In my post yesterday I asked a couple of questions.
In the first question, I asked if anyone knew of any great blogs that they enjoy and would like to share with me. The reason I asked this odd question is this... I have had a small handful of blogs that I follow regularly over the years. These are random blogs, separate from my other list of favorite blogs of my friends, family, various acquaintances and otherwise interesting people. These blogs have been fun and inspiring and mostly share interesting ideas, beautiful pictures and entertaining descriptions of life in other neighborhoods. Same small world but oh so beautifully different!
Lately however, I think every one of these blogs (or bloggers) has written books and their goal has become to sell their books to their large blog audiences. Many have also become wrapped up in a cause. This is great! I have nothing wrong with writing a book (I'm writing my own book of life, every day) or having a cause (I have several of my own) but these blogs have become much less enjoyable to me when I hop on there to read a new post. There is always a blaring message in every post to buy a book, or give to a worthy cause, etc. It's over, I'm done... remove, remove, remove...
Regarding my question yesterday... I love blogs and people who share their lives with me. I love to see the seashores of Florida, the cities of New York, the rolling hills of Wisconsin and the farm land of North Dakota and Wyoming, and the desert sands of California. I love to travel to Ireland and Australia, and China. I love to see it all, to enter into life all over this world. More than anything, I love to see the the faces behind the lives and to know you, just a little, through the outpouring of your heart on your blog. Life is short, and someday, none of this earth will matter. But for now, I intend to enjoy this awesome life I've been given. Thanks for sharing it with me.
The second thing I asked yesterday was for comments. I know... that was kind of strange and weird! Most of the time I don't think much about whether a viewer leaves a comment or not. Asking for comments seems a little bit like asking for compliments, or pats on the back or something like that. Plus, if I'm mostly bad about leaving comments myself, why would I expect others to leave comments for me.
But every once and awhile, I'm just plain curious and I want to know WHO you are. And WHY. And WHERE. Stuff like that. For example... Who are you?(in all due respect) Can I come and visit you someday? That would be awesome! Why do you come to my blog? Where do you live? Do you have a blog? Do you have a dog and a cat? Do you enjoy Coffee or Tea? What's your favorite hobby? Can you do a handstand? Do you keep Ramen noodles in the cupboard for sick kiddos or do you eat Ramen Noodles for lunch? Do you do laundry every day or all in one day? Or do you try and do it in one day but it doesn't happen and ends up stretching out over 4 days, like me? Do you have light carpets and a muddy driveway? Do you live on the 17th floor? Can you play the harp? Does your address end with St., Rd., Dr., Way, or Ln.? Or none of these? Does your baby eat everything off the floor? Or do you actually vacuum on a regular basis? Are you happy when you finally get the last kid out the door for school and then can't wait all day to go and pick them up? Do you refuse to think about the day your kids will leave home for good? Or have your kids left home for good? Are you coping well?
Explanation over. I'm done.
Most Sincerely,
Alison
17 comments:
Hi, Alison. I live right here in MT in the middle of the state. I love your blog and check it frequently. I often go to your favotite blog list to check out those other blogs too. I find that so much that is shared makes my day a little brighter. I love coffee. I do my laundry all in one day. This is because my kids are grown and gone from home now. Thankfully, that has brought it's own joys. I now glory in my childrens' victories and feel for them in their struggles as they make their own way. I can hardly wait for the day that they have kids of their own.
Thanks for your blog. Thanks for the opportunity to get a glimpse into your families life.
Betty Figarelle
Hi Alison. I stumbled upon you blog one day through other aquaintences and have enjoyed checking in periodically to see your beautiful pictures and posts. I live in Seattle but am originally from a sugar beet/potato farm in Southern Idaho, and my husband is from wheat farm in North Easthern Montana. So, we are aquainted with some of the Benjamin families. We are just starting our family, so our dishes, laundry, and all other chores get done at random times of the day and week. I LOVE coffee, but am having to refrain from indulging while I am pregnant with our second child. And ANYTHING else sweet, always gets the best of me! I miss the country and cherish any chance I get to inhale the smell of freshly churned or harvested earth.
Thanks for sharing your life experiences with us and your beautiful pictures!
Suzanne Kleppen
(sskleppen.blogspot.com)
Hi, Alison. I clicked on the link to your blog while I was visiting http://prairiepandemonium.blogspot.com/ (We had supper with the family of that blog last Sunday after special meeting) I love "getting acquainted" with other people through their blogs. We live on a little hobby farm in central Illinois. We love to have company, so if you're in the area please stop by, we'd love to have you! We have a couple of dogs, too many cats and a few other critters around. No coffee for me, although the rest of the family loves it - I'd rather have hot chocolate. Normally my tea is iced. Hobby? Hmmm - I guess it's keeping up with this houseful of kids right now. We haven't had Ramen noodles for a few years - maybe I should get some again sometime - the kids really like them. We do laundry constantly or we should, anyway - when we miss a day we have a mountain at the bottom of the laundry chute. We just had our muddy driveway covered with gravel today - so now we have dusty footprints on our wood floor. We still have a rural route address - so our address ends in a box number. Some of my bigger kids still eat off the floor sometimes - especially if a bag of M&Ms spills... We do try to keep it swept and vaccumed relatively often, though. We homeschool, so no sending them out the door in the morning - except to run around the house when the volume gets too loud. Not looking forward at all to them spreading their wings - our oldest is 14, so the time will come way too quickly. Come visit us at our blog at crittersontheporch.blogspot.com
Hi Al, It's been waaaaay too long since I've seen you!! Hope you'll still remember me. Loved these last two posts. You pretty much know everything about me and, of course, you know you're always welcome here. I usually come to your blog for comfort because I miss you guys terribly. Sniff, sniff.
You can probably guess the only time we eat Ramen noodles is in convention salad. Our laundry ends up stretching over four days and five rooms. My baby has finally quit grazing under the dining room table. He has been eating like a horse lately from the top side, asking for more, stuffing himself silly! Every once in awhile I catch myself thinking about the boys leaving home and I get a large lump in my throat. Can't wait to see you soon!!!
Hi Alison
I’m very poor at leaving comments too – never feel like I have anything witty or inspiring to pass on. But I do love it when others pop in on my blog and say Hi! So I have left a few comments on your blog in the past but perhaps they have felt more “stalker-ish” to you seeing that you don’t have a clue who I am. I came across your blog awhile back through Our Tiny Dot. Love your photos, your scrapbooking, love your views on life, love looking into your faces and know that though unknown, we know a lot about each other’s hearts! Home for me is in Michigan with my husband, 2 kids (17 and 19) and one fluffy dog! Coffee is a must first thing in the morning and mid-afternoon. Hobbies: Google Reader (way too much time reading blogs) / digital scrapbooking / knitting / dreaming about the next vacation! Laundry is done on Mondays and Thursdays – following in my Mom’s footsteps! And yes, I do play (and attempt to teach) the harp along with the piano. Our oldest is a freshman at college and #2 is a senior in high school – so my mom-heart has it’s moments – it’s not easy letting go!! Enough rambling here …. thanks for all the questions posed …. a good list to blog about …. can I do that?? Thanks for all you share!
Linda from Michigan
Thank you! This is so fun to read about you? I don't worry about "stalkers" Linda (most of the time). But it is fun to see who's been here before. Thank you thank you thank you. Have a wonderful day and I'm excited to get to spend some time getting to know you.
Betty- I know you and it's fun to see you for real once and a while. Thanks sor answering some of these nagging questions! Lol! Fun to hear what you have to say about kids leaving home.
Suzanne-it's great to hear from you. I think our husbands know each other, both being from north east Montana. Exciting days for you as you anticipate your new little one!
Tamara- I love it that you know the pandemonium people! Miss them. You sound busy but happy. we don't do ramen noodles much either but my kids like them when they get sick. Thanks for the laughs!
Melinda-miss you and can't wait to see you too! I'm sure we'll have a lot more to talk about too. :)
Linda- that is so neat that you play the harp! I have no idea why I asked that question other than that I love to hear it and very few people play. Wow!
Elissa here.....and yes, i LOVE coffee, and NO, DO NOT VACCUUM on a regular basis... ;)
I too am horrible at commenting! I usually have just enough time to quick check a blog update, but then am kindly interrupted before I can get my fingers typing up a comment! So don't feel too bad :)
This is Karin :) I LOVE to look at your blog and try the projects you post here! You have a way with words and a camera that inspires my days. I don't have a way with words and so yes, I just visit, and move on without having to say too much : )
Alison, I have hesitated to comment as I came across your blog by way of my son's girlfriend's connection with Lani (Aloha from the Midwest) I don't have a blog site and don't even know how to. I so enjoy seeing all your pictures and hearing the story of your life. It is like watching a great movie or reading a true life story! I am a mom of four and grandma to four. I have one 18 yr old at home and there are times when it makes me sad that the time has gone by so quickly and that my babies are adults (they are still babies in my heart). As to your other questions - I live in SE Iowa and you would surely be welcome to visit. We recently built and moved into a timber frame home on 65 acres of trees and ponds and love it here. We have two dogs and cats, I drink tea and sometimes cappuccino, I like to sew, used to be able to do handstands, no Ramen noodles, I do laundry whenever the hampers are full and "sometimes" get it done in one day, we put in hardwood floors and a mud room to help keep the dirty shoes from tracking in since we do live in the country, our address is "Rd", I have to check my floors when the littlest grand-daughter comes - she is 11 months and puts everything in her mouth, I have always had mixed feeling about the beginning of each new school year as I enjoyed having my children home for the summer. I think it has helped me to have grandchildren before my last child has left home as I have babysat they have helped fill that void of having little ones around. What I really miss is that my boys (I have 2 boys and 2 girls) don't keep in touch as well as my daughter.
So, if you don't mind sharing your life with someone that you don't know, I would truly like to keep visiting and maybe I should share more in the future. Thanks for all you do! Gayle
I came across your blog off another blog I follow! So, I periodically check it. I live in Missouri. My hubby and I welcomed our first child into the world November 19, 2011. We feel very blessed with our precious baby girl. I do enjoy your posts! Thanks for sharing.
Kelley
This may be only my 2nd time to comment on your blog, but I have loved reading it for a long time. I first followed a link from the lmand12js blog, someone I've known over 35 years. Love hearing about your life in a place I've never been, enjoyed being "along" on your family vacation last summer - it all looks soooo beautiful - would LOVE to visit sometime! And we would LOVE to have you visit us if you're ever in central Illinois - we aren't far from the Pandemoniums! We live in the country and have wood floors on the main level, tan carpet upstairs. I'm a blog-reader, not a blogger, and appreciate the blogs of family and friends as a way to keep in touch with their lives. Of course the blog my dear DIL has is a fave, and I don't think she'd mind me putting it here if you're interested in checking it out: lotsalittlethings.blogspot.com I'm a definite coffee drinker, did handstands as a child, haven't bought Ramen noodles in awhile, but like them both for lunch and in salads. We have a dog and a cat, no longer have a horse or cows. Never wanted chickens. We have 3 children, all married, and four precious grandchildren. With just the two of us now, laundry gets done as needed. And that was one of the weirdest sad things for me as the children left home one by one, how the laundry loads became less and less. It was a definite mixture of joy and sorrow. Joy that they're mature, capable adults with wonderful spouses and homes of their own, but sorrow that their childhood years passed so quickly. Grandchildren have definitely lightened the sorrow! So thankful I was able to be a stay-at-home mom, do volunteer work at school, and enjoy the summer days with them, which always flew past. This got way too long, not quite the whole family history, but almost! Thanks so much for sharing your precious family life with us.
Wow! Thank you so much for stepping up and saying Hi! I wouldn't be surprised if you never come back here again, after this guilt trip that I have put you all on. But, this has been so much fun. Thank you! And don't worry. I really don't plan on coming and visiting you. heehee. But it would be fun if our paths did cross someday...
Elissa-I hear you on the vacuuming. Luckily we vacuum the main floors at least once a week. I try for 2 times but it doesn't always happen. I often feel like it should be daily but haven't been able to do that one yet. Hope to see you this spring. Maybe at preps?
Karin-thankyou, you are welcome here anytime. I DO think you have a way with words because your comment was so nice but... I understand. :)
Gayle- I LOVED reading these little details of your life! Thank you for sharing. I love to hear that your grands are close enough that you get to babysit. I am so lucky to have my Mom that close too!
Kelley- Thanks for the sweet comment and Congratulations on your sweet little one. I remember those first months of being a new Momma! Such good, good memories!
Ruth- Thank you too for the little details of you and your family. Another Mother that is seeing her children go but finding joy in your days and your grandchildren. It is hard to imagine that day but I know it will come and probably a lot quicker than I want to think about. Andrea has always told me to come and visit. I really want to some day! Maybe we shall meet someday.
Hi Alison-You will see me stop by often, as I am constantly inspired by your creativity, your photos, and how manage your family of 6. It is especially fun since I knew you both best before kids :). You have a BEAUTIFUL family. I love your honesty with the joys and sorrows, the precious and bittersweet, fears, anxieties, faith and trust. Your children are so fortunate to have such wonderful parents.
We live in Baltimore, MD, and if you ever bring your family to do DC, you have a Bed and Breakfast waiting for you. :) I WISH I blogged, LOVE coffee, photography is my hobby, love Korean Ramen Noodles with kimchee, and can never keep up with laundry. We have light carpet with two little dogs; and thankfully not on the 17th floor, but in a small urban neighborhood with a yard.
It was fun reading your comments...BTW, Randy and Suzanne Kleppen are actually 3rd cousins :). Randy's Gma Florence and Suzanne's Gma Grant were first cousins.
Come see us! Hugs all around :) xo Celia and Bryan
I don't get to check on on you like I'd like but do love and am encouraged when I do. No hand stands for me!! I enjoy fit camp, still have three kids, 1 dog, 1 cat(out doors) and just under 25 laying hens. Saying all this "MAN' I need to update our blog!!" finishing huners safety this week and like MOST CRAFTS beond likes! Thanks for being you!
Hi, it's me! :) I look at your blog because I love you and your family and I miss you. I love coffee with all my heart? ;) haha and my favorite hobby (non active) is reading, and active hobby is bicycling when I can, but when I can't, I figure out something else to do outside. I read about your family because I don't have one, and that's okay, but I like to see what my peers are going through. It's surprising sometimes the similarities of feeling, even though one applies to a family and one to the...field, I guess. Guess that love is under and above everything. Ok, tell the kids hi. LB
Hi Alison! I LOVE reading blogs and keeping up with friends and family this way. Unfortunately I already spend way to much time every morning browsing blogs on my phone, so I don't take time to comment often enough. Sad, really, since I know how much I appreciate comments on my own blog.
I don't know if I have any new great blog recommendations right now. I am way too obsessed with Home Decor blogs right now! By the way, I LOVE your blog and your positive attitude about everyday life. (Even when it is a bit exhausting and challenging.) Thanks for sharing!
Hi...I like your blog because I know your folks, grandparents, in-laws etc.from way back...I'm a Montana native but haven't lived there for years but it is still dear to my heart...I've been in WI for 35+ years...and if you travel through...be sure and stop if at all possible...we have a dairy farm...I do blog but now as good as you!
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