One year ago today I wrote my first post on Spruce Hill and my blog was born. At first I used it as a tool to connect with my friends and family during my cancer treatment. I had visitors but mostly only my family. Since then I have posted 266 times, I have had 24,887 hits on my blog and have received 1,168 comments! In my first few days I only got 2 page views, my highest page view day was 198. I have made a lot of new friends and have turned into a blog addict. I carry my camera around with me where ever I go, to the dismay of my family. I read over 65 blogs everyday and find more blogs to visit every week. I have some very faithful readers and have some new readers too(I love new readers!). I have made friends with people all over the world. France, Germany, England, Australia,Canada, Israel, California, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania and even some here in my own state of Maryland. My blog has opened my world up and made it better.
I really appreciate all of my visitors that come to visit me here at Spruce Hill. As a token of my appreciation I am having a give away!
I am giving away this one of a kind handmade bracelet. Made of polished multi-colored aquamarine gemstones and sterling silver Bali beads and toggle.
All you have to do is leave me a comment on my blog. That's it! I will pick a person randomly from my comments in two days time. Please only enter one time, but if you go over to my photo blog and comment too, I will enter your name in twice.I will make the deadline 9:00 pm eastern standard time on Monday. I will announce the winner on Tuesday morning.
(anyone who is a relative is not eligible for this giveaway, sorry, but feel free to comment anyway!)
Happy Valentines Day!
Well I had a lot of comments! Thank you to everyone who came over for a visit and left a comment. I received so any well wishes! I enjoyed checking out everyone's blogs, I am still working on visiting them all. I will try and finish up this week.
My winner is #20 Di-The Blue Ridge Gal. Please e-mail me your address and I will mail off your bracelet. Thank you again for coming over to visit Spruce Hill. The giveaway was so successful I am planning to do another again soon. I hope you come and stop by again!
True Random Number Service
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
20
Timestamp: 2009-02-17 02:47:47 UTC
I think a special birthday is coming up too. I don't even need facebook to remember your bday -- hopefully I'm right 16th is my fuzzy brain recalls. I know that this year you get to truly celebrate life and all its blessings.
Happy Day and Happy Birthday from rainy, then sunny, then rainy, then sunny San Francisco.
Posted by: Mary | February 14, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Count me in! This bracelet is gorgeous. I'm giving a shout out about this giveaway on my blog!
Posted by: Kate | February 14, 2009 at 12:51 PM
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! Glad you liked all those hearts! I saw them and had to throw them in for the two special upcoming days :) What a great day to start your blog, with love.
And speaking of love, I LOVE the stone. Is that yours from the creek? LM and I want to get into polishing stones and making all kinds of beauties with them.
Posted by: gin | February 14, 2009 at 12:57 PM
OOOOO...pretty.....can you give away one of mine?
~LiTo
Posted by: Little LiTo | February 14, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Happy Blog Day!
What a beautiful bracelet!
Posted by: noble pig | February 14, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Happy Blog Day (and Valentines Day) to my FAVORITE Sister.
Posted by: Brother Coleman | February 14, 2009 at 01:43 PM
Happy Blog Birthday! I heard about your blog from Kate, my favorite Country Girl. I'm excited to add you to my feed.
Jessica
www.MomShots.com
Posted by: jessica Stier | February 14, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Happy Bloggyversary and Valentine's Day!
Posted by: Molly | February 14, 2009 at 02:43 PM
Happy Blog Day, and Valentines Day too!!! I found you on the Pioneer Woman blog; so happy to add you to my favorites! You do beautiful work.
Posted by: M.J. Jacobsen | February 14, 2009 at 02:53 PM
HaPpY BiRtHaY......Country Girl ask me to come visit......Bookmarking your Blog....Hope to come back often....One day I will start my own....One Day!!!!!!!Debbie
Posted by: Debbie Peterson | February 14, 2009 at 02:55 PM
Hi! I was just browsing blogs and found you today! Happy blog b day! I love the bracelet!
Posted by: tracey | February 14, 2009 at 03:03 PM
happy happy birthday!! very lovely blog you have...Kate..the countrygirl sent me, I am so glad...love the bracelet too.
Posted by: beth lamphier | February 14, 2009 at 03:06 PM
Happy Blog Birthday ....
And no need to put me in the draw (posting could be a nightmare) but I am very glad to be getting to know you...
Posted by: bluemountainsmary | February 14, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Happy Blogaversary and please throw my name into the hat! What a gorgeous bracelet!
Posted by: ~Vanessa~ | February 14, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Happy blog birthday!
Posted by: ikkinlala | February 14, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Happy V-day, and Happy Blogaversary! Kate sent me, and I will have to add you to my reader! Georgeous bling!
Posted by: Jo | February 14, 2009 at 03:38 PM
So glad to meet you on your blogiversary day. Referred by the Country Girl blog. What a beautiful bog and and inspiring story. I pray the blessing of continuous healing for you. (My grandmother is a 15-year survivor this year.) I look forward to revisiting often!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Posted by: K.S. Davis | February 14, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Found you via Kate at Country Girl. My goodness, your blog is wonderful! Happy 1st blogging anniversary.
Posted by: A Scattering (Canada) | February 14, 2009 at 04:11 PM
Kate sent me and she was right .. its a good blog and a lovely bracelet ... I am a heart collector so I am coveting your LOVE heart ..
Happy Blog Birthday!
Posted by: Daryl | February 14, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Kate at Country Girl told me you were having an anniversary/blogging birthday as well as a give-away. The bracelet is nice.... great subdued colors.
I hope the cancer is a thing of the past in your life and that there will only be blue skies ahead for you.
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
Posted by: Di | February 14, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Hi Sarah :)
Please drop my name in the hat for your lovely bracelet. It's is gorgeous! Did you make it? Yes, I'm a regular visitor to your blog and am happy to count you as a bloggy friend. Happy blogoversary to you!
Posted by: Debra Rector | February 14, 2009 at 05:01 PM
Happy Valentine's Day! I'd love the bracelet...but who wouldn't! It is lovely!
Posted by: deb | February 14, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Congrats on your big day! One day I will get to my 1 year blogoversary too! Any tips to the newbie?
Happy V day!
Posted by: Erika | February 14, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Happy Anniversary! Came here by way of commentor Kate above! :D
Posted by: Christine | February 14, 2009 at 05:39 PM
Congratulations on your milestone. Funny how a blog begins with one purpose, but then takes on a lfe of its own, isn't it?
Posted by: tracey petersen | February 14, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Happy anniversary, and happy Valentines' Day! I'm over here on a referral from Country Girl, and I'm glad I visited. I really like your blog :0)
Posted by: Jana | February 14, 2009 at 06:48 PM
Congrats,I am so glad you are better.The bracelet is beautiful I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day....Barb
Posted by: Barb Thompson | February 14, 2009 at 06:49 PM
Happy Blogiversary! I'm new to your blog, Noble Pig sent me your way but I totally agree with what you wrote. I started blogging about a month ago, visitors besides family are showing up now and it's tons of fun! My camera is constantly in my purse and I'm always wondering if something would make a good blog post!
Can't wait until my 1 year mark is hit and I hope you come to see me also!
Posted by: Shawn Schowengerdt | February 14, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Sara, congrats on your blogaversary. I read about your blog on Chronicles of a Country Girl. Way to go, I have been blogging for nine months, [ HEY it's a girl ].
And the kindest most wonderful people who have become friends are bloggers. I look forward to reading many more posts from you.
Jen
Posted by: Jen | February 14, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Wow, what a beautiful bracelet, please count me in!
Congrats on your blogging anniversary, way to go!
Posted by: Tiffany | February 14, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Ooooh sign me up!!! Beeeautiful bracelet!!
Isn't blogging SO great??!
Posted by: Molly | February 14, 2009 at 09:06 PM
Hi there, I just came over from Kate's. Congratulations on your anniversary! It really does open up a whole wide world of friendship and understanding, doesn't it? :)
Posted by: mary | February 14, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Lovely! Keeping my fingers crossed!! Really enjoy your blog!!
Posted by: Donna S. | February 14, 2009 at 09:26 PM
Oh that bracelet is absolutely gorgeous. My birthstone is aquamarine but I've never seen any like those. How very pretty.
And congratulations on your 1 year anniversary.
Posted by: Treasia/TruckersWife | February 14, 2009 at 09:48 PM
Happy Blog Bday (:, my time flies. I really enjoy stoping by and reading about your life. You are amazing. Love the bracelet, did you make it?
[email protected]
Posted by: Pam | February 14, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Happy Anniversary! Gorgeous bracelet.
Posted by: Aunt Jo | February 14, 2009 at 11:20 PM
One year! Congratulations! I am so glad to have met you.
Posted by: Alice C | February 15, 2009 at 06:19 AM
Congratulations on a year of blogging. Beautiful bracelet I would love win it.
Posted by: Suzanne | February 15, 2009 at 08:39 AM
Wow. That's a gorgeous bracelet. :) Happy Blogiversary! So happy you started a blog so we could get to know each other. :)
Posted by: Nicole | February 15, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Gorgeous bracelet, and congratulations on your anniversary!
Posted by: Jackie in Lander | February 15, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Happy Birthday! I'm brand new to your blog-just in time for the "party"! Congrats! I'll definitely be back to check in on you!
Blessings!
Posted by: Kathy | February 15, 2009 at 01:54 PM
Happy Blog birthday!
Posted by: BethAnn | February 15, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Hi, Happy Blog Birthday, and happy me! Just found your blog and am enjoying it so much, and especially your give away. Love bracelets, but can't afford many. Many wishes for continued good health, and a long time of blogging.
Posted by: Nancy | February 15, 2009 at 08:36 PM
happy belated valentines day! and congrats on 1 year of blogging. its gone by so fast! and tell coleman you did say family DOESNT count for the drawing, so sucking up to you wont work. lol : )
Posted by: Annie : ) | February 16, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Time really flies..Happy Anniversary!!
Posted by: SuzieQ | February 16, 2009 at 04:22 PM
I know I am not eligible but I still wanted to tell you Happy Blog Birthday! I have loved reading it over the year!
Posted by: Sara Streett Cook | February 16, 2009 at 04:56 PM
Country Girl Kate sent me your way! Love your blog! Beautiful bracelet and Happy Anniversary!
Posted by: Amy S | February 16, 2009 at 07:38 PM
The stones are like ocean wanter - all the beautiful soft colors it can be.
Posted by: Leif | February 16, 2009 at 08:15 PM
Thank you sooo much for the gift of a bracelet... I'll be sure to link your blog on my blog page.. Will let you know as soon as I receive it...
Gracias!
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
Posted by: Di | February 16, 2009 at 10:31 PM
I know that I missed the giveaway, but just wanted to say happy blogversary anyway! I am so glad to have found your blog, since it has been most valuable as I go through chemotherapy. You are one truly amazing woman!
Posted by: Stephanie | February 17, 2009 at 12:52 PM