So here we are in a new year. For those of you who have been struggling, I hope that 2023 is a better year for you.
My hope for myself is that my ability to walk improves in this new year.
What I Did On New Year’s Eve:
As usual, I didn’t do much of anything on New Year’s Eve. Here’s a bit of personal trivia: I’ve never been to a New Year’s Eve party my whole life.
I watched a few episodes of “Saving Grace” and then read 3-4 chapters of the novel “Take It From Me”.
The “Saving Grace” episodes are about to come to an end and I’m going to miss this show. I can’t believe I never watched it before, because I’ve known about it’s existence for a long time.
I looked up why they cancelled it. Seems it was very popular here in the US. But apparently didn’t do so well in other countries.
But this show seems tailored to US viewers. With Grace’s somewhat southern accent and everyone’s fierce love of football at the University of Oklahoma, it probably wouldn’t have worldwide appeal.
But it is a good show and the story lines are very well crafted. Fascinating characters, a compelling story line, and well, Holly Hunter is simply a superb actress.
She does not disappoint in her role as a seasoned detective. Plus she is a producer for the show.
Upcoming Book Blog:
Every day I’m working on getting the book blog up and running. I’ve set it up with my host, purchased a great theme, and sketched out many of the things I want to include there.
I’m going to add TV and movie reviews as well. Because, well, we read books for entertainment, and the same applies to TV and movies. So I’m going to address both.
I’d like to dig into what’s going to come out next with Netflix, Prime Video, etc. So maybe I can apprise you of what is developing in terms of future TV viewing.
I will do the same with upcoming books soon to be released.
I’m working on ways to build a community there just as I have here. I want readers to get involved with challenges and such that I’ll put forth.
It won’t just be book reviews. That is only one topic I want to cover. There will be many other aspects to Cozy Little Book Nook.
Doing Research For The Book Blog:
I’m researching other book blogs here and in the UK to see what kind of content they provide in their blogs. It’s always good to see what others have created.
It’s not always necessary to completely reinvent the wheel. But instead I’ll let what others have done inspire me.
You will all see Cozy Little Book Nook publishing content once I decide on the final draft of the header, complete the design of the blog, and begin to add posts.
It will be weeks in the making because I’m somewhat of a perfectionist.
And doing all this takes a lot of time, let me tell you! I even edit and edit and edit a post before it is published.
There will be book challenges, book lists, exploration of various book genres. Hopefully author interviews if I can arrange them.
And one day maybe even a podcast that might contain such things as interviews with authors.
The theme I purchased has an optional segment for a podcast with animated headphones, microphones, and sound waves.
(I know nothing about any of this, but I can sure learn! Well, maybe.)
I know nothing about podcasts except for the few I’ve listened to.
But you never know, I might just figure it out and see if it’s something I like doing. No promises there. Hard to teach old dogs new tricks.
But books topics lends itself well to creating podcasts. And I see many other book bloggers doing podcasts.
What Will Be Included:
Cozy Little Book Nook will not be making revenue like this blog does.
To get into the wonderful ad network I’ve been with since 2015 requires having at least 100,000 page views per month. And I have that here.
But I’ll be building a new blog from the ground up. I believe I read that if you have the 100,000 page views on one blog, then you only have to have 30,000 monthly page views with the second one.
But boy, that sure sounds like a lot of page views when you haven’t yet written the first post or gained even one reader!
So I’ll still be using Amazon affiliate links for books I write about, just as I’ve been doing here. That hopefully will bring about the revenue to cover my monthly expenses for the new blog.
You never know, maybe one day I can get to that 30,000 page views per month!
I try not to add too many affiliate links, because aside from the ads that I know are aggravating (but essential to making income), I don’t want to make the blog seem even more commercial.
This blog costs me about $150 a month to keep running smoothly.
How Long Cozy Little House Has Been On The Internet:
Cozy Little House will be 14 years old in April. Can you believe that?
It’s amazing for me to look back and know that I’ve kept at it pretty much every day for that long. That really is the secret to successful blogging: Being consistent.
Of course I lost 4 years of posts due to a technical disaster that was either the host’s fault or that of the domain company, as most of you know.
That was sad and I grieved those 4 lost years of content, but I immediately moved forward and never looked back.
You know that old adage about making lemonades out of lemons.
I hope you feel like I’ve created a community here for women to feel free to add their thoughts and suggestions and to express their emotions. A place to safely commiserate and to reach out and help one another. That was my intention.
And I will be doing the same with Cozy Little Book Nook. There won’t be daily posts, but more well thought out posts that simply can’t be churned out on a daily basis.
The same goes for this blog. Therefore I probably won’t be posting daily here.
I know you’d like to see more decorating and gardening posts and that type of content, and I want to provide that. My physical condition has hindered those types of posts of late.
But if I have more time to create decorating posts, it will be easier for me to put together what those kinds of posts entail.
When Posting On A Daily Basis:
It’s hard to come up with that kind of thing when you’re posting daily. And I don’t want to spread myself too thin.
Giving Ivy attention every time she jumps up here and head butts me interrupts my writing too! (Which is often).
And it may be that you get tired of reading posts every single day.
Organizing and writing New & Notable Mentions takes me at least a day to put together. But I enjoy doing it.
I’ll just see how it goes and let the future dictate what happens. Because, really, what else can we do?
Happy New Year to all of you!
Your new blog sounds better and better every time you write about it! Can’t wait!
Brenda I was so glad to hearthat you would also include comments about movies and other shows on t.v. and from streaming services. I do not read nearly as much as you do and when I do I like to read biographies and auto bios. My eyesight has gotten much worse as I age[ugh] I read a lot just not fiction; I prefer to read about things that are true. Also about podcasts how do you find out how to connect to them??? I also wish and hope for your health and mobility issues to improve! My mother always told me when I was complaining about something that “WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD HEALTH YOU HAVE EVERYTHING” and she was soo right!!! SANDEE.
I am currently reading a book you wrote about last January, Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. It’s hard to imagine that children could survive such abuse and that there were totally unprotected.
Regarding your new venture, I like reading books by British authors. The different terms they use for common things and the turns of phrase they use are fun.
This blog is nearly 14 years old? I must have been with you from nearly the beginning! In late 2009, my divorce was nearly complete, and I was moving back to San Diego. I was purchasing a tiny 744 sq.ft. condo, and I was doing internet searches for decorating tiny and cozy homes. Your blog popped up. I remember you describing your home near a pine forest (?). You had kitties and doggies, and doted on your garden. You weren’t yet talking about your own divorce. I really wish I could remember the first blog of yours that I read. Fourteen years. Time is just whizzing by.
Well, first of all, I never get tired of reading your daily posts. I look forward to reading them everyday. I enjoy reading the comments as well. This leads me to my second comment… The community you built here is wonderful! I wish that same success for your book blog too. We all feel like friends, and that’s thanks to you, Brenda. I really appreciate all the hard work and effort you put into your posts. And it’s so sweet of you to take the extra time to respond to us. It’s a labor of love for sure. Happy New Year!
PS- I love your new blog picture! It’s soooo cute! You can definately tell that kitty is your sweet Miss Ivy! The person you paid to make that graphic image did such a beautiful job!
Your new book blog sounds interesting, even though I don’t care for the same genre of books that you do (mystery and suspense). That’s ok though…I’ll still follow your new blog because it’ll be interesting to read your reviews of books, movies and TV shows. We started watching Somebody Somewhere on HBO this weekend and we’re really enjoying it.
Please post something letting your followers know when the new book blog is up. I know we are all looking forward to a chance to read anything you do.
Wow, admire your ambition and teaching yourself how to do things!! Wishing you all the best in this new blog too!!
I look forward to the new book blog. If it is as good as Cozy Little House, it will be a success. I have been an avid reader for 5 years and plan to continue for many more. Keep up the good work.
Brenda,
I am so excited for your new blog. YOU can do anything you set your mind too and if it is a passion of yours I am sure that we will all enjoy it. I don’t watch tv so I will be there for the books and the music.
I too have been blogging for 14 years and it takes a tremendous amount of time, effort and dedication. I have been reading your blog for that long and I remember when you lost your posts. Thankfully you were able to start again.
Happy New YEAR! I cannot wait to see what wonderful things the new year brings to you, my hope is that your blessings will be immense and your mobility be one of them.
Take care my friend,
xo Elizabeth
This is so exciting, Brenda! I just can’t imagine putting it all together as you do —and will in the new blog.
Also loved the quotes, especially the one about the shards of the past becoming part of the new.
We’re all behind you, our community of women.
Did you notice the new blog header I did today? I added pots of flowers, the new Ivy graphic, a watering can, and a tiny hummingbird.
Wow wow you sure are talented Brenda!!!
Honestly, I’d have zero idea how to get something like a book blog going.
Just not at all in my imagination or cleverness to do.
I love reading your blog.
Will be likewise for the book, tv, music ,,,,, and everything (review) blog corner!!
Can’t wait to learn more of your latest creative creation!!
I’m having fun with it. Just playing around until I get it the way I want it. I love playing with graphics. I’m self-taught so it’s taken me years to figure it out. It will all come together.
Conratulations on forging ahead with the Book Nook! May it be personally gratifying for you and I believe from everything you have said that you are coming at it from a place of love and that is the BEST way to begin any business. One step at a time and I predict you will be very successful with it (over time). You can definitely learn the other aspects like podcasts- the technology will likely be the easy part for an experienced blogger as yourself – the key is the podcast content so that people want to keep coming back for more. You can do it! We are all here behind you! Cheers to good health, happiness and peace in 2023.
I’ll take that health bit, and I hope for great health for all of you. Avoiding COVID and all the new and ever-changing variants is my concern.
I follow your blogs daily and will do the same with your book blog. You have a talent for presenting material and being an avid reader, I will probably be buying books through your blog, not into tv and movies as much. Are you still buying books from Book of the Month Club?
Happiest of New Years to you this 2023!
Yes, still getting Book Of The Month. Yes, books are more my thing than TV or movies. I just like to watch a couple of episodes of a series at night to break things up a little so I’m not continuously reading a computer, reading a book, etc. all the time. I have to rest my hands.
I, too, can ‘hear’ the excitement in your post!
Don’t fret about how long it’s taking for you to prepare your new blog. I’ll be ready to read and enjoy it when you’re ready.
We had a very quiet New Year’s Eve and thoroughly enjoyed every minute in the Living Room. LOL I have been to New Year’s Eve parties in the past, hated every minute and can’t remember the last time. I prefer my own company!
Happy New Year, Brenda! I’m looking forward to your posts in 2023.
Oh thank you! I thoroughly enjoy blogging, writing, taking pictures. Haven’t been able to do much of the photography lately. But with time I will get back to all that I love.
I can hear the excitement as you write about your new blog! I think it will
be a wonderful new endeavor. And to think a PODCAST in the future!! You never cease to amaze me! And 14 years of blogging. That went by in a flash. I used to love your pictures from your place in Texas. Then again all of your pictures are fabulous! Happy New Year to you and Ivy❤️
I miss those pictures. But I sure don’t miss living there!
Sounds great! Looking forward to seeing the movie/TV info since I don’t read much fiction.
The quotes in today’s post are wonderful.
Happy New Year!
I’m checking out how to find out about new movie and TV series releases. I just signed up for emails for that very thing a few minutes ago.
Happy New Year Brenda. Wishing you health and the ability of pain free walking. First and foremost, you have achieved your goal making your blog community a safe place for us to interact with others and to share our feelings. This is the only blog I feel comfortable commenting on. I love the New and Notable Mentions and appreciate the time it takes for you to prepare, write and add photos to enhance your blog. I am glad to hear you will be adding tv, movies and maybe even music? to the new blog. I couldn’t do all you have to do to create a blog. After trying all the special shows last evening, we quickly gave up and went back to our current binge watching of Imposters on Netflix. We also like Yellowstone but neither one of us could get into White Lotus. Of all the quotes about the New Year, I love the first one you posted. We are all special in different ways and that should be celebrated and used to enhance our relationships with one another. Happy New Year, friends!
I forgot music!
I love the quote “ Every year we make a resolution to change ourselves, this year make a resolution to be yourself “. It does seem like a huge undertaking to do the book blog, but as we all know, you will pull it off beautifully!
Happy and Healthy New Year to all.
It is a huge undertaking. We’ll just see how it goes.
Thank you for the Saving Grace recommendation…I have been looking for something to stream that appealed to me, and this sounds like something I will like. Happy New Year dear Brenda…I hope each new day brings you closer to new healing.
I think you’ll like it if you can get past all the rough language, etc. You will find out a reason why she tends to be the way she is later.
Oh my goodness Brenda this seems like an awful lot of work and time consuming but I know if you are doing something you love then its not quite as it seems to others and of course dear Ivy must have the attention she so deserves.
I do listen to quite a lot of Podcasts usually when I am working in the kitchen or crafting. Most of my reading is done in the summer months when I am relaxing in the garden or I will take a book to some appointments where waiting time is sometimes long. Thank you for taking on this (what appears to be a huge undertaking )for us, I am sure we will all love it.
Can you tell me about the podcasts you listen to? I might want to listen to some of them.