Why do you click?

Here is the question, and I would love for you to think about it and answer either as a comment here, or in your own blog and link back here with it:

What is it in a blog that keeps you going back?

I'm doing my thinking about it and here are some of the things that get my click:
1. Witty, well written look at daily life that includes humor, character, concern.
2. Thoughtful insights into issues--but not rambling on and on.
3. A picture is worth a thousand words--good choice of pictures to illustrate or enhance the thought.
4. A meaningful visit around the world.

5. Helpfulness to others in the blogosphere--to readers and other bloggers.
6. This might seem to be a repeat of number 5, but I think it is different. I like a blogger who offers thoughtful comments on other's blogs.

7. A clean crisp look that is easy to navigate.

~

The other day CrazyCath awarded me the E for Excellent Award. Then, a day or two later, Ginni at The View From My Garden offered me the same award. There must be something here that they like.

~

Here are the rules that are passed along with the award:

By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you agree to award it to 10 more people whose blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want but please try to award at least 10. You deserve this! Feel free to recognize blogs that have already received this award.

~

Here are my ten, and my reasons:

David McMahon at authorblog is on my list for all of my categories. There is no question about his writing and photography, but I would like to point out one of the things he does to help other bloggers. From time to time he offers insightful explanations of how he captured certain photos, and how that method helps to make them effective. His photography lessons have improved our photos.

~

Like David, Leslie, my neighbor to the north at The Pedalogue, also encompasses all of the categories. Pay her a visit and see if you don't agree.

~

Jackie, The Mother of This Lot at motherspride and another blogger I've found recently, katydidnot are masters of category number one. Their looks at daily life with kids will keep you in stitches.

~

I could visit Max E every day just for a look at the header on The MAX Files. What I find below the header are thoughtful posts, beautiful pictures, and a delightful visit to a different part of the world. I enjoy it immensely.

~

Inland Empire Girl blogs at Gathering Around the Table and is a teacher like myself. She doesn't blog a lot about her classroom, but somehow I can see the teacher behind her posts, which excel especially in categories 2 and 3. I particularly like her sibling assignments, done with her brother and sister in looking back at moments in their early life.

~

Another teacher I've known for a while before blogging and before she retired is Paulie, at Postcards from Paulie. Helpfulness is one of her special traits, along with nice photos from her wanderings about her community. It was Paulie who lured me out of the blogging woodwork. I had a blog, but until Paulie discovered it, it was hiding. It took Paulie to drag this shy blogger into the community.

~

Daryl E at Out and about in New York City has an all round great blog. Sometimes funny, sometimes thoughtful (sometimes both at once) great pictures, nice comments from her at other blogs. This rural girl gets an insight into urban life that I wouldn't be able to imagine from her.

~

Finally, in the picture is worth a thousand words category, there are three bloggers among many who help to encourage other bloggers to share their pictures , so they fit into the photos and the helpfulness categories. TnChick operates Saturday Photohunt, which now has about 250 participants. Mrs. Nesbitt started the ABC Wednesdays last year and it is midway into its second round and growing. RuneE has established Broer som Binder on the first Monday of each month. That translates to Bridges between... I'm linking to his Visual Norway blog, because it is in English.

~

Well, that's eleven from the list that I visit regularly. I could keep on adding to the list because there are others, but I have to stop sometime. I will stop by and tell them about the award tomorrow. For now, good night.