Friday, March 30, 2012

Happy Blogiversary to me!

I can hardly believe it…this blog is four years old! Yup, four years ago today I was wondering if anyone would ever read it. Amazingly, the answer turned out to be yes!

Over that four years I’ve done 245 posts. Which rather makes me laugh, because one of my initial fears was that I wouldn’t find enough to say to have a blog. I had a lot of fears that kept me from starting sooner, and the one I remember most was the fear I’d either get bored or not have anything to write about. As I mentioned on my first blog anniversary, I finally got myself to start by giving myself permission to stop if I found I didn’t like it.

Writing as the Queen of Fifty Cents has turned out to be one of the funnest things I’ve ever done. Almost as much fun as actually going to the sales I write about. The amazing variety of incredibly inexpensive stuff I’ve found over the years has been gratifying,

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but the real fun has been the people – both the ones I encounter at sales and the ones who stop by here. As of this writing, I’ve had over 268,000 visits. A whole bunch of you are regulars – 389 followers and 576 subscribers via Google Reader. And y’all have left over 2600 comments! All of you who have blogs of your own know how wonderful it is to get those comments. I can hardly wait to read them each week.

Four years. I was about four when this picture was taken.

SH 161-2 cr

Yeah, we’re smiling, but we were probably seconds away from fighting over who got to sit in the front seat.

Four years is long enough to get a bachelor’s degree. (At least in theory. It took me 7 years and 4 universities to get mine.) These past four years have seen a number of changes in my life. We created a pretty wonderful garden and welcomed about 500 people during a garden tour. I finished my library career and retired. We bought a house in Oregon and finally got to move into it. Our sweet dog Lizzie left us, and now Zoe  is here.

Sleepy OUR BONE

I wrote three novels, two of which are currently available, and the third should be out this year. I’m glad to say I’m still hanging out with the same husband. (There’s only so much change you should have to go through!)

I was bemused a few weeks ago to discover I’d been included on Women’s Money Week’s “Ultimate List of Women Money Bloggers.” Honored, but bemused. Most everyone else on the list writes about how they are getting out of debt, and how they budget, and how they’re doing with their goals.My blog is probably the only one on the list focused on taking pictures of people’s dogs

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and getting folks to tell me the stories of the things they’re letting go. Most of the time they have made me laugh with their stories, and come to think of it that may be why my frugality has been successful. It’s no hardship to spend so little when it’s so much fun.

So here’s to my blog’s 4th birthday. Many happy returns of the day – and of you!

20 comments:

  1. Well! Happy anniversary! I really enjoy your blog - it really is one of the best around. I enjoy your humour and your "take" on life - so similar to mine, I might say. I think that taking pictures of other people's dogs (and cats) and chatting people up at sales is wonderful.

    I keep saying I am going to blog - in fact my daughter has it all set up for me - your words have helped me edge a little closer. We too have some pretty funny adventures as we go to various dumps...ummmm, sales and thrift stores - always an adventure!

    It looks like you are having so much fun with little Zoe and Edward seems so much like our dog I love him without being formally introduced.

    Again - Happy day!

    (As I have a mind like a steel trap, I shall now always remember your special day as it is my wedding anniversary today too!)

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    1. My mind is more like a steel sieve! Happy anniversary to you. We have a big one of those coming up in May.

      Go ahead and try that blog. You can always stop if it's not fun!

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  2. A very Happy 4th Anniversary to you! It is sweet blogs like yours that make it so much fun to be a part of! Looking forward to what you have up your sleeve in this next year. xo

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  3. Happy Anniversary!!! I always look forward to reading your blog. You make every purchase so interesting. I enjoy looking back at all the furniture you have acquired. You and your blog have been a source of comfort. You are one of my many enablers that fuel my tablescaping addiction. I love the pictures of all your fur babies!! I can't to read what's next.

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  4. Happy Anniversary! I enjoy reading your blog, hearing your "shopping on driveway" stories, and seeing the pet pics. I hope Oregon thrifty adventures are as good to you as California. Shirley in Washington

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  5. Happy Anniversary! It's always a pleasure to read of your thrifting adventures and I love the dog stories.
    Glenda in the UK

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  6. Congratulations! Always enjoy my visits to your blog. xx

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  7. happy Birthday here is to many more sales in driveways.
    Cathy

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  8. Happy anniversary, your majesty! I can hardly wait to read about all your new thrifting adventures in the coming years. And, I'm really looking forward to the third mystery in your Willow Falls series (hurry up, please). Best, Andrea from OC

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  9. Happy blogaversary! A great milestone. Great hunting this morning. I have quit shopping in stores. Fifty cents sounds good to me.
    betty
    doll-college.blogspot.com

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  10. Happy 4th & congratulations! I always love it when my RSS feed tells me I have a new post from your blog to read. Keep 'em coming!

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  11. Happy, happy blogiversary! Looking forward to another year of fun posts from the Queen of Fifty Cents (and that third book in the series too!).

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  12. Thanks for keeping us all laughing over the last four years! I have enjoyed reading about all the things you've found on driveways and your recent move. Congrats.

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  13. Happy Blogiversary! I'm so proud of you! Now hurry up with that next book! Diana in Roseburg

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  14. Congrats on your anniversary! I really enjoy reading your blog and seeing all the wonderful buys your are able to find. I also enjoy your books! Can't wait for the third one to come out.

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  15. Happy Birthday to your blog! I just LOVE coming here.

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  16. Many happy returns of the day!

    Now get out there and go garage saling (sailing?), so we have some more adventures to read about!

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  17. Big congrats on all fronts! Your blog adventures always make me laugh.

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I really love your comments. Thanks for coming along on my thrifty adventures!

 
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