Day Ninety-four: IZ isn’t so sure about summer ending.
Here we are. The last day of summer. Did you do something amazing, something summer worthy today? I spent the day as I usually do, attempting to restore order to the chaos around me. Despite my domestic slaying, Â I couldn’t escape the thought, “So, this was summer.” It wasn’t what I expected… and I didn’t do everything I set out to do. But then, that could be said of any day of the week, any week of the month. . .
I will tell you that I’ve throughly loved blogging every day. When I began this journey, I wasn’t really sure I would. In fact, I was a bit intimidated. What if I couldn’t come up with a photo each day? What if I got writer’s block? I was surprised how quickly I got over those hurdles, let go of the perfectionism, and emmersed myself in the process. Sure, not every photo was  newsworthy, nor was every post scintillating, but the process has kept me focused. I don’t feel like my summer just slipped away.
I will also tell you this has been a lonely process at times. Why is that people read but rarely comment? Or only leave comments on Facebook? Don’t get me wrong, commenting isn’t mandatory. I’ll love you just as much as I ever did if you only thumbs up my posts on facebook—but blogging everyday has put the commenting situation on Evidently in stark relief… and it’s something I’m evaluating. Â It certainly caused me to pause and look at my commenting habits! In an attempt to pry out the log in my own eye, I’ve redoubled my efforts to be present on blogs I’ve only lurked on in the past. I’m not drawing conclusions, just observing. I suppose I’ll have more to say when I can put my finger on the problem.
I do want to say, “Thank YOU!” to those of you who have traveled with me so faithfully. I appreciate your company more than I can say. It’s been an amazing 94 days and the fall has so much in store for us. I’m ready. Are you?
So! This is it. The end. I’m no fan of goodbyes, so I think I’ll let the final words on this summer be those of a beloved poet:
Lovely joy left blank, perhaps you are
the center of all my labors and my loves.
If I’ve wept for you so much, it’s because
I preferred you among so many outlined joys. ~~Rilke
I loved knowing that you would blog something!! And it was always blogworthy because I adore anything you write, any photo you put up, any thought in your head. You are a fascinating woman!! Thank you for your lovely posts.
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Thank you for being so present! You are a faithful commenter, Margaret. And I’m beginning to suspect one of the original old skool bloggers to boot! We’ll keep it real, m’kay? ~W
our summer just flew up in the air somewhere on the road between TX and ND and then broke into a thousand bits that fell into all our moving boxes, i still don’t know where it all went…it really ended for us last Friday with the first snow (yes, in september 1/2 inch that stayed overnight) the kids loved it but it was somehow very wrong (and scary and foreboding for me)…i have enjoyed and read every one of your posts this summer, even if i didn’t always comment–most of the time i read via my notebook on the kitchen counter between prepping food or cleaning up and the touchpad makes my typing wonky on that one…thanks for sharing your journey
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SNOW? Oh my goodness. That’s ominous, no doubt! It’s been raining in buckets and sheets and every other cliche out there all day. Rumor has it, it will be 70 tomorrow –but they are projecting this to be a wet and windy winter. SO not looking forward to that after this pointless summer. And I know you’re there. You touch bases in lots of ways. Honestly, no one responding to this post is really the target of my ire or confusion. Summer is a busy time for lots of people—it’s the reality that commenting here represents about 5% of my readership. And I’m curious, I tell you! 😀 ~W
Wende, You are a gifted writer and photographer, and I have so enjoyed your sharing summer with us. Thank you!
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Thanks so much, Tricia!! ~~Wende
I have followed you every day and loved the photos especially of the flowers and dahlias. Summer here in the middle of France has been ( still is) long, hot and dry. You must have had our share of rain! The garden is like a desert and the veg plot has produced less than usual as we cannot water freely.
I’ll miss your daily posts. Will you continue intermittently through the winter?
Thank you for your much appreciated efforts.
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Oh, we’ve had your rain and everybody else’s too! In fact, with so much rain we haven’t had the sunlight necessary for things to ripen. So I’m stuck with blooms still on my tomato plants and no hope of fresh goodies this year.
As for posting, I’ll still be writing regularly. Although, I doubt I’ll be doing so daily. 😀 And thank you so much for coming along. ~~Wende
Speaking for myself only, when I write something that truly comes from my heart, I want people to notice. I want the comments. I want them even when I write something fluffy or just post a video. It’s validation. It’s one of the only ways I have of knowing that my words have reached someone – that I have reached someone.
I had a crazy summer. Your words and your pictures, scintillating and newsworthy or not, provided a much needed haven. Thank you, Kitty. 🙂
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Me too, Emily. I’ve learned that not everyone feels the need to comment. So there is room here for people to lurk and I’ll live. But it makes me wonder… and it REALLY makes me appreciate the people who do take the time out of their busy lives to leave me a bit of love… or disagree with me. I’m not picky. Heh. xoxo Kitty.
Congrats. For me. I read as much as I could (my summer interfered with some of the reading) and I don’t comment much because I’m busy and crazed. I’m impressed with your amazing achievement though . . . posting daily is tough! Good on ya!
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Thanks! ~W
94 days? Already? Wow.
And in all fairness, I haven’t been by in a week. But I have tons of comments. 🙂
So proud of you for posting a pic and a snippet or huge chuck each and every day! The photo journal has been enjoyed thoroughly.
Congrats, hon!
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You’re a regular reader and commenter. I’m really just lamenting the stats of it all. Commenting reflects about 5% of the readership! If the readership wasn’t so large, I wouldn’t mind the low comments. It just makes a girl wonder… who are these people? 😀
And I’m kinda proud of me too… I had no idea I could do it. ~W
Of all the joys I was blessed with this summer, “finding you and your blog” was surely one. Thank you for sharing your pictures and words.
May fall bring joy and peace as well!!
Teri
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Thank you so much, Teri! And it’s nice to “meet” you! ~~Wende
Kudos for photo blogging the entire summer! You’ve inspired me to start a daily photo blog of my town — which should provide me with motivation to get out of the house everyday and do something besides write. I’ve really enjoyed your photos and posts.
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That’s awesome! A local woman does that here… (although, the photos leave something to be desired) it’s a fun project to do! I can’t wait to see your town. ~W
Oh facebook. Not only do people comment on my blog more there, they send me emails too…which I find odd, seeing as most of my close friends have my personal email address…perhaps it’s just easier? Sometimes I have 3 or 4 threads going through fb and personal email. It’s nutty, these times. Congratulations for all of the posts through the summer…I may not have commented each time, but I have enjoyed seeing you here.
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Yeah, I’m beginning to LOATH Facebook for so many reasons. :S ~W
OK, I admit I’m *LATE* to comment here. THANK YOU for documenting this summer. We may not have gotten away – but when you look back, there were a lot of great moments!
Last comment I said “YOU are so darn cute!”
for this comment, I’m going to say “YOU are so darn pretty!” because that’s exactly what I thought when I saw this photo!
I agree Wende, blogging can be a lonely process…especially when you write something “so funny” or “sweet” or “wow” and no one, it seems, seems to notice…I show my daughter my posts, when I think they’re really good, and she’ll say something in one word like “cute” or “funny” or “cool”…sometimes I ask my husband if he read my post or when was the last time he read my blog…usually, he responds by saying that he will…so…, since I keep writing despite the lack of comments, I guess it’s okay to say that I write to please myself…as for others blogs…I try to be a good blog friend and comment…sometimes, I think it would be easier to just have a few close friends and really keep in touch with what they are doing…other times, I am overwhelmed by the amount of friends I have on the internet, even if we only chat occasionally! I know I have friends…out there…
and you are one of my favorite friends!
Ahhh, summer, is it really over already?
xo
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Oh, thank you so much Kerri. I appreciate all the feedback on this post… it IS lonely sometimes. I’m very fortunate to have a few extraordinarily loyal readers who have become friends. I count you among them!! Thank you, thank you! xoxox Wen