New WordPress Blog Theme, Ashe, is Active and Running!

Yay! The new theme Ashe has been installed and I love it. I did a little research with my goals in mind of having a blog themed website, that looked like a blog, acted like a blog, and was easy like Blogger. Why not just go back to Blogger you ask? Well all my “everything” is linked to this paid domain here. I pay for a domain thru a third party and I also have an upgraded account thru WordPress as my history of blogging was taking up space and I needed more. I didn’t want the hassle of changing all that, trying to migrate that, or to have a separate blog, when really I just needed a change of scenery behind the scenes and for you guys too that read. So the answer was a new theme, not an entire set up – but which one? In WordPress sometimes changing a theme feels like a new set up but this changeover to Ashe was seamless!

What was I looking for in a theme?

A blog feel as mentioned was my main goal, with ease of writing behind the scenes, and a beckoning feel. I wanted the ability to be able to change the look of it with the seasons, or how I felt, or the mood I wanted to convey. I wanted to make it mine and make it personal. I want to access it daily or every other day for writing again. I wanted a theme I could feel good about and understand how it works behind the scenes and not be afraid to touch it for fear I would break it. I needed an easier process because changing the look of the blog was something I enjoyed with Blogger and AOL. I wanted that back!

In my research I wanted to find something that I could have a side bar for those reading on the computer. I remember fondly the days of Blogger and AOL and the interesting things you found in the side bar to tell you a little bit more about the person you were reading in front of you. I want to build my side bar out. It’s not finished yet. On the phone, maybe even the iPad, the side bar may actually be at the bottom.

What else I really like about the Ashe theme.

The Ashe theme allows for color changes and I can change the image at the top easily through Canva along with the seasons like I used to. Ashe theme also gives you the length and width so you don’t have to figure it out by making your image 3 times to get one that fits. Also they have little YouTube videos behind the scenes to help you with “each” section.

It also has the “feature section” which looks modern and goes back in time. I have it set to rotate older posts and with the click left or right button you can view three different ones. And a simple scroll further down reveals my current posts for up to three days. I am hoping that everyone figures this out and doesn’t see the feature slide and thinks I haven’t blogged since 2020. I may fix this to where it pulls from more recent selections, as I learn more.

And YOU as the reader can change from light to dark mode by hitting the “moon icon”. How cool is that!

Building it out from here will be easy.

I felt so “freed” when I downloaded this theme. I instantly knew that it was the perfect one for me. I even knew it when I saw the video on it and read about it. It still has a LOT of bells and whistles and there is an upgraded version if I ever need more. But I don’t think I will. I can change the header image easily and the colors of the blog and that should be fine. So it is doing what I wanted it to exactly and more.

I am no where finished building it out. I need to refresh my About Me. I hadn’t realized just how updated it is. George is retired and I don’t think it even mentioned Maddie. I will refresh it. I need to work on the Menu bars. I want to embellish the side bar (which may be at bottom on phone or iPad, I’ve not looked at the iPad yet). I need to revisit my “policies” links and add in some more HTML features. But I’m happy.

And it’s easier to write and type with. Matter of fact, you can set it to a “bothersome free” writing mode and make all the options go away while you write. I brought a few of them back lol, you know so I could “link”, make things bold or underlined, etc. Preferences were easily figured out there.

I’m a Happy Camper. Ok Happy Blogger.

So I’m happy and I think I will be able to blog more frequently since it’s not as heavy and cumbersome to do so. I feel like a weight has been lifted. And let me tell ya. When the blog is not working, nor the internet, I’m in a horrible mood, the world is upside down, and nothing feels right til it’s fixed. I can almost tolerate the internet being out because I can read but knowing the “blog is broken” is something that sets my world upside down. So I feel good and very happy knowing I have figured this out.

The header image is an ocean for now, for summer – not because I live near one but because I love the ocean and everything about it, so I will allow it as a header! I’m currently reading a book by Lin Pardey, who wrote about cooking during ocean passages and included her quick but good recipes – which happen to perfect for us busy people who haven’t retired yet.

Well folks, the old me is back. The blog is good. I’m ready to write. As with most days though, responsibility beckons. I must get out the door. With this payroll closing, it’s month end and quarter end. I was able to knock it out of the park yesterday and almost finished with month end. We are going out to eat today though with the girls at lunch – taking our new person in the office out and getting to know her. The week is going by fast. And so has this blog session.

So over and out. And we’ll talk more later. I really hope you like the new blog look. And I hope you all have a great day!