Tuesday 29 May 2012

It's Tuesday, I'm Thinking Out loud. Again..

..it's been too warm to do much else.

- Working from home doesn't go so well when someone else is doing it too. I'll be glad when this whole studying for exams thing is over.

- I can't believe I'm about to type this, but it has been too hot to iron here for  days now. I've been doing a bit of this instead:

That looks like the same blue covered book I was caught reading a couple of weeks ago. But it isn't. Seems there are fashions in book jackets, just like everything else. The book is Hope: A Tragedy by Shalom Auslander

- I've been using Crate Paper for nostalgic, long-party-dress-in-the-70's type layouts, BUT I can't help thinking that if October Afternoon had got a move on with their party collection I would have been using a lot of that too.

- We have a serious slug problem in the garden right now. A serious problem. But we don't want to put down pellets because we also have two Magpie visitors and we are very fond of them.

- Uncle Dave phoned Little E and asked him what he was up to. "I'm up to hoovering," he said. That boy knows how to take his punchline and work it.

- Teaching a teenager to drive: now there's a thing guaranteed to make you feel like a grown up. It's four lanes of traffic almost from our front door here.. 

- Bloglovin. I'm seeing more readers come from Bloglovin lately. Have you tried it? 

and finally:
 
- Here is a persuasive article about the benefits of blogging one powerful post a week. Just the one. Quality over quantity, really making it count. I think I might be a convert. What do you think? Do you have a favourite timetable to blog to? or read to, even?

33 comments:

Amy said...

Some days I have had to iron when it was 38C, I sincerely hope it was hotter than that before you neglected your ironing duties! ;-)

In Australia right now, the blog world of Australia and specifically the genre of Mummy Bloggers, there is considerable controversy over paid posts - advertising and spruiking. Personally, I am not a fan, but have no problem with people making money from their blogs. It relates to your link because I think content suffers ... not that I couldn't learn a thing or two from the link myself - very thought provoking!

Enjoy your sunshine!

scrappyjacky said...

I'd be very disappointed if you only posted once a week,Sian....The article is interesting....but more geared to a 'money maker',I think.
And I'm afraid I do use slug pellets....we'd have no home grown salad otherwise....but it doesn't seem to effect our magpie visitors.

Jennifer Grace said...

Here our problem is snails rather than slugs, there's so many of them!

I'd be disappointed if my favourite blogs (including yours!) started posting just once a week. There'd either be too much content in one post, or we'd lose a lot. I like hearing lots of snippets if thoughts and seeing different crafts, on regular(ish) posts.

I think reading a book instead of ironing is definitely a good plan in this hot weather! X

helena said...

Not something I ever thought I'd find myself doing - but here is a recommendation for organic slug repellant made from sheep wool - my Dad has been using it with great success
http://www.angus-horticulture.co.uk/ProductCard.asp?Pid=7618

Sian said...

Helena, thank you so much! I'm off to investigate this right now. I hope the birthday was a great one :)

Amy, that's a very fair point about the ironing..there's heat and then there's heat! No, I don't really like craft or Mummy blogs with adverts and tend to avoid them, but at the same time I don't have any, how would I put it? - moral objection to it.

I'm very interested to hear that so far no one seems persuaded by the one post a week argument. Keep the opinions coming!

Fiona@staring at the sea said...

I'm not persuaded either! The blogs I prefer all tend to post around 3 times a week.
I've been in a dilemma over this myself as I want to share SU projects that I've made, but it feels like shameless advertising if I do!
Spruiking, now there's a new word to me. Will have to investigate that one!

Cheri said...

I guess I'm all for blogging without obligation - that is, I blog when I have something to say. Sometimes that means a week goes by, sometimes that means I'm hitting publish every day or even multiple times in a single day! My LOAD/31 Things classes being a prime example - I'm suddenly finding myself with loads (pun intended) to share! And even thinking that some of what is coming out of this current creative spurt is actually pretty good. So I guess that's the long way of saying, I like to go with the flow! But I would miss you terribly if you only posted once a week.

laurie said...

you look so relaxed and comfortable reading in the sunshine! i have been reading a lot lately but trying to make myself get a few chores done in between chapters - it's actually great motivation!

Jennifer Shaw said...

Keep on reading outside, the ironing can wait! ;) We have loads of magpies here and people don't care for them. They are referred to as "garbage birds". I don't mind them but see them as a bit of a crow. Maybe from the same family? Little E cracks me up! Crate and OA.... some of my faves!! I'd be sad if you only posted once a week. Just saying. :)

Sue Althouse said...

In my world, it's ALWAYS too hot to iron! I'd have to search for my ironing board, it's been that long. Much rather enjoy a good book. As for blogging, I greatly prefer quality over quantity. I'm thinking 1 blog post + Friday Picks might be a good summer schedule.

Good luck with the teenage driver. Glad to be past that phase.

Alison said...

I'd hate to see you go to one post too Sian....and I fear if I were to take the advice in the link, you would never hear from me again-I don't think of myself as a 'serious' blogger with much of any importance to share, so would be staring at my computer screen for days!...rambling every few days or so works best for me!
Alison xx

Alana said...

Hmmm, I prefer regular short bursts of info/craft/news. It's much easier to catch up when short of time. I like to blog that way too, since the itouch, I can quickly update but the photo quality isn't so good. NO to adverts!!! I'm there to read and be entertained not to be sold something. I know what you mean about another person at home, I have got both boys in my way. Now they know exactly what I get up to in my free time:0

Abi said...

Hmmm. interesting post. Teaching a teenager to drive. I HATED driving with my dad but me and my mum got on fine when I was learning. Nerve racking experience for us both though!

In regards to posting I feel the same way. I prefer snippets rather than one big post. I haven't got much time to read blogs so short quick updates are perfect. I try to blog every other day but i schedule my posts so most are written a few days ago. I plan my posts when inspiration hits and write them down on paper before typing them up!

Susanne said...

I don't know about the one post per week - I think we'd be less likely to do these thinking-out-loud kinds of posts that way, and I very much enjoy them. Although I have seriously been considering going to a set schedule so that I can get a few posts ahead for the summer. I do think it is good advice to make what you say count - or at least for me to try and be concise and focused. Now all these things are not my normal - just go with the flow and be spontaneous style - so who knows. And to look at it another way, do you actually follow any blogs that just post once a week?

Sian said...

S - yes I definitely do! Lots of my favourites don't even post once a week, but they amaze me when they do so they stay in my Reader.

Lizzie said...

I'd rather post whenever I want to... if that turns out to be once a week, then fine; but I may have more to blog about one week and less another. Sometimes I'm excited about something and want to share it. Other times I don't feel I have much of interest to say.
I don't mind others having adverts on their blogs - except for the ones that make an irritating window pop up in front of your face. I usually don't visit those blogs again.

I was ironing this week - making bookcloth for a new batch of books. I tried some "proper" ironing last night.. But more about that on Sunday...

Enjoy the sunshine Sian. And I hope you manage to retain your sanity, while teaching TTO to drive!

Rebekah said...

What an inviting photo! I love to sit and read and put it in on my summer list of things TO DO!! Gotta' check out Blogloving'...sounds interesting!

Jo.C said...

Must always be too hot to iron here :0) It is my real pet hate.
Great photo.
I am dreading teaching D to drive. She keeps reminding us it is now only two years. The thought scares me stiff!

Maria Ontiveros said...

I probably post five days a week, but not on a set schedule. I find that it's hard for me to know in advance which post people will think are more meaningful (and I'm not sure how I would tell. . . ).
Rinda

Missus Wookie said...

Nematodes - amazing things for slugs n snails. Ponds (can be sunk garbage can lid or bucket) to attract frogs/toads who eat loads. Copper tape and rings, hair trimmings and yep wool all help. Do find traps and walking out work well too. We feed 'em to the tadpoles and other pond critters here.

I try to post to a schedule for me - not going to make money, but do like covering a variety of topics.

Sandra said...

I actually moved the ironing board into the garden last week to do my ironing ... Much easier :)

I'm probably not the best person to answer the question on blogging, as I'm rubbish at it. But I can say, I don't enjoy (& this is just me thinking out loud) reading or seeing blogs that post every day. I tend to pass them over in my reader.

I've had trouble getting back into blog reading but I always love seeing blogs like yours that cover a variety of subjects :) sorry, too much waffle lol x

Barbara Eads said...

I've marked that article to read when I have a little more time. My problem is if I don't post often, family members far away are "after" me.

Your reading spot looks comfy too.

Slugs---all you can say is ugh! As for natural products, surrounding your plants with coffee grounds and crushed egg shells works. They don't like crossing gritty stuff. Of course, they'll just go somewhere else.
Barbara

Karen said...

I'm another one for blogging when you have something to share (and the time to share it.) I read blogs that post nearly every day, and others who post much less frequently.

I remember quite vividly teaching both of my kids to drive, but I don't really have any harrowing tales from the experience.

Paula - Buenos Aires said...

The "once a week" is good for content articles on a subject, as a specialized magazine. Sharing aty & life on the other hand: whenever you have something to share.
I´ve been blogging for six years, using my site as a sharing tool. FOr the past three I´ve been organizing my posts around the different groups I participate in, as Wishcasting Wednesdays and Paint Party Fridays plus Sunday Snippets for the past month. SOmetimes I don´t have paintings to share and just skip that week.

Ginger said...

I have sometimes gone more than a week without blogging - sometimes it's because I am so busy, and sometimes it's for needing a break due to an old injury that makes it hard to type. I would however miss seeing your three times a week posts - especially when they have Little E content :)

Carol Anne said...

It's always too hot to iron, even when it's -20F.

Lou said...

I love reading your three times a week posts too Sian. They always seen to have the right amount of content too. I wish I could take a leaf out of your book and make regular posts rather than as and when i can fit them in.

Again a lovely post with a little for everyone. Slugs are a pain they eat my hosta's!

Bloglovin - I looked at this too and signed up....not sure what to do with it though. I got the impression it replaces your Reader.

AM Zafaran said...

If posting often means falling into mediocrity, I would go for weekly postings,but, it shouldn't be a matter of mind over spontaneity.
I'm for post as often as you like, but quality, quality always.
People should not forget to have fun, relax, share their problems...
With the paintings that I post, I skip if I was not able to do anything that week.
Thanks Sian for the chance to discuss this. By the way, I am one of your new followers.

Melissa said...

I've been doing some outdoor reading lately too . . . and it's wonderful. Today we have rain (the first time in almost 2 months) so I'm catching up on blogs reading & class materials, etc.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Oh gosh, you have a teenager learning to drive. Yikes. Fortunately for me, Doug was in our lives right about the time Carrie was learning and he was much more patient than I!

I'm going to check out Bloglovin. I have been really thinking about blogging lately now that my new job is taking so much of my time and energy. I definitely need to do something different. Thanks for the lead. xo

Ifa said...

You could try nematodes for the slug, you just water them into the ground. LOL to the driving...are you keeping sane though ? What is he like to drive with ? My turn in a few short months, I think.

Gem's Crafts said...

I'd love to be able to write a blog post once a week - just getting online to read all the blogs and make comments is tricky with a little one that needs constant entertaining! Oh but I love it though! The heat on the other hand, I could've done without - nobody slept for a week in our house :(

Anonymous said...

I've definitely been a hit and miss blogger this year but I would really miss you if you only blogged once a week.

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