Farm Update: Step into my Office

Step into my office. Just watch where you step.

I do a fair amount of my blog writing, reviews and photo editing inside the house, but a lot of inspiration happens while I am doing my morning chores around the yard.

I would like to think that the yard, the house and the farm are all my office. My iPhone allows me to stay connected and shoot off emails from wherever I am. Conference calls? Yes, I can take them while picking kale or waiting for my bread to rise. Most of my writing is done from the craft room/office, recliner or kitchen table. Thank goodness for laptops.

Social Media is a constant. There is always something to read, comment on or reply to, but life and the farm keep moving, too. I can't really stop and devote time to one or the other. I have just found a way to make it all work for me.

The cooler weather and shorter days have me reaching for pumpkin flavored coffee in the morning, but has also caused my hens to molt for the Winter. This has made my office quite messy. Feathers are everywhere in the yard and they get tracked into the house along with loads of mud on little shoes.

My blogging is about our life and that is always swirling around me. No post is completed without interruptions from the kids, the animals or the UPS driver.

Basically I write wherever I can. The million sticky notes and scribbles on the back of shopping lists are evidence of that. I write my posts ahead of time in my head and then try to bang them out on the keyboard as soon as a spare moment presents itself. I think this is why blogging has become such a big part of my life. I couldn't imagine not planning my next post.

Where do you write?

Show me the Money! NaBloPoMo

November 1st starts another great month of writing prompts with BlogHer's NaBloPoMo. Yeah, that's National Blog Post Month... every day, so stay tuned. Learn how to get involved and check out all the fabulous daily prompts on BlogHer.

Today is everyone's childhood dream, or maybe just mine. What would you do if a big, fat wad of cash showed up on your dresser one morning? With a clear schedule and endless possibilities, what would you do?

Short of finding Aladdin's famous lamp, it is pretty safe to say this is just a dream. But what if money was not a worry anymore? My husband and I still have college debt and plenty of bills to pay. My kids are constantly growing and there is always something breaking around the house. So, if I no longer had to worry about those items the fun could begin.

I am a homebody. I did a fair amount of traveling just after college and loved every minute of it, but I prefer to stay home. I love my family and entertaining, so if I had a large amount of money I would probably hire someone to help me design the perfect yard for hosting backyard parties.

A beautifully manicured lawn, brick pizza oven, comfortable seating and flowering bushes would create the perfect opportunity to entertain friends and enjoy those warm evenings.

I also love to bake and cook during the Winter, so I would also have to give my kitchen and dining area a make-over. Double ovens anyone? The house we live in has ample space, but a face-lift would be welcomed. I can imagine stocking my my pantry with fine wines, truffle oil and salts from around the world.

Think of all the kitchen gadgets I could own?

I am not a fancy car or big house kinda gal. Give me a new dream kitchen, lots of toys and a place to entertain and I would be happy.

Summer Can't Stop My Love of Hot Drinks

Summer may bring the heat, but it doesn't change my drinking habits.

Yes, even during the middle of Summer I start my day with a hot cup of coffee and usually end it with a cup of herbal tea and a good book. During the middle of the day is another thing. I do enjoy a big glass of iced coffee or cold fruity iced tea. But, those beginning and ending of the day rituals do not change with a fleeting season.

I have often posted my favorite coffee and tea brands and shared some DIY recipes here on the blog. They seem to be a staple of my day and a way that I can gain center even when the rest of my morning doesn't go as planned. There is something reassuring about that first hot mug filled with caffeine.

I had a friend who loved ice cream. For her it wasn't just a warm-weather treat. No, she loved it even more during the coldest months of Winter. It was all about her love of ice cream and not contingent on the rise or fall of the temperature.

I think my love of coffee and tea are the same. It is more about the ritual and the feeling I get when I consume them. Iced tea before bed or an iced coffee to start my day just wouldn't do it for me.

So I want to know. Do you like hot drinks such as coffee and tea? ... Even in the Summer?

I wrote this from the monthly NaBloPoMo prompts. Come join in with the BlogHer fun for August. See the badge on my sidebar for the link.

November - NaBloPoMo Event Starts NOW!

Do you blog?

Well, how often to do you blog?

This year I have worked hard to bring more posts to my readers. I have always been torn between the idea of regular posting, and having quality posts that will interest my audience. I do post sponsored content from time to time and am toying with the ideas of more deals and coupons since they seem so popular. As many bloggers will admit, having a little money coming in for the time and site upkeep is nice, but not at the expense of blog relevance.

I have been trying to branch out and post more family things. Food is always easy to write about. I love sharing recipes, tips and tricks to make food more accessible and less intimidating. I have often held back because I don't post about our extended family or I struggle to find creative ways to share my children's antics. Yes, they are real characters! But this month I am going to buckle down and post. It will be a crazy month here with the holiday, birthdays and the change of season. I hope you will join me as I post more about the farm, our food and our family. The reviews and giveaways will stay, no worries. I just want to put a little more heart and soul into Adventures in All Things Food .... & Family.

So, why the change of heart? Well, this month the Blogher group, NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) is challenging bloggers to post daily. Write, share and grow as a blogger. There is still time to sign up and join in. It starts today, but the blogroll will be open for new submissions till November 5th. Want to join in? Oh, did I mention there are some great prizes involved?

Come join me. Blog, write and share. I am #593 on the blogroll and there is still time and room for more!