11 Million Page Views!

The ol' blog just hit 11 million page views!

I just updated the header to reflect this milestone. 

Here it is: 

Blog Hits 9 Million Views

It wasn't that long ago that the number of page views of this blog hit eight million. It was in August, to be exact.

Well, this ol' "hobby blog" has clocked over nine million page views. This has to be the second fastest in this blog's history. 

Accordingly, I have updated the header:

 

Now Over 6 Million Views!

This little ol' hobby blog of mine has reached and surpassed the six million page views mark.

I didn't catch this until a few minutes ago. It seemed like it was only recently it hit five million page views. Actually, it was in January that it hit five million.

Accordingly, the header has been updated:

Second Header Version Is Up!

Above, the second header version by Asya.

As I had mentioned previously, just before this blog reached 2 million views, I had Asya create a new header for the blog using one of my photos of "The Mittens" in Monument Valley.

I had also mentioned that she did such a good job on two header versions, that I decided to use both, but interchangeably.

I have changed the header to the second version that Asya did. I will have it up for a while then change it back at a later date and vice-versa. (After all, variety is the spice of life, right?)

Above, yours truly and Asya at last year's portrait unveiling party at the Odyssey Restarurant. Photo by Lori Thornhill.

Besides fine art (portraits and other paintings), calligraphy and header designs, Asya does excellent logo work and other graphic works (such as flyers and invitations). If you are in need of any of these, I have a permanent link to her website at Chakra Graphics on the right side of this blog (just scroll down until you come to her photograph). You will see many samples of what Asya can do.

However, for this blog post, the link to her site is here, since you've been kind enough to read this.

Header Reactions

When I switched to the new blog template weeks ago, I looked through what Blogger has to offer.

I already had the new header design in mind when I was looking. They had several new ones and the one I settled on was one of them.

During the process of selecting the template, I looked through many blogs on Blogger. For the most part, a lot of them were just dull-looking to me. Blogger has so many nice templates available, so I was surprised that many blogs did not take full advantage of them to create an attractive blog. I noticed that many blogs included photographs that were posted in small sizes. I don't know if they fear someone ripping them off or what, but, to me, why bother posting photos if they are in such small sizes?

I liked the blues in the new template as they would compliment the blue sky in the photograph of "The Mittens" in Monument Valley as well as the earth tones of the rock formations.

This birthday greetings by Kirk Hastings got me thinking about using a photo of "The Mittens" in the new header:

I looked at other photos I have on file and experimented with different ones, but I decided that one from Monument Valley would work the best. After which, I enlisted Asya to do the calligraphy and lettering.

I am very pleased with the end results of the template with the new header by Asya. She actually came up with two variations that I liked and will use both interchangeably. She did a great job!

So far, here's some of the reactions to the new header and template:

• Nice!

• Very pretty though!  Makes me think of all those lucky folks buying land in Sedona where the sky is apparently usually like that.

• Wow!  You really redid it very nice!

 

• My congratulations!

 

• Actually, I love it how you made it with blue font over white background for the blog! It's easier for the eye to read posts like that! Yeah! And matches the new cover:) How are you feeling about the new appearance?

2 Million Threshold Crossed!

The ol' Rancho has crossed the 2 million page views threshold, so the new header has been installed.

The photograph was taken of "The Mittens" at Monument Valley by me last November and the calligraphy and lettering was done by Asya. She also did another version which will probably be interchanged with this one.

The header image had been reduced by 45%, but even with the reduction, it is still pretty large. I may reduce it down a little further later.

Asya is a very talented graphic artist who also does logos. I have added a widget for her under the title "Chakra Graphics". Click on the photo to go to her website and see her past work. But here is the direct link. Need a logo? See what Asya can do!

Getting Closer To 2 Million

Above, Asya and yours truly at Gladstone's 4 Fish in Pacific Palisades last year.

The ol' Rancho is getting closer to the 2 million mark (in views).

We're now well below 35,000 views away from 2 million, and that's when I'll be putting up the new header that Asya created. I am very pleased with what she came up with. She actually came up with two versions that I like, so I will probably use both interchangeably.

It was almost three and a half years ago when this blog hit one million views. I thought that was remarkable. The blog was started in 2008, so it took six years to reach that milestone. But we are now nearing 2 million views, which is only roughly three and a half years later. Better yet!

I am guessing that the 2 million mark will be reached late next month, or in early July at the latest.

New Look To The Ol' Rancho

Above, the Goodyear blimp advertising the blog?

After looking over the header designs by Asya, I decided to take a look at the different blog design templates Blogger has to offer.

They have a number of nice designs and layouts, but keeping the new header in mind, I chose one of their newer templates. Rather than waiting for the blog to reach 2 million views, I decided to apply the new design now. I like the results.

The new header will be applied to the blog once 2 million views is reached. 

Changes Are Coming

Above, this is one header idea I toyed with, but I rejected it.

Since this blog is fast nearing 2 million views, it is time to be planning for a possible change in design of the overall look of the blog, including a new header (or masthead or nameplate in traditional publishing). This will be the third or fourth header change since I started this blog in 2008.

Above, same header idea, but modified and also rejected.

I have an idea on what I want to do for the header, so I checked with Asya (who painted my portrait last year). Besides being a painter, she also does calligraphy and logos and is quite good at both. We'll see what she comes up with.

I anticipate that the blog will be hitting 2 million views before summer, so it is time to get the ball rolling.