Monday, July 21, 2014

A TOUR THROUGH BLOGLAND~A SPECIAL FEATURE

I was so happy and honored when Doreen from House Honeys asked me to participate in this blog tour.  Doreen is one busy gal...recently retired, she and her husband moved into their second home, a log cabin in the woods.  Doreen is hard at work decorating and trying to squeeze 2 homes into one!  Visit her, you will just love her sense of humor and her decorating and craft ideas.   I had been reading other  posts on the Blog Tour and loving them and never thought that I would be telling my own story, answering these questions myself.  I hope you enjoy reading!

 I've been blogging since December of 2009.  That said, the first question on the tour is:

1)  What are you working on right now?

  

 I'm also working on changing around our den in the city house.  It's gone through many transformations and right now I'm bringing it from a formal sort of 'sitting room' to a casual place to read or watch TV.  Wish me luck!  I'm taking baby steps because it's so much better to work on indoor projects when the  weather isn't so great and it's summer now!  Forget that!! Ha!





This is serious business and I know my long time readers don't always see this side of me but I will try to be as honest as I can.  As much as I believe in honesty and truthfulness, I believe in privacy so I may  not be  "telling it all" in my posts.  Need I do that?  I'm not out to write a book about my life.  My blog started out as many of of yours did, as a creative outlet.  As the name of my blog illustrates, this is a journal.  My blog has very much replaced the hard cover, written and scribbled journals I've kept as far back as 14 years old  (which I still have!).  However, in those journals I wrote so much in an attempt to work things out, to pour my feelings into, to grasp the difficulties in whatever was occurring in that specific time of my life.  My blog has replaced these journals in such a positive way.  I've been able to share my life, express my feelings and put a spin on all of it in a happy and helpful way.  Of course I have a personal side to my life and experiences that I struggle with.  I have had major struggles in my life as many of you have had.  That's just not relative to what I want my blog to
be about.  So in answer to the question, I write to please myself and hopefully, entertain you!



I believe that the biggest difference has to do with my shifting from city to country life.  I chronicle a myriad of different  occurrences and experiences in both places yet they all  accurately and affectionately  reflect my crazy life.   I never forget how lucky we have been to have our little place on the lake.  We welcome family and friends all the time and it keeps us all connected.  Our children grew up swimming and boating and water skiing, not to mention ice skating and downhill skiing in the winter.  Hey, the greatest snowball fights ever!! I thank The Husband for having the foresight in a great investment...a place to exhaust and rear our kids and a place to sit back and enjoy the slow life once they are on their own!  City life is equally exciting in it's own way.  We are more grounded here with extended family and friends.  Our children went to fantastic schools and we are part of a great community.  This will always be "home" to me.

So I think shifting from one very different place to another locale, with it's parallels but also very different activities and experiences makes for a different sort of post.  And I also believe that I can relate to many of my readers/followers/good friends because I'm honest and straightforward, even with a wry sense of humor and some sarcasm. 

 










And now the final question:

4)  How does your writing/creative process work?

I should have spent more time reading blogs and learning the ropes before I dived in, but I did get a lot of help from observing as I went along and also got advice from some very nice bloggers.  I basically start with a visual prompt by keeping a camera with me at almost all times.  I have a small digital camera with great settings that fits in my purse and I also invested in a Canon DSLR a few years ago and I use that for special events or occasions.  My IPhone camera is as good as a point and shoot and I can grab that in an instant.  Taking photos, especially still life pictures, has really made me notice the beauty in everyday life.  Every couple of days I download my pictures and I can see a story develop; where I had been, what I was doing  and then I mentally start piecing together a sort of account/story/essay (!) by stringing the events together and weaving the pictures in and out.  The mood or mindset I'm in plays a big role in the tone of my writing, and I write in "real time", it's easier for me and I like to be spontaneous. I aim to post at least twice a week but as I get busy, it's more like once a week and I'm bound and determined to change that.  


I hope you've enjoyed this special little post.  The questions were quite interesting.  I am supposed to pass the baton on to two bloggers as part of the tour.  I would love to see these two ladies participate:


Brenda from A Cozy Little House

Of course no one is obligated to do this, but I enjoyed it.  Thank you, Doreen!

XO,
Jane

33 comments:

cathy@my1929charmer said...

Congrats on being part of the blogland tour, it's such a great feeling to be asked by someone who's blog you like a lot. Enjoyed learning how your blog started, your focus and style.

It's me said...

Have a Nice week Darling....love Ria....x!

deb @ frugal little bungalow said...

This was just great, Jane. You are right..you have a nice positive blog and quite a variety between your two locales, your joy in cooking, thrifting, what your kids are up to, etc. I always look forward to your posts and always shall! :)

Vel Criste said...

It's nice to know more and more about you Jane! Love the Master bedroom in the lakehouse!So calm and soothing!

Kathleen Grace said...

This has been one of the best "blog tours" I have seen. I often feel that even though we feel like we know each other after reading each others blogs for years, most of the things we blog about are pretty surface. Tablesettings, decorating, recipes, these are all fun and we love sharing these, but the blog tour has been an opportunity to get a little more behind the scenes and hear about the person behind the blog. I loved hearing more about you and your thought and creative process Jane!

Wanda said...

Well, first congratulations on being chosen for the blog tour. You were a great pick. Loved all the questions and your pics and answers.
You are one good blogger, and I'm glad I was introduced to you, Jane, some time ago.

Terri Steffes said...

No better person for the blog tour. It was lovely! I enjoyed getting to read about you. I love your approach. My blog was intended to be a personal look at me, for my relatives of the future. I often wish I had my grandmothers, great and all, thoughts on paper. Like it or not, my relations will know everything I had to say about that!!

jp@A Green Ridge said...

It was nice to get to know a little more about YOU!...:)JP

Stacey said...

Great post girl! I love the picture of you and your husband. :)

Terra said...

I enjoyed reading your answers to the questions. I wonder if you will ever move full time to your country place, once your hubby retires (many years from now, ha ha). Just a thought, it sounds like such a fun place.

Beth said...

Hi Jane, I enjoyed this post and I have always enjoyed your blog. You write in a very down to earth way about everyday life, family, gardening, decorating, and food. It's super enjoyable to read - just like sitting down and having a talk over an iced tea. Someday we'll have that talk together, perhaps! :)
Hugs, Beth

Betsy Brock said...

What a fun post!

I just LOVE that last photo! Aw.

Shirley said...

Hi Jane, I am taking some more me time catching up with friends after taking care of a few issues with hubby. I love reading your blog and seeing what you have been up to lately. Congratulations on becoming grandparents. That is always an exciting time and hopefully the time will pass as quick as the summer has seem to have gone. There is nothing like rocking them whether it is a boy or girl. The kids only have a month before school. Have a great week. Hugs and Prayers from Your Missouri Friend.

Debby said...

A great post about who you are. Love reading your blog.

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

It was nice to learn new things about you! I love the pics of your kids and the one of you and your hubby is darling!!

Melanie said...

Fun post - I loved reading your answers to the questions. Great picture of you and your hubby!

Doreen@househoneys said...

Thanks so much for being a part of the tour Jane! I know how busy you are and I can only imagine how long it took to put this well thought out, heartfelt post together.

You have a beautiful family, but that's no surprise. You and your husband are a fabulous looking, happy couple that deserves every last bit of happiness you have.

Keep on doing what you're doing...loving life and sharing it with the world!

Lulu said...

We share a common attitude when it comes to blogging which involves writing about life but not giving away too much of ones self. Like you I'm all over the place but that's what makes life fun. You're right about being lucky to have two houses and acknowledging that it can be a challenge.

podso said...

Enjoyed reading this Jane. And wonderful photos!

Unknown said...

Jane dear-We've been gone for nearly a month so I'm just catching up and so happy to have found this post. I love your honesty and your wit. I think this post captured you, your lifestyle, your family life and creative inspirations beautifully. Here's to life by the lake this summer. xx

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Hi Jane!!!!

Whew.. it's been a really long time... So good to pop by and catch up.. and this was the perfect post to do that. Loved seeing all the pix too...

Hugs to you!

Spencer

deb said...

wonderful post jane!

RURAL said...

Jane, it's always a pleasure to drop by and read what you have written...and today I learned a few more things about you. All wonderful things of course.

Jen

Susie said...

Blondie, I know nothing of blogging...just that I love doing it without a clue.LOL. I love reading so many. I love to read yours, see what you've been doing, the children, the dogs, the decorating, the cooking, the shopping, on and on. I just love it. You are a beautiful lady, you and your husband look adorable. xoxo,Susie

Maria Elena said...

Jane, I love your post and getting to know you a little better. Your blog is such a breath of fresh air and every time I read your post I feel like I am just visiting with an old friend. Take care. Hugs, Maria

bj said...

I loved your blog tour. You did a great job.
Have a great week.
xo bj

Linda said...

I was asked by 2 bloggers to join this hop...
I declined...
I could never have been as eloquent as you Jane...
But, you know what?
It seems our lives and values are pretty much the same...
I too am grateful for my wonderful kids, great boyfriend..house on the lake and of course Miss V!
Great post....you did good!
Cheers!
Linda :o)

Gypsy Heart said...

So good to visit you again and see what's going on. I loved this post! You write so well and I always feel like we just chatted on the phone when I read your posts. :)

It's been horrible not having a computer or internet connections off and on the past few months. Are we addicted to technology? :)

Your photos are wonderful!

xo
Pat

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Jane,
Such an interesting post...as usual!
Your blog is and has been always one of my favorites. We starting blogging about the same time and boy am I glad. Your a treasure to blogland and my good friend.
Proud of you and your blogging achievements!
Hugs,
Cindy

Mary said...

What more can say - I love your blog, I love you girlfriend!

Thanks for asking me to share - I'm working on it but it may take a while.

Hugs - Mary

Traci said...

I just love these type of posts.

Lori said...

Very late to the party here but I really enjoyed reading this Jane ~ as you can tell I am playing catch up here tonight! I am on to the rest of your posts now. xo

Bluebird49 said...

I loved this post--with the little answers to the questions about your life. Especially loved the picture of you and hubby at the end, I think you've had a marvelous life (with all the ups and downs that everyone has in their life, of course.) My husband and I were married very young--so it was 48 years for us this June 30th.We are in our mid-late 60s, so we have also been through many ups and downs--the worst of which was losing our daughter at age 31 fifteen years ago--this August 20th. Life has many surprises--good and bad--for all of us...and what is most surprising is that we DO get through it with God's help! :)