HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
This is a pic of a potato from our local farmers market and seemed appropriate for the upcoming holiday. I see a heart - Kevin sees bunny ears and a few Instagram followers saw...something else lol
What do you see?
Long time no blog!
I've been away for a LONG time! My last post was July 2025 when I did a mid-year update for my audiobook challenge.
So what have I been up to? Does anyone care? Is anyone still reading this or any blogs? I went through my blog roll and deleted another 5 blogs that no longer post or have officially quit. I'm still holding hope out for Greg You still out there Greg - or does anyone know how he is?
Anyhoo...
Reading: It's still a bit of a slog but more than I expected for 2025. I read a total of 25 books (you can check out what books here) Almost all were on audio. I still can't multitask while listening but I also can't sit still to read anymore so it works lol Genre wise - I'm ALL over the place.
Life: Things are moving along. If you recall, we bought a camper van last year and have been traveling around the PNW for long weekends. My plan was to sort of abandon this blog and start a new travel one. I did start the other one but abandoned both. As is my way lol
The adventures have been a balm to my soul though. Just getting away from the internet, life drama and go out in nature has been one of the best things we've done. We belong to a program called Harvest Hosts where you stay at places like farms, breweries, wineries for one night free. We do that instead of RV parks and we've met really incredible hosts with such interesting stories. I'll have to tell a few some time but it re-centers me every time we go on one of these trips. And the dogs love it! I think they think the van is a giant crate and we are now a pack lol
Blogging: The blog turned 16!!!! this past December. A huge accomplishment, even if it's not what it used to be or isn't as active, No matter how bored/irritated/insert adjective I get with it - I always end up missing it and wanting to come back. So that's something.
Going forward: I'm clearly horrible about planning anything for this blog. I don't read much, don't have any interest in writing formal reviews anymore. I post a lot about my life on IG, so it feels weird to repeat it here to an even smaller audience but again...I miss it so I think I'm going to start posting small snippets of stuff. Maybe what I'm reading or what I just finished reading, a show I'm watching or pics from a trip I just took.
If you are so inclined, stop by and read/comment. I do try to visit all of you when I can but it's, admittedly, much less than I used to - but I have missed you all.
Tell me - what have you all been up to? Any blogs that you would recommend to build up my follow list again? It can be for books, hobbies, travel - anything that sounds interesting!
I'm still around. lol
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're having fun traveling around. My apartment complex got bought by a new owner. New managers, new paint (it's hideous), things are as crazy around here as ever.
I have stopped by your blog for a cute raturday fix lol
DeleteWelcome back! There are still a few of us blogging, though is feels like so many have gone. I took a bit of a break for a couple of months this past year as well. I'm not on Instagram much, but I love seeing your adventures when I am (and would love to read about them here as well).
ReplyDeleteThere are a few hardy souls left! I struggle because I no longer read like I used to and it kind of leaves me kind of rudderless for what to post or how. Like I said, I put so much of it on IG, that it feels weird to repeat it here but I guess I could add the stories that come with the pics in a way I can't do there.
DeleteI'm adding you to my blogroll because you weren't there for some reason.
*TACKLE HUGS* I mean "Hi" :-)
ReplyDeleteI am still here and I care! I miss you. I would love for you to share your travel adventures here - I am on IG but the algorithms mean I don't necessarily see your posts. I wonder if you can connect the posts some how so you don't have to post two times, they just cross-post. The Harvest Hosts sounds amazing and something my husband and I would love. I wonder if there is a program around my neck of the woods. Speaking of which - if you ever want to van across the country, I'd love to host you here on the Atlantic Coast!
Tackles you back!!!!
DeleteDo you travel in a van/RV/tow camper etc? If so, it's open to all those that do. I think it's $80 a year (we got our first year free) but it's unlimited stays (one free night per place though).
We're really hoping to go on a *real* vacation at some point and do a drive - I'd love to see you!
I'm still here and am happy you're back! I tend to abandon my blog to do other projects but I always seem to come back to it eventually. I've been better about lately and hope it stays that way.
ReplyDeleteI just can't fully let it go lol I'm glad we're still here though. It make same happy when we all touch base again.
DeleteI am team bunny as well. Greg commented on my blog not that long ago. I was excited to see he was still around. Love seeing all your travels on IG. I would love to wander.
ReplyDeleteKevin will be pleased - it's overwhelmingly heart - but you are the 4th bunny vote.
DeleteThat's great to hear about Greg!
Hello friend! I haven’t blogged in years but I do love seeing what my old blog buddies are up to. Glad you’re doing well and glad to see you post!
ReplyDeleteHeyyyyy! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
DeleteWhy do I feel like I just read something by Greg, and then I looked and it was long ago. ...
ReplyDeleteMaybe if we talk about him enough, we'll manifest him lol
DeleteTeam bunny too, sorry! But at least I don't see...the other thing LOL. Kevin is such a romantic guy! 😂
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made the van move, since it's giving you so much joy and peace of mind. I'd love to hear your travel stories, but I don't want to say it out loud, because you might...rebel 😂. Also glad that your blog turned 16! (and that we have spent the majority of those years as friends!) but if you want to abandon it and use the other one, you do you. Just don't disappear on us!
I'm still holding hope for Greg too! The blogosphere isn't the same without him. Where are you, lazy boy? 😉
I will tell Kevin he has another vote!
DeleteWho knows with me. I could blog 7 days a week or never again lol
I'm honestly surprised anyone noticed this post. It's only 7 people but it was 7 more than I thought ha
Welcome back! Congrats on getting more into nature. That's a healthy way to live. Many of my favorite memories are of camping and hiking in the woods. Kudos also for keeping your blog alive. Like you I post more regularly on other social media (Facebook in my case) but find value in sharing that material on my blog despite its dwindling audience. Blogging may be disappearing but I'm gonna be one of the last to go! So it seems will you. Good work!
ReplyDeleteI just keep on keeping on here lol Getting out in nature has been the most helpful thing for me lately.
DeleteAhhhhhhh! You have to tell me when you drop a new blog post! 😎 I would love to hear those Harvest Hosts stories. It's really great to see you back! 🤗
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about Greg! Back in the beginning of December I asked Liis, from Cover to Cover, to message him in a buddy read group DM we used on X-Twitter because that was the last place he had been active, not much longer than on his blog, but maybe a month or so, because I deleted my two X-Twitter accounts. We waited three weeks and when she heard nothing I DMed Erin from Cracker Crumb Life because I knew they lived pretty near each other and had met up before. She gave me his personal email and because of all my crazy health stuff going on I forgot to email. I will do that tonight! She also gave me his city in Michigan, so I searched obituaries and there wasn't one, so that's good, but of course that doesn't mean he hasn't been ill. I know she didn't want to give his full address out, but if I don't hear back from him maybe I can get her to send him a card asking him to get in touch. 🙂
We (well you) found him!! You could start a lost blogger investigation business lol I really need to make a priority of blogging at least once a week.
DeleteBook blogging does sort of feel like it has become a bit of a wasteland, doesn't it? At least, amongst us blog oldies. It's hard to keep up with all the reading and writing and commenting for 10+ years.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I *have* to multitask while listening, or I completely lose focus on the book. But it has to be sort of mindless things, like eating or getting ready for bed, not using the computer.
I'm glad you've been having enjoyable little adventures and that you're still around even if not as often <3
Ok, so what's weird for me, is that I can only multitask listening while being on the computer! Weird - right???? Kevin bought me new earbuds though that stay on my ear (every other brand fell out) and I'm hoping that helps me around the house and listening.
DeleteKaren! I am here! LaLa reached out to me just today.
ReplyDeleteI miss you guys.
I am thinking of coming back. In fact I have a Sunday Post planned (and have had for weeks). And these comments are like a who's who of my blog friends...
Hugs and I hope to be back soon.
GREG!! Super excited to hear from you. I refused to give up your blog form my blogroll lol The last time you posted was a day before my birthday last year.
DeleteWe are down to just a few us but I do always miss everyone so it's great to hear that you are ok.
So great to have a check in from you! I'll be honest, post whatever you want and I'll read it haha. Just happy to have your virtual friendship.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ethan, I appreciate it! There are so few of us left.
Delete