Allotments 4 All

General => The Shed => Topic started by: Multiveg on January 31, 2006, 11:32:43

Title: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Multiveg on January 31, 2006, 11:32:43
Is there anyone out there that keeps a gardening/allotment blog (web log, online journal)? I have just moved mine over to a different place.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: sandersj89 on January 31, 2006, 11:52:49
Yes, there is a link to mine in my signature.

Not updated it since October though, must sort that out soon as things are starting to happen for this season now.

I am thinking about changing how I record things and use my own web space rather than a blog site.

Jerry
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Multiveg on January 31, 2006, 13:50:52
I have gone the other way Jerry from my isp webspace to blogger, then now to wordpress which I think is better.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: sandersj89 on January 31, 2006, 13:55:36
Quote from: Multiveg on January 31, 2006, 13:50:52
I have gone the other way Jerry from my isp webspace to blogger, then now to wordpress which I think is better.

Wordpress? What is that?

Thanks

Jerry

Edit....Ignore that, just seen the link min your signature. Nicely done by the way.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Jesse on January 31, 2006, 14:16:23
Multiveg, you like growing potatoes! :o ;D ;D Very nice site will have to take a good look around later tonight when I have more time. :)

I've done a website to keep a record of what I'm doing and when, not just allotment related though, the link is in my signature.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Multiveg on January 31, 2006, 14:18:47
Should have written that we only bought 1-3 seed potatoes for the varieties. OH got the last Saxon. 72 tubers in all I think.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: amanda21 on January 31, 2006, 15:48:32
I love reading these lottie blogs, especially ones with photos.  Mine is fairly new as I am fairly new  ::).  Link in sig.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: bupster on January 31, 2006, 16:05:43
My link's in my sig as well, though I haven't updated it for this weekend just gone. Bad bupster.  :D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Multiveg on January 31, 2006, 16:18:35
Perhaps I could add them to my blogroll  ;D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 31, 2006, 16:26:22
Mine is in my sig also.  please be gentle!
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Carol on January 31, 2006, 16:59:30
Enjoyed reading your blog. Emma.  What a busy busy bee you are. 

:D :D :D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: bupster on January 31, 2006, 17:43:05
I'll add anyone who posts here to my list of links tonight - it makes me look like my blog's popular and professional if it has loads of links :D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: mc55 on January 31, 2006, 18:04:55
mines in my signature too .. not much there yet, as I've not had lottie long, but has some before type piccies.
mc
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: kenkew on January 31, 2006, 18:06:39
Can I put interactive crossword puzzles on a blog?
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: amanda21 on January 31, 2006, 18:38:27
lovely photos mc55 - the rose is gorgeous.

Kenkew - I'm not sure - I can't immediately think of a way you could make one interactive.  There must be a way of doing one on a website as there are plenty out there on the WWW but I feel you may need a real IT'er for that kind of advise.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Ceratonia on January 31, 2006, 20:13:15
Wow. Some really good blogs listed here- very high standard to aim for. Jerry's I've seen before on TMF, read Jesse & amanda21's too, all very enjoyable.  Bupster's is very amusing, multiveg, mc55 and EJ all full of detail - mines of information.

Mine is a poor effort compared to all of the above - I intended it just as a diary for keeping track of what I did when and somewhere to post a few pictures. Hadn't intended going public. Have now filled out a profile and will start adding links!

http://ceratonia.blogspirit.com/
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: kenkew on January 31, 2006, 20:38:20
Started a Blog a few months ago but you people seem to get out of it more than I can!...are there good and not so good blog supports?

Applied for use of a free FTP (seeing as I'm now a student!!) so maybe I'll be able to do something to my 'stagnant web site.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: moonbells on February 02, 2006, 21:29:23
Gosh all change over here - will have to update my diary links page very soon!!!

moonbells
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: SpeedyMango on February 14, 2006, 10:34:52
Mine is in my sig as well (I think).

Not that I've been down the plot for a few weeks - got something(one) else to worry about for the moment! Definitely plan on getting something planted before long though.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: derbex on February 15, 2006, 20:09:35
I'm afraid I've gone from web to paper and pencil.

Guess what I'm doing at work at the moment -migrating a bunch of commercial blogs to our server  ???

Jeremy

Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 16, 2006, 00:15:11
There's a link to mine in my signature.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Crash on February 17, 2006, 22:22:50
We have a blog but its mostly about our lives not the lotty!
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: simon404 on February 22, 2006, 16:33:36
Mine's in my signature too, it's on my isp webspace.  :)
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on February 23, 2006, 18:03:47
Anyone got any blogging tips? Best site to use, content etc.

I am thinking of joining the 'club' and starting a blog you see.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: bupster on February 27, 2006, 10:07:34
blogspot.com seems to be pretty straightforward to use, but I'm no expert. Re content, the big thing is to try to remember to update at least once a week. I don't  :-[, but usually manage once a fortnight at least. Very frustrating to try to follow a blog that isn't updated for two or three months!
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on February 27, 2006, 13:08:19
Well I have 'taken the plunge' and started my blog. The link is below in my signature. Nothing much there at the moment. I decided to start off with a bit of background stuff and some pictures of the garden, seeing as there is nt much gardening going on in my life at the moment.

One thing i had trouble with was posting photos. Its not as easy as posting to A4All (or any other forum), but i found that if you wanted just one photo and a bit of text you could post it direct from photobucket. The other option (which i havent tried yet) is hosting the photos on a photo site (like Photobucket) and linking to the blog (as i do when posting on A4All). It might prove easier geting the right layout.

PS I like the blogs some of you lot have got. Only a quick glance through but many look like the kind of thing i am aiming for with mine.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Mrs Ava on February 27, 2006, 18:28:56
Richard, I upload the pics straight from my desk top quite easily....hmmmm  ???
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on February 28, 2006, 10:36:26
Quote from: EJ - Emma Jane on February 27, 2006, 18:28:56
Richard, I upload the pics straight from my desk top quite easily....hmmmm  ???

But dont you find aranging pictures and text as you want them abit of a bother?

Hmm perhaps its just me then. I have no problem actualy uploading the pctures, its the rest of it i am having trouble with.

Do you have any tips as to the best way of arranging text and pictures together? Is there a particular order i should construct a posting?

Thanks
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: bananagirl on February 28, 2006, 10:58:06
I've got a brand new baby blog to go with my brand new baby lottie. Will post the addy as soon as I have something in there...
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: bananagirl on February 28, 2006, 11:33:08
Ok, here I am, it should be in the little website icon thing, but...
http://www.etribes.com/bananagirl  ;D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on February 28, 2006, 11:52:04
Quote from: bananagirl on February 28, 2006, 11:33:08
Ok, here I am, it should be in the little website icon thing, but...
http://www.etribes.com/bananagirl  ;D

Looks good. Make sure you keep it up.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: busy_lizzie on February 28, 2006, 12:02:35
It has taken me a while but I have just been looking at all of your blogs.  You clever people, they are all great!  It is fascinating to take a look into all of your lives and all your gardening experiences.  I feel as though I know you even better now. Keep up the good work, and I will be calling in to see what you are up to, from time to time.  :D busy_lizzie
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: mc55 on February 28, 2006, 19:35:46
Garden Cadet, just had a quick look at your blog and layout looks great, don't think you have anything to worry about.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Mrs Ava on February 28, 2006, 22:24:19
I agree, looks fine to me.  Thing is, it is a basic template - if you want to go more technical or have more say over where you post your pics, I guess you would have to either shop around and try several different blog sites, or create your own website....which is all complete gobbledeegook to me!  The main reason originally for me to start a blog was so I could keep my grandad up to speed with what I was up to, and for myself to use as a diary.  The fact that all you lovely people read it and enjoy it is a HUGE bonus!  ;D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 01, 2006, 11:00:02
Its ben a case of PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!  Some posts i have edited two or three times to do just that and get them how i wanted them. I think i have got it sorted out now, for the time being at least, so no need for my own website EJ! Website creation is all gobbledegook to me too, thats why a blog appealed so much.

I wanted to share my experiences and thoughts on gardening above and beyond what i can do on A4ALL. (A4all is great but it has limitations).

Watch this space!
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Jesse on March 01, 2006, 14:48:58
Love the blog GC, especially all the photos....I like lots of photos :D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 01, 2006, 17:44:48
Quote from: Jesse on March 01, 2006, 14:48:58
Love the blog GC, especially all the photos....I like lots of photos :D

Thank you Jesse. Will be adding more soon to complete the garden tour, plus i have a few ideas for other photo postings as well.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: jennym on March 04, 2006, 22:53:12
The thought of creating a blog scares the life out of me - but it is so nice to read everyone elses, and see what you all do.
:)
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 05, 2006, 01:10:25
It's actually very simple to do, but you do have to persist at it.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Hyacinth on March 05, 2006, 09:40:48
Robert, when you start writing the column for The Post & Mail, will you be including your column in your blog, please?

:)
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 05, 2006, 16:52:01
I'll see how much they mess it about, but yes, I can see it happening. The first one should be out next Saturday.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Petra on March 06, 2006, 14:58:40
Quote from: jennym on March 04, 2006, 22:53:12
The thought of creating a blog scares the life out of me - but it is so nice to read everyone elses, and see what you all do.
:)
My thoughts exactly....I was amazed yesterday when my 8 year created her own web-site posting pictures with speech bubbles coming out of mouths the lot.I think I'll have to ask for some lessons :o
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: moonbells on March 07, 2006, 18:33:51
Just to update those of you who have peeked at my blog: I've finally bitten the bullet and moved away from freeserve - it's now hosted on a proper server which has enough room for me to get slightly more creative (like making the small images clickable to larger versions so you can be extra nosy, or even putting .avi files of virtual tours up).  Will warn folk when I start to do that in case readers are on dial-up!

anyway, new location:
www.moonbells.com  (main entry page of garden website)
www.moonbells.com/allotment/allotment.html  (the diary)

postscript - I can't get the links above to work on my work laptop but I can on the home PC! Can folk let me know please via PM if they get a 404 or an intro screen with red MOVING! notice on? Cos if you do, it's the old forward to freeserve and means the domain name server change hasn't propagated properly yet.

moonbells
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 15, 2006, 10:59:40
On little problem i am having with my blog is veiwing it when i update it. I post an update then cant veiw the whole updated blog. I can veiw the pre update blog  and the update but rarely all together unless i either use a different browser or access the blog as a 'visitor'. I have a feeling it might have something to do with my ISP browser (AOL) but I am not sure.

has anyone else found this problem?

UPDATE: It would appear that 'Blogger' does not work properly on AOL. So in future i will be updating my blog using MSN or Internet Explorer (probably the latter).

A bit frustrating but there we go.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Mrs Ava on March 15, 2006, 16:20:43
I do love reading all the blogs, it is like being a nosey neighbour!  ;D

Thanks for all the lovely messages from people about my blog - I fear I will soon bore you all rigid as I start going to the allotment more and more!  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: mc55 on March 15, 2006, 18:33:42
Garden Cadet - blogger isn't supported properly by Opera either ... I can post text OK, but if I want to add photos then I have to open up explorer and do it through there.

Moonbells - got into your site with no issues, so its obviously worked whatever you did.

I've finally worked out how to add links, so am gradually adding you all to my site - let me know if you'd rather not be linked.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 17, 2006, 18:44:57
Been a bit lax with my blog recently, been meaning to add some more interesting stuff, about what i have done in the garden, articles photos etc, but just dont seem to have gotten around to it recenly. Best efforts have been a partial update of my weather/temperature diary and a test post, all this despite best intentions to do other wise!

I have no objections to a link in another blog.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Jesse on March 17, 2006, 20:00:39
Oooh yes, I'd like to be linked please.  :)
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Mrs Ava on March 18, 2006, 10:59:01
I am more than happy to by 'linked' .  Now to work out how to do it and link you lot!  ;D
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 18, 2006, 12:46:13
Quote from: EJ - Emma Jane on March 18, 2006, 10:59:01
Now to work out how to do it and link you lot!  ;D

Ditto me!
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 18, 2006, 13:58:08
Just had a go and been sucessfull. On Blogger/Blogspot, you have to start a new post, then copy your link from elsewhere, click on the 'link' button at the top of the create post screen. It then comes up with a box where you can paste the link (make sure you only have 1 'http//'). Now click 'OK' and it will insert the link into the post.

One word of warning it will insert the link into the top of the post and nowhere else and you cant move it other than to insert text above it. If adding multiple links you have to make sure you insert them in the order you want them to appear. Other than that its fairly straightforward - a bit like the photos (lol)  ;D


PS I have added a couple of your blog links as well as the link to A4All in my 'favorite links' section of the blog.

PS (2) Oops! Just realised we were not talking about putting links into posts but into a menu in the main blog. As far as that goes i dont (yet) have a clue how to do it! Sorry!
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 18, 2006, 14:37:37
After a lengthy learning curve i have now worked out how to add links to the side pane of my blog. Its not that straightforward and requires some knowledge of internet code to do it (which i dont!). However i found a helpfull article on the blogger website which I would be happy to pass on if anyone wants to do the same with their blog.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: fozzylozzy on March 18, 2006, 19:54:33
Mine's in my signature.... ;D


Louisa xx
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 20, 2006, 21:16:58
At the same time as working on my blog i have been taking a look at some of yours. I have to say i wish I could get mine looking as good!  I sem to be having a problem mixing photos and text and making the end result look good. I have ended up doing seperate posts for text and photos and the whole effect is most unsatisfactory (and not very space efficent). I'd ask for help (either on the blogger forum or here) but i dont know where to start!

Anyone care to lookat my blog and offer some tips? Cheers.

PS To cap it all direct photo posting to blogger is currently unavailable, so have been experimenting with other methods and trying to fathom out html in the process.

I think at the end of the day some moral support is required
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: amanda21 on March 20, 2006, 21:23:43
I used to have something called Blogrolling on another blog.  I lost it when I had to reinstall Windows once but I'm sure if you google for it you should find the link.  It is basically a small bit of program (I think!) that allows you to have a shortcut up in the toolbar at the top (Links).  You set up an account (free) with your own blog or website and then when you find a site you want to link to you just click the shortcut and it opens up a dialogue box to enable you to give it a title etc.  I remember it working fine and stops all the fiddling about in html in your template. 
:-\
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 20, 2006, 21:31:16
Amanda21: many thanks. Have registered and will try it out when i get the chance.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Jesse on March 20, 2006, 22:43:17
wish I could offer some help GC but mine is a website rather than a blogger site so I'm not sure how it all works for you. Keep trying though, I'm sure you'll get it looking how you want it. :)
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 21, 2006, 11:10:55
Quote from: amanda21 on March 20, 2006, 21:23:43
I used to have something called Blogrolling on another blog.  I lost it when I had to reinstall Windows once but I'm sure if you google for it you should find the link.  It is basically a small bit of program (I think!) that allows you to have a shortcut up in the toolbar at the top (Links).  You set up an account (free) with your own blog or website and then when you find a site you want to link to you just click the shortcut and it opens up a dialogue box to enable you to give it a title etc.  I remember it working fine and stops all the fiddling about in html in your template. 
:-\

Had a look at 'Blogrolling'. It doesnt seem to work as you described. in fact it seems rather complicated. Are you sure it was 'Blogrolling.com' you used? If it was then it mustve changed since you used it. Might have to find some other way of doing what I want to do.
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: amanda21 on March 21, 2006, 21:24:35
Hi GC - just been on and it looks the same - you will need to register first and then I seem to remember it is a case of copying and pasting a small piece of code into your blog template where you want the links to go......perhaps it does sound easier than it might be!!!  But I managed it so it can't be that bad!   ;)
Title: Re: Any bloggers out there?
Post by: Garden Manager on March 23, 2006, 19:00:40
Quote from: amanda21 on March 21, 2006, 21:24:35
Hi GC - just been on and it looks the same - you will need to register first and then I seem to remember it is a case of copying and pasting a small piece of code into your blog template where you want the links to go......perhaps it does sound easier than it might be!!!  But I managed it so it can't be that bad!   ;)

Amanda21. That last part is the bit that worries me. I am registered with blogrolling, and have a blogroll set up. At the moment i cant work out where the code has to go in the template. I dont want to mess up the blog template by getting it wrong! Have to have another look and be brave i suppose. I managed to add normal links into the template OK so this cant be much harder. Thanks for your help.