Sights, Scenes and Travel of an everyday person

Category Archives: Blog

Awards & Achievements

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A Stroll Down Memory Lane… With a Sash

Back when I was a beginning blogger, there weren’t many awards to win — and the ones that did exist usually required a nomination from another blogger. It was like the early days of WordPress Hunger Games, but friendlier.

I was honored to collect three of those classic, old‑school awards “back in the day,” and you can still see them in the footer of my homepage.

The Blogger Award

This was my very first badge — the “starter award,” if you will. To this day, I’m not entirely sure what it was for, but I have the badge, so clearly I did something right. Early blogging was like that: you’d wake up one morning and someone had nominated you for something, and you just rolled with it.

The Versatile Blogger Award

 

This one was given to bloggers who:
• write across multiple topics
• post consistently
• have a strong personal voice
• engage with their community

Basically: “You do a little bit of everything and somehow make it work.”

The Liebster Award

This one went to bloggers who:
• are friendly and approachable
• tell great stories
• make readers feel welcome
• have a loyal following

In other words: “People actually like you — keep going.”

These awards may not have had the staying power of an Oscar or an Emmy, but I was proud of them then, and I’m still proud of them now. They were the early‑blogger equivalent of gold stars on a homework paper.

WordPress Steps In

Achievement Badges: The Girl Scout Era

Fast‑forward to today, and WordPress has created Achievement Badges. I think of them like Girl Scout badges — the kind you used to sew onto a sash when you earned them.

Some of these new badges are… well… a little silly. Half the time I don’t know what they mean, and I’m the one earning them. So I’m sticking with the badges that actually make sense to humans.

I’m adding the meaningful ones to the Badges & Achievements gallery on my homepage, but first, here are the ones I earned this year.

My 2026 Achievement Badges

🌍 Globe Trotter

Globe Trotter

This means Around Dusty Roads received views from 50+ countries.
My little blog went international — who knew?

🌎 World Domination

World Domination

This is the next level up from Globe Trotter: 150+ countries.
Yes, apparently I have conquered the world… one blog post at a time.

🏃‍♀️ Marathon Blogger

I earned this by posting every day for 30 days.
(Technically it’s been 331 days, but who’s counting.)

Back in 2013 I actually had a farther reach for a while — one of those early blogging hot streaks. If you want to see what my stats looked like back then, here’s the post from that year.

My Favorite Stats

The “I Can’t Believe This Is Real” Section

The badges I love the most are the Globe Trotter and World Domination. I’m still amazed that my little corner of the internet has traveled so far and reached so many people.

Here’s a map from the week of June 11–17 — a little time‑capsule snapshot of where my readers were popping in from that week.

And here’s the country list for that same week:

Country — Views
• USA — 1025
• China — 415
• Hong Kong SAR China — 240
• Serbia — 73
• Belgium — 72
• India — 5
• Iraq — 4
• Singapore — 2
• Romania — 2
• Mexico — 2
• UK — 2

And then we have South Africa, Syria, Senegal, New Zealand, Morocco, Lithuania, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Algeria, Germany, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Angola all coming in with 1 view each.

It always changes — sometimes Australia pops in, sometimes Canada. It’s such fun to check and see who’s reading me now.

That’s My Update — and My Moment of Bragging

I’d love to hear from you — thoughts, comments, or just a quick hello.
After all, what’s a blog without the people who read it?

 

🐾 A Trip Down Kitty Chaos Memory Lane

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Every now and then my blog stats take a little stroll through the archives, and today they dug up this gem from 2013. I had completely forgotten about it — back when the household was ruled by Buddy, Smoky, and Rocky.

If you think Banner and Balboa invented chaos, mischief, and dramatic flair… oh no. They’re simply carrying on a proud family tradition with great enthusiasm.

Enjoy this blast from the past — proof that my life has always been run by cats.

What are these cats thinking? Part 1

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Morning Rituals and Demanding Cats

It’s just another day in the life here at the old homestead. 3 cats, 1 human.

Stepping out of the shower I’m greeted by my “Bud”. Buddy has figured out that after the shower comes the hair dryer and he loves to have a blow dry to start the day.  A handsome fellow like Buddy has to look his best.

Senior Cat Smokey, aka Mr. Cranky Pants continues his demanding ways. I’m working, Buddy and Rocky are sleeping but what’s that sound? A soft pitiful meow! Looking around I see a small bundle of gray fur curled at my feet, big eyes staring intently, “meow”.

Only the tiniest of sounds. I ask what’s wrong and a paw reaches out to tap my leg. I stand and he uncurls, heading for the feeding station. Oh my, his bowl is only half full. Surely he will starve to death before it’s time for dinner.

Chaos on the Staircase

The laundry is on the first level. My condo, on the 2nd. As I open my door, arms full of clean clothes fresh from the dryer, a black and white streak nearly bowls me over and scoots down the stairs.

Dry laundry gets tossed onto the couch as the chase begins. A black tail with a white tip darts around the bottom of the stairs and disappears around the corner. Hitting the last step, the turn is sharp — just in time to see that tail vanish again at the far end of the hall.

I race down there. I don’t want Buddy running into one of the dogs that live here or being let outside. As I round the last corner I see …nothing!

My heart starts to pound. Slowly I begin climbing the stairs on that end of the hall. First flight, nothing, 2nd flight and there he is, sitting there on the landing, waiting for me.

I pick up his Majesty and cradle him in my arms. Back down the 2 flights of stairs, back down the long hall and back up the last flight to my unit.

I open the door, set the errant one on the floor and close the door very fast.

Laundry Folding: A Full‑Contact Sport

I return to the couch to start folding the nice , warm, clean clothes only to find Rocky has made a nest and is curled up on top of the pile. Now every time I try to pull out a towel or shirt or sock I have to unhook his possessive claw. I try to shoo him away but he only digs in harder. He doesn’t give up until the last item is folded. Then he stalks away, annoyed that his warm bed was “stolen” from him.

The Basket Bandit Strikes Again

Holiday2013 021 copy

I turn to put the folded clothes in my basket to carry them all to be put away and come face to face with his Majesty again. This time he’s taken up residence in the clothes basket.

Holiday2013 023 copy

I give up leaving him to play jail bird in the basket while I carry the  stacks of folded clothes to the bedroom. Finally, everything is put away but they aren’t done with me yet.

Some things change… but cats being cats? That’s forever.

Confessions of a Hunt‑and‑Peck Typist

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Owl on a computer keyboard humorously admitting to hunt‑and‑peck typing, perfect visual for a post about typing mishaps.

A love story between me, my keyboard, and the typos that betray me

I Type Like I’m Defusing a Bomb

Let’s get this out of the way:
I am a hunt‑and‑peck typist.
Not a casual one.
Not an occasional one.
A lifelong, committed, two‑fingered warrior of the keyboard.

My typing style is 10% accuracy, 90% determination, and 100% “please don’t look at me while I’m doing this.”

If I keep my eyes glued to the keyboard, I can produce something that resembles English.
But the moment — the moment — I glance at the screen?

My sentence transforms into a ransom note assembled by squirrels.

My Typos Have Typos

I don’t just mistype words.
No, no.
My typos are so bold, so creative, so aggressively wrong that autocorrect just throws its hands up and walks away.

I try to type “affiliate program.”
My fingers: affilaue progeam
Which sounds less like a business opportunity and more like a medieval plague.

I try to type “invited.”
My fingers: incited
Suddenly the email isn’t welcoming me — it’s starting a riot.

I try to type “wrong answer.”
My fingers: wring answer
Which is… ironically correct.

Honestly, my keyboard should qualify for hazard pay.

The Keyboard Is My Frenemy

We have a complicated relationship.

I rely on it.
>I fear it.
>I suspect it judges me.

Every time I sit down to type, the keyboard sighs like, “Oh great, here she comes. The woman who types like she’s playing Whac‑A‑Mole.”

And yet… we continue.
Together.
In chaos.

Looking Away Is a Crime

Touch typists can look at the screen while typing.
They can even carry on a conversation.
Some of them can type without looking at all.

Meanwhile, if I look away for one second — ONE — my sentence becomes:

“Thsi si a greta idae adn I’m suer it wlil mkae snese.”

I don’t type words.
I type word scrambles.

But Here’s the Thing…

Despite all this, I still write blog posts, emails, stories, and entire volcanic rants.
>I still show up.
>I still type.
>I still create.

I’m not a bad typist.
I’m an adventure typist.

And adventure typists have the BEST stories — because half the time, we have no idea what we just typed until we scroll back and gasp.

So if you’re a fellow hunt‑and‑peck typist out there, squinting at your keyboard like it’s a treasure map…
Welcome.
You’re among friends.

 

Introducing Haven Highlights

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🌟 A New Chapter for Welcoming Haven

You all know how much I enjoy writing blog posts—especially when a topic sparks my curiosity. And you’ve probably heard that I’ve launched a new online store: WelcomingHaven.com. Well, I’ve found a way to blend these two passions into something special I’m excited to share with you.

🎉 Say hello to Haven Highlights!
It’s a brand-new tab on my store dedicated entirely to Welcoming Haven. These posts will spotlight products I love, announce sales and seasonal events, and offer behind-the-scenes peeks into the journey of building my store. Think of it as a cozy corner where commerce meets creativity.

I’ve been practicing behind the scenes—there were a few hiccups getting the blog posts to display properly (tech gremlins, anyone?), but I think I’ve finally got it sorted. I’d love for you to check out Haven Highlights and let me know what you think!

🛍️ Welcoming Haven: My E-Commerce Adventure

Starting an online store has been a wild ride. I’ve probably made every rookie mistake in the book—but I’m learning, growing, and genuinely enjoying the process. Even if you’re just browsing, I hope you’ll help spread the word.

If there’s a product you’re curious about, let me know! I’ll check with my suppliers to see if it’s available. I aim to offer items with solid reviews, reasonable prices, and—when possible—free shipping. That’s getting trickier lately, as new tariffs have nudged some suppliers to tack on shipping fees. So if you don’t see certain items, that might be why.

🖤 Black Friday Sale Alert!

Yes, it’s that time of year again—Black Friday is here! I know it’s a bit mainstream, but in retail, you’ve got to keep pace with the season. I’m rolling out special deals this week, and you’ll find all the juicy details in Haven Highlights.

So stop by, explore the blog, and maybe discover something delightful for yourself or a loved one. Whether you’re shopping or simply cheering me on, I’m grateful for your support.

 

 

 

 

 

Somethings Coming!

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Coming Soon

I told you there’d be more info coming. There’s so much to do to get ready.  I keep thinking of more and more details that have to be addressed before I can make the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. But I am really excited and , truth time, kind of scared. I’ve dabbled with self employment in the past. The biggest attempt was 7 years with my own Arthur Murray Dance Studio. That was both the best and worst of times as the saying goes. In the end I had to sell at a loss. Long story and one I don’t feel like sharing today. 

 

 

Free coming soon Clipart Images | FreeImages

I’ve tried other things too from selling Mary Kay Cosmetics to candles, most recently Door Dash,  with varying degrees of success.

A year or so before I was laid off at Redfin I took a e-commerce course online. It was expensive but it went into a lot of detail and I felt I got my money’s worth until I got to the last unit.  The question for that chapter was What are you going to sell? But it didn’t give any guidance as to how to find a product. So after all the time effort and expense, that course didn’t get me where I wanted to go. 

E-Commerce

Since I’ve been retired I’ve kept hearing about e-commerce so I’ve been digging into that. How can your average Joe make money online? One way is to order a bunch of products, lets say T-Shirts with sayings. Have a bunch printed and send them to Amazon who will warehouse them and fill your orders. That had me wondering how much do I order, how many different sayings and what sizes?  I’ve met people that have done it but it’s a lot of work and when starting up a lot of it is guesswork. 

An Online Store

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Recently I came across several testimonials from people that were running online businesses without having to purchase their product stock up front. So I started researching. Now I’m finally ready to share what I’ve been working on even if I’m not ready for the BIG REVEAL.

I’m planning an online store. I’m working on the web design now and selecting the products I want to offer. I bit the bullet and hired and advertising company to put together a small (its all I could afford) campaign for the grand opening. After all, if no one can find my store I won’t get any sales.  

I’m planning a Home Goods store to start out. I expect the store will evolve as we go along. I have a name and I think we’re headed into the home stretch. A couple more weeks and I can unveil  the site and open my doors. So stay tuned for more info as I get closer to launch. 

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