I still don’t know how to add a sticky post…so I’m putting this here. Don’t forget to enter your funny post in [tag]This Eclectic Life’s This Blog Blows My Dress Up Contest[/tag]! You only have five more days. There are several good entries, but I hope you share one, too. I still notice in my stats that people are reading the posts from the last contest.
I just have to share a tidbit from my local paper, The Denton Record Chronicle. They have a “spotlight” feature where they interview folks who have celebrated a birthday of 100 years or more. Mrs. Hazel Iona Scalf was 105 last May 18th. Most of her life was spent as a housewife raising her four children and as a seamstress, however during the World Wars, she worked for North American Aviation and was a “real Rosie the Riveter.” Mrs. Scalf’s regrets were few: She wishes she had been able to finish her education (because of economics, she was only able to complete the eighth grade) and become a teacher. And, she regrets not being able to still be active in her church.
The most important thing I’ve learned in 100 years: “Take one day at a time…make the best of every day, be happy with what you have, appreciate everyone who does nice things for you.”
What I loved about the interview was Mrs. Scalf’s answer to I wish I knew how to: “I enjoy using the computer to send e-mails, but would like to be better with the computer.”
Right on, Mrs. Scaff! You go, Girl! I wanna be you when I grow up. Wouldn’t you love to sit at her feet and listen to some stories?
I had to tell y’all that, because I thought it was pretty wonderful.
I don’t know if y’all have noticed any changes around here. I’m trying to clean up my act. Cluttered sidebars annoy a lot of people, and I’m trying to straighten mine a little bit.
I now have three columns put across the bottom of the blog. I moved my buttons (click “see buttons” for a whole page of them, if you can stand it!) and the “Recent Readers” boxes for MyBlog Log and BlogCatalog down there to free up some space. I’m also putting fewer posts on a page so y’all don’t have to scroll from here to China to read.
My archives are on a separate page. Click “Categories” on the sidebar to find them. My blogrolls had been on a separate page, but I put one of them back on the sidebar in a blogroll box. I just wanted y’all to be able to find it. You can look under the Link Love button to see my “Blogging Family” and my “Blogging Buddies.” If you aren’t on there, but know you belong, please tell me! And, if you want to trade links on the blogroll, contact me on my nifty new form. I’ll be working on updating it in the next few days. [Thanks to Leanne for her hard work helping me, so I don't goof up her lovely design.]
You might also notice that picture on the sidebar that my son, “[tag]Setch[/tag]” created. It links to a bibliography of storytelling books at my newly created Amazon store. There’s even a page in the store with bacon related goodies, because I love me some bacon!
I’m working on several things for next week, including a tribute to my dad (today is the anniversary of his death, so I’m thinking about him), a little bit of Link Love, a meme passed to me by Derek Wong at Going The Wong Way, and a story about a Southern “art form” that’s dying. Who knows, I might revive it. Come back to visit.
Hear Shelly’s stories on cd or audiotape!
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Shelly,
I checked out your son’s artwork yesterday. It was a very cool website! Did he do that himself?
Yes, he did indeed. He’s not like his mother…at least not in that respect.~skt
Shelly, I know you must have a lot of thoughts about your dad right now. Hope you are thinking the good ones today and can put the kleenex away off and on during the week.
Mrs. Hazel Iona Scalf really nailed how to live life in her answer to the question, didn’t she?
I’m reading his love letters to Momma back during the war…before there were kids…when he had dreams….
Mrs. Scalf sounds like a hoot. She does have some wisdom. I’d love to see her on the computer…bet she can handle a blog better than I can! ~skt
I forgot to ask weeks ago — when did you first start blogging?
I started January 1st, but can’t say I was *really* blogging until late March or April. That’s when people started visiting. Except for Jennymcb and Teamouse. Since April 2nd, I’ve had 10,500 unique visitors(ain’t they all! *unique*, that is)..so I’m feeling a little better about it. How about you? When did you start?
105 and using a computer? She must be a pistol. Go Mrs. Scalff!
That’s exactly what slayed me! Can you imagine? And, I sit here thinking I’m too old to learn!
Glad to see you back from your vacation, and looking forward to all the fun pictures you’ll be sharing. I’m wondering how different the States were to you after living in Israel.~skt
The blog looks great! Cleaning and organizing always help with the flow. Over time, we see what’s working for our readers and us and what doesn’t. And, some things we’re just stubborn to change because they fit.
I found that a sticky post is just a post that you date in advance and it will stay as the first until then. You should have the ability to do that. If not, ask Leanne!
Thanks for the link on “Blogging Buddies.” I think you and I would have a nice chat and share some humor too on your front porch, but I’ll trade the beer invite for a glass of sweet tea.
Sweetea it is, then. I’ll just keep adding the info for the next few days. I probably have the ability, but I’ve also got “the lazies”:lol:~skt
You started THIS YEAR? Not last year? I started in November, 2006. Much slower at emerging than you, but loving every key stroke I type and read of y’all’s.
You write with such authority (in a good way), I thought you had been blogging for years.
I repeat my question, hoping I will absorb the answer this time. You started blogging AFTER August first, two thousand and six? ‘Cause I am about to nominate you in my short emerging influential blogger list (even though I feel you have “done emerged already”.
You have spread link love like a madwoman, offered to help us, sponsored contests, regaled us with Shelly tales, turned serious on us, and fed us more links than we can absorb at once. Add to that you have badgered us about a few favorite things, teased us with things to come, reminded us of what came before. . .
OK, I will stop now. . . I am written out. So, is the answer before or after August 2006? Because I just reread it as after, which means you are nominated at their next reading.
You are waaay too kind, Mizz Marcia. Can I get you to do my storytelling promotion for me???:lol:! I’m just plumb honored that you would do that.~skt
I too am trying to clean up my blog. It’s pretty cluttered. I finally did some expandable boxes and that has taken some of the long lists away. Still a ways to go. I am currently working on trying to get my backlinks to work and if I can’t I may move my blog to a dotcom. I love your new look. Have a great day.
Well, I can’t wait until your backlinks work so I can link to your posts!
~skt
Hi Shelly – Enjoying your site. My grandmother died at 90 a year ago. She too was a “Rosie the Riveter”. I know that she was proud of her accomplishments there. I was so surprised when I found out. Thanks as alwasy for sharing this story. LC
Thank you for visiting Lara! I bet you grandmother had some wonderful stories. I hope she told them to you, and that you *heard* them. When’s “Grandparents Day?” That would make a great post.
~skt