I know I blog quite alot so this may be a bit of a surprise but Im feeling rather, blah about it lately, or at least about this blog. I adore the creative outlet of blogging which really helps me unwind from my sometimes stressful day job and it lets me feel that I have at least glimpsed my child hood ambition to be a writer, even though blogging has confirmed for me that I have neither the talent nor the ambition to be a real writer. I am also beyond thrilled with the friends I have made through blogging. In real life I am actually very shy and have quite a small social circle, my husband, my dogs, and a few close friends. Perhaps due to growing up as an only child Ive always been more comfortable alone then in social situations, bug blogging lets me socialize in a way that makes me feel comfortable. I don't see it as a retreat from the world but as an embrace of it.
In May I started a second blog originally called, The Old Fashioned Way,
and I know some of you have checked it out. I was starting to feel a bit uninspired and thought I might want to try writing about a few more of my interests, specifically my love of vintage and old things. While this second blog doesn't have too many followers I really enjoy writing it. I like that its a bit more of a mixed bag with what I can write about.
I'm currently considering combining the two blogs, as two blogs is a bit much. I have not decided for sure but I have renamed the The Old Fashioned Way-Retro Rover and am thinking of making that my only blog and having it focus on both dogs and vintage and anything else that strikes my fancy. It would still most likely be largely about dogs, because dogs are and always will be my first love. Hopefully a few of my followers here will follow me over to Retro Rover if I do decide to make that my only blog. I've been doing this blog for three years a good beginning run in blogging to decided what I want for the future, as I definitely don't intend to stop blogging. My question for bloggers who have been around even longer, or less long but mad changes, how has your blog changed over the years? If you do want to check of my second, and possibly future only blog, here is the link again: link.
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace." - Milan Kundera (b. 1929) Czech author
As someone who follows both your blogs, I want you to know that I enjoy both of them. Love your doggie adventures, of course, and you always have awesome photos of your pack. I'm a collector of all things vintage, including clothing, so I love your other blog, too. Unfortunately, I just no longer have time to visit and comment on all the blogs I follow. I can't guarantee it, but perhaps if you combined them, I might get by more often.
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy them both and combining them could be fun as a little bit of what you fancy does you good.
ReplyDeleteHave a marvellous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
I didn't know about you other blog but I will definitely check it out! If you have to do what is right for you and it sounds like you know what that is. I love the name Retro Rover!
ReplyDeleteI have been blogging since 2005!!! I def think blogging has changed. Especially now that everyone is on Facebook. I have been lucky enough to make some very lasting friendships thru blogging, but many of those friends have STOPPED blogging! I think the main culprit is Facebook. It is so much easier to pop on there and see what others are up to, BUT so much gets lost on Facebook! My blog has always been a real mixed bag over the years and this year has been my hardest blogging year! I am trying to get back into the swing because I do love the outlet too! I think if combining the blogs would be helpful to you, you should do it. I love reading both your blogs.
ReplyDeleteWE would miss you if you left , if you combine your blogs we would follow you cos you are one of our friends! And that is what friends do.
ReplyDeleteStella Rose
A combo of the two blogs sounds like a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about your other blog! But if you combine into just one, I would follow you there....
ReplyDeleteI definitely understand about feeling blogging blah-ness. I am going through a bit of that myself. I feel like I am just repeating myself as the years roll by, as the seasons change, and the dogs go through the same stuff each year. It certainly becomes hard to find something fresh to post about. I don't like Facebook nearly as much as a blog, so I plan to keep going, just maybe with less frequency.
It's hard to do 2 blogs. We enjoy this doggy blog and do enjoy your other blog too. It is just hard to keep up on visiting (especially commenting) so combining might be a good idea. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
ReplyDeleteAs you can tell, I'm just not motivated to blog. I'd love to have a chronicle of D&D's lives but I just can't seem to find the time. Keeping up a blog does take considerable effort. I will happily follow your combined blog if that's what you choose.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Christy
I enjoy both your blogs, so I know I would like the combo. I follow blogs because I like the "author," and feel a friendship towards them. I'm hoping to refresh my blogging by changing things up in 2014. I blog on a schedule because it helps organize and focus me. It's a really effective technique for me most of the time. Currently, I'm ready for a change, but I'm such a creature of habit that I have to finish out 2013 with my 2013 schedule. I'm weird. Can't wait to see what you do!
ReplyDeleteI go through times where I just get interested in other things, but something always draws me back to blogging. I didn't know about your other blog. I have a separate craft blog and it wouldn't work with the Sheltie stuff. However, this past year I walked for a while and have blogged when it worked for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a FB person so I know that isn't my challenge. I just get busy with other things and don't always get to documenting what is happening.
I find that posting just 3 times a week can sometimes be a challenge, but we love blogging and the friends it has brought to our lives. sometimes commenting is also hard to keep up with. Combining sounds like a great idea, we would follow you there!
ReplyDeletehugs
Mr Bailey, Hazel & Greta
I love blogging and reading your Urban Hounds blog. But i suspect two blogs is hard to sustain, and think combining them would be a good idea. Remember too, its supposed to be relaxing and its OK to have a break!
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging for over five years, and really, there have not been too many changes (except that Hamish died and Bertie took over). Perhaps time for me to think about that before I get stale…
Cheers, Gail.
I long to have a blog about art but the dogs won't let me.
ReplyDeleteThey are evil little tyrants who only think of themselves....
Yes, it is hard work writing 2 blogs, I used to have one about dressmaking but deleted it. I think it is a good idea to combine them.
Lynne x
Our blog hasn't changed. It's all about us!
ReplyDeleteXXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
I can't change our blog as it's just so stupid, anything goes, as you know..LOL I think you should one time blog about the babies, next what you want too. Having two blogs is always difficult, people don't always have time to comment on one then click to the next. We love the vintage side of you, and if you are ever looking for a new home for some of those clothes, I will give you my address, and pay postage LOL. xxooxxxx
ReplyDeleteMollie and Alfie
That's what I did with Rocco's House. It's a combination of my interests, and I love it. We've made it 2 years vs my usual 6 months on a blog.
ReplyDeletejust combine them! i love any kind of blog that is a real reflection of who a person is, and all of their interests! that is what I try to make mine. I've had a blog since 2001 and it used to be on live journal and i was PAINFULLY open and honest about every single thought! sometimes i wish i made my current one a little more personal. maybe i'll work on that next year.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Combine away! I look forward to that!
ReplyDeleteIf you make one blog ,, we will follow.
ReplyDeleteIts hard to keep up,, and that is something that has changed with our blog- is --- not enough time,,,
and to put no pressure on ourselves to blog- that is the goal.
One blog would be perfect;
love
tweedles
Go for it and I will definitely follow you to Retro Rover! I've been contemplating some changes to widen the scope of my blog too. Best wishes as you get the combo under way!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you had two blogs! I like the idea of combining them, that way you'll be able to have a lot of variety and therefore be less likely to get bored :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a pragmatist, so I say, combine away! I think the best thing ANY blogger can do is to write about what they are interested in/passionate about. It's easy to see that that would not always be dog-related, so write about the things you love!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I totally relate to what you said about having made a lovely circle of friends via the blog, while having a small social circle IRL. It's a hard phenomenon to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it, isn't it??
Let me see. I used to do the same thing with my blog. I combined them back when my brain was such a mess. Then I realized that I was quite passionate with blogging about the dogs. Unfortunately, offline life is overwhelmingly taking most of my time.
ReplyDeleteIf you are comfortable with it, I am sure Weasley and the crew will make great hosts for your Retro Rover.My suggestion is to make PNGs of them so that you can super impose their pictures on your retro post. LOL. That's so you have definite theme... whether it be dogs or the retro stuff.
Also, I am a shy person in real life. To be honest, I hardly update my Facebook page. But I am so glad I started blogging! It has given us a chance to meet wonderful people like you!
I've talked with "pro bloggers" about the subject of two blogs and they always agree to stick to one. And when adding new subjects/changing things up stick to what you want to do in your heart and not pleasing readers. You will lose some and gain new ones that are a better fit. I'm in the awkward phase of switching things around too and trying to write what feels "right". I'm learning not to post unless I feel 100% ready and really plan and write from the heart. Good luck figuring it out, I love blogging despite the ups and downs.
ReplyDeleteI think it's hard to keep 2 blogs. I can hardly maintain with only one blog... Especially recently, I've been too busy to blog. And I miss this blog world a lot. I can totally relate, I'm very shy like you and feel very comfortable communicating here on blog page. I think combining two blogs is a good idea and I hope it makes you feel more comfortable!
ReplyDeleteWow! This is the first I've heard of your other blog. I'm gonna check it out.
ReplyDeleteI think this is something we can all relate to. While I adore blogging I feel very pressured sometimes to compete with other bloggers, post a certain amount of times every week, not to mention reading and commenting on my friend's blogs. Then when you get into a 'niche' such as dog blogging you can feel very limited as to what you can post. It can really drag you down. All I can say is what has been said to me, "Follow your bliss." Do what makes you happy and the rest will come naturally.
ReplyDeleteHi Katherine!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tammy. I hope you don't mind me commenting on your blog. I just wasn't sure how else to reach you. I sincerely apologize if this comes across as spam, that is not the intent. With Christmas just around the corner, I thought you might be interested in our latest infographic "Are You A Doggie for Christmas Kind of Mom?". You can view it at Flickr.com: http://www.flickr.com/photos/106131018@N08/11241972855/ (Preview) . FYI (in case you're not familiar) Flickr.com is owned by Yahoo!. It's a very safe site and won't hurt your computer. To download the infographic right click on it and Flickr will show you some options.
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That's a good news. Please combine the two. I think that way you can organize it quite well and number of readers also will enhance.
ReplyDeleteReaders won't have to go on other blog that will get all in one place
Hi! I have just read the quotation by Kundera and totally agree... I couldn't imagine my life without a dog!!
ReplyDeleteHave a happy end of the week...