Posted by Suzanne McMinn on September 13, 2008 @ 1:05 am
Daily Farmhouse Journal
One of the most frequently asked questions on my site is, “How do you get so much done?”
Answer: I don’t. I regularly spend four hours a day or more preparing each post, between photography and writing, and I spend a good bit of time spread over the week on various other technical and administrative things behind the scenes. I tend to be a perfectionist about…everything. (Perfectionism is such a burden since it can never be achieved!) I wouldn’t put as much work into this website if I didn’t love doing it, and I do. I absolutely love it. Then there’s the farmin’ and the kids and putting dinner on the table and all that makes up life for everyone. Oh, and yeah, there’s that other writing gig that pays the bills, sometimes, sorta, but not much since it’s the most likely part of the day to get the shaft in favor of my passion for this website. And so I’m going to beg your forbearance in the coming week if I post some briefer than usual pieces in order to focus some badly needed attention toward keeping my farm afloat and Clover in cookies.
Meanwhile, there’s always something happening on the forum. (If you haven’t registered yet and started enjoying all the forum has to offer, please do so! You’re invited!)
If you missed anything in the past, catch up on all my country living stories, or my cute farm animal stories, or try a recipe!
I’ll be back to regular full postings as soon as possible because I would rather be writing this blog than anything else in the world. But God helps those who help themselves, so I’d better go help myself before somebody, like the electric company, gets really mad at me. (I’m feeling slightly discouraged at the moment, but I’ll get over it. I’m going to be making cheese sometime soon-I’m sure that will cheer me up!)
And on a related note-now I’m being offered dried fruit and nuts. You know, if I’ll use their products in a recipe and blog about their products and their website as if they were the greatest thing since sunshine. They didn’t get the memo that I don’t write sponsored posts. I find sponsored posts fairly distasteful, though they are becoming more common in the blog world-bloggers pumping a product as if they love it, all the while they’re receiving a kickback under the table. This is why I’m poor. I have standards. When I blog about a website selling products, like here and here, it’s because I actually bought their products and honestly recommend their products and there were no kickbacks involved. Okay, advertisers? What I need? Some new tires. In fact, I’d like a whole new car. (Please make it a 4-wheel-drive.) Then, possibly then, you might break me.
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on September 13, 2008 @ 1:05 am
3:04
am
Suzanne, we all sometimes gotta do what’s needed even if it’s not what we really want to be doing..We’ll be here for whenever and whatever you choose..Be thankful we’re, I’m in NC, not in the path of Ike.
4:41
am
Go go go!! Do that writing gig! I will be doing my own writing in sympathy… I am mid revisions and I am NOT enjoying them.
5:53
am
Sometimes, real life just gets in the way doesn’t it? We’ll be here, waiting patiently for pictures of giant puppies, and chickens, and CHEESE! I love cheese. But please, do what you must first so that we can continue this wonderful journey with you.
6:34
am
Ya gotta’ do what ya’ gotta’ do. We’ll be waiting for you.
6:38
am
There is just never enough hours in the day which is why my home is always in chaos. Good luck with your writing. I hope it flows quickly for you.
7:38
am
Gotta do the writing so you can keep buying cookies. Then you can continue having fun…the farm will always be there. And we will always be here. You can count on both. Let you brain wonder into that writing niche and get ‘er done.
7:40
am
I LOVE YOUR BLOG - BE IT JUST A FEW COMMENTS OR A JOURNAL..
IT MAKES ME THINK OF THE “YESTER - YEARS” TAKE CARE - BE SAFE & BE HAPPY
7:44
am
i like your “little” entries; i get my fix and can get “my” work done and also turn the computer over to my husband…
a little photo here and a comment on the hills and valleys of west virginia…just enough to make the deep south seem cooler!
8:25
am
How about having Princess substitute post. Provided she’s not needed to help you, once the homework is done. She could take pictures of you working and show everyone what it is that you are catching up on. Just a thought. We’ll be waiting, patiently. Love your blog!
8:46
am
I will miss you. Having to work for a living stinks at times. I have been having to catch up with you on
the weekends since school is back in full swing.
8:49
am
I’m gonna miss you, but maybe now I can finish your books!
9:29
am
Will miss your postings, but definitely understand the bills have to be paid and Clover must have her cookies.
9:36
am
When you start making the cheese are you going to video tape yourself and put it on youtube or on here? I was watching a couple of cheese making videos on there now. And don’t forget the treats for the giant puppy. Of course when you don’t really have the time for the blog we could always come in here and write a continuous story line. Sometimes those get down right hilarious.
10:14
am
You gotta do what you have to do! Now I can catch up with all the earlier posts too. Blessings.
10:28
am
Take a deep breath and go do what to have to do. We’ll still be here. I like the idea of Princess taking over, but that might mean more supervision and time away from your “chores.” Maybe Spartacus could supervise.
10:53
am
Oh Suzanne! I can’t believe we’ve been keeping you from your farm, chores and life.
Make your donate button bigger - so we all can start to hit it on a regular basis!!!
11:16
am
I just hate when that happens…when ya gotta actually do something to get the bills paid up. I would much rather be figuring out all the in and outs, ups and downs of milking a goat and making cheese.
I’ll be here reading no matter what you can put up, it’s all good!
11:23
am
Yes, sometimes real life interferes with what we want to do, doesn’t it? Well, finish up what you have to, then come back here…’cause we’re going to miss your fun posts!
12:25
pm
2:38
pm
ummm what if you really, really like the nuts and cheese - I wouldn’t mind hearing a brand name mentioned if you honestly liked it - you deserve a few extras if that would provide some for you.
3:24
pm
You’re not going to lose a one of us. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
3:29
pm
Do what you hafta do! We’ll be here when you finish.
3:53
pm
How selfish would I be if I let you go down with the ship (er, farm) so I could get my daily blog fix. You are so generous with your life and your time, the very least I can do is help keep cookies on the menu. Glad to help. Now give us a “Contribute” button that flashes neon so we don’t forget what it takes to keep you on line. I’m so sorry I didn’t think sooner about how valuable you are to my life, and what it costs you in time and money to be there for me. (And I bet I speak for all of us who read and look forward to your daily glimpse of life on that beautiful farm.)
5:54
pm
Who knows how to set a hen?
5:57
pm
Danny, you might trying asking in the forum. It’s a great place to ask questions! (And more people will probably see your question there.) Start a new topic thread for your question under the Old Barn section.
6:02
pm
You know I’ll be here even if you only post one word. Beside I need a Suzanne McMinn book fix!
Wouldn’t it be nice if money grew on trees? 
10:14
pm
We’ll be here! Go do what needs to be done.
5:49
am
Will be waiting and am looking forward to more stories about the goats and puppy…52 and more! sending you good thoughts and wishes
6:13
am
I am going to write a quote I just posted on my blog, then coming on over here and reading your post I think you might appreciate it…”Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make life so, right in the middle of it we die, lose a leg,fall in love…..drop a jar of applesauce.” Natalie Goldberg I find it comforting even YOU , amazing you, need to stop and .no..not smell the flowers, I think you do that, need to do the mundane , every day things like work to pay the bills.
I appreciate you not using your blog to make a buck if you can’t truly endorse the product. Thank-you Suzanne ! Love your blog. KathyB.