Don't let this picture fool you. Maybe it will give you an idea of Blogland Lane, maybe it won't. The truth is the Blogland Lane community is being built from scratch, with an enthusiasm and creativity that is amazing. So far we have fields and lakes and oceans and farms and barns and studios and Victorian houses and cliffs and stables and hot tubs and thanks to Deborah, even an airplane home.
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I am stunned and thrilled with the response so far to Blogland Lane. Because I've gotten alot of credit for the idea, I want everyone to know that the original concept came from a blogger named Caroline Smailes several years ago. I've simply resuscitated the idea, and it's obvious many of us are ready and eager to give some form to our vibrant friendships and sense of community.
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So now what?
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Well, maybe we'll want some goods and services and stores and businesses. Actually, we already have some!
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The purpose of this post is to first and foremost say thank you all the new residents of Blogland Lane, to invite anyone who wants to come to feel free to claim a spot of land and move right in, and to toss out the idea of what next and how next.
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For example, should we have festivals? Community events? Volunteering for worthy causes? Might we list our talents and skills in order to share or barter with one another?
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Maybe somebody would like to design our neighborhood logo or flag, perhaps someone wants to be the town grocer or event planner or organize the first annual garden tour. Anyone have the skills or interest to do that linky thing where we know how to find one another easily? Don't be shy: just say what you want to do and do it. Blogland Lane is that kind of place.
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I'm a counselor and often willing to offer my two cents worth of advice on just about anything. And I read tarot cards. But I don't have the art and graphic design skills I so admire from so many of my neighbors.
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Ideas?
Suggestions?
Possibilities?
Desires?
Wishes?
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Hell, we've come this far in just a few days.
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Why not explore what's next?
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Oh, and one last thing. It is totally incredible how many of us have visited our new neighbors for the first time in the last few days. I think that is just terrific, and I know I'm not alone in thinking that.
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Oh, and one more last thing: Pray for Renee http://circlingmyhead.blogspot.com
Blogland Lane is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI've been out of town, so haven't yet moved in,,but finally closed on my new place. Will have it posted soon,,,and drive around to check out as many of these others as I can. It seems like it's gotten to be a huge community, and I love that! I wish (truly) I had those skills you've asked for here, but alas, I am a techno weenie first class; sorry!
Such a fun, fun idea!
Prayers for Renee, of course. Continuing.
Oh Renee, so much of that one paw in front of the other right now for her...she is in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI can do pet sitting on Blogland Lane (and drink buckets of Margaritas...)
It has been great but I'm having trouble finding the time to hit all the links. Can you either: Start a new blog . .Blogland Lane and include a Mr Linky Widget. Megan does it for Theme Thursday and you just have to say 'yep, I've posted' and people can click and go directly to that post. Alternatively you could add the widget to whatever post you want people to link to. I haven't tried it but I don't think it's hard and it makes navigating to other sites much easier.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.blenza.com/linkies/
It was fun I must admit. I can't to much on a virtual level at all really.
AND might I add . . some of us work 40 hours a week! Sheesh . . I'm struggling . . sooo many lovely blogs and so little time . . .I'm getting a bit ragged around the edges catching up! Well done tho everyone. It's been great to visit . . I think all of you, I can't remember.
ReplyDeleteI tried to visit all my new neighbors in Blogland Lane, but with some of them I could not leave a message, because I am not a Blogspot-member and there was not a possibility to enter a reaction. Sorry for that. I found all of the neighbouring houses I visited really awesome and they have all a very hospitable and creative owner, that is for sure. Thanks KJ, for this 'virtual wave' you organized and for the fun we have together. I am the only European in our Lane, but I hope there are a few more coming over. Thanks again and bye for now.
ReplyDeleteOkay, how do I get a number so I can build?
ReplyDeletekj this has been awesome. i believe it 'taps' into that secret longing and dreaming' place all have in our inner beings, where we would like to escape to, to feel better about ourselves living there. ask teric, or lynn,katie kane (kates corner) how to link it to your side bar, or better still, just create a whole new blog where we can all visit and be!!! (maybe we could all suggest a name for the new blog)
ReplyDeletei definitely think we should have a school there, could be an art school/for kiddies/a creche/ or just a school to learn whatever each other can teach, bit of cooking, yoga, tai chi, embroidery etc...there must be millions of other bloglandlaners with so many skills to offer. love you and what you do for others....
I have seen so many houses already and I just love it kj. It is so fun to see where everyone lives.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at Deborah's house/plane. I guess every neighbourhood has to have one.
This is brilliant fun kj. Thank you.
Thank you also for the prayers.
Love Renee xoxoxo
babs,i'll be over to visit once you're set up! yay!
ReplyDeleteteri, haha, two essential skills!
baino, i love how you've visited so many "neighbors"! some of us work 40 hours a week? tell me about it! i'm drowning trying to get ready for my lovely summer vacation. as for blogland lane, do whatever you do and don't do whatever you don't do. there is no pressure in this neighborhood.
ps tsup!
wieneke, you are not the only european. there is soulbrush for one important neighbor, and i believe marianne from the netherllands will arrive after her vacation. and there will be more... i am so glad you are my neighbor. actually, you know i would love that!!
cs, no permission or permit needed. just pick a number that someone else hasn't picked and move in!
soulbrush, oooh, a school! of course! i don't know about a whole new blog because it's kind of cool we get to visit eachother's existing blogs, at least that's my thought. but the links would be good..i'm hoping somebody wants to take that on...somehow... :)
renee, to bring some fun to you is enough to make my day and my month. hang in dearest moon sister, hang in. and make sure that place of yours is not invisible to even the dimmest eye!!xo
Our dear Bella, how I love her.
ReplyDeletexoxox
Yowza! Such celebration and zippidy doo daa - wonderful place you've created kj. What fun we'll have.
ReplyDeleteOh, and you must be our Mayor, of course!
What about opening our Blogland Lane homes to showcase our arts and crafts a couple of times a year? An 'Open Studios' week in the spring and another in the winter? No-one has to buy anything - we'll have little artsy or craftsy giveaways to hand to visitors as momentoes.
I'm thinking of opening a Mexican Restaurant...
ReplyDeleteKJ, I have been thinking. Is it possible to open a new blog and do it the same as the Skywatch Friday system. I mean: http://skyley.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteIf the residents of Blogland Lane want something to show or to say to the neighbourhood... they just put the date and their url on a list. So everyone can go and have a look. I am not technical at all but maybe it is an idea???
KJ-I reserved the name Blogland Lane and the address www.bloglandlane.blogspot.com for us (and would delete it if you asked me to.)
ReplyDeleteI would be willing to set up the "residents" as authors, which means everyone will be able to post and comment-it would be a shared space.
People could either come there to post their blogland entries (I like that idea) or come with a link to link back to their blogs when they post an entry-that we we'd know who was updating. (Many of the days of the week are already taken with other projects, so this might work).
Again-nothing has been done other than reserving the blog-I'm not trying to step in and take over (and I know you know that but I'm buzzing on coffee so I feel the need to tell you all....)
Hi KJ! I read about your vision on Marion's and Angela Recada's blogs, visited yur site, and accepted your invitation! I am set up at 1710 Blogland Lane, and I would like you to visit! One idea I had was we could have home visiting themes for each day of the week: photos, poetry, music, nature, etc. The other idea would be to create a story by writing a sentence and passing it to another neighbor to write the second, etc. Thank you for this new lease on life! LOVE, Margaret What do I do now to link up?
ReplyDeleterenee, bella is a wonderful person.
ReplyDeletetessa, what a wonderful idea! would you consider being the event coordinator? :)
deborah, that is wonderful! i love mexican. you'll be the first restaurant in town and your lines will be long and lively!
wieneke, you and debra kay are great minds thinking alike (and soulbrush too)
debra kay, oh dear god! please go at this. you are a godsend. step on toes? hardly. how about thank you for everything!!
margaret, hello and welcome. another great idea. i think after everybody says their suggestions we can set up our events, and this is a super one. ill be over to your place soon. and so will other new neighbors.... :)
I'm all moved into 64 Blogland Lane.
ReplyDeleteAll are welcome!
Tsup*!* Kj I just got up and the only doll I resemble would be a Raggedy Ann one right now lol
ReplyDeleteI'm meeting some lovely bloggers, many with feathered friends and animal visitors of various kinds. Thank you for the invite to play and meet, it's been fun.
The only suggestion off the top of my head would be a sign post link so I know whose house I've visited and those I'm on my way to.
Oh and don't worry about Miss Emily becoming too rotund of tum ... the best thing about the never ending supply of jellybeans means you're never full and never expand. Smiles*!*
Oh I so love blogland lane...I do!
ReplyDeleteRenee? I will go see her--at least her blog. I must admit that I have been remiss in keeping up with everyone lately (I did just respond to a comment from you.)
ReplyDeleteIn your new village, do you anticipate the need for police and the rest of the legal apparatus? A standing army, maybe? Ha.
Hey, I didn't know you read Tarot cards. I do, too! And a friend gave me some Runes she made herself and I grew and made my own Yarrow sticks to do the I Ching. I love Tarot best, so far. I'm in the middle of your book, finding it hard to put down, so I have to run. :-) Blessings!
ReplyDeleteEspecially for you I restyled my tent in blogland Lane into a birdhouse :-) It's in a post on my blog. Blogland lane is fun and who knows one day we'll meet IRL.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a Trading Tree or a Swap Shop
ReplyDeleteto swap/trade anything small enough to send via the mail*?*
What a fabulous idea.
ReplyDeleteBTW. Two years ago I started a non-profit called 'My One Square Mile' Blogland could have a virtual office for that organization and other non-profits where people could actually post their personal stories of 'giving'. www.myonesquaremile.com tells more about the organization.
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ReplyDeleteWe need a book store on Blogland Lane, cannot do without a bookstore, obviously. OK, maybe we can order through internet, but then I'd like a friendly mailman of mailwoman.
ReplyDeleteSure we want concerts, doesn't have to be the mega kind of concerts, but perhaps we could invite Selah Sue.
She is Belgian like me, but she sings in English, I really love her voice. Yes, her voice, I know what some of you may be thinking, in particular when you check out her photos on my blog, but I heard her and enjoyed before I saw her perform :-)
http://pieterbie.skynetblogs.be
I had no idea what she looked like, she impressed me with her voice. She plays the guitar nicely as well.
You can click on the link to youtube on my blog and check out if we want her to perform on Blogland Lane.
http://pieterbie.skynetblogs.be
All settled in at Number 88.
ReplyDeletePlease bring your pooch down to the beach or drop by the bird sanctuary.
And don't forget to pop over to my studio to say hi, I just might send you home with a piece of art for your new home.
http://pistudio.blogspot.com/
kj... it's in my sidebar, under 'archives', reads: #333 blogland lane [redux]... which means i've posted it twice ;)
ReplyDeleteHow will I know what's been picked? Because if it's still avaiable, I'd like 2125.
ReplyDeleteGood morning from Athens, Greece.
ReplyDeleteAllow me to tell you that I'm really impressed, walking down this Blogland Lane.
Would gladly welcome everyone at:
http://tonavigatethroughlife.blogspot.com/2009/08/august.html
There's a piece of Greek Feta for everyone and a glass of water, as it is still pretty hot.
Looking forward to offer you your plate.
kj every time I see a new one I can't wait to see what the house looks like and what their address is.
ReplyDeletexoxoxox
I'm late to the party with displaying a house.
ReplyDeleteIn real life I'm moving house and all is a little hectic.
I will post soon as I really don't want to miss the fun of living in blogland, one of my favourite places in the world :)
x Ribbon
It is so hard to choose a home, so many choices and so little time... I think i found my abode and I will wait to post on the new blog for blogland lane. I went to it and became a follower but when can I add my post? I will contact DK :)
ReplyDeleteWow Blogland Lane might soon become Blogland Planet. Amazing how it's growing.
ReplyDelete