Category: Odds + Ends

Dear Readers, Would You Kindly Let Me Know What You Think?

July 21st, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends 9 comments - Tags:

 

By Eleaf

 

So I’ve been going through a blog identity crisis as you have all witnessed grandly. A little tweaking here, a little tweaking there. And before you know it, here we are. From “Everyday Simplicity and Authenticity” to “Rethinking Homemaking And A Whole Lot Of Stuff.” And I was wondering, what do YOU think?

I struggle with having a lot of great ideas without a whole lot of focus.  I had a nourishing theme going on in this blog (you know, with my old categories: Nourishing Ourselves, Nourishing Kitchen, Nourishing Family and Nourishing Lifestyle), it seemed like I had a focus. But it was a focus that was fast fading because I wanted to write about other things too, and I wasn’t sure if this was the right space for it. I started the other blog to explore topics that don’t seem to fit here, but in the process I began to change what I write and the parts of me that I bring to this blog. And so I was wondering, have I lost you in all of this? I wish I had asked first for your input, because truly, without all of you my dear readers, I am might as well write in my secret journal. You know, the kind with a key and a lock and all.

As much as I write for myself, I write for YOU. I really do. And I have lost sight of that a bit. I would love to know: what is the value for YOU coming to this blog? Subscribing to this blog? Spending your precious minutes reading my words?

If you’ve been reading and noticing this blog’s subtle metamorphosis, I am dying for your observations. Here’s a few more questions, if you would be so kind to oblige:

  • What topics would you like to see more of? 
  • What topics have you enjoyed best? 
  • What ways has this blog encouraged you? Or not? 
  • What was your reaction to the changes I’ve been making in this blog? Say it loud. I’m listening.
  • Do you have any advice for me? 

It’s truly time to turn the tables. YOU have a whole lot of incredibly useful and valuable stuff to say and I haven’t been very good at drawing it out. And  I’m going to start learning how to. Because I want to keep writing, and YOU help me do that.

I don’t have any giveaways to entice you to answer these questions. I’ve never been a fan of those (and if you have a compelling reason for such, you can try to persuade me to the other side!) and I’m such a rebel at heart that I try to NOT do what everyone is doing. I’m just relying on your good ol’ kindness and generosity to help me out here so I can keep producing stuff worth reading and coming back to. 

Much Love,

Vina

Sending Some Summer Link Loves

July 19th, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends 5 comments - Tags:

Photo By Martin Neuhoff

Oh, for the love and goodness of summer slow! We’re playing a lot and having a blast, so today I give you a few link loves to send around. But first, a quote from G.K. Chesterton:

“It is easier to be heavy. It is hard to be light.”

This is the gift of summer. When Lightness is all around us, and darkness a minimum. Take advantage of the fleeting Gift, seize the Moment of Slow Days. Practice the Art of Not Doing Too Much whenever possible. Work when inspired and when you truly must. Do everything outside when you can: nap, eat, write, paint, dance, kiss. Remember that this gift of summer is one that we hope to carry with us throughout the year. Receive it gladly now, it’s yours for the taking.

Unusual Links For the Unconventional Mamas
I’ve always avoided linking out too much, because honestly? I didn’t want to reveal my sources of awesome ideas. Crazy greedy huh? But I’m overcoming the Greedy Monster and am nurturing my Generous Alter-Sister and here are some of my feeble attempts to do so. Be prepared to think and change:

Baking Bread And The Art of Sucking by Kathleen at Project M. I love this post. It just resonated with me, especially because I have since abandoned the pursuit of becoming a good breadmaker. I wasn’t cool with sucking at it so much. But she is absolutely right. And how it gloriously applies in SO many other areas in our lives as well. If not all.

The Purist Trap, or Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be KillJoys I like Ken. He’s about right where I am, even though he’s probably ten steps further away. I’m a Recovering Purist and I love this post. I think there is a Purist in all of us, to which I say the simple easy cure would be Chocolat. Yes, the movie (a must watch for all in my opinion) and the actual yummy treat. Divine.

The Messy Middle
by Jen Lemen. I just found this blog not too long ago, and so many of her writings and words resonated deep down under. I find myself most comfortable in this gracious messy middle, where she writes, “is learning to be present to life, awake and alive to the people I love never before when I was trying to do it all right.” Oh the trueness. Simple basic goodness.

Now back to summer. And all that Lightness.

Embracing My Everyday In Pictures

April 23rd, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends No comments

Happy Friday Everyone! Here are snippets of the joy I get to experience everyday.

And of course, this.

Writing Elsewhere

April 21st, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends No comments - Tags:

I’m over at Passionate Homemaking today! Head on over! I’m a little nervous about my first ever guest posting (actually, I’m more of a monthly contributor) so kindly show some virtual support and leave some comment luv over there? I learned many of my basic Nourishing Tradition tips from Lindsey Edmonds, who is the editor of P.H. What can I say? She rocks!

Weekend Links

March 25th, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends 2 comments - Tags:

Photo By Bairo

I’m off to Portland this weekend! Here are some nourishing posts for your weekend reading:

Now, close your laptop, go out and enjoy Spring!

Wordless Wednesday

March 10th, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends No comments - Tags:

Nourishing Finds: Friday Link Love, Welcome Spring (Almost!)

March 5th, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends No comments - Tags:

Photo by Countryboy1949

Spring is in the air! I just love that anticipation, you know? I’m ready for a new season, a new way to nourish Life in all forms around me, a new way to breathe.

Here are some weekend reads that are helping me hold my faith steady as we welcome Spring, almost:

Kelly Rae Roberts on Faith
Soule Mama on Take Good Care.
Christine Mason Miller on Love Has Come.
Kara at Simple Mom on Creating Routines and Rhythms.
Sara Sophia writes a post that almost made me cry.

Happy Nourishing Weekend, everyone!

Out Of Focus

February 18th, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends 5 comments


Last night was discouraging.

I was having a blogger identity crisis. So early in the game. My husband patiently listened to me rant.  What is the point of blogging, I asked. Why am I tempted at times to become somebody else when I write? Just like in my real life I suppose. Not that any of the things I blog about isn’t real. They are. They all are. But the virtual identity is so easy to tweak for other’s happy consumption. I worry. What if the real me is too serious? Too plain? Too much of anything?

But too much of anything is better if it’s the plain honest truth.

So I have to remind myself, this is a process. This going professional-blogging thing.  But I’m learning. Slowly.  And this is just a small piece of the bigger picture of the life I live. 

I’ve refined my About Page last night, and am rethinking of the topics I’m writing about. Am I over-thinking this? Probably.

But here I am, sorting it all out and hopefully for the better.

Are you a blogger? Have you had to sort it out too? What was your experience like? Or is there something in life you need more clarity in? I’d love to hear.

Project Capture: Our Life in Photos

January 19th, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends No comments - Tags: , ,

Some of the photos below are from several weeks ago, and some are pretty recent. I meant to post this over the weekend but we had technical issues that we didn’t get around to fixing until later. Enjoy!

My First French Artisan Bread

Daddy and Naomi on a hike at Camp Long

Naomi in Serious Play

Enjoying Homemade Frozen Yogurt on a Stick

Chicken Curry with Avocado Garnish (yuM!)

Project Capture: Nourishing the Home with Photos

January 9th, 2010 · Vina Barham · Odds + Ends No comments - Tags:

This year, I’d like to capture our daily life in photos. I want to (1) preserve memories of our daily moments as a family, (2) pass on the memories to my children, (3) learn to express my creativity through photos and (4) take my photography skills to a new level.

I love looking at old photos. It takes me back, helps me see some of the details I might have missed at the moment, and inspires me to pay attention more closely and be in the present. Photographs have the potential to nourish the soul

And so I am hoping to take one good photo a day and post five pictures at the end of the week. These photos below aren’t all from the same week since I haven’t started this project yet but I wanted to give myself motivation to get going.

Here you go. Enjoy!



PS: Would you like to join Project Capture for the year 2010? Think about it! It will be fun to have company doing this. I hope to also go through photography tips throughout the year and see if I can improve! I’m going to figure out how Mr. Linky works, which would allow you to post a link to your photos of the week on my blog!

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License