gently

It's been a while since I've written here. There's no great reason why, except that when you stop it is so much harder, the longer the break, to start posting again.

I've been thinking about how I blog and why. Belonging to a particular community, by default, drained every scrap of blogging love from me.

So a complete break, cut off from the old Carrots and Kids, means I can totally start again. Probably with no readers but that's ok. It feels freer somehow.

Beginning to blog again here feels like starting afresh. I don't care for competitions, being in a room full of other bloggers telling me about their 90,000 readers, wonderful newsletters or generally how great they are, nor do I care for what I do here to be measured or compared to others.

I like gentle writers and blogs. I like people documenting their days just because. I like great photographs. I like peeking into the world they want to show me.

And that's how I shall blog. How I used to. If I talk about a product here it's because I bought it and really like it. I'm not interested in receiving goods for free to write a review (much less read them. Yawn). This blog is totally uncommercialised. That feels refreshing.

I'm not here to receive validation from anyone through my writing or pictures and I find it draining (and very easy to spot) when others do. Yeah, I know, each to their own. Blah. Blah. Blah. I just don't want to read it.

But I do want to share what I love to read. On a screen and in that endearingly old fashioned way, on paper.

There will still be gardening too. Rather weirdly, I have done loads. It's as if knowing that it was just for me, with no interest for anyone else, freed me up to do it just like I used to.

I'll still write about it here. But I'm also going to include stuff that interests me. I did start another blog but life's too short to maintain two, so it'll all be on here.

The breadmaking, green cleaning, the slow (oh, so slow) knitting, wholefood cooking, routines and rhythms, simpler living. It will all be here.

And so shall I.

Comments

[Rusty]

Sounds pretty perfect to me. You and I share a favourite tea too! Although I can never figure how much of my love is due to their beautiful packaging..

[ginny]

I do not blog so much these days but i love that i have a space to do so if i wish. i think many bloggers review why they blog especially if they have been doing it for some time. lovely to see you here again Debs x

[Joanna]

Nice to have you back. I have always enjoyed your gentle approach to writing about the everyday. You come over as a real person, not a supermum.

[Eleanor]

Wonderful to have you back. In your absence I have begun an experimetal blog, partly inspired by blogs such as this one, and am enjoying the whole process. I hope you recapture your enjoyment of it too.

[Tracy]

It was all the things you write about that made me enjoy your blog when I found it a few months ago. I am looking forward to more of the same.

[Charlotte]

Welcome back. I too am a slow knitter...or just a procrastinating one. I can't tell you (too embarassing) how many partial sweaters currently reside in my knitting basket. I look forward to news of your garden. PS thanks for the bird nest buffet suggestion - we had success with ours - had a nest in our tiny birdhouse.

[Earthm0ther]

It's so lovely to have you back and I completely agree with you! I'm sure lots of other people do too. The competition and commercial aspect of blogging is enough to put me off blogging myself! Or is that just an excuse? I don't know but reading beautiful blogs is a joy!

[Suzie]

Sounds a fabulous plan and love your new blog design!

[ViksterBean]

I'm SO glad you're back!
I love the way you write and completely agree with you about other blogs.
Well done you.
xx

[[email protected]]

Lovely to see you back...I always find myself agreeing with your words. Your blog design is lovely, so fresh looking...and you know I love your photos.....x

[Lucie]

Hurrah! So glad that you're back.

[Kim]

Have just recently discovered your blog and love reading back through your posts. So nice to read a nice everyday life blog! Here's to gentle blogs!

[Helen]

Hoorah I have missed you. I have been through the same process although I didnt stop blogging but came to the same conclusion. Back to basics - my blog is for me and what matters to me. I have even put up a page on it saying no adverts etc etc. The only thing I have continued to do are review books but then i do like a good book.

I have stopped trying to peruse a career in garden writing as it made me incredibly unhappy and I dont care about when I blog or who reads it any more. It is quite liberating.

I shall await your future posts with interest particularly as I have no idea what green cleaning is

Helen

[allotmentmum]

What a gentle and refreshing post. Hooray to a blog free from 'look what I got for free' reviews. I've not been blogging much either lately (not feeling up to it) and wasn't sure if my blog was going off tangent as most of it wasn't about allotmenting. However, I've decided there is no need to stick to one topic just because that is was what the name suggests. Writing is best when it's inspired and heartfelt, not forced and commercialised. Look forward to your gentle updates. From another slow knitter and time poor gardener.

[Ali]

I like 'here' because it's relaxed and by the above comments so does everyone else :-)

[Margaret (@maogden)]

Lovely to see you back, Debs. I love the way you write your blog, it's so natural and you've inspired me much for my own blog. Totally agree with all you've said.

[Suzie Hull]

Hi Debs, i only found your blog today for the first time, but I shall definitely be back. maybe I'm naive, but I thought people did just blog for themselves and whatever interests them. That's why I started blogging six weeks ago. I think mine is probably for friends and family to see what we get up to, and other likeminded people. You have just gone back to your roots and it must be very comfortable there, well done. looking forward to reading more. x

[Chris]

Awww, you have been missed, truly. Great to see you back, I'm loving the relaxed feel. Whilst you were away I taught myself to crochet and I'm loving it! x

[Lisa]

Oh I love clipper too.
I quite agree on the blogging for validation point, it really puts me off when it's clear they are being defensive of their lifestyle and parenting choices, I much prefer to read a blog that's Content with of their choices and just looking to record and share their journey with others.

[mamaUK]

I love your super pretty photo of the clipper tea, I like to drink Sleep Easy before bed, it really does help me sleep!

I love how honest your blog post is, blogging for an audience can be draining. For me things are changing day to day, week to week, my interests flow from one thing to another, healthy eating, simplicity, minimalism, just 'being' in the moments of family life, sometimes it's hard to write about though. Sometimes I would love to just to leave images (but I have no idea how readers would feel about that) other times I adore writing, it simply depends on how I feel on any given day.

[Kat]

Wow Deb, I had no idea you felt that way. I will keep it in mind should we meet again.

[Heather]

oh deb, i am so glad you are back! i had been checking both blogs for a long time and really missing your beautiful posts. imagine my surprise to find you back at C and K today. cheers from nc, stateside!

[rhiannon]

I've checked in tonight and you are back, I sort of knew you would be. I missed your posts and I am happy to read what you have for us. I'm off blogging and gardening at the mo, my photography projects have been lacking momentum. But all things will return when I'm ready I'm sure.

[Sharon]

I'm so glad you're back. I've missed reading your lovely blog. How you envisage future blogging is just perfect. Look forward to visiting again.

[Rachael]

Yippee, hooray, hurrah, oh what bliss. How I love you so. As ever I have read and nodded frantically whilst drinking tea and wanting to come round to your house and perch by your Aga. That is to say (she said, rather breathlessly) I completely agree. All the community stuff and the adverts and the bells and whistles and charts and hideous competitive flapping put me off blogging completely. Just thinking about it makes me lose grip of punctuation. I am so, so, so glad you're back.