Recently, I was surfing around to look for new and interesting blogs to read, when I found a post that got me thinking. It was about why the blogger blogged, and why so many bloggers choose to only share slices of their lives that showcase the better, or 'perfect' parts. About how much or how little is shared about the bloggers actual lives.
This made me think.
It's an interesting question to ask yourself.
This blog was started at a time when I only had a private 'invite only' blog, a blog that I kept for friends I had made over the ten years or so that I've been blogging. I wanted to keep my private life just that. While I have made some genuinely wonderful friends through blogging, I've also been unfortunate to meet some real idiots too.
I've had more than my fair share of people trying to drum up arguments, or 'anonymous' abuse from people who are quick off the mark to find fault with my life/looks/home/thoughts, without even having the basic decency to use their name when making such comments. Amazing how rude - and cowardly - people can be.
I blog because I enjoy it. I enjoy writing and it's fun to surf around and read other blogs. I love to see how other people live, to be inspired by their lives, ideas, recipes.
This blog was created so I could leave an open blog address (rather than passworded) when I left comments.
At first it was going to be purely a craft blog, but it wasn't easy to keep it exclusively as such. So it has changed over the years to be more of a homemaking/craft/my life blog.
I share what I want to share. My life is not perfect, absolutely not. I am happy with my life, and consider myself very lucky, but I have problems and worries just like everyone else. You just won't find them here. It is my choice not to talk about very private things. Nor will you find photos of my dirty washing waiting to be put in the machine just to prove my real life is just that! I don't particularly want to see that on a blog, so why would anyone want to see it here?
When The Girl came along, I decided that sharing photos of her and details about her was not something I wanted to do. I share pics where you can't see her face fully, and am happy to talk about her, but I prefer to keep her name and face off the internet.
This blog is somewhere I am happy to talk about my home, my 'makes & creates', rambling thoughts about nothing in particular, and family life. I may not share worries or mess, but what you see is what you get. This is me, and this is my life. No need to make things up, or pretend I'm something I'm not. I am what I am, and I write about it here. I don't pressure myself to write daily or even weekly, just whenever the mood strikes. The more I write here, the more I like it.
Right now I'm feeling a little sad. Summer hols are in the final days, and next week school starts again. I'm never sorry to see summer fade away because I love Autumn. It makes me want to start cleaning the house, add autumnal touches, and buy new stationery. I'm just sad that my little sweetpea will be back at school, I will miss her. I love having her home.
But, there are things I am itching to get on with, without interruption.
At this time of year, my main focus to to sort out the larder. Pantry. Whatever you like to call it.
It's not too messy at the moment, but it does need a proper tidy, sort out, and stock take.
As the weather changes, I like to bake more (who doesn't?), so I like to replace all flour. This year it's going to go in glass jars. Over the past few years I've been adding more and more jars for things like pasta, spices, stock cubes, even scented candles (I keep them at the back of the larder, a lidded jar stops the smells tainting foods). I've deliberately taken my time in adding storage jars, as I work out what I need, and where they will go. Some things can't be rushed.I turn to Martha for cleaning & decluttering inspiration. No one organises homes quite like Martha!
I print out lists and checklists. What is it about 'back to school' time that makes us want to write lists and start afresh?More inspirational reading.
Stocking up on tinned goods is one of my Autumn chores, and replacing spices like ginger and ground cloves. I gather and store like a squirrel, all ready for the colder months. I like to think that if we were snowed in for a few days, we'd be fine. I could bake, and feed us from the larder without worry. Ordering in tins of pumpkin is on my list too, so I can make pumpkin pie on a crisp, cold day. [ask anna moseley]
[meal& pantry planning]
[reorganise your pantry]
[martha stewart pantry must haves]
[martha stewart winter pantry help]