Karen’s Opinion

I don’t know about you but, as an Entrecard dropper, I am always excited to see my blog listed as a top dropper on someone’s blog. I know, I need to get a life but I actually read the blogs I drop on and have pared down my drops to only 27 of my favorite blogs. Here are the bloggers who have dropped the most on My Opinion Counts. Thanks guys!

I have read Sara’s blog, Red Pine Mountain for awhile now. If you want to read an uplifting account of caring for animals and building a life in the beautiful mountains of Vermont, her blog is for you. You might even win something by entering her giveaways. I won a fantastic cookbook, The Settlement Cookbook 1903. I started to say, new cookbook, but it is, as described on the back cover, a cooking and homemaking primer for newly arrived immigrants. It has old fashioned recipes that use the most basic recipes. This will probably become one of my favorite cookbooks! Of course, my regular readers know that it is my husband that does the cooking in our house so it might become his favorite cookbook. We shall see! Thanks Sara!

I have been wanting to make these…

Mint Julep
Large Thin Julep Glass-Dissolve one teaspoon fine sugar in water, one dash Maraschino, one glass whiskey or brandy, as preferred four or five sprigs mint held to side of glass, leaves up. Fill up with fine ice and do not bruise the mint. Trim with fruits. If prefered mint can be bruised, but above is the regular Southern julep.

Hubby and I decided that if we didn’t have to pay for our own health insurance, we would be rich! I’m not saying I want the government to take care of me or even provide pet insurance for us. Although, dog insurance is something I wish we had invested in before we got our Shitzu. We could have saved thousands of dollars. Oh well, we are not going to risk going without health insurance. Some things are not worth taking a gamble on.

On the other hand, some things are worth the gamble. I recently won this beautiful brooch! By commenting and blogging about the giveaway on Three Fates Design, I was in the running to win and by golly I won!

Victoria at Three Fates Design makes the most beautiful jewelry. She has a little pug dog, named Yoda. I love reading her blog to see how Yoda is doing. Yoda has had some health issues.

Once again, my friend Darren who blogs at ProBlogger.com has given insight on a question that has been bothering me for quite some time; “Why promote an RSS feed where you share the full posts of your blog when it means people don’t read your blog?”. Read his thoughts on this topic and let me know if you have implemented any of the tips he has given. Do you ask people to subscribe to your blog? Do RSS subscribers still count when looking at your statistics? Do you care?

Darren recently shared his thoughts on a messy sidebar. Is it time for me to change some things on this blog?

I don’t know what I would do if I did not have blogging friends who are willing to help me with the technical aspects of my websites. I have been helped when learning how to keep an ad on the front page. I didn’t even know that was possible but an advertiser wanted it that way so I had to figure it out. Thank you Val!

I have learned how to make my sidebar line up by using code. It looks so much nicer these days.

When it comes to choosing a webhost, it is anyone’s opinion as to which is best. I read a lot of bad things that people have had to go through with bad hosts and I don’t want to be in that position. First of all, I don’t know anything about the inside workings of a website so if something goes wrong, I am up the creek without a paddle. That is why I use Webhosting Geeks to guide me to the best host. Their website lists the top 10 web hosting providers by specific attributes. I am able to compare prices, qualities and sizes of specific hosting companies. That saves me from having to pick one and find that it didn’t fit my needs. Thank you Webhosting Geeks!

I have also found valuable information at their blog. It is full of information about how to avoid being scammed, how to keep unwanted malicious items to be uploaded to my website and other important items. It has helped me avoid some threats to my website. You should check it out. It could save you a few headaches.