Posted by Suzanne McMinn on September 10, 2008 @ 1:05 am
Daily Farmhouse Journal
Over the years, I’ve gotten the most touching letters, and later, emails, from readers who would tell me all sorts of things (some very odd!), but mostly about what my books meant to them. The widow who read romance novels to remember what it felt like to fall in love. The daughter who read them to get through long hours at a parent’s hospital bed. The mother who just needed that break between diapers and dinner. The ex-con who had a great idea for a book he’d sell me if I’d write it, a story about an ex-con who wins the lottery and marries a farmgirl from Kansas with big- Never mind that last one. That was one of the odd ones.
I’ve always believed that romance novels are maligned because some people who don’t read them don’t understand why other people do and it certainly has nothing to do with the love scenes. It’s because the books touch them, inspire memories and emotions-wistfulness, sentiment, joy, hope-and in many ways also validate their core values. And then there is the question non-romance readers often ask-why read a story when you know how it ends before you even begin? They are missing the point, of course. It’s not about the ending. It’s about the journey.
I receive emails quite often from readers of this website, and sometimes people express why they read it. They lived on a farm sometime in the past and enjoy remembering what it was like. They want to live on a farm sometime in the future. Or they are even living on a farm now and can relate to my experiences. Whatever the case, my posts inspire memories and emotions, sometimes sadness for what is past, or hope for what they anticipate in the future. Or they just read it for a laugh with their coffee in the morning. I got an email from a young girl recently (I’m very aware that children look at my website, which is why I don’t finish sentences like that one in the above paragraph about the ex-con) who said she read my blog while she was abroad for the summer, knowing her mother was reading it back at home, and it made her feel closer to her family thinking that they were reading the same thing. And an email from a reader who printed out my blog posts and showed them to her ailing family member at the hospital. And, well, do you notice a pattern? Many of the reasons people read my books are similar to the reasons people read my blog.
And I would be totally remiss if I were to pretend as if I either write romance novels or this blog to make you all feel good. I do it to make me feel good. It makes me feel good to make other people feel good. (See, it just sounds like it’s about you-it’s really about me!) I’ve had a number of different jobs in my life but I’ve only been obsessed with two-writing books and writing this blog. Obsessed to the point that it doesn’t seem to stop me if I don’t make much money doing either one, and the blog in particular. I receive emails occasionally asking me to write sponsored posts, the most interesting of which was a recent offer of cheese. Not just any cheese, no! Imported French cheese! Seriously. They wanted to give me cheese-if I would blog about their fabulous cheese and include a link to their website in the post. I can’t even tell you how tempting that was and I’m not being sarcastic! I love cheese!
And I will admit that some days I struggle to justify the amount of time I spend on this website, time that I could or even should be spending on something that would produce, like, MONEY, but one thing I will never do is write a sponsored post. Even for cheese. Income is a result, an ending if you will, that one hopes to achieve from work. (In my case, writing, whether books or this blog.) But as with my books, it’s not about the ending. It’s about the journey.
I do host advertising on my site in a desperate attempt to pay my electric bill, but I will never write a post in which I try to sell you cheese. (The advertising at the top of the far right sidebar is flat rate advertising through BlogAds and the other advertising is affiliate-based-I have no pay-per-click or pay-per-page-impression advertising at this time, which is a bummer when I get a stumble that brings 20,000 page impressions in the last two days, but such is my luck! I believe in being upfront about advertising. I’m not one of those million-dollar bloggers. I’m one of those hundred-dollar bloggers.)
It is a year ago now since I wrote The Slanted Little House post. Behind the scenes-I actually wrote that piece for a West Virginia website that had indicated interest in having contributions. I worked on it for a long time and contacted the person I had been speaking with, but never heard back from him. I considered putting the piece away forever, not sure if it was even appropriate for the intended website. But I had put my heart into it, so I decided to post it on my own blog. The day I posted it changed my site forever. It marked the end of my blog as a writer’s blog and inspired a need I hadn’t even known I had-to create a site that was about more than me. I realized that I wanted to talk about my life in the country, and that, surprisingly, other people wanted to read it, and that there was a purpose to things that had happened in my life that I had barely begun to grasp, that there was a way I could serve people with my website that I had never imagined.
And so, here I am, cheeseless and with a very big unpaid electric bill (I knew it was a bad idea for them to finally come read the meter!!! I shall explain to them that we are on a journey), but every day filled up by your kind, funny, touching comments. Thank you!!
Note: This is not what you think.
I was not….
….trying….
….to make….
….Clover….
….wear….
….a bonnet!
I would totally never do that. Cuz she’d try to eat it.
Okay, honestly, I did try to get her to wear a bonnet. She really did like it, though.
Even if you can’t tell.
P.S. This post was sponsored by Clover.
P.P.S. She didn’t actually pay me any money.
P.P.P.S. She did promise me some cheese.
P.P.P.P.S. She said I had to make it myself, though.
8:12
am
I’m lovin’ your journey.
Do you think you could start putting some sort of coffee warning up before I scroll down and see pictures — like the ones of Clover in her bonnet — and spew my coffee all over???
I love smiling in the morning! Thank you!
8:15
am
I’ve been a faithful reader now for about 6 months or so, and your right, I read it with my morning coffee.
It starts my day off right, and although I’m not from the country and never have been, I love all your adventures, and I think your a very wonderful special person!!!!
Thanks Suzanne, don’t know how I’d get thru my week without you!!
8:16
am
what you call “obsession” I call PASSION. You are blessed to have discovered your true passion and that you had the courage to uproot and go live it and share it with your children…an now with all of us who read about it. yes, actual money does pay the electric bill but your scenery, the fresh air you breath, your humming birds and creeks is your fortune. You get to spend it daily by just being a part of it as well as saving it in the memories you are creating with your family.
Trust me, you are a very rich gal in my mind!
Tresh in Oklahoma.
8:18
am
You certainly struck a chord with me this morning. I am a really good cook and I love to have parties- you know teas and brunches- showers and birthdays- good friends- good food! Yet at each event I have several people asking me to cater something for them. Honestly, you couldn’t PAY me to do this ! I put my whole heart into those parties. I do it for love and there is not enough money to pay me for it. So you blog for the love of the content and the people- I party and bake for the same reason.
8:24
am
I’m so glad you share your obsession with us every day. It’s such a gift to us. If you need help with that electric bill, holler. I’ll send you the money you’re saving me on happy meds! LOL!
:J
8:28
am
Blog away Suzanne…you had me hooked the first time I came here! I can’t go a day without my WV fix. Thanks for your wonderful perspective on livin’ the country life!
8:30
am
What a wonderful article today; I so enjoy reading your blog each day as it is informative and starts my day with a big smile. Thank you for the cute photos of Clover and sharing your journey with us.
8:31
am
I use to read your books, tho’ I just realized it, and now I read your blog because….you are one talented writer!! And I would know because I was a Public Librarian for 20 years and I know what real people want to read!!!
Jo
ps Clover and her babies are just too cute. Coco, too.
8:38
am
8:44
am
The reasons I read your blog are about as varied as your entries. I love the downhome feel. I love the recipes. I love, love, love the animals. And your kids. And the countryside in which you live. I love your neighbors and relatives. I love thoughts of warm kitchens and breezy porches. You are a warm, witty person I’d be proud to call a friend. I hope you keep your passion for this place a long, long time.
8:46
am
Ditto all of the above!
Cathy J.
8:47
am
….And I still say WRITE A COOKBOOK WITH PICS!!!!
Cathy J.
8:50
am
8:51
am
I enjoy it here too, it’s the first blog I check in the mornings. I even check in before coffee sometimes!
8:56
am
I have been a reader of all your works for a long time. While I enjoy the blog, I must adnit that I miss you telling us about what books you are working on and giving us excerpts to tease us.Just knowing that something exciting would be coming soon gave us something to look forward to. Do you have more books in the works for us? Please say yes. It seems like forever since we had a new book. Have a great day and hugs to all.
8:57
am
I ENJOY OUR MORNING VISITS. MY COMPUTER GIVES ME A GREAT OUT-LET TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. I HAVE LIVED THE COUNTRY LIFE AND LOVE TO SHARE MEMORIES.
8:59
am
Fannie, I have a new book coming out in December!
9:04
am
I appreciate your life and that fact you share it with the rest of us. I think we sort of take you for granted; you post everyday, and I read everyday. I will never be able to live in the country or in a slanted farm house, but the glimpse into your life of the GIANT PUPPY, non-egg laying hens, and cookie-eating, hat-wearing goats that wear farm boots, gets me through my urban life. I hope the power company is gentle with you and I shall by one of your books in an effort to help keep your lights on!
9:07
am
I’m glad I discovered your postings a few months ago (can’t remember how I discovered it), but it’s one of 1st things I do when I come into work. I love how simple yet SO fulfilling your life seems to be. Just a simple woman w/simple pleasures & passions with a gift for making total strangers seem like old friends
9:17
am
Your blog is one of the blogs I must read before I can start my work day. I’m a city gal and I just love reading about all the fun you’re having with your farm, garden, and animals especially Clover and Coco.
9:34
am
I’m one of the ones who can relate to you by virtue of living in the country. You could be my neighbour!(even though we’re in different countries). One problem, though, I’m now yearning for goats and chickens, and hubby won’t let me get goats (goat-related childhood trauma, I think)-but maybe chickens….
9:45
am
Suzanne, have you considered a Donate button? I listen to a lot of podcasts and watch several vidcasts, as well as frequent many forum sites - and most or all of them have a donate button. I think it’s usually hooked up to a PayPal account so people can send money as they feel like it to help the site stay active and keep the blogger or host doing what they do. Just an idea.
9:53
am
Patty, I do have a Donate link-it’s at the top of my sidebar. Maybe I should make it a button? I’ll see if I can figure out how to do that today. I don’t think very many people ever notice it, LOL. If anyone would like to donate to help me with my hosting costs (which have gone up quite a bit due to traffic) and technical maintainence expenses for the website, I would appreciate it. (I never mention it in posts or anything cuz it’s so embarrassing to need it…. If I ever make enough money off advertising, I will take the Donate link away. I don’t like to ask for donations!!!)
9:57
am
Yes I need to read your blog every morning and I get very frustrated when the computer/internet/router or whatever is not working right or going verrryyyyy slowwwwwwwwly. I haven’t read your books yet but with the move I haven’t got a local libary card so I can’t find them yet. And I missed the cattle call for book giveaways too. So I will read your books as soon as I can find the time and what with reading about getting a Nigerian dwarf goat and a Coco of my own and all this research into these items well who can read books now. Blessings.
10:08
am
Your blog is such a wonderful place to rest, and be entertained.
I think you’re onto something with the donate button - might work better for some folks.
There shouldn’t be anything embarrassing about asking people to help you for your writing. You do expect us to pay for your books, right??
10:13
am
Oh yeah, now I see it! LOL Yeah, that needs to be a bigger button hehe. Never noticed it before. I helped run a website for my former employer and I know it cost quite a bit to have it hosted and maintained. Don’t be embarrassed.
10:15
am
Ahhh, yes, you are also my daily morning fix. At least I’m not a coffee drinker, so the only thing I might spill is ice cold water or V8 juice! Of course, the latter would be really messy.
Side note on the egg picture - I almost had a heart attack. For a brief senior instant I thought your young layers had finally coughed up some eggs!
Enjoy your journey as much as we readers enjoy it with you!
10:19
am
I get my “fix” every morning… Was at the Capitol Flea Market Sunday & someone had goat milk in a cooler for sale. I told my husband that you would never sell Clover’s milk…then had to explain to him who Clover was & told him that he needed to go to “Chickens in the Road” in my favorites on the computer. Hopefully in the spring, I too will have chickens & goats. FYI: September 27th is National Alpaca Day - most alpaca farms will be having open-house that day.
10:20
am
Clover is too sexy for her hat. I love your blog. I read it every day, even tho’ I don’t comment very often. I used to love romance novels back in my younger years. Now in my golden years I prefer true crime stories. Sometimes love,or hate is the motive for the crime, so in an odd sort of way it is like ‘trouble in paradise’, love gone wrong, sorta of like”if I had killed him 20 years ago, I would have been out today”. Those are the kind of stories I like to read. For the record, I have never killed anyone or had any desire to.
10:22
am
Suzanne, Your blog is inspirational, heartwarming, charming and often hilarious. It is like a free book (with pictures-I love picture books) that I can read in little bits at a time. Once I found you, I went back and read every single post in the archives and it was a wonderful story. I know that you spared us heartache and struggles and shared with us highlights and fun stuff. For that we owe you. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
10:28
am
I think Clover needs a set of pearls to go along with her hat. After all, accessories are everything.
11:37
am
Suzanne - You are absolutely right. It is about the journey and we are blessed that you are willing to share your journey with us and in some small way make it our journey. We may not be there with you - milking Clover, chasing a muddy giant puppy or getting our car stuck in the river - but our thoughts, laughter and prayers are. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and allowing us to live your life, just a little, every day.
12:34
pm
I want to donate but amazon doesn’t do paypal and I don’t have a credit card. So how do I donate other then thru amazon?
12:34
pm
A story about an ex-con who wins the lottery and marries a farmgirl from Kansas…
you know..I could stand to hear a little more.
;)
Just sayin!
12:39
pm
Your blog is so uplifting. I always feel ready to start my day after reading in your little corner of the world. It makes my little corner seem not so lonely! Thanks for your diligence. BYW…your have the most yummy recipes!
1:17
pm
I am thinking there is a dress up theme going here. What is next? Heals maybe a purse! Those pictures crack me up!
I read your blog everyday too. I enjoy reading it so much. It always puts a smile on my face!
1:19
pm
I would blog for cheese. I would do a lot of things for cheese. Mmmmmmmm, cheese!!!
And why the heck can you not buy blue cheese in Spencer?
1:28
pm
Eons ago I managed the “staionery” dept. at Sears and men and women would buy romance novels by the dozens and it used to amaze me the appeal to both men and women. Sometimes one of my employees would mock them for buying ‘romance novels’. As a sometimes romance book (bodice rippers ) reader myself I thought that the silhouette books were the most popular purchase at least in bulk and I always told them that the important things were 1. People were READING and 2. It provided a lovely escape. They (my employees) were usually young and foolish and this caused them to pause and consider another point of view.
2:07
pm
Thanks for the blog. I love it and read it everyday.
3:15
pm
Awww…I think Clover made quite the fashion statement!
BTW ~ I have an enty on my blog you might be interested in at http://www.homesteadblogger.com/wannabeone/110104/ It was cute and sweet and reminded me of you and your new farm adventures.
Blessings from Ohio…
4:02
pm
I love your blog. It is entertaining and never dull.
Clover looks beautiful in her bonnet.
4:13
pm
Hi, maryann! Thank you for asking! I’m working on setting something up now for PayPal.
4:15
pm
My day would be much less interesting without your blog, Suzanne.
4:27
pm
Your blog makes me laugh and at times cry - my favorite type of story. I think I mentioned once before a book called The New Earth by Eckert Tolle. He’s a spiritual teacher trying to explain how our lives should be about joy and enthusiasm and living in the now. You are the only person I know that seems to be living the way I think we all would hope to live. Thank you for that
5:11
pm
I would totally write a blog for cheese!!! Especially French cheese!!!! But I do love your blog. I fall in the category of “one day I’d like to own my own farm.”
5:29
pm
Clover looks every country girl wearing the bonnet.
I will be forever grateful to Jill for introducing you and your wonderful blog to me well over a year ago. I come here every day and am inspired by you and your family. Now if you could talk 52 into letting you post his picture I’d be thrilled!
5:31
pm
I am in Houston visiting my sister and friends - talk about obsession - I had to get up and read the blog. Just now getting to a post.l South texas is evacuating now. we will leave thurs afternoon hopefully to avoid Ike. 60 mile an hr winds here sat. there are sigs all over the highways here - Hurricane in the gulf - keep your tanks full.
Thanks you all and Suzanne for keeping my tank full every day.
Clover - if a picture can paint a 1000 words - well you did it for sure.
5:32
pm
How would we all feel if we woke up one morning, and your blog was gone! I just feel priveleged to be able to help you keep on writing it. It’s priceless to me. The Amazon button is a great idea - but I think you should check out the possibility of having an ongoing subscription option. I don’t want to forget to send some $$ along, and a reminder would be nice. (I know, I just want everything made easy…but for those of us with short attention spans an automatic monthly/quarterly voluntary subscription would be something I would gladly contribute to.) You aren’t begging, and I know it’s hard to ask, but we all understand what it is like raising kids and trying to keep gas in the car. Let us help!
5:33
pm
By the way, Clover looks like she likes the bonnet, but I bet she’d like it better with ketchup.
6:09
pm
Great post, Suzanne! (I waited several months to tell you that.) But today was just too good… K
7:16
pm
WV_Hills if you have a yahoo account you can set up the calendar to remind you on a yearly basis. That is how I remember birthdays.
7:52
pm
I love your hundred dollar blog. I read it every morning and look forward to seeing what the animals are up to today.
P.S. There are million dollar bloggers?
P.P.S. Really?
P.P.P.S. surely not
9:54
pm
I thought I should say that I brag about your recipes on my blog quite a bit-with a link to you prominently displayed of course. Credit is always given where it is due. I only have maybe 9 readers-but I hope they try your recipes and buy your books ;)
10:06
pm
For some reason, I could not post all day..the button would not open anything here. Just the forum.
I’m going to tell Georgia that Clover stole her hat!!! 
I think you should keep your P.O. box posted, for those that want to send you things/contributions/recipes, ect. You posted it once, to send envelopes for your books.
10:18
pm
P.S. - I LOVE that large egg up there. When I made my cake yesterday…I used “large” eggs and yet, the eggs looked soooo tiny - tiny yolks. I thought good grief, I would hate to see what they consider “small”.
11:12
pm
11:29
pm
I enjoy reading of your trials and “journey” every day. And have been reading here for about a year. AND will continue to visit, just to see Clover wear a bonnet! *G*
8:46
am
Do you think the power company would take some of your books in trade on your bill? You never know…those meter reader guys might be romantics at heart.
Your blog reminds me so much of our early homesteading days in WV-although we didn’t have nearly the resources you’re blessed with. We were just young and inspired and, well, clueless. 35 years later I’m still there. As you say, it’s a journey, with many surprising hills, curves and mudholes along the way. And incredible views.
11:23
am
Well, just for hoots & hollers, I’ll tell you that I regularly read your blog because my roots are also in WV. My Dad grew up in Mercer Co, on the state line, and I think he’d live there again in a heartbeat, but the poor guy married a died-in-the-wool Yankee, so it ain’t happenin.
Anyway, we vacationed there a ton when we were kids, and I LOVE it there. I even took my own Yankee spouse down there when we were first married. He actually liked it! But then again, he’s a small-town boy, so there ya go.
Truth be told, I’m a little jealous of you. LOVE the house, LOVE the great big porch (we have one too, but it’s not the same in a subdivision). I love the seclusion, and the organic-ness of it all. Your blog gives me a window to another world for just a few minutes every day, and as I stare at my neighbors, just inches away, and at my little backyard (OK, it’s not so little, but it’s little in comparison to yours!), I wish sometimes for a totally different world for my little family. Go you, for doing this and making it work. And thanks for sharing the journey. ;)
5:12
pm
I love your blog, read it everyday! I for one wouldn’t mind a bit if you decided write about a product for profit. If it’s good enough for you, all of us might want to give it a try. Thanks for all your effort!
Samantha…stuck in suburbia
8:25
pm
what a great group of readers…i wonder if we all would’ve been friends in junior high?
i printed out the “slanted house” post, and sent it to my gynecologist when he retired. he grew up in arnoldsburg, and i think growing up in west virginia contributed to his kind and modest nature.