Happy New Year. The second year of this blog has been even more enjoyable than the first. More and more of you are reading and sending your friends--and I greatly appreciate that. Of course, I still have plenty of lurkers and it's been fun baiting you to see if you'll admit reading here.
In 2009, Bringing Home the Bacon was visited by very puzzled people from 52 countries and more purposefully, I hope, from residents of 48 U.S. States (Wyoming? North Dakota? Can I get some love?). My U.S. visitors came from 635 cities, from Altoona to Zephryhills.
Many of my visitors these days are stopping by after seeing my posts on Twitter and Facebook, although a few stragglers are finding me via search engines, using search terms like bacon cough, year old pee, how to bring a skunk back to life, and Husband's favorite, Dayton+police+Holly. (These are REAL search terms people have used to find my site, courtesy of Google Analytics.)
I spent an enjoyable afternoon reading back through the year's posts and came up with a list of favorites:
• The most popular post, by far, was the Dayton media on Twitter.
• Justin made an interesting Christmas list.
• We did our part to pass Issue 2 as many people's "token farmers."
• I shared my misadventures in motherhood.
• My lighthearted post comparing corporate life to working at a nonprofit healthcare provider netted me a speaking gig at a local grant-writing organization.
• And what self-respecting farm family lets the summer go by without a trip to the state fair.
• The blog wasn't all farming; we entertained our island-dwelling kin.
• Once, I got left in charge of the farm. Fortunately, I didn't lose any livestock.
• My computer got infected with viruses and I met a Geek Squad Double Agent.
• I voiced my opinion about a PR social media "scandal."
So thanks for reading and come back soon to see what 2010 has in store. Remember, if you're ever searching for cows faking farm, breastfeeding and my tits, or bacon secret code, you know where to look first.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Hits and Misses
Holiday buying is tough. Not even Santa always gets it right.
He pouted for about an hour, then proceeded to build several things with his new toys and got over it, however, I think Husband may have sustained serious gift-giving damage.
Fortunately, if you remember, Husband's overlap of Justin's list was easy to remedy later.
I was prepared to mock a certain relative for giving Justin a set of markers that write on windows. He's five. It's not like he's preparing to drive in a caravan to the big game any time soon. And I was a little rude about it.
BUT. The more I thought it about it--at least he liked them immediately, even if I do now have scribbles all over my sliding doors.
Santa didn't score so well. If you read nothing else on this blog, take a peek at Justin's Christmas list for this year. I'll wait.
Well, Santa in his infinite wisdom decided that there were some better things out there that Justin didn't even know to ask for, like the new Fisher Price TRIO (which I learned about from very helpful local blogger, "Mommin' It Up"). On Christmas morning Justin ripped through his packages and pronounced after every one, "This wasn't on my list." Husband I were giving each other pained looks throughout. I snuck out of the room and got a glue stick that I had been saving for a rainy day to add to his stocking quick, since it was on the list.
He pouted for about an hour, then proceeded to build several things with his new toys and got over it, however, I think Husband may have sustained serious gift-giving damage.
Fortunately, if you remember, Husband's overlap of Justin's list was easy to remedy later.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
I love Christmas cards. If you are on my "snail mail" Christmas card list, ours may be the first one you receive.
Ever since I started sending out cards--in high school--I have always been striving to send greetings that will stand out from the cardinals-perched-on-frosted-tree-limbs cards that seem to be a dime a dozen (not that those cards can't be beautiful).
Every year I think I have topped myself. First, there was the baby carefully arranged in a Longaberger basket with wrapping paper taped to the dining room wall to serve as a backdrop. Later, there was the Halloween holdover card where Ryan was the tractor, Justin was the little pig and our Christmas tablecloth served as the holiday scenery.
Last year I discovered Scrapblog and I used their site again this year.
But let me tell you, every year I am stunned by the wonderful cards I get that put my efforts in their place. In the past few years I have received photos of pensive babies bathed in the soft glow of the tree lights, cards with photo-illustrated timelines of the year's events that ALSO included a rhyming Christmas letter, multi-photo cards that not only showed off the kids but the gorgeous parents raising them, cards with professionally taken photos, cards with babies reacting to pets who are so cute you just want to write a caption, and cards with pigs on them that let us know we're not the only ones who celebrate milestones with swine.
For me, displaying Christmas cards is as important as sending them and so I use a wire card holder that I bought a few years ago. The finished product looks like a beautiful card wreath--so festive.
So, take it from the woman who ruined her printer running cards with glitter through the paper tray, it's not really about who has the best card or who figures out what rhymes with kindergarten, it's the heartfelt message and that annual connection between friends and family that really matters.
But just in case... I am already working on a plan to top a full-bleed card with cherubic boys in matching pajamas.
Ever since I started sending out cards--in high school--I have always been striving to send greetings that will stand out from the cardinals-perched-on-frosted-tree-limbs cards that seem to be a dime a dozen (not that those cards can't be beautiful).
Every year I think I have topped myself. First, there was the baby carefully arranged in a Longaberger basket with wrapping paper taped to the dining room wall to serve as a backdrop. Later, there was the Halloween holdover card where Ryan was the tractor, Justin was the little pig and our Christmas tablecloth served as the holiday scenery.
Last year I discovered Scrapblog and I used their site again this year.
But let me tell you, every year I am stunned by the wonderful cards I get that put my efforts in their place. In the past few years I have received photos of pensive babies bathed in the soft glow of the tree lights, cards with photo-illustrated timelines of the year's events that ALSO included a rhyming Christmas letter, multi-photo cards that not only showed off the kids but the gorgeous parents raising them, cards with professionally taken photos, cards with babies reacting to pets who are so cute you just want to write a caption, and cards with pigs on them that let us know we're not the only ones who celebrate milestones with swine.
For me, displaying Christmas cards is as important as sending them and so I use a wire card holder that I bought a few years ago. The finished product looks like a beautiful card wreath--so festive.
So, take it from the woman who ruined her printer running cards with glitter through the paper tray, it's not really about who has the best card or who figures out what rhymes with kindergarten, it's the heartfelt message and that annual connection between friends and family that really matters.
But just in case... I am already working on a plan to top a full-bleed card with cherubic boys in matching pajamas.
Friday, December 11, 2009
An Adorable Bell Saves the World's Cutest Santa
Once upon a time there was a family of bells, led by a dapper bell-ringer. The bells were to perform on Christmas Eve but there was a problem--the littlest bell was a clunker.
All the brother and sister bells complained about her and planned to drown her out. Little did they know that the little bell heard their cruel words. She left and went to spend Christmas alone in a tall tower.
Then... the whole story comes to a grand musical ending:
All the brother and sister bells complained about her and planned to drown her out. Little did they know that the little bell heard their cruel words. She left and went to spend Christmas alone in a tall tower.
Then... the whole story comes to a grand musical ending:
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Santa, Baby
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
On the First Day of Christmas Cards
Welcome to friends and family who got here via the address in our Christmas card. I hope you will make a habit of checking in often and leaving comments on the posts.
We also extend Christmas greetings to some new friends who we don't know in the world of mailboxes but only in the online space.
To my new visitors: please know that this blog has strict rules.
Not sure what this is all about. The theme of this blog is family life, farm life, and life in the trenches as a public relations professional or "flack." Enjoy these holiday-themed posts or just scroll down to see more.
We also extend Christmas greetings to some new friends who we don't know in the world of mailboxes but only in the online space.
To my new visitors: please know that this blog has strict rules.
Not sure what this is all about. The theme of this blog is family life, farm life, and life in the trenches as a public relations professional or "flack." Enjoy these holiday-themed posts or just scroll down to see more.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Give our Regards to Broadway
Thirty+ years ago my mother-in-law took her son to see a production of Annie. It in instilled in him a love of musical theatre matched only by my love of felines...
And if you have ever met either one of us you'll know that by "love" we mean an outright hatred of musical theatre (him) and cats (me).
Interestingly enough, Husband does love cats. How a man who loves cats could also dislike musical theatre is beyond me. It is just part of the daily conundrum associated with being married to a country-music-hating, belt-buckle-avoiding, cowboy-boot-not-owning professional pig farmer.
Husband's disastrous trip to see Annie is part of family legend, so when I saw that Annie was returning to Dayton, I knew that my mother-in-law would want another chance to bring appreciation of the arts to her grandchildren.
To ensure a more successful trip, I worked to prepare Morgan for the big day. We watched clips of the songs on YouTube, watched the movie when it fortuitously came on TV and prepared her own little red dress for the show.
And if you have ever met either one of us you'll know that by "love" we mean an outright hatred of musical theatre (him) and cats (me).
Interestingly enough, Husband does love cats. How a man who loves cats could also dislike musical theatre is beyond me. It is just part of the daily conundrum associated with being married to a country-music-hating, belt-buckle-avoiding, cowboy-boot-not-owning professional pig farmer.
Husband's disastrous trip to see Annie is part of family legend, so when I saw that Annie was returning to Dayton, I knew that my mother-in-law would want another chance to bring appreciation of the arts to her grandchildren.
To ensure a more successful trip, I worked to prepare Morgan for the big day. We watched clips of the songs on YouTube, watched the movie when it fortuitously came on TV and prepared her own little red dress for the show.
Fortunately, through a great ticket deal I was also able to get a seat for Ryan at the Schuster Center. Justin stayed home to do very boyish things like decorate Christmas cards with glitter glue.
Ryan and Morgan both enjoyed all the sights of the Schuster Center Wintergarden. We saw the famous Rikes Christmas windows in the lobby and then went upstairs to make ornaments with beads all before catching the main attraction from our seats in the Loge.
Let me just say something about the plot of Annie. The 1982 movie doesn't capture the fact that Annie takes place right at Christmas. A newly elected Democratic President (FDR) is trying to figure out how to fix the economic messes he inherited from his predecessor (Hoover) while his aids are worried about mounting national debt and international issues (Hitler). Sound familiar?
Maybe all we need is a precocious redhead to stop by and sing "Tomorrow."
It took three decades but my mother-in-law finally got to see Annie with a new generation of appreciative children. Let's just hope they keep their appreciation to Cats and not cats.
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