Welcome Friends

One of my blog friends posted about why she writes her blog. From the comments she received it seems that most bloggers feel that they are writing for themselves. They say their blog gives them a chance to organize their thoughts and 'publish' them. But, if we write for 'ourselves' then why are we spending the time to put it all out there? Wouldn't a spiral notebook work just as well?! Personally, it's more complicated than that. Yes, I write what I want to write and when I want to write it. I enjoy playing with words. I kick myself when I post something and then realize I could have made it better by doing X, Y or Z. Mr. Lasser's words still echo in my mind - he is a constant critic, I always feel him looking at the screen over my shoulder (how rude) and he has probably never read one single post! He was my high school English teacher....a long time ago! But, I digress. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I write for you, my followers. But, followers are important  part of the equation. It is nice to get to know you as a group of friends, critics, supporters, etc. So, thank you for following. Thank you for taking some time to consider and comment on what I may have said. Welcome to my blog. I am so glad to have met you through the blogosphere.

Image from Canadian Independent School District

 Recent followers of my blog include:

•  Niecey from Brawner's in Bend. I welcomed her, sort of, last week, but had the wrong name. (Or...did she change her name?!) Niecey is evolving into a country girl. Hooray for country girls!
• Heritage Farm Village has become a follower. How wonderful to have an entire village following my blog! ;-)
• Jane from Me 'n my Monkeys, all the way from Australia. How cool that we can connect so easily using the marvelous, magical, magnificent Internet!
• Farmers Wifey. What I love about FW is that even though she, too, is on the other side of the world, we have so much in common: she's building a new house, which she refers to as the 'Money Pit' (I can identify with that!), she is fighting the dreaded enemy, The Blogger Butt, and she is a miscarriage survivor.
• Cat is another country girl, and just the title of her blog invites readers to see what is going on in her life. She is at Crap on my shoes, egg in my pocket (and yarn on the needles).
• Lori writes several blogs (I can hardly keep up with one) and one can be found at The Skoog Farm Journal. Like me, Lori is a retired teacher. She has horses and she lives close to where I grew up in western New York.
• Leontien writes two blogs.  Her blogs include Four Leaf Clover Tales and Little Miss Bookwurm. She must be a kindred soul as she enjoys country living and books. A great combination! 
• Another follower from Farm Friend Friday who I'd like to welcome is "Go West" Feral Woman, with a blog of that title. I think there is a bit of 'feral' woman in all of us! FW takes some awesome photographs.
• Gail also has two blogs. How do these folks manage more than one?! She writes Familiar Spirits and At the Farm. I think Gail, like me, loves alliteration. She describes her blog as: "tale of tails, tedium, tenacity and how I react to each day, each duty, and each danger." Love it! 
• Kim writes about Life in a Little Red Farmhouse. Her family recently designed and had the house built to look like an old farmhouse. It even has 'add ons', as if they expanded the house over the years. 
• Heidi writes Vansteaders - as in homesteading and traveling in a van. She and her husband do both. They write about their adventures on the farm and on the road at the Vansteaders blog as well as at  Vantramps.
• Pattie has also begun to follow my site, but I don't have a blog address for her. She loves rescuing animals...all kinds. Not only does she rehab animals, but she rehabs junk and loves working with architectural salvage.