Is it blasphemous to call myself the prodigal son?
Can I even talk about my return when theoretically I came back from my blogging staycation last week? That beautiful Breakfast post didn’t just write itself. Although my Currently post might have, considering I was completely sleep deprived and over caffeinated when I coined most of it. You can’t fool me; I know that’s how you like it.
Since we’re on the topic of blogging, I want to talk a little bit about post writing today, and since you’re subject to my whims, that’s what we’re gonna do. Lucky you; oh and when I say a little, I really mean a lot because this is me and we all know I don’t play well with few words. I don’t even know what a few words means; is that like five paragraphs?
Along with being a list lover, I am a planner. A strong, steady, need to know ahead of time planner. Switching plans last-minute puts a knot in my knickers, and I think spontaneity is for the birds, or even other people, but not me. There are a few exceptions to my hard and fast planning rules. My CSA is one of them, because every week my produce is a surprise, and writing is another one.
They say if you want to be a successful blogger, you need to get yourself a calendar and schedule your posts days, weeks, and even months in advance. What I want to know is who the infamous ‘they’ really is because that shit doesn’t fly with me. Believe me, I’ve tried, countless times. In truth, I’m envious of bloggers who can pre-write posts light years ahead of time. I’m slightly jealous of those same bloggers who have pretty little calendars with all sorts of glorious and fun agendas noted. I imagine a world of structured lines, fancy stickers, and color coded indexes. It’s magical, and not for me.
I am not a sit down ahead of time and write kind of writer. Oh no, I’m a last-minute, let the words take you where they may, kind of proser, and I often operate best under pressure. To try to harness it only makes for less than sassy shorthand; a snoozefest, if you will. It’s like locking me in a box or putting baby in the corner, and we all know how well that turned out.
(source)
The moral of my multiple paragraphs is to recognize, accept and even embrace what makes you, you. Don’t force societal norms or blogging rules if they aren’t your cup of tea. Work with what you got and shake what your momma gave you. Hmm, I have no idea how that last one got in there. I blame Patrick Swayze.
You may be asking yourself what any of this has to do with my Week in Review recaps, and the answer would be pretty much nothing. Hey, at least I’m honest.
Let’s get listing:
- A miracle occurred. I scored an entire flat of strawberry plants (12 plants) for a whopping $1.00 at the farmers market last Friday. I’m pretty sure that’s an offensive tip for any half nude dancer. I don’t even want to speculate on the fully nude ones.
- My father-in-law hooked me up with a raised garden bed. Both Oscar and I give it two thumbs up, or really two toes, because Oscar doesn’t have opposable thumbs. Try telling him that though. He also got in a heated battle with the neighbor’s ferns last week; the ferns won.
- I worked a ridiculous amount of hours on my job, in part because the last few days of every month are always rough at work, and partially because I intend to take most of this week off. Giddy up.
- I added to my deep freezer, a necessity since my stockpiles are dwindling.
- I did some spur of the moment recipe testing, which turned out so good, I’ll be sharing the deets with you this week and before ramps go completely out of season.
In the words of Kiss My Broccoli, this dish was smack yo’ momma good, not that I recommend smacking any mammas out there, especially with Mother’s Day on the horizon. I would suggest making her this though.
Alright enough about me and momma’s; let’s hear from you.
——————————————————————————————
Interested in participating in the Week In Review?
The Week In Review is a list, in its purest form, not of the things you still need to do, but of all the things you have done in the past seven days. It’s an achievement list and one with the sole purpose of bringing pleasure. Want in? Grab the Week in Review button for your post, link back to Clean Eats, Fast Feets and get your list on. For more details, click here.
Link up and get your list on.
What kind of writer are you? Do you pre-schedule your posts, or do you fly by the seat of your pants? Have you ever planned a raised garden bed? Any ideas on how to go about doing it, other than plant all the veggies?
I should probably feel bad that today’s post was created & photographed 11 months ago, and that this morning I photographed my second avocado concoction for posting in advance of Cinco de Mayo 2015 . . . . blame the spouse for asking me a week or so ago for some veggie appetizer that he could bring to a work function for 2 different offices, thereby allowing me to create one for one place and a different one for today’s function.
I’m delighted with your raised bed, too–it looks lovely. Last week I planted my 4 tomato plants I’d ordered . . . and then varmints upended 2 of them. 50% loss–that bites. Happily we stumbled across a very unadvertised plant sale at Wegerzyngyngerwegzyn Gardens yesterday and picked up not 2 but 7 more tomato plants, and some peppers and a sunflower to boot. Two plants were upended this morning, but I tucked them in and don’t think any damage has occurred.
Is it too soon to chat about rain barrels?
I’m linking up your mentoring Wild Violet Granola post, because it’s about you and this is your blog.
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts recently posted…Garlic Scape Pistachio Pesto Hummus
You shouldn’t feel bad at all; you should be proud of it. I am envious of your prescheduled posts. I wish I could write them, but for some reason the words don’t flow as well for me. Now, I do have post ideas and I jot down notes when they come to me so I’m not totally without a plan.
I can’t wait to plant this veggie garden. In fact, I could use some of you sage advice and pearls of wisdom and maybe even Wegerzyngyngerwegzyn Gardens. 😉 Once I get the garden charted (that’s a thing right?) and planted, then we can talk rain barrels.
Bahhh I never plan my posts! The whole reason I blog is, primarily, because I want to and I have a need to write out certain things so if I haven’t got anything to write…then I don’t! I’ve tried to make myself blog on a more scheduled basis before and I sounded like a complete loon and not myself at all, so much prefer the relaxed approach 🙂
Pip {Cherries & Chisme} recently posted…{Marvelous in My Monday} Pretending to be cultured
I like a relaxed approach although I sure wish I could have some posts cued up and ready to go. I also wish some of these recipes would write themselves. 🙂
I think loony sounding posts are the best ones.
Please, woman. I have an editorial calendar for work, not for blogging. People who schedule posts amaze me, as I can’t even remember to schedule a haircut. Then again, I’m not a big famous blogger. For me, I get an idea and write notes and then eventually-hopefully-write the damn post. I have to be inspired and in the mood otherwise it just sounds forced.
What I WOULD like to force is freaking spring so that I can get planting my garden. Hurry up, already!
Abby recently posted…Words to Your Mother Giveaway!
This is why we haven’t made it big yet, although I beg to differ on your fame. I’d have to say you are out and about and writing books. Um, that’s way more impressive than remembering to get your hair cut.
Yes, amen to forcing Spring.
Do you make a list of your freezer inventory?
Of course. Is that even a real question? 😉
I’m a blog post planner but last-minute writer. Doe stat make sense? I have a little calendar where I schedule what kind of topic I want to write about, but I’ll write it at the last minute. I can’t do the whole writing ahead and scheduling thing because it just feels fake… like I’m writing in a time that doesn’t exist… and it messes with my head. I do like having a general idea of what I’m going to be writing about, though, otherwise I kind of freak out and clam up.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. currently – may 2014 .
It makes perfect sense actually. That’s kind of what I do, although sometimes when I sit down to write, my hands take me a different direction. Usually though, I have a rough plan and leave the actual writing until the last minute. That’s how those silly typos sneak in though. Not enough editing time.
I’m with Amanda- I have an ongoing list of topics I would like to blog about but I tend to go with my mood on the day of writing. I remmeber when I first started blogging, I would pre-schedule posts to go up while I was on holiday. In theory that sounds nice but far from feasible these days…it’s just unnecessary stress I could do without. I can definitely understand that some people who do pre-schedule posts monetise from doing so but for me, blogging is just a hobby I do on my terms and current mood!
Khushboo recently posted…Brain food from Oprah
I wish I had some prescheduled posts. Instead, I have a handful of drafts that I’m no longer feeling so they’ll probably never see the light of day. I can absolutely see how it lifts stress to have some done ahead of time.
Funny thing about me is I’m a type A, need to plan everything up front and know what to expect in my life. But when it comes to my blog, I don’t have a pretty calendar. I do write a handful of posts ahead of time so I can focus on work during the week. I don’t do themes or any fancy planning of my topics. I don’t think doing those things make you a good blogger. Personally I think some of that stuff is kind of fake.
Megan @ The Skinny-Life recently posted…Spicy Plantain Chips + Healthy Mexican Meal
Aw I’m afraid I have to disagree. I love a good theme. Sometimes I feel like it makes the post more cohesive. I’ve done a couple of theme posts, about topics I’m passionate about (strawberries, veggies, tomatoes, breakfast) and I’ve even got the idea of one on rice coming up. Now if I only I could sit down and write the damn thing. I suspect that will happen at the last minute.
I am seriously jealous of those strawberry plants…and your freezer stash…
Gina @ Health, Love, and Chocolate recently posted…Weekend Snapshots {5/5/14}
The strawberry plants were an incredible deal!! You’re welcome to raid my freezer stash anytime.
I have tried to prewrite some posts in the past but I always ended up writing them again on the day I published them. I always coat my posts with some sugar sprinkles of my days and prewriting content just feels wrong and like lying! I don’t at all have anything agains people who prewrite their posts it’s just not right for me. And as I tend to use my blog as a kind of therapists (I really often get an epiphany whilst writing posts) I need a “today’s the day” approach! Good to hear that’s it’s not just me!
Have fun with your garden bed! I never tried gardening myself. I have a black thumb and plants just seem to die when I enter the room 😛
Juli @ 1000lovelythings recently posted…Week in Review
I love that your blog is your therapy. I find writing cathartic too; I just won’t be doing a lot of it ahead of time. 🙂
I’m totally weird about this stuff. I don’t plan AT ALL but I do know that Sun, Tues, Thurs are recipes and other days are free-for-all or blogging no-show. I always schedule my posts and live in fear of the publish button. I also usually write posts on batches cause I get an itch to write, so sometimes I have posts written for the next week and other times I’m scrambling last minute. But you already knew I was disorganized 😉
Davida @ The Healthy Maven recently posted…Balancing Technology
Whatever you’re doing, it’s working for you.
I prewrite AND fly by the seat of my pants. It just varies! Today’s post? Written in 15 minutes. Most of my recipe posts? Take me an hour and I save them for later. HA.
Brittany recently posted…Tacoma City Half Marathon
The important thing is that you do you and what you’re most comfortable with. Now if I only I could pen a post in 15 minutes. They take me hours. Show me your ways.
I am a creature of habit, but am addled with ADD – which means a couple things. 1) if I put anything away, it’s out of sight, out of mind (so I forget about it) and 2) I plan to plan but never actually plan anything.
So with blogging? I write when I feel like it. I already have a day job, I don’t need to build my audience or nothing. And in front of me on a nice cork board is a copy of a calender. That is totally empty. HA!
But then again, I did ditch the old blog, erase almost all the content and start fresh just because I felt like it. Being somewhat impetuous can be crazy fun!
Lindsey @HalfDimeHomestead recently posted…The New Site
And that is why I like you so much.
By the way, I installed my first raised garden bed, so I will be coming to you for lots of advice this summer. You and my girl Kirsten.
You’d think with my love of lists I’d have things more organized, but nope! If I can get drafts for the week at least started over the weekend I consider myself accomplished, but my draft page is starting to get ridiculously long and chances are half of them will never ever be published (at least they seemed like good ideas at the time?)
I’m loving that new bed in your yard and smack yo’mamma recipes are always good by me.
Sarah Pie recently posted…WIR #47: Where has the time gone?
I love the new bed in my yard too. In fact, I already envision myself losing hours this summer just watching everything grow. I’m stupid happy about it.
I’m also stupid happy you joined a CSA; I can’t wait to love it and commiserate over everything at the same time. WE are going to have a great summer.
Pre writing posts + me = don’t work. The notion itself sounds like a ‘chore’ rather than a passion! Saying that though- My drafts folder is overflowing so the ideas are there- I just need the inspiration.
Recipe wise, I have photos taken prior and in advance, but no specific schedule! That is a bargain for those plants and I hope Ice T inspires them to grow to feed the CSA freezer stash. And as if you had to free potatoes. Blasphemy!
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Dear Mum- A mother’s day tribute.
You’re a big reason I wrote this post. You were my muse so to speak so thank you. 🙂
Let’s hope Ice T does motivate them to grow. Maybe I should play them music every day. Or better yet I can just rap to them.
Awwww, you quoted meeeeee! And as for the first part of this post, you took the words straight out of my mouth…so it’s like you quoted me again…in the future…spooooooky! 😉 But seriously, I’m totally with ya. I have absolutely NO IDEA how some bloggers have draft upon draft of prewritten posts. I’m good to get one typed up the day before I hit publish. Once I had two and I felt like I should’ve received an Oscar…the gold man, not your cat. He’s adorable, but yeah, you know I can’t handle that! Lol
So jealous of your raised bed! I wanted to do one this year, but I kinda ran out of time to do it and well, I’d probably just end up killing everything anyway I guess. Some people are meant to plant…and some people are meant to pay for other people to plant! Farmers’ market in less than TWO HOURS!!
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli recently posted…Playing Favorites
The count down begins. Please think of me when you’re frolicking among the vendors and you better Instagram that shit so I can look upon it lovingly.
You would love Oscar actually. He’s incredibly charismatic and not very bright which makes a wonderful combination.