FIMBY

And you thought the elections were over?!

You may have noticed that I was rather silent on the whole subject of elections. As a disenfranchised legal alien (fancy speak for Canadian living in the US) with good friends on all sides of the political spectrum it's best to keep my mouth shut on these matters. You can be sure I have an opinion but I choose to keep it to myself (unbelievable I know). Besides I believe in making the world a better place right where I live, regardless of Washington politics.

Ok, that's enough politics. I'm here to ask you to vote... for me!

Official campaign photo: taken by 5 year old Brienne

FIMBY has been nominated for an award over at The Homeschool Post. A site all about "encouraging, informing and connecting the homeschooling community".

I've been nominated in the Best Variety category, which I guess describes this blog as I'm kind of all over the place in what I post about. Life's more interesting that way.

I totally don't want to inconvenience or pester any of you so you are welcome to dismiss this post altogether. But for the rest if you'd be so kind and pop over to the Best Variety Blog voting page. Click on the little circle next to my blog name and click the Vote button down below.

I just did it, right now, and guess what? My blog has one vote, mine! Ha, ha... kind of funny actually. Yes, I really do need your help. But please, only one vote per person. I think they can track that somehow anyway. IP addresses or some other mumbo-jumbo.

There are prizes with this award but I honestly haven't looked into that since prizes aren't so much my thing but the "publicity" would be kind of cool.

Take care you all and thanks for reading this. And if I don't win this award I'll know who to blame! Just kiddin'.

Something you may not know about me is that for a decade I haven't earned any money. Nada, nothing, zilch. And not because my hubby is some big shot executive earning the big bucks - ha!

We have managed to do this because of God's provision (free housing for 6 months during a time when Damien was earning very little) and a lot of frugal (not cheap) decisions. But this post is not about how our family of 5 has lived on one modest income for 10 years. It's about blogging... eventually.

Potential

First a little history

10 years ago I was an university student in my last year of an education degree. I was also a wife and homemaker, pregnant with our first child. That last term of school was intense. I was "working" full time as an (unpaid) student teacher. We moved that spring, in the final weeks of my practicum. I graduated in April, nested for a month and then welcomed our first born Celine in May.

We had no intention that I would work outside the home when we had babies and little ones. But someday I figured I might do something to earn a little extra...

Someday never came because we moved to the United States when Celine was one year old. We have been here for over 8 years and for that whole time only Damien has had a work visa. I am not legally allowed to earn money. We are in the process of applying for permanent residency (go figure, Canadians immigrating to the US!). When we are granted that, our lawyer says it could be another three years, I will finally be able to earn money. Money, like the stuff you need for groceries, the mortgage, and the occasional vacation.

Finding my own path

What does this have to do with blogging?

Although I can't earn money right now, someday I will. And I'm hoping (don't laugh I have a fragile ego) I'll be able to sell/trade/barter my creative skills in exchange for things our family needs and wants. Things like art and music lessons or a trip to France - a mama can dream can't she?

Dare I even say it? That someone will value my writing and photography (and who knows what else) enough to exchange something for it. There I said it. I want to go somewhere with photography and writing. (Thanks Casey by the way for the earrings in exchange for the "photo shoot" of your boys).

Right now the most logical place to start is with my blog, the easiest means of self publishing. But because I can't sell (remember I can't earn $) my experience or skills as homeschooler, photographer or writer I get satisfaction simply in knowing that people are visiting my blog. Hopefully they are inspired, encouraged or challenged about something I wrote. Maybe they'll even start to eat more local vegetables, enjoy an afternoon outdoors with their children, re-think homeschooling, plant a little garden, go on a family hike, show kindness to a neighbor, pursue a creative life.

Creating and sharing an authentic (I have bad days too) lovely family life is my message and I'll be honest - I want people to read it. I don't earn anything from people visiting this blog or clicking on links (in case you're wondering) but I get immense gratification just knowing people are reading.

To be sure, I'm not the only camera wielding mama who is hoping to unleash her creative genius on the blogging world. There is nothing like linking your way through the blogosphere to make you feel like a really little fish in a really big pond.

That's ok. This blog which started 4 years ago as a way to keep extended family in the loop has now grown into a creative outlet for me. A venture that someday may add value to our family.

Some mamas knit, quilt, scrapbook. I take photos and blog. Thanks for joining on the journey.

Do you have a blog with a similar purpose? A creative outlet to share your take on life with the world? Please share a link in the comments (ps. You don't have to be a mama).

Alberta countryside

Our server crashed this weekend, of course while we're 2,000 miles (or so) away from home. A friend went over today to fix it so I can finally post again. It's rather scary how much blogging means to me these days. It's how I communicate what is important to me through words and photos. Without this "outlet" I feel antsy and like all my feelings are bottled up. Now that's a really profound statement. Sounds like something women are notoriously known for saying to men, "don't bottle those feelings up inside".

I came to a blogging realization this weekend during a conversation with my sis-in-law. I admitted to her I feel I communicate better through blogging than real live conversation because when I blog I take the time to think about what I'm saying. I temper my strong beliefs, worldviews and values as I write and have less chance of hurting someone with what I say. Things can get a little out of hand when I start to actually speak.

I'm passionate about many things, it's hard to keep that enthusiasm to myself and I don't want my convictions to come across as criticisms. So, sometimes I'd just rather write than speak. It comes out better and truer to what I'm really trying to communicate.

My friend Emily at Journey Notes said it well on her blog this morning, with this quote from Robert McCloskey:

"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."

And to my sis-in-law B., thanks for the great conversations. You are such a gracious person, trying to draw out the best in someone and understand their point of view. I have a lot to learn from you. Love ya lots!

Late season ladybugs

Wednesday was a day of blogosphere love and kindness in my world. In the afternoon mail I received a hand crafted card and 5 bookmarks from Kristina at Meadowlark Days as a thank you gift for my recent book giveaway. Kristina, how did you know I have 3 or 4 books on the go and desperately need bookmarks? That was a lovely afternoon surprise.

More kindness from earlier in the morning... when I checked my Google Reader. Something Cheeky posted a cool photo and then went on to talk about the "I love your blog" award she was given by a fellow blogger. As Kirsten started to list the 7 blogs shes loves I was thinking "another lovey link fest" (which I have nothing against). So I scrolled down to read the blog titles. Maybe I'd recognize one or find a new favorite for my reader.

Then hokey-dinah (I seriously talk that way) right there in the list was my blog! I'm not even related to Kirsten! I kid you not, my stomach did a "someone likes my blog" loop-t-do. My husband teases me that it's like a junior high popularity contest. In any case I was flattered.

What was especially sweet is that Kirsten's description next to my blog says "Loving...organically". That someone would get that message from my mumbo-jumbo posts about homeschooling, natural living, gardening, hiking and photography is truly humbling.

One of my desires in writing this blog (other than basic self promotion, let's be honest that's what blogging is about!) is to be authentic as I share ideas that hopefully inspire and encourage. And my desire to inspire is not because "I'm better than" but because we all have experiences and stories to contribute to each others lives. That my blog is described as "loving" was a reassurance that the right message is getting across.

A humble thanks to Kirsten. You can check out for her own inspiring blog and self portrait photo project (man that takes guts and some good photography skills).

So, in the spirit of inspiring and encouraging, with honesty, here are the blogs that I love these days:

InsideOut - If my sister-in-law is anything, she's honest. But she's also intelligient, an amazing SAHM and gorgeous. My brother knows how to pick 'em.

Me Ra Koh Photography- Creative photo assignments, contests and inspirational stories interspersed with family tidbits of a popular photographer.

Wife, Mother, Painter- Encouraging me that I can be a wife, mother and photographer; written with a healthy dose of reality.

Phunny Pharm - Our dear friend and fellow traveler on the Way posting about growing...organically.

Just Pure Lovely - Homeschooling life with a Florida flavor and simply lovely everyday photos.

Playful Learning - Aesthetically pleasing layout of learning projects for kiddos. Complete with book lists and other resources.

ADVENTUREinPROGRESS - Not a prolific blogger by any means but the best life partner, provider, friend, lover, technical support and fellow adventurer this mama could ever ask for.

The rules for this love fest are posted here. But I don't like rules, so participate or don't, as you like.

And because I don't want anyone to feel left out and I've been meaning to post a blog roll for a long time I've added a new sidebar to my front page called NIMBY. Whereas, FIMBY is a blog about the Fun In My Back Yard, NIMBY is the the blogs I visit, Not In My Back Yard.

Clever title, isn't it? I've been thinking for some time about what to title the list which is one reason I haven't posted a blog roll yet. That and I have issues with pleasing people and don't want to hurt anyone's feelings if they aren't on the list of my regular reads. A homeschool mama only has so much time to sit at the computer! So if I've missed you please don't be upset. And not all links are up yet, be patient.

And now I'm tired of my voice, you're tired of my voice. Go read some of the blogs I've listed. I'm taking a little writing break but plan to post some backyard photos in the next couple days, technically it's what my blog is about after all.

I'm tired. But I have so much I'm writing about and keep meaning to finish and post. A Soul Survivor book review, a camping trip with friends this summer and the love lesson I learned from that experience (really want to post that before the end of summer) and homeschooling high schoolers in response to a recent comment. Oh and how I vote with my dinner plate. Stay tuned these may show up someday...

In the meantime I want to direct your attention to a couple changes I've recently made on the blog. Firstly, I love all your comments, thank you. I've added a new sidebar block called Comments where you can easily view the most recent comments. This way you don't have to open the individual posts to see if your comment has posted and if there is any responses.

nothing to do with this post but they're my life so they belong pretty much anywhere on my blog

Also, I've updated the About section so if you're ever wondering what FIMBY means and who exactly who writes this blog you can satisfy your curiosity and read in-Frequently Asked Questions and Wife, Mother, Photographer.

And I've been meaning to introduce my husband's blog for sometime. He's not exactly a frequent poster but if you're wondering how to poop in the bush check it out. He posts about all things related to adventure and family.

This is a good time to thank Mariah, at Playful Learning, for her very complimentary blog post about my monarch slideshow. Thanks Mariah - those were kind words. Check out her blog, and not just because she says nice things about me. She posts great ideas for learning with little ones.

G'nite y'all.

Well considering only two of my four readers responded to my contest the "random drawing" was easy.

And the winners are:

Cori, my "real-life, local" friend who blogs at Starting the Farm, receives Simpler Living, Compassionate Life. (If she can clear space off her shelf that is). And hey Cori I don't want to clutter your life with more stuff so I can always sell it on Amazon if you don't want it right now.

~Kristina~, a new visitor to my blog and writer of Meadowlark Days blog receives Food and Faith. Thanks for stopping by Kristina. You have a lovely blog and it's been a pleasure meeting you, I'm guessing we connected through Shutter Sisters.

Happy September everyone!

Today I really enjoyed reading these posts. One by a personal friend on Fear and Possibility. And another on the Me Ra Koh photography blog on art as an act of faith. Funny, just noticed the common thread in these two very different blog posts - having faith.

kid's beet juice painting: with a little tumeric for contrast

I'm taking a blogging writing break.

To catch up on some stuff I want to do, like reading and digesting my favorite photography blogs and maybe finishing the book I'm reading. And to work on some other stuff I need to do, like learning how to stick to a set amount of computer hobby time each day and going to bed earlier than 11pm. I can't seem to manage it all (ha, imagine that) so before I stress out I'm stepping back to re-evaluate and re-organize how I spend my time each day.

No fear, I will be photoblogging. I'm too far into this blogging business to step back altogether. My promised third local foods installment while be a photo "essay", you excited yet? I am.

Be well, I'll be reading all your blogs. Leave a comment with a link (you can even use fancy HTML - click Input format beneath the text box of your comment to choose that option) to your blog in case it's not yet in my RSS.

Check out Chezart for this week's Make it From Scratch Blog Carnival. A link to my laundry soap recipe is posted there along with lots of cool "make it yourself" projects. I just love learning from other home-industrious people! There's even a recipe for making shampoo from soapwort plant - cool.

Last week's carnival featured a crocheted scrubbie that I'm hoping to make one of these years. I keep saving my plastic mesh onion bags in hopes of re-using them into something useful.

11/19/08 Update
I just came across this video that does a fabulous job of explaining how RSS works:

Original Post
I've gotten a few e-mails and in person comments from friends who missed my soap giveaway contest. There is a surefire way you won't miss anymore amazing blog posts (who am I kidding) or future giveaways: subscribe to the blog, and any blog you want to read on a regular basis, in an RSS Reader.

My technical guru and ever-so-handsome husband wrote a short blog about RSS a year ago, back when this blog was tougas.net and other family members would occasionally post. It's a great post, short and easy to read and does a good job of explaining RSS.

In typical fashion I dismissed the idea of an RSS reader as too complicated or techie for my own needs. Man was I ever wrong on both accounts. My personal choice is Google Reader.

The cool thing is that now I go only one place to check the latest posts on my favorite blogs. No more bookmarks or cumbersome and often forgetful blog wanderings. A couple of my favorite photography blogs right now are Shutter Sisters and Dolce Pics - Digital Photography Tips for Beginners and Parents. Each morning when I check Google Reader I read the daily post from these blogs and am inspired to take better photos.

I highly recommend this tool to help keep you in the loop of the blogs you like to read. Maybe mine will even be included in that list *smile*.