Monday, May 31, 2010

We Need to Talk

So, I've got this problem. It's a good problem.

It's this: I have myriads of ideas for blog posts floating around in my head, many of which shouuuld actually get written at some point or another. But since I'm already kinda behind, I'm not sure where to start. And what you, the reader, want to, well...read. So, I'm taking a poll.

There's another point to this also...I am curious about my readers. I thiiink I have more readers than my 13 "followers," because sometimes other people comment. Or sometimes someone tells me in person that they enjoy my blog and I had no idea that they ever read it. Which makes me ridiculously happy. Really. Over the moon! I told you it was ridiculous...

I know how I am when it comes to reading people's blogs...sometimes I don't comment because I don't have anything to add; sometimes I don't comment because I don't know how on their particular blog. Or I don't want to take the time to figure it out. But I've gotta tell ya, once you start your own blog, it's different. You wonder, a la The Pioneer Woman, "Is this thing on??" Yeah, Ree, it's ON. Why do you even ask?? We're here...thousands of us. We're here and we're listening. ;) And laughing, because you're stinkin' funny. But you can't really hear us...maybe that's why you're asking. Still, because she has so many readers, she has zillions of comments on every post. I've gotta admit, I don't usually comment unless I've tried - and loved - one of her recipes...or there's a giveaway. And when there's a giveaway, do I even have half a chance of winning a brand new RED Kitchen Aid mixer? Um, no. I would have a bigger chance of getting one by going to Kohl's and finding $299.99 stuffed in one of the mixing bowls in the beautiful, beautiful Kitchen Aid display.

Obviously, I can't give away Kitchen Aid mixers, even though I appreciate them dearly and think EVERY cook should have one. (I have my mother's older blue one, by the way, lest you were feeling sorry for me earlier. It does the job, so I can't justify spending money on another just yet.) AnyWAY, I am off subject. Kinda.

Here's the deal. I'm going to give you, the readers, a couple of how-to's about posting a comment or becoming a follower - and a list of possible post ideas. And you, the readers, can give me some feedback. And I will randomly choose someone to receive something awesome. I say "something awesome" because no, I don't know what it is yet. Hey, it's going to depend on who wins. It could be a baked good...or some future homemade plum jelly or homemade pear preserves. Or...if you don't live in Henderson or thereabouts, it might (will) be something smaller and lighter that I can mail to you. It could be cookies. What think you? Is this a good plan?

What if I don't know you? Well, you can still read my blog. I don't have a problem with that. And you can still win something. =)

Alright, here's the how-to's on posting a comment or becoming a "follower." You can set up a Google account and sign in that way. It takes a very, very short minute. Seriously. You don't have to make a complete profile. You don't have to load a picture.

Or you can be "anonymous." But...if you do decide to be anonymous, please sign off with your name or something distinguishing. =) If you found the link to my blog through Facebook, you can also comment on there. No problem. And one more thing...if you don't want to sign up with a Google account or wait to catch the next posting with a Facebook link, you can message me with your email address and I can add you to my email list. Then it will automatically get sent to you, no matter if you do gmail or something entirely different.

That business is taken care of...let's talk about creative writing, which is why I enjoy blogging.

Go ahead and give me your top three choices. Or you can say something along the lines, "All of it! Tell me about ALL of it!" By the way, flattery will get you everywhere with me. ;)

A. Three (now Four!) Nests of Baby Birds
B. Chocolate Chip Cookies (The traditional, the NEW, and the healthy-but-still-awesome versions)
C. The Tea Party Report - Part 5: The Tea Boutique
D. Recipes: Strawberry Pie, Polynesian Chicken, Crash Hot Potatoes, Sweet Potato Fries, etc.
E. A Tale of Two Butterfly Cakes
F. What's Really Important: i.e., Self-indulgence vs. Self-control, Riches in Heaven, Finding God in Everything, Out in a Crowd
G. Gardening (and Living) in my Grandparents' House
H. Why You Should be Involved in Mission Work
I. Container Garden and Cardigarden Update
J. More Conversations with the Husband
K. LOST: Why I Miss it Already
L. Family Secrets (not really - that's just to see if my mom's found my blog yet)

And there's more...I'm positive. Also, the titles are working titles. They may become slightly undorkier upon further inspection. I do hope. But I promise that all of them will be thought-provoking or funny or...something.

Alright, your turn. You can even answer, "I don't care what you write...just say something and let me go on and live my life." But I can see into your future and that's not gonna bode well for you, prize-wise.

Maybe I shouldn't have asked you to comment. Maybe I should have been more discreet, as in saying, "I don't hate comments." Maybe I should have used reverse psychology on you. Like our three-year-old friend Tessa often must be dealt with. ("Don't you give Larry a hug! Don't do it! Don't you dare!")

So...don't you comment on my blog! Don't do it.

Don't you dare. =)

9 comments:

  1. So, friend, you've come down to my begging-for-comments level... :) I'm telling you, they mean so much, don't they?? And when you have people tell you that they read your blog and you had no idea that they even knew you had one, you're just like "helloooo, leave a comment, so I know I'm not wasting my time on this thing!" Believe me, I know how you feel. It's totally hard not to envy people like the Pioneer Woman who have thousands of comments. However, sometimes it's nice to not have to be "accountable" to all of your "readers" and whatnot. With that being said, we're not asking for thousands of comments per post, maybe just 15 would do, huh? :) You can count on me to oftentimes comment. I'm just saying...

    BTW, all the future posts sound great. I especially want to hear about your house and get to know your husband better. But that's just me.

    Oh, and don't worry about the prize for me. No need to ship anything. Besides, I'll totally read your blog regardless. You're like my little bloggy baby; whether or not it's warranted, I'm totally taking full responsibility for you even starting it! :)

    Keep 'em coming, and just do whatever you feel!

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  2. Kristen, let me tell you that despite my ability to get on the internet - I love your blog!!!! I have just posted about the tea party on mine and linked everyone to yours many times! You are perfect at blogging! As for what I want to hear from you -
    LOST, of course, recipes and more tea party!!!!!

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  3. Hello Kristen! Yes, I have read your blog several times. It always gives me a smile. Loved Quiet as a Button! (Snaps and Velcro are noisy!)I even listened to some of the music you recommended -- enjoyed Tennessee and Doubting Thomas.
    Okay, my top three choices are:
    D. Recipes--the Polynesian chicken sounds delicious.
    F. What's Really Important, and
    C. The Tea Party Report, part 5.
    If I am lucky enough to win, I would like for my prize to be a visit from you on my front porch, with a cup of tea. :)

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  4. Hi Kristen!

    I suppose you can call me a lurker because I rarely comment on blogs. And as a fellow blogger, I realize the error of my ways...

    Anyway, I think all of your topics sound great...but if I have to choose 3, I'm going to go with:

    D. Recipes--especially the Sweet Potato Fries, as I think I could live only on Sweet Potatoes and be happy!
    I. Container Garden--I am a fellow container gardener, so I like this one, too.
    J. Conversations with your husband--the last one of these made me laugh, and based on it, I suspect you have more funny stories to share!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So I don't really KNOW you, but I went to FHU, as well. And I love how positive and happy your blog is! I'm an aspiring good cook, so I love new recipes. Also love LOST, so anything having to do with that is okay in my book (except spoilers, b/c I'm not quite finished with Season 5 yet...). Conversations with your husband. And, of course, what's really important. That's four, but there you go.

    I have a blog, too, if you are interested...recently started it, so not much content yet, but feel free to come visit!

    http://wishfulthinking92003.blogspot.com/

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  6. I have enjoyed reading your blog. I want an update on the cardigarden. Also recipes. Also LOST stuff. Also more music. Also anything you write choose. Thanks for writing!

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  7. Ok so, I can't pick just three.
    I choose:

    B. Chocolate Chip Cookies
    D. Recipes
    E. A tale of Two Butterfly Cakes (mostly because it just makes me wonder - "Are they cakes shaped like butterflies? Are they cakes made of butterflies? Are they flying butter cakes? Are they cakes named 'butterfly cakes' for no apparent reason?")
    F. What's really important
    H. Why you should be involved in mission work
    I. Container garden and Cardigarden Update (I'd like to learn to container garden since we're living in an apartment. Also, what's a Cardigarden? A garden inside a cardigan?)
    J. More convos with the Husband (I miss your and Jeremy's banter SO. MUCH.)
    K. LOST. (Anything about LOST I will eat up. I'm already re-watching it from season 1)

    Plus anything else! I love reading your thoughts! I miss you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You people are nice! =)

    Mindy - Yes, you definitely got me started on the blogging. Full credit to you! Thanks for ALWAYS being so encouraging. I love, love, love that about you!

    Becky - You're sweet! I am so glad you've been enjoying reading about the tea party. It's been so much fun to "report" on.

    Ms. Laurel - Your message tickled me to death! Your prize would be a prize for me, too. ;)

    Annalisa - Thanks for your nice comments! Also, I just ordered your book from Amazon - should arrive tomorrow. =) Looking forward to taking it on our upcoming Nicaragua trip!

    April - Just became a follower of your blog also. =) I think I remember you a little from Freed - it'll be nice to get to know each other a little more here in the blogging world.

    Jenny - Is this Jenny as in "Jenny & Aaron"?? I have recently realized that I know sooo many Jennifers, Jenns, and Jennys. I suspect that I know which one this is, but let me know for sure! =)

    Brittany - Your butterfly cake comments made me laugh! I was mysterious on purpose. I'll tell you one thing: the cake gets its name for an apparent reason. I will definitely be blogging about this one later. It's too cute not to! And...I miss you, too!

    Alright, still waiting a tad longer for a winner of a prize. Probably this weekend sometime...

    Stay tuned! And THANKS for reading and commenting!

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  9. Ok, so I know that I'm a little late on posting my comment and as such am disqualified from receiving an awesome surprise (curses!). But I did not want to go without letting you know that not only do I read your blog, I look forward to all new entries because they help to fill the void left by the great distance between us:-)

    As for blog requests, you can probably guess mine without me telling you...but I will list them anyway:
    1. Reasons to be involved in mission work.
    2. LOST! Of course.
    3. Family secrets! Come on, the people want to know what's hiding in that Hester closet!
    --Ok, Ok, that one probably won't happen, so I'll have to go instead with more conversations with the husband. I can just picture you two in these moments, and it just makes me smile:-)

    Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make me smile! Don't worry if you don't have a Google account - you can comment anonymously, but just leave your name, too. Let me know you were here, even if this is an "old" post. =)