Keep On Truckin’
Thank you all for responding to that last post - I really appreciate your input. It was nice to finally think through some of what has been on my mind lately, and I continued to do so as each comment came in and through the rest of the day.
The result is a rekindled excitement over blogging again. I think I just needed a rest and to rethink my reasons for doing it. At this time last year I was writing for four different websites. I spent just about every evening after the kids went to bed writing/blogging for those sites, and even quite a bit of stolen time during the day. Really, it’s no wonder I got a bit burnt out. And my blogging went from being something I could do when I chose to do it to an activity that had deadlines and even frustrations in some cases. So one by one I stopped writing for all of those sites except this one, my own.
And because it is my own (and as several of you pointed out in your comments), I get to do with it what I want!
I’ve decided I don’t need or want to start a new blog altogether. I don’t have it in me, and honestly I can’t let this one go yet. Instead I will just continue to write about the things I care about. As it happens, right now that includes gardening, cooking, growing vegetables, and trying to eat locally produced foods. All of these interests have stemmed in one way or another from becoming a mother and trying to take care of my family, from what I feed them on a daily basis to how I teach my children to care for our planet. So in my mind, it all still has a place on this blog.
As do the daily goings on with my kids, the books I am reading, the random stuff I am thinking about. When I thought about what a week of posts would look like if I actually sat down to write what was in my head, only one was a post about plants. On that list was also a funny quote from Robby, a description of my awesome stack of books I have from the library and a recent trip to a used bookstore, a brief freak-out over the fact that I am registering Sam for Kindergarten tomorrow (what?!), and, staying true to old-school Total Mom Haircut tradition, a self-deprecating essay on my poor mothering skills. Hey, I’m just keepin’ it real.
I also might have included some recipes for a recent dinner I made in which every item we were eating was sourced locally. I’m able to do this pretty often now, but I know it is one of those things that can sound daunting to people, especially when they first begin. So I thought I might start to include recipes like that as a regular feature here, along with information about where and how I got the ingredients, etc. Things like that get me excited about blogging again.
So for now, I’m just gonna keep on truckin’ as I’ve been for the four years since I started this little ol’ blog. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, comments, and your time to read.
Both of these posts came to my reader at the same time; I’m glad you got some helpful comments yesterday! I think whatever makes you feel the least guilty and the most glad is the winning approach.
Check out http://nyackbackyard.blogspot.com/ for a nice combo of gardening, food, and miscellany. I am totally not a gardener but I enjoy this blog. One of my favorites was a post in which she described her upcoming garden plan; she picks a theme each year and that year was Prince (as in Formerly Known As and Now Back to or whatever).
It truly does not seem possible that Sam is almost ready for kindergarten.
Sounds fun. Looking forward to reading.
You will have to let me know how registration goes. I go tomorrow to find out if Gracen has to have her adenoids removed. Ugh!
Let’s try to plan on a play date at my house next Wed. morning.
Wow, kindergarten. Big step! Can’t wait to read that post and get some new recipe ideas, too.
I enjoy reading whatever you write. And I’m NOT a mom.
It’s been a month since I did my last blog post. (I’m not counting the two I wrote while migrating my blog from one host to another. Those were purely for housekeeping.)
I’m not sure when I’ll blog again. (Writing posts in my head doesn’t count, sadly.)
Keep doing what you want, when you want. I’ll do the same.
You could also do separate pages for your posts to exist within once they’ve gotten posted, you know? Not that I have any clue about HOW to do that, but I’ve seen it done and it looks cool and it’s something I’d like to do but I am TOO LAZY.
I’d love to read about gardening and cooking, or whatever you decide to put out there. Blogs should always, always, always reflect the life of the writer and his/her passions and interests no matter what they are.
If you suddenly decided to blog exclusively about stamp collecting, I’m sure you could make it interesting.
And Sam is going to be in Kindergarten? Wha!?
i think it sounds great. It is so true… this is your blog and whatever you feel passionate about and share will be interesting because it comes from you.
yay yay! keep trucking!
and hey, i just got a call from bb’s teacher saying he might be ready for first grade next year. FIRST. GRADE. dude.
(he’s in a waldorf mixed age pre-K/Kind group and we thought he’d be staying another year.)
we’ve been at this blogging thing a long time, you and i have. i say we evolve however our interests and our hearts lead us.
“I enjoy reading whatever you write. And I’m NOT a mom.”
This sums it up pretty exactly, for me!
Yea! I am happy you will keep on truckin’ and I will keep on reading and being inspired.
Meanwhile, made my bub take off from work in March and we are headed to the flower shop for more inspiration. I am taking outdoor living more seriously this year.
I am glad you will be keeping us all updated! If I can answer any kindergarten questions, let me know
I for one would so appreciate recipe posts. I need all the help I can get! And everything else sounds good too. I’m glad you feel a renewed excitement about blogging. I would miss you incredibly if you stopped.
Hey - thanks for stopping by Nyack Backyard (and thanks for the link, Mayberry!) It sounds like you’re going to take your blog in a new direction and include more gardening & cooking. My blog is also a mix of that along with parenting stuff, books. I’m always worrying that I’m abandoning my gardening readers with off-topic posts, but like you asked yourself: Who are you doing this for? and what’s gonna make it fun for you and something you look forward to doing? It seems like you already have some nice readers who will go with you in whatever direction you take it, and trust that you’ll attract new readers with similar interests - like me!
Looking forward to following your blog! (and garden!)
Jennifer