No Doubt About It

Awww Nuts!

We've analyzed things thoroughly and decided

I'm definitely stuck in a rut.

I guess I could blog about laundry.

But I think I'll just nap. 

Just a Quick Hello!

Hello Freinds! I just wanted to pop in and apologize for not not making the rounds the last couple of weeks. Several of us here are under the weather, and what soggy weather it is! With everyone home for vacation and/or sick, and the constant rain, the computer is in high demand. I hope everyone had a Happy New Year. I'll be around as soon as possible.
Hugs,
Dawn

Alexandra Stoddard, A Wonderful Read

I just love this fall button Sue made for Rednesday, it has such beautiful colors in it. Please visit her at It's a Very Cherry World to see what everyone is sharing today!

Hmm...I wonder, is it coincidence that most of my favorite design books have red covers? Or is it just that great minds think alike?

I recently found the Alexandra Stoddard book at an antiques and collectibles mall. Barb, at Bella Vista, had recommended her to me at a time when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed with my house. This is not a design book full of photographs, although there are lovely illustrations. This book is meant to read and read I have.

Stoddard wrote that our homes are , "...an attitude and a mind-set you can create and live in and love everyday."

She says that houses become homes when they "envelop our personality".

"Whatever is right and good about our lives, whatever is authentic and beautiful, will be reflected in the atmosphere as well as in the details that mirror our souls in meaningful, tangible, physical ways."

Wow! Do you think bout reflecting your soul when you're hustling through the store or fighting off a crowd of like-minded bargain shoppers at a yard sale? Me either! Frankly, I've done enough compulsive shopping, thrifty and otherwise, that I could probably reflect several souls without spending another penny. Instead I'm taking stock of what we have, what we love, and how we want to really live in this home.

Part of that assessment for me is time management. Blogging became an addiction and I was spending so much time at it that I lost track of why I started doing it. I've seen that a few bloggers have signed off permanently, feeling that blogging has become a drain on them for one reason or another. Others simply take a break and return when "real life" allows.. some don't return for months, if at all. Blogging does take a lot of time and that has been the subject of many, many posts lately.

I would say that blogging should be another reflection of your soul and as such it changes with the daily challenges we face. There are no rules. Don't feel that you must post often or on any schedule. Don't feel that you have to trade comment for comment. Post when your soul stirs you, be it serious or lighthearted. Visit when you have time, comment if you have something to say, and just hang out without commenting if you feel like it. Enjoy the experience as you would enjoy a chance meeting with a friend. Let it brighten your day, not weigh you down. Let it be part of all that is " authentic and beautiful" inside you.

Hugs

Dawn

Don't Rock the Boat!

Oh my! While catching up tonight I came across this wonderful piece of art at Banner Haus news (look for the link on my right sidebar). Holly always seems to know what I need. Thank you Holly for saving all these wonderful vintage graphics for all to share.

I've been feeling a little pulled apart lately and boy does this picture capture it! You see, that dock is "Real Life" and the boat is "Virtual Reality". I'm trying to do too much at both sides and don't feel like I'm doing either well.

So what would Hilda do? Gently toss the pup to the dock, the picnic to the boat, do a belly flop and come up laughing! I'll be back in a few days after I towel off and figure out how to keep myself from being stretched too thin. Wait a minute, being stretched thin might not be bad after all, except I'd have to be stretched to about 11 feet to even resemble thin. LOL!

Enjoy the rest of the week friends, I'll be catching up with you as soon as I can.

They're Out to Get Me!

I'm afraid I didn't get around to visiting much the last several days.

It seems there's been a grass roots movement taking shape around my home. I didn't see it coming. Oh, there were clues, but I didn't think the little stinkers would band together like they have. You see, a while back hubby and I were watching TV and saw a news segment on a rehab facility for Internet addiction. You get to stay in nice mountain resort with no computer for 45 days and it only cost $45,000. Yes, 45 thousand dollars to not go online. Well, I thought it was hilarious but hubby wasn't laughing. In fact, I looked over and he pointed at me then hooked his thumb toward the door!

He's not the only one complaining. Darling Daughter keeps saying things like "Are you blogging again?" and "I wish you would stop blogging and cook dinner". Ooops, my bad!

There have been several times I tried to go online only to find someone has disconnected the DSL wires going to the phone jack under the desk. All this time I thought Sunny was on my side, I'm the one who feeds him after all, but noooo, he wasn't really napping under the desk, he was sabotaging me!

Then there is Patches, a barn cat who only loves me when it's convenient for her.

No, Patches, you can't play with my camera strap. Get down.

Back again? I told you to go away. I'm trying to take photos of this block of wood for my blog! Don't you give me those evil cat eyes!

That's better you just stay over there and pretend you're not interested anyway.

When I find out who kept hiding the computer mouse this weekend, they'll be sleeping on the porch with Patches!

The Sound of Silence

I recently read some great tips about blogging but one in particular left me feeling a bit...I don't know, not offended really, but ...sad I guess.

It seems some people are really put off by music on our blogs.

Sometimes it catches you off guard, me too, that's why I always turn my volume down low when I start blogging.

But I love to listen to music on blogs I visit!

I turn my radio off so I can listen to the blog authors' playlists. It doesn't matter to me if the music is themed to the post, the blog in general, or is random music the author likes. It adds to the experience of knowing the person behind the blog. It's also a great way to be introduced to music you might not otherwise be exposed to.

I even go as far as going to a particular blog and turning up the music really loud while I do housework. Confessions of a Plate Addict is one of those I regularly listen too because she plays wonderful French songs. It doesn't matter that I can't understand a word. It's the atmosphere it provides that I love. If you go by there as of this post you will hear the theme from Superman. Her most recent post is about some darling action hero dolls she and her grandson made. But hey, Superman is inspiring too...I'll be able to leap huge piles of laundry!

I even had a "Reese's" moment (remember the old commercials, "Hey you got chocolate in my peanut butter!" "Well you got peanut butter on my chocolate") when my blog window was open playing "Little Houses" at the same time I was visiting another blog that had birds tweeting in the background. The two combined were even better than a peanut butter cup!

What upset me about the tip was the idea that if you "are a serious blogger" and want to be "successful" at it, and have lots of followers and comments you can't have music.
I guess it depends on what dictionary you use why you're counting followers and comments. I don't mind ads on blogs, I think it's a neat way to make money and in this economy it's a blessing for many. And I love shopping other blogger's stores. But some blogs I used to enjoy are starting to be more of a sales pitch for their advertisers and sponsors than anything else.

It just leaves me...sad...for them.

Words and Deeds

I've noticed over the last few days a number of other bloggers dealing with critical comments, spam, stalkers and thoughtless words from well meaning "friends". I even had to block a follower whose blog was something I didn't want to be associatied with. I didn't want you to be subjected to it if you happned to click on it. It almost scared me off all together.



I strongly believe in the goodness of most people. Besides I'm a blog addict now, I couldn't stop even if I wanted to! I feel sorry for the few who lift themselves by bringing others down. No amount of lecturing will turn a person like that around. It only fuels their ego. But one kind word, one kind deed can momentarily change a person's attitude. And attitude is everything.

So take heart, don't let them get to you. Go out there and continue to do what you all do best ~ brighten peoples lives!

Dawn