Wednesday, November 3, 2021

On Blogging, and Some Flowers

Hello hello! Recently I've been seeing many posts on Instagram about how the video-centric changes and algorithm have changed what used to be a fun place into a stressful, ad-riddled experience. I couldn't agree more. I'm not sure when Instagram decided I only wanted to see videos of people making weird faces and pointing at words, but I certainly don't. What I do want to do is spy on people - yep, I want to see pictures of the inside of your house, what you're knitting and making, and what sorts of tea you are drinking. I use Feedly to read blogs, but I wish there was a better platform where it was easier to interact (many sites require special log-ins to comment). Tech person, invent this please! I recently put 20-minute-per-day timers on Instagram and Facebook, and it has been marvelous. If you have a blog, please let me know so I can read your lovely words.



I remember the days when I used to post a lot of knitting projects, and while I'm still knitting, I don't take the time to actually go outside and take photos of my WIPs. Most of the time I'm huddled into my cozy, dark couch-cave, and everything looks like a grainy blob. Perhaps now that flower season has come to an end, I will endeavor to actually photograph my knitting. Stay tuned, on the edges of your seats, to see if that will happen!




I don't get to walk every single morning these days, since I have the daycare run once again. After that apparently I am expected to be at work (how annoying). The light and the colors are beautiful these days, however, and I'm always happy to get outside. 


Cora has been wanting to go to Sugarloaf Mountain for several weeks, after the day she looked out the car window and noticed there was a mountain hanging out in the distance. She had many questions about how one climbs a mountain (I think she expected ropes) and asked every day when she could go. I finally took her and Mary and let them "climb" (walk up) the mountain which is technically a monadnock. Us and about 1000 other people. Despite the fact that she fell down many times, she cheerfully chattered the entire way, informing every person we passed that "I AM CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN!" (She is 3, for new readers.)


I grew some red sunflowers, aren't they cool? I planted them at the last minute toward the end of August, and I wasn't sure if they would bloom. Most of them did, but several fell victim to a windy storm. I definitely won't plant that late next year, but it was a fun experiment.


 

Once I came to accept that I wasn't really going to go back to the office (apparently it is opening in January, but R.I.P. my personal cubicle), I re-arranged my office. I have a spiffy standing desk and a shelf with some stuff on it. Stuff! There are plenty of plants, art books, Frieda Kahlo, and a notable absence of coworkers who do annoying things like talk. I particularly enjoy turning off my camera during meetings and rolling my eyes dramatically. 

13 comments:

  1. What a beautiful place you live in! And those red sunflowers are incredible, I've never seen such a thing before! Your office area is lovely too.

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    1. I live in a county of a million people, but really lucked out and am adjacent to zoned farmland. Every other spare parcel of land has thousands of houses on it, but thanks to people who planned ahead, that won't happen here!

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  2. Good morning! Lovely light and colors in those walking spaces, and in your flowers, as well.
    I happen to like making those Instagram Reels, but without any Algorithm Agendas, or trendy messages. I wish someone would do a tech service and make it all easier for us to share, and peek into, our prettier moments, and musings. I am cheering for a resurgence of blogging, the old kind, when no one heard of Influencers, or posted for ads, traffic, sponsors.

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  3. Hello! I am new here. I have recently deleted my Facebook account and am trying to find more blogs to read. I have a blog that I post on irregularly. Now I am getting ready to move from California to the east coast, so the blog will be quiet for awhile longer, but I have had it for about 10 years, so there's lots of history there. I am a quilter, mostly, but I also crochet and love all kindw of art and crafty things, so I am going to branch out in blog reading. Nice to meet you and I love your space!

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    1. Thank you! I'd love you read your blog if you have a link! California to the east coast is a big move, and I wish you luck.

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  4. Hi Sarah. It took me a long time to get as far as blogger so I haven't been tempted on to any other plantforms. Your sunflowers are beautiful and such a lovely colour. I grew some sunflowers as well this year which were a sandy orange rather than the usual ones. There were also a few pale lemon flowers. Hope Cora and Mary have some happy memories of their mountain climbing :)

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  5. I agree entirely about the state of instagram-I'm there for the connection, not to be a consumer necessarily. I have had a blog for many years, but don't do a lot of posting because I don't have many readers and feel like I'm just blathering on about nothing! but I love reading about and peeking into the lives of others :). Your photos are beautiful~ Best wishes, Rebecca

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    1. Thank you for stopping by! I have been trying to get over the same thing, and view my blog as a personal journal rather than worrying about the number of readers. That's a holdover from Instagram I think, with followers and likes. Your blog is lovely!

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  6. Lovely to read your post, Sarah. Long live blogs and blogging! I dream of a blogging renaissance and am always happy to see someone return to blogging or get re-energized about it. Seems like frustrations with social media have driven some people in that direction lately. I quit Facebook years ago and finally deleted my Instagram account this fall.

    Your photos are beautiful. Those red sunflowers are amazing. Do you remember what variety they are?

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    1. Oh, I see you just posted on a similar topic! Hopping over to read your post :) The sunflowers are called "procut red". I plan on growing many more next year!

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