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Cutting Back to Two Posts a Week

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As Stephen Foster once put it, this is the merry, merry month of May. The grass is greening, the dandelions are blooming, and the birds are singing.

For Mainers who garden, it is also the busy, busy month of May. In northern New England, spring is a rushed affair. By the time mid-June rolls around, the gardens are so well established that you had better have all the composting, fertilizing, and moving of plants done or you are out of luck and out of time.

To add to the merriment, I am also in the thickets of At Sea, Book Four in my Great Library Series. My current podcast story is winding down, but I’m still working on it. Then there is blogging, and while the writing is more casual, I spend a fair amount of time on each post, even fluff ones such as my Friday Favorites.

In my younger days, I could have managed it all and still have energy leftover for night-time projects. I kid you not. Once the children were in bed, I used to do fun little things like, say, paint cupboards or clean out a closet. As I look back at my younger self, I marvel at how much energy I had. Now that I am a senior, evenings are spent watching an hour or two of television before going to bed far earlier than I ever would have imagined when I was in my twenties or thirties.

This is a roundabout way of explaining that I will no longer be blogging three days a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Instead, I am cutting back to Monday and Wednesday for the foreseeable future. Having an extra day to work on my book will be a big help. And who knows? Some rainy day, I might even be able to clean out a closet. We’ll see. Books, podcasts, and gardening always seem take precedence.

I will still be reading and commenting on other blogs. Such a wonderful community and a real source of comfort during the past year, which has been scary and lonely and just plain stressful.

Also, on Mondays, I will continue featuring posts from other blogging friends. I enjoy looking outward as well as inward, and it is my pleasure to share posts from folks near and far. Formerly, I did this on my Friday posts, and I decided it was a feature I want to keep even though I am cutting back.

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So here are some  posts from blogging friends near and far:

On the green banks next to green water, Clover and Ivy found a lone goose to add more atmosphere to this already moody picture.

On Thistles and Kiwis, along with the usual photos of mouth-watering food, is a photo of a tree with foliage so glorious it made my heart leap.

Ju-Lyn, of Touring my Backyard, takes a detour that brings her to some wonderful, funky public art.

 

74 thoughts on “Cutting Back to Two Posts a Week”

  1. I don’t blame you – I struggle to post as often as once a week at the moment,
    Like you, I marvel at the things I used to get done. I’m not sure it’s even anything to do with age but just a change of lifestyle. The more I had to do the more I tried to squeeze in to the time available. Now I’m much more chill and if I don’t need to put any time pressures on myself I don’t.
    I have to say though that cleaning out a closet was never on my list of fun things to do. 🤣

  3. I always wonder how you do it all, Laurie, so two days a week makes sense…atleast for the very merry month of May.
    I will be here faithfully on Mondays and Wednesdays to stay updated. See you back here soon!

  4. It is wonderful to have so many things on the go! Blogging must be a pleasure and not a pain. It gives me an outlet as the minute I sit down to write a story I am needed elsewhere – my blogging is usually done early in the morning or late at night. I enjoy reading yours, Laurie, so even if you cut down to once a month I would still be here 🙂

    1. Thanks for the kind words, Anne! I am always eager to read your posts, and I am agog over the various pictures of the flowers and wildlife in your area.

  6. We all have to find our ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to blogging. I used to post weekly without fail, but once I began a second blog: well. I am in the process of rearranging some things so I can get back to a solid once-weekly schedule for The Task at Hand, but it’s not easy. I do have a sense that everyone’s eager to have a taste of off-blog activity now that both the weather and the pandemic restrictions are easing.

  7. I watched two young neighbors in their 30’s work a solid 7 or 8 hours outside on Saturday and then again on Sunday. What did I envy? Their stamina. 🙂 I understand because I remember not too long ago when I blogged three times a week. As we ‘mature,’ we have to prioritize, and if anyone had told me even ten years ago what time I’d be going to bed now, I would have laughed out loud. Of course, I didn’t get up at 5 a.m. then either. Do what makes you happy, and we’ll hear it in your posts. 🙂

    1. Oh, this comment cracked me up. Same, same, same! We have young neighbors right next door, and what they accomplish is astonishing. Are we envious? You bet we are. 😉

  8. Thanks so much for mentioning my blog. I think it makes sense to cut back on indoor activities, like blogging, during the warm months. Especially when you have your book and other projects that must require a good bit of time and discipline. We’ve got to keep it fun!

  9. I am glad you are figuring out what works for you. I am amazed by all you do! Making more time for gardening and writing sounds wonderful and also do not forget to take time to just be… You create such beauty and magic and all with great kindness. I am a true groupie! Enjoy this beautiful May. Our spring peak of flowers has passed and now it is time to tend to veggie beds that we will be grateful for when we can pick fresh tomatoes this summer.

  11. I think May is a busy-busy month in most locations, Laurie. The dandelions are busily multiplying not only in Maine.
    Enjoy your garden, your book, and various other projects, but don’t forget to just sit and be on occasion.
    Best wishes,
    Tanja

  13. I know the cutting back feeling. After all, balance is important. Besides, I know you want time for gardening and enjoyment on the patio. Meanwhile, as your dandelions are popping and the garden is being prepared, our 17-year cicadas are on the verge of letting their presence known.

  14. I fully understand the struggle, Laurie. This past year and several months has been crazy with all of my bookkeeping clients wanting PPP loans and then wanting forgiveness for said loans (apparently this is a bookkeeper’s job . . .) & my blogging time has suffered. I DO love to keep up as best I can with everyone’s comings and goings, but I rarely find a moment to blog myself.

    1. When you’re too busy, you’re too busy. As I’ve aged, I’ve become a fan of some down time every day. I think we all need it and work better because of it.

  15. Good for you, Laurie! I’m a firm believer in playing to one’s strengths … and accepting limitations not of our choosing. I’d love to be able to post every day, but it’s just not going to happen. Not in the foreseeable future anyway. Just too many other things commanding my attention now. Sounds like you’re in the same boat.

  18. Wonderful time of year to have some extra time to enjoy the patio and outdoors in between all your projects and writing. I remember those days filled from morning to night and don’t know how I ever had that much energy. Good luck with the new book and happy to see you’re keeping some of your Friday Favorites features.🙂

  19. May is my favorite month, so much potential in the garden and yard. I don’t post on a schedule and most weeks don’t get 3 posts in, so I get it!

    Happy spring!

    1. Thanks, Dawn! May is one of my favorite months, too. The green is so tender and the blossoming trees are so frothy. It’s wonder I don’t drive off the road as I gaze in pure joy at the trees.

  20. Good luck with the book and all those May-time tasks. I hardly have time to read blogs let alone write new ones so I understand completely!

  21. Spring is a busy time to be sure, and as you say, we tire more easily than we used to. 😉
    Housekeeping can wait… one of the silver linings of C-19 is that no one comes to visit, so no worries! 😀

    1. Yup. But that will be changing in two weeks when we can finally have friends over. Time to haul out the vacuum cleaner and the duster. 😉

  22. I am still amazed at how you are doing so much ….
    You must have been one of those Energizer Bunny Moms! I take my hat off to you!

  23. I made a similar decision a month ago, halving my WordPress output (which even before I did so was far less than your new schedule!) I agonised about it at the time, but I can already see that it was the right thing to do. I’m sure you will reach a similar conclusion. Incidentally, I am a little in awe of someone who has ever regarded cleaning out a closet as a “fun little thing” to do – wow, way to go (but don’t expect me to follow any time soon!) 🙂

    1. Yes, it is the right decision. Having Friday to work on my fiction writing makes me feel a lot better. My tongue might have been firmly in cheek when I wrote that cleaning the closet was a “fun little thing to do.” 😉

  26. I love reading your posts Laurie so having one less a week is sad. However as I only seem to post randomly every couple of weeks I am amazed at everyone who does so regularly and frequently! I love the chatting through the comments and am delighted to have made new friends in blogland most of whom I will never meet in person. But blogland isn’t the only place to meet friends or to find happiness. I also want to read book 4! So do what is best for you and I will enjoy whatever you offer. Incidentally I am taking books 1 – 3 to a young friend for her to enjoy.

    1. Thank you so very much for your kind words! They really mean a lot to me. And how wonderful that you are taking my books to a young friend. Yes, the chatting through the comments is an absolute delight. It really opens our world, doesn’t it? Book Four is under way. More adventures in Elferterre and beyond!

  27. At Sea sounds interesting. A fair wind to your sails! I’ve never stuck to a schedule for blogging and often vanish for a few days. It can be time consuming, especially getting the pictures together. And so many temptations to encourage us to linger.

  28. I agree with you about having the energy to do all the things we used to do when young… and sensible to cut back so that you have time for everything. I always enjoy your posts and will read them when ever you have time to write. Good luck with your book and enjoy your spring garden.

  29. I have got very lax with my posts at the moment, so I’m impressed that you manage as many as you do, Life always seems so busy in the spring, doesn’t it… and certainly always too busy to clean out a closet!

  30. You’re so sensible, Laurie. I admire your approach to life, your blog, writing in general, and of course your garden. You really have to snap to it when you live that far north. My dad gardened in Ontario, Canada, so he was up against similar parameters. Thanks for sharing other blogs, along with yours.

  33. Hi Laurie – sounds like you are making the right call to take out one of the days and go to blogging twice a week.
    I also appreciate you sharing this because I am trying to set up a summer schedule for blogging and might do twice a week –
    and best wishes on your latest book!

    1. Many thanks! Cutting back to twice a week was definitely the right decision. Might go back to three times this winter. We’ll see. Good luck getting your schedule sorted.

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