29 August 2014

is there a better way to ... say goodbye?



I'm not sure how best sums up the times of late when I've considered putting Snap Happy Birding, (and Snap Happy Online), to rest.  

Deep breath here, gosh, for a time I was counting the posts, thinking that I would need to come up with something a little special for post 1,000 when it ventured into cyberspace.  Instead, now on post #958,  I'm closing the door. Somewhat reluctantly, and very gently too, so you can barely hear it.

Know that I've totally loved taking snapshots for the purpose of sharing.  Most who visited my blogs are from overseas, and like you, I find it interesting to see and compare notes, from the other side of the world, whatever the topic may be.

Many of you have stopped by on a very regular basis, and I've always appreciated that, and of course, the comments you left behind.  Your names and faces are indelible in my mind, as if you live locally.  I visualize your part of the world also since you've shared this too.  

An interesting journey; I've learnt a lot from each of you on your own blogs. Thank you so much, I've enjoyed your friendly banter, and I'm sure that when I hit POST on this, that I will think of something much more suited perhaps, and well-put, for my finale' post.  

43 comments:

Marilyn said...

Carole, I'm so sad. I will miss you and your lovely birds. They always seem so exotic since we don't have them here in the USA (unless they're pets}. Thanks for sharing your part of the world with all of us. We are better for it.
Marilyn

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

That's a pity; I've really enjoyed my regular doses of birds from Down Under. I hope that you'll continue with Snap Happy Online. Take care.

Irma said...

Hi Carole, I am very sorry to hear that you stop blogging.
I always liked your photos always, very special species also, which we never see in the Netherlands.
Take care of yourself.
Best regards, Irma

marygems said...

I will miss your beautiful posts !

T H A N K Y O U

for brightening so many of my days with your glorious pics.

All the very BEST.

Mary, New Zealand.

Seraphinas Phantasie said...

Hi Carole,
that´s a pity. I like your photos of all these different birds so much. Thank you very very much for all your kind comments on my blog. I hope also, you have the other blog for a while.
Best regards, Synnöve

Christian Perrin said...

Well this is a shock! I am sad that I won't get to read about your future birding expeditions or see your lovely photographs.

I think you were perhaps the first person to ever leave a comment on my blog, Carole, and I have appreciated deeply the encouragement you've offered along the way.

If you're on Facebook and want to be friends on there, please look me up. If you can't find me, just send a message to 'Wild BNE' on Facebook and I'll find you. I had visions of going birding with you sometime in the future if I ever found myself down your way!

I hope you enjoy all this free time you'll have on your hands now! Best wishes :)

Russell Jenkins said...

Lovely kestrel pic. A real beauty! Thanks for your posts and enjoy the rest.

eileeninmd said...

Carole, I am really sad to see you stop blogging.. I have enjoyed seeing your beautiful birds and photos. Maybe someday you will change your mind and come back.. I wish you all the best..

Germán Ibarra Zorrilla said...

Yo solo puedo darte las gracias por todo lo que he aprendido contigo, sobre las aves de la otra parte del mundo. Prefiero decir "Hasta luego", amiga Carole, que no decir "Adios".

Jo said...

Oh I am sad that you're stopped blogging, Carole. I only "met" you quite recently and loved your beautiful posts and photos. All the best to you. Greetings, Jo

TexWisGirl said...

oh, carole... we will miss your sweet presence and your love of wildlife and exploring. blessings to you, always.

Karen said...

I'm sorry to see you go Carole. I've really enjoyed your blog and photos. Thank you for sharing 958 posts! I am taking a break from blogging myself.
Wishing you all the best!

Laure Ferlita said...

Thank you for sharing the many wonderful photos from your corner of the world! It's a challenge to keep a blog fresh and to stay engaged with it on a long term basis.

I do wish you the very best and hope we'll still see you in the blogosphere, Carole!

Take care!

Ida said...

Gosh I hate post like this. It means the loss of a friend and the loss of wonderful photos that I wouldn't see if not for people like you. You will be missed. I don't know your reasons behind shutting down but I hope whatever journey you take on next it will bring you comfort and peace.

Jeanne said...

Carole I am totally shocked to see that you have decided to stop your blog! I have loved seeing all of your posts and getting to know you. I definitely hope that we can continue to communicate as I have been enjoying your friendship. Is there any special reason that you have decided to stop blogging? Will be missing all of your fun posts!!!

Carole M. said...

your comments everyone are amazing! They make me feel connected in the cybersphere and that I should give you all a GROUP HUG!! Thank you again for leaving such lovely, and humbling words for me.

Christian- a birding outing if you ever make it this way is on. No, not FB for me.

Jeanne-all is good - we'll be in touch/emails still.

Brian King said...

I really hate to read this, Carole! I've enjoyed your photos for a long time now. This was a shock to me as well. I'll miss your posts, but wish you the best! I know things change, but we'll still miss you!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Carole, this makes me sad. I can't say I've been an every single time visitor because I don't always have time, but every single time I have come here I've learned something and enjoyed your beautiful pictures. I wish I knew more about what made you decide to quit. I hope it is because you are going on to other happy adventures that will take up too much of your time. But I wish you weren't going!

Christian Perrin said...

I will keep your email handy then and look forward to the bird tour of the lakes!

Lyngo said...

Thank you for having taken the time to share your wonderful scenic and bird pictures . I have so enjoyed reading both your blogs and will miss the great pictures - I actually started reading your blog when it was craft related .

Once again thank you and you will be missed.

Montanagirl said...

I'm going to miss you - but I can understand. I find that blogging is very time consuming. I'll miss your beautiful bird photos!

Lisa Gordon said...

Oh, Carole, I will miss you here.
You always found the most beautiful bids to photograph, and your photographs are always so wonderful.

I wish you all the very best, my friend.

diane b said...

Sorry to hear you say goodbye. I hope its not forever. What will you do with all your wonderful photos?Thanks for your help and informative posts in the past. Good luck for the future.

Unknown said...

This is indeed sad Carole. Like Christian I will remember you as an early and regular contributor - I have always appreciated your visits & comments on my posts and enjoyed your pictures.

I have particularly enjoyed the way you set the scene with your posts - you would put us in the picture and then reveal the close ups! We all had our own little discovery along with you!

I'll keep a lookout for the return of "Carole M" if you have a change of heart!

Peter

Grandma C said...

Sorry to see you go and it hasn't been that long for me. Will miss your photos.
Have a Happy Adventure at what ever you choose to do next.
Grandma C

cedarmerefarm said...

Hi Carole, I have only recently visited your blog and have greatly enjoyed seeing and learning about your world. I am sure it was difficult for you to decide to stop blogging because it's obvious from your blog that you enjoyed sharing what you experienced. You are also an amazing photographer. I hope you keep taking photographs and maybe one day you will blog again(?). When you do, please let me know. I wish you luck with what ever you have chosen to do instead of blogging. Good luck and hear from you again one day. Christa

Made by KKann said...

Miss you already!

Roy Norris said...

You have always been kind to me about my blog and the lovely comments you have made. Thank you so much. I will miss you Carole.
All the very best for the future. Roy.

Wally Jones said...

Well, it's in my nature to be a bit late for just about everything.

I am SO HAPPY to have been able to enjoy a small slice of your unique area of the world! THANK YOU, Carole for allowing us to share some very special moments!

We know you will always be content in life because that seems to be who you are.

You will always be welcome to stop by our blog and say "G'Day"!!

Wally - Florida, USA

Sue (this n that) said...

Thank you for all your beautiful photographs and the benefit of your knowledge so generously shared.
I wish all the best for you Carole.
Cheers, Susan :D)

theconstantwalker said...

I am so sorry to be so late on this Carole... I will miss our friendship...
If my memory serves me right it was you that suggested I was called GRANDREW by my grandson....

GRANDREW I am... Thank you xx

Jeanne said...

Missing you Carole!!!!

Dianne said...

A fabulous image to say farewell Carole ... I have enjoyed your wonderful bird pics and more recently those delightful captures from your sojourns into the centre of our beautiful country on "Snap Happy Online"
Blogging is for our pleasure both to post and to visit other sites from around the world - I know you have had much joy in participating and hopefully one day you will return to blog-land.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

oh no - i have been on vacation & i came back to see about you & what you have been up to ... i am totally shocked. wow, & sad too. i hope you will see this comment. i will miss you & your blog.

take care & may you have a blessed life!! big big hugs. ( :

David M. Gascoigne, said...

If you are still checking Carole may I join the many others in wishing you well in the future. Sometimes it just feels like one has to move on and do something else.

Carole M. said...

...just another little message from me to say yes I've read/monitored each comment as they arrive and added to this post. Thank you again, each of you. I've appreciated them so much. Best wishes.

Sharyl said...

Ah Carole, it's not a good sign I'm so late in seeing this. Hope you get my message and will leave a message on my blog so we can email again. I've had a guest from Perth the past 2 weeks, and recently opened 2 new stores. I'll miss your lovely bird pics and stories. Hope all is well! Take care! All the best! ~Sharyl

Bob Bushell said...

I thought that you have a holidays, but you were ending your blog. I will miss you.

Larry said...

I've enjoyed visiting your blog and hope you enjoy your extra free time.Maybe you can return to it in the future when the time is right.

Carole M. said...

yes, I still get 'comments' and monitor them before uploading. It's such a buzz really to know how much you enjoyed visiting my blog. I miss it too! Thanks for most recent comments Sharyl, Bob and Larry --- I've put my mind to a few projects I'd been hell-bent on for some time at home, and they are getting achieved slowly but surely. There's never much 'free time' but I'll never say never. Give me more time, and perhaps one day, I'll just pop up and make acquaintance again with Snap Happy Birding, and Snap Happy Online. You just never know....

Deanna said...

Oh no, I have been missing from the blog world for awhile...just now trying to get back on track and I see this. I will definitely miss your delightful blog, seeing all the places you visit and the extraordinary birds that you "snapped". I wish you well and hope that you will return once again!!

Liz said...

Oh Carole! I'm deeply saddened to read this! You were one of my very few earliest followers and I have loved connecting with you here.
You were in my thoughts today as I realised I had not seen a post come up in my reader for a while.
(I had a few very short breaks myself due to health and further surgeries late last year).
I do hope we can catch up as we tried to do back in 2013 when I was down your way for a day, but didn't quite manage it.
I do hope you return as I have loved your images & blog. The shot here is wonderful. It's one I would love to be able to capture myself one day!

Jeanne said...

JUST thinking about you today Carole and how much I miss snap happy birding. Wish you would stop by your blog once in a while to say hello to all of us. hope that you are well and enjoying your coming winter. Love to you from Texas! Jeanne