June 3, 2014
It’s hard to believe it’s been 1 year since I wrote my first post, unsure of where it would take me. I am a woodworker so I wanted to show my woodwork but I also enjoy cooking, grilling, hiking, camping, gardening, mountain wildlife and bird watching. So, I intended to focus on all the things I enjoy doing and my experiences.
You have allowed me to share a little of my life. We have had good times, a lot of laughs but serious moments too! You have supported me during those bad days offering kind words, suggestions and prayers.
Since my initial post, I’ve made 161 blog post, had over 25,650 hits and 2000 plus comments. The top three post based on visits and your comments are are all dessert recipes and there is a tie for the #3 spot.
#1 most visited post
Hot Fudge Sauce, Chocolate Cake and Ice Cream
#2 most visited post
Chocolate Cheesecake
#3 most visit post
Best Ever Strawberry Pie and Making Crème Brûlée
Blogging has been fun and the best part is, that I have met some wonderful people blogging that I probably would have never ever met. I have also learned a lot from you and have enjoyed so much reading your post and all your wonderful comments as well as seeing all of your beautiful pictures!
I want to thank everyone, to all my readers, subscribers, followers, friends and blogger friends, thank you for all of your support with a special thank you to those that comment on all my post! I am celebrating by offering you the chance to win!
Leave a comment on this post from now until the end of day on July 17th, and on July 18th I will draw the name of the lucky winner. The prize?
One of my handcrafted double handle cutting boards or serving board,… fruit not included! Someone will win the board pictured above!! This board is made by me in my shop, by hand from local American Walnut, rock hard Maple and Northern Cherry.
What is your favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream?
Mars seedless grapes from my garden vines!
I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July!
Michael's Woodcrafts 
congrats on your 1st blogiversary! you have a well-rounded blog that has a lot of interests. too funny on the top 3 comments being desserts. 🙂
the cutting board is awesome! i’d be grateful to be entered to win. my favorite ben & jerry’s is coffee heath bar. YUM!
thank you Tex!! Everyone likes dessert is the only thing I can figure 🙂 I like the Coffee and Hearth bar too! 🙂
Congratulations! Isn’t it a great feeling when you know that this blogging lark is not just a phase but that you’re actually sticking around. Loving the beautiful boards I’ve seen over the last months.
I’d love to win but I’m based in the UK and I won’t make you pay out for expensive postage. I shall admire from afar 😉
Happy 1st anniversary.
Yes, it gets easier and it feels good! thank you so much Chava, too bad you are so far away!
As for the ice cream, chubby hubby is hard to beat. Or cookie dough. The board is beautiful, I will wait anxiously and cross my fingers to win it! Do you sell your boards anywhere in a Columbia or near Brevard?
Hi Gretchen, I like nearly all ice cream and chubby hubby is another favorite! I am in Greenville and a few shops here have my boards but none in Columbia or Brevard. I can ship to you, I ship all over the US. 🙂 Good luck!!
Happy Anniversary Michael–I consider this a blessing as I have been so enriched by your posts, your talents, your recipes , but especially by the friendship—keep on posting and sharing!!!
Salut—-julie
Good evening Julie, thank you!! 🙂 Back in late winter I thought I would never make it a year with everything that had happen. Thank you foe being there to listen! big hugs! Michael
Congratulations Michael! I remember thinking I’d never make it a year and it’s already been over three. Hard to believe. That’s a great looking cutting board. I keep thinking about that acorn shaped box you made. Is that something you do regularly like the cutting boards? Have you ever thought of doing a pear shaped one? There are antique ones made out of fruit wood that are very beautiful.
Stay safe. I hope the hurricane blows out to sea.
thank you so much Allen! Back a few months ago I didn’t think I would make a year but time passed quickly. I have not made any of the acorn boxes in awhile, I will keep you in mind for one. Right now I have a lot of boards I am making that keep me busy. Are you talking about a pear shaped cutting board? Do you by chance have a picture of it? We are only getting rain from hurricane Arthur since we are inland about 250 miles from the coast. Looks like the coast of NC is getting hammered.
I’m glad you’re out of the danger zone. I hope people heeded the warnings!
The box I’m thinking of is one I saw on Antiques Roadshow once. It’s just like your acorn only pear shaped. You can see one here: http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2527/making-a-pear-shaped-tea-caddy-chapter-1
That’s a nice box, making a pear shape wouldn’t be too hard but the lock and hinge might be a problem. If I could get that figured out I will give it a try 🙂
Congratulations, Michael! Blessings, Natalie 🙂
thank you so much Natalie! 🙂
Happy anniversary to your blog!!! Wow, what a lovely giveaway!
thank you Liz!! You are now entered, good luck! 🙂
Happy anniversary!
thank you! I have been following your blog for a long time and I know you have slowed down posting with your new job and everything but I am no longer getting emails when you post. I wonder why, do you have any idea? Don’t you just love Vegas? I spend a week their n April, had a great time. Have a great 4th of July!!
Happy Anniversary Michael! I shall look forward to following you through your second year. There’s always something interesting to see on your blog, and I love the mix of woodwork, nature and food! Happy blogging and Happy 4th of July!
Thank YOU for sharing your lovely work and pics and recipes! And have a lovely and happy first birthday 🙂 😀
thank you!!! 🙂
Your work is outstanding and it’s been such a pleasure getting to know you. Happy anniversary!
thank you Maureen! Have a great weekend!
Happy Blogiversary! It’s fun to see your most viewed posts, isn’t it? I think just about everyone’s most viewed posts have to do with desserts – except mine. My number one post is how to smoke peppers. I have no idea why. It was one of my very first posts and the pictures are terrible! Keep blogging!
thank you Kelli, everyone loves a good dessert! 🙂
Congratulations on your first anniversary! Those desserts look DELICIOUS! And the wood board looks great too!
Uhm, shame on me but I have never had Ben & Jerry’s before…
thank you Sarah and thank you for visiting my blog! Oh No, you need to run to the store now and get a small container of Ben & Jerry’s!! Publix in our area has it on sale, buy one get one! It’s delicious! 🙂 Happy 4th!
Maybe I will go get one :p
Happy blogaversary, Michael. I am also chuckling over your most popular posts being dessert recipes. My favorite Ben and Jerry’s flavor was AmeriCone Dream. Saying “was”, because nowadays 90 calorie frozen yogurt is more my speed. But thanks for the memories, anyway!
Oh I like the frozen yogurt too but like the ice cream more!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR BLOG
thank you Sally!
Oh, I don’t know what happened, my comment posted by itself… 🙂 Anyway, I definitely want to join this party and wish you a wonderful first anniversary of blogging! Your work is simply outstanding, I am a huge fan! (as you know… 😉
Congratulations on a first year in blogging; it’s an adventure, isn’t it! I’m so envious of you having grapes, they must be wonderful. It’s no surprise to find such delicious food posts being in top position, everyone loves good food!
thank you! good food but everyone loves dessert too!
Happy Anniversary! I haven’t had Ben & Jerry’s in years, don’t eat sugar anymore, so we make our own ice cream. Years ago when we lived in Connecticut we vacationed in Vermont. In those days trips to Ben & Jerry’s ‘factory’ was a must.
Your woodworking is gorgeous!
good morning, thank you! Oh wow, I think it would be great to visit Ben & jerry’s factory!! 😛
Wow I love your cutting boards and a very Happy one year anniversary! You do beautiful work.
thank you Suzanne!
Congrats on your first year anniversary. When you start out you wonder if anyone will read your postings and then you start meeting wonderful people throughout the world. Glad our paths have crossed! Keep on bloggin!
good evening Bernice! thank you! Yea, when I started I thought I would never get anyone to read my post but a year later I have meet some wonderful people too! I am glad we met too, love seeing post in my email to read from you! Our long 3 day weekend is nearly gone 😦
🙂 Yes the long weekend has ended – but it was great having a mini-holiday.
Congratulations on your first year of blogging. What a lovely way to celebrate by offering one of your beautiful boards to one of your readers. Good luck to us all. 🙂
Hi Karen! thank you!
Congratulations on your one year anniversary! My husband is a woodworker from the “old days.” (He turned 60 last year.) But I treasure each and every piece of furniture in our house he built for us. I look forward to seeing what’s to come from you here!
thank you, that’s great, it’s nice to have handmade furniture, they become heirlooms for the family! Our home is full of furniture that I made. Thank you for visiting my site, I enjoyed visiting your site too 🙂
Happy anniversary! Those recipes look delicious!!
thank you! 🙂
Happy Blogiversary Michael. Great site you have and all of your desserts look lovely, especially your hot fudge sauce chocolate cake ice cream. I need a spoon. Beautiful grapes from your vineyard. You are so lucky you picked them before the birds got to them. Do they still have the chocolate chunk cherry flavor from Ben and Jerry’s- love that! Take care, BAM
HI Bobbi Ann, thank you. I enjoyed visiting your site, great recipes and nice pictures too! The Hot Fudge Chocolate Sauce is wonderful!! You gotta make this recipe if you like chocolate! I don’t generally have problems with the birds like I do the deer and raccoons! Yes, Ben & Jerry’s does still have the Chocolate Chunk, I like that one too but of course I like anything with chocolate! 🙂 Hope you will visit again soon!
Congrats, Michael.
thank you!