Happy Blogoversary to Me! I've Made It to My 1,900th Blog Post!

I'll never forget how exhilarated I was to publish my first blog post on January 18, 2010, because I was finally realizing my dream to write about my passion for animals to an audience of fellow animal lovers. 

Today as I celebrate my 1,900th blog post I want to thank everyone for encouraging me to continue writing about my Teacher's Pet Sitting Service clients and my own dear pets for a little past nine years! I appreciate your comments and your dedication to animals and I look forward to reading your future posts!

Yay! I've Made It To My 1,800th Blog Post!

I'll never forget how exhilarated I was to publish my first blog post on January 18, 2010, because I was finally realizing my dream to write about my passion for animals to an audience of fellow animal lovers. Today as I celebrate my 1,800th blog post I want to thank everyone for encouraging me to continue writing about my Teacher's Pet Sitting Service clients and my own dear pets for nearly nine years! I appreciate your comments and your dedication to animals and I look forward to reading your future posts!

Hooray! I Made It To My 1,700th Blog Post!

 

When I first started blogging on January 18th, 2011 about my dear pet sitting clients and my own pets (Henry, Buster, and Daisy) I was excited but I was also a bit worried because I wondered if anyone was reading my posts but then I realized that none of that mattered as long as I was doing what I loved and from there I gained followers from all over the globe while also building a sense of community within my Teacher's Pet Sitting Service family.

The opportunity to not only share my stories with you as well as gain new friendships with fellow bloggers has been a rewarding experience that I will continue for as long as I have pets in my life (in other words that will be forever!) and I thank you for encouraging me to complete my 1,700th post today! 

 

Yay! I've Reached My 1,600th Blog Post!

As many of my wonderful blogging friends already know, I was inspired to start this blog while watching Julie and Julia in a crowded theater in Hooksett, New Hampshire, in January 2010. I was so excited about this writing venture that I loudly announced to my fiance' at the time, "I'm going to start a blog tonight! I really am!" but those sitting around me didn't share my enthusiasm. After enduring angry stares from the audience I quietly watched Julie Powell change from a woman who felt she had no purpose in life to a woman who challenged herself to cook all 536 of Julia Child's recipes in one year while creating a new life for herself in the process.

I felt that if Julie could do it so could I and I am proud to say that, as of today, I have blogged for a little over seven-and-one-half years! I am so happy to be here in Blogville with my friends who remind me day after day that I do have a purpose which is to educate and entertain my audience one blog post at a time.

Hip! Hip! Hooray! I Made It To My 1,500th Blog Post!

A few days ago Blogger announced that I reached my 1,500th post and I was amazed because in order to accomplish this one has to commit to write without distraction for at least a half hour (and often more) a day all while balancing my roles as a professional pet sitter and teacher and for that I'm proud to see these fireworks head up this post!

It's hard to imagine that communication was possible, let alone convenient, without Facebook several years ago but it happened for my business, Teacher's Pet Sitting Service, in the form of this blog as a way to introduce my clients to other clients and it has been a rewarding and fun experience! 

Once the news spread that my clients' beloved pets were featured on my blog my audience increased to the point where I had little time to respond to comments! 

 

As I look back on my first year, 2010, of blogging and as a professional pet sitter I fondly remember my first kitty client, Ziggy, who loved to drink from the garden hose and roam in the back yard while I watered the flowers

and I couldn't forget my golden retriever siblings, Molly and Cooper, who shared countless silly and precious memories with me on a weekly basis!

Nor could I forget that big moment when my former pet sitting partner, Amos, and I were photographed for a soon-to-be published article advertising our business in the Hippo Press!

Of course there are too many memories of my first year of pet sitting all the way to the present to highlight in one blog post but you are welcome to browse through the pages anytime! 

I appreciate you for reading about my pet sitting and personal stories throughout the years because without your love and interest I wouldn't be at the BIG 1,500th post today!

Thanks to Julie and Julia, I Am Celebrating Seven Years of Blogging Today!

Since January is the month of new beginnings I thought I'd look back on when I began blogging and discovered that it was seven years ago today! Combining my love of writing, teaching, and pet sitting through blogging was one of the best decisions of my life and I appreciate everyone for taking the time to read my first blog post and beyond! 
--------------------------------------------

1-18-10
 

Dear Friends,

I was inspired to start this blog many months ago after watching Julie and Julia at the theater. In fact, I turned to my fiance and fellow pet sitting partner, Amos, to announce that I was going to start a pet sitting blog that would eventually make me as well-known as Julia Child and Julie Powell.

Of course it would be wonderful to reap financial benefits from blogging about pets but a greater benefit would be to attract an audience of animal lovers who need a break from their busy lives each day. 

Ever since I walked away from 16 years of teaching in the summer of 2006 in order to focus on my business, Teacher's Pet Sitting Service, I've been entertained by both the pets and their owners and have enough wonderful stories to last a lifetime so I will write them down, one day at a time, and I hope you will enjoy them all.

Thanks for reading,

April

Yay! I Made It To 1400 Blog Posts!

As many of my readers know, I was inspired to start blogging while watching the movie, Julie and Julia, in January 2010 because I figured that if Julie Powell could cook all 536 of Julia Child's recipes in one year then I most certainly could write entertaining stories about my dear Teacher's Pet Sitting Service clients and my own pets for a year at the most. Fast forward to six years later and I'm still as passionate about writing as I was when I hit the publish button for the first time! 

Thank you for continuing to read my blog posts! It means the world to me that you have been inspired, entertained, and educated about the pets that have walked in and out of my life for the past six years! 

Yippee! I Finally Wrote My 1000th Post!

Can you believe it I've written 1000 posts? I certainly can’t! 

I began blogging in 2007 when a dear client suggested that I should write a book about my furry friends and my own pets because he thought my stories were amusing. Writing a book seemed daunting so I thought I'd start blogging instead as a way to create a sense of community amongst my clients but surprisingly enough I discovered that I discovered that my posts were attracting readers around the world and even more surprising was that besides my clients they were leaving comments. 

Another rewarding thing about writing post after post was when strangers in my neighborhood said, "Oh, this is Daisy! I recognized her on your blog!" As you can well imagine, THAT recognition made me feel like a celebrity of sorts so I became even more obsessed with writing than ever before. 

With that being said, I'd like to thank everyone for encouraging me to keep writing because without you I would never have reached my 1000th post!

Who Inspired You To Start Blogging & Who Won The Blogoversary Giveaway Contest?

Dear Friends,

The response for my One Year Blogoversary Giveway resulted in 35 comments and 16 contestants and I was so thankful for all who got involved! Because all 16 answers to the Giveaway question, "What Inspired You To Start Blogging" were so *well* inspiring I decided to feature them along with your picture and link to your blogs. I hope you will read, visit, and befriend as many of these inspirational bloggers as pawsible! 

 

Paper Princess said,” Six months before I started my blog, I lost my younger sister in a very unexpected and tragic way. I was devastated by this loss and grieved heavily. I started my blog, Create With Joy, in large measure to help me move on with my life and rediscover my joy and my passion again. It gives me great joy to share my beautiful Maine Coons, who so many people tell me that they regularly stop by specifically to see, as well as my creations, my faith, and other things I cherish.”

Janet said, “I actually started blogging a few years ago after a horrible breakup with my boyfriend (who happens to be the same one I live with now!). I had so many sob stories, and hilarious stories, one of my best friends told me I should blog about it all. So I did.”

Alison said, “Loved the Julie and Julia book and the movie! I have had a lifelong dream to be a writer and that’s why I blog.”

Shannon @ Why Not On A Tuesday said, “I guess I was inspired to blog because I felt like I was not writing enough and wanted to journal my life for others to (hopefully) read.”

Frankie Furter  said,” I was inspired to write a blog... beclaws some of the peeple in my writer groups wanted me to. There were lots of peeples in the groups, butt I (Frankie Furter) was the ONLY DACHSHUND. They didn't discriminate against me or anything!!! I always had my very much own SEAT and they always listened to my stories. Even when I used bad words like Butt Scooter and Cat Butt Fart and stuffs...Yep they inspired me!!!”

Tucker/Daisy/Leo said,” I started reading dog blogs a couple of years back when someone on the quilting board that I read posted a link to the handsome Spencer the Golden Retriever. One blog led to another, and I was reading several. I knew that Tucker, Daisy and Leo's adventures would be fun to read, and had a great title "Two Goldens and a Wannabe", but I had to wait until January 2009 before we got a faster (still not fast) internet connection to be able to start blogging. I am so glad I did, we have made such good friends.”

Tucker said,” But, I would say that My Momma started blogging when I came into the picture because she wanted to track my growth. Well I is done growing now. She was inspired by Savage's Mom in the story of savage.”

Maggie And Mitch said, “Sunshade inspired me to start my own blog. Mitch came along a few months later!”

The Booker Man said, ”me and asa and mama decided to start bloggin' after we found princess the pit bull and murphy dog's bloggies. we had been followin' them for a few months and thought it would be really funsies to have a bloggie of our own!”

Wyatt  said, “We started about one year ago too! Mom broke her foot with an irrigation trencher. She was sitting around being bored and we started blogging!!”

Elizabeth said, “another 'dog blog' called From The Treat Jar inspired to start blogging. I have been blogging for over two years now and it's been great!!!”

Katnip Lounge said, “We started blogging when Felix tore his patella, and we reached out to the Cat Blogosphere for advice...and here we are, almost a year later!”

Khyra and Sometimes Her Mom said, “A Siberian pal told Khyra she always had so much to say she should have a blog -SO, we started a blog fur ME!"

Katie said, “What inspired me to blog is my little beagle jack russel girl. she loves to wear clothes and have me do photo shoots of her and I wanted everyone I knew to have easy access to all of her pictures and it so fun.”

Hound Dog Mom said, “We started blogging after reading Martha and Bailey's blog and then following Mango. And here we are today.”

Trixie/Lily/Sammy Joe said, “Our Mama had a blog before this and she said she was inspired to write one when she read books that had started out as blogs. When our Mama got tired of blogging, WE were inspired to start our own!”

Each of the contestants names were listed in the order above on random.org and then the randomizer scrambled them up and Tucker's name came out on top! Congratulations, Tucker! 

List Randomizer

There were 16 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Tucker
2. Katie
3. Janet
4. Frankie Furter
5. Hound Dog Mom
6. The Booker Man
7. Paper Princess
8. Wyatt
9. Tucker/Daisy/Leo
10. Why Not On A Tuesday
11. Elizabeth
12. Katnip Lounge
13. Trixie/Lily/Sammy Joe
14. Maggie and Mitch
15. Alison
16. Khyra And Sometimes Her Mom

Hurry! My "Julie & Julia" Blogoversary Giveway Ends Today!

 

In case you haven't heard, I have Julie Powell and Julia Child to thank for one year of blogging bliss and if I'd never watched the movie I don't think I'd be here today with you, my blogging pals, and to thank you for laughing, crying, and sighing over my blog posts I began a Giveaway Contest in honor of my January 18th blogoversary. 

Of course, the Grand Prize is none other than a copy of the Julie and Julia movie BUT you need to hurry because the contest ends at 7:00pm (EST) today!

Here are the rules: 

• You MUST be a Google Friend Connect, e-mail, or RSS feed follower and you must PLEASE tell me which type of follower you are in order to be part of the GIVEAWAY. Don't worry, I will follow your blog immediately, I promise!
• In a comment below, please answer this question, "What (or who) inspired you to start blogging?" Whether your answer if short or long the purpose is to inspire others to keep blogging, to remind yourself why you blog, and to (hopefully) win a copy of Julie and Julia!  

• Submit your comment no later than Saturday, January 22, 2011, at 7:00pm (Eastern Standard Time).

The winner will be announced on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

Happy 1st Blogoversary To Me and Happy DVD Giveaway To You!

 

 As many of my wonderful blogging friends already know, I was inspired to write a blog while watching the movie, Julie and Julia, last January and the inspiration to write was so strong that I angered those sitting around me by announcing (loudly, I might add) to my fiance', "I'm going to start a blog tonight! I really am!" After a few "shhhh's" from the audience I quietly watched Julie Powell change from a woman who felt she had no purpose in life to a woman who challenged herself to cook all 536 of Julia Child's recipes in one year and live to blog about it. 

I felt that if Julie could do it so could I and I am proud to say that as of today, I have blogged for one year and I am so happy to be here in Blogville with my friends who remind me day after day that I do have a purpose....to blog and to keep on blogging.

So to thank everyone who stayed with me through thick and thin, through good times and bad I want to give one lucky person a copy of the movie that inspired me to start blogging by hosting a giveaway! 

In Order To Win This Movie All You Need To Do Is:

• You MUST be a Google Friend Connect, e-mail, or RSS feed follower and you must PLEASE tell me which type of follower you are in order to be part of the GIVEAWAY. Don't worry, I will follow your blog immediately, I promise!
• In a comment below, please answer this question, "What (or who) inspired you to start blogging?" Whether your answer if short or long the purpose is to inspire others to keep blogging, to remind yourself why you blog, and to (hopefully) win a copy of Julie and Julia!  

• Submit your comment no later than Saturday, January 22, 2011, at 7:00pm (Eastern Standard Time).

• The winner will be announced on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. 

Thank you, dear friends, for wishing me a Happy Blogoversary and for wishing me a speedy recovery from my bout with a stomach virus yesterday! You are the best! Have fun with the GIVEAWAY and with sharing your blogging inspirations! 

                                                

Daisy Nurses Her Mom To Health

 

Can you believe that this is my 2nd day as the Official Barkaholics Counselor and I have done absolutely nothing but lie in bed with my brudder, Buster, while our mom slept half the day away? 

Okay, I'll admit that I've done more than just NOTHING all day. In fact, I have been keeping my blog mom company while she slept off her battle with the dreaded stomach virus and I will have you know that I served as her surround sound system (I lulled her to sleep with melodious snoring) and I also served as a heating pad (my body is quite warm, you know) for the day. 

But while providing medical services to my blog mom I couldn't help but feel guilty for neglecting to answer the phone, reading your e-mails, and sending out pre-counseling questionnaires today but don't worry, Barkers of Blogville, I will be back on duty tomorrow!

And can you believe that my blog mom has been sleeping for most of the day on the Eve of a very impawtent day that just so happens to be Blogoversary Day?  Yup, that's right, folks! She has been thinking about January 18th, 2011, for an entire year and then the nasty stomach virus stepped last night and put a temporary stop to her Blogoversary plans! But don't worry!  My mom will have a Blogoversary celebration that you will never forget....so stay tuned...tomorrow will be a BIG day! 

Love,

Daisy