Before I get into my "G" topic...
Let me start by saying the girls got together for a glorious time Saturday evening hence I never got over to glance at your great “F” posts.
However...I’ll be grabbing a look and leaving a comment after I give you the goods about the gluten free cake that graced our table after we gorged ourselves on chicken, with raspberry glaze, and a host of gourmet fixings.
Here’s the cake...it’s only 4” in diameter but about 6” tall; we five girls only managed to gobble half - and trust me, we weren’t worrying about looking gluttonous.
Damn...it was way too good for a wheat free/gluten free cake. It had four layers of luxurious dark chocolate silk filling and it was amazing.
☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
NOW, FOR MY ACTUAL TOPIC
It might be hard to focus after staring at the gorgeous cake but give it a go.
G is for Go Go Gadget
Today, in the role of Gadget Inspector, I’m going to share with you three gadgets I enjoy using when visiting blogs.
In no particular order, here they are:
1 - The Blog Archive gadget.
I particularly like Blog Archives where the Post Title is included as part of the drop down menu.
When I’m visiting a blog I actually spend a little time checking out this gadget...but only if the Post Titles are there otherwise it’s a huge fishing expedition in which case I let the fish go.
2 - The Profile gadget.
I do read Profiles - not only for new blogs I visit - but for blogs I've been following for a while; surprisingly enough profiles do change...who'd've thought.
3 - The Blog List gadget.
Your Blog List(s) gives me, or any visitor, exposure to the blogs you're reading. From these lists I have had the opportunity to read blogs I might not otherwise have found on my own.
A couple of questions for you:
Do you read Blog Archives to see what’s lurking in the past?
Do you check out the Profile Page to find out more about a blogger?
How does your Blog List work for you?
Is there a favourite gadget you like seeing on a blog?
Cheers, Jenny
first, the cake tower... yum!
ReplyDeletei do like to use some of the provided gadgets people use on their sites, for me it's about profile you can tell a lot from it. Some people are real faces, some are ideas and some find that hiding behind the giant oz-like curtain... as they don't want you to know who they are. yet their post reveal themselves quite well.
Ditto to the yum!
DeleteI agree, Jeremy, those that go under the banner of "anonymous" give away so much personal information, often of a sensitive nature involving work and family issues, thinking no one will know who they are. Leaves me thinking...geez...so much for anonymity.
I like checking profiles too - it's amazing to read about other peoples passions, interests, things they like/don't like...etc. I have updated my profile twice so far, ever since the second time I now go and check profiles of people I've followed for a while to see if they too have made changes.
I'll read the archives if I'm a new follower and I really love their writing, otherwise, it's a hit and miss. I really have to regulate my internet time now because of a new job but before because I'd get sucked in and not accomplish anything!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the internet can be a big time suck - due to my circumstances I am on a "blog diet" restricting myself to a little time in the AM and again for a bit in the PM.
DeleteI like checking out archives, even on the blogs I've been following for some time. I'm even happier if there is a search option as I can then put in a word and see what comes up.
I even use my own for that reason - when I'm writing a post and want to reference a previous one I just search my own site! Quick and easy. :)
Oh. My. Gosh! I'm about to have a wheat free/gluten free heart attack! Yummm!
ReplyDeleteDani @ Entertaining Interests
#warriorminion
I such a sneak - teasing my readers by such a decadent cake...bad Jenny!! hahaha
Deletevery seldom do i check out someone's profile on their blog---i would like to think some people go back and read my stuff--i will do that if i sneak a peek at an interesting title :)
ReplyDeleteWow...not curious, eh!!
DeleteI do use archives and I do like it there's a search gadget too! It let's me learn a little more about a blogger, particularly during events like this A-Z where a blogger might be featuring a topic that I'm only so-so interested in. Yet their writings, when not doing A-Z, might be of great interest. So I do check them out...but as I said, only if they have Post Titles as part of their archive menu.
What did you say? I was distracted by chocolate! I do like the blog archives as I like to check out other topics that might have been covered. I like the blog lists too...maybe I should try one of those (after the challenge when I don't feel so...challenged!)
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Andrea - it was hard leaving the other half behind...I might have to pretend I have company coming and buy myself a treat for doing the A-Z.
DeleteYes, when you have time, whip up a chocolate covered Blog List...mmmmm, choc-o-late...!! :)
Yes, sometimes, I use it along with my reader. I like my search gadget on yummy stuff. I don't know how often it gets used, but you can type a recipe into it and if I have any, they will show up. That way you don't have to go through everything to see if it is there.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you got some good GF yumminess!
I was going to add the Search gadget but felt three should be my limit...maybe that can be my S topic. Like you, I do use it, and as I mentioned to HeatherL up top, I even search my site when wanting to reference back to a post - it's just easier than hunting for it in the Post section of the Dashboard.
DeleteI did have a major good time with the girls...can't live without the "sisters"...if you lived closer you'd have been licking your plate along with us! :) :)
love how the shiny plate makes the cake look huge :) It's a lovely cake!
ReplyDeleteIt's true - it looks huge. I have very specific flat cake plates, but my sweet niece, Desi, whose home we were at is still acquiring such things (I'll be thinking ahead for this coming Christmas) so I left the cake on the round foil cardboard and just put it on a cutting board - one really needs to be able to cut straight down and not hit the lip of a plate.
DeleteI know you can understand this since you bake! I may not bake much but I have all the tools and plates to pretend! hahaha
And, Dezzie, I wished I could have sent you a taste...heavenly. I would have even sung a little song...you know the one I mean... :) :) Tick, tick, here comes Friday!!
I cannot take my eyes off this cake :) yummy I bet
ReplyDeleteYummy it was! :)
DeleteYou read profiles? Good to know, good to know.
ReplyDeleteYup...so, look out, I lurk around every corner! :P
DeleteOh...and just so you know... I seen it... all of it... every little bit... and what a sweet thing being attached to your profile like that.
DeleteSee, one should always read the fine print! :)
And guess what? It's gonna stay like that for a while.
Delete*Blushing* Am I the chosen one... for this week anyway, right!! Yay! :)
DeleteThat cake looks scrumptious, don't think t would last long at our house. Don't know what you would make of my profile.
ReplyDeleteWell, Murphy... I did check you out! :P I figure if the folks at work can have a special handle for you so can I... well, I'll use theirs!
DeleteHow are you liking Google+? I've been toying with making the jump, but truth is I see no real need, my profile with Blogger is ample good enough, but then again, I figure it's coming down the pike and sooner or later we're going to have to jump on it or be run over by it.
Also...the three links on your Spud Daily blog do not redirect to those blogs - you might want to check them out. I've tried them several times and no luck. They do work on your About section of Gopogle+.
As to that cake...it wouldn't have lasted in my house either! I was trying to figure out how I could abduct it when I left the dinner party. :)
As far as I can tell there are only a cople people who actually read my blog. Half of those never leave comments.
ReplyDelete(My digital footprint is comparable to one of those bound chineese womens foot.) Therefore I have been extremely lazy about any maintenence on my site. I suppose you've shamed me into more work!
I like writing. Everything else comes second on here! Good info for those who are trying to better theri blogging career!
Now I have to go read Al's profile too. Sounds suspicious!
The High Cost of this Low Living
A lot of people read you. Lots. Me, myself and I are already three...and then I've seen a growth spurt over there in your garden...must be all those new seedlings.
DeleteSeriously - you have an excellent blog - and with a little seed planting (read Post Titles for your Archives) you'll be having us scavenging in your garden regularly.
I thoroughly enjoy your writing style - you are, in fact, one of my favourite reads out here and I don't say that lightly. I have "scavenged" in your archive, but it's a bit weedy: adding those Post Titles means I'll be able to sit back with a java (or gin if it's late) and enjoy some of those stories you've been working on. (and if I do, you know others will too - I'm not that much of a rebel to be doing this on my own)
Now...do go and read Al's profile...it is suspicious! Man he's a hoot!
Oh, this is so helpful! I know these are important things to pay attention to when designing a blog, but even though I'm a blog-reading person myself, it's hard to know what OTHER people look for and what determines whether they stick around or hit the road. I really must get back in there and update my gadgets - I need one of those Blog Lists, forthwith!
ReplyDeleteHi Tex... I'm the queen of wanting it "just right" - some would say I'm in need of therapy, but hey, I want my blog to be easy to navigate and user friendly so I look at it as if I were visiting myself. Then, I spend time tweaking it to meet what I think are the needs of my visitors.
DeleteI have enjoyed the layout of your blog; I can easily navigate around your site. You get bonus points for having your Social Media buttons where we can easily access them and check out your other haunts.
I'm only on Twitter... not enough time to be everywhere and still breathe.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out this post! Good luck with adding a Blog List. :)
That cake looks scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteI've only been blogging for a few months and still learning. I haven't yet set up the blog gadget but after this A to Z challenge, I probably will because I've found several blogs I like a lot. I do read the profiles pages. Like you I like to know a little about who I'm reading. I don't generally look at the archives list but do scroll to see earlier posts to get a sense of the type of writing there is.
A to Z buddy, Jagoda from http://www.conflicttango.com
Hi Jagoda - welcome to Pearson Report.
DeleteIt does take a bit of time to get your blog set up the way you like. Blogger has excellent tutorials and their Layout area is pretty easy to figure out. I wish you luck with the gadgets - have fun.
Thanks for stopping by. :)
Hmmm, I have none of the gadgets you mentioned, but I could barely focus on them whilst thinking about that tall cake.
ReplyDeleteRhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
Visiting from AtoZ #41
Hi Rhonda - you have your profile and that's important.
DeleteAs to the cake - yes, I fear it was a deadly distraction - I dream of my next dinner party where I will eagerly volunteer to bring dessert. :)
I must confess that sometimes I don't even understand what my dashboard is trying to tell me to do. I do love the blog lists. You're right they do help me find other blogs I might like.
ReplyDeletethe rest though is still greek to me.
I can't even figure out how to stop anonymous from sending me spam! I imagine I have to change my password, but I can't figure out how to even do that?
Is there a "blogging for dummies" book out there?
lol
L
Hi Linda - I've dedicated my "H" post Helping Hand - to you. I hope you find the information on that post useful. :)
DeleteThanks for sharing your concerns with Blogger... I remember all too well my early days of figuring things out and had help too - now it's my turn to pay it forward.
I honestly think that I'm going to be fantasising about that cake for a long time to come Jenny, it looks absolutely amazing!
ReplyDeleteHahaha - that cake was worth fantasizing over... I'm still dreaming about it. I'm trying to justify going to the bakery and buying one for myself (pretending I've got company coming) - so bad!
DeleteHi Jenny .. I seriously need to come back to this .. and your next post - as I think there be things that will help me!!!
ReplyDeleteCheers and thanks for enlightening us .. NOW -
do you have a special delivery available to send some of that cake over - looks delicious .. absolutely delicious ...
Cheers Hilary
Ahh, to be enlightened; I'm still in search of the elusive "smart gene" whereby I can get through the glitches out here, in cyberspace, without fretting so much.
DeleteWhen I figure something out I like to pay it forward - much of what I learn, though, must be credited to wonderful bloggers who, in the past, have shown me the light!
Thanks for stopping by, Hilary - with smiles, Jenny.