uh oh I may have started something.

[shootingstar]

Maybe the best thing, lrulan, if you want to spend a couple hrs. (it will be that) is to set up a simple blog shell for her. Wordpress.com offers several different types of designs (they call them "themes"). Ignore the fee-based themes --there are free ones.

Does your mother use word processing software or entered information into a simple database? For the latter exposure, that makes the transition to blogging very easy.
I set up a blog for my partner. Now he does everything..but then he is technically oriented. He does his own web site (which I don't know how to do. I don't know html coding though I realize it's not hard.)

As for embedding photos --it's an extra step. But not hard. Show her later after she gets a few posts up.
Wordpress has other cool features --which I wouldn't allow oneself to get intimidated.

I would not recommend Facebook --I get the powerful feeling your mother has lots to say. Kudos to her, lrulan. And her audience would be more limited because it requires people to subscribe to Facebook. (And not everyone wants to). Whereas a blog on the open internet, makes it easier for anyone from anywhere with just Internet access to read stuff.

[Irulan]

uh Facebook as a blog..... that's so far off the radar I don't even get it, but thank you for the suggestion. Plus she has great difficulty with FB.

Thanks for the samples, those are perfect.
What about a sample that has an interactive quality to it?

I'm redoing my business site in WordPress so once that is done I'll have a clue about it.

Can't help you with blogs, but I did want to say that I've never met your mother, but I still love her :-)

You have no idea....growing up in the house I did, in the times I did. The true tales I could tell... and I probably have to some degree.

[Irulan]

I don't get tumblr.... one has to be logged in to find/read blogs?

[Irulan]

Every time I go to the tumblr home page, it asks me to create an account, can't see anything. :-(

[PamNY]

Your mom sounds great.

Here's an example of a well-done blog with tweets, photos, comments, etc. Not sure if that's what you mean by "interactive."

http://citybirder.blogspot.com/

Facebook might work to promote her blog.

[shootingstar]

I can only interpret "interactive" for blog technology:

*as having features allowing readers to communicate with the blogger in some way.. In addition to comments feature (for any blog), yes, wordpress.com have simple click features to "like", "rate" a blog post. One can also post simple polls...which I've done. Can get more complicated than necessary...

There are easy auto features also that don't require posting flickr, etc.....posting photos in a slideshow sequence,etc. That is interactive by allowing the reader to choose to click on a feature to enhance the reading experience.

Let us know how things progress, lrulan!