Thoughts for the End of the Year....2013

New Year's Eve.....only hours away from 2014.  How the heck did that happen!?!?!?  I know this much for sure - it snuck up on me when I wasn't paying attention. 


At any rate, I don't have any resolutions for the new year.  I don't have a post about my top ten projects or posts - a "year in review" post, if you will.  I don't have a word selected for 2014 - or even a post about the word that I chose for 2013.  I honestly don't have a plan or direction for "Janie's Porch" for the new year.....

However, I am not going to let that deter me from writing. 

Sure, there are days I would love to have one of those beautiful, glossy blogs that never fails to impress multitudes of readers with professional quality photos and original craft or decorating ideas.  You know - the ones that are always perfect and on target with blog trends?

As much as I would like to have a blog like that, it's just probably never going to happen.  I don't have the time to "develop" a blog that would be a widely followed, money-making machine.  But, even if I did, would I want to? 

I look at it this way -

Janie's Porch is not a "crafter" blog because I'm not a really crafty person.  Face it - if I did a craft project a week to share on the blog, I would have to find a place to use the crafted project.  Never mind the fact that we have a small cottage and our style is growing increasingly "pared down" and "simple", so there's not room for lots of projects.

Janie's Porch is not really a "decorator" blog because the number of decorating projects in our modest home is limited.  While it was lots of fun to show you the transformation of our living room this past summer, the only other decorating I did for the year was shifting a little here and there and finding new curtains for our two bedrooms.

Janie's Porch is not really a "foody" blog because I don't cook much.  Honestly, my wonderful husband cooks way more than I do around here.  So, recipes and kitchen tips are going to be pretty darn sparse over here, folks.

Janie's Porch is not really a "spiritual" blog because my faith is very personal to me.  I have a daily walk and relationship with Christ that is an extremely important part of my life.  However, I am not a devotional leader or teacher who feels qualified to try to guide others.

Janie's Porch is not really a "family/motherhood" blog, even though you do see a lot of family related posts crop up.  However, we are empty nesters, so there is not a lot to share about the trials and joys of motherhood on a daily basis. 

Goodness, I've just given you a huge list of what Janie's Porch IS NOT.  But, at the same time, I was really giving you a pretty good list of what Janie's Porch actually IS.  Because, you see, Janie's Porch is a little bit of a lot of those things.  Someone once asked me what kind of blog I wrote.  And my response was that it is a "life blog".  I just write about my life, our life, on a variety of different levels and topics.

That's actually pretty simple, when you get right down to it.  Janie's Porch is just about whatever suits my mood when I sit down in front of the computer.  I don't have a posting schedule - heck, I probably post at the wrong time of the day.  I do have a Facebook page, because I really enjoy Facebook.  But, I am sure I don't utilize social media in a way that "grows" my blog.  But, heck, my blog is not my business!  It is my hobby!  It is a fun and creative outlet for me.

SO, I'll just keep it that way.  I post when I can and when I feel like I've got something to share.  I love to hear from folks that they enjoy a post now and then.  I like to look back through my own posts and relive events and feelings that I've written about.  It works for me, though.  

I hope you will keep dropping by, even though I am just flying by the seat of my pants over here.  I know I will keep writing because Janie's Porch is a labor of love for me!  

P.S....a quick update on my recovery: 

Today marks four weeks since my surgery - anterior approach total hip replacement.  It's been a bit of a blur for me - albeit, the first few days were a drug-induced blur - but, still it's hard to believe that it's already been nearly a month.  My recovery continues and I notice small improvements almost daily.  Physical therapy will be ongoing for a while yet, but I get around the house pretty well now.  The mornings are still stiff and painful, until I get moving around.  I still can't find any other comfortable position to sleep in other than flat on my back.  The area around the healing incision sight still feels like a big block of cement embedded in my thigh rather than my own skin and muscle.  But, the healing continues and I only have a couple more weeks of wearing these awful compression hose and no driving!!!  Hope to have more good progress to share next time.  

Check back "next year" to see how things are going over here in my little corner of the world....Janie's Porch.  Until then, wishing you a blessed new year - stay safe!