Friday, April 12, 2019

In Which I Give Myself a Facelift


I'm so excited.  I got all brave and courageous this morning.

First I went to GoStencil.com and designed a new header with a photo I took last year while visiting a dear friend's rental cottage overlooking Cape Cod Bay.  She had a gorgeous deck with the most wonderful rocking chairs right on the water.  Breathtaking.

No, I didn't touch up the colors.  Who'd dare to mess with God's incredible paintbox!

Then I took a great big breath and ventured deep into the bowels of Blogger which is not my favorite thing to do since the day I set this blog up ... and in the process almost deleted it and my dear Creekside Ministries website from whence I came.

Talk about anxiety!

With a bit of apprehension I tinkered with the innards here and there, tidied and tweaked and enlarged, switched up the colors, freshened things up a bit.  It was a long overdue project, and I'm just so relieved it's over.

For now.  I'm not 100% on the header's wording.  I'd really love for you to offer some suggestions for that tagline, keeping in mind that I'm not only blogging, but counseling as well.  Get creative with me in the comment section, please?!

Meanwhile, if you didn't get the news about 'The Next Right Thing' Book Club that starts on Sunday, April 28th, please head right here right now.  I don't want you to miss it.  We're going to have a blast!

And we have quite a conversation about our blogging lives going on even as we speak.  Please head over to 3 Realities I Know About My Blog Life For Sure ... No, Make that 4 and scroll down to the comment section to hear some true confessions.

Weekend blessings to you, to yours ~
Linda

P.S.
Speaking of writing, three bloggers I follow wrote this week about their unique and quirky writing joys, those unwieldy file spruce ups, and the long and winding road toward publishing.

Enjoy ...
Amanda Hill

Lois Flowers

Barbara Harper

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49 comments:

  1. Thanks for the mention. :) Gorgeous header photo! And I love the wording there. It points to our focus and Guide, and the mention of conversations indicates feedback is more than welcome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christ ... our focus, our Guide. Our reason for living and loving and writing!

      Amen, Barbara.

      Delete
  2. I love the tagline but it's just a wee bit hard to read. A slightly different font, perhaps?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Unknown, whoever you are, you are right on. That tagline is hard to read. It looks like it's trying to blend in with the furniture, literally, trying not to be noticed!

      I can relate.

      ;-}

      Delete
  3. Wow, Linda, I love the new look! And I think your header is absolutely perfect - wouldn't change a thing.
    Blessings!

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    1. Gosh, you're such an encourager, Martha! The technology involved in doing this kind of thing makes me tired.

      ;-}

      Delete
  4. Linda, it looks great! Friendly, warm, inviting, and with a hint of brisk sea breeze.

    And speaking of facelifts...

    I am married to a saint;
    could not have a better spouse,
    and she suggested that I paint
    "The Life Of Elvis" on our house.
    The King deserves this humble homage;
    he brought so many so much joy
    and he deserves our country cottage
    as a place for love's employ.
    We shouldn't let him walk alone,
    and he helped me do it my way,
    so let's give hound dog a bone
    and brick his initials in the driveway.
    For the final scene, now let rip
    with his return upon the Mother Ship.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never even thought you'd have a poem for this post, Andrew. Yet once again, you do not disappoint!

      ;-}

      Delete
  5. I like giving my site a fresh look but often find the technical aspects frustrating. But we're working for the end results which so often are to make things better, nicer, for everyone. What a beautiful view your friend has! You offer equally beautiful views with your grace-filled words, Linda. Thanks for all you put in to serving others.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you for letting me know that I'm not the only one that finds these technical aspects to blogging frustrating.

      Add scary to the mix. Half the time I don't have a clue what I'm doing. I hold my breath and jump!

      Delete
  6. I LOVE the photo header a great deal...(can it be a bit bigger to give the words more optional space?).I would like you to consider another font for your name and the tag line...I think this one is not nearly as lovely as you are. I also wonder if the placement of the tagline gets lost with the chairs background. Not sure black is ideal for the font, but I am sure you tried others and some themes are limited in options. Did you consider changing the font size and placing the tag under your name? If all that is too much, please know I am just looking and re-looking and you asked so these are some of the things I might play with. The new look is very good, but not sure it is quite at its very best yet.❤️

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    1. Ah, no, I didn't try others! I went right to my tried and true default font! I'm not terribly brave with all this, so your words have given me lots of food for thought and fuel to experiment a bit.

      I so appreciate your eye for detail, Pam! And the time you took to eyeball things with clarity.

      ;-}

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    2. I know it can feel scary and overwhelming, but I have gotten some encouragement from a friend who has a degree in graphic arts and helped design and set up my website as well as a granddaughter who is a senior in high school and quite adept at the whole techie thing. I am very much a novice, but I am older than you so it's okay to experiment and still go back to the tried and true. I think the words of the tagline are good...just want them to be lost on the header. Hugs❤️

      Delete
    3. Oh I'm so glad to have you as a guide and a mentor in this season. For lots of reasons, Pam! You are sheer gift to me.

      Will be getting back to you on that email soon ...

      Delete
  7. Lovely header, Linda! You'd never get me off that porch! Well, maybe in a Nor'easter... I think your tag line is perfectly worded! You could add a stripe of opaque white across that part of the phone (behind the tag line) to make it pop! And good for you, stepping out of your comfort zone to spruce things up! Blessings on your Saturday!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I like that opaque idea, June. I've never been a big fan of words imposed on photos because I feel one so easily cancels out the other and leaves the viewer never fully appreciating either.

      Ah, my comfort zone. I love it so ...

      ;-}

      Delete
  8. Of course that deck is heavenly but you would NOT have thought so the day before. A frustrated, wild storm made those chairs rock themselves but that picture shows “... Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
    Psalms‬ ‭30:5‬ ‭NLT

    Sooooo glad we got to spend that time together!

    Love the new look and still thinking on heading. I agree with others that it doesn’t stand out and I like the suggestion to change the font for your name.

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    1. Few people know me as well as you do, Carol. If something comes in the night to make that tagline hit home, I know you'll let me know.

      Miss you already ...

      ;-{

      Delete
  9. Such a pretty spot and breathing space you've captured! The tag line is great, and agree with June --popping it with some colour or even matching it with the type of font you use for the title of your post can add some sprucing up. Whatever you decide, may you just keep having fun with playing with the design!

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    Replies
    1. I can't say I'm having fun with this little project, but I will keep that encouragement in mind as I mess around with some more updates, Lynn. I need to re-configure the way I look at this, seeing it as an enjoyable, relaxing romp, rather than a frustrating venture.

      You've given me a nice nudge in that direction, friend ...

      ;-}

      Delete
  10. Love the picture - very relaxing - like you want to sit and talk with a friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why thanks, Mah! That's exactly the message I want to send.

      You're hearing me well ...

      Delete
  11. That is great that you are going to do a bookclub for The Next Right Thing! Yay! Such a good book. And bravo to you for the new photo! :) I remember your Creekside Ministries website! Had forgotten all about that!

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    1. Yeah, we've been around together for quite awhile, dear Betsy! I'm so grateful ... especially in this age when online relationships are prone to come and go in a flash.

      Faithful friends are a rarity. I'm glad to have you in my life ...

      ;-)

      Delete
  12. Good Morning Linda,

    I am a somewhat long-time reader and first-time commenter. I was introduced to you through a comment you left on Andrew's blog; I was so taken with your comment that I clicked on your name, whereupon I was taken to your Creekside Ministries blog (you moved shortly thereafter to your new blog and I've read you ever since).

    So I first need to say a heart-felt thank you for your years of blogging. Although a silent reader, I have felt such a sense of community through your writing and responding to commenters. You teach not only by your posts, but by HOW you interact with commenters. You are a true counselor.

    I do not know anything about being a blogger, but I thought I'd share a few thoughts about your new design from one layman's perspective. :)

    I love the photo. It does indeed evoke an invitation to "pull up a chair and rest/reflect/visit". It is a very summery photo and is perfect going in to this season. It might be fun, knowing how much you love the seasons, to have a corresponding photo for each season (for example, a couple of chairs around your fireplace for winter). That might be entirely too much work (again, I know nothing about blogging) but it also might be fun.

    Regarding the font for your name... if you really like the current font you might try it NOT italicized and see if it feels better. It might bring a bit more structure to the header. However, your blog is very personal. A more hand-scripted font might convey that... either the font you are now using for your post titles... or the font you used to sign your name at the end of previous posts. It might be worth playing around with.

    As someone who does not know you, I am not aware of how much weight you want to give your counseling practice in this blog. If you do want to give it more weight you might write beneath your name, in smaller font, "pastoral counselor" or "Christ-centered counselor" or "counselor & blogger".

    Your tag-line is beautiful. You might play around with placing it on the far-right-white-chair in the photo like this...
    "meaningful
    Christ-centered
    conversations" ... but with the lines centered on top of each other. This allows all of the tag-line words to be on the white chair and more easily read. You could also put the tag-line below your name: "...meaningful Christ-centered conversations..."

    A option for your tag-line wording that I like is...
    "a place for
    meaningful
    Christ-centered
    conversation". I think this wording adds a tiny bit of clarity. I like turning "conversations" to "conversation" because it subtly communicates that all conversation is connected and related.

    Forgive me if I've overstepped the whole "feedback" bit. I just felt compelled to brainstorm and share. :)

    Thank you again for your on-line presence!
    Warmly,
    Carla

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Dear Carla, Wow! It's so wonderful to meet someone who's been quietly a part of this community for years! Thank you for introducing yourself, for letting me know that you're a regular.

      It means so much that you've dropped in to say, 'hi' today and in the process have given me a whole lot of solid food for thought on the tweaking that's in progress!

      I hope that you found that jumping into this conversation to be comfortable and that you'll be sharing your wisdom with us in the days ahead.

      4 years, huh?

      Wow. Bless you girl ...

      Delete
  13. Thanks for sharing my post, Linda. I love how you are updating and rearranging and figuring out what feels right around here. That picture of you is awesome! Hugs, friend!

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    1. Well, I wouldn't say that awesome would be an apt description, but as ever, you are kind, Lois. It was fun to feature you on this post!

      And I will be responding to your email soon ...

      Delete
  14. Well done on your new look! I like it and I am SO glad you didn't lose your blog in the process! I like the image and I think the tagline sums up well what your blog is about. I agree with some of the others that it might be good to play around with the font of the tagline to make it stand out a bit more, but I think you've done a great job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're such an encourager, friend!

      READERS - be sure to check out Lesley's guest post over at Mary's today - The Adventure of Saying "Yes". I love how she's impacting the next generations for Christ with brand new biblical curriculum for kids!

      https://marygeisen.com/the-adventure-of-saying-yes-guest-post/

      Super!

      Delete
  15. Linda, it all looks beautiful - friendly and inviting. I am so glad you didn't lose your blog! The technical side of blogs can often be more challenging than the writing. Brave woman to do it yourself as I would have been asking my kids for help :)

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    1. You're so right, Joanne ... the technical end of things is a challenge for many of us, to say the least. And when I finally reached out to a designer to add some share buttons and stuff, even she couldn't figure it out!

      So, I've stayed stuck in simplicity ... but when all is said and done, it's been a very good thing.

      Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one.

      Delete
  16. Linda, your photo is beautiful! And the words fit it well. I will have to think on another suggestion. I like it. :) But, if you know why it isn't quite resonating with you, ponder it and see where God leads. :)

    I get sweaty hands every time I have to update something on my blog, or when I want to add something or learn more about it "on the job," so to speak. I haven't touched the innards of my blog in quite some time . . . .hmmm, I wonder what I need to change . . . :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do hate digging around the innards. There's nothing like being half a click away to losing not one, but two websites. My whole life flashed in front of my eyes and I thought I was going to pass out.

      Really.

      Fear has kept me from expanding my social media presence. But God has used it to prompt me to keep things real simple around here. And that's worked very well for me in lots of ways.

      'All things work together ...' don't they.

      Delete
    2. P.S.
      Your site is warm, inviting, and beautifully created, friend ...

      I always love dropping in for a visit.

      ;-)

      Delete
  17. GREAT JOB! I love the heading and pictures you post. Have also almost committed fatal errors before, but somehow survived. A lot like life, Linda!

    Will be on a hiking trip during the next Book Club. I will catch the next one!

    Blessings, My Friend

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    Replies
    1. 'A lot like life.'

      Wow, that never crossed my mind, friend. I love how you gently snuck that truth right in there for us to ponder ...

      Can't wait to hear all about your adventure ... you do know how to live life with abundant energy.

      Be safe ...

      ;-)

      Delete
  18. I don't know, Linda. I like the new look and the tagline. I can't think of any improvements I could suggest. Nice facelift! :)

    I have never updated anything since I began blogging a year ago. I worry about deleting everything I have done over the past year too! My tech skills are not the best.

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    1. Whenever I hear another blogger whose tech-fears align with mine, well, I'm just grateful I'm not the only one ... and am grateful, too, that we can love and support each other through the glitches.

      Let's pray our words, His words, outshine any techie missteps we make along the way.

      ;-}

      Delete
  19. Linda,
    Impressive facelift :-) I really like the photo and your new tagline. Impressed that you went into the techy part of blogging :-) And, yes, God's paintbox is impressive :-)

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  20. Wow - what a beautiful view! I think makeovers are exciting - and oh so intimidating! (Doing mine almost made me throw in the towel completely!!) I really like the tagline!

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    1. Jennifer, I absolutely hear you about throwing in the towel!

      But please don't! Keep on writing, girl ...

      And happy Easter to you, to yours.

      Delete
  21. You are brave my friend and it looks great. Just keep welcoming people into this space with your warm personality. That's all you really need.

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    1. As ever, you've nailed it, friend. The essence of the kind of blogging we've embraced is connecting at the heart level and building relationships. Pure and simple.

      Like the one I share with you ...

      ;-)

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