Friend for the Ride Is Going on Holiday

Friend for the Ride is going on holiday. After nine years, I’m ready to pause the blog. I’ve loved the creativity and honesty of blogging, and I’ve loved getting to know my wonderful readers. Thank you so much for visiting and commenting on my posts.

My art is going well, so I hope to focus on painting for now. I also may get back to writing picture books or look for markets for creative nonfiction. We’ll see.

Egret Contemplates the Day Ahead 

I plan to pop back up now and then. I’d be too sad to say a forever goodbye. Please keep sending me any ladies room doors you find, as I will definitely be posting more doors. And I may re-post some of my favorite older posts from time to time.

My mom, one of my first readers, painted the roller coaster watercolor for Friend for the Ride when she was 88. Here’s to spunky and creative women everywhere. Here’s to all of you!

If any of you would like to be Facebook friends, send me a friend request at https://www.facebook.com/barbara.younger

You can follow my art on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/barbarayounger/

Happy Fifth Anniversary, Friend for the Ride (and a Gift Card Giveaway)

Friend for the Ride started when my daughter Laura, low on cash in grad school, asked, “Is there something I can do for you to earn some money?”

I replied, “I’ll pay you to set up a blog site for me.” And she did! She’s a techno whiz, and she blogs herself at Taking Back my Twenties.

Is Laura still broke?

Happily, no. And it’s a good thing because she has a baby on the way VERY SOON!

It’s been five years, do I still love blogging (after 650 posts)?

I love sharing my thoughts with you, posting sometimes useful information, and writing about life from a creative angle. I’m so appreciative to all of you for reading.

I’m always in need of guest posts. What should you write about? Sky’s the limit. Shoot me an email, and we’ll figure it out. Thanks! See the blog’s very first guest post here, written by my friend Susan Bellinger.

Do I plan to stop blogging any time soon?

Nope.

Do I wish I had more readers?

I’d love more readers! The blog has not grown as I hoped it would, but my readership does increase slowly.

Does my family read my blog?

My mom did.That’s how she found out I was downsizing my Santa Claus collection. Mom was NOT happy. But she liked most of my other posts and even did a painting for this one. Cliff reads many of the posts. Not so sure about my girls…

Do I have a hard time coming up with topics for new posts?

This answer should really be “Sometimes.” But then a new idea will pop into my head, often inspired by a photograph. I took these signs on Bald Head Island. I thought they were vacancy/no vacancy signs until Cliff explained they are to signal if you have garbage to be picked up or not. Of course I could argue, most of us have some garbage…

Do I have a favorite post?

That would be like picking a favorite child, but the ones closest to my heart are those I wrote to celebrate or to face important moments:

The birth of my first grandchild.

The wedding of my daughter.

My cancer.

My mom’s death.

I appreciate the grittier and quirkier posts too, like this one about periods and cramps and romance and Smokey the Bear. I never would have guessed at age thirty that I’d one day write about personal body stuff. But once I start, it just sort of flows. (Yucky period reference somewhat intended).

Do I have a  favorite part of blogging?

I love uploading the photos and seeing how they look on the page. I love tweaking and editing. I love the moment a new post goes live. And I love getting comments and ladies room doors sent from all over the world!

Is there anything I hate about blogging?

No, but I’ve accidentally had posts go live when they weren’t finished. Talk about a panic!

 Am I going to do something special for this Fifth Blogging Anniversary?

Gift Card Giveaway: In honor of Friend for the Ride’s fifth anniversary, and because I’ve had fun shopping here for my new house, I’m giving away a fifty dollar gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond. For a chance to win, please enter a comment by October 10.

Thank you again, one and all, for your support. Thanks to Healthline for putting me on your Best Blogs List; to those of you who wrote guest posts; to agent Erzsi Deak for encouraging me to write about menopause; to Cliff for photography help and pointing out typos; to my daughter Kath of Katheats, who models blogging with class and creativity; and thanks to Laura for expert help and for needing a few bucks. Now it’s time for me to spend some money on that baby of yours!

Three Years! Happy Anniversary Friend for the Ride!

Happy Three Year Anniversary to Friend for the Ride!

I like to write her name in the sand.

I write yours in the stars because you’re the world’s most wonderful readers.

Since the blog began, with the help of guest posters, I’ve published over four hundred posts. 

 

 

Thanks to those of you who leave sparkling and insightful comments. One reader recently wrote me: “Never thought I’d get so hooked on connecting with others this way!”

And thanks to everyone for reading!

Happy fall and on to Year Four…

 

 

Celebrating Two Years (and a Canvas Print Giveaway)

Friend for the Ride just celebrated her two year anniversary!

(Yes, she’s a girl.)

Happy Anniversary, Friend for the Ride!

WordPress lets me know the search words people use to land on the blog.

In honor of the anniversary, I thought I’d share a few favorites:

cookies that help menopausal symptoms

I wish, I wish, I wish a brilliant baker would come up with these!

one leg hair stopped growing

Does this mean one specific hair?  Talk about knowing your body intimately…

my menstrual period started on the full super moon june 2013

This searcher landed on Patti’s Winker’s super cool post. For those of us finished with periods, we’ve lost our chance to have a super moon period. Super sad!  (sort of.)

do yams help with menopause

Dr. Oz suggest yams just might help, but I’m sticking with the person (above) who is looking for a menopausal cookie cure.

are dill pickles good for menopausal women

Let’s hope not or my husband, who loves pickles, will fill my plate with them morning, noon, and night. While very fond of Cliff, I’m not overly fond of pickles.  Bring on the cookies!

do all women get meaner as they get older

Hmmm. I’d love to know the sex of the person who entered that search.

what is wrong with my husband he gets meaner as he ages

We know the sex of the person who entered that one!

pellets in hip for menopause 2013

Ouch!  What a way to start the New Year.

menopause stomach photos

To make it  big as a blogger, you have to put yourself out there.  But I haven’t been brave enough, yet, to put my menopausal stomach out there for the Internet to see.

poems about menopause symptoms

Two and a half years ago, I wouldn’t have guessed I’be writing poems about menopause. And what fun (and an honor) to feature the poetry of Moira Egan and Jane Yolen, with poems by Barbara Crooker coming up soon.

snarkymcbitchy

Don’t ask me how this line landed someone on Friend for the Ride. The nerve!

Snarky and bitchy?  Not us. Thank you all for being such wonderful, kind readers!

My Friend for the Ride t-shirt, was a gift from Allied Shirts. I sent them my URL and a photo from one of my first posts, and voila!

Learn more about making  a custom t-shirt here on their website:  alliedshirts.com.

Giveaway: Their sister company, Easy Canvas Prints, is offering  Friend for the Ride a free 11 by 14 inch canvas print.

I adore mine, featured on this post about my beloved doll, Baby Sue.  For a chance to win your own, please enter a comment by October 20 saying you’d like to be the winner. These make great gifts for the person who has everything.

Lean more about canvas prints on their website: easycanvasprints.com.