It hasn’t been that long since I began this blog on a whim. Two Septembers ago, I registered the domain, bought a premium hosting plan, and started writing! At the time, I had no idea what to call my new adventure, but I decided to quit worrying and figure it out along the way. After all, there’s much to be said for just getting started.

We’re about halfway through 2024. So far, this blog has surpassed the views and readership totals from this time last year. I’m excited by the number of people who have found my peculiar obsessions compelling enough to stop by! In the spirit of an NPR membership drive, I wanted to give an update on your philanthropic efforts. Unfortunately, I don’t have any tote bags to mail out.

Back when I started writing here, my main goal was to consolidate a trio of blogs I published about old courthouses, old schoolhouses, and tobacco pipes. One by one, I meticulously copied hundreds of posts. The process took forever, but it shouldn’t have. Exporting your WordPress blog is easy! Here’s how to do it.

My favorite blogs usually provide a year-end retrospective of stats, insights, popular posts, and favorites. The numbers are in and the votes have been tallied for 2023, so let’s take a look.

I’ve been blogging about esoteric local history for over a year now. Little affirms my efforts more than when someone likes, shares, or comments, but I’ve received a handful of messages asking about other ways to support my work. In response, I added a “Buy me a coffee” button to the bottom of my posts in January. I dropped the ball and missed Thanksgiving, but here’s a year-end update on your generosity.

This blog’s first anniversary surprised me: I knew the date was near the beginning of September, but I didn’t realize it was this past Tuesday. Congratulations to me for publishing something new every day for a year! I thought it’d be fun to commemorate the occasion by reviewing the lessons I’ve learned and laying out what to expect over the next year.