If we were having coffee, I’d greet you warmly with a big hug (if you are, indeed, a Hugger) and thank you for joining me!
It’s been a while since we’ve had the opportunity to catch up and I’ve missed you!
The weeks have simply flown by, and while I’d like to think things are going to slow down, I’m beginning to wonder if the ever really will?
How are you? How has February been treating you? Anything new and/or exciting happening in your neck of the woods?What have you been doing/ creating/ dreaming?
Since we last caught up we’ve had a chicken go missing and a Vet visit us to check on all of the animals. We’ve also purchased the first round of our 2016 chicks and installed almost 2 acres worth of electric fencing in an effort to keep Akuna contained.
And then I wonder way I’m so tired?! You know, in addition to some stressful times in both of our jobs and trying to wrangle/honor our very spirited toddler 😉
If we were having coffee, I’d ask what the weather has been like where you are? It’s been unseasonably warm here for the last couple of weeks which has had me worried about our potential Bug Situation in the spring and summer in addition to all of the fruit trees that are threatening to bud out already! Then, this afternoon, I had an actual mosquito land on my hand and start his process! A mosquito in February!!!
Yes, I am incredibly concerned about the strange weather patterns we’re experiencing and how they are affecting our local environment.
Are you seeing typical weather where you are or are you as concerned as I am about the current weather and the months to come?
If we were having coffee, I’d happily share that today is officially my Blogiversary!
I’d share that I started this blog five years ago today, behind the curve and without a clue. I only knew I wanted to provide a space that might inspire other gardeners, chicken keepers, homesteaders, and dreamers. Since then, I’ve published 1,182 posts (including this one).
The posts have been simple, profound, important, filled with fluff, informative, inspirational, silly, vulnerable, unexpected, and intricately planned. They have charted the creation of our little Urban Farm, our move to that old (haunted) Hacienda, and to the property we live on now.
You, dear reader, have been right here with me while we navigated a variety of challenges (homestead wise as well as personally) and celebrated beautiful, joyous moments (like E’s birth and our wedding)!
I’ve found communities of gardeners, farmers and homesteaders, as well as artists, writers, and entrepreneurs.
It’s an interesting thing, putting oneself out there for the world to see. There’s the hope of your post actually being read…but by the nice/kind/well intentioned reader, not the Internet Jerks. And sometimes your favorite posts get no traffic, while those you may wish to have turned out differently get a ton of interaction. And you simply cannot plan which will be which. And so, I’ve tried to create some evergreen material that is searchable and helpful for those who may be on a similar path as ours as well as some organic, more natural material that really just speaks from my heart.
And I trust now that the balance will work for my readers just as well as it works for me 🙂 Because, truly, five years is a long time to be committed to something…and I’m still here!
Truth be told, my top posts of all time are those that are easily shareable on social media, which makes sense:
- 1/8 Acre (Page)
- Homestead Hacks (2014)
- Sowing, Growing, and Harvesting Echinacea (2014)
- Garlic Powder DIY (2012)
- Sowing Seeds – Inspirations, Ideas, and Resources (2014)
While some of my favorite pieces (like this, this and this) get a bit of traction, but not the same response as those listed above.
Interesting indeed. And worth every minute/word/comment/experience!
Now, do tell, how long have you been blogging and what have your experiences been with it all?
If we were having coffee, I’d now ask what you’ve been watching/listening to/doing/experiencing that has brought you joy lately? I’d then ask if you’ve seen the video of the funny guy dancing his heart out to Alicia Keys floating around the internet? If you said, “No”, I’d have to show you because there’s just something about his ridiculousness that makes me very happy:
And with that, it would be time to say Good-Bye until next time! I’d wish you a lovely rest of your weekend, thank you for spending some time with me, and tell you to take care of yourself!
I hope to see you again soon!
xoxo,
M
Linking up to Part-Time Monster‘s #weekendcoffeeshare.
Pop on over and catch up with other bloggers over a beverage of adult deliciousness!
I’ll be at six years of blogging this spring!
In general it’s been fantastic, I started out just as a way to share stories and pictures of the girls (there were only two then) without flooding everyone’s e-mails. It’s turned into so much more than that for me I can’t imagine stopping! I have run into very few nasties online and tons of fantastic “imaginary friends” as my husband calls them!
Congrats on your five years! 🙂
Jessie recently posted…Out and About: Where’s the Fire?
Happy Blogaversary! Congratulations. I had to laugh at spirited toddler because our previously active todller now plays a lot of electronic games like Minecraft, although he does Scouts which takes him out bush and they’re sea scouts so they go sailing etc.
I have been quite tired lately and haven’t been getting a lot done. It’s my daughter’s birthday this week and our son next week so we’re making Honey Joys for her to take to school and trying to organise her party. It’s going to be late. Wish I could get things a bit more together but with both kids starting new schools this year, you can only do so much xx Rowena
Oh, I do hope all of your parties go off wonderfully! I know how the busy-ness of one activity can pull ones energy and mental space, but I trust it will go off wonderfully! Take good care of yourself, these are *your celebrations of life, too <3
Glad to see you back around! Sounds like you have been very busy indeed.
It’s pretty warm here, too, but then again we’re in the far southern part of the U.S., so it’s usually fairly warm.
Happy blogiversary! Sounds like you’ve had quite the ride. 🙂
Hi Diana! Thanks for popping by! Hope you have a wonderful week ahead 🙂
Happy Blogaversary! I know what you mean about never knowing which post will get more attention but I guess as long as we write about what we want to share we have accomplished our goal. I went back to read about your beautiful little ones birth and also about your wedding. What a wonderfully personal day you were able to create! So many unique and homespun details.
I enjoyed the video you posted too. It definitely made me smile but I also kept thinking about how cold that poor man’s feet must have been!
The weather in this area has been quirky too and I do worry about how much extreme weather we seem to be having more often. There are always news stories about tornados and floods destroying property and lives. Scary.
Nancy recently posted…Perspectives on Going Viral
Nancy, thank you so much for going back to those two posts! Each were very special and I am happy to have been able to share them in this space 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed that silly video! I agree about that poor man’s feet!
I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
The coffee was lovely and so was the chat. And congratulations on the 5 year blogiversary! I’m just over 30 posts old but I hope several years down the line I still stick around and have people enjoy what I write! Please stop by my blog at aishwaryasivakumar.wordpress.com and let me know what you think. I’m glad I’m following yours! Weather patterns in India are as unusual as where you are and it’s worrying me too. Let’s hope the world is okay and not too sick! Sigh…
Thank you! And congrats on *starting your blog! So fun 🙂 I am very hopeful we can wake up enough to halt the damage we’re inflicting on our planet…I’m not sure we can turn it around at this point, but any step is a positive step. Hope you have a great week ahead!
Congratulations on your 5 years. It sounds like you have had a great journey. I know what you mean about your own favourite posts get little interest but others unexpectedly do. I have been blogging for 2 years and a couple of months. Due to outside commitments my blogging has changed from what I wanted to do (write) to mainly photo blogs with a little writing. Still I enjoy the community.
The weather where we are is at the moment perfect. Blue skies, warm to hot with a slight breeze.
Ah, but a photo blog is *still a blog and it is helping you to document your journey 🙂
Thanks for popping by and taking the time comment! Hope you have a lovely week!
Happy blogaversary! Five years is great! I’ve got several blogs I started, but never kept up with, mainly on unschooling/natural learning and the journey with my eldest sons Tourettes. IF… Or should that be WHEN 😀 we get our farm, I WILL blog! And I will keep up….I hope ha!
Our Feburary has been good, some cracking hot days! Not so much rain, but it’s been good for the veggie patch. So many tomatoes! And not too much mildew on the zucchinis, so we got a great crop there too, and loads of extra beans.
Time is not crazy flying here, we’re just passing through it. I mean I’m shocked Feburary is almost done, I see around me some of the deciduous trees starting to get their red and gold leaves, the birch next door has already started to drop its leaves ( they always go first! ), light has started to change, the sun no longer sets in front of the dining room window, it’s moved to the lounge room, and my eldest son and I have started our Vitamin E tablets to help cope with the seasonal change to winter….I’ve also noticed my crochet projects…I’m keen to get back to them once the days are cooler.
I’m watching your election stuff unfolding from the bottom of the world and hoping for a good outcome….hoping! And hoping your summers aren’t as buggy as you’re all fearing 😉
Ooohhh…yes, *when you start your farm you will have *so much to blog about! You won’t have more time, but it won’t matter, because you’ll *find the time because it will make you happy to document your journey 🙂
I’m so glad you’re enjoying a good garden year! I am hopeful this year will give us a bumper crop!
Enjoy the turning of the season and pick up those crochet projects! I’ve thoroughly been enjoying mine!
Thanks for the Hug and hearescis one back. I enjoyed your blog since I have been reading. Congratulations and blogging for 5 years. I have been blogging for 2 years now. Our weather continues to be unsettled and it looks like an early spring. The birds are mating and this week ha e started to nest.
Betty Louise recently posted…WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE FEBRUARY 20
How fun to watch the birds prepare for the season ahead! I’ve been paying closer attention to the birds over the past couple of months and have enjoyed their antics!
Thanks for reading and commenting! I appreciate it greatly and am glad to hear that you enjoy my space 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and great week ahead!!!
The video was a lot of fun and made me smile. 🙂 Thanks for sharing it. I hadn’t seen it before.
I know what you mean about the busy-ness of life. It just seems to go on and on, doesn’t it?
Happy Blogiversary! Five years is a goodly amount of time. I’ve been blogging in some form since the 1990’s (and am thankful I no longer have to do the html myself because I’ve long forgotten how!).
I have a chicken coop but no chickens, and I keep pondering how and when to get started, or even if I should since we travel occasionally and who would take care of the birds? Yes to wondering about the weather. I’m also concerned about the bugs this year since our winter has been so mild. The flies are already out in droves and I don’t think it will be long until the biting insects join the party.
Thank you for the coffee. I always enjoy visiting with you. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I adore his pure goofiness!
How amazing that you’ve blogged since the 1990’s!!! What an amazing trip I’m sure it’s been for you!
Chickens, once you get them set up, are super easy! You can ask a friend or neighbor to feed and water them while you’re gone in trade for a bit of cash and all of the fresh eggs they collect. They’ll be happy and so will you! Let me know if you ever have any questions!
I understand busy, and that’s with 2 hyper-active dogs instead of 1 hyper-active toddler and a bunch of farm animals. It seems everyone has been busy all around.
Our weather in NH has been all over the place – it went from 60 F to – 15 F in three days! It is getting warmer again, and then who knows? I am a bit worried, but my worries are longer term. I’m worried that our country will again elect idiots who keep their heads in the sand to collect money from the big oil companies and so the climate will continue to get worse….
Happy Blog-Anniversary! It is funny how our blogs do become a part of us and our readers an extension of our “in-the-flesh” friends, isn’t it? Here’s looking to many more years of blogging!
Have a great weekend and week!
Trent recently posted…If We Were Having Coffee – 2/20/2016
I have the same worries as you, Trent. This is going to be an intense year and I definitely have some fear about how it will all turn out.
Blogging has been such a trip! I really do enjoy and am happy to have met so many cool people through communities such as this Coffee Share!!!
Thanks for popping over! Hope you have a lovely weekend and week ahead!