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Saturday morning.

The concert turned out to be a big hit, with a good-sized crowd. Don’s friend, John Putnam, has a band and they drove up from NYC and were a huge hit. The other performer was a musician Don discovered who lives in West Virginia. Also a huge hit. John Putnam, by the way, works a lot professionally. He was in the Escape to Margaritaville  orchestra and that’s how Don knows him.

While that was going on, I got a loud warning on my phone about a severe thunderstorm that was headed our way, with warnings specifically for the people attending our county fair. (Just a couple of miles from us.) I looked outside and all I could see was the sky lighting up – continuously – with lightning. At times, I saw an entire streak of lightning in the sky – wish I’d had my camera with me! There was thunder also, but mostly lightning. It looked like a special effect for a movie. But as far as I know, we had no rain. Very strange!

Okay. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. It is becoming increasingly hard to think of something to talk about every day of the week. The fact is, there are times when nothing much is happening. We’re older, we’re not working at the moment, and our days are fairly quiet. When you’ve been blogging for 15½ years, finding new things to talk about is a challenge. Don’t worry, I’m not ending the blog yet. I’m just trying to find a solution so that I don’t feel like I have to pull a rabbit out of a hat every day.

I’m thinking of blogging 3 or 4 days a week. I don’t get much ad income anymore – that has decreased for most bloggers. I get enough to help with the odd bill or two, and to pay for the costs of maintaining this blog. Just barely. I’m not sure how decreasing the days I blog will affect that ad income. I guess I’ll find out!

I was thinking of setting specific days for my posts so that you don’t have to wonder if I’ve posted on a certain day. Maybe Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Or Sunday, if that seems better for you.

What do you think?

I love blogging, but it takes a lot of effort on a daily basis. I need to come up with a solution that gives me some breathing space. I’ve held the job of blogger longer than any other job I’ve had, and I’m one of the few original bloggers still doing blogging. And I’m one of a few that blog on a daily basis.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Comments

  1. Oh, Claudia, I understand you needing to change how often you blog. As you say, you’ve been doing this job for 15 years. What about a blog Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then one devoted to your girls on Saturday or Sunday? Would that work? We all love seeing your girls in their cute clothes. A little fashion show to look forward to. Maybe some of your readers who have Blythe dolls would be willing to share their pictures with us through your blog. Not sure how that might work. Maybe email their pictures to you and you could post them? Anyway, food for thought. Just please don’t stop blogging. Hugs, Elaine

  2. You should do what is comfortable for you. Yours is the first blog I tune in to each morning, you are sanity to my days. Though we sometimes disagree, I respect your opinion. Most of all I love the way you love people, animals and find the beauty of your life, home, and surroundings despite the challenges.

  3. I always wondered how you could do it every day.
    It must be difficult thinking of things to say. Egg cups, flowers, and mowing. As we get get older our lives tend to become much more quiet. Even once or
    Twice a week.

  4. Claudia, I’ve really enjoyed seeing your photos and reading your posts. I completely understand how things have changed the last number of years. I retired five years ago…things just meander at a slower pace now. I would love to keep following your blog no matter how many days you post…

    I’m glad the concert was a hit!

  5. I’ve been blogging since 2008 and while my number of followers and commenters has increased over time, I long ago had the same issue of “what do I come up with now.” I never was a daily poster but a four-or-so-times-a-week poster. Now, with (on the average) two to three posts a week (for a bit it was just one), I found that not only did reading and comments pick up, my anxiety went down. Of all the bloggers I read — and many post daily — you are the only one I try to read each day or go back to the posts if I miss. It’s just too much information when you aggregate them all together. I follow a lot of people and when a LOT of people post daily, there just isn’t time to read and comment on them all, write my own stuff and live life. So, I heartily endorse a smaller schedule, knowing that you can change it as you see fit. You own it — it doesn’t own you. Of course, I don’t advertise and so I don’t have that monkey on my back (that’s the best part of blogger — it’s free). I don’t post on regular days. I post when there is something to say and I have time to write/photograph it the way I want.

    I’ll tell you one thing I love about your blog (and I’m similar in that way) is that you post lots of subjects here. Sometimes a thoughtful look at an issue, your “real life,” the minis, the dolls, the groundhogs, out-and-about, books… I like that diversity. I like blogs because I like the people. I used to see a lot of decorating blogs and now I only look at a couple — less for the decorating than for the people who write them, who are fun to read. That’s just me. But to me, blogs have become a way of extending friendships, quite often with people we’ll never meet in person but for whom we care and enjoy. That goes for you here! So, I say, Bravo for taking the step!

    • Thanks for your thoughts, Jeanie. Helps to hear from a fellow blogger. By the way, I started on Blogger and was there for at least 4 years, but there were several attempts to hack my blog. Blogger may be free, but the other side of that coin is that there’s no one to help you. I got absolutely no help from them. So I moved to WordPress because I wanted to know the blog was safe and that I had security and help for any problems I had.

      That being said, yes, it’s time to blog a bit less. I’ve really been feeling the need to break from the “every day” pattern. It feels like relief!

      Stay safe.

  6. Good morning Claudia! We had an incredible lightning storm as well here in Colorado. Unfortunately, the rain passed us by. But oh it was beautiful.

    What a great night for Don. I’ve listened to Don’s music and I’m positive everyone had a lovely evening. His songs are easy to listen to. I would love to see him in person.

    I only read a few blogs. One is weekly, yours daily, another only writes when she desires, another every couple of weeks. I have a morning routine of what I read. Part of that routine is checking those blogs daily or every other day. So some days I have a fair amount to read, others not so much. But I’m dedicated to those blogs regardless because they resonate with my life. Maybe spend more time with your sweet doll sight for awhile if that’s what feels good and this one when inspiration hits. Whatever you choose, I’ll be here cheering you on.

    Your cone flowers are beautiful. We went hiking in our mountains yesterday and the wildflowers were abundant and amazing. And it was 30 degrees cooler!! One yellow bush had around 20 Forget-me-not moths. It was a feast for the eyes.

    Take care you two! Verna

    • Thank you, Verna. By the way, Don didn’t perform last night. The concert was organized by him.

      Stay safe.

  7. hej, claudia.

    i understand it can be tough to think of things to write about and to find time to create a post. and to do that every day for more than fifteen years? very impressive and much appreciated!

    i’ve met so many wonderful people, starting with you, through the space you’ve created and maintained here at mhc, received so much support through tough times, learned about things i’d likely never experience in my life, added to my “tbr” list … thank you and everyone else here for all that, too!

    thanks for asking our opinions, but i hope you will do what you want with your blog … write when you want and about whatever you want to share and don’t write when you don’t want to. whether that’s daily, certain days of the week or whenever. that’s my opinion. :)

    glad don’s efforts with the concerts are appreciated (as they should be)!

    happy, safe saturday to everyone.

    kathy

  8. It must be hard to come up with something to write about every day. Do what feels right for you. I do like the idea of posting on set days.
    I’m glad Don had a successful event.
    Take care

  9. Wonderful news about the successful concert – your guy sounds so generous to other talent and audiences.

    I of course enjoy your blog every day – I wonder if having more “just photo” days would be interesting for you? Like a daily “out the front door” photo – many would be the same, but the dailiness is interesting in itself. I do series like that of a particular plant I am enjoying (just for me, no blog) – right now the featured plant is a pumpkin coming out of the compost pile. Or an “outfit of the day” feature with the girls, although I know dressing and photographing them is an effort too.

    Just random thoughts from a fan.

    Ceci

    • But it I have a just photo day – I still have to take the photos, sign into the blog and set up the post. So that would be a kind of post! It’s a neat idea, though.

      Thanks, Ceci.

      Stay safe.

  10. As I’ve told you before, your blog is the first one I go to on a daily basis. I will miss it terribly if you are not there every day, but I do understand that it must be very difficult to think of something to write about on a daily basis. If you do cut back on blogging daily, I can say I’d prefer to know ahead of time which times you would be blogging.

    Even though we’ve never met in person, I feel a close friendship with you and hope to continue it through this blog.

    Hope you and Don have a wonderful weekend!

  11. I say GO FOR IT. I can’t imagine how challenging blogging everyday can be. I’ll be staying with you whether it’s 7 days a week or several days a week. Do what is good for you.

  12. I do enjoy your blog. Having set days to blog makes sense to me and gives you a bit of a breather too.

  13. Glad to hear that Don’s evening went well. Goodness, I’m always impressed that you manage to think of something to blog about daily.
    You do what’s best for you. Several times a week will be just fine, I love reading everyone’s comments too and enjoy the community spirit.
    MHC has become part of my routine when it appears mid afternoon due to the time difference or I read it when I get in from work whilst having a cup of coffee.

    Happy Saturday

    • I love that picture of you reading the blog and drinking coffee. Thank you, Dee Dee.

      Stay safe.

  14. Claudia – your blog is the only blog I read each and every day routinely. But I definitely understand your situation. You have been a true friend thru thick and thin and I really appreciate your friendship!!! Just do what you have to do and take a break. Love ya!

    • I adore you, dear Judy. Heavens, we have to talk on the phone some day soon and catch up!

      Stay safe.

  15. Claudia, your readers will be understanding of anything you want to do about the blog.

    What’s been bad for me in the past with other blog owners is when they suddenly stop posting with no explanation and you never hear again what happened to them. This has happened to me quite too many times in the past years. We develop the cyber relationship only to have it stop abruptly and it causes a lot of wonderment; I know you’d never do such a thing to us! You wouldn’t just cut us off without an explanation.

    If you even blogged once a week, if that was easier for you, I could handle it. We’re lucky these days if we get a new post out of Susan Branch every month or six weeks. Things change. I remember on her last blog post that she’s also in her 70s with wanting life simpler, and I get it, because life is life, and we want it to be less complicated.

    Do whatever you need to do to make everything better for yourself, Claudia. Hearing from you anytime is a joy and a gift.

  17. Do what works for you. Have enjoyed your blog for quite a while. I like the idea of you selecting certain days to blog. Keeps the tension down – did she or didn’t she!!!!!

    • I’ve decided Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, Wendy. Thank you.

      Stay safe.

  18. I join the others here who say you do what you’re comfortable with, Claudia. I have loved for years reading about the life you and Don have made for yourselves in a part of the country I’ve never been. But it’ll be just as interesting fewer times a week. That way it won’t be as hard for you to search for things to write about.

    Glad that Don’s concert was a success. I know people (me included) have hesitated about INSIDE events. We’ve gone to one symphony concert indoors (masked) which was last winter. Haven’t been to a movie theater since probably 2019. We have no desire to go after reading articles in the Washington Post and the Daily Beast about the horrible behavior of audiences these days. Outside concerts, however, are another thing altogether. We can’t wait for Irish Fest later this month, something else cancelled the years of the pandemic.

    Take care,
    Kay

  19. Change is good. Do whatever feels good to you! I enjoy your blog very much and will read whatever days you post!

  20. I understand completely!! I don’t do enough to blog more than twice a year, unless someone wants to hear about laundry and grocery shopping. But anyway, I like Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Just enjoy your weekend. My love and prayers to both of you.

  21. Congratulations to Don and all of them for a wonderful show. So glad you didn’t have to be all alone when a big storm came through, it must’ve been electrifying, pun intended, to watch the lightning. Your blog has been wonderful every day, but I think it would be great if you did two or three days a week, whatever feels best to you. You have many fans, fat I’m sure we all want it to be as enjoyable for you as it is for us.

    • I was all alone when the storm came through! Don was still at the concert!

      Thanks so much for your support, Nora.

      Stay safe.

  22. Claudia, you are my friend even though we’ve never met. Whenever you feel like posting, I’ll read it and probably check in every so often to read the comments and keep up with everyone here. You know I’m grateful for all the days you’ve posted in the past. Do what is right for you for now.

  23. I can’t even begin to manage how difficult it must be to write a post every day. To come up with something new all the time….I applaud you. So…you know I will totally support your decision as to how many times a week you blog. Whatever works for you….you know we will be here.

    Enjoy your evening! ;)

  24. Your blog is the only blog I read now mostly because I love the diversity of your posts. I get bored easily and you are not boring! I feel like you are a pen pal more than anything else even though I do not respond frequently.
    You should do whatever makes you happy. Life is short. Spend your time doing what makes you happy. <3

  25. So….you need a vacation. We all do. Just come back to us out here in the wasteland. Mockingbird Cottage has become a part of my routine reading and a touchstone of sorts. Well Claudia…..whatever you decide to do I ….remember you have many blog friends who support you and will tune in …..wether it is once a week or once a month.

  26. I love your blog! It is a joy to read and I learn a lot from reading it. I understand your need to find space and not feel pressure to come up with subject matter. I think of you as a friend so I am always interested in what you are doing and how you are doing.
    Take Care,
    Kaye

  27. Hi Claudia, I read your blog but almost never comment (a bad habit from reading it at work on lunch break!) I am a dollhouse person, so found you through the dollhouse communities. I have a dollhouse blog (aboutmydollhouses.blogspot.com) myself and only post about once a week (less recently…) blogs are going out of fashion and are thin on the ground… but some of us like to be wordy and instagram doesn’t cut it! :) Lots of words just to say I enjoy your perspective and daily posting (I live in New England not too far from your area) but understand the need for change and a lighter schedule! The past few years have taken a toll on all of us… and the next few don’t look more fun either….. so cut yourself some slack and enjoy a pace that suits you! I will continue to be a lurking reader…. but feel free to have a look at my minis in case you need some entertainment! (I have a lot of dollhouses, all are incomplete and I tell a tale or two as well…. nothing is ever finished….! (Including run-on sentences! ) Take care of yourself!
    Betsy in MA

    • I agree, a blog gives us the opportunity to say so much more! Betsy, I think I’m familiar with your blog. It certainly sounds familiar! I’m going to visit it this week.

      Thank you.

      Stay safe.

  28. I love your blogs. Love your dolls and your beautiful photos. You truly have many gifts. I hope I’ll be reading your blog for years to come. Do what you you feel is best. Take care of yourself and Don.

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