I made some small changes to my blog earlier this fall. My friend Jeni helped with some of the custom design work, and kept everything low key, just as I wanted. A big part of my reason for making the changes that I did was so that I could better organize my posts, and make older posts easier to navigate through. So, the work was sort of “behind the scenes.” I finally finished everything over this past weekend. More importantly than what I did was what Jeni did, though. While I worked to make sure all of my posts were categorized, she worked to make some of those categories easier for others to sort through. I have no idea how she does what she does, but to date she has moved my blog from Blogger to WordPress, helped me learn how to use WordPress and maximize what it has to offer, and encouraged me to make changes that would make my blog a more organized place to visit. (I must add that most importantly, she has remained my friend through it all.)
While the changes I am sharing with you today may not seem like such a big deal, I am really happy to have it all finished! I thought about the different things I have shared here over the years and came up with what I think are the topics that others might find most useful, those worth revisiting. That list of topics is in my sidebar now under the title, “Inspiration.” When you click any one of those topics, a page with thumbnail images along with titles of all the posts I have written on that topic will open. You don’t have to scroll through post after post to find what you are looking for. This makes it easier for me to find older posts too! I’m pretty excited about it. I feel like I just did a big fall cleaning, and got everything organized. So, please go check out my inspiration list, and click around for a bit.
One last thing that I added to my sidebar awhile ago, but haven’t mentioned, is a calendar (it’s near the bottom.) The nice thing about it is that you can hover over the dates, and the name of the posts from each date will pop up. This is an easy way to revisit a post from earlier without having to go searching.
If you find yourself wanting to spruce up your blog, be sure to visit Jeni. Her website is a wealth of information, and if you need help, you can hire her!
Thank you, Jeni! You are a blessing.
p.s. That’s our Jesse tree in the picture. One of you asked for more details on our ornaments. Using a combination of the suggested ornament list in The Catholic Home and A Shoot From the Stump of Jesse, I am making them. So far most are needle felted. I am not using any patterns. Most of the symbols are pretty simple. Actually, I made these a couple of years ago, but stopped about a third of the way through. I am hoping to stick with it this year and finish making the set. I am loving having a great devotional to read, and that is really motivating me. My friend Grace is making some really pretty felt Jesse Tree ornaments and Ann Voskamp also has a nice printable set of ornaments along with a devotional available on her website.
p.p.s. I’ve just finished reading Pride and Prejudice. While I don’t remember feeling quite so strongly the first time I read it, this time around I feel that I will be proclaiming it my favorite book for some time. This often happens to me after I read a book that I really enjoy. My favorite book is constantly changing!
Pam says
I had my teenage sons read Jane Austen along with the excellent literary guide by Peter Leithart (Miniatures and Morals), their favorite chapter being “Real Men Read Austen”. Great character lessons in Austen’s books.
Anna says
Oh how I love the arrows ! I’ve been thinking about WordPress forever and now that I got a note from blogger that I’ve used up my storage space I am seriously giving it more thought. It’s either that or quit blogging. I refuse to pay to blog.
Melissa L says
PS- the one aspect of your blog that I miss is the “previous post” and “next post” (or whatever it was named) buttons. : ) Your new organization is great! Very easy to navigate.
Ginny says
You know, you’re right! You are talking about the buttons up at the top when you are looking at a specific post,right? I will look into that. Thanks for bringing it up! It must not be standard with the theme I switched to.
Melissa L says
Yes, it was right at the top of your blog just above the heading of the current post/page the reader happens to be on. So useful! : )
Ginny says
Okay, Jeni directed me to something similar. Tell me what you think. If you go to a specific post there will be gray arrows on either side of your screen that will scroll to the previous or next posts. If you hover over the arrow it tells you the name of the post.
Melissa L says
Thanks Ginny! I like the arrows. I wonder how quickly I would have cottoned-on to that if I hadn’t been looking for it. I think it’ll be pretty self explanatory for users. The only thing that seemed a little funny to me is that it’s the lefthand button I have to click to see the most recent post. I have no idea why I felt like it should be the righthand button to click to see the most recent post; maybe because that’s how you had it set up before. What do you think?
Melissa L says
Ok, I just re-read what I wrote and I think I’m being completely picky! This looks great and I like that the arrows are stationary even when I’m scrolling up and down. Once I’m done reading a post I don’t have to scroll all the way to the top again to hit the next/previous button. Thanks for including this!
Ginny says
It won’t let me reply to the proper comment, but just wanted to say that I think it’s weird the way the lefthand button is linked to the most recent post too! Oh well!
Melissa L says
It is a truth universally acknowledged that your blog is incredible! At least, it SHOULD be a truth universally acknowledged. She’s on of my top 5 favorite authors. Have you ever read Les Miserables? It’s receiving a lot of attention lately as they’re making a new musical movie version. It is in my top 3 favorite books of all time. I think you’d like it. It’s a slough getting through some of the sections (the chapter on Waterloo I vaguely remember wanting to beat my head gently against a wall at times) but if you can skim (I can’t skim because what if I miss something!) through some of those parts you find a rich story that is truly fantastic.
Many blessings to you and your beautiful family this Christmas season. Thank you for sharing them & yourself with us!
~Melissa
ps- your friend Elizabeth (I saw another commenter write about her) is in my prayers.
Ginny says
Thank you!!! And, I really should read Les Miserables. I do own a copy, and I have seen the musical a couple of times and love it. I think it is another example of a book that would be better read on a Kindle. I may have to cave and buy one someday for these super long books that hurt my hands and wrists to hold! And yes, Elizabeth desperately needs prayer right now. Thank you for praying for her!
Rach says
I signed up yesterday for a wordpress blog, currently it is still under construction, when time avails I will spend more time getting it organised! I think I will need to visit your friends blog! Thanks for sending through the advent wreath stuff too! xx
Michele Quigley says
Ginny,
It’s really lovely here. Your blog has a very warm and soothing feel to it.
LOVE P&P and was thinking just yesterday that I needed to find something familiar and loved to cuddle up with on these cold rainy days we’ve been having. That might be it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Michele Quigley says
Also, have you thought about adding the ‘follow comments’ option in the comment form? It makes it easy to follow the discussion via e-mail instead of having the check back for more comments.
Ginny says
I’ll try to find that and add it, Michele! Thanks for the suggestion!
Ginny says
Okay, I added that feature! (and also–I printed some of your Jesse tree ornaments today to make O Antiphon decorations! thank you!)
Michele Quigley says
Fabulous! Do post a picture of your ornaments sometime. I’d love to see them. Blessings!
megan says
I love Pride and Prejudice. I find it more comical every time I read it. But sometimes I start reading just before Volume Three, “To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go.” Be still my heart!
I’m reading The Annotated Emma right now. It feels a little like cheating, but really helps me focus on the sentences when they go on and on and on, and I like the discussion on character development.
Love the new design and the calendar feature! Good work!
Bobby Jo says
Thanks for the links! Your blog looks wonderful.
Nadja says
True confession: I find myself having to read aloud when I read P & P, just so I can have fun with the accents and hear the characters rather than just reading them!
LOVE your coat of many colors…I’ve been trying to figure out what I’d do to make ours, and needle felting it is just brilliant!
Grace says
PS: Dude, you totally made the golden calf. 😉
Ginny says
camel!!!!
Grace says
HA!!! My bad. 😉
Grace says
PS: I saw the rosemary trees at the garden center when I got my wreath stuff but I decided not to get it because the rosemary smell was too strong! I don’t know why that would be a surprise to me. LOL.
Grace says
Pride and Prejudice is certainly my favorite book even if I haven’t read it in at least 8 years and have read things since that were quite excellent. There is just something so perfect about P&P.
Renee Anne says
You know, I’ve tried reading Pride and Prejudice a couple times and I just can’t get into it. I don’t know if it’s the difference in writing structures and language but it’s just for me. I may try something else of her’s to see if it tickles my reading bone.
Grace says
If you don’t like Pride and Prejudice — and it does pain me to say this as an avowed Jane Austen fan — it is extremely unlikely that you will like anything else of hers! Pride and Prejudice is really the jewel in the crown of her writing. Jane Austen isn’t for everyone and it sounds like she just may not be for you! 🙂
Olivia says
I love all the new features! Thank you for thinking of us in the process…it does make it easier to find things and even some things I didn’t know I needed to find. I am slowly making my way into needle felting. More for my kids than myself. I love what you can do with it.
Katie says
I think the new features are great! I found the “what I write about” menu so useful when I was referring my brother to your posts about chickens and bees over the weekend.
jennyann1126 says
I have to say that your blog is my absolute favorite…both to navigate and to read/look at. As a catholic knitting homeschooling mom of nature loving boys i find it so relateable and a breath of fresh air. It’s somewhere where I can find peace. Thank you!
Taryn says
Hi,
I was wondering if you remember approx. how much beeswax you had to use to do the whole nativity decorations? I am getting ready to order but want to make sure i get enough since i have not done this before. They are so pretty and easy and im going to have my sons make some for my mother-in-law. I also love your yellow yarn in the jar idea for making a soft bed for baby Jesus! Thanks so much for your time it will be greatly appreciated!
Ginny says
Hi Taryn!
I am not sure how much we used, I didn’t make them last year and we haven’t made them this year yet. I buy beeswex pellets in bulk. A 1 lb package of pellets would be more than enough I think! You can use leftovers to make ornaments!
Molly Makes Do says
That’s how I feel every time I pick up Persuasion; for me P&P is great, but Persuasion makes me a little giddy. 😉
Ginny says
I may have to reread Persuasion!!
Kelli Mayhorn says
I love all the work you (and your friend) have done to the blog. And I especially love the changes made to your list of inspirations! I’m able to go back and read from before I had found your blog.
Right now, the link on teaching children to knit has me spellbound. Dear Elizabeth and her letter, the beautiful pictures indicating love, patience and accomplishment. I love it all. I’m new to knitting myself, but I believe learning with my four year old may be just the ticket to my learning as well. What a splendid way to spend intentional time with one another.
And I have not read pride and prejudice…I have a copy, so I may have to pick it up. I do love the long Colin Firth PBS movie version, so I don’t know why I haven’t read it up to now.
Ginny, thank you so much for the blessing of your words and this space. I come here everyday and I just love the peace and calm with which you write about life. It all adds so much joy to my day and as I embark on becoming a mother of three (I’m six months pregnant) your stories given me inspiration in what I’d like my home to look like in a lot of ways.
Blessings to you,
Kelli
Ginny says
Thank you Kelli! Please pray for Elizabeth! She is struggling.
Kelli Mayhorn says
I certainly will be praying.
-K
Kelli Mayhorn says
I just went to Elizabeth’s blog today so I could pray for her specific needs and you’ll never guess…
We both live in Charlotte, NC. What a small world. I knew straight away from her boy’s tie dyed park road Montessori shirt. 🙂
-K
Wendy says
Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time favorites.
Cassidy says
I adore Pride and Prejudice! It’s been one of my favorites since I first read it in high school (for fun – not for school). I love your blog design. I have found all the links helpful. I am a new-ish reader of yours and still find that I could spend hours perusing your site just because I find it so very inspiring. I love to see what y’all are reading and I adore your knitting yarn alongs! I know I’ll be using the homeschooling links so much more as my littles grow.
Heather says
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books as well. I am constantly looking at all the modern interpretations of this story, and some are quite entertaining. One that I would definitely recommend is the BBC mini-series Lost in Austen.
Cassidy says
Ohhh…I despised Lost in Austen! I may be a bit of a purist when it comes to Austen though, haha! I have a few friends who loved it as well. Have you found The Lizzy Bennett Diaries on YouTube? I’ve been watching those recently. I’m withholding my judgement until the end, however, haha!
Heather says
I haven’t seen The Lizzy Bennet Diaries…definitely sounds like something I should look into though! Thanks!