TGIF: I Answer Jill’s Questions Over There While Announcing Summer Hours Here

/ Ally Bean

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THE JILL’S QUESTIONS OVER THERE PART

Jill Weatherholt asks questions, oh yes she does.

In fact she asked me to answer her questions, so I did.

Should you care to read my answers to her questions then click on I WANT TO READ ALLY BEAN’S ANSWERS TO JILL’S QUESTIONS and you’ll be magically taken over there to her blog.

Forsooth.

THE SUMMER HOURS HERE PART

Wanna know a secret, my gentle readers? Yes? Well then lean in closer and I’ll tell you one.

When I chose SIMPLIFY as my word of the year I planned on taking this summer off from blogging.  Just bug out completely.  Detach entirely.

However plans change.  Perhaps you, too, live in a state where you are still being asked to stay at home?  Well, we do and we are.

This is the end of Week 13, by the way.

Now clearly I have the time to post to this blog, but summer [in the northern hemisphere] is when I’ve found that personal blogging slows down to a dribble.  Plus I’m in a blogging rut, in the mood for a change, a simplification as it were.

Thus I’ve decided to adopt what I’m calling SUMMER HOURS.  To wit:

  • I’ll be posting my usual flapdoodle and twaddle here every other week instead of weekly.
  • I’ll be posting mid-morning, probably on Tuesdays, thereby allowing me to have a relaxed morning in keeping with summer’s mellow vibe.
  • I’ll be commenting less frequently on your blogs, keeping up weekly with the cool kids who keep up with me.

And with that I wish y’all a groovy weekend and a happy summer.  I’ll be here when I’m here.

LOVE ‘YA. Mean it.

145 thoughts on “TGIF: I Answer Jill’s Questions Over There While Announcing Summer Hours Here”

  3. I loved the interview with Jill. I never understood the fascination with Starbucks….I don’t want to brag, but I have a coffee maker INSIDE my house.
    Good for you to simplify. I hope you have a lovely summer, but of course, I will miss reading your wit and insight as often.
    *cheers*

    Liked by 1 person

  4. A relaxed summer vibe with relevant hours sounds like an excellent idea to me. Of course, we’re moving in the opposite direction so I anticipate plenty of time in my shed (when my little heater is going it’s warmer than the house) so maybe I’ll be around a bit more than usual. But then, life is returning to some normality here also – I’m working, the kids are back at school and the Middle Son has decided to move back to his university accommodation this weekend. Life continues to change and adapt as we all must.
    Enjoy your simple summer, Ally.

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    • MOSY, thanks for your support for my Summer Hours. I enjoy blogging and the community, but I’m going to go my own way, sort of, for the summer. I’ll be around, just not so much.

      I’m pleased to read that your life is shifting back into normal. I like the time of year when fall turns into winter, so I’ll think warmlyof you in your shed with your heater, doing that which you love to do.

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    • Deb, as I’m sure you realize after all these years, summer is when bloggers tend to slack off from blogging. I’ve seen it happen for years, so this year I’ve decided to be one of the slackers! 😎

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  7. Summer is a tough time to keep up a blogging schedule. But, since you’re my only source of flapdoodle and twaddle, I’ll take what I can get.

    I liked your answers over at Jill’s

    Have a great weekend.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. I think weekly posts are plenty. (Says the writer who often goes 10-14 days between posting.) Enjoy your Summertime. That’s my plan.

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  9. Thanks for linking me to your fun answers and introducing me to Jill’s blog. I’ve passed Jill in the hall lots of times, but never taken a class with her. So to speak. I’m looking forward to it.

    Enjoy your summer, such as it will be. Fingers crossed.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Our state barely had ‘shelter in place’ to begin with, so now it’s even harder to live life the ‘COVID isolation staying safe way’ watching everyone else live life as if there’s no tomorrow…gee that sounds a bit too true in this case, eh? I mean we’re given the dirty eye as we wear our masks in the grocery store, etc…Oh well, don’t get me going!
    Anyway – enjoy your blogging break!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Laura, “as if there’s no tomorrow” does sound a big accurate/gloomy, but I take your meaning. Our movements are more restricted here, and for good reason, of course.

      I’ll be around blogland during the summer, just less so. Who knows, I may get bored enough to write weekly again instead of every other week… but I don’t think so.

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  11. Oooh, summer hours sounds like such a delicious plan Ally – both nurturing AND like a cosmic invitation for unexpected delightful summer treats to find their way to you. How fun!

    I enjoyed your answers to Jill’s queries. I’d choose a rooftop garden myself, although I wouldn’t be adverse to a cow or two keeping me company up there. 🙂

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    • Deborah, I like your explanation of what I’m trying to achieve with my Summer Hours. I could use some planned laziness/nurturing in my life right about now. Plus I’m all about cosmic delights. Will keep an eye out for them.

      Not to be too nosy, but how are you going to get those cows to the rooftop? Inquiring minds, and all.

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      • LOL. Ah those pesky practicalities. I used to live in a building where you had to climb a metal ladder up to the roof (fabulous view and well-worth the effort), but I don’t suppose it would have been very a very bovine-friendly method of transport. Still, if pigs can fly…

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  12. My siblings are all on the East Coast and they are renting a giant house on the beach in Virginia (with a pool, which seems a bit like overkill) in a few weeks. It’s within driving distance of all of them. They asked if we would come. I believe I snorted and said, “Yeah, multiple plane rides across the country as the second wave hits and my husband with asthma? Uh, no.”

    But I am so jealous and my son would be so sad to miss all the cousins which is why he will never know.

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    • AutumnAshbough, oh that is a shame that you won’t be able to go to the beach with your family BUT it is for the best in the long run. I get your logic and it’s sound. Good idea to not mention this to your son. What a world, huh?

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  13. Ally Bean, I love that you can announce what you’re going to do–and stick to it. If I were to announce a blogging plan the very first thing I would do would be to ditch it. (Although that’s not always true…hmmmm….did blog every day for a year once and can absolutely follow through on some things). It’s very good that you’re taking some summer-time off, though, if that feels right. I am actually on a four day retreat right now and that feels super right. Reading other people’s blogs is allowed though, and commenting too. xoxoxo

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    • Kathy, once I decide to do something I’m pretty good at doing it. However I find it difficult to make decisions so that’s my stumbling block.

      You were a daily blogger for a year? That’s impressive. I used to be an almost daily blogger posting 5 or 6 times a week, but every day is way beyond me. Heck at this point every week is beyond me. 😉

      Enjoy your retreat. That sounds wonderful and centering and just the sort of thing to do in these troubled times. Carry on, my dear.

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  14. Great answers to Jill’s funky questions. Your logic is unassailable. Hard to be truly stupid and funny at the same time, eh?

    The summer break makes sense. I’m seeing that slowdown already. I have a couple weeks to catch up on the 52 Ancestor prompts and then I think I’ll just stick with those once a week for a while. Three days a week gets a bit hairy and keeps me from my book projects. I’ll see you when I see you! Have a lovely break.

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    • Sue, I plan to work in our yard, too. There are many smallish projects out there, projects I’ve been thinking on, but never committed to doing. Now that I’ve given myself permission to turn my back on blogland, I’ll start doing the gardening things. I need a respite from words. Happy Summer to you, too.

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  16. Of course will miss you but as long as you pop on once in a while to let us know all is okay with you, go ahead and enjoy yourself. My blog feed went from over 50 when I first get up in the morning to around 20 so you are definitely not alone with taking time off. I, too, have posted less frequently but I never could keep up with the A to Z pace all year anyway. See you when I see you.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, I promise to be here every other week, saying something that confirms I/we’re still here, healthy at home.

      I’ve had the same experience as you have had in regard to the blogs I follow. Same number decline, in fact. I don’t fault anyone for posting less in the summer. I get it. In fact I’m going to join in the trend!

      Stay safe, be well. See ‘ya later, alligator.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. I enjoyed reading your answers over at Jill’s blog I would have picked the same on many of the questions myself.

    Enjoy your Summer downtime! I’m sure there will be several neat stories you share when you come back and I’m looking forward to reading them. 🌺😀

    Liked by 2 people

    • Jacqui, feel free to do so. It’s not that I don’t like posting to this personal blog, but doing less of it would be good for me right now. Hence, Summer Hours.

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  19. Neat plan Ally. As you can see, I’m still popping in & doing a bit of reading here & there, but a girl needs a break between projects right? After all, I have to avoid the all work & no play making Deb a dullard 😉 Enjoy your downtime, glad to hear you’re taking the safe live choices, as are we.

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    • Deb, I see you there and appreciate you stopping by. I agree about all work and no play. Because we’re doing less, thanks to the pandemic, and because I write about what I’m doing here, which is less, I feel I’ve little to say. So I’ll show up here every other week which will take the [self-imposed] pressure off me. Wouldn’t want to be dull, now would I?

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  23. I need to work on my “hours” too. I’m still staying mostly at home, and have been blogging daily ,which is unusual for me. It seemed like a good idea to remember these pandemic times, but as they drag on from what I thought they would be, I should consider going to a couple times a week, or whenever I feel like. (my old pattern) I will see you when I see you! xoxo

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    • Margaret, I’ve done best with blogging when I give myself a structure about when I’ll post, then allow myself to talk about whatever I want when that time comes. Although I think I’ve run out of things to say about staying at home, adapting to it, feelings about it. Been said. Just waiting now.

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    • Joni, I’ll be around every few weeks during the summer, but that’ll depend on something happening here. It’s difficult to write a personal blog that answers the question “what up, buttercup?” when there’s nothing to tell.

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  26. When summer arrives, no matter the circumstances, one must take advantage of the sun & warmth! All I can say is, if we had to go through a pandemic, thank goodness it began in March & not June! With some restrictions lifting a wee bit, thank goodness we can at least sit on a patio, perhaps with a neighbour or friend, & chat over a glass of our choice.

    Get outside & enjoy the fresh air in whatever way you can my friend! Look forward to hearing from you whenever the mood to write strikes! Take good care. Luv L xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

    • Lynn, I agree with you. You have said it well. After all this time inside to be safe, a good thing, I’m ready to be more relaxed sitting outside, walking outside, gardening outside. Well, just about anything that doesn’t require me to be inside writing words, which I enjoy doing, but am ready to do less of now that the sun is shining. 😎

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  27. I apparently started a summer schedule sometime during the pandemic lockdown. No reason to change it now, eh? We’ll see each other between floaty moments during the summer. I wish you all the air conditioning you can stand. (Today is quite humid, day 3, and I’m over it already.)

    I shall read your answers to the questions in a bit. Somehow it’s mid-afternoon and I need to do the things before more of the fun.

    Liked by 1 person

  30. I’m definitely slowing down as well. Just exhausted by all the news and kind of paralyzed with uncertainty. I’ll probably go down to a shed on our property we call the teahouse and pretend I’m Walt Whitman although I’ll probably be more like Rip Van Winkle.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jan, you said it. Too much info overload, too much focus on screens, too much, too much. I encourage you to be your best Walt or Rip. Either one works for me.

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    • Rivergirl, I have a real life away from the blogosphere. I share some of it here, and will continue to do so every other week, but sometimes I do like to retreat into it… where no one wants me to write about. NOT THAT THAT’S A BAD THING.

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  33. I totally get that “summer hours” thing and have thought about doing it myself. There are days when I just can’t get to everyone’s blogs, even though I want to, and days when I don’t really want to but do anyway because I like those people. And I just like blogging. My big cutback came when I decided not to blog about vacation when I was on it, but do so after I got home. Made life much easier, especially in Wyoming where the internet was terribly slow and I had to walk all over to get it, then wait for ages for photos to upload. Perhaps one day I’ll have the backbone to post summer hours as well. But of course there’s less to do now, so…

    I enjoyed reading your answers, especially the way you tried to claim both funny and intelligent. That’s sort of my response to “choose this or that” questions. Couldn’t I have both. 🙂 I’d also prefer the cows, but you’re right, they can be VERY loud. And if you’re on a farm theme, whoever tried to tell us roosters only crowed at down obviously never lived on a farm!

    I hope your new hours get you out of your rut and make your life more enjoyable and relaxing. I won’t worry about you relaxing too much, as I now know you can make your own coffee, but just relax as much as you like. See you around.

    janet

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    • Janet, I know what you mean about wanting to be a support to other bloggers, but also enjoying not being around the blogosphere. I’ve never tried to post while I’m on vacation. I think that’d be too much for me.

      Some of Jill’s questions do make you stop and think. They aren’t so black or white as they first seem to be. I think intelligent people have a leg up on being funny. And you’re right about roosters. Annoying things.

      I make coffee and enjoy writing, but for this summer I’m going to sip my java more slowly, write less– and just groove in the moment. Happy Summer, eh?

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  34. Week 13????? OMG, it seems so much more than that. I thought about taking a summer blogging hiatus too, and then I thought; “Why? What else have you been craving to do that you’ve been prevented from doing? I had no answer to that! I would choose Netflix over Starbucks too, btw. – Marty

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    • Marty, I know what you mean. It is only 13 weeks for us, but about a decade for my soul. I thought about bugging out for the whole summer season, but like you I figured I could/should do something here. Just not too often. Netflix seems the better choice, but who am I to say?

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  35. Hi Ally, I am looking forward to reading your answers. “Simplification” is a great word. And, of course, your interpretation of the word. Have a groovy weekend and a happy summer! I look forward to reading all about it when you are ready to reenter. See you at Jill’s site.🙂

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  36. Summer hours sound like the way to go. Between just the general slow-down that happens every summer, the pandemic that could be with us for a while, and the understandable anger around us, I also find it hard to feel the lure of my keyboard. Anytime I see an Ally Bean post, I’ll be thrilled. In between, I’ll know that you are generating more flapdoodle and twaddle to entertain us with.

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    • Janis, you’ve said it. There are so many weird variables going on in our lives, and considering I write a personal blog about what’s happening in my life when nothing is… well, I’m less than enthusiastic about being a weekly blogger right now. Thanks for stopping by to comment. Will be back when news breaks, as they say.

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  37. Well I’ll wish you a happy Summer Ally … enjoy the freedom that Summer brings to kick back a little. I had to step away two weekends in a row to do yard work, and got horribly behind here in trying to keep up … I try to step away more too, but must try harder. This weekend I will reward myself with doing nothing this weekend but walking and enjoying myself, but must hunker down in the house and do housework – not my favorite thing to do. Your answers were great. Years ago my parents and I were in a chalet-type hotel in Austria. The owners had a farm and the chalet. The wife ran the chalet; the husband tended to the cows which he let out of the barn near the chalet at 4:00 a.m. – I have no idea how many there were, but they had these massive cow bells like they wear in the Alps and they traipsed past where we were sleeping the entire week. All the fresh air in the mountains, hiking and such, I was ready for bed early, but those *&^# cows came home after dark. I get the “cow” reference. Cheers.

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    • Linda, it’s not that I’ll be gone from blogland entirely but I want to do less here for a few months. You said it with “kick back,” although it does sound kind of ridiculous considering we’ve been living a slower life for months now. Still with the longer summer days and nights I want to enjoy them outside, not in front of a screen.

      I hadn’t thought about cows with bells. That’d be super annoying in addition to their moos. Still you have a unique memory from a trip to Austria that is charming to tell now.

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      • I was sitting here knowing I will treat myself this weekend and enjoy myself after two weekends of back -breaking work … I have a few posts started, just need to get the photos off the card, which I’ve not even looked at (did the narrative first, assuming they turn out … 9 ducklings and Mom and a baby bunny, so two posts this week since it is Father’s Day week). I told myself if I work again out in the yard since it’s beautiful and cooler, then I’ll likely fall asleep at the computer like I did the last two weekends. I never worked out there last year as I smashed my finger the first week of June. Or do I do yardwork tomorrow after going out … blogging was not as big a part of my life until late 2017 and factoring the whole experience in with the rest of household duties, inside and out, is not meshing well. Guess what is easier and more fun to do? Thus a dilemma … I see your point. I also have to step away more from the screen ,just because it is not good for you physically.

        The cows with the bells was deafening … not only were the one-foot big bells loud, but they tramped down the lane and he was calling out to them the whole time!

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        • Your conundrum about doing outside yard work or staying inside to blog is one I often wrestle with. There are only so many hours in the day plus I only have so much energy to devote to those activities, each one requiring a different type of focus.

          It’s all about balance, I suppose. Perhaps by stepping back from weekly blogging for a few months while stepping out the front door more often [like every day], I’ll find the elusive life balance that I crave.

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          • Yes, and I now resent time spent doing things like yard maintenance or housework and that is not good. I feel I have to reward myself for those two weekends of hard work. Once you have everything done in the garden or house, all you have is maintenance, so that won’t be as burdensome, but why that is so difficult to get done is beyond me. I walked about 6 1/2 miles today – the weather was what you and I like. No humidity and it was 52 when I left the house so it felt like a late September day … the wind kicked up big time. I walked over to that small cemetery I mentioned the other day – it was a two-mile round trip from Elizabeth Park. It was different and only about 15 grave markers or tombstones.
            A bit boring. There were fairly new small flags there too and a metal stand that was weathered and said “U.S. Veteran” – several of those. One tombstone in particular caught my eye – it began “Here sleeps ….”
            You’ll enjoy your break – for me, there is always fodder for posts as long as I am walking. You have to come up with a fresh topic every week and that would be difficult, especially during your lockdown. Enjoy your semi-blogging break Ally.

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    • The Travel Architect, thanks for reading the questions and answers. I’ll be around this summer every other week, which to me, after all these years of blogging, will seem like a summer off!

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    • Barbara, I wonder about how this summer is going to unfold. While technically I have the time to blog more, I want less to do with screens for a few months. As for socially distancing from people, we’re still doing that, but it seems sadder now that summer is here. However, safety first.

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    • Pam, you said what I’m thinking, too. I need to get out and do. Don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’ll think of something… then talk about it every few weeks here on the blog.

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  41. Happy summer, Ally! There are so many other things to do in the summer. I can understand instituting a summer hours policy on your blog, since you are the boss! 🙂

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    • Laurie, one of the earliest *guidelines* I learned about blogging was: my blog, my rules. I don’t remember who taught that, but it is true. I like writing here, but after this prolonged time inside all. the. time. I’m ready to roam free, write less. 😎

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  42. If ever there was one, this is the summer to relax the schedule and chill at home. Hope your summer is delightful and I look forward to reading you whenever you decide to pop in. Echoing Dan’s comment, I love your brand of flapdoodle and twaddle 🙂

    As for me, I will not be straying far from home. I will be having surgery on my right foot soon so I won’t be able to drive for the month of July. Since I’ve just spent 3 months refining the art of entertaining myself at home, another month will be a piece of cake. Who knows – maybe my muse will finally show up again and I’ll write a blog post.

    Damn. Now I want cake.

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    • Joanne, I feel the same way as you do about this summer. I am tired of being at home, grateful to be healthy, but not doing much of anything. I write about what’s going on in my life, so currently there’s not much to tell. I figure I’ll lay low around the blogosphere while I’m laying low in real life.

      I didn’t know you were having surgery, but one month recuperation period will fly by. I wish you the best with your surgery; this strikes me as a good time to have it. It’s not like you’ll be missing fun summer festivities, now will ‘ya?

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      • That was my thought. Since summer has been more or less ‘cancelled’, I might as well stay put and get this behind me. That’s why I asked to have the surgery date moved up from November.

        Non-emergency surgeries were reopened a couple of weeks ago and I was lucky to get put on the schedule very quickly 🙂

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        • I’m glad you got your choice of surgery date. That’s a trick to do! You said it about summer, it’s been ‘cancelled’ around here too. If spring was weird, summer is looking to be odd. Who knows about fall? With the presidential election here in the US, I don’t have much faith that it’ll be normal… 🤨

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          • I agree. The US bypassed ‘normal’ during its presidential campaign 4 years ago. Like the vast majority of people in the world, I’m just hoping that sanity prevails in this year’s election and this madman currently in the White House is sent packing.
            I don’t normally comment on US politics but I couldn’t resist …

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  43. Excellent plan, Ally! And this year you can enjoy the sunny view of summer from the new windows you put in last year. Can you believe it’s been a year since we both had new windows installed? I hope your plan also involves a glass or two of chilled wine? 😉 Cheers to summer.

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  44. I’m always impressed by bloggers who set posting schedules and stick to them. I’m much more a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer. The same is true when it comes to my fiction.

    Enjoy your less-structured summer!

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    • Swinged Cat, I’m not good at strict blogging schedules either. I know many bloggers have editorial calendars and know months in advance what they’ll be writing about on which day. My modest goal is to show up more or less on Tuesdays, then after that it’s anyone’s guess what I’ll write about. Seems to work well enough for me.

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  45. Hey Ally,
    You gave very well, thought-out answers to Jill’s questions. I think it would be cool to be able to control time by freezing it, as well. I just answered a question over at Pollyanna’s Path about what my spirit animal would be. (We’re doing mash ups.) Interesting questions floating around the blogs right now. So just as I’m getting back into the swing of blogging, you’re going to start taking it a little bit easy, eh? I fully get it. I hope you have the kind of laid-back summer you’re hoping for. Not everyone remembers what they pledged at the beginning of the year and are still practicing it in June. So good for you. I’ll keep checking in. Stop by and say hi whenever you get a chance! Mona

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    • Mona, I enjoyed answering Jill’s question. Thanks for taking the time to read my answers. I just decided to do less on the blog for the summer season. It’s a way to simplify, plus with not much going on in our lives courtesy of the Covid-19 stay-at-home directive [now suggestion] I have little to write about. I’ll stop by your place to see what’s up in your world from time to time. I’m not going away entirely.

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    • Arlene, well said. Usually our summers are busy, but not this year. Instead of fighting what is, I’ll be simplifying and doing less overall. Just ‘cuz I can! Thanks for stopping by to comment.

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  47. Hi! New to your blog, which I found via Nance. When I looked at your ‘about’, and saw your current motto, ” do no harm, but take no shit”…I felt like I was home. LOL

    Enjoy your summer hours! I’m just back to blogging myself after a 9 mo. unplanned hiatus. Go figure! 🙂

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    • Silver in AZ, welcome! I’m glad you like my motto. I adopted it a few years ago and have found that it guides to make the best decisions. And gives me permission to not put up with crap. I’ll look in to see what’s up with you. Nance’s friends are alway good ones to know.

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  48. I enjoyed your answers and wholeheartedly agreed with them. Enjoy your summer hours! Usually my blogging slows down in the summer as well. In the past that was because I was having so much fun traveling. We’ll see what this summer holds. 🙂

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    • Amy, thanks for taking the time to read my answers to Jill’s questions. I plan on enjoying this summer, albeit without any travel– but at least we can get outside and move. After this past spring of sitting inside, that’ll be wonderful. 😎

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    • L. Marie, so far summer hours are delightful. I like/need to be more relaxed now, all things considered. Thanks for reading my answers at Jill’s place.

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  50. I do not drink coffee and therefore the Starbucks vs Netflix was a no brainer for me.

    Enjoy your relaxed summer hours. I have been thinking about skipping Fridays vs blogging Mon, Wed, Fri. Seems most readers don’t visit on Fridays. Perhaps gearing up for a weekend of not going many places is too daunting. 😉

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    • Ernie, made me laugh with your assessment of why readers don’t read on Fridays. Ain’t it the truth? I need to enjoy the relaxing vibes of summer, so less blogging overall for me regardless of the day.

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