Looking Where We Have Been And Where We Are Going
Sep 30th, 2006 by Don Ray
The search for a new theme for Chiriquí Chatter will take some time. This post is going to provide the planned journey from the first to the last. I decided to post this roadmap, because it is going to be easy for you to miss one, I am going to provide you an image of the theme and if you click on the image, it will let you go to a test area to give it a better look.
While you can use this post to cast your vote, I still want to put each theme online for a day or so. Sometimes you have to live with something for a little while because what you though of as beauty or style or class may turn out to be irritating in the long run.
The first theme I tried was Tarski It is the only one I don’t have an image of, but you can click on the name to look at it on the development site.
I liked the way it is designed behind the scenes. I have to admit that it is a little too white for me, but it still grows on me.
The next one I put up was Crimson Sunrise. You may not have seen it as I didn’t leave it up long. 
Then came Dark Maple
The rest follow in this order:
Dark Fire
Feet
Follow Me
Green River
In The Light
Mistylook
Painted Desert
Retro Flowers
TemplateXtreme
Traffic
Feel free to make any comments you feel like on these as possible new themes.
Don Ray,
It’s all your fault! I’ve just changed my blog theme to Tiga.
It’s still a relatively simple theme, but I like it thus far ;).
Tuxi
Hahahaha. Well change is good for a person once in a while.
Hi Don:
I’ll tell you my opinion right now. I love the Dark Maple. Wow! I’ve been looking and my eyes are just glued to the leaves. Perhaps there’s a Canadian in the family.
My vote for First Place: Dark Maple
First Runner Up: Painted Desert
Thanks Don for giving us such beautiful themes.
Best regards,
Omar.-
I don’t really care which template you use. Your writing and information is what counts. I think that you could use the ugliest template and I’d still read your blog every day. Thanks for allowing us to have a choice. It’s your decision.
Debbie, what a nice comment. I think you have made my day. This may be a waste of time for everyone except me, but I want an attractive and friendly site that is inviting. Themes are considered eye candy. I am afraid my writing is going to remain amateurish, so the least I can do is to add some other enticement.
Omar, I lean toward the colors in the ones you chose as well. WordPress has almost too many themes to chose from. However, sometimes I need to create a little extra work for myself. The theme that I am currently on is a little dark for me.
Just please not dark fire….almost unreadable. But well dark fire did motivate me to comment. My vote is dark maple or something with color. when you used the crimson sunrise, or maybe it was the misty look at first I thought my computer was loading in some sort of safe mode, kind of like when you switch an email to *printable view* and it looses all it’s character.
That is what I needed to place the next theme up. I just wanted to get some reaction other than mine. Your wish is my command. The next theme is forth coming.
Don,We like Misty look, Feet and Green river,thanks for asking,Mike and Diane Smith Madeira Beach,Florida
Hi Diane,
Thanks for leaving a comment. Some are more easily managed than others. I will have to take that into consideration as well. Hopefully what ever winds up being the winner will be liked by all.
[...] Don’t think that you have lost track of the theme test schedule. When I put on these three themes (Follow Me, Green River and Into The Light) tonight, none of them supported widgets. To make them work requires more work than I am willing to do, especially since I am sure that one of the previous or remaining themes will work. I am a little disappointed since I selected all the themes from what I thought was a list of themes supporting widgets. Oh well nothing is perfect, some things less so than others. [...]
Darn! We’ve been traveling here to Panama, but I didn’t think it had been very long since I checked in last. I’ve missed all this change. I have to admit, I don’t like all this white. I like the dark maple, but read that it is not easy for you. Colors and themes are always hard for me to pick out. If it was music, it would be so much easier. Have I thanked you yet for telling us about Pandora? My husband and I love it.
Actually, Dark Maple worked fine. It was Dark Fire that failed the test as well as the last three. The one that has the most function was the first I put up - Tarski. It is pretty white, but its functionality keeps it in the running. If I like it the best, I will spend some time on the colors.
Thanks for leaving a comment and I am happy to hear that Pandora is working out for you. Oh yes — Welcome to Panama.
You have a blog I just cant stay away from !!
“Its the content that counts”
I like the new About Me widget, & the The WeatherPixie please keep both of these in future themes, I find theme very eye catching
I hope you can change this line
from time to time or as time permits so the readers could enjoy different scenes of Chiriqui
The thought just crossed my mind that you are not posting your page hits as this number would not fit on a standard crt
Just might have to download wordpress and check out all the possibilities
Dick
Thanks for the comment on the two added widgets. Your comment about my number of hits not fitting on a standard crt is a riot. I have a fair number of faithful readers, but far less than you think.
[...] think that you have lost track of the theme test schedule. When I put on these three themes (Follow Me, Green River and Into The Light) tonight, none of them [...]