Today’s assignment: leave comments on at least four blogs that you’ve never commented on before.

Done, done, done and done.

This was easy as I just completed my first Cee’s fun challenge and visited some new-to-me wonderful blogs, some of which I commented on. I also commented on a couple of the blogs I was already following – blogs on which I have never commented. The one thing I always have to remember to do, however (on WordPress blogs) is to remember to check the little box to get email notifications for additional comments for that blog post so I can see if anyone replies to me (I just have to know!), otherwise I would have to remember to go back to the blog post and look, and there is no way I will remember that. There is too much in my brain, and no room on my many calendar notes and to do lists to add that to!

We are also given some tips about commenting:

Try to avoid comments that simply say “Great post!” or “Thanks!” — make an effort to add to the discussion. – Ok, guilty as charged of this, although I do try to think of more to say.

Be specific about why you enjoyed the post. See above. I am guessing that if all I say is “Great post”, it’s probably doesn’t count as being “specific”.  How about “great post about that thing you posted about”?

Ask a relevant question. Ah, a RELEVANT question. That explains it…

Respectfully offer a counterpoint. (And because it can’t be overstated: respectfully.) Yeah – maybe once I get to know you…

Share a related experience. Or make one up? 🙂

Be concise. If your comment ends up being more than two paragraphs, consider writing a post of your own and letting the blogger know they inspired it.   But longer than “Great post”, right?

Don’t leave a plug that simply links to your blog — your name links back to your blog anyway. Plug my blog? I never thought of that…

Ok, that was just me being my silly, always question everything self. But, I pledge to work on my commenting skills more this year, so beware and expect something more from me than “great post”!

In the meantime, here is my picture of the day – finally…gas prices below a dollar in our neck of the woods.  And just so’s you knows, that is $0.99.9 per litre in Canadian dollars…and litres (note the Canadian spelling…)  Also known as gas under a loonie!

Dexter as a kitten…still cute, just a bit bigger now.

For those of you who know me…it is a month older now than when this pic was taken, but it still glows (sorry – that wasn’t a very wordless Wednesday post)

Today’s assignment: create and upload a simple header, background, or both. Already done? Try a custom widget.

Oh crap – this one is designed to challenge those of us who have already done all of the above. So, now what?

I have a header banner I like – it represents the blog title and inspiration. But a custom widget? Interesting. How are these different from the many widgets I already have. And apparently need to clean up. Wow, I should spend a bit of time cleaning those up.

Ok, let’s check out Widgets 101 (https://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/widgets-101/) and Widgets 201 (https://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/widgets-201/) .

Well, I have already know how to personalize widget titles – Check. Maybe I should get creative with a text widget? Sounds slightly naughty. Image options…ooooo…so much to play with, so little time today. It’s been a frantic day, and my book club is coming in 25 minutes to discuss Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (http://emmadonoghue.com/books/novels/frog-music.html) . Can’t tell you what I thought of it now, as that’s against the rules of book club – don’t give away the discussion until you have it.

So, without further ado then, I am off having not completed yet another Blogging 101 challenge day. But I DID blog today!!

And now here’s a picture with a “pop of colour”, which is my 365 project topic of the day:

Today’s assignment: create and publish your About page, and adapt it for a widget on your home page.

Well, I do have an About page, and it is linked at the top of my blog. So I think I’m done here. But wait – there are some questions posed as well in this challenge topic:

What are the key pieces of your story you included in the About widget? Why did you make those the focus, instead of all the other wonderful things about you and your blog?

Are there topics you don’t ever want to write about? Why not? What fact was hardest to leave off your About page or widget?

What are the top three things you’d like to learn, or ways you’d like to grow, from blogging? The top three people you’d like to connect with?

I could probably answer these…or maybe regret trying…

The key pieces I included in my About page?  Well…wait! I just noticed a typo on my About page! Good thing I had a quick look at it – all fixed. Anyway, I included some personal information and pictures of our cats. What more does any About page need? This is not a blog that is out to save the world (probably) or impart some vital information for all readers (definitely). It’s just my blog – with lots of pictures of our cats.

What topics would I not want to write about? Well, I try to stay away from politics. I have some pretty strong views, but I don’t need to post them in public.  I do, however, enjoy reading political topics posted by other bloggers – especially when they agree with my own.

I’m going to ignore the “hardest fact I left off” question. There isn’t room or a place for everything about me on the About page. And if I gave it up now, then it wouldn’t be left off now, would it.

The top three things I’d like to learn from blogging? There we go again with the posers. Is there anything really to be learned? I could be profound and say I want to learn something about myself, but I think I just want to see if I can actually blog and be consistent with it. I didn’t succeed as well as I’d hoped last year, but there is always this year!

But really, what is there to be learned from putting yourself out there for the world to see? I guess when I’ll learn it, I’ll know.

And now, January in Victoria:

Jasper:  guard cat.

Today’s assignment: try out at least three other themes — even if you’re happy with the one you first chose. Try one you’re drawn to, and one you would never use.

Been there, done that.

After much trial and error – well, it’s never really error since it’s just about making me happy, and I’m happy now. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to continue to try other themes, and have a closer look at what other bloggers I follow are using, and consider why their theme works for them, but I’ve only had this theme for a year, and I think I want to keep it for a while longer. I know some bloggers (you know who you are!) who change themes frequently, and seem to never really be content with what they choose. It does make for some excitement each time I go to their blog, never knowing what I’ll see. But I think I’m just too lazy to change themes and re-set everything up, and then change again.

So, instead, let’s post some pictures of pretty flowers (to brighten this January day)! These are pics I’ve taken over the years, with a variety of cameras, that I’ve never posted before.

Today’s Assignment: publish a post for your dream reader, and include a new-to-you element in it.

Ok. So these kinds of prompts always get me. And they do make me uncomfortable, partly because I wonder if I will get them right.,,whatever “right” is.  I don’t really know who my “dream reader” is, but let’s say it’s all of you out there – mission 1 accomplished!  As for mission 2, including a new element, now that I can do.  Although, what I am going to include is not technically new – I have embedded a video before (another challenge), but let’s just say it’s almost new.

Anyway, I am going to present a video of someone playing an instrument I used to play – the string bass. I played it for 20 years, in symphonies, jazz bands, etc., and I still miss it some days (still have my old bass in a closet upstairs). But people don’t always know what it can really sound like – they have preconceived notions of this big clunky instrument that doesn’t really do much of anything.

So, without further ado, check this out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yjVwRI5aiU