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Thursday, November 05, 2009

Brilliant Days...Deep Thoughts


* Update on my giveaway. I have the books ready to mail.  *grin* I will be away this weekend so all three books will be mailed on Monday. I apologize for being late. Bring sick is one thing, having a really sick kid is another! I know you all understand that! I am slow but I do get things done eventually! I promise!



I wanted to share some of our glorious Autumn color with you...I am glad I was able to get out and do a ltttle photographing before the last of this brilliant color was gone. I was so ill with whatever virus is upon us and then Grace came down sick too. We are both on the road to recovery, she more quickly than me for which I am very grateful!



Our seasonal color was just amazingly stunning this year. I would just ooh and ahh as I ran my daily errands around town. What a lovely area I am blessed to live in and what a beautiful world we ALL share!


I wanted to thank those of you who left such sweet comments on my previous post and those who have also sent uplifting emails. As some of you guessed, I have been in a bit of a bloggy funk. These 3 years have brought me so much joy but lately, I have been re-thinking my place in the blog world. I came very close to deleting Rabbit Run Cottage, the blog, on Monday. This will be news to some of you who I speak with often as I kept it to myself. *smile* I have decided to keep at it, albeit differently. I am, and will always be, so grateful that so many of you have been loyal friends and visit me even when I am a neglectful poster and visitor/commentor on your own blogs. You have been so understanding that I just don't have the time I once did and have had to face the fact that blogging must take a back seat all too often to real life!

PLEASE know I am not asking for comments telling me why you read my blog or that you still love me (Heck, IF you come here to visit, there must be somethin' you like right?) as I know who does and I love ya back. *grin* I never set out to blog for *numbers*, for glory, for money. The good and special friends I have made through blogging made every moment I have spent writing and working at improving photos, well, well worth it. But I write for me, for those who I KNOW I reach and who share many of my passions.

I write for the 22 people who have, over the last year, sent me emails that shared how a post I wrote made them laugh while they were under going chemotherapy, or made them feel good for the first time since they suffered a great loss. Some let me know that they shared my silly sense of humor and love of life,the joy that IS Brian Dennehy, the imperfect home and busy family. They *got* me. They said I *got* them. These 22 emails, these 22 people made it ALL worth while.




I have never taken blogging lightly. I spend far too long on most posts and stress when I can't or if I don't feel one is done well. I spend way too much time making sure each photo looks good and is something that you might like to see. I know I do not always get it *right* but oh how hard I try.

Still, the funk came over me. It has been there for months now but darkened last week. Let me explain. Among the 22 emails that were so positive and spirit lifting were 5 that were sour indeed. How did I expect to have blog visitors when *I* was negligent in commenting and making rounds myself? That was just one of the 5 but all had the same bent. Well, to sum it up as succinctly as I can, I DON'T!  If the only reason you come here to visit is because I visit you, well, I release you from your duty! I have no desire to make anyone adhere to such a silly rule. 'Nuff said. I have been *told* I am too long winded in my posts. Well, I am a talker. Born and bred. If you don't like to read, I give you my blessing to pass me by. I was told I needed to do more posts about home decor. I will address this in a second...



I was left feeling angry, more than a little flummoxed and ready to shuck it all.
But then I realized that I do not blog for those 5, I blog for the 22 who found *something* of value here.
I once had a much wider base. There was a time that a giveaway post would net over 100 comments. Did I like that? Hey, I am human right? Now, if I get 25 on such a post I am lucky. But, as I mentioned earlier, I never set out to write for *numbers*. I write for those 22 and for the loyal and dear friends that I have met along this blogging path. I try to visit you all as best I can and yes, I fall short often. For that I apologize but it is my reality.

I also do not post as much decorating as I once did. I know those posts get a lot more traffic. But the time I have to DO them has decreased dramatically. So the traffic will just move on down a different road I am afraid. *smile* But I WILL do posts about our home, our very much less than perfect abode.
I have projects that are still waiting to be finished and many that have yet to be started. Yes, we have lived here for almost 8 years and yet *SHOCK*, *HORRORS*, I am still living with what I see "lovingly" referred to in many blogs as "boring, stock" cabinets, "ugly, builder light fixtures", non exceptional counters, floors and furniture. 3 long years ago I thought I had a pretty sweet house but reading blogs almost had me believing I was living in cluttered squalor! Egads! All right, so I am indulging in a bit of hyperbole here but you get my point. So I posted less and less about home and hearth. I LET it get to me. But after receiving an extraordinary email from a reader, I now know that MOST of us live in less than perfect homes. I have written about this before but it kept rearing it's nasty head and I had to face it once again.
After adopting Grace, our pot of available monies for home projects dried up. But I also began re-thinking my desire to always want to change something. I had to but I needed to.




I came to realize that I was happier driving around snapping photos than I was cleaning and painting.
I was happier hitting garage and estate sales with my buddy Sue than I was going from store to store looking for the perfect home accessory. I am happier planning the next trip or get away than I am planning a home project. Do I LOVE home projects? You bet your noodle. And I have a few on the back burner that will see the light of day when we save up for it. I have tossed all the home to do lists and replaced them with
 to do lists that include weekend getaways, parks to visit, trails to walk, cities to explore. If you don't find that interesting, I give you permission to take me off your blog rolls. If you don't see the humor in a middle aged lady having a crush on an aging actor, pass me by. If you expect to see me do a weekly mind altering tablescape, I am not the blog for you. I am not wealthy or creative enough for that I am afraid! You have to be one or the other and I am neither! I will always look for those who make their homes warm and cozy via creativity rather than bucks everytime. It is just more ineteresting to me! If you don't like that about me, say bye bye for your own sanity! *laugh*



I will alienate some I know who will think I am being hard edged or that I am being unfriendly. I know that those who actually KNOW me will know I am neither of those things. But I must be truthful to myself.
I wll continue to write posts that are often long. I will continue to be silly and write about Brian Dennehy from time to time. I will try to be funny, often missing the mark. I will write more about family and movies and books and trips and my area far more than my skills as a decorator which are vastly limited. I WILL show you my house but in its all too glorious imperfectness.
I will share my inadequacies as a home maker, decorator, mother, wife and human being.
I will write for me and hope you find something that makes you smile or think. I hope most of you will remain my friends. Those who do not, I wish you well and wish you a sweet life. I may ever stop into your blogs from time to time. I may even leave you one of those coveted comments!


For those who, like me, have little time to post and visit my blog or others, I will be understanding and never chide you for it! Hey, you will do what you can when you can!
I will just love ya, admire ya and send ya lots of hugs. We are in this together. Together as imperfectly as possible. And, as I have said before, being IMperfect is PERfect in my eyes.

Love and Hugs,
Susie Q 

19 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

Well said, sweetie. I am of the very same thoughts.

xoxo
Jane

Mumzie said...

Very well said...I hear you, I hear you,I hear you! I love your pictures! One big HUG for Susie Q from Mumzie

Sue said...

I thought I told you to go to bed and rest!!! Well, you know what I think.... We'll chat next week when you get back.
hugs, Suey

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Hey Suzie Q...I just adore you to pieces. I come visit whenever I can. I love hearing about Grace, your mom....etc. We have almost had a chance to meet a couple of times and I am keeping my fingers crossed that one day we will. You will always have a special place in my heart...

So please blog when you can...visit when you can and come see me in person if you can...
xoxo
Penny
p.s. I love your cozy home...you are an inspiration to me.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

p.s. I lost your email address...and I have a new one. Can you email me at lavenderhillstudio@att.net when you have time?
xo
Penny

Salmagundi said...

I certainly hope I'm one of your 22, because I certainly covet your friendship. You know I enjoy your blog immensely, and love your outings, your joy of raising adopted children, your photos, and your beautiful Mom. Come by when you can, and I'll do the same. That makes every visit special!!! Sally

Anonymous said...

Hi Susie! Oh, Dear One, I feel your hurt and am so sorry some folks have been unkind!
Now, I love you, Dear One, and love coming to visit when I can. I hope I'm considered one of your friends. I do consider you mine.
Now I feel so much like you in so many ways! I just love blogging and have met so many wonderful ones. My home is very imperfect, I'm very imperfect,etc. Susie, to blog is to be yourself! You blog however you want to - it's your blog! I'll always be around as long as the Lord lets me be.
Now I'm going to tell you what to do that will really really help you! Go right now and get a chocolate milkshake and sit down, put your tiny feet up and relax. I'm telling you, it works!
You are a sweetie and just keep on being yourself,
Shelia ;)
P. S. I have one of those stupid 'Anonymous' commenter who keeps coming by and asking me "...why do you always say "be a sweetie"? What does that mean. Duh?" I just delete their comment. Stupid ole Anonymous!:)

Lisa said...

I am glad you wrote this. It sounds like you needed to say it!
I used to think blogging was silly. Who wanted to read people talking about themselves. Then I visited a few and was asked if I had one and one thing lead to another and I started talking about things I wanted to. I joined Pink Saturday and people started reading what I wrote. That's it that is blogging. It is silly but we love it. USE it for you. If it isn't working for you don't. I used to feel I had to visit all I followed every time they posted (I'll insert here I missed your last post, sorry) and I spent HOURS online. Don't get me wrong I LOVED it, Let's get serious. So I hit what I can when my computer/internet will let me and limit it to an hour a day. We all need to live. Visiting my blog friends makes me happy so when I'm not happy doing it, that's not good. I have even gone a whole day without looking at my blog!!! I know I'm a rebel! Please enjoy your blog. I will miss you if you stop but enjoy it for YOU!
Hugs,Lisa

Melissa Miller said...

Hello Sue,
Your blog, this post and your writing are all wonderful. So are YOU! Your kind heart shows through in your words and I just love ya girl.

I will visit you whenever I can and whatever topic you choose to post about is just fine. It's all good and enjoyable. I've thought about stopping. Many times. Too many too count. My hubby says when it stops being fun then you will know it's time to pack it in. For now..it's still fun for me.

Many Blessings, ~Melissa :)

Cottage Rose said...

Hey Suzie Q... WELL SAID;;;; Good for you... As for me I have always enjoyed stopping by and reading your posts,, weather you pop by mine or not...smile; have a great weekend.. Love the beautiful photos....

Hugs;
Alaura

Laurie - Lolo So Retro said...

Wow! I can't believe how rude people can be! I don't understand berating a blogger or suggesting they change their blogging style. I don't understand the constant neediness for comments from some bloggers. I comment only occasionally and don't even have an active blog myself. I read blogs that are pleasing to me, that make me smile or make me think. There are some that make me feel vaguely unsettled or unhappy with myself, if it gets to be too much, I will move on from them or take a break. If someone has a point of view that is just too annoying, that is my problem, not theirs! geez.

I enjoy your blog and the pics. I think you would be such a fun friend to have, down to earth, funny, inspiring and interesting. I absolutely think that you should blog as long as it is enjoyable for you and do not let the nitpickers sway you from your path.

BTW, I think Brian Denehy is a doll. You have good taste in men. Is it me, or does your dh have a little tiny resemblance to BD? :-)

Keep on,
Laurie S.

Anonymous said...

Heya,
I don't have a blog, so you don't have to read mine....and blog because your heart has something to say....I would rather you have a long-winded heart and be willing to share than to change who you are to suit others....just silliness. Who you are and how you share is a great thing as far as I am concerned!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I hear ya! The proliferation of advertising & sponsors on blogs has bothered me for sometime now because it has really changed blogging. It used to be so friendly now it's all about numbers and doing things just for your blog.

I don't spend a whole lot of time commenting. If I did I would never get anything else done and then I wouldn't have anything to blog about.

Everyone has to run their blogs the way they want, the way that makes them happy.

Hugs,

Manuela

SaraG said...

Hi Sue,
First of all you have to blog for YOU and no one else.
I started mine as a way to share photo's. I have never been much of a writer but love to take pictures!
It is FUN and when it starts not being fun anymore I will hang up my blogging hat!!
Your blog is just awesome.
But you are right that LIFE gets in the way of bloggings. LIFE is to be lived each and every day and if we have time to blog about it great...if not that is great too.

Meggie said...

Hey Sue! I sure know what you mean about having difficulty finding the time to blog as I once did. Hang in there, girlfriend! Who cares about the numbers and there will always be not-so-nice folks out there. We love you and look forward to hearing about Rabbit Run.

Anonymous said...

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Janet said...

Love you with all your perfect imperfections. Perhaps you have power tools set up in your kitchen too?? Hope we can still meet in NYC in the spring and have some glorious giggly gal time!

Janet said...

P.S. Those autumn photos were fabulous...our color was kind of dull this year...go figure. Also the only "bad" comments I get are ones asking me to buy Viagra, lol. It has been so long since I had a "deletable " comment that it took me forever to remember how to delete it!

Rue said...

You know... Sue told me about this post missy. You need to stop trying to please everyone else and blog for yourself. I love you and although I'm the worst friend in history that will never change ;)

love,
rue