Sunday Ramblings and Mother’s Day Thoughts
Well…you might as well get comfy because this post is rambling and longer than usual. I rarely write posts like this because they are emotionally exhausting…but when they are finished and published, I always feel so much better. I just want you to know that I am speaking from my heart and I mean every single word.
Simple Arrangements Using Garden Flowers & Herbs
First I want to talk about comments. Comments on blogs generally and then comments on my own blog. I’ve been hearing from other bloggers for a few years that comments are dead. That no one has time to leave a blog comment and all the engagement takes place on social media. Blogs that used to get a high number of comments are down to just a handful per post. Some bloggers have even turned off their comments so you couldn’t leave one if you wanted to.
Well…I’m here to tell you that comments are not dead.
They are alive and well. I honestly don’t know how I got so lucky to have readers like you all…because you leave me the loveliest comments in all of blogland…and I am so grateful. I try very hard to respond when I can but I know I don’t respond enough. Sometimes I respond privately in an email and sometimes I leave a public response in the comment section. I really try to answer all questions but along the way I know I have missed some. I am sorry for that but please know that it’s never intentional. Right now my goal is to read and answer comments within a few days after a post is published. I may not always make it but I’m sure going to try!
Next I want to talk about social media and how I honestly feel about all of it…but I want to start with a disclaimer. I know millions of people love Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. The jury is still out on Twitter but I’m sure there are Twitter fans out there too. I know social media is popular and I know it’s a great way to connect. Here’s the thing though…I am so tired of trying to keep up with all of it. I try to post every day on multiple social media platforms but I inevitably fail…and then I feel like a loser. I haven’t figured out how other bloggers “do it all” and I’m here to confess that I just can’t.
So…if you follow me on any of the social media outlets I mentioned above, I want you to know that I’m getting off the treadmill. I’m tired of walking and walking but never getting anywhere. Social media is stealing my joy and I can’t do it anymore.
Here’s what I’ve decided…I want to continue to offer you what you came here for in the first place. Easy home decor ideas, a few recipes, some gardening tips and free printables. Removing the distractions of social media will help me do a better job of that and give me back some time. Some of my Facebook and Twitter posts are automated and those will continue. I’ll post live when I can and when I have something worthwhile to share…which to be brutally honest, isn’t every day. My life just isn’t that exciting. I always post live on Instagram so the same thing applies…I won’t be there every day.
Where I will be is here. On the blog.
Which takes me to the next thing I want to talk about.
My email subscribers.
If I could meet each one of you in person, the first thing I would say is “thank you.” I’ve said this before but it’s worth repeating. You are the heart and soul of this blog and I could not do any of it without you. You all are my focus. You are why I do everything that I do. When I’m considering what projects to start, my first thought is “how will this benefit my readers?” I would love to work with brands but so far the offers I’ve received have little or nothing to do with our everyday lives…so I have declined all of them. If a relevant brand ever does approach me, I promise I’ll carefully consider what they can do for you…as well as what the brand and I can do for each other.
Until about a year ago, I wrote my posts with the first consideration being how they would do on Pinterest, because I depended on Pinterest for the majority of my traffic. I was never one of those bloggers who published a post and automatically thousands of people were waiting to read it. I had to work for my clicks and the honest truth is that I worked very hard. Last summer, Pinterest changed their method of showing us content and all that work went down the tubes. Even though that period of time was tough for me, it was a learning experience. Here’s what I learned…that I needed to focus on real readers and not the drive-by traffic from Pinterest. That’s when I began to nurture my email subscriber list and when the focus of my content shifted. I am so much happier now and that pressure to churn out Pinterest content is gone. Whew.
So…if you haven’t joined my email subscriber list, I would like to personally invite you to try it out. There’s no spam and I never share my email list with anyone. I usually send two emails a week…sometimes three but that’s a rare thing. If it’s not for you, you can unsubscribe at any time…but I’m guessing that if you join us, you’ll be glad you did. I offer a new freebie every month that’s only available to my email subscribers…just in case you needed a little arm-twisting!
One last tidbit about content. I have some fun things coming up that I’m really excited about. I’ve been asked to join a summer home tour with some incredible bloggers that I know you will love. I will also be finishing up some posts about the living & dining room makeovers. I’m planning a baby shower for my daughter-in-law…yes, I’m going to be a Grandma! I’ll do a couple of posts on throwing an easy baby shower that’s gender neutral. I’m getting ready to plant my herb garden so that’s coming too. Summer goes by so quickly and I plan to enjoy every minute.
Click to view this Celia Thaxter printable
I’ll end with a few thoughts on Mother’s Day. It can be tough for some of us and beautifully happy for others. Some celebrate and others just wish they could skip right over it. This is my second Mother’s Day without my mom…so it’s not an easy day. If you are facing something similar, here’s a bit of advice. Find something to do so you can keep busy. Fill the hours with something that will take your mind off what is making you sad. It doesn’t matter what it is…just fill your day with purpose.
However you spend the day, here is my wish for you: that you experience something that makes you smile…and that you are at peace.
Thank you for hanging in there with me while I rattle on.
I’ll see you soon!
