This month marks the one year anniversary for my blog. Insanely enough, I started blogging right around the time my third baby was born. That might be the reason why the blog languished for a few months last summer. I was buried under diapers and was so sleep-deprived that I could barely speak coherently, much less write a sentence that others would want to read. It was all I could do to keep up with my gardening, and blogging was pushed to the back burner. But now that I'm getting more sleep, this blog has become a great creative outlet and a gateway to gardening friends galore at the garden blogging community of Blotanical.com.
My original intention was to post information that would be useful to readers. I'm still trying to do that, but I've realized that my favorite gardening blogs include a healthy amount of the blogger's personality. Catmint is teaching me patience in the garden - she has plenty of it, as her current garden was started when I was just one year old. I love it that Joy obsesses about fudge as well as gardening. Frances is like the wise, kindly faire (LOL) godmother of the garden-blogging world. If I had a nervous breakdown, Jan would be the first one to my door with a meal (or at least an encouraging post in my comment section!). I could go on and on about the delightful gardeners I'm meeting via blogging. There are so many more I'd like to include, but inevitably I'd forget someone and so I'm stopping here.
With all of this in mind, I'm expanding my definition of what constitutes an acceptable post here at VW Garden. While garden information and inspiration will still be the goal, a bit more of my life will end up in the posts as well.
Here's my current dilemma: balancing my enjoyment of blog posting, reading & commenting with the other responsibilities in my life. Blotanical will take up as much time as I can give it. I'm blessed to be able to be home with my children, but the three of them are at a fairly labor-intensive phase. And dear hubby deserves plenty of attention, too. I'm trying to become a better photographer, and then of course my actual garden requires work! I think a goal of posting once a week is a sustainable one for me right now. I'd like to still be posting when I'm a wise grandma gardener (gardening is one thing where old age is an asset - young gardens just aren't as nice), but that won't happen if I burn out now.
Here's to sustainable garden blogging and the avoidance of burnout! If you'd like to leave a comment with a bit of your wisdom for striking the right balance in your life, it will be appreciated.
Happy Blogiversary! It takes a while to balance things, blog/life/garden-wise, and sometimes the blogging and blotanical activity goes in fits and starts. As to what constitutes a post on a gardening blog--the main thing is that it's YOUR blog to do with as you wish, and to bring you joy. I go offtopic whenever I feel like it (I've waxed lyrical about coast guard ships, David Cook, Alzheimer's Disease, my horse, assorted writers, occasionally food. If someone doesn't wanna read it, they don't have to.
ReplyDeleteHere's to many more years of blogging fun--and just ignore the housework if it's eating into your blogging time. :-)
Happy Anniversary. My blog is still a baby. I know the only reason I've had time to be on the last while is because the weather hasn't been that great. I usually am on here while my 2 year old naps (although she seems to be giving those up) or everyone else is in bed. I also enjoy the blogs that mix a bit of personality in. If I just wanted facts, I could search the internet. It's fun to read good and bad experiences that other gardeners have had. Anyone that mixes in a sense of humor is a giant plus. I enjoy reading about real people and their real experiences. I think once a week sounds good. I know soon that I'll have less time too, once the weather gets better I'll want to be in the garden.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you! A big day indeed, I bet you are wondering where the time went-wait-diapers and raising kiddos, that is how it sometimes. Enjoy it:)
ReplyDeleteHappy blogaversary - I think I will second all the things that Jodi has said.
ReplyDeleteI like blogs that while in the main are gardening related - I also like it when they go off topic - it gives me a glimpse of the "whole person"
It is your blog, for you - we just tag along for the ride - here's to many more years of happt blogging.
K
(lol) - sorry typo - that should read HAPPY blogging! :)
ReplyDeleteK
Happy anniversary to you.
ReplyDeleteHappy first blogiversary, VW. It's quite an achievement to have sustained a blog through a child's first year as well! When do you sleep? (I ask at 1:45 am.)
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogiversary!
ReplyDeleteMay you have many more...! :-)
Cameron
I empathize with you, VW, and I don't even have little ones anymore...but sometimes I feel the same way! Just be easy on yourself and do what you can when you can. Lots of people out here are cheering you on, so, just have fun with it. I haven't put much 'personality' into my blog yet...but I'm always doing it in comments. I wanted my blog to be a certain way when I started, but now that I've met so many friendly people, I'm thinking about veering off course a little myself, now and then.
ReplyDeleteCongrat's on the 1st year anniversary!!
VW - Happy blogiversary! Any info on how one might go about turning this into a gift giving occasion? If so, I will certainly be mentioning my own one year milestone, which comes up in July.
ReplyDeleteI have gone through the same process as you with content - started out thinking I would share information on design, but my blog has gradually become lighter in tone and more personal, although since I am a designer by profession and clients and others from my work life read my blog, I still stay mostly on topic.
Congrats on staying the course! Susan