In and Around the Garden

Morning arrived and I woke with “the project” on my mind. As soon as I publicly announced that I decided to commit time to “the project,” I couldn’t get started. There were many distractions, and enough excuses to fill a compost bin. The chickens needed tending too, my pet turkey, Miss Bobo, and Ralphie. Potted plants wanted water, weeds plucked, housecleaning, blogging, and my least-favorite thing—cooking meals.

 Feeling pressured to keep my word, I grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled a to-do list. This usually influences positive action on my part. By the end of the day, or week, I’ll have each task completed. Completion feels good. With faith in my back pocket, I pulled out “the project” and placed it on my desk. The plan was to finish the mundane tasks first, then start on the stack of papers. But I never touched them, not on day one, two, or three.

Eventually, the ball did start rolling. Ideas swelled. Organization for “the project” formulated. With new creativity flowing and a can-do attitude, I felt refreshed. Something I’ve needed as of lately. Here’s why.

Since converting In and Around the Garden from an e-newsletter to a blog, almost daily I’m more concerned with what readers want, frustrated with my poor computer skills, and not enough time to do everything.

Pondering articles that will educate, entertain, and get readers involved with commenting weighs heavily with bloggers. When In and Around the Garden was an   e-newsletter, feedback was excellent. On the web, people are less enthusiastic–shy about leaving their name–to comment or subscribe. However, for the blogger, a long line of subscribers conveys interest and a job well done. Comments express which materials you enjoyed, how the content connected to your life, what moved your spirit, what you need, or simply desire. Subscribing and commenting keep bloggers going. They fuel us in the same way a hard-earned paycheck would.

Then there’s the technical matter where only professionals know how to map a site, add Paypal, code e-books to sell on-line, link a blog to Facebook and Twitter, and activate multiple features—all of which I have yet to learn. Web designers, computer geeks, and like-minded individuals charge a hefty price that many bloggers can’t afford. Therefore, I wait for a kind soul to come along and volunteer his or her expertise. I have faith. My tiny e-newsletter is proof of where one can go, how much one can learn. Just the other day, a couple of techs tried to help me with a Facebook issue. Although the matter isn’t resolved—in the end they wanted payment to fix the problem—I now understand how the trouble came about. That’s more than I knew before. Each positive step, no matter how small, leads to the grand finale, in whatever measure that may be.

Remember the old song, Torn between Two Lovers? I often think it’s referring to country-garden writers. Writing steals time from gardening, educational classes, reading, and tours. Gardening steals time from writing, editing, reading, and attending critique groups. All are essential to provide interesting material, and to satisfy the driving force from within. I am consistently torn.

Whether you’re a country-garden blogger or a movie blogger, you have to get out there. Try new techniques, meet interesting people, and learn new methods. Without focus and prioritizing, all of this would be a mess-mash of tired energy (and sometimes it is), which brings me back to “the project.”

As previously posted, I’m not ready to reveal details. However, I will tell you this; “the project” has been the driving force behind my blog. Completion may take six months to a year. So hang in there with me. If on occasion, I post less often or if I get discouraged and bleat like a lonely goat, know that I am here moving forward—writing, gardening, doing the country thing, and with any luck learning just a tad bit more.

PS:  My first day working on “the project” may not have been on day one, but it was a good session.