I know some of you have missed me in blogland, and some of you hadn't even noticed I've been gone. I have a confession to make. I had grown pretty bored of blogging. I lost my blog mojo. But this week I may have gotten it back.See, when I started this, I never thought of people I actually know reading it, oh maybe a friend now and then, but my family -- probably not. They just are not the blog reading kind. In fact I figured my parents would think I'm nuts for putting all this out there for the world to see and I might attract other nuts. Of course maybe I have, but ya'll are the nicest nuts a girl will ever meet! ha!
But last week on facebook, I connected with a cousin I have not known very well in my life, Jimmy Daryl. My mom comes from a large family, you may recall, and when there are 60 some odd cousins, it's hard to know all of them. And Jimmy said something to me. In a round about way, he let me know he'd read my blog. And I suddenly remembered, oh yeah, I used to blog with a purpose. There was more to my blogging than just posting pretty pictures and gaining readers. I used to use my blog to be a voice in the world. I used to write about my relatives and the positive influences they were on me... or about the impact of just being a friend to somebody can have on a life. But I somehow got caught up in the desire to become a highly read blog.
And it worked to some degree. My numbers went up, my followers increased. I even got a request from one company to offer discounts on their product on my blog. (I don't care for their product so I said no thank you.) But the thing is, as I gained more readers, I lost my voice. The thing that made me special and unique sort of got lost in Pink Saturdays and Tablescape Thursday's. Both beautiful things to participate in now and then, but it had consumed my blog and I grew tired of it pretty quick!
And so, Jimmy, in his casual way has made me remember the thing that makes me who I am is the thing that I need to be blogging about. And that starts first with family. And of THAT, I have no shortage!
So, hopefully I will have my blog voice back now, and will be using it to spread the messages that some of you may remember me for. Like to be thankful for the family you have. And to remember the lessons of family history, families rich with people who had nothing and made something. Thanks for reminding me of this Jimmy Daryl! And yes, there are a lot of folks in my family with two first names, John Lee, Betty Jane, Rose Berry, Monty Lynn, Robert Earl, Jimmy Daryl... etc. etc. But they always just called me,
Dana
(unless my mom was mad at me and then it was always Dana Elizabeth!!)
Pictured above,
Our grandparents with their ten kids, 6 boys and 4 girls, late 1940's, on their farm in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma. That sweet little girl standing next to my grandma is my Momma!
11 blooming friendships:
Oh Dana, so glad to see you've come back ! I had noticed you had not posted for a while, and you seemed to be "uninspired". But wheels are turning all the time, so I figured you would come back soon.
I love your post, and particularly the picture, and the fact that you blog to be a voice in the world. That's really pretty and well said.
OOHh I don't know weather to cry or smile!! What a lovely post...And i didn't realize that you were feeling glummy....You just always seem to post the prettiest things!!
Welcome back! I love your blog and I think I became a follower while your were gone >^..^<
Dana, I've missed you!
I have to say, you wrote about what I've thought of, a lot lately.
So what did I do, this morning? I published a tablescape retrospective, LOL!!
This came after a Saturday post of 5 sunrise shots, over the Lake of the Ozarks from our deck. It got 25comments and wasn't connected to any particular event. The one before that, was about the water leak at the lake. I got a snarky sort of comment on that one, but ended up with over 40 decent ones. I connected it to Outdoor Wednesday. The snarky comment came from someone, I never saw before and who doesn't "get it". It has been sent to the land of snarky comments.
Of course, what I do is take pictures, it's my art, so to speak, so it is an integral part of my blog, but I feel like I've been reaching for story content for over a year.
I sometimes wonder if the weekly events are for me or doing so many of them. I need to and have cut back somewhat on these. Although I do like the seasonal events.
I too, have been contacted about advertising. Whether I like the product or not, advertising isn't what my blog is about. If it's okay for others, that's okay. It just isn't for me.
It's good to see you back and I look forward to many many many family stories, because I know they will be great. Seeing as how, we are practically from the same neck o' the woods!;-)
We are headed to the SW part of the state soon. I'm taking a quasi bloggy break. I'll still check in, but not posting so much. Maybe we'll do something fun and interesting in the hills and hollers. It won't be about decorating etc. But, I'll bet it will be fun and interesting to a few folks.
Dana,
I have missed you and sweet Daisy's face. I am from Enid, Oklahoma, now living in Phoenix for 25 years. My family all still lives in Oklahoma - Garfield County mainly.
Now the fun thing about our blogs, they can be whatever we want them to be. We can write to our hearts content, or show our house, or decorating. It is fun to wake up and decide for ourselves what we want sweetie. Don't worry about what other people think. Just have fun.
I started my blog as a way to meet new friends and find new decorating ideas. I admit at first I didn't have a lot of visitors, but the more I moved around and traveled to other blogs, I met new people and I have made new friends. You are one of them, and I thank you for that. I love reading what others have to say. Jimmy Daryl is right, you just keep on writing. We love to hear from you.
Country hugs sweetie, Sherry
I loved the post and the source from which it came, your heart! Kerrie
I think you will be surprised, but many of us in blogland who are not relatives really are interested in these types of posts. Although it is nice to see your pretty table, it is when the authentic Dana--whoever she is at each particular moment--shines through.
What a lovely post. I hear you ... and agree. Nice to have *you* back. ;-)
jb
It's hard to be inspired every moment! Just be yourself and share with us whatever is on your mind and in your heart.
Blogging can easily become all about the numbers, how many followers, how many comments, etc... That takes the fun out of it and then it becomes a job; I for one, am not looking for a job, I'm looking for entertainment!
Glad your bloggy mojo came back! Woo Hoo! I look forward to hearing from you more!
Yay!! I'm so glad you got your mojo back. I use my blog for a journal...I quit worrying about comments, because I realized I do read a lot and not comment...because there are so many that I read. I am surprised to find you didn't go to the vintage show in Bixby...it was actually pretty good...and a lot of Christmas ornaments!!! So, can you make a scarf w/ the Woolrich plaid look...red and black? I have been on the hunt moreso for a picnic blanket w/ the plaid. If you get artsy...and make a scarf, I would buy it!!!
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