New Friends

One of the things I enjoy about having a blog is meeting new "friends".  Even though they are friends I have never met face-to-face; over time, it just seems like I have gotten to know them.  Some of my blog friends I have met up with over on Pinterest as well as Facebook.  Some of them I simply know from visiting their blogs and seeing what they are up to.  A few of them I have known since the first day I started writing this blog.  I've learned about their families, pets, hobbies, happy times, sad times, accomplishments, how they celebrate holidays, what they like to read, and the list goes on and on.  All things that you gradually learn over time about your friends that you know face-to-face.  I even find myself talking about my blog friends to other people; but I always have to clarify by saying something like "you know, the one with such and such blog".  It's rather amazing how the internet has connected so many people.  And now with Pinterest, a person can discover so many blogs, that it is really not possible to follow all of them.  However, tonight I came across one that after looking through a lot of her posts, I just know I could be friends with her if we met.  And so I found it a necessity to begin following her blog, and I have even linked her blog to my side bar with other blogs that I enjoy going to.  At this moment she has no idea who I am, but I think she must be very nice, and I look forward to seeing what she has to write about in the future.  The name of her blog is Serendipity Patch.  Maybe some of you have already heard of her; but just in case you haven't, if you like gardening, crocheting, quilting, and sewing, I think you will be quite inspired. 

                                                  Photo from http://serendipitypatch.blogspot.com/

A New Friend

I have a new little friend.  He is a squirrel that sometimes makes his little presence known around our front yard.  I don't see him very often; but occasionally when I go outside to sit in the sunshine, I will hear him scampering through the tree above me.  One afternoon after hearing him scurry around the branches, I decided I should befriend him by leaving him little treats.  So each morning (well I really try to remember each morning, but some days I do forget) I place 6 unsalted peanuts in various spots amongst the branches of his tree.   He found them in short order, and they were all gone without even one little shell left behind.  I think at first he must have thought it very unusual to find peanuts growing from a maple tree, and so he took them all home to add to his winter stash.  But now, he sees that those peanuts just keep appearing, and sometimes I see a couple of empty peanut shells on the grass where he has decided it will be okay just to taste one before he takes the rest home.  He will not allow me to take a photo of him just yet, but maybe some day.  I need to give him a name, any suggestions?

To Facebook or not to Facebook

I started using Facebook about a year ago.  My sisters and my son convinced me that I should hop on the bandwagon.  After spending a year partaking in all of the fun, I have pondered whether or not it is worth it.  The down side is that you see a side of people that you never knew existed, and quite frankly, that you really wished you wouldn't have seen.  I guess the mere fact that people can sit in front of their computer, instead of facing an actual person, gives them the boldness to use language that they would never have used if they were speaking directly to you.  I've found that at times I am "out of the loop" and discover shocking things about people, or stumble across startling photographs.  But on the flip side, I have seen many positive aspects of the whole Facebook experience.  I "talk" to one of my sisters on almost a daily basis.  She lives a long way from me, and so it is a great way to stay in touch.  Cousins that I used to rarely see now pop up on my screen almost daily.  I can hop on over to their pages, and see at a glance what they are up to, hear about their kids, and every now and then get a good chuckle about some of their antics.  Keeping in touch with old high school friends has also been very enjoyable.  Being able to see pictures of a brand new niece within hours after she was born, and hear that everyone is doing well, is a blessing.  So you see I have many more "plus" items than "negative" items.  But one item to add to the "plus" side is that I was recently connected to a childhood friend that I would never have guessed I would ever have seen again.  She was the perfect friend -- a next door neighbor friend.  Someone who was always there; and there was never a question of whether or not we would spend a day together.  We spent summers riding her horse, wandering the countryside, eating rhubarb and strawberries out of her mother's immense garden, and just being friends.  Here is a picture of us.  Aren't we a rough and tumble looking group.  From left to right is my friend, Pam, me, and my sisters Megan, and Peggy.  We are holding some of our new puppies.

So to answer my own question, I think I will continue on Facebook.  The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.