Returning to a Blog Near You . . .
When I first posted this month for Nonfiction November, I implied that I was returning to my blog, after a break that started in May. Admittedly, it’s far easier to participate in prescheduled events than to actually create a blog post. But here I am.
Some of you may realize that before my break, I was using Exurbanis to list & describe all the books that I’ve read, as the years progressed. And you may also know that I was behind in monthly summaries – by about three years. In January of this year (2018) I posted my summary for January 2015 and determined to myself that I was going to be up to date by the end of the year. Instead, I stalled at October 2015, and am now a month further behind than I was in January.
The thought of trying to finish this project almost kept me from returning to blogging. So – I’ve rethought how I’ll keep my book records, and what I’ll use Exurbanis for. If you’re interested in my reading history, you’ll find it pretty much up to date in Library Thing or Good Reads.
That frees me up to post in greater detail about some of the books I read, the ones about which I have something to say to you, without feeling obligated to document them all. And it allows me to talk about other things that are going on in my life and (maybe) to return a bit to the intended purpose of Exurbanis which was to discuss country life.
For a start, here’s what my husband and three friends did yesterday afternoon with our winter’s supply of wood. It’s three stacks deep and there’s two rows stacked up on the deck. 
Bill is repairing the ends as I speak, preparatory for tarping it against the rain and snow.
After the work was done, we sat by the wood stove in the dining room and ate chili and drank rum and Jägermeister and told tall tales. There’s nothing like a wood party to cement friendships.
I hope you’ll stay with me as my future journey on Exurbanis unfolds.
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Debbie, I am glad you are returning to blogging and I will be interested in whatever you want to share here.
My last year of work before retiring seems like it may be my most demanding and stressful, so at times I feel overwhelmed by blogging. But I get so much out of it both by writing about books or by keeping in touch with other bloggers, so I am trying to keep a balance of work and blogging and time with my family.
Thank you for being a willing reader, Tracy, and thank you for taking the time to comment!
Welcome back, Debbie. I’m in a temporary hiatus from my blog but I have plans to get back to it, too. I have too many figurative irons in the fire, but….your firewood project is impressive indeed!
If only life didn’t get in the way, Teresa. Glad you like our wood pile!
Glad you’re back to blogging. Sent you a friend request on goodreads 🙂
Thank you, JoAnn – I’ve approved your request. Thanks for asking!
I too have struggled with whether or not to keep my blog going this year. Apparently I am still at it. Ha Ha. But I like your idea of only blogging the books about which you have something to say. Anyway, glad to have you back. That is an impressive woodpile! My sons used to participate in getting the woodpile together at their cousins’ house where they heated with a wood stove. Is that what you do? I wouldn’t mind a post about that.
I just can’t keep up – or catch up even – with everything I read, Judy. And nobody really cares about every last book, except me. (and the publisher if it’s a free copy).
Our wood stove provides supplementary heat to a central (ducted) heat pump but it’s going pretty much all winter. I think I probably will have a post about that this winter. Thanks for the idea – and hang in there!
I hate winter but I love cosying up to a fire. Your wood party sounds great. Pleased to hear you are developing plans for more regular posting again.
There’s nothing like wood heat, Sue, for being cozy. Thanks for the words of encouragement.
How well I understand the frustration of having fallen too far behind in some aspect of life to properly catch up. It’s so difficult. It does seem to make sense to set aside the matter of the older reading logs, unless you have a personal desire to repair the records for your own purposes (and find that doing it in public helps keep you motivated – it doesn’t seem so :))! After all, we are always reading, so if we are going to fall behind in something, it’s likely going to be talking about the reading rather than the reading itself! Enjoy whatever you are writing about next.
My blog was supposed to be my personal record, Marcie – but you’re right about even the public aspect not making it enough motivation to keep up. I think this new format will work so much better.
I’m glad you are back and look forward to your posts. The project you set out for yourself was daunting, and good for you to adjust your plans to better suit your needs now.
Thanks for your encouragement, Julia!