Day 1 of Week 1 January 2026

Do you see what I see?

This is a rather chatty post…

The sun is shinning bright on this cold morning in Vermont. 

Earlier, on television, I watched the year arrive with stunning fireworks in London, New York City, Sydney Australia and Paris France. There was a time when I shouted out the door at midnight, Happy New Year! 

And then, there have been more years when I slept as the new year arrives. 💤

How is your year going so far? Have you made any resolutions? Set your sights on something fun? Vowed to lose weight? Learn a new language? 

When sending an email to bloggers to let them know they are thought of, I’ve not encountered an email that will not send until today. I deleted it from All Mail. 

Catching up is my sort of New Year tradition for blogging, along with clearing out old unused accounts, changing passwords, refreshing the password book, and setting blog goals for the new year. 

 

Not a resolution maker (this year), I have told myself to try to not drink soda. There is the Dry January thing going on. I will not participate because I don’t drink alcohol enough to need or have a dry month or week for that matter.  Instead, I’m going for No Soda January. 

Ambition rides on the New Year energy of me dreaming of a long sled ride, bigger and faster than what is sanely practical. I hesitate to post my plans because when I do, things fall apart, enthusiasm disappears to be replaced with empty space that depression fills. ( I am doing better after December blog break.) 

I got plans 🤣😎, and the prayers 🙏🏻 to go with them. 

A few small things under consideration: 

Learn more photography ~ What about becoming a photographer for real? Mat and frame a few. 

Learn a new language ~ Use an audio course to learn. Irish and Mandarin would be fun

Daily Sketch ~ Fill up sketchbooks. Mat and frame a few drawings

Cook from recipes ~ Think Soup Journal

A daily dance ~ Turn on the radio

In the mean time, hunting for a calendar to buy will be fun. Way back when, businesses gave out free calendars. For years, I looked forward to using my favorites, the desk and pouch calendars. I don’t remember the last time I found a free calendar around here. Oh well. 

Tracks In the Snow

Glitch discovered for comments

In Blogspot Layout, click Edit on the post box

There you will see,  Show comment count.

It must be selected for the comment option to show up at the bottom of posts.

Note, it is not the same as the Options feature in the right column on the posting page. 

Day 339 of Week 49 December 2O25

 Merry Holidays!

Blog graphics under construction*

Looking for a new template

for 2026 that is simple and outdoorsy.

Nothing much going on here

Finishing organizing holiday 

decorations is on my list.

Fun recent discovery, summer clothes 

put in bags got mixed up 

with laundry bags. 

I put huge suitcase 

back in the closet

because I thought it was full. 

Bonus…less laundry to catch up on.

The eye surgery and dental work 

took a couple of weeks out of my

moving around much.

Cleaning off my desk

is progressing well.

Have a Clean Weekend!

Tell your boots a fun story

Bake a blueberry pie

Read about reindeer

Browse sleds online

Sing to your comb

Think about summer

Draw a pine tree grove

* Staying with this template. 

I’ve confused myself enough. 😂

Brainstorming To Soothe the Soul

It could be that the subject of blog titles, finding good names is becoming tiresome to read about here. So let me splash around in a different brain pool.

Brainstorming is all about a full fluffy easy brain play time vibe. The exercise can be like a good laugh clearing away one’s woes for a moment. Brainstorming, I believe, is healthy. 

Even if you don’t have a core goal in mind, (like creating a blog title), you can brainstorm.

Consider this: Chose a subject to brainstorm each week. Write down and research your ideas in an Idea Notebook. 

Tip: 

Don’t share your ideas if you don’t want somebody to use them instead of you.

If You ever do have an idea you want to go forward with, then lock down the legal matters first. 

Note. July 2025

Made up domain names, the majority with the word salty:

Availability look up results:

Available - 3

Priced over $1000.00 - 3

Make an Offer - 14

As I’m checking another domain name today, there was a rare screen lock. I had to reload and squeeze out of there. 

Starting a Blog to Build a Brand

Well now, what will this day bring? 

Thus far, lots of research into new ideas, creative pursuits,  and, embracing possibilities.

My Tips:

1. Write down favorite words
2. Create combinations of words for titles
3. Search the Internet using variations of the title, adding blog, shop, website etc.
4. Search domain name availability in variations using the, and, and a
5. Search US Trademark 
6. If the new title search result on 3-4 pages looks clear of use, is not confusing with another title, is not part of a trademark, and the domain name* is available, then buy the domain name and create a blog.
7. Create a Logo
8. Keep the blog private until it is ready to publish. 
9. Register your brand with the US Trademark Office
10. Always Regularly search the Internet to protect your brand

Brainstorming is how I came up with this blog’s name using steps 1-8. A light bulb came on when I realize that I can create a solid catchy name today just like I did 13 years ago. 

Daunting it be, Even your own made up word or title can be in use by somebody already. 

The search for an original name you like can take time and be very frustrating. The importance of locking down the legal use of a name you create is number one. 

The days of just creating a fun blog without doing the homework, I believe, are over. The Internet is saturated with people craving for attention , and many for the money ads or fame can bring them.

Think safe and secure with your blog name.

* Update 28 July 2025

20 random made up domain name availability look ups: results:

Make an offer - 14

Priced over $1000.00 - 3

Available - 3