Blog-iversary #14

Of course, the title isn't actually a word (blog-iversary or blog-aversary?), but was cobbled together to announce a milestone—our blog celebrates its 14th-year anniversary 🎉 today—time that's gone by very fast.

The aptly titled First Post on Sunday, January 16, 2010 was written by Grenville, who most now know as Patrick, my husband and co-blog administrator.

In that post, he wrote: Have you ever wondered what others think of your life? Is it interesting? Sound like fun? Wish they could be living it? Think that you are wasting your time and theirs? Wonder why they are still reading about the stuff you are doing?

He further explained that the blog would be about our home, the town we lived in (back then a small town on the VA eastern shore), what we were doing, adventures taken and/or dreamed about, friends and a little (or lot) of our ramblings about life in general.

That first post elicited a scant three comments, two of which were from a friend who lived nearby. Next, it was my turn to post and that post explained that the blog name, The Frog & PenguINN, was what we had christened our VA home after learning that other homes in the area also had names. We went for a bit of fun with ours based on a collection of frog and penguin items. The INN part of the blog name happened as we briefly had thought about it being a B&B; however, after talking to a NJ friend who ran one, soon decided that would not be an option, but we kept the name. 

Frog & PenguINN, VA, before & after

Our VA home was an older one needing makeovers which kept us busy for several years after we had relocated from our native NJ in 2004. Our new town had a total population of less than 500, starting a blog seemed a fun way to reach out to others. 

Back then, we were avidly posting about everything. That first year some months had more posts than days in the month. In the fall of 2010, we went on an extended road trip to New England, not suspecting that it would become our future home in 2017 when we relocated to NH. This was the first of our future road trip posts.

In time, comments grew, up to a high of 10 and recently over 30. That number has never mattered, then or now. We've enjoyed sharing our lives and adventures and will continue to do so. Over the years, several folks whose blogs we've read or who read ours are no longer blogging, some by choice, sadly a few have passed. We're grateful that some bloggers (you know who you are) not only still comment, but have kept blogging as well. We appreciate all who stop in to visit — the Welcome mat is always out.

In case you're curious, like me, here's what was happening 14 years ago in 2010.

Internet source

Take note of the price of a USPS First Class stamp when it was 44 cents. As of January 21, 2024, the price for a First-Class Forever Postage Stamp increases from 66 cents to 68 cents (still time to stock up). Notice too that the federal minimum wage was $7.25/hour which it was increased to in 2009. This year, it's going up to at least $16 an hour in a few states. In other states, new minimum wages will range from $10 to $15. Also, this was the first year for the Apple iPad. 

As you can see, in 14 years, a lot has gone on our lives and worldwide. A BIG thanks to all who have been along for our blog adventures . . . to be continued. 

Dorothy & Patrick (aka Beatrice & Grenville)