15 Years of Exploring Life’s Back Roads: A Retrospective
It’s hard to believe I’ve been sharing “little treasures discovered while exploring the back roads of life” for 15 years. If you’ve been following Back Road Journal for any length of time, you know this space is more than just a blog—it’s a lifestyle collection filled with good food, travel adventures, gardening tips, and so much more.
We used to buy postcards at souvenir and museums gift shops, scribbled “Wish you were here” in the tiny white space on the back, and hoped they arrived before we actually got home. Then fifteen years ago, this blog became my digital postcard.
Back then, my carry-on looked less like a suitcase and more like a mobile electronics store. I traveled with a tangled web of charging cords, battery packs, iPhone, and a heavy MacBook Pro. My first question at hotel check-ins wasn’t about the view; it was “What’s the Wi-Fi password”?
And while the hardware has changed, the heartbeat of this space, staying connected with all of you, remains exactly the same.”
Looking back at this photo from 2012 where I wrote a post about Overcoming Jet Lag, I’m reminded that my camera and laptop are still my constant companions. They have recorded everything from far-flung adventures with my husband to the new dishes I’ve whipped up for friends at home.
Since I’m celebrating 15 years of writing, I thought it would be fun to look back at a few of the milestones that truly shaped this blog.
2009: A Thrilling Start in Naples, Maine
I had only been blogging for two months when I experienced my first “I’me going to make it” moment. Our summer home in Naples, Maine, always revolved around events on the water. The 4th of July Parade and the Antique and Classic Wooden Boat and Car Show being the two major ones. I was absolutely thrilled when the post about the boat show was “Freshly Pressed” by WordPress! Seeing that early post resonate with so many people was the best motivation to keep sharing.
Back in 2009, WordPress.com launched Freshly Pressed, a curated collection of posts that entertained, enlightened, and inspired. It was our way of saying “we like you, we really like you” to creators, and amplifying their great work for others to find.
2011: Awards and the Perfect Lobster Pot Pie
2011 was a banner year for the blog. Wineguys Radio and TV named Back Road Journal “The Best Food Blog of the Year,” and my recipe for Lobster Pot Pie was honored as their “Best Recipe of the Year.” They even invited me onto their radio show to talk about the dish. It was such a special way to end the year and reinforced my love for sharing these culinary treasures with you.
2012: Heirloom Tomatoes, Better Than I Imagined
Three years in, I hit another major milestone. My post on Growing Tomatoes Successfully was also “Freshly Pressed”. I remember starting those heirloom varieties in my potting shed in New Hampshire and carefully transporting them, along with pots of herbs, to Maine to be planted on Memorial Day. They were the best tomatoes we’ve ever eaten—I can still taste that fantastic homegrown flavor!
2017: A Year of Challenges and Cheers
By 2017, I was writing about the challenges of blogging on the road.
That same year brought a wonderful surprise when Credit Donkey named Back Road Journal one of the Best Cooking Blogs for Beginners. They noted that “the very best cooking bloggers offer the tastiest meals and greatest ideas that are also doable for any newbie.” They especially liked that my recipes include short reviews so you know exactly what to expect—something I’ve always tried to do to help my fellow “amateur” cooks feel confident in the kitchen!
2018: A Change in Latitudes
While not a blog “award,” 2018 brought a major shift in the stories I tell here. After years of sharing life at our summer cottage on a lake in Maine and at our 1730 New Hampshire colonial farmhouse, my husband and I decided it was time to escape those harsh New England winters.
We went seeking a more southerly place—somewhere warm with a laid-back lifestyle, but still close to great restaurants and culture. We found our new adventure on the Treasure Coast of Florida, and since then, the “back roads” have looked a little more tropical!
2024: A Lighter Path Forward
It’s funny to see how much easier the “tech” side has become. I’ve traded the bulky camera for my phone, and my laptop is much lighter now, too! While the gear has changed, the mission is still the same: finding those little treasures on the back roads and sharing them here at my digital table. Thanks for being part of this 15-year adventure!
Looking back over these 15 years, I’m overwhelmed by the wonderful community we’ve built together. Whether you’ve been here since my very first post about searching to a summer cottage or you’ve just joined me, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit. Your comments, and kind words have been the real ‘little treasures’ of this journey. Here’s to many more adventures, delicious discoveries, and explorations along the back roads of life!
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I’m looking forward to revisiting some of those favorite memories and milestones with you. I’d love to hear from you—how long have you been following Back Road Journal, and do you have a favorite recipe or story that has stayed with you?”
Karen, I’ve been following you since I met you in 2018. I live vicariously through you, your marvelous adventures and your amazing meals!
Kiki
Thank you so much Kiki, I treasure our friendship and appreciate your kind words.
Karen – my warmest and most sincere congratulations to you for having lasted the distance and done it in such an elegant, stylish but warm way whatever the difficulties at times may have been. Actually, I must have been with you for about 14 of those 15 years – I first subscribed to follow your holidays thru’ Germany and Austria as such had been home awhile in my childhood years and I also had been back a number of times. Then you taught me about New Hampshire and apples and your beautiful beach home and, and, and . . . may I say ‘thank you’ for a lovely site to visit, often leaving with a new and delightful recipe . . . and wish you and your husband the best in the times to come > I am delighted you will keep on writing awhile . . .
I appreciate your very kind words Eha. I’m happy that you have enjoyed all the many things I have shared over the years. My husband and I are lucky to have the support from people like yourself when life makes you pause and regroup. Thank you.
Congratulations on 15 years, Karen! I always enjoy your posts and your inspiring travels. I’m pretty sure I found your blog through your post on heirloom tomatoes when it was Freshly Pressed. Your writing about New England appealed as it’s a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time (still haven’t made it there, but one day 🙂 ) And I remember your posts about your beautiful home and apple orchard. Wishing you and your husband well.
Thank you Grace. You have indeed been following me for a long time. I do hope that you will have the opportunity to visit New England someday. Perhaps you will even get a chance to fly in an open air biplane over Maine like I did. My husband and I appreciate your wishes.
I’m not sure exactly how long I’ve been following you but most of the time. I started my own blog 15 years ago in 2011 and found yours about that time. I’ve so much enjoyed reading all your posts and following your travels and reading your recipes and other aspects of your life. May you continue to blog for a long time to come and I’m always delighted to find a new post of yours in my inbox.
Thank you Kay, we have definitely been following similar paths for many years together. I’m happy that you have enjoyed the many directions this blog has taken you.
Congratulations! Time really flies. Can’t remember when I started following you, but it’s been more than a decade as I recognize that picture of you at the Munich Airport Hilton.
Thank you Angie. Yes it has been a long time. We both do enjoy good food…thanks for all you have contributed to our delicious food world as well.
Excellent article , how are you doing? Will keep in touch Regards Vincent Juma
Thank you Vincent, I appreciate your compliment.
What a fun post! I would kill for a home on a lake in New England!!! But I understand the snow….
You’ve really done a lot and accomplished so much! Bravo!
Thank you Mimi, If you could have seen what our little cottage on the lake looked like when we saw it for the first time, you probably would have thought we were crazy. It ended up being one of our favorite experiences and truly cherish our memories there.
Congratulations Karen!
Thank you Mad Dog, you have been around from the first year. We certainly have had some delicious food along the way. 😊
I’m pretty sure I began following you in 2011. I enjoyed every one of the adventures that you took me on! I lived vicariously through you and was always impressed with your incredible garden prowess and your sophisticated photography. Here’s to many more years together!
Thank you Kelli, for following along all these years. I always appreciate your lovely co comments. How I would love to have a summer of those wonderful heirloom tomatoes again.
Your blog is like a time capsule, sharing beautiful destinations, culture and delicious food from your travels in Europe. I started following your blog fairly early into your journey and a couple of memories that stand out for me are the holiday decorations from your New England home and the Tiffany Snowflake cookies with royal icing. Those cookies were the most elegant cookies ever. Congratulations Karen on 15 years, I look forward to more shared recipes and fun adventures for years to come!
Thank you so much Jan. I’m happy you remembered my Tiffany cookies. A funny story about them..a friend had her husband use a Dremel to put a hole in hers and hung it on their tree. She said it was too pretty to eat. 😊
Happy 15 years of blogging! I am not sure when I started following you, but I have enjoyed the journey! Your travel posts are informative and the images are beautiful. I look forward to your recipes that are always well written with directions that are easily understood and with amazing food photos! I wish you many more years of blogging that your readers will enjoy!
Blessings,
Pam
Thank you Pam for your lovely compliment. Speaking of lovely, I think you have one of the loveliest gardens I know and enjoy the beautiful arrangement that you create.
Wonderful to celebrate with you, Karen. You’ve always been so welcoming, even to a ‘non-cook’, like me xx
Thank you Jo. 💕You may consider yourself a non-cook but you do know a good piece of cake when you see one. I’m looking forward to where you will take us on your next walk.
Congratulations, Karen. You’ve been so consistent over those 15 years. I feel like I’ve gotten to know you. And I’ve been able to live vicariously through your travels. I hope you have at least 15 more years of sharing. I can’t say I have a favourite recipe or story. I love the marvellous photography, particularly in the European destinations that you travel through.
I do consider us friends even though we are half way around the world from each other. Thanks for being there from the beginning…it has been a long time for both of us.
I have no recollection of when I started reading your blog but it has been a while. I’ve always enjoyed your wonderful travelogues and of course you’re easy to achieve recipes. I sincerely hope that you will be sharing your posts with your followers for a long time to come and many congratulations on achieving 15 years of blogging!!
Mary :))
Thank you Mary, I appreciate your kind words. Thank you so much for following along all these years. I never would have lasted this long without followers like you.
Congratulations Karen! We must have started blogging around the same time, as my 15 year anniversary will be later this year… where did all the years go?! I probably started following you the next year when you wrote about a trip to Austria and Germany. I have so enjoyed seeing the beautiful places you visited and the incredible food you were served in fabulous hotels. And your own recipes have been inspiring too. I also remember you packing up your house in New Hampshire and moving to Florida. It has been a journey and I hope you will continue sharing your recipes and lovely photos for many more years! All the best to you and your husband! ❣️
Thank you Cathy, I appreciate your following along for all these years. It was had leaving our New Hampshire home, it was so unique. I’ve so enjoyed your lovely gardens in beautiful Germany. As you know, we do love exploring your region of the world. 💕
Always love your posts! And isn’t it great here in Florida – we are practically neighbors!
You are right Pam, we really are almost neighbors. Thank you for your many years of following our adventures.
Congrats on such a great writing milestone! I’ve been following you since your NH/ME days. I loved seeing the local sights through your eyes, and I’m always in awe of your culinary skills.
Thank you Judy, we loved all our years in New England. We were right down the road from each other when we lived in Danville. Now I keep up with what is happening in the grading world through your pretty gardens. You can’t grow beautiful perennials like that in hot and humid Florida.
Congratulations, Karen! You have introduced us to many wonderful places, delightful dishes and inspired us. I love that it is not only your travel journal but your “postcards” and I love a good postcard showing a beautiful spot! I send all good wishes to you and your husband for the challenges you’ve faced in the past year or so. And many, many congratulations for 15 years of delightful blogs! I value and appreciate your visits to mine, too.
Thank you Jeanie, I’ve enjoyed having follow along. My husband and I have indeed faced challenges lately but it is the encouragement we have received from friends like yourself that keeps us going. I do need to write another “postcard” soon. 😊
Congratulations, Karen, on 15 fabulous years of blogging! I’ve been with you for most of them. XO
Thank you Darlene, you have indeed been following our adventures for many years. I’ll be looking forward to where Amanda will be traveling to over the years ahead.
What fantastic milestones! And I love that you started this space as a digital postcard 🙂 Here’s to an amazing blogging future!
Thank you Tandy, I do hope to be writing more “post cards” in the future. I appreciate your following along.
Grats Karen on 15 years and I look forward to reading Back Road Journal for many more.
Thank you so much for following along, it is much appreciated.
Congrats, Karen! Very few blogs make it this far and I’m so glad yours did. Here’s to another 15 years!
Thank you very much Frank. You always have kind words, especially when it comes to my
“Italian” creations.
Congrats Karen – not sure how long I’ve been following you and enjoying your different posts on not just food and travel but personal experiences and adventures. 15 years for me too in Nov. – I’ve slowed down with the social part of my blog but still enjoy making and sharing recipes -so much to learn 🙂
Thank you Judi, It has been a long time hasn’t it. Keeping up with it all can be hard but it is still fun and I enjoy the friends made along the way.
Congratulations and happy blogoversary! This is such a huge milestone. I’m so glad the internet has brought us together, and you continue to share your delicious exploits.
Thank you very much Hannah. I have always appreciated how you can read one of my recipes and let me know how you can convert it to Vegan and enjoy it. 😊
congrats on your 15th anniversary! Blogging has been such a pleasure for me over the last 13 years too. Such a great journey – meeting like-minded people. And to many more…
cheers
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
Thank you Sherry, I appreciate your friendship. I enjoy visiting your kitchen to see what interesting items you have added. Keeping you and Mr. P in my thoughts.
Congratulations on your 15 year journey, Karen! It’s been a joy following your food & travel posts, and as you might know, I especially like reading about your trips to Germany 😊.
Here’s to another 15 🥂
Thank you Kiki, I’m happy to have follower like yourself who enjoys my posts about Germany. My husband and I love traveling to your part of Germany. It certainly does have some wonderful restaurants and we count ourselves lucky to have experienced them.
I”m hard put to pick a favorite, Karen. I love your writing very much, even more than the excellent recipes and travel insights. Keep it up!
That Is so nice, thank you for your lovely compliment. 😘
What a fun post! We’ve been friends in the blogosphere for a number of those 15 years, and I’ve enjoyed following along in your travel footsteps. Here’s to many more fun posts and good adventures!!
Thank you David, it has been nice having you follow along on our travel adventures. It is much appreciated.
It has been such a joy sharing these 15 years with you, Karen. I remember almost every one of these posts, and you deserve all the all the awards you’ve earned. Thanks for your ideas, tips, travel logs, and recipes.
Thank you David for being such a longtime follower…we have traveled along some of the same roads. We both love good food, good wine and our travels.
Wow, 15 years of exploring, writing, and living fully! Congratulations on such an incredible milestone! I have enjoyed viewing the world through your lens! 💖💖💖
Thank you Mary, for your nice compliment. It has been a wonderful journey and I have enjoyed having you follow along.
I have followed your wonderful blog for over ten years and enjoyed it tremendously and got many good tips and recipes from it . Thank you so much for all the help and effort you put into your blog .
I appreciate your following along for more than a decade. Thank you for taking the time to read my stories and recipes.
I have followed your wonderful blog for over ten years and enjoyed it tremendously , and got many good tips and recipes from it . Thank you so much for all the help and effort you put into your blog .
gerlinde @ sunnycovechef .com
Thank you Gerlinde, for all the years you have been following. Thinking of you and your husband as he recovers from the challenges he faces.
Congratulations on reaching 15 years of blogging! I would love to have some of that Lobster Pie now! I’ve been blogging for 13 years now, but had 15 months off during that time due to ‘blogger’s block’! Sometimes it gets difficult to think up new recipes or experiences!
Thank you Fran. Blogging over time can be difficult but the friendship made along the way make it fun. Oh yes, that Lobster Pot Pie is delicious. 😊
What a lovely retrospective, Karen! It’s impressive to look back at 15 years of cooking, travel, and blogging all in one post.
Oh this retrospective felt like sitting down with an old friend and flipping through a well‑worn scrapbook, all the travels, the food, the homes, the seasons of life, it’s such a beautiful arc. I love how your blog really does feel like a digital postcard collection, each one stamped with a little adventure or memory you’ve let us tag along for. Fifteen years is huge, and you’ve carried it with so much warmth, curiosity, and grace. Here’s to many more back roads, little treasures, and stories that make us all want to wander a bit more.
Congrats on the milestone — and all the miles you’ve racked up exploring fabulous places and sharing them with all of us. Here’s to number Sweet 16 to come.
Love this post so much, Karen! Congratulations on 15 years – that is so exciting. One of my favorite things about your blog is how easy you make the recipes and explain the steps in a way that feels doable. I’m awful in the kitchen but little by little your blog has helped me to have more confidence and I’ll forever be grateful. Sending you hugs, CoCo