Sunday, November 23, 2008

Consider a Family Blog

I love blogging. I started this blog as a serious garden site and promptly lost control of it and myself. When I first began, the goal was to reach out to a few friends and my family. I never ever imagined that there were so many really nice, cool, funny, and talented bloggers out there who I would come to consider friends. My real world friends and family rarely ever comment. I can see that they come to visit by my site meter. Yet, they do not comment. I have even tried to bate them to no avail. I even posted a couple of pictures, nothing.

I have one sister who blogs. She also designed my header and template. Very talented sister. About a week or so ago this sister, Moms The Word of Just Jack, started a private family blog for us. She set us all up as contributors. It is sort of like the team blogs, but the team members are a mom and a bunch of sisters and our only readers are ourselves. The non blogging sisters jumped right in. My Mom got on board quick and is pretty funny in the comments. (She ate a sea slug, ewwwww]. I think they participate because it is private, just between us. The big bad interweb is not allowed. They don't have to worry about my scary garden blogging friends. Y'all are about the least scary online critters ever, but they don't know that.

The family blog has been a place to brag or complain about our kids, get news on an upcoming wedding, let each other know when we are sick, complete a menu for our Thanksgiving dinner, examine the love life of our only teenage girl, and figure out a few family mysteries. The sister that lives out of state can communicate with us without worrying about getting stuck on the phone for hours.

As the blog is a private blog, I cannot invite you to go visit. This is not a request for readership anyway. I really don't do that. The point of this post is to encourage you to set one up for your family or friends. It is a lot of fun and keeps us connected every day.

16 comments:

  1. Debbi, That's a really good idea. I had considered something like that, because several members of my family blog, but some are really hesitant about mentioning anything that could identify them (unlike me, anyone can find me, so what? I've got a gun, I ain't skeered!). I wasn't sure how to limit access or allow several people to contribute. I'll have to look into it. One quick question, then I'll do my own research on the details: Does everyone who contributes have to be on the same server (ie Blogger)? Thanks for the cool idea~ one of your scariest bloggers friends, Nola

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  2. Nola, The blog itself is one site with multiple writers. We all have different email accounts and they did not have to get a gmail account to make it work. We just sign in to the blog and go. Ours is a blogger blog, but I am sure the others would work as well. I know of at least two type pad and work press blogs with multiple contributors.

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  3. That's a neat idea. I guess we basically use myspace for that but it's not quite as private. Just sis, mom, and me so we don't use it too often. Not sure if sis even realizes there's a blog function, but we do send private messages and stuff so it's all good. I wish we lived close enough to plan Thanksgiving together but it doesn't look like that's going to happen this year. Sigh.

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  4. I started a private, family only blog this year because my husband's family lives on the opposite side of the country. It's been a great way to keep in touch and share photos of the kids more regularly.

    Amy

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  5. Cinj, I am so glad we all live close except for baby sister. Hopefully, when her man finishes grad school they will move back to texas.

    Amy, I don't know why we didn't think of it before. We are really enjoying it

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  6. This would work well for my daughter and grandson who live in a neighboring province. I think I'll see what she thinks. :) Thanks, and have fun on your blog.

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  7. Hi nancy, I think you will enjoy it. I know we are.

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  8. It's a great idea, and similar to something I have thought for ages. But my sisters are both busy working women, with partners, kids, grandkids and I'm lucky to get them on the phone let alone to have them blog.

    LOL@Nola "I've got a gun, I ain't skeered". I'm a bit the same, anyone could find me if they wanted to. But I have guard dog, and a big hunky husband and....um......aliens guarding my front gate. No really. ;)

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  9. Foxy, I am really surprised that my non blogging sisters jumped right in.

    Nola is a neighbor blogger. We live within 30 minutes of each other here in Texas. You might find that many Texas women are armed. I am armed and protected by a German shepherd dog. I'm not skeered either. BTW, where did you come by the alien. We might need one.

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  10. It is not fun to find out your spouse has cheated, and you may be like many of my clients who have said they would rather not know. But, you should think carefully before making that decision. Talk to your lawyer. Assuming you’ve chosen a good one, listen to their advice. If you are going to get proof of it, now is the time. Your lawyer should be able to talk to you about the costs involved (it is not cheap) and how to improve your chances of making the surveillance effective, should you choose to go that route.
    ---------------------
    williamgeorge
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  11. I think Mr. William George has gotten lost. There are no cheating spouses on this blog. Durr.

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  12. Um interesting info William. No cheating here either.

    Debbi, I am going to put it to my sisters and see what they think. Thanks for the idea. Wish my Mum was online but she won't even use those "hole in the wall" bank tellers. LOL

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  13. I think that's a brilliant use for a blog, if not THE best. What better way for a family to keep in touch, even if they're 100's miles apart?

    Have a great Thanksgiving, especailly as it's a great family time :)

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  14. Foxy, I hope they do it. You'll have a lot of fun. My mom wont' even use an answering machine. We were all surprised when she started blogging with us.

    Hi VP, I can't begin to tell you how much fun it has been. Last night I started the first meme. Happy Thanksgiving to you to. Wait, is this just a U.S. thing?

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  15. I finally figured out it was you guys who linked to me one day. I was glad to have you there as a family. I don't think I've ever had a whole family visit before. I should talk about you more often;)

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  16. Anna, Sorry I ratted you out for making fun of my tomato glut. Mamala thinks you are quite the writer. Sisters were a bit defensive until I explained that we have internet known each other for months and it was all in good fun. You can't see the blog, but I bet you know my maiden name now.

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