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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Alone Again...Naturally...

Edited to add:
I love you all..thank you for the sweet comments. Please forgive me for being so silly and selfish and self absorbed. I think that the last 3 weeks of busy-ness and being so tired have taken their toll on me! And yes sweet Chris, part of it is MENOPAUSE! *laugh*
I promise I will become more regular at posting and do more visiting as well. I fully understand people not leaving comments. I DO I swear. I do the same things I am afraid. : (
I guess that, after almost 3 years of blogging, I was beginning to think I had worn thin on people.
But I love all of you and love what blogging has brought to my life. I am thankful for you, for it.
God Bless you all. See you on Tuesday!
...as a child of the 60s and 70s, so many things remind me of song lyrics from that era. Anyone else remember the song in the post title? *smile* Yes, I have been a naughty bloggy friend and not visited as I would like to. These past 3 weeks have been crazy and this weekend is no exception. I have so many photos and postings to share with you all. But I must pop in and say something. I am beginning to feel quite alone here of late. Maybe it's just the Summer funks for me or whatever but I find myself wondering if I should continue blogging. I seem to be losing visitors by the handful these days and so many old friends don't drop by like they used to. Maybe I am just tired and cranky and menopausal (probably!). I may not "give the people what they want" so no one cares anymore. *shrug* I dunno...maybe I am just feeling sorry for myself.
That's probably it huh?
Bloggy World has given me far more than I ever expected or deserved...new and oh so dear friends, a new found joy in the world of photography and a chance to express myself a bit from time to time. I treasure these things.
I am at my brother's this weekend, staying with my nephew while they are away. It has been a wild weekend of high school tours and birthday parties and my Mom is still not feeling as she should so that is a huge concern for me. I hope to be back blogging regularly by Tuesday and, even if I am just talking to myself, I think I will be here. I always did talk to myself anyhoo.
I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend...Summer is officially here!
This Memorial Day, take a moment to pause and remember all of the men and women of our Armed Forces, past and present, who unconditionally give of themselves for us.
Then go grill a burger or two...
Love and Hugs,
Susie Q, who will get over her funk soon

30 comments:

Salmagundi said...

Don't leave us!! I'm on a little break myself, but I just popped in to see what you were up to - you know I love all of your family goings on. Say hello to your beautiful Mom for me, and dig yourself out of the dumps. We all go through it, and it's not fun; but the sun shines again. Sally

RoeH said...

Sometimes I wonder if the newness of blogging or the unique thing that it is/was is waning on people. What I don't understand is going to all the trouble of un-following. I've had several that take the time and work to do that. If they don't want to read mine anymore, I'm not obsessed by how what terrible reading material mine must be to them to go to all that trouble to take their following off. It's just strange to me.

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

I just love you, Susie! I feel like you at times....but I have been in quite a funk for several months now. With that being said, I have thought of closing my blog because I don't want to convey my true sadness, however blog friends have been so precious and uplifting. I think that people are just busy right now with all of the warm weather and all.

Just know I think of you and your family often and am so appreciative of your friendship.

sending big hugs,
Becky

Lona said...

Don't give up blogging. I think that people just get busier in the summer and take less time or postpone their blogging until the cold weather comes back.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Hey sweet Sue! I would be so sad if you stopped blogging! I think now that the weather is nice, everyone is just a little bit busier outside...

xoxoxo
Penny

Melanie said...

I always enjoy your entries here whenever you can post. It seems like posting is a good outlet for you and you are always so creative! Hope this encourages you! ((Hugs))

Harbor Hon said...

I feel the same as everyone else, don't stop blogging. I enjoy hearing what you have to say. Bloggers understand that we can't post everyday ... too much life going on sometimes, especially when family is involved or the blogger is working their farm. Or, in my case, trying to overcome an illness that was unexpected. We're here for each other and that's what matters most. I think the colder months are the time when we spend the most time posting about things anyway.

I've got a camera full of pictures that I don't even have the time to post about right now, but that won't stop me. I've got my first Blogivesary Giveaway coming up in June. Hope you're not going to miss that.

Just wanted to let you know we do understand and we'll wait for you always. xxoo

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

Hi Sue
Some of my regulars have gone to Facebook. I am on Facebook, as you know. I enjoy keeping up with what is going on that way, as well as blogging. I also belong to a couple of online decorating boards. With all that and a regular daily chat fest through e-mail, with my good ol' school friends, I am pretty busy, so I don't get around to leaving comments, but I do visit, all those on my list when they put up new blog posts. It might take me awhile to get there though.;-)

Having said that, I have been a tad behind lately because of the glorious weather and life in general. I think that happens from time to time.

I have lost a couple of followers on my list, but I think that is because there were those signing on to follow after the Blogs of Note recognition, who figured out, mine was not the blog for them after all. This happens, sometimes.

I hope you continue to contribute. I'd miss you, if you weren't here.

Sometimes, I think, why am I doing a blog, but then a creative spark happens and I want to share. So off I go with the camera.

I put up a Memorial Day post, with comments turned off. I started doing that on holidays and special days, like 9/11. It seems no comment is necessary, for me, on those days. The post is an unconditional gift for my readers.

Hope to see more of Rabbit Run Cottage.

Neabear said...

I have never been one who got a lot of comments, and I notice less too. But like the others, I think sometimes life gets in the way, especially now that was are getting into the being outside more time of the year. Don't stop though, just don't post as often. I follow so many now that it takes me awhile to visit everyone. Others could be having that problem too. I don't want to unfollow anyone otherwise I would miss updates. Your title caught my eye and I decided I better find out what is going on with you. You are one of my early people I met when I started blogging. Around the time of your birthday. I remember that post. LOL!

I have been working so much lately, which makes it hard to keep up with blogging and things at home. If you have checked my craft blog, you will see what all I have been up to there. I have to work tomorrow too. Bummer. But then it is extra money. The holiday pay, plus the hours I work. So there is that advantage. Next weekend we are out of town. Hubby and I are delegates from our church to a convention. I am taking along my stitchery projects to do during the boring times. Ha! Maybe I will get a lot done.

You take care my friend and don't leave us totally.

Hugs, Linnea

Bonnie said...

I have felt like no one is blogging any more these days, but I have my few that I follow faithfully and you are one of them. I do believe alot of people are going to Facebook and Twitter. I do have a MySpace but still enjoy blogging the best. It is totally understandable not to feel like blogging everyday. And even though we enjoy reading your blog, we understand that sometimes you need a break. And I do visit alot and don't leave a comment. I do try to at least let you know I've been here because I know how I feel when I don't get a comment. But if you need a break ( and I'm sure you do, what with everything you do), then take a break by all means. Just don't leave us for good. I love reading about your house, your wonderful family and yes, I love reading Kipper's adventures. Do I sound like I'm begging you to stay? I hope so....because I want you to keep on blogging. Even on your terms, lol.

Chris@Cats On My Quilts said...

OK Suzie, count me as someone who visits and doesn't post a comment. Sorry. I think it's menopause in my case. It has kicked my butt and made me lose my mojo some days. So let's get out of this menopause mud together.

♥Mimi♥ said...

What saddens me to deeply is the Decoration Day/Memorial Day has become a long weekend to so many young people. It's a time for beer and cook outs and nothing else.

My father, who served in WWII, would go to the cemetery each Memorial Day to place flags on the graves of the fallen soldiers. He did that until he was 87 years old and shortly thereafter, he passed away.

I miss the true meaning of the day.

Sandi McBride said...

You'll get over this Sue, I promise. Sometimes you just need a little break! So please rest up, enjoy the family and know that when you're ready, we're still out here!
love and hugs
Sandi

Sheila said...

Sue, I LOVE your blog! I always feel so happy and uplifted after reading it! It never fails to put me in a good mood. Your pictures are outstanding, and I love hearing all about the family, pets, and your wonderful adventures.
I follow only a small handful of blogs, and the ones I DO follow don't post very often, so I don't check the blogs often. ALSO, the people whose blogs I follow, I talk to almost every day on Facebook (including you!), Myspace, or Twitter! Or good old-fashioned email. So I keep up regularly with everything that you guys are doing anyway, even without looking at the blogs.
That being said, I would miss your blog very much if you quit. So PLEASE don't! Just take a much-needed break, and come back all refreshed and ready to crank up that Susie humor that we all know and love! :)

Wendster said...

I can relate to the "lack of commenters" thing ... makes me feel alone too. I had zero comments three days in a row! Not one or two, like the day after day rigamaroll from the previous two weeks, but ZERO. Partly the result of my taking my blog private (dang that attorney for reading my blog in court and using it against us! I felt so violated. Like I am not allowed to speak my mind anymore or it might show up somewhere I don't want it to. Like my blog can't be interesting anymore, but it isn't safe to speak my mind to my friends and share my real thoughts ... you know? I feel like that attorney stold my blog friends. Having a hard time letting go of that and opening up again.)

I can tell you why I don't make it over to your blog sometimes... aside from my own personal "blahs" as of late. And I'm gonna be honest cuz I hate knowing that people are thinking something about me but no one will tell me what it is ... I just wish someone would TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!!! For Pete's sake, quit whispering! Just tell me there's a giant spiderweb on my head ... OK?!?

So here's my reason. Can't speak for anyone else, but maybe my reason will be helpful, and that's why I am offering it. To be helpful.

First. Let me say I ADORE your blog. I love your photos, I love your writing style, I love the way you think, I love the subjects of your photographs and how they draw me in and the way I long to be there seeing those places and hanging out with those people! Your blog is amazing. Perfection, except for one thing. The one constructive criticism I would give is this:

Wendster said...

Some posts are long. Like long long. And I feel like I am a BAD visitor if I don't read the whole post. But when I swing by at 1 in the morning I don't want to read a LONG post ... I just want to read a paragraph or maybe two and look at all of your cool photos. And if I just glance through it I worry that I didn't get the whole gist of it. What if in paragraph three you revealed something big, like Brian Dennehy is moving next door to you ... ? and then I don't comment on it in my comment? Then you'd KNOW I didn't read the whole post! ... I'd be exposed as a "scanner" ... I don't want you to pick up anything from my comments except this: I love my Susie Q. And if I miss something in the post then I worry that you won't KNOW that I love you. You'll think I'm not interested in your life.... when really I'm just not interested in reading a long post at one in the morning.
So I save reading your blog for a time when I have time to catch up. And when I catch up I read TOP TO BOTTOM and get ALL caught up. At least to the bottom of the page ... which is pretty much caught up. I do that because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I MISSED. Not because of ANY perceived obligation to read top to bottom. I LIKE to read your blog. I like to know what you are doing. I love your random tangents. It's ALL good. Honest. It's just that one in the morning factor and the fear of being exposed and the fear of rejection if I don't measure up as a visitor ... can you relate at all? Even though I know you love me too. I didn't have a lot of friends as a kid so I have issues. Fears. I want to hold on to the friends I have. That's me in a nut shell.

I do have one other reason:
I am not feeling all that important lately to anyone's blog. People have so many blog visitors already, and they are already such successful bloggers, they won't miss just one little ol' Wendster whose comment is ALWAYS too LONG and never that witty. I'll get to it "tomorrow" ...
I forget to multiply my missing comment by "what if every visitor felt the same way?" ... also, I forget to apply the feeling of "no one loves my blog" to other people's blogs and how they must feel when their visitor count gets low or "no".
I forget that I must make the time to be a good blogging friend to truly be a GOOD blogging friend.
I get wrapped up in my own life and forget to make time to reach out.
We need each other. We need each others' uplifting comments. I need your comments. You need my comments. We all need to know that each other is there still and that our former commenters STILL love us and that they are just busy ... or down. Because in all of our minds, I know we feel the same: No comment means "no love!" ... no matter if people say "Oh but I DO stop by and I read EVERY SINGLE POST" ... I don't believe it if I don't see a comment, so I am imagining you are feeling the same... yes?

Truth be told I have hardly visited anyone this year. I've been a TERRIBLE blog friend. I apologize for that and I hope you will forgive me.

And while I am sharing truths here's one you can bank on: I FRIKKIN' LOVE YOU SUE. When I hook other friends or family members on blogging your blog is on my MUST READ THIS BLOG list to get them started. I would be BROKEN HEARTED if you ever quit blogging. I don't always visit but the thought of swinging by and NOT finding you here? Unbearable. Frikkin' unbearable. All would not be right if I could not find my Susie Q right here where she's always been ... with photos of her amazing home and her amazing family and her amazing ideas for decorating and the beautiful photographs .. I NEED your blog.

So please don't stop.

Ppppplllllllleeeeeaaaaasssse?

And please stop by my blog when you get a chance. I miss you.

Kathleen Grace said...

Don't stop Sue! When you have been blogging for a few years you build up a HUGE list of blogs to visit and find new all the time. It is just impossiblew to leave a comment on each one every time you visit. And then there are the emails of new people who leave a comment that you "should" respond to. I am sure it is something we all struggle with. It doesn't mean no-one is interested. I think our blogs ultimately need to be for us and comments are just icing on the cake. Why do we start to feel that we have to please everyone with how often we post, or how long our post is or whether what we have to say is good enough? That begins to sound like a job rather than apleasure and I already have more jobs than I want! Keep up the good work Susie, but do it for YOU, not anyone else:>)
(((Hugs)))
Kathy

Valerie said...

amen, girlie. amen.
i feel the same things you just wrote about. maybe we're just getting tired or maybe - oh, i don't know.

love you.

SaraG said...

Hi Sue, please don't give up your blog!! Post and visit when you can. You are busy as are a lot of others!!
It is a wonderful way to display your photo's! and your words!! Don't feel like you have to do it for everyone...do it for YOU!!!
Take care

Rosemary said...

Hope you are having a wonderful long weekend!!!
I always love your blog, to stick with it.
Rosemary

{oc cottage} said...

You're too funny! I only started blogging last spring, but even then I noticed that when the weather gets nice people have less reason to be indoors staring at t little computer screen! I am a terrible "commentor" but I have an excuse...my internet provider is caca! It might as well be dial-up for all the time I spend waiting! So, just getting my post up expends my daily allowance of patience ...but when by some miracle, I have a good spell, I fly around to as many as possible!
You're a big giant hoot Susie! So please hang in there and keep making us laugh!

m ^..^

Laurie - Lolo So Retro said...

I am sorry your mother is unwell, I hope she is better soon.

Loved the Kipper's post (as always!) and the photos were excellent!

Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry your are in a funk but please don't leave us. I think all of us have been remiss in commenting lately. Everyone is trying to get their gardens planted and things like that. I know I have been overwhelmed with spring cleaning, weeding, and etc. I'm sorry I haven't been commenting as much as usual but I do value your friendship very much.

Allidink said...

Aw, I think every blogger goes through the same things as you're talking about. I hope you're well! Take care!

All the best,
Allison

Deanna said...

Sweetie, it's all right to take a breather...wow, three years! I've only been blogging off and on for two and a half years and I have to take long breaks as well. You shouldn't feel pressured to visit your bloggy friends all the time. I always say that if I follow your blog..don't feel that you have to follow mine. Sometimes I don't have the time to post a comment but I always pop in to see what people are up to.

It should remain fun...not a job or a chore that is never completed. I had been thinking of closing my blog as well but I decided that I would stop participating in some activities for a while because that was eating so much valuable time. I liked the old days when I would just have around five or six comments. Blogging should be pressure free. Make it so Sue. Take that breather. We'll still be here.

Deanna :D

Pamela said...

I keep thinking I'm going to get all organized and figure out what I'm doing (including blogging)

hasn't happened. So you are in good company.

I'm off this weekend for grandchildren birthdays, and then on to another house for a brand new grandchild.

Hope people don't forget about me, too!

Janet said...

You will never, ever wear thin with me!!! I am so looking forward to our adventure this fall.

Janet

Anonymous said...

Hey Susie! I have to tell you I was feeling the same way. And told my DH that blogging was changing. It seemed that I was losing a lot of my old friends and wondered if I had done something wrong. Then all of sudden a whole new slew of lovely people has shown up at my blogging door. So I decided everyone is just so busy and not blog hopping....same as me. I guess it's the nature of the beast. You can always be sure of change. xo Lynn

Anonymous said...

It's me again. I just read thru all the comments and the mention of Facebook and Twitter. I too have joined the ranks of both but hardly every go there. I don't see how people do it all. With my website and blogging it's all I can do to keep up. I didn't realize that we have lost some of our bloggers to Facebook. And I think twitter is silly...forgive me for that comment but I don't need to know what a person is doing every minute of the day. :) xo Lynn P.S. I watched Brian on some show last night for a while. He was lookin' good. :)

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

I have felt exactly the same way, many a time. In my case,I think I've been flirting with a bit of depression. I want to hear from my blogging friends, but I can't seem to get up enough energy to visit them. Then, of course, I start feeling petty and guilty because I'm wanting attention but am unwilling to give it. Geez. Menopause, depression, craziness...call it whatever you want, it's still NO FUN.

Hang in there and know that you're always on my mind, even if I'm lousy at letting you know!

Kari