Changes Are Afoot (and a Prize!)

Do you know what day it is?  It's my one year blogversary!!  One sunny Easter weekend in April 2010 this blog began, the promise of spring in the air.  One year later and spring is nowhere to be seen.  It poked it's nose out last week like a groundhog and then retreated.  We've been under storm watch since yesterday.  April Fools on me.

With this anniversary comes change and many of you have noticed in the last week that things look a little different around here.  When I first started writing I believed I would be talking a lot about our transition from the west coast to the east coast.  I thought there would be major differences in how I gardened and I would write about these changes.  My blog description reflected this idea - 'Gardening from West Coast to East Coast'.  While I have noted some of these differences on occasion I find myself talking more about our new community and what it's like to discover an old garden and breath new life into it by making my own changes.  So we have a new blog description - 'A Prince Edward Island Country Home and Garden'.  I think this is a better reflection of the community we live in, the home we share and the garden I am trying to grow.

Along with the description my header photo seemed slightly out of place.  I love that photo of the sweet woodruff.

However, this photo tells the tale of my Bowen Island garden.  Sweet woodruff is a shade loving plant that grew in sweeps under my dogwood tree.  Canoe Corner is not shaded and although I purchased some woodruff last spring it is simply a reminder of a place that once was.  I wanted a photo that was reflective of where we are now.  It didn't take much to realize the apple orchard has set the tone on this property.  I have been consumed with apples since moving here.  It was the first plant I noticed when we saw this house and has been a backdrop to everything we do.  The trees screen us from neighbours, provide flowers in spring, apples in fall and wood to keep us warm.  They have been a part of this property and community for many years and I hope they continue to live on here for many more years.

Some minor changes have also taken place.  My blogroll has increased as I find more and more blogs that I love.  So much so that I've added a second blog roll exclusively for PEI Blogs.  There are some wonderful writers on this island talking about gardening, photography and farming.  All set to the backdrop of this wonderful island.

Triumphs and Tragedies has returned from hibernation.  I love my Friday evening walks in the garden and it's a great way to keep track of the good and bad so that hopefully I remember my mistakes in the future and don't make them again!

Posts entitled On the Inside were previously used to record my house plants but as the house has started to become more of a home I'm widening my scope and will be showing you a little more of the interior.

I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who have read our story and continue to show up and comment.  Meeting other bloggers and hearing their insight and stories has made blogging a wonderful experience that I had not anticipated.  I'm always glad to see you and look forward to another year together.

In celebration of surviving one year of blogging I thought I would have a little draw as a way to say thanks.  It'll be a good old fashioned pull a name out of a hat sort of venture.  Up for grabs, this lovely glass ornament edged with copper foil.

How to win?  Just leave me a comment below telling me about your favourite post or topic that I've covered in the last year.  Or, tell me about a topic you'd like to hear more about.  On Friday, April 8, 2011 I'll make the draw.  Good luck.