GEARING UP FOR SPRING...

Old man winter has come and gone in Southeastern Virginia (or has it...I mean, it was freezing cold this morning and the ground was, dare I say, frozen??) and so our yearly yard clean up began a few weekends ago. It started off by getting the patio furniture cleaned off and sweeping the pavers. That led to weeding the flower bed and pruning the different bushes and trees in our backyard. The weeding and pruning led us to basically overhaul our flower beds so we laid down a weed barrier and mulched all of the flower beds in our backyard. It took two yards of mulch, but it was done (yesterday). And, during the process of all of this backyard business, we decided to move around a few plants and will soon start dividing some of the hostas we have back there because they are getting out of control! Oh, and did I mention that we got the garden ready and currently have red onions, rosemary, cauliflower, bok choy and brussel sprouts planted?

So, all of this backyard business is my toot for today because we did it. The backyard is ready for the spring weather, cookouts and horseshoe games that are sure to come once it warms up a bit.

Why I do what I do

I've never been much of a writer. Never, ever. I have never been one to keep a diary or a journal -- although I do remember YEARS ago as a young child I threw a fit in a store because I wanted a "dairy." (Yes, I pronounced it dairy and not diary...I was probably 6 so cut me some slack.) Don't ask me what happened to it -- my parents did buy it for me...anything to ease the embarrassment of a screaming child in a store, I guess -- I'm pretty sure I never did use it for it's intended purposes.

But, I digress...

I have been blogging for the last couple of years -- off and on. I would say that in the last year my blogging has really taken off and I am finding that I am logging into my blog nearly every day. Apparently, I have a lot to swirling in my head that I just need to get out. My first foray into the world of blogging basically came about because a friend of mine said she had an online journal. I thought the idea of an online journal was pretty intriguing and suddenly found myself setting up a blog. After a few posts, I became hooked and it really became an outlet for me to bitch, moan, complain, praise, wonder, vent, recommend, brag, etc.

So, here are MY reasons as to why I do what I do:

• Blogging is fun - plain & simple.
• Blogging is not only a creative outlet for me, but it's also an emotional outlet - sometimes, it's better to type what I'm feeling rather than to say what I'm feeling because people don't always like to hear someone else bitching all of the time. :)
• By blogging, I get to share things with people - friends, family or anyone else in the online community.
• By blogging, I feel that I can relate to so many other moms out there and that they can relate to me.
• My blog sometimes walks a fine line between sane and scandalous - yes, this blog has irritated a few people at times and, you know what, I'm proud of it. If you don't like what you're reading, go to another website.
• Someone else said it, too, but I am my biggest fan - the instant gratification I get from just seeing my latest blog entry posted is enough to make me feel accomplished & put a smile on my face.
• I enjoy reading other people's blogs and I hope they enjoy mine, too.
• Blogging helps me pass the time.

I am sure that I could keep going on and on about why I blog, but why don't you share with everyone else why YOU blog?