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Birdsong Bits and Pieces

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It's Not You, It's Me....

It's been a while since my last post.

For all the reasons I've been giving you for why my schedule has cut back, it's now grinding to a halt.

It's not that I don't enjoy blogging.
It's not that I don't have fun putting up pictures and writing about the goings-on of my fambly.
It's not that I don't enjoy hearing from you all, and interacting with you through comments and email.

It's not you, it's me.

Work.
6 kids.
Some fluid number that I keep losing track of number of animals.
RAD.
PTSD.
Teenagers.
Cooking.
Cleaning.
Broken appliances.
Broken gates.
Runaway ponies.
Vets.
Farriers.
Doctors.
Dentists.
Orthodontists.
Medicine.
After-school activities.
And more....
      and more......
          and more.......

Sigh.

Anyway, I can't keep up with it anymore. I admit it.

I've got to let the blogging thing go, as much as I hate to.

I won't give it up completely, but I will no longer keep any kind of regular schedule.

It won't be forever. I hope to get back to blogging regularly again someday.

But today is not that day.




Thanks for always being there for me, and for all the support you've always given me! I have the best readers.

You guys really do rock.

Love ya'!

D is for Apple.

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as they say.

My son Daniel (above, holding chicken) is writing a blog now.

Check it out!


That means you.


Click on over to his blog.
Leave him a comment!


Then come back here and vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs, why dontcha?


Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!

NaNonFiWriMo. Wha...?

I was recently featured in an article by Amanda Socci on Write Nonfiction in November. The focus of the article was to provide a writing prompt to profile bloggers, said bloggers including myself, Sam Kemp-Jackson, J.D. Bailey, and Jamie Meteer.



I was thrilled to be featured, and to be included with this group of highly talented bloggers. Reading the article was a very "Who, ME???" moment, and although it came out nearly a week ago while I was on vacation, I still feel a bit elated.

But enough about my elation, let me take a minute to answer Amanda's interview questions...





Holy cow, Amanda, I feel so honored that you've chosen me for this!

All I have to say is create opportunities, be sexy, ....

Oh wait, that was Ashton Kutcher's speech.

Never mind.

How about if I just answer your questions?



1) With so much going on in your life with your children and farm, it is surprising that you have time to write! How do you manage to squeeze in writing time?

I guess I consider writing what I do for fun and down time, so the question is really how I manage to find time for the children and the farm, because the writing is what I WANT to be doing.


(2) You write at length about adoption and medical issues in a way that is informative yet heartfelt. Would you consider yourself an inspirational writer? Why or why not?

No, not really. If people find my writing inspirational, wonderful, but I don't set out to inspire with what I write. I just write the stuff of my life.



(3) How did you get started hosting blog hops? What have you learned along the way?

I started participating in blog hops a while back and found that they were a wonderful source of traffic for my blog. When one of the hop hosts announced she was looking for a new co-host, I threw my hat in. In addition to co-hosting that one, I also "guest-hosted" a few others from time to time. Although I have since bowed out of co-hosting, I enjoyed my time doing it, although it was certainly a commitment in time and effort.



(4) Your blog posts are more than ready to be republished into a series of nonfiction books. Your style is lovely, intimate, and always endearing. Do you think people would enjoy reading about the adventures of your farm, your children, and your many witty life observations in a printed book format?

I'm flattered that you think so, Amanda! That is something worth considering, although that would have to go on the back burner for a spell. Since going back to work, it's been pretty hard keeping up with the writing. Queries and submissions have ground to a halt for me for now, and even the blogging itself has slowed substantially. Still, thanks for that vote of confidence!



(5) What is the overall goal you have for your blog? How do your children feel about you blogging personal details about your life experiences?

Hmmm, two questions in one number.  Tricky, Amanda, tricky! 
My short term goals for the blog would be to recommit to a schedule, which has fallen to the wayside recently due to work. The schedule is important to me because I know readers "tune in" for different reasons, such as farm, large family, adoption. Without keeping to a schedule, it's hard for me to deliver focused content in a consistent way. Long range, of course, I'd like to increase my followers and my page views, but mostly because it's nice to have an "impressive" number on the page when sending out query letters.
As far as my kids, they seem to find it pretty cool for the most part. We were recently recognized from the blog when we were away on vacation about 400 miles from home, and they felt like celebrities!


(6) You claim to write all over the place but yet, you manage to keep some sort of schedule. How do you reconcile these seemingly distinct left and right brain habits?

Because there is so much chaos in my life, I craves me some structure. I can't always get it at home, so I strive to get it in other places like my blog. And like I said above, it helps not only myself, but my readers, as well.


(7) You’ve been blogging for a long time but it seems that you really increased production in 2012. What changed for you in 2012? Did the popularity of your blog inspire you to write more or did something else push you to write more?

In April 2012 I took part in Robert Lee Brewer's Platform Challenge. It pushed me to learn new things and helped me to grow my readership. In querying agents, I learned that size really does matter, and they all wanted to see a bigger following. So I kicked things into overdrive with what I had learned in the challenge, and as a result I was able to quadruple my monthly page views. In addition, interacting more with my readers through comments and email spurred me to give the blog more and more attention. It has really become a part of me.


(8) How did you get to live on a farm? Were you raised in a farm setting? Did you marry into a farm lifestyle? Why do you consider your lifestyle to not be like those who live on “authentic farms”?

I was raised on the beach (Jersey shore), not a farm, but I have always had a bottomless love for animals of all kinds. When my husband and I moved into a rental on a small farm early in our marriage, I promptly plopped a horse in the pasture, and the floodgates were officially opened. Although at this point we have several dozen critters, I still don't consider myself an "authentic farmer" because I do not generate any income from farming. The horses are for riding (in theory), the goats are brush-cutters, the bunnies are for petting, the dogs and cats and the bird are all good-for-nothins. The chickens are the only ones who pull their weight, but they don't weigh very much, now, do they?


(9) Your style and voice are distinct and charming. Why would you allow others to write guest blog posts for a blog that is already rich with a voice that others like to read? Do you think that guest blog posts enhance or detract from your writing?

When writers approach me to ask if they can guest post, I generally say yes if the material is pertinent to what I think my readers would enjoy. I figure it helps the writer with traffic, it often boosts my numbers (particularly if it's something that "pins well"), and it provides my readers with an interesting article. Although it's not my "voice", I still consider these opportunities a win-win for everyone involved.


(10) Why is it so important for you to be considered a top blog in TopMommyBlogs? Does the title of “top blogger” fuel your writing? Do you feel some sort of validation from that title that you do not already receive from readers of your blog?

OK, it's shallow time. Top Mommy Blogs is a great source of traffic. Of course I love having a position somewhere on their first page, but regardless of my place on their pages, I generate a lot of new readers/followers from their site, so I really appreciate people taking the time to click to vote every day. But you're absolutely right, Amanda, I'm not really crazy about the moniker "Mommy Blogger. Why not just blogger? Still, of all the names I've been called in my life, I'm not going to put up too much of a fight over that one!





Thanks again, Amanda, for including me in this!!!!



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Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs? Pretty please? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!

Fame. Yes, Fame.

I'm famous.

*Stretches. Examines fingernails in a bored manner.*

Yep. Famous.

That's right.

I was out at dinner last night with my family. Afterwards, a few of them wandered next door to the sweet shop for some ice cream (I, with my iron will, did not).

Fred came back to where we were sitting, looked at me and said, "OK freakazoid. You need to go in there."

I asked why.

He told me he and a couple of the kids were in the shop, and the woman asked him if his wife had a blog. Turns out she reads it all the time.

Might I remind you that we are currently 22,000 miles away from home (give or take) on vacation?

And yet I (or rather, my freckle-faced kid) was recognized.

Is that the coolest thing in the universe or what?!?!

Anyway, here is a shout-out to the good people at the Sweet Spot in Corolla, North Carolina in the Outer Banks.





Shakes so delicious my oldest is insisting we go back there again today.

But if we do, I'll have to bring my entourage so I'm not mobbed by folks seeking my autograph and a photo op.





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Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs? Pretty please? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!

Taking Back My Blog

In an effort to simplify and pare things down in my life, I cut back on my blog.

Soon enough however, cutting down turned to cutting out.

I hate that I've let myself get so busy that I've let go of something that I enjoy so much.

And it's time to take it back.

So. I'm going to try to get back to my schedule. It won't be easy, and I might miss a few posts here and there, but I will at least make the effort.





One thing that has lit a fire under me is that I just found out my blog has been nominated for the Top 25 Moms With Big Families - 2013 list on Circle of Moms! Made me realize that I've been very fortunate to have such a great group of readers that have voted for me faithfully through many contests. So if you'd like to vote for me on this one, just click on the image below, then scroll down till you see my blog, then click on the vote button. You can vote once a day till the contst ends on 7/24.





Anyway, thanks guys.
For reading.
For your patience.
For your support.

XOXO!






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Throw me a vote? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!


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A New Shejhule...

Sigh...




Heavier sigh....



The time has come to make some changes.

I had hoped when I started back to work that I wouldn't have to give up any of the time I give to writing, but that isn't working out so well.

If it was just finding some time to actually "write" I don't think it would be as much of an issue. But what I need is time to write stuff, time to submit, time for blogging and sharing and linking and engaging and tweeting and all those other things that make up the social media landscape that is so integral to developing a platform nowadays.

And all those pesky children and pets of mine still expect me to feed them and stuff.

There is just no longer the time in the day to get it all done.

Or so my blood pressure has been telling me.

So I've had a talk with myself, and we have decided it's time to cut back a bit. Starting with this-here blog.

I'll still blog, it just won't be seven days a week any longer. Who posts seven days a week anyways? Just crazy me.

Let it go, woman, let it go....



Here's my new schedule:

Monday: Off
Tuesday: Tuesday Archive Link-Up blog hop
Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday
Thursday: Off
Friday: Farm Friday
Saturday: Sometimes guest posts, sometimes odds and ends
Sunday: Something family/life-related


Letting go can be hard, but I know it's a change I have to make.

Here's hoping it's a change my readers and I can all live with!


And thanks for being the awesomely devoted amazing readers that you are!

Love you all.
XOXOXO


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Throw me a vote? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!


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Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

Summer's interview

Hey, what's this Top Mommy Blogs vote button doing at the top of my page?
Well, I'll tell ya'.
I was getting pretty darn comfortable with my first page status.
Maybe a little TOO comfortable.
As in, I've been on the second page now for a few weeks.
I don't like it there very much.
No offense, my fellow second-pagers.
So I'm hoping if I put the button at the top of the post, folks might be more inclined to vote?
Remember, it's just a matter of clicking the juggling chick and you've voted.
You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!


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Hey!

I was interviewed!

I was interviewed by someone really cool!

Summer, of Writing Like a Mother is doing a series of interviews with Moms who are also writers, and she asked if I would like to take part.

But of course!

So please head on over to Writing Like a Mother to see what she had to ask and what I had to answer.

It promises to be fascinating....

(tee hee)





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Read it.
Like it?
Follow it.
Please?
Thanks.
(Follow my blog by adding yourself as a follower with Google Friends Connect in my sidebar!)


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Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.