New year, new look, new stuff

on Jan 2nd, 2008New year, new look, new stuff

So how do you like the new surroundings?

Obviously, I spent some of my time off setting this up on my own host. It enables me to do things and offer content I could not before. For instance, the Share This icon on each post enables readers not only to use social bookmarks and Facebook, but also to send links to the posts by email, IM or SMS. Subscribers have long had the email option, now everyone does.

On the sidebar is a great new widget from The Washington Post with many links to its Lean Plate Club columns. These aren’t recipes and it’s not a diet but it is excellent information about eating and living smarter and healthier. The new recipes from Epicurious are no longer limited to two, and we have photos of them now. Links from both widgets will open in a new window and the Post’s might activate your pop-up blocker.

At the top is a multi-lingual translator. Before, I was able to offer translation into French; now eight languages are possible. And just for fun, on the About page, I have a random display of some of my favorite books. Firefox users: for some reason the text and Weather Pixie after the books do not show up in that browser.

I do hope you like it!

Sphere: Related Content

19 responses so far ellaella misc.

19 Responses to “New year, new look, new stuff”

# Vegeyumon 02 Jan 2008 at 6:02 am

Nice! It must be a lot of work - I am a firefox user, and cant see a weather pixie I look forward to a new year of fabulous blogging from you.
# Lewison 02 Jan 2008 at 7:57 am

The new site looks great! However, I am a Firefox user as well and do not see the weather :/ - the good part is that I do not read your blog for the weather so not that big of a loss.
# pbsweeneyon 02 Jan 2008 at 8:34 am

Well, to be honest, I’m not sure I’m a big fan of gray on gray - your old site was so very elegant. But the content and photos are what I care about and look forward to. You are on the top of my food blogger list!
# ellaellaon 02 Jan 2008 at 3:10 pm

@Vegeyum - Thanks! Maybe some of your skill with a camera will rub off on me. Your recipes are awesome and inspiring. Yumyum!
# ellaellaon 02 Jan 2008 at 3:11 pm

@Lewis - Many thanks. I have no idea why IE behaves better on that page than Firefox. But you’re right - you’re only missing the weather atop Mt. Washington. (snow right now, -8 F and 56 mph winds. I can’t fathom the wind chill.) Happy New Year!
# ellaellaon 02 Jan 2008 at 3:14 pm

@pbsweeney - If I’m starting the year on top of someone’s list (other than a bad one!) then maybe it’ll be a good year indeed. Thank you so much.

But grey? It’s navy and pastel navy. Oh dear.
# Richardon 02 Jan 2008 at 3:21 pm

Like your new digs ella. Easy on the eyes, and easy to read. You are now on my reading list.
# ellaellaon 02 Jan 2008 at 5:10 pm

Thanks so much, Richard. I’m very happy to hear that. And thanks for wanting to read more in the future; I hope I won’t disappoint too often.
# brightfeatheron 02 Jan 2008 at 7:14 pm

Hello there,
I like your new theme and I am wishing you success with your blog and in your life during 2008 and far beyond.

Timethief would probably like to leave a comment too but her email address was been fed to Akismatt and she has been rendered “inactive” and is unable to post in the forums.
# Caton 03 Jan 2008 at 12:27 am

Just a little thing: On FF 2.0.0.11 the comment box [which I’m using now!] overlaps part of the sidebar, such as the Technorati image and others.
# ellaellaon 03 Jan 2008 at 9:37 am

@brightfeather - Thanks very much and all the same good wishes to you.

I understand about timethief. As it was, I found your comment in Akismet. Hopefully, it will learn. Fast.
# ellaellaon 03 Jan 2008 at 9:42 am

@cat - yes, I know. Here’s why and maybe you can help. The sidebar was extremely narrow, so I widened it and reduced the post area by an equal number of pixels. However, I can’t find the right spot for the comment box. Nothing logical or that I’ve used before works — and there is NO css preview available — and it was just not a priority.

So perhaps you can find the right spot on the style sheet? I know 20px is all I have to reduce by.I’m reluctant to contact the theme author over something so minor because he was wonderfully responsive about something not so minor.
# sageon 03 Jan 2008 at 10:52 am

Happy New Year!

I like it.
The French Blue is a beautiful color ~ appreciate all the links and widgets.

Cheers!
# ellaellaon 03 Jan 2008 at 2:32 pm

Hi, sage! Thanks so much and Happy New Year to you and yours!
# rhbeeon 06 Jan 2008 at 1:50 am

Yeah,
This sight feels like its in action. Nice job to all concerned.
# ellaellaon 06 Jan 2008 at 4:06 am

Thanks, rhbee. I’m the “all” and appreciate your kind words.
# ellaellaon 07 Jan 2008 at 1:48 pm

cat - I don’t know if you’ll ever see this, but I figured it out (this comment box). It’s not defined by the CSS but is part of .php. Yay
# Richardon 08 Jan 2008 at 1:51 am

Ella,
I doubt you will disappoint me. I’ve also added you to my blogroll.
# ellaellaon 08 Jan 2008 at 2:01 am

Thank you so much, Richard, for your vote of confidence. (Is the election on my mind or what?)

I’ve added you too and I hope others will journey through the mist to The Sacred Path.