Together on Tuesday: Why We Blog

My friend Michelle and I began talking at the beginning of the year about blogging.  Just blogging in general.  About how we don't feel like we have enough time to do it, we don't have enough content to add or subjects to write about. 
My blog has become solely about my child and parenting...and surprisingly, I'm NOT okay with that.  I want to write about things that are important to ME.  Things that are interesting to ME.  Things that make ME think.  After all, I don't see Jayna sitting here typing away. :)

It all began when I read this blog entry.  That there is Michelle's blog.  Michelle is very talented in many things.  She and I share many of the same hobbies and ideas.  We have what I would call a similar parenting style.  We agree on lots of things, but we obviously have our disagreements too.  At first glance, that post just looks like a wrap up of the year and some pictures of Michelle's beautiful handmande Christmas gifts.  But read to the bottom.  It occurred to me that I felt the same way as she did about blogging.

So I sent her a message.  I told her I felt the same way.  Two heads are better than one...we all know that.  And I proposed that we could....COULD...MAYBE...do a blogging project together. 

I honestly didn't expect a response. 

Most people who read my blog read for the posts about Jayna.  And I'm totally cool with that.  I wouldn't write it if I didn't want y'all to read it.  But how would people feel if I began including a weekly post not necessarily about Jayna?  How would they feel about reading MY stories? 

I know that many people don't take blogging seriously.  Well, as serious as it can be.  I read some blogs that have made the authors millionaires.  Am I setting out to do that?  Nope. 

I know that many people just think this is a phase, a fad, a passing trend.  Okay.  Fine.  Then don't do it.

The thing is that I LOVE writing.  I LOVE to "put pen to paper."  I do still occasionally write short pieces on paper.  Maybe I can share some of those within this blogging project.  I want to write.  I want to share that with you all if you'll have me. 

As I said, I didn't expect a response.  But I got one.  And a good one!!  She was totally on board for a blogging project.

This is it.  Beginning today, Michelle and I will be posting about a different topic every Tuesday.  The posts will be very cleverly entitled "Together on Tuesday."  I know...we're geniuses. :)

Today's topic:  Why We Blog - 5 Questions

1.  Why did you start a blog?
*  I started a blog waaaaaaay back in 2007.  It was called Traffic In The Sky.  Here is the first entry.  You will all be happy to know that I do, in fact, wear Crocs, drink Starbucks, deal with Ebay and blog.  I'm a changed woman.  I started the blog because I wanted to write about things that were important to me.  ME.  Feelings and thoughts.  I did JUST that with Traffic In The Sky.  And I LOVED it.  I'm hoping I can carry over some of the old posts from there.  There is some great content there.  If you're ever bored, go over to Traffic In The Sky and entertain yourself. :)
2.  Why do you blog now?  Have your reasons for blogging changed from when you first started?
*  You bet your ass my reasons have changed!!!  When you have a child, everything changes.  I blog now mainly for preserving memories.  I don't do much scrapbooking anymore, but I still want Jayna to have access to all of the junk I can't remember later in my life.  The funny stories.  The sad stories.  The pictures.  I want her to know how things were when she was little.  And I think that at some point in her life, she'll appreciate what I've done to perserve memories in her name. 
3.  What do you ultimately want to gain from blogging?
*  Well...my HOPE would be that I would be such an awesome writer that someone would read my blog and ask me to write a book.  A girl can dream, right?  What I hope to gain is some self awareness.  I want to analyze what my noggin is thinking and put it into words.  And, of course, I want Jayna to have memories.
4.  Is blogging something that you consider important enough to commit to?
*  At this time, I consider it no more or no less important than any other hobby.  I would LOVE for me to feel like I need to blog to entertain people.  That's a tough struggle...knowing you don't have very many readers.  The mindset is "Why write if no one reads it?"  Well, I write because I WANT to.  That's just it.  I would love for this project to make me feel like blogging is more important.
5.  Do you want people to read your blog or do you consider your blog for yourself that other people just have access to?
*  I want people to read!!  If my stories put a smile on ONE face, I've done good.  I'm sure I've offended as many people as I've made smile, but I just don't have the energy to worry about that.  If just ONE mom reads my posts about breastfeeding and realizes that she's not alone and doesn't need to give up, I've done good.  If Jayna grows up and records memories of her own for herself and her family, I've done good. 


Final thoughts:
A question that I would have added to this is:  Would you encourage others to blog?  And the answer?  HELL YES.  I don't care if you don't think you have anything to say.  You DO.  Everyone has thoughts.  Everyone should record their memories.  You don't have to write entries this long.  They can be 3 sentences.  Start small.  I encourage everyone to write it down.  It's cathartic.

Linky:  Now go on over to Michelle's blog and read her entry Together On Tuesday.  It'll be entertaining.  Promise. :)

Weekend Update: Projects, Delicious Food and Friends

This post will bore most of you.  But it was a perfect weekend to me and I feel it should be documented.
This past weekend was one of those "I need a weekend from my weekend" type of weekends. 
I just set a record for how many times one can use the word "weekend" in a sentence.  Alert the media.

We went into this weekend with nothing planned.  No expactations.  That's dangerous in our house.  That means there is potential for starting a project.

Saturday was spent running errands and cleaning house.  We went to the Farmer's Market early that morning and got some yummy sweet corn, green beans and peaches...all grown pesticide-free and in Indiana.  I expected the prices to be higher because it was a Farmer's Market, but to my surprise, everything was very reasonable. 

When Jayna went down for a nap, I did some gardening and cleaned up our backyard and driveway.  It was incredibly hot at that time of day, but I stuck it out and got a lot done.  Our back patio is pretty again!  There for awhile it looked like a junk pit and I didn't want to spend any time out there.  And now that it's going to be a MILLION degrees this week, it's cleaned off and ready to be enjoyed.  Damn the luck.
On a semi-related note, who knew that raspberry bushes were vines?  Shouldn't they technically be called raspberry VINES?  You don't call it a grape BUSH, you call it a grape VINE.  Shouldn't raspberries follow that same logic, or is it just me?  Yeah...I thought it was probably just me.

At any rate, I've added a trellis to the raspberry VINES and they don't look like weeds anymore!  I was sure that I was sold a weed and not a fruitbearing plant.  I'm glad I figured all that out.

After all that, I showered.  I'm telling you that for a reason.  After I showered and Jayna woke up, she wanted to swim in the backyard.  Since she had all of her toys out of the shed, that prompted me to clean out the shed...in 95 degrees AFTER I showered.  Genius. 

I now have a garage full of baby gear to sell.  I HATE having yard sales.  HATE it.  So if any of you readers need anything, get at me.  I'll make you a great deal. :)

We grilled and cooked all of our fresh Farmer's Market food that night and had an awesome dinner.  I buttered and sugared some fresh peaches and threw them on the grill.  We had them for dessert with some vanilla bean ice cream.  Delish. 

On Sunday, we decided to go get the things to make Jayna's new bed. 

I told you this would happen.  Project time.

See...Jayna wants a big girl bed for her birthday.  In THIS heat at THIS rate, she'll get it by Christmas.

When I asked her what kind of big girl bed she wanted, she told me she wanted to sleep on the couch.  Day bed it is.  But the cool thing about this bed?  It's a platform bed with tons of storage underneath.  I found the plans on the Ana White website for 2 different beds and combined them to make just what we want.  While it's a LOT more work, it will be cheaper and very sturdy and well made.  Here's the plan...

The headboard and sides from this one...

And the platform from this one.

It will be precisely what we need for storage and what she wants to sleep on.

Chris got many of the platform pieces cut on Sunday and I began sanding them.

Did I mention that I HATE sanding?  Well, I do.

Anyhoodles, I'm anxious for this heat wave to be over so I can get back into the garage and work on the bed.  She's expecting it in a month.  Exactly ONE MONTH from today.  The finish work alone will take me 2 weekends.

My brother and my nephew came over Sunday morning after we went to the home improvement store.  Anthony, 8 years old, swam in the small pool in the backyard with Jayna.  She thought it was the greatest thing EVER that her cousin swam in her pool with her.  They had a great time and then Jayna took a 3.5 hour nap.  I guess the water, heat and sun really take it out of a 3-year-old.

On Sunday night, our friends Erik and Janette came over for dinner and some hanging out.  We enjoyed their company and they enjoyed the remainder of our Farmer's Market green beans and sweet corn. 

Oh...and they're moving to Germany next week.  While I don't see them often, just knowing that they won't be 40 or so minutes from where we live for the next year is devastating to me.  I love both of them dearly and they will be missed.

And we'll have one HELL of a party when they get back. :)

What did YOU do this weekend?