Gardening 101

Are you planting a garden this year? Do you have any advice for us?

This will be quick

Yesterday was such a wonderfully normal day. It is so nice to know that after what feels like weeks of packing and moving and unpacking and holiday-ing, and unpacking and unpacking and unpacking and unpacking, I can still go to the grocery store and put dinner on the table at night. Whew.

Today I'm working on my winter header. Here's a sneak peek at one of the Polaroids going up.

And while I work on that I have a quick question for you. I'm thinking about doing a Friday Feature here on Narrating Life. It is something I enjoy so much on other blogs and I also think I would appreciate having one post a week that is preemptively decided for me.

If you would kindly check out the little poll on the sidebar of my blog and vote for your favorite Friday feature idea I would greatly appreciate it.

Kthanksloveyoubye.

Blog Discussion: Keeping it Real

I know it's Friday. And I know that the title above looks a little serious for a Friday post. But this topic has been shuffling around in my brain for some time now and I've finally decided to turn to you for input. I'd like to have an actual discussion on my blog today. That means you're going to have to comment. That is, if you'd like to. I'll be checking in all weekend to respond to your comments and ask more questions.

I think my favorite thing about blogland is that fact that it is beautiful. It is like the world of rose colored glasses. Full of productive people, loving mothers, gorgeous designs, and hilarious writers. I've learned to enjoy and embrace the everyday with my blog. I've learned to take better pictures and fun games to play with my kid. In return for all of this goodness, I try to carve out my own little niche in blogland in the hopes of inspiring others in similar ways. And truthfully, I think I do an okay job.

But I know that life isn't as perfect as it is in blogs, and I'm totally okay with that. I often say that I don't buy glossy magazines to read articles about cranky mothers complaining about their kids. But as bloggers, what do we do about the not-so-great times that we do want to share on our blogs? What happens when you sit down at your computer and you can't bear to write one more upbeat post? What do you do when you want to reach out to the group of friends you have accumulated via the internets to tell them about something that just sucks?

Some of my favorite bloggers have written about personal hardships that have brought me to tears. I've loved them for their honesty and marveled at how much they're helping others by sharing their experience. I have always been grateful for their efforts to share what is real in their lives. Even my own account of postpartum depression has been read more than any post I've ever written, and writing it was a healing experience. But it was written in retrospect, and already had a happy ending. Now it seems that when it comes to writing about a struggle that is happening now, I'm much more hesitant.

So what do you think? What do you think differentiates between a post that is "keeping it real," and a post that is just about complaining? How do we address depression, job loss, miscarried babies, premature babies, divorce, bankruptcy, cancer, death, and fear? How do we reach out to the communities that read our blogs the way we would our friends we see in person everyday? How do you flip from a post about your favorite letterpress stationary to a post about your lack of confidence as a mother? Do you think these topics deserve space on a blog about life? Is it a matter of timing? Take some time to think about it and then please do tell me your thoughts.

Also, I feel the need to once again THANK YOU immensely for reading, emailing, and commenting. I really mean it when I say that blogging has taught me to embrace the everyday. I hope that I help do the same for you.