Thanks to Amy for reminding me I've not posted in a while. I've been reading and commenting and just didn't realize I wasn't posting myself. LOL!
Guess I really haven't had much to post about. No more sewing yet but I have been cutting squares for the Christmas version of my quilt in my last post. But I've had a really bad cold and have spent most of my time vegging out in my chair playing stupid computer games or watching mindless movies that I could mostly sleep thru.
I've noticed as the list of blogs on my sidebar grew the less time I've spent sewing or posting or commenting as it was taking a lot of time to read all those blogs even using bloglines. So you might notice that the list is considerable smaller now. I don't mean to offend anyone who used to be on the list but I had to pare down somewhere so mostly if you didn't have much quilty content, or were mainly an art quilt, or crazy quilt, or postcard site (none of which interest me as much). And didn't comment on my blog, or link to me or in someway give an indication that you followed my blog then I cut you from my list. It's just a decision I had to make in order to have time to spend quilting instead of just reading about it. Not that some of you might not make it back as I regularly check out blogs of people who leave comments on mine or other blogs I read. It's an ever changing list. I know that in the 3 days since I made the change from over 160 blogs on my bloglines to a little under 100 I've been a more interactive blogger. I've left more comments and actually started to answer privately some of the comments left to me. Which is something I rarely had time to do before. Hopefully the changes will make me a better blogger and will enable me to build better friendships thru comments and personal emails.
I've also noticed that since I started using bloglines I don't really enjoy the rings (stash quilts and mavericks) as much as I used to. I'm not saying that I don't like your blogs but that I don't get the same sense of "family" from it as I used to. Because when I had to click around the ring to see what everyone was up to I'd notice if someone wasn't posting and kinda get a bit worried about them as I consider most of ring members to be friends. But with reading thru bloglines and reading so many blogs it's easy to lost track of who has and hasn't posted in a while. And as I flipped thru the ring I'd keep track of comments on some of the posts that most interested me to see what everyone else had to say about it. And now I can't keep track of who I'd like to go back to re-read. So I'm thinking I need to keep using bloglines for those times when I'm really busy and can't go visit everyone but go back to running around the rings every few days to really keep up with what's going on in our little corner of blogland.
I guess I should stop this ramble and go sew some squares together. Or the lack of quilty content might have me dropping my own blog. LOL!
About Me
- Nancy
- I'm 58, married for 39 years to my wonderful DH, David, with 2 fur kids, 1 canine and 1 feline. I enjoy quilting, gardening, cooking and photography.
29 comments:
Hi Nancy, so good to see you post again. Thanks to Amy for reminding you..*VBS* I think of you with your 5 special "kids" each day as I learn from Ebby, and we get to know each other better. It's my first time taking an adult cat rather than raising one from kitten. And it is a different experience.
She has opinions, and likes thing a certain way. And I am constantly amazed at how well she comumicates what her needs are.
It must be so interesting to have more than one cat in the house. I've only done that once, having a mother and keeping one of her sons.
But I'm so happy now with my Ebby, what a blessing she is turning out to be.
And I want to thank you for having the courage to say what I have thought and felt about names on the side bar. The rings have grown soooo big...and then there are the gals we love who haven't joined the ring. I don't feel very connected to or with most of the mavericks anymore...and am so glad I have followed the Stash ring also. So many of you gals are my best connections...and are the ones I follow almost daily.
Things sure have changed alot in the almost year we've been doing this. I hope you'll keep posting, I'm hoping to see that 12 Days of Christmas quilt one of these days or years..*VBS* Big hugs, Finn
I hear you re bloglines and the ring... I too find myself less attached to the "family" of the ring, as they appear just like other blogs I follow in bloglines... On the other hand I never was great at getting around the ring, so at least now I check in with people when they post now :-)
Oh boy!! I could have totally written your post today. There are just not enough hours in the day to keep up with all the blogs that I was once reading. I am currently down to reading 38 quilt blogs, as well as a friend circle blog and a handful of family blogs. Of the 38 quilt blogs I read I add and take off my Sage (same thing as bloglines) as I see fit, for many of the same reasons you add and delete.
Good to see you checking, I think you need to come to Oregon and we can gain encouragement and enthusiasim from each other....so, let me know when your flight lands and I will pick you up at the airport.
I am there with you. I am currently in the process of doing what Forest Jane did and seperating my bloglines by those who comment regularly, rarely comment, and never comment to my blog. I feel that this will help me read those that are most important (although giving me the ability to still read the others).
Glad to see you back. I always enjoy your posts as well as your comments.
With more and more blogs available to read it is hard to figure out how to handle them. I haven't quite figured it out myself yet. Hope your system works for you.
Whew... I didn't get cut. ;)
And you're right about losing the "family" sense from the rings - I only check them to see if there's new blog I need to add to my bloglines. I have over 140 at this point... and it hasn't been overwhelming yet.
Too many goodies on the 'net! :P
Hey Nancy, I can understand having to update your blog list form time to time. I have a folder in my favorites where I store everyones that I read. I tried the bloglines thing, but I don't think I understand how it works as I don't get any emails when an update is made... wonder what I am doing wrong.
Nevertheless, I am happy to read your posts. I hope to one day be able to join a quilting ring.
OH and PS - please tell your sister I have missed reading her posts - she hasn't updated in a looooong time. ;) ~Bonnie
There aren't enough hours in the day to read them all! It sometimes takes me about 3 days to catch up :)
Seems like you aren't the only one with these thoughts. I prioritize a little differently - updating my blog is first on the list because it's primary purpose for me is as a journal. You'll notice I blog as much about life in general as I do quilting. Next priority is reading and I tend to read the entries of the *older* stash quilters first and then as I have time I read the rest. I do use bloglines and so it is easy to lose track of who hasn't posted in a while. My last priority is actually commenting. I read a lot of entries that I don't comment on especially when I get behind and I'm much more likely to make comments on blogs with people that I have an ongoing *relationship* with which I guess boils down to people who comment or email me like you!
Sure hope you are feeling better by now. And, boy, did you hit the nail on the head about trying to keep up with reading blogs. I still like to surf through the ones I have bookmarked (and we won't even talk about how many THAT is LOL!!) rather than rely on Blogarithm. KC Quilter
Good Morning Nancy - I visit your blog on a regular basis and worry when I don't see a recent post from you. I don't subscribe to Bloglines for the very reason you described - I prefer to just cruise the blogs to see what's happening. Does it take more time? Oh I don't know but I enjoy it alot more.
I keep telling myself that I'm going to update my blog on a regular basis but that doesn't seem to happen. I spend every morning reading blogs and commenting when I feel a need to.
In a nutshell I know exactly how you feel. Thanks so much for keeping me on your list. :-)
In Friendship!
Boy, do I know what you mean! The main thing that saves me, I think, is being able to read blogs during lunch at work. I sure got lots more quilting done when the PC was out of commission earlier this year. It was a real revelation. I know I don't comment as much as I used to, but I try to spread my comments around. I know what you mean about the rings too - I'd come to the same conclusion myself, though I've yet to act on it. Maybe as soon as I catch up on my reading from being gone?
Glad you are feeling better - boy, this bug has certainly made the rounds. Lots of blogging quilters have been sick!
hi Nancy, so glad to seeing you blogging again. I've missed reading your posts.
I don't use Bloglines but have two folders in Favourites. One of blogs i read every day and the other one of blogs i check when i have more time, mainly on the weekend.
I could have written your post as well. I have been thinking about how to whittle it down - i have 210 feeds currently). I do finding myself going to more "favorite blogs" sometimes when there is a lot to read and not a lot of time to read them in. I also have found that when the numbers are smaller to read, I comment more. I am going out of town for the weekend and don't think I will have internet connection, much less want to even look at bloglines during that time - I dread the numbers coming back from a four-day weekend away.
well said! (I am giving my self permission not to follow this blog or that blog just because so&so does.... That can be the only real reason why I have/had so many on my bloglines.) Thanks for the ring reminder - I can read the ring on my MAC - there is a hiccough between MAC & bloglines & I am too lazy to try to "fix it."
I think you have come up with a very workable plan. Although I don't belong to one of the rings, that's how I stumbled onto many blogs I read. Then through comments, I figured out and became dependent on Bloglines. I have a series of bookmarkas, too but they are not as current as the Bloglines list. There are days when reading blogs and comments seems to fill my time. I don't mind though -- it's my choice and I feel like I am connecting with people I enjoy.
You hit it right on target. My bloglines sometimes says I have 400+ blogs to read and there's no way I'll ever get caught up on reading. Some bloggers are better at posting than I am, but I cannot keep up with all of the wonderful talent out there.
Good to see you're still around. Maybe someday I'll get to add a Quilty-post!
Nancy, I was thinking about you just yesterday! I too noticed that you hadn't posted lately but had seen you "around the neighborhood" so knew you were ok!!
I too have pared my blog list down and it has become more fun!! But the nice thing about your list is that when I "lost" my blog list I just went to your list and reloaded!! LOL.
And don't feel guilty about reading and commenting like libby said we are your friends and it's important to keep up with everyone!!
Can't wait to see your quilt in Christmas colors!!!
BTW, are you anywhere near Houston or will be be attending ??? I know I should probably have a better sense of where you are in Texas but coming from teeny tiny connecticut, everyone is close enough to visit!!
Glad to see you still about.... I enjoy your site so much. I actually ordered the pattern for the last quilt you posted. I liked the idea of the center being one solid piece of fabric. I have several pieces I did not want to cut and you have given me the solution to that dilema..........Thanks.
I guess it is all about balance--somedays when you don't feel good or are super into quilting or whatever it is easy to just scan bloglines, comment or not.
Other days with more time, click through the rings, comment or not. I have found that bloglines doesn't always catch them all or when I click through it is between notification??
Good to have you back (and where is Susan?) That lovely kitty fabric deserves to be in its own little quilt!
Have you posted a picture of your Agatha so I can compare "spots" with my Pippi? You have said that they look alike.
Glad to see you back, Nancy - and you are so right. I'm a good reader, bad commenter. I'm going to make a note to comment on at least 5 blogs I read every day. I like the idea of putting my usuals in a folder - good idea ladies!
Thanks for your comments about reading blogs. I find that I will usually read the blog if it has a quilt picture - or if the entry is short. I quite often just by-pass long blogs about other than quilting stuff. Blogging is fun, but it does take up an enormous amount of time. Just too many great choices each day - quilting, blogging, reading, cross-stitching, knitting...on and on.
Good to have you back again. Happy to still be on your list of blogs you visit :)
I also have a lot of blogs I visit and are using bloglines. And I still discovers new ones. I try to keep up every day because I am so curious what you all are doing out there in the big world. Earlier I used to read my newspaper when eating breakfast before going to work, now I read blogs :) Because of the time difference a lot of things happens when I am asleep LOL
You may not post very often, Nancy, but you always leave really nice comments! Hope you are doing well!
A timely topic for me.
I never tried the bloglines thing and I have been considering removing my list of Quilty Reads from my sidebar altogether. It is not up-to-date, as I keep my current favs in my IE favorites folder anyway.
Regarding the commenting, I noticed a while ago that I had been very bad at visiting others who read my blog. I have been trying to be better about it...
Not sure how I feel about the emails in response to comments on blogs. That kinda removes the thread of conversation from the blog to a place where only two people at a time can participate... Hmm...
Anyway, it’s interesting to hear your POV on the subject.
I come check on you often, Nancy! Always glad when you've put up a post. And thanks for leaving my blog on your site! :)
You've hit the nail on the head. I have 69 feeds and there are some that I watch for every day. I always enjoy reading your blog, especially the projects you share with your sister.
I appreciate the comments you have made on my blog. Thanks!
I fully understand. My bloglines list has grown enormous too, and I pop in from time to time to see what people are up to. I can read several days of blogs at one time, since I don't visit each blogger each time. But you are right, with so many people, it is hard to remember who's who without reading the profile or the last post, and especially remember who's not posting.
Hi Nancy :-)
I also have been thinking about that family feeling lately and will be going back to go around the ring more often.
Post a Comment