Trees are sporting new leaves, kittens are turning into cats, and this week, my own little girl is becoming a teenager. With so many natural changes going on, it seems fitting that this blog is about to go through some changes of its own. I wanted to let you know what’s happening, and while I’m at it, I thought I’d show you the best of the photos I took in my yard this week.
This is Leonardo. He is looking up at the top of the box I am typing in where it says “Blogger.” I’ve used Blogger as the platform for this blog ever since I started it back in 2006. I’ve been fairly happy with Blogger because it let me keep the blog on my own domain while using Blogger’s technology to update it. Unfortunately, Blogger has decided that it doesn’t want to do things this way anymore. I have the choice of moving everything onto Blogger’s servers or changing the software I use to write the blog. As of May 1, I will no longer be able to use Blogger on my own web server.
This dragonfly is contemplating the changes I recently made at the main Fatfree Vegan Recipes site. The site had been stuck with a design I cobbled together back in 2004, but because I needed a way to make periodic changes easily, I decided to redesign it using WordPress MU. Because I didn’t want to constantly be moving between two very different platforms, my plan was to eventually move the blog over to WordPress, too. Blogger’s decision just meant that the change would have to be made sooner than expected.
So this ladybug is planning to pack up and fly away with me to WordPress sometime this week. Since I’ve never done this before, I don’t know how many glitches we’ll experience as all of the blog posts are exported from Blogger and imported into WordPress. It could go very smoothly and all you’ll notice is a very slightly different design. Or it could be that for a short period of time you’ll find a really stripped-down version of the blog. Or all heck could break loose and all you’ll see is cats, and dragonflys, and ladybugs! (Wait, that’s normal!)
Whatever happens, Leonardo and I want you to know that it’s just temporary. If the worst happens and the blog’s homepage disappears, you can always head over to the main site, where in the right column, middle of the page, there’s a search box that you can use to look for blog recipes. I have a feeling that the individual posts will remain accessible throughout the changeover. While you’re there, you can always browse through the member-contributed recipes at Fatfree Vegan Recipes (over 600 of them and more being added daily) or consider adding one of your own.
This is a flower. It’s not looking at, contemplating, or planning anything because how silly would that be?!
See you back here soon, with a (slightly) new look and (totally) new recipes!
Katie
April 11, 2010 at 3:25 pmBeautiful pictures. Happy birthday to E.
Veg is Sexy
April 11, 2010 at 3:29 pmGood luck, Susan! We'll still be here 🙂
Dana
April 11, 2010 at 3:32 pmI love this post.
See you soon again!
dreaminitvegan
April 11, 2010 at 3:34 pmHope you have successful changes. I'm with you on using blogger, I've been contemplating making a move but not wanting to deal with the headache involved.
Your pic's are beautiful!!! That dragonfly is an amazing one.
ellen
April 11, 2010 at 3:50 pmLeonardo is a beauty! Good luck with all of the changes 🙂
Sarah Campbell
April 11, 2010 at 4:22 pmI know all this changing and improving has been a ton of work. It's all looking good, though, and I know you'll get through this next change in style. You always do! Love the photographs!!
Stacey
April 11, 2010 at 4:25 pmLeonardo is precious. I love kitties.
lemon
April 11, 2010 at 4:37 pmBest of luck with the changes. We love your blog and will follow you wherever you go.
Lovely photos, too!
Paul
April 11, 2010 at 4:51 pmGood luck with the move! And thank you for all the wonderful recipes… Your great food and helpful notes means that we'll follow you where ever you go!!!!
HeidiTFM
April 11, 2010 at 4:56 pmI actually left Blogger several years ago, because my article archive had become too large and cumbersome. I have been using WordPress ever since, and I'm quite happy with it. Think of it as an investment. You should be pleased with the results. (I hope!)
Anonymous
April 11, 2010 at 5:27 pmLeonardo (and your yard) is gorgeous!
Julie Nolte Owen
April 11, 2010 at 5:49 pmBeautiful photos, Susan. You should start a nature blog, too, while you're changing!
Gwendolyn
April 11, 2010 at 6:23 pmKeep at it, Susan! Love your blog as much as peanut butter on a spoon 😉
Barbara
April 11, 2010 at 6:50 pmGood luck on your move.
You are an excellent photographer, keep at it (especially your cat).
I always enjoy reading your posts and recipes.
Best wishes,
Bg
Spanish Steps
April 11, 2010 at 8:06 pmGood luck! Nice pictures. It is always good to enjoy and appreciate nature. Those photos are gorgeous!
Best wishes!
nicolaknits
April 11, 2010 at 8:55 pmI transferred from Blogger to WordPress and the importing of blog posts was very quick and easy. I'm sure everything will go fine.
Erik Marcus
April 11, 2010 at 8:58 pmI switched Vegan.com over to WordPress about two years ago, and I couldn't be happier. It's a wonderful blogging system and gets better all the time.
One word of warning: WordPress doesn't have the best track record in terms of security. Despite being pretty on top of keeping my WordPress installation up to date, I nevertheless managed to get the site badly hacked this year. When you did a Google search, the site description coming up under Vegan.com would advertise that sexual dysfunction drug that starts with V. I can't begin to tell you how angry that made me, and it's only because I've got access to an expert server guy that I was able to reverse this hack.
So, be sure that once you make the switch, you stay on top of keeping your WordPress installation to the very latest version. And keep your plugins to a minimum. Each has the potential to be a backdoor through which your site can be hacked. Finally, look into installing some sort of automated backup process, so that if worst comes to worst and your site gets hacked, it can quickly be recovered.
I love Fat Free Vegan and I hope this changeover results in an already excellent site becoming even better!
Ksenia
April 11, 2010 at 10:55 pmI bought my own domain and moved from Blogger to WordPress some month ago and I am very happy with the decision 😀
There’s no accounting for tastes, but in my opinion WordPress is way better (I didn't know about the plugin thing, though.@Erik Marcus, I will try to get rid of the unnecesary plugins then. Thanks!)
I remember I had some minor problems with the posts, but I solved it with a little trick (moving them first to WordPress.com and from then to you selfhosted WordPress) and the permalinks (I used a plugin for it, so I didn't lose any external link pointing to a specific post)
But when you get used to it it's awesome! 😀 Good luck 🙂
PS: By the way, Leonardo is such a cute cat ^^
KJ
April 12, 2010 at 9:01 amGood luck on the move. Keep a positive attitude and the change will be fun. 🙂
Joey
April 12, 2010 at 12:47 pmI love your photos. I've become quite a shutter bug myself lately. Here in New Mexico the trees are all in bloom and I've been clicking away to my heart's content. Its very satisfying to come home with a camera loaded with wonderful memories. An invariable feast for the eyes. Almost as good as sitting down to a visually pleasing meal…almost 🙂
blackdog66
April 12, 2010 at 2:59 pmGood luck on moving your site; too bad you can't stay with blogger. I, too, am envious of your photos, but mainly your garden and all that moisture. Here in Northern New Mexico, we're still waiting for spring.
Richard G
April 14, 2010 at 4:40 pmNice shots!
radioactivegan
April 14, 2010 at 10:22 pmi LOVE your pictures. you must have a great camera! or just great skillz 🙂
Gabrielle
April 15, 2010 at 6:34 pmI did have to re-subscribe to the RSS feed, but other than that, seems smooth, your move. 🙂
Gabrielle
April 15, 2010 at 6:34 pmOh yes… LOVE your photos. Gorgeous kitty.
Milinda
April 15, 2010 at 9:53 pmGood luck! See you on the other side. 🙂
brian
October 31, 2010 at 9:37 amwhat a pretty kitty!
looks like my mighty Shadow!
brian
November 28, 2010 at 4:11 pmi like your pretty kitty!
loves cats!