Thursday, March 15, 2012

Las Aventuras Celebrates Year 2!

I can't believe I began two years ago!!  It seems longer.  Last year, my mission was to write a post(or two) a day featuring articles from the garden and travel(among other things). 
I took this at Gates Pass before titling my work.
I still share my frustrations with the garden here.  There always seems to be something going on and it is enjoyable to watch.  Our oak trees are still a mess....especially this time of year.  Random things die and random things grow.  The stable plants like Heavenly Bamboo and Oleander grow larger and larger every year creating borders.  I've become more fascinated with solar technology and birding around our garden.  And while the changes are slow, they are happening.  While Las Aventuras turns 2, this will be my 4th year taking over the maintenance for the grounds.  Last year was all about the removal of plants damaging building structure.  This year will be about placing appropriate plants in the right spaces and pruning several plants back for a fuller look in late spring and early summer.  At this point, I will begin to wean the plants from the regular water they required while they were young. Around half of the property has now established itself and requires very little maintenance.
At the Phoenix Botanical Gardens
Last year it was challenging to write a post everyday with my regular job.  There is never a lack of topics to explore or photograph....just never enough time to do it all.  It took a little scheduling to stay on top of it all and keep ahead of myself.  This year I have relaxed a bit on writing everyday allowing the blog to post fresh articles right off the press:)  It was also last year that I discovered that I was posting a lot of work about NASA and our amazing universe.  I decided it wasn't appropriate to post these passions on Las Aventuras.  And with great hesitation, I created Spatial Intelligence.  I would give my life to travel the cosmos.  As a child, dinosaurs, Egyptians and our universe have fascinated me.  Today, I've added several other items to that list:)
There were times where I wanted to scream because blogging became more of a chore and there were several posts that absolutely bored me, and yet today they help a lot of Tucsonans and those other people north of us:)  I found that trying to write during the holiday season is almost impossible.  I also found that doing a photo shoot in December is also impossible.  Luckily, I had planned for that and took the month of November off to relax a bit from writing.
Mexican Fencepost Cactus taken at my friend's house in Phoenix
My blogging friends.  I am so grateful for you all with your help on articles and ideas from over these past couple years.  I've learned so much from you all and it is sad when several people from the blogosphere disappear and never return.  Some people blog for a moment, others blog for enjoyment, and for others, their blogging is a lifetime committment.  Mine is the latter as it will chronicle my journeys in life.  I have a LOOOOOOOONG list of things to accomplish and we are just getting warmed up for travels both near and far. So thank you friends for all your support.  I really enjoy your comments and stories.  There is so much more to share.  Until next time.....
The Rose Garden at the Gardens in Tucson

23 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary of blogging. I must say, you certainly have been and are a prolific blogger and I have found everything I've read so far in the short time I've been following you, very well written and beautifully illustrated with your wealth of lovely photographs. I love your sense of humour and passion both of which come through strongly and your wonderful outlook on life. You are one of my favourite bloggers, but I am not able to get around to everyone as often as I would like to, so I'm not always able to keep up with everything you post. I'd love to go through your archives sometime as well, but there's never enough time to do that, either. Someday...someday :) For now, I wish you well on your journey and I'll keep reading as often as time allows!

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  2. Happy second anniversary! It is quite a milestone because as you wrote so rightly many people disappear from the blogsphere! I have the same feeling about blogging than you, most of the time it is great but occasionnaly i have to drag myself to write something meaningful, some other time i am just short of time, and yes it is difficult to write when away. In this case i write in advance and use the pre-scheduled publishing button, so useful. I just check the comments and reply as i want to thanks all my regular and faithful blogfriends!Blogging for me is also a support to my site so it is important to keep it going smoothly and nicely!
    Difficult to juggle with everything i know! But you are doing beautifully well as your posts are always different and interesting, and you comment on others! I think you've got it 100%!
    We'll discuss more of this next year when you celebrate the 3rd blog-anniversary!
    Best wishes, DeeBee

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  3. Great and post and Happy Blog anniversary! I enjoy reading your post and seeing your beautiful photos. Your rose garden shot is stunning. It is also wonderful to see your birds that I might never get to see. Unless I visit Tucson, you know maybe someday I will get there. Thanks for sharing, have a great day!

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  4. Gratuluję dwóch lat blogowania i powodzenia w przyszłości. Myślę, że tematów Tobie nie braknie. Dla mnie blog stał się światem przyjaciół na całym świecie z którym mogę się podzielić moi światem. Pozdrawiam cieplutko.*** Congratulations on two years of blogging and good luck in the future. I think the topics you do not want. For me the blog has become a world of friends in the world with whom I can share my world. Yours warm.

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  5. Congratulations on 2 years! Your blog is always a highlight to my day. Thank you for sharing all that you do!

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  6. happy 2nd blogiversary! i like the variety of topics you post here. since i don't garden, i love the photos, the birding, etc. :) keep it up, chris!

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  7. Congratulations on your second anniversary of blogging. It's so much fun to see all that is special about Tucson.

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  8. Congratulations on your second anniversary Chris. I really love your blog and look forward so much to all the exciting posts and beautiful photos in the year to come. Thanks to for the link to Spatial Intelligence - another super blog. I wondered what had happened to your astronomy posts!

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  9. I love the garden flowers and the beautiful butterfly eating an orange, great photos.

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  10. Happy anniversary Chris,
    As you say, there are lots of things to see and do yet, so you'll need lots more anniversaries !!

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  11. Well done on the two year anniversary, some lovely pics in this post, I look forward seeing and reading much more :-)

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  12. Congratulations on two years. I am glad you were able to work through the boring periods.

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  13. hooray for you Chris....that's a whole lot of typing
    and I have enjoyed every word that I have read..and swooned over your travel photos and your birds! You have become a dear blogger friend..thanks for all your words of kindness and for the funny words too
    you have a great blog...congrats
    love that cactus with the red fingers sticking out from its side :)

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  14. Congratulation on your garden and blogging. There is always something to learn from other bloggers. I was so pleased when I saw your comment. I had to take a break and take it a bit easier. But it is addictive and fun and I am back. I read your garden has established and does not need as much water anymore, here the same but mine is now 23 years old so it also has changed a lot in this time. Some plants have disappeared and other have taken their place, as there is now much more shade. The setting sun with the cacti is beautiful. I will keep in touch with your garden. T♥

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  15. Hi Chris, From someone who has been blogging regularly since 2006, I will be the first to admit that you/we do need blog breaks from time to time.

    I used to blog every single day --and now, I'm down to 3 days a week. For me, it's not doing the blogs. I never run out of something to say or share. But--for me, it's getting to everyone else's blog and leaving comments. It takes SO much time.. I just have a hard time keeping up... But it makes me guilty if I don't visit people who visit me. Blogging 3 days a week has helped with that. I can take some days off and do other things which are important to me (like my Genealogy or working in the yard, etc.)....

    I too am committed --and don't understand how people can blog and then just quit. I couldn't ever do that. I have too many special new friends in my life. I truly love it --although I do say now that Facebook is easier..

    Congrats of having a fabulous blog. I really enjoy it.
    Betsy

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  16. The rose garden amazes me. Your blog is exceptional as well. Congrats and happy blogging!

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  17. Congratulations on the two years!!! I'm enjoying my time spent with you.

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  18. If you hear of oak trees which leave no mess behind, let me know :-))
    Happy Anniversary. Your blog is a treat.

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  19. Congratulations on your two years of blogging! I really enjoy reading your blog and am looking forward to reading it for many years to come!

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  20. Congratulations Chris! Your blog is wonderful and 2 years is a lots of blogging! I always look forward to seeing what you are up to!

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  21. Congratulations!
    Beautiful post and photos.

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  22. Congratulations on your second blogaversary!

    I have very few blogs in my reader, or on my sidebar blogroll, with daily posts. Rather than 7 daily posts from one blog, I would like to read 7 posts from 7 different blogs. There are so many enticing blogs out there.

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  23. ..and with over 164,000 pageviews I'd say you've more than accomplsihed your goal of providing interesting posts, photos, travel logs, stories, and great gardening information to others no matter WHAT the topic!
    Congratulations on year 2, my friend.

    Here's to a wonderful year 3 filled with Adventuras!
    David/:0)

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Thanks for stopping by!