2013…a clean slate. But how did 2012 measure up?

Blogging: If the amount of spam is a measure of success then I’ve made it into the bigtime. My blog has been a victim of an amazing amount of spam. I just seemed to get it under control and then WordPress changed something in their format. Not only is creating an entry much harder and more time-consuming now but the spam has started all over again. It’s very discouraging.

The other way I measure the success of the blog is with stats. 2011 was the first year I used WordPress and in that year I was “Freshly Pressed ” twice. In 2012 not at all.

In 2011 15,802 folks visited my blog but in 2012 it dropped to 14,019. That may have been because I reduced my blogging schedule but I don’t know. I hope I haven’t become “boring”.

Photo/ Card business: This was the first year of Dusty Roads Photos actually being in business. It’s been slow, slow , slow. I’m not sure if it’s because of marketing (or lack of), the sluggish economy or my skill level. In today’s world everybody has a digital camera and everybody (it seems) wants to be a professional photographer. I’m still trying to find my way.

My accomplishments were that I have expanded the number of cards available, tried the imprinted cards, picked up some portrait work and had some photos accepted as “stock”.The Cape Cod Crafters Kiosk has been a disappointment so far but I am committed to trying it for a year. It is advertising if nothing else.
www.dustyroadsphotos.etsy.com
www.dustyroadsphotos.zenfolio.com

Travel: 2012 was a busy year for travel. I went to Orlando in January, Maine twice, and New York for the Adirondack Balloon Festival in the Fall.

It felt like I spent a lot of time on the road.
2013 looks like it will also be a busy travel year with 2 cruises and possibly one additional trip. More on that in later posts.

Health and Fitness: Well I didn’t do so well in this area. That weight just loves to sneak back on when you aren’t looking. Especially when you love to cook and like to eat what you cook!

With the holidays behind me (again) I’ll give it another try. Never give up.

Friends and Family: Some family members and some friends had some health scares and issues in 2011 but so far it looks like everyone came through ok. Here I need to include my furry family. Smokey is doing well. Followers will remember that he was diagnosed with early renal dysfunction but he seems to be in remission. Rocky, our furry editor in chief , is on a break from the blog due to stress. I’m not sure what set him off but he began over grooming, usually a cats’ attempt to comfort themselves. This started last summer. After ruling out fleas and other pests I added soothing pheromones in other words “kitty aromotherapy”. Although he seems calmer it will take 2 – 3 more months to see if he lets his hair grow back. Fingers crossed.

Well I’d say that about sums up 2012. Life is an adventure so let the adventure continue in 2013 with places to go and people to see and things to do.