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Three years old, today

birthday.jpg Yep, the tantrum-throwing stage is over. I can stand on my own two feet, say a few recognisable words and even hold a fork properly. I've entered the blogging "toddler-phase".

On this day three years ago I set about to dominate join the online gardening world. My plans were to take over the world, make some quick bucks and flog my blog off to the highest bidder. As you can see, Plan B became far more enticing.

Not long into my blogging experience I began to meet ... people. Apparently there are other human beings connected to computers all over the world. These are REAL, living persons rather than the androids I expected. They took an interest in what I wrote - or they were just being friendly - and it wasn't long before friendships were being forged across the oceans.

They commented on my blog, I would sometimes reciprocate. They would send me emails, I would often lose them in the myriad of junk mail my inbox collected. Yet, these people persisted and this blog has grown.

Now, I'm not going to bore you with stats because I've come to the realisation that quantity is a poor cousin to quality. But, I can assure you that my pageviews are still increasing, comments are growing and new subscribers are joining all the time.

Instead, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you...yes, YOU! Don't look around or behind you, I'm pointing to YOU. Without you, my faithful subscriber/reader/commenter/twitter-follower, this blog wouldn't have passed its first year, let alone three of them. My blog's success is purely because of YOU.

As I have done for my past birthday celebrations, I've honoured those readers who have taken the time to comment by compiling a list of the Top 10. This year, however, I'm going to increase that number to twenty. Thanks for your words of encouragement, challenges, debates and inspiration.

  1. 80 - Nancy Bond Soliloquy
  2. 62 - jodi Bloomingwriter
  3. 41 - Frances Fairegarden
  4. 32 - Helen The Patient Gardener's Weblog
  5. 31 - Racquel Perennial Garden Lover
  6. 30 - Barbee' Barbee's Blog
  7. 30 - Crafty Gardener Crafty Gardener
  8. 30 - Linda Garden Girl
  9. 27 - LetsPlant A Yard in Fort Pierce
  10. 27 - VP Veg Plotting
  11. 27 - Robin Robin's Nesting Place
  12. 26 - Esther Montgomery Esther in the Garden
  13. 26 - Cinj Cinj's Chat Room
  14. 25 - Pam Digging
  15. 25 - Anna FlowerGardenGirl
  16. 24 - Mr. McGregor's Daughter Mr. McGregor's Daughter
  17. 21 - Lin (Southern CA, U.S.)
  18. 20 - Sylvia (England)
  19. 17 - Joy GardenJoy4Me
  20. 17 - Our Friend Ben Poor Richard's Alamanac






Posted by Stuart on December 31, 2008 5:53 AM | | Check to Subscribe to this Comment:


Comments

Congratulations, Stuart! That cake is gorgeous!! Hope you get to eat it.

Thanks for all you do.

Posted by: Kathryn/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com | December 31, 2008 9:48 AM

Thanks Kathryn and cheers for all your comments over the past year too. Here's to '09!

Posted by: Stuart | December 31, 2008 10:50 AM

Congratulations on your 3 year blogiversary! But doesn't that make you a teenager in blog years?

Posted by: Dawn | December 31, 2008 12:13 PM

Congratulations on your blogiversary, Stuart. I hope to see you next spring in Chicago. ;-)

Posted by: Pam/Digging | December 31, 2008 1:53 PM

Thank you for al you work Stuart!!!!
The cake are stunning!!!!!
Happy New Year to you!
Linda

Posted by: LindaLunda | December 31, 2008 3:13 PM

Gosh I hadnt realised I had commented so much! Lovely cake. I am approaching my first birthday so just about standing up on my own two feet now but not sleeping through the night. Your comments on your experience of starting your blog ring so true with me although I am far to self effacing to consider world domination!!!

Posted by: Helen - patientgardener | December 31, 2008 5:48 PM

I feel guilty now, because I posted a bit of a moan about the username change a couple of weeks ago. I hope that if you read it, you'll see that my admiration for you shines through!
Happy new year (and many happy more years of blogging).

Posted by: Victoria | December 31, 2008 6:38 PM

Congratulations Stuart and I wish you and your family a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
xoxo & cheers/ Tyra

Posted by: Tyra | December 31, 2008 9:59 PM

Congratulations Stuart, as I write this you have entered 2009, we have a few hours left of 2008!

I am finding your site is very slow to load - does anyone else have this problem?

See you in next year and a very happy new year and a big thank you Best wishes Sylvia

Posted by: Sylvia (England) | December 31, 2008 10:43 PM

I come over here just to check out the Captcha words...it has nothing to do with your charming and witty personality. I saw you posted this and have been working my way back to it through the leftover turkey and tree trimming take down marathon. Now we're on to a good year...with you and your family over yonder.

I hope all our yaking does bring you great success. I've seen you go through times when a good fight with a badger would have been more welcome and took less time.

I wish you lots of fertile soil ahead and great growing conditions! Hugs to you and your family from me and MrD. Happy Birthday and New Year.

Posted by: Anna/Flowergardengirl | January 1, 2009 11:49 AM

Crumbs Stuart, I didn't realise I'd been so mouthy over here! What a good way of thanking your contributors :)

A Happy New Year to you and your family.

BTW aren't blog years worth 10 human ones? ;)

Posted by: VP | January 1, 2009 7:06 PM

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