussing this exact thing with another blogging friend of mine.
I hope you feel better. That sucks you had to miss Spinning Guild. I’ve been blogging for a little over a month now. What started me blogging was a desire to be a part of the knitting blogosphere as more than a commenter on other people’s blogs. I wanted to engage with other knitters and hopefuly make some new knitting friends. That’s starting to happen, but it ain’t easy. It’s like being the new kid in school. There definitely is a group of “blogger elite” or a clique.
I’m an avid blog reader and fairly frequent commenter. When I get comments it makes me so happy. I know there are people who don’t like to comment and prefer to just lurk and that’s fine, but it really makes my day when I get a comment from anyone, especially from someone I don’t know in “real life.” Now that I blog, I comment even more because I know how much comments mean. In my posts, I regularly link to other blogs and for the most part, I can see that they’ve checked me out and maybe even left a comment. But not always.
I hope you feel better.
I’ve learned that unless you are saying something truly thought provoking or asking a question, some people just don’t have anything to comment about. Nothing everything you post will be interesting to everybody. But I do agree the best thing for new bloggers to do is comment on other blogs or join a knit-along. It’s what I did. I was a “comment whore” for awhile, and it’s paid off.
I think I mainly lurk here. I can’t remember if I have ever left a comment, not sure. I seem to fall into this mindset with the more well known knitting blogs of not commenting. I’m sitting here trying to think of why it is that I do that. Not sure. Maybe some old junior high flash backs that keep me in the background I suppose.
Thanks for your post and the reminder. Those of us with the lesser known blogs need to comment and reach out as well. No matter how “big” the other blog is.
Feel better Cara! It sucks to be sick.
I have to agree. I’ve started commenting a lot more since I started my blog. I know a lot better now how nice it is to get a comment. I also understand how strange it is to blog and not know what anyone thinks of what you’ve put out there. Of course with stats you can tell if anyone has looked at the page. And with subscribers, you can assume someone plans to come back. But it also raises all sorts of questions of whether one is blogging for oneself or to “entertain”, or just to let others share in your process and maybe be empowered by it. Even with plans to blog just for oneself, you know someone might read it, and I think that does change things.
Hope you are feeling better soon and have lots of fun with the kiddos.
I’m been reading you since way back when . . . 🙂 Feel better — I had that cold a few weeks ago and it sucked. But, it will pass.
Ho there. I hope you feel better. Being sick with kids just sucks. Every time I’m out with some illness, I send giant thought-props to the single parents out there. No idea how they do it.
Yep, I don’t tend to comment very often on the 40+ blogs that i follow. But ocassionally i do. And it’s those other bloggers who leave comments for me. I know that I have some number of readers who are live friends and family who aren’t part of the blog/comment culture. Sometimes they’ll email with a response, but they are not famililar with the whole comment process. Therefore If I want comments, I have to leave comments and not count on the family to leave them.
PS, yesterday’s link sent me for the first time to your website. I love your work. I wish you were closer for a few photo shoots! Oh well, I’ll just look at the flowers for now.
Sorry about your cold – I did the honking/sniffing thing last week, and it’s miserable. I think you’re RIGHT ON with the relationship – without comments and links and all the rest there is only isolation, and relationships take work. Starting my own blog is getting higher on my to-do list. Thanks for the thought-provoking post!
Well said, Cara. I hope you’re feeling better. And, sorry to disappoint, but you can smell poop through the gunk in your nose no matter how stuffed up you are.
I read your blog and others’ blogs daily, a habit that made me want to start my own blog. Over the last year I have started three blogs, but all are now defunct because I felt too much pressure to please and entertain other people. I have started a new blog that I write for myself–I really want to find my own voice and say my own thoughts/feelings/opinions out loud, even if no one else hears it. If other people find it, like it, and comment on it, then I will feel like they are doing it because something I write resonates within them and not because they feel the need to reciprocate for a comment I have left them.
After all of this, I have found that I still like my own company even when others don’t get me.
You are right. I love having a blog and I love feeling like I have an audience. I know my audience is small and that’s ok. That being said, I am trying to delurk more. Partly because I realize I’m a victim of “clique” thinking. It hearkens back to my miserable high school days. I think that’s why I sit in the shadows instead of speaking up….fear of rejection and all that. Sheesh – you’d think I’d be over high school by now, huh?
what a deep thought about blogging today. i obviously think of that all the time (Comment Love, that is) but it’s the love of the knits that keeps me going! I Hope you feel better!! Sniffle!
I think a lot of bloggers check their stats to find out who’s linking to them. I know I do! I even have a counter that tells me how many new and returning visitors I have! I’m one of those bloggers with a pretty steady readership but not many comments but it doesn’t bother me. Since I’m still so new to knitting I haven’t really become a part of this community yet, but I hope to be a part of it someday! It really is an interesting way to connect with people.
PS. I read this blog almost every day. Your posts inspire me to knit as much as I possibly can!
Oh, and I hope you feel better soon!
Longtime reader, first time comment-er.
I agree with your thoughts on blogging and commenting. I started my blog just this year, so I am very much a newbie. I did not intend to arouse much interest beyond friends and family and the original intent was a sort of public scrapbook of my knitting and maybe connect with a few other knitters. I’m not a clique-y person and didn’t think anyone would want to comment. Then I received a comment from someone I didn’t already know..and it was cool! I can see why people want them, lol! I find this to be an interesting dialogue, for sure.
Keep up the great blogging and get well soon.
Delurking to say I hope you are feeling a wee bit better.
And regarding OCD tendencies, they really are not a handicap unless you don’t know how to harness their power. Once you do tho – woooweee – look out babe, because those types of people are unstoppable and totally have their sheite together. You know what I mean. 🙂
Sending you chicken soup vibes. I saw the discussion over at Steph’s and added my bit there so I won’t restate it here. But I do want to say I think it’s cool that you’ve linked to her posts and are continuing the discussion, because it’s a good one. Feel better!
You’re 100% right. I haven’t been blogging long, but I DEFINITELY go check out someone’s blog if they leave me a comment, and I try to send them a “thanks for the comment” reply email too, if at all possible. You get out of it what you put into it. But, there are some bloggers I read regularly and have linked to, and did not receive any feedback from at all. Whatever. We’re all busy and it’s not a popularity contest (although it can certainly feel like one at times).
I went over and left my two cents….
I love the conversation that has been going on about this. My intentions when blogging have never been to be popular. I’ve never been one of the popular people in any situation. And that is okay with me. I’ve “met” some wonderful people through blogging, learned new techniques, and enjoy the peek into people’s lives. But I am a lurkeer by nature and often find it difficult to comment when many other people have already said what I want to say. I guess I just need to work a little harder to get out of my shell… so here I am, commenting.
Very well said (especially for a sick person!) and I agree with you. I’m (relatively) new to the knit-blog community, but in other communities it’s the same. I have a button (from this site) that says “to get a letter… write a letter” which is basically the same thing.
It’s also possible (at least for me) to know this intellectually but not be very good at practicing it. I over-think and over-analyze and end up not posting so many comments because they don’t always come out the way I want them to.
I hope you feel better soon.
It’s really hard to SHINE if you’re not shiny, ya know?
I haven’t read Steph’s posts, but from your description I can easily guess what the comments and subject are. And I haven’t read all the comments on this post of yours. Damn I just don’t have the time – I read way too many blogs! And I’m about burned out on it. I want a life away from the computer again. It’s just too much to keep up with.
Some people have a lot of comments because they’re just that freagin amazing, ya know? Like Stephanie the Yarn Harlot said to me once in a reply to a comment I left her about getting SO MANY COMMENTS…. “you’d get a lot of comments too if your URL was printed on the back of thousands of books.” It’s FACT! People who whine and cry and say “I don’t get any comments” but they really want to be a Knit Blogging Rock Star…. they just have to shine like a star. Leaving comments and reading a lot of other blogs is not key to being a star. Being nice and giving stuff away doesn’t hurt but seriously… do we think Stephanie Pearl McPhee reads and comments on anywhere from 200-600 blogs per day? No possible way.
I’m really thinking of a specific blogger, Lene Alve of Dances With Wool (I think you read her). This woman is the most modest and humble person on the planet. Yet she has more talent by nature than virtually my entire bloglines list combined. I don’t think she gets around and spends all of her time commenting on blogs – that is one person that humbly knits, spins, weaves, loves life and raises her children and writes beautifully about it. I can hardly read a single one of her blog posts without CRYING from the beauty of her writing. She shines. Not because she pimped the blog world to get comments. She just shines.
I would say that after being in a little corner of the knitblog community for over two years, it seems that there are a few specific things that do increase your exposure:
1. Join stuff. Swaps, knitalongs, etc, and be a dependable swap partner. Also – host one of these type things and do a good job.
2. Post often about knitting.
3. Take good pictures of said knitting.
Ooo…the nose goop. So sorry, chick. I know what you’ve got — I just got over it — and I think I need to go buy stock in whoever manufactures Kleenex and recoup a little of my investment.
*sending virtual cuppa tea*
Lots of interesting comments here! I love it when commenters respond (nicely) to each other, and the comment section takes off as a whole new conversation.
I too feel very gratified when a well-known blogger — or any blogger — responds to me personally after I write a comment. Ann (MDK) in particular is wonderful about that.
I will add that even participating in the blog world and writing (one hopes) interesting posts doesn’t guarantee a lot of comments or a large audience. There really are a huge number of blogs, and a good proportion of them are excellent.
Yet it’s also true that well-read blogs really are well written. There is a reason for their popularity — content, personality, and command of the language. You’ve got it, lady!
I feel your suffering, I too have it in the nose and throat. You must be a mind reader, I to, have the same opinion and thoughts about this little thing called “blog.”
One thing you can do when you’re feeling awful and the kids are bored with their toys is to lay down on the floor and let the kids try to lift you up. It keeps them entertained for a while and all you have to do is lay there. Feel better soon…
I read your blog and comment because you are just REAL, you know? Sometimes you’re funny, sometimes you’re poignant, sometimes you’re knitting is stunning, sometimes you’re sick…but you’re always real. I appreciate that.
This is a very interesting topic. Up until the past few months, I never commented on blogs. I read many regularly and began to feel a bit like a voyeur, so I began commenting. I have to say commenting feels a bit odd because the comments are most often not acknowledged. It seems blogs are set-up to be mostly one sided … the bloggers have a voice and the commenters have a voice, but there’s very little true dialog between the voices. I’m not criticizing, I just believe that’s the nature of the blog. I can definitely see why bloggers like comments. The comments offer recognition to the dedication that goes into writing and maintaining a blog.
Okay – snort you some very warm (almost HOT) salt-water – yeah up your nose with it – if it’s a true cold, the salt water helps kill the bacteria (that’s why “ponders” put salt in their koi ponds!) and clears you out – yeah I know GROSS!
I think sometimes commenting is almost the same as blogging – it’s MY voice responding to your blog – it really doesn’t matter if you “talk” back – I’ve put it out there (just like I’ve put my blog out there) for others to see/read – it’s DOCUMENTATION that I had a THOUGHT, an OPINION (not a rude one of course), an opportunity to share in something. I read all your comments but I’m not going to respond to all your commenters but seriously, I do sometimes visit the blogs of those who make a comment that piques my interest – I suppose I should be better at commenting on THOSE blogs! I don’t expect a message back necessarily but somehow I still feel engaged in the conversation. Oh – and BTW – I’m horrible at keeping my blog current but I certainly get more comments when I do. I know when I come visit januaryone (besides the fabulous photography) I’m gonna’ find some interesting chatter, educational tutorials – something new almost every day!
Have fun with the kiddies!
Thanks for the words of wisdom– I think you’re right on. As a very new blogger one of the things that drew me in was wanting to be part of this community, but you don’t become part of a community (virtual or otherwise!) by not reaching out and making connections. I have been a regular reader of a few blogs for quite a while, and it wouldn’t even occur to me to comment, because I would think “these people don’t know me!”. I think having a blog and being on the other end of things changes the perspective a bit– you get out of it what you put in!
Forgot to say, feel better soon. You’ll need your energy for the kids.
Makes perfect sense to me. I’m just now starting to build a little bit of an audience, but I definitely layed low for a long while, mostly because I wanted to see if I’d stick with it and not drop the blog after a couple months. Now that I’m coming up on a year (2 day from now) I realize that maybe I am actually commited enough to updating my blog somewhat regularly and can feel comfortable to reach out into the community a little more since I know I’m not going anywhere.
But, I’d have hated to jump the gun, go headfirst into major involvement or investement (time or money), then get bored with it and drop it. That’s just a little irresponsible, IMO.
Hey babe, I wish you speedy healing. The very awesome-est picture of a pink rose just came up for me here. NICE!
Sometimes I look at my site and realize that there haven’t been any comments for a while, but in the background I’ve had email conversations with readers. I can tell by my stats that people are out there! And I know that I do a lot of reading and no commenting myself. That being said, I adore comments. But I know I’m not in a vacuum, and I adore the knitting community.
And today, I purchased a crapload of Tahki Cotton and am casting on for my mitered corner blanket! I met Ann and Kay last fall and fell in love with them and the blanket which I had in my hands during 2 visits. You’ve inspired me to just knit it! I can’t wait to see how yours turns out. And feel better!
i am sick too! it SUCKS!!! get some mucinex, it really works. i don’t get a ton of comments but i know people read my blog and i just LOVE this community so i blog because i want to contribute to it. you know, do my part. 🙂
When my sister and I started our blog, we honestly didn’t think that anyone would ever read it. I told my friend Steve about it so I thought I was at least writing for someone. But, one day, we received a comment from someone, and I don’t even remember who, and it totally made my day. I try to leave a comment that isn’t just, “Wow, that looks nice” since that is the way I am. I do have to tell you that the first comment we got from you was the first comment that I called the Flyer about since Lola and I first began reading your blog together.
Comments are what they are: a way for people to acknowledge others’ work and forge a relationship (gasp). Love ’em or hate ’em – just don’t flame ’em. Hope you feel better! Start hitting the chicken noodle soup now, alternating with shots of whiskey.
Delurking to say – amen, sistah!
I read many blogs and the creativity, inspiration and warmth they bring to my day are priceless, but I don’t always remember that the person taking time out of their day to write that entry doesn’t know I’m out there enjoying it! I hereby pledge to become a better blog cheerleader, to thank bloggers and to contribute to the dialogue!
That sounded like it came out great to me – even through the snot.
Hope you are feeling better soon! Being sick stinks!
It often occurs to me as a I read blogs I love (yours definitely included) that I ought to start one. Then I remember two things:
1. As irrational as it is, I would take the lack of comments to be an indication of my worth as a human being, and frankly I don’t need to add anything else to my massive list of insecurities ;), and
2. I’m enough of an introvert that I suck at remembering to put time and work into my real life relationships, what makes me think that it would be an intelligent decision to try to create whole new online relationships?
I guess this is all to say that I sometimes regret that I haven’t made more of an effort to have my voice heard, and to forge relationships. I read blogs and feel connected to the writer because they’ve chosen to share something, mundane or important, with their readers. The least I can do is acknowledge that with a comment.
Well said Cara. The beginning is tough, but you get back what you put in – and the response can warm you beyond belief. It’s about interaction and building relationships (much like real life). I truly appreciate my readers and will always reciprocate to a comment left on my blog – just like I’d return a ph call, email or text msg from a friend or relative.
I got the Jacob roving yesterday! Thanks for throwing in the cards. I drooled on the Palette one.
Hey, look I am number 79, that’s a lot of comments. Just wanted to say, I know how you feel, I am blowing my nose every 30 seconds, too. And that’s like the hundredth time this winter. As for commenting, I know I read a lot more blogs than I have time to comment on, so I just assume that there are people interested in my blog even if they don’t comment. But I would even continue just for the handful of people I know in person. So, wow, that was the longest comment for me in quite a while, as I have to type most of them with only one arm at the moment, the other being occupied by a baby.
First, feel better!!! I’m sure determination will get you feeling much better by the weekend. And I did read that post. I can certainly sympathize from a point of being wildly misinterpretted myself not too long ago – it’s so hard to know what someone REALLY means from something they’ve written. Comments, to me, are so validating when someone “hears” what you have to say. Even though I started my blog mostly unaware of which way it would go, I think I’d be a little saddened if I didn’t have the feedback that comments offer. I think I would still blog, but it wouldn’t be nearly as rewarding.
This is an interesting topic and I’m happy to see Steph wrote what she did. It sparks critical thinking behind the knitblogging scene. Certainly more interesting than norm.
Good insights, I’ll have to think on this one. 🙂
we must have been near the same germs – i am coming down with something too and thursday was going to be a big day in the city – and now i will probably miss yarn harlot if this scratchy throat achy headache sniffling nonsense isnt gone by morning… ugh ugh and rats
I felt bad for Steph that people accused her of being rude. I didn’t take it that way at all when I read it yesterday (without commenting! ARRGHH!). I think it was a valid question, asked without judgement. Comments keep me going and if I have a period of not getting any, I don’t stop blogging, but the interaction inspires me.
I really appreciate your posting exactly how I’m feeling right now! I just started a knitting blog a little while back a little bit for me and a little bit to connect with other knitters. I haven’t been getting many comments and I’m REALLY happy with the few that I do get. However, I’m going to try to be a more active member of the knit-blog community! Thanks for your advice!
Oh I hope you feel better soon.
I completely agree about getting people to comment. You have to put forth effort sometimes. =)
Whoa, you get so many comments! Hope your cold is better. I had to go leave a (long) comment on Steph’s blog and a short comment on one of the blogs of one of your commenters…then I couldn’t read them all!! As a relatively new blogger (since sep) I’ve found that often the “popular” blogs don’t come visit/respond when I post comments…but you have! I wonder… do these blogs get so many comments that the blogwriter can’t read/visit them all? That they stop by but are bored? For some of the not so popular blogs, I wonder if folks don’t visit/comment back because they are shy or because they only comment to people they know personally? It seems to me like the whole reason to blog IS to meet people, even if it is virtually!
Thanks for the link to Steph’s blog-found the discussing really interesting. As a side topic, I was intrigued by part of your comment where you say what you want to get out of your blog changes regularly. Would love to hear your thoughts on this as it’s a topic I think about a lot. Most importantly, hope you feel better soon.
I totally agree with you – and I’ll bet you get way more comments today than most days! I just started a blog very recently, and I found as I have joined things like KALs and webrings, as well as visiting and commenting on other people’s sites, I have started to get a few comments here and there. It is always exciting.
Thanks for your thoughts, and I hope you feel better!
Oh, I hope your cold will be gone before you have to go and be Super Auntie! I would hate to anticipate a great time with my nephews and my niece, only to see it spoiled by a damn cold. I’m actually in the middle of one, and if it can be of any comfort, I wish yours to be like mine: only one day of blowing my nose every 30 seconds, then things got much better. Day 2 wasn’t bad at all; day 3 (today), it’s all in my throat, but I would still be able to have fun with my sweeties. Which I totally would have enjoyed much more than having to spend the day dealing with frustrating incompetents!
As for the discussion about the comments… Your blog is one of the very few where I’m commenting semi-regularly (or at least once in a while), since the day you asked your readers to delurk at least once a week. I haven’t been able to keep up that pace all the time since then, but still, here I am, writing a few words. I enjoy reading blogs, but I’m not much of a commenter myself, for many reasons. I won’t go into these reasons right now because this is adding to quite a bit more than a few words already, but I may take the time one day to tell you a little more about it.
Okay, so this has nothing to do with today’s post – but when I read it the amazing yarn you spun that you featured the other day was at the top of the page! That yarn is making me crazy I WANT IT!
I actually agree with you, which is why I’m commenting today rather that being a lurker like I usually do.
Dude, for a snotty girl, you’ve got gorgeous hydrangeas.
(I cop to hitting refresh for the hell of it too :-))
I’m blowing blood up here…total infection. I hope you’ll beat it and stop to smell the…uh…diapers?
Nevermind. Feel better, babe.
I moved from my where I grew up when I was almost 22. I’ve now lived here, in Washington, for nine years and I have to tell you, it wasn’t until just about two years ago that I started to feel like I had some really good friends, a network of people on whom I could rely and that would call on me when in need. I had to learn the hard way (by whining and being sad) that it takes a lllloooooooonnnnnnnggggggg time to meet people, be mutually interested in one another’s lives, then build a relationship. And even if you find that, there’s nothing saying that two or three years into it, lives change and you lose what you once had. My long-windedness is to say, “I agree”. I’ve learned to feel the same way about blogging and ultimately, I had to learn to blog for my self – not for others, not for the blog stats, not for the comments – just for me. I love it now much more than I did back when I was writing for the feedback. Don’t get me wrong, I love the comments, I love the feedback, but I don’t blog for it anymore. I’ve found that if I let go of the need, it comes naturally.
It didn’t sound anything but clear and to the point. Thanks I often wonder how blogs become popular. I plan on linking to your friend and reading the comments, maybe gain more insight. My largest comment day to date is 6. Pathetic to some I’m sure, but I can honestly say that with at least 3 or 4, I have developed wonderful cyber-friendships. Knitting women are wonderful creatures.
I’m working on my third blog, which seems to be the one that finally works for me. The first two blogs had regular readers within a week, but I’ve been on the third one two months and nothing. But the thing is, I realize I don’t need readers to write and I don’t expect readers to keep coming back until I’m writing something they want to read. It will take time. But isn’t that the hallmark of real writing – that it takes work and practice and that it might take a while for other people to discover that you are writing something worthwhile?
Feel better!
Feel better soon! I hate to burst your bubble, but toddler poop is like horseradish – it gets into your sinuses and *burns*, no matter how congested you are. Sorry.
But I hope you and the kids have a blast this weekend! I can’t speak for 6 yet, but 4 and 2 are great fun.
i’m a brand new blogger – but have been reading blogs (lurking…) for some time. january one was the first blog i started reading regularly – and i truly enjoy your photography, your knitting, and your writing.
all this time, i’ve been reading and not commenting as though these blogs were simply reading material. but i see much more clearly now, after reading your post and all of these comments (and the original post and comments over at ‘and she knits too’) how blogging can be a dialoge between the writer and the reader – and that’s (part of) the beauty of the art form.
so thank you. for your blog and your insights. can’t wait to see more color combinations on the miters…
and feel better soon.
Sounds reasonable to me. Now, granted I’m not a big-name blogger, but when someone leaves an interesting comment (or just a name I don’t recognize), I tend to go check out their blog. If I like it, I subscribe and/or leave comments. In fact, I generally don’t comment at the big blogs because I figure my comment will either get lost among the many, or I’ll just repeat what someone else said anyway. (Of course, your blog is pretty big, but I’ve met you in person, and not in a “will you autograph my copy of your book” way.)
I am de-lurking to leave comment #100, just to say–thanks for the community! I am a silent partner most of the time, but where else would I go to read about the joys of knitting miter squares for an entire weekend? I suppose I should listen to the Harlot and represent!
Hope you start feeling better from the ick soon.
I exited your blog without commenting because there were already 100 comments and I had clicked on 2 or 3 commenters names to connect me with their blogs and wanted to go over to view them. I got to thinking what everybody was saying and realized…I am so guilty of lurking and for the most part not commenting.
I have been checking on Muthaknitter’s blog for over a month to see when she had her baby and after she had had him, I didn’t leave a comment of congratz. Your blog made me realize how unfair that is. So…a couple of days too late, but I went over and left a comment and I feel much better now.
Thank you for this entry. It’s making me much more sensitive to less lurking, more commenting 🙂
This may be my first comment, possibly my second on your blog (which I love, btw). I’m trying to de-lurk 🙂 I am irrationally terrified of leaving comments. I thought, perhaps if I start my own blog (and I’m “out there” too) I wouldn’t feel so weird about commenting. That’s not working so well.
Then, a few contests came about and I entered them. (Won nothing, durn.) But it got me to comment.
Now, I still don’t comment as much as I’d like (emphasis on “like”). I’d like to join in. But I’m as quiet in here as I am in real life. I’ll stand by and watch before barging in. Its not shyness, its a wondering if I belong, do I fit in. What do I have to say that everyone else hasn’t said? (Perhaps that is the definition of shyness?)
And its not that knitbloggers aren’t wonderful welcoming (inspiring!) people 🙂 They/you are. Its a “me” problem.
p.s. No, I haven’t posted in a few days. Work craziness.
P.p.s. Feel better!
Well haven’t you said it for ME and others that are new to blogging. I wondered about the same thing too but I didnt know how to ask from long time bloggers who get lots of comments how they capture the audience! Thanks for your honest opinions and ideas! Get well soon!
very well put. would comment more but we ran out of regular coffee this morning an the decaf just ain’t hitting my start button!
Sorry to hear that you’re sick. I also found your blog when Harlot wrote that she likes to refresh your site to see your photography and I’ve been reading it since then. I seldom get any comments, which is sad, but I decided that my craft blog would be mainly to keep a craft journal for myself and for my sister so she can see what I’ve made. I seldom comment on other people’s blogs but I suppose I should. I do tend to comment if someone is having a contest because 1) it would be nice to win and 2) maybe they want to know if they have lurkers and that is why I’m having a very small contest now but anyone can enter!
I’m sorry you are feel sick and I hope you get better soon. This is the first time that I’ve read your blog and I want to thank you for inciting me to consider how I feel about my relationship with blogging.
This is for you
Hope you feel better soon! Have fun with the kidlets.
I’m one of those guilty ones who read but seldom comment. If I can’t think of something clever to say, why say anything at all?
And I’m usually reading blogs while drinking my morning coffee, so there’s the whole undercaffeinated brain issue…
I hope you feel better soon! Try gallons of hot tea with honey & lots of vitamin C.
And since you mentioned contests – I’m one of the lucky STR Virgin winners – and I have a question. How on earth do you make yourself wind up that skein into a ball? I just don’t have the heart to destroy its perfect skein-y beauty, so it sits on my coffee table where I can admire it and pat it. As an art object, it makes me smile every time I look at it. So, still a Virgin… but a happy one.
Have you had any chicken soup? It cures all, you know.
By the way, your mitered square blanket has not only inspired me, but has made me change my original mitered square blanket plans. For the better, I might add. Original plan was for blue (in 3 different shades) and white squares. After seeing yours, however, I’m going with the “crazy colors”. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sorry to hear you’re under the weather. I’m ususally a lurker though I comment from time to time because I’d want to hear from others if I had a blog of my own. You inspire me with your knitting, your pictures and your topics. You get me thinking outside the box that I’m often stuck in – as an example I never would have taken a second look at the Central Park Hoodie but after seeing yours I have been dreaming of one! I appreciate that you (and others) will share your knitting & life experiences with the rest of us!
Thanks for being you! I hope you feel better soon! Have a great time babysitting!!
Cara, you’re such a divine pot-stirrer. Always mixing it up and making us think! I love that about you.
I can hardly tell you how blogging has changed my life. Every single time somebody takes the time to leave a comment, it makes my day. I take them all to heart very much. When the Frappr map came along last year, it was so fantastic to see all the knitters who I knew only by their words.
As for comments, I read a ton of blogs, every day. I try to leave comments when I can, but I think we all know how hard that is to do.
What with all the Representing going on today, I keep thinking about the online knitting world, and how it’s a knitting festival that goes on all of the time–all day, and all of the night (to quote the Kinks). We’re all here, and we know we are, and that’s enough for me.
Feel better! Keep on with the knitting!
I’m sorry you’re sick, and we missed you last night. Being snotty is NO FUN at all. Cold-Eez is good, and so is Zycam, although the Zycam tastes really dreadful. It will, however, reduce the time that you’re miserable. Lots of hot tea with lemon, soup and rest! Feel better, and have fun with the littles!
Sorry sorry you are sick! Drink lots of fluids.
I am nursing a cold as well and I’m not too happy about it either. It was my turn to bring snacks and milk to SSGLI last night, so I pried myself out of bed and did the drive to Longuyland for the evening’s fun. Hope you feel better soon and make next month’s guild meeting.
I just wanted to comment and let you know that I read your blog all the time (and have never left you a comment) and you inspire me with my own knitting. Keep up the good blogging, I think you are a riot!
Sorry to hear you are sick. Hopefully it won’t be a huge butt-kicker… believe me, taking care of children while you are under the weather is one of the worst things ever. Period.
I also wanted to say that I read your blog or check for new stuff pretty much every day. I rarely comment though. I just feel like I have nothing to say. And, I’m not really a frequent blogger myself, so there really isn’t something to go check out. But enough about me (do you really read all these comments?!), I love reading about your life, your photography, your knitting. Its fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing with the wide world. I’m pretty sure I’m knitting my first sweater because your sweaters look so amazing. Anyway. Get to feeling better!
hannah
PS. here is a post I wrote after I found your blog (http://hannah8ball.blogspot.com/2006/10/on-inertia.html)
Here from And She Knits Too…….
Interesting topic and sure to get everyone commenting a bit.
I can live without the comments but it sure is nice when you get some. But it is a matter of commenting other places…..sort of like winning the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play. Well you can’t expect comments if you don’t comment. That is my thinking awyway….there are a lucky few that get a ton comments without trying.
Hope your better soon!!
Well look at that you’ve lured me out of lurkdom for the first time in a loooong time. It is an interesting converstation from one of the bloggers who sometimes eagerly looks for comments and is disappointed not to find them. But then, I didn’t start it for comments, and I am not good at commenting on other’s blogs, so I don’t expect much more. Blogging is a community and like life it takes work and we grow as we go along. I’m growing and my blog is growing. So it works.
Meanwhile, I hope you get to feeling much much better.
I’m mostly a lurker too and guilty of not commenting very often and then I wonder why I never get any comments, Doh! Since I recently moved from San Jose to California I like to think that my friends out in California are reading my blog anyways.
Oppps, I put the wrong blog address, forgot I moved.
I just wanted to comiserate how much it sucks to be sick — I just spent the last two days of my vacation (yes, I am on spring break) with a fever over 100 f. I haven’t even felt like knitting. Hope you feel better soon.
Another delurker here.. 🙂
I rarely comment because It tend to think I don’t have anything interesting to say. I don’t worry too much about lack of comments on my blog because it’s pretty much solely for me, and I know most of who reads it IRL! It IS nice to get (nice) comments though, so I guess I should put more of an effort in, eh?
I have definitely gotten comments that I didn’t appreciate before though, and those make me wish I never got comments at all! It’s one of those double edged swords, for me. You open yourself up to the world, and that can be both good and bad.
Knit 2 miters and call me in the morning.
Feel better! xox Kay
Oh gosh, I live for comments. Sorry, I’m a bit late to write mine but I thought it was better late than never, right? I feel comments make the blog world go round. They are sooo important. I do have to admit, I read your every word but don’t always comment for fear they will just get lost in the crowd. Oh and you are so right-give something away and they will comment. I noticed that on my blog as well. I wrote up a pattern and gave it away for free. I had over 300 commenters asking for it before I decided to just put it up for everyone to download. I’m going to try to write a post about comments-they always give me warm fuzzies. Thanks for just being you. 🙂
I haven’t gone to read Steph’s post yet, but I will. I like what you said about the comments. I agree.
For your snot – go here.
http://fibremonkey.blogspot.com/2007/03/taking-break-sweater-keeps-getting.html
I can’t imagine blowing snot into my handknits, but she swears it’s the greatest thing ever. And say HI to her on a comment, she’s been having a rough week.
De-lurking here, too. I read your blog with great interest. It’s just, if I don’t have anything I think is worth saying, I don’t tend to comment. I’m out here, though! Feel better.
Hi! Long time reader, first time commenter. I don’t think I’ve even commented before for your contests, though maybe once.
Anyway, you’re right about the relationship. If you don’t contribute to the conversation, how is anyone going to know you’re there?
I started a livejournal a couple of years ago to keep in touch with a friend of mine before I found out this whole new world of knit bloggers. I don’t think many people comment on livejournal blogs unless you have a livejournal account even though you can comment anonomously (I’d hope that when people do comment that way, they at least sign off who they are.) I know some of my friends who don’t blog at all read my journal, but never comment. It’s like I’m talking to them, but they never ever say anything. Not even a, “uh-huh. Yeah. Go on…” Now that’s no way to keep in touch and have a conversation!
I have a blog but I thought it was just for me to journal, then I started reading other blogs. The wealth of generously shared information on knitting, technigues, shops, types of yarn, free patterns, life up’s and life down’s is mind boggling. If I am up I can comment and help someone else, if I’m down I can find a lifting journal entry. If I have a problem, knitting or otherwise, someone will have the answer, if I have the answer I can share i. What a world and all at my fingertips. The only problem is my rear gets sore from sitting here too long! ….I just had THE COLD. I am so sorry. Get the soft tissues, and drink plenty, plenty fluids. Many hugs ( at arms length of course) Romelda
I hardly ever get comments to my blog, and I generally assue that this is my fault since I hardly ever post comments to anyone elses blog.
I would love to get more involved in the knitting blog community, but I am desperately worrried that people might not want me to comment on their blog and will read what I say and ask themselves “who the hell is this?”.
But that’s just my own insecurities. If I want more comments i’ll just have to get over that and comment!
Mithranstar x
Hi Cara,
I love your site, but I never comment. Sorry about that. I visit a lot of new blogs via the various forums that I am a member of. I just started my blog this past month and I am not bothered by not having comments. For me, anything I do in life should be about whether I enjoy it. If I start losing sleep over having no comments then I would not blog. I enjoy it and so I do it. I am more interested in having readers and if any of them feel like commenting thats really great!!
Just back from vacation and catching up on A LOT of blog reading (better than the insane amount of laundry I have to deal with). I don’t tend to comment very often on blogs, but I am currently in the OBSESSED phase of comments left on my blog. I’m only three months in, so I’m still in that swooning, can’t-get-enough phase like when you first start a new relationship. And that is the key – you and Steph are right – it is a relationship. I need to pull my weight.
I have one of those new blogs that you dropped by and commented on. It definitely made a difference. I have been thinking about the whole commenting thing and its importance (or lack of) in my desire to blog. I am beginning to explore/elaborate on that aspect of blogging on my blog. Since I talked about you, you might want to read it! And, of course, comment if you wish.
Hi.
I’m Delurking.
Because I agree with you.
And not to comment would almost be ironic.
Another de-lurker to say yes yes. I don’t have a big blogging readership, not do I expect to, as I am usually one of the throngs of voices on other people’s blogs, saying “hi!” It is a community, and sometimes it takes a while to be recognized. No biggie. 🙂
I hope you feel better soon!
Janie come lately, I missed the whole blog comment thingy, but my take as a new blogger… I’m much more inclined to leave comments now that I know firsthand how energizing it is to receive comments, but I’m not at all sure I’d want to reach the Harlot’s or your level. At the beginning I felt bad that no one was commenting, and now, well, most posts gain a few comments, and that seems perfect to me. If the blog grows, well, hopefully I’ll grow with it. And some of my posting is for me, to have a record, to remember someday, or just to have a place to think my thoughts in writing, no comments necessary, even.
And another commenty thing to do, join a knitting competition or knit along… I’ve met some of the nicest folks that came my way via Sock Madness.
Hope you’re all better by now, and hope you had a blast with the little folks!
about blogging and comments….i’ve always journaled for myself and just recently started blogging(one for knitting and one about my son) and i do think that people blog to get feedback and people should give it when they stop by. if you really wanted no feedback, you’d write a private journal, not something that anyone could read.
i read knitting blogs by people whose style of writting i enjoy.
i’ve really enjoyed yours. thanks
I found your blog recently and am working my way back through the archives. I will be back. Thanks for giving me something to look forward to.
I don’t comment often because so many comment systems make it difficult. Log in, give a password, type in those stupid non-words – by the time I do that, and then possibly have to re-do it because I got one letter wrong, I am disgusted and move on. Seriously, I used to comment a lot and don’t new becasue it’s a hassle. Not your site, but most others. Enjoy your miters.