My Gravatar
I’ve received a few odd comments on my gravatar since I started blogging (11 months, 14 days and eight hours ago). People aren’t sure what the picture is so I thought I’d take a time-out post to explain.
Last week when I wrote about my hubby going down to the creek to catch some crabs for dinner I tried to find some old pictures of our fishing spot to post here. Unfortunately, I loaned my laptop to someone last year and they deleted all my photos (I’ve got back-ups somewhere, but they’re in a moving box under a thousand other moving boxes in a shed). So I can only find two shots.
The first shot is my gravatar and the one below it is the full vista. These photos were taken on our boat early one morning on the way to a fishing and crabbing venture. I’m sitting at the front of the boat with my back to the camera and the wind has caught my hair. I love this photo because of the freedom and exhilaration I feel when I’m travelling across the water.
Here is the wider shot in front of me
When I’ve got time to get back in the boat and spend a day on the water I’ll definitely be taking my camera!
My one year blogging anniversary is coming up very soon.
Do you think its time to change my gravatar?
Dianne Gray author 
I like your Gravatar. It is completely up to you though. If you want to reverse the image? 😉
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Thanks Alistair – that’s a good idea! 😉
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🙂
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I like your gravatar. It’s a bit mysterious and doesn’t reveal you completely. But it shows your personality. I also love your river photo. Don’t you just love days that start like that.
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Absolutely – I can’t wait to get back in the boat again. It’s such a beautiful feeling! 😀
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I love your current photo! Between your house and the boat, you’re living in paradise!
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I really feel like that, Jill! 😀 I’m so glad you like the photo and it makes sense to you 😀
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Such a timely post, because just yesterday I was wondering what was coming up off the left side of your head. I knew it was a silhouette of you, but I wondered about the antennae. 😉 Seeing the real picture makes perfect sense. I love your gravatar!
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LOL – that’s my alien antenna! It makes much more sense when you see it up close. I’m so glad you like it – I absolutely love yours and that’s what got me thinking about it 😉
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You could always use the towel sunhat picture for your gravatar ;-), but I really love the silhouette of this one. I was going to use our beagle’s cute face for mine, but at the last minute it dawned on me that I should use Susan. It may have been confusing at first, but I’m really glad I chose her.
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I think it’s wonderful! Susan is such a bright and happy picture – I always smile when I see it 😀
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If you like your gravatar don’t change it. I enjoy it. It suits you. 🙂
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Thanks, Jackie! 😀
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Men like mysterious women…I think! 🙂
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LOL – I love this comment! 😀
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Your gravatar’s been the same since I started blogging, so I will always recognise it as ‘you’. Change it if you like… but I love it as it is, having a particular liking for silhouettes and clouds… 😉
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Aww – that’s really nice, Tarina. I guess if I change it I’ll lose my ‘personality’ so to speak 😦
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I knew it was you . . . it’s so funny that you thought I didn’t know that!
I’ve passed my 3rd year blogging anniversary and have yet to change my gravatar. Lazy? perhaps.
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I think changing it may confuse people even more. I’m so glad you knew it was me, Nancy! 😀
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If you change it . . . I vote for the towel turban shot! 😀
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I like the turban towel shot as well! Now that would be unique 😀
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I like your gravatar and think you should change it if and when YOU feel you should.
Now, I’m off to read about crab-catching…!
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LOL! Crab catching is a fun business 😉 You’re right about me changing it when I want to change it. I need yo make that decision 😀
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Do what you like. It’s your blog.
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Thanks, Theo 😉
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For what it’s worth, I love your gravatar Dianne! It seems very authentic to me (said the girl whose gravatar is a picture of someone else 🙂 )
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Oh no, Amb – I was sure that was you! 😉 I’m so glad you like mine and it’s not too confusing 😀
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Teeheehee!
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I don’t mind the gravatar at all. I suppose it could appear mysterious to some, but I’ve always liked silhouettes and besides I think a gravatar should reflect your likes and be representative of something meaningful to each blogger.
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This picture is certainly meaningful for me, Justin. You’re so right 😉
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I love your gravatar even more since I’ve heard the story behind it, but whenever you feel like change, do it. Otherwise, congratulations on a super first year in cyberspace!! Aussies Rock!!
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YAY – I’ve nearly reached the one year mark! So much has happened in that year. I’ll have to think of a celebration post 😉
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I really like your gravatar ! It’s mysterious and free !
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Mysterious and free – I LOVE those words 😀
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‘you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been’
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So true 😉
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I told you once that I thought it looked like you were standing their with your arms stretched wide. The image I see seems to be just like you, your arms stretched wide to embrace life. I love it.
Besides, the “mystery” is solved when you click on it for a closer look. 😉
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Thanks, Lynda. I don’t think many people have clicked on it to take a closer look, so I’m impressed that you have! 😀
So glad you like it 😉
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I’ve always loved your gravatar–it was descriptive, and simultaneously, elusive. I have some visceral difficulty with sharing personal information online–and thus I still use the off-the-shelf image. It’s a hangover to a period when I’d attracted a stalker. When I saw yours, I thought, maybe I could come up with something. I know that I have to loosen up on this issue–it is a big part of author marketing. In the meantime, I’ve actually done the author photo on Amazon–a bit of fun combined with the idea that I need to get over myself. Alas–we need to “brand” because our words alone are not enough.
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I’m sorry to hear about your stalker, that is a horrible thing to go through 😦 I hope all is okay now…
Branding is important if we’re going to get ourselves known and read. I’m so glad my gravatar inspired you! I just love photos of the back of my head 😀
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I was never confused by your gravatar; I could always tell what it was, and absolutely picked up on the sense of freedom you’re seeking to convey. I vote stick with it (so says the woman whose own gravatar is the subject of a historical painting entitled The Hostage – hmmm, what am I trying to convey…?)
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LOL – now that’s an interesting concept, Janna! I love that painting – but she doesn’t look like a hostage, she looks like she’s just gazing out to sea, dreaming of a life beyond the waves 😀 That sounds familiar to me 😉
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Oh, yes – me too! 😉
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I love your gravatar; it says peace and freedom. 🙂
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Peace and freedom. Beautiful, Ruth! 😀
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Dear Dianne,
Never mind the gravatar. My temperature went up two degrees and I started to sweat when you said you loaned out your laptop. I might let one of the kids or my husband use mine for a particular function–usually a joint project–for a few minutes. But you are nicer than I am when it comes to loaning out your laptop. Money, children, the car, sure. But not my laptop. I’m glad you have your photos backed up. As for the gravatar, I’d say do what you feel comfortable with. There is mystery in not showing your face, but as an established author in a world where it is hard to stand out, I would think you might want some kind of a headshot for potential readers. I doubt it would make them buy or not by one of your books, but it might make them feel that they know you better.
Best wishes,
Naomi
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Everything is continually being backed-up, Naomi ;). I loaned my laptop to a relative and I’ll never do that again 😯
I’m thinking about the headshot. I really like it when I can see people’s faces on their blogs. I have some headshot pictures on the back of my books and on my FB page and Amazon page, but for some reason when I started blogging I thought I’d use the back-of-head-shot. Now 12 months of blogging is nearly up, I might mix things up a little 😉
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One year! I’m now thoroughly embarrassed. I’ve been at this for 3 years and am nowhere as far as you. Yikes!
Anyway, back on topic,
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It feels like three years, Jacqui! 😀
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Don’t change a thing! Your words paint the picture! Always the best to you and yours!
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Awww – thank you, Billy Ray 😀
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Dianne, Now that I see the wider view and you’ve explained it, I can feel your exhilaration. And if you want mysterious, you’ve got it. However, it wouldn’t hurt to think about changing it…
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I think a year is maybe long enough. I’ve got to do something for my first anniversary on the blogosphere! 😀
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There are best pactice guidlines for gravatars? Call me uncurious, but if you do you’d be vastly inaccurate, but I never ever noticed your gravatar, let alone felt the need to critique it. I did receive a comment about mine once, from a person who just had to tell me ‘Oh, you’re a blondie!”. Yep.
I truly believe your gravatar is ok whatever it is but I’m curious, change your gravatar for a month, and see if there’s a spike in book sales, or professional interest, offers. Change it to what, is the question. What sort of persona you would need to project for it to be effective, who knows… I can say what not to do… sadly some authors’ promo shots I’ve seen were taken way back when and still used to promote a semblance of youth, trouble is when you see them at a writers festival in real life they can’t hide behind a photo…
I too was horrified that you lent your laptop… and that the borrower deleted your photos. WTF.
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Yes – the old promo shot, a lot of misting on the lens and a picture from 20 years ago – now that’s confusing! I do have the picture that was taken at last year’s Christmas party where I had a towel wrapped around my head. I may try that one 😀
Yes – unfortunately the borrower deleted EVERYTHING. So much for helping out a relative….I won’t be doing that again…
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I vote no on changing your gravatar. I love the story behind it–that photo says sooooo much.
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Thank you, Ly! I think it’s more ‘stay’ than ‘change’ at the moment 😉
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Great picture. A woman of mystery. I say keep it.
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Thank you, Dennis! I love your new gravatar and noticed it was changed a few months back 😉
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I’ve always loved your image as well. You’ll know when the time is right to change it. You’ll feel it in your bones!
Haha! (Says the girl that shuffles hers monthly.) Don’t listen to me, I have OCD. 😛
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LOL – I LOVE that pink shade on you. Beautiful! 😀
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😛
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Keep it.
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Thanks for that, Deborah. I think the ‘keep its’ are winning the race 😉
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I would love to see your darling smiling face, but I don’t use my photo either…so I am not one to talk! I say, use whatever image or likeness that you feel best about…you will know if it is right just how it is, or if you want to switch things up a bit!!
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I’m thinking of a few changes for my 12 month anniversary on this blog – but not sure how to switch things up. So far the ‘stay as is’ is winning the race, but if I change it and don’t like it, I can always switch things back again (that’s the beauty of this instantaneous life we live!) 😉
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I have noticed that picture before, I like it. I think it’s cool. It’s a keeper. 🙂
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Thank you, Maggie! I love keepers! 😀
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I like your gravatar, but if you want to change it, then go for it! (I’ve changed mine about eight times in the last three years. It makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something even when I’m not…often when avoiding doing something else that I should be doing. Yes, I put the “pro” in “procrastination :))
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I love this, Janna! If I can accomplish something when I’m not, I’ll be a very happy woman indeed! 😀
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Dianne, I like your gravatar and like that you explained it. I didn’t know your back was to the camera (because it’s little when I see it). The view ahead is beautiful. My anniversary will be in a couple of months and I know I have the need to change it up! Hmm…we’ll see. If you don’t change, it doesn’t bother me one it. I like it!
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Thanks, Amy! You just gave me an idea (when you said, ‘I didn’t know your back was to the camera’). I think I might go out in the boat again and have a picture taken facing the camera (one that’s not so dark). I love it when you throw my muse at me! LOL 😀
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Hey, no problem. Anytime. 🙂 I think that’s a great idea, Dianne!
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It’s your avatar, but it reveals nothing about you. The other boat photo looks like you are in very shallow water! Congrats on your one year anniversary Dianne!
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I think the water is about 15 feet deep, John (but full of crocodiles!) YIKES! 😀
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There’s something about your gravar that says peace, freedom and beauty.
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This is such a beautiful comment, Cocoa. Thank you, my dear 😀
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Dianne, your gravatar is just perfect, does not revel too much, yet enough, that ones imagination is tickled. I picture you sitting like a mermaid over looking the waters, then I remembered the photo of the crab and pictured it attached to your tail… that gave me a laugh… so I wouldn’t change if I was you.. there is a little bit of mystery that surrounds it… and a laugh or two…
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Thank you, Bulldog 😀 You gave me a big giggle with the crab attached to the mermaids tail! OUCH! LOL 😀
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I, too, love the mysterious lady on the water. She’s a little unique. But you gave me a fright when I opened this post. I thought I’d miskeyed into your Gravatar! Strange word, isn’t it? Do you know where it originates from? I’ll have to google it.
Your readers are too clever for me- I’m not even sure what Alastair means by “reverse it”! And I can’t believe that you’ve been blogging so short a time. You feel like an old friend. 🙂
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If you find out what the word gravatar means, please let me know, Jo! 😀
I think Alistair means to turn the picture it into a ‘negative’ so it’s more light than dark (that’s what I thought he meant) 😉
It’s almost been 12 months for me but it seems a lot longer because I’ve made so many dear friends (like you!) and I feel like we’ve been talking for years 😀
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I say keep it – your hair is flowing in the wind – a free spirit…as is your writing. There is something mysterious in the darkened shot as you venture across the waters towards the mountains. I like it – for what it’s worth – keep for it is you. xx
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Awww – thank you so much, my dear! Your words are always so beautiful 😀
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Gravatar, Schmavatar…. I don’t come here to look at 32pixel x 32pixel pictures !!
That said…. I love a sense humor and the thought of a 32 x 32 picture telling the world who anyone is, is rather amusing.
Cheers,
Peter
A retired Photographer looks at life
Life Unscripted
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It’s amazing the difference that tiny pic makes, Peter 😀
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Ok — I’m such a ditz about social things. I always used to tell people I was socially obtuse. 🙂
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LOL! 😉
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I vote new picture, but still on the boat!
Maybe a profile or somehow just a bit more revealed 🙂
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I’ve got one in mind, Denise (that hasn’t been taken yet) of me in the boat with the scenery reflecting off my sunglasses. I’ll try it and see how it goes 😉
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i love it and it is so different than everyone else! The clouds, the wind in your hair, the silhouette, mysterious and free. Will be tough to follow!
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Thank you, Elisa! 😀
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I will never tell you to change your Gravatar unless you want to. I find doing all those things time-consuming…so tend to stick with something once I finally make it work. Boring, I know. I’m okay with that.
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I find computer work time consuming as well, Char! I remember when I was trying to get the pictures of my books into the widgets on the right side of my blog – I think it took me about a week (and a lot of hair-pulling and swearing) LOL! 😀
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yes – I found it liberating and think maybe the RUC should feature. Of course, ‘Towel on Head’ does stick in my mind 🙂
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Towel on head would make a great gravatar I must admit, Mrs C! 😉
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It makes more sense close up! By the way, how can someone just delete pictures off YOUR computer? RUDE!
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Very rude indeed, Lily. It came after an argument where I said I needed it back. Ummm – I got it back, but everything was gone 😯
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So you did them a favor, then they didn’t want to give it back AND on top of that, messed with your files? Isn’t that illegal? It should be! Not cool at all, I could never do that. Tsk tsk. =/
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Yep – it was pretty bad 😦
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I always think about your gravatar as a nice visit from someone down under. Since you guys are on the opposite time frame, I think of your darkened image as a reminder that when it is light here, then it is dark in Oz and visa versa. My favorite picture of you, however, is when you are wearing the home-made towel sunhat. 🙂 I could also vote for the gecko love picture as your gravatar, but you might attract a whole different readership. {{{hugs]}}} Kozo
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LOL – I may very well attract a whole different readership with the gecko love picture, Kozo! LOL 😀
I really like the dark and light aspect of your comment and I’ve never thought of if like that before. I must admit the towel hat is a good one and I’m seriously considering it 😀
I hope your day is going well, my friend 😀 {{{hugs}}}
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This is such a beautiful picture! I like it because, besides the fact that it’s beautiful, the angle makes me feel like I’m there! And you’re almost at one year, Dianne! That’s amazing. Time whiz’s by in the blogging sphere! Faster than anywhere else. I’m been thinking about changing up my blog a little, but somehow I never get around to it. —
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It’s a bit like that, Linda. I think if it’s working – why change it? I love your blog and I’d probably be confused if you changed the layout and/or image (but I’m a very simple being) LOL 😉
I’m so glad you like the picture 😀
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Yes, I’m very simple too, Dianne! And it’s been so long since I put my blog together — it would take me hours to figure out how to do again! (If ever!) HA! 😀
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How about your picture upside down? Or inside out? More seriously, I like it a lot. it speaks to the mystery of writing, and the art of the blog.
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Thank you, Allen! I’m glad you like the pic – I’m thinking of mixing things up a bit here after blogging for 12 months (but just have to get motivated) 😉
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Wow! You remember when you started blogging with that much accuracy?! That made me smile:-) I like you gravatar, suitably mysterious and wistful…would be very curious to see what you might choose next though, because we’ve been treated to so many great pics of weird and wonderful creatures…:-)
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I think the start of my blogging was a bit of a guess, Harula 😉 I just had a look back at my first blog and thought, ‘oh yeah, that’s about it’! LOL 😀
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I adore the reasons you explain for why you love the picture so much, it’s exactly how I view my visits to your blog…feelings of freedom and exhilaration in your expressions you reflect. A perfect choice, my friend.
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Thank you so much! What a beautiful comment – I’m so glad you feel that way 😀
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Found your blog through Nancy at Spirit Lights the Way, always nice to find other writing women! A for your gravitar, I’d leave it just how it is. It shares a lovely thought and is meaningful to you, that’s all that matters.
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Thank you so much, Jodi – it’s lovely to see you here! 😀
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Hi Dianne, go for it – if you want! I like your gravatar myself, but with your year anniversary coming up, might be a fun thing to do! Although your current one fits the mystique (writer) of you, very well! 🙂
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Thank you, Penny. I thought about shaking things up a bit for my blogoversary, but the consensus seems to be to leave things as they are. I guess the old saying is right – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 😀
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This sounds silly but I am not even really sure what a Gravatar is. Is it an avatar for your blog? Anyways congrats on your 1 year blogging anniversary!
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Yes – it’s the little picture that comes up when I comment on a post (I’m not sure why it’s called a gravatar and not an avatar) 😉
My anniversary is only a few days away – YAY! 😀
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Wow, love the shot of the boat travelling up the river with the mountain in the distance, so untamed 🙂 Very Heart of Darkness haha! I love that feeling of being out in nature, so far from cities and concrete.
And no, I say keep your gravatar. I hate when people change, I get so used to their avatar and when it changes I get confused haha!
So exciting about you 1 year anniversary, amazing work!
Rohan.
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Thanks Rohan! I understand the confusion. You get used to a gravatar and then someone changes it and it’s like talking to a different person (lol – sounds silly but that’s how I feel as well!)
I’m glad you like the boat shot – such freedom is beautiful! 😀
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I thought you just didn’t want anyone to see you. So many people are paranoid about being on the Internet, they use fake names and either no picture or a picture similar to yours. The larger picture is really cool though and I see now why you like it. Congrats on the anniversary!
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I’m glad I put the larger picture up here, because it really is one of my favourites and it’s good that people know what it actually is 😀
I’ve been blogging for (almost) 12 months now – I can’t believe it, it feels like years 😉
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I know that feeling. The shot says something about you, so leave it.
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Thanks, Lynne 😀 You’re right! 😉
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It’s nice that a memory like that is connected to it. I love the boat view too. Most photos of me also have that piece of hair sticking straight up with the wind so I’m glad we both have the same problem. 🙂
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LOL! I love that your hair sticks up in the wind, Sheila! This comment gave me a big giggle 😉
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I’ll have to send you a photo to really make you laugh! The only thing is, there are so many with the crazy flying hair that it’ll be tough to choose one.
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That’s such pretty scenery. I like your Gravatar, personally. But you can always try another one out and if it doesn’t feel right, change it back!
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That’s the beauty of the instantaneous life! I could probably change it a few times a day 😀
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I like this one now that I know what it is, but either way, I always knew it was you. Your towel head picture is a personal favorite of mine! Thanks for explaining this one, though! Congratulations on your year anniversary. Don’t we feel like old friends, and it’s only been less than a year!!?? I’m so glad we both decided to blog. You have enriched my life enormously! 🙂
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Thank you so much, my dear – what a beautiful compliment (I’m blushing) 😀
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Now, I’m blushing. I didn’t mean to make you blush! Your RUC is coming along nicely. I love your big windows. I got interrupted when I was reading, so I’m going to have to go back and read about how you fell out the window. Soon your dogs will be racing up and down those stairs! My little one has to cross a cattle crossing. At first I had to carry her across, and now she scampers across it faster than I can. Have a great week-end! 🙂
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I think you should keep it! Not only because it’s lovely, but because people have come to know you by that gravatar, and it’d take a while before they can get accustomed to a new one!
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I tend to agree with you, Zen. It seems to be the consensus to leave it as is 😀
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I love that gravatar, too, so I think you should keep it. Plus it lends an air of mystery. And don’t we like being mysterious from time to time? 😉
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I just love being mysterious! 😉
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Dianne, i LOVE your gravvy photo!
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LOL – thank you, my dear! 😀
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You say ’11 months, 14 days & 8 hours ago’ the way an alcoholic would talk of their last drink! 🙂
I don’t think anything off about your gravatar, but I personally wake up some days & think “I want to change the look of the blog”. It’s just like changing sheets in your bed or wearing a different top, the way I see it. Do so if you feel to 🙂
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I agree, Noeleen. If I get a chance I’ll change it soon, but because I’m basically lazy and really bad with the tech side of the bog I’ll need to find some some inspiration and time 😉
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I love the gravatar – so full of life and joy. Keep it to cheer us all up on rubbish days 🙂
But I do agree a year of blogging is a good time to think about how everything is set up; I think that’s about when I changed my header. At 2 years I might push the boat out and change it again 😉
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Thanks, EJ 😀 I’m so glad you like my gravatar, it’s one of my favourite shots and to think it cheers you up on rubbish days has made my day a lot brighter! 😀
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🙂
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Love it Dianne! The feelings you describe are priceless! How wonderful that your gravatar has such a special meaning for you! And, congrats on almost a year of blogging! 🙂
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That year is up now (I think as of yesterday) woo hoo! I should really do a celebration blog soon 😀
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