Early this summer, I found a tiny box turtle crawling with ants on a path near our house. I wasn’t sure if it was alive at first, but it moved a bit when I picked it up. We kept it all summer in a tank, feeding it worms and vegetables. I don’t know if it was the right thing to do, but I think it would have certainly died had I left it. We released it last week in the woods, in an area where we often find box turtles. The kids didn’t seem too worried about it but of course, I was strangely emotional about the whole thing. I hope it makes it.
Little dog, Ollie, is doing well but we sure signed up for trouble with this one. He’s sweet as can be, but also naughty. He is very intelligent, and I am hoping to train him to ring a bell next to the door when he needs to go potty. We tried that with Pip last year, but Mabel broke the bell almost immediately and we gave up on that method. A new bell arrives this week.
Gabriel spent the last few months rebuilding a dirt bike. It was a huge project and I cried the first time he tried to start it and was successful. He sunk hundreds (thousands?) of dollars and many hours into that bike. Hopefully, he will sell it in the coming weeks and then maybe he’ll buy another project bike.
Beatrix and I went goldenrod picking last week and I’ve started dyeing some yarn with it. This is my favorite time of year for natural dyeing and I’ve had yarn mordanted and waiting for months. I won’t be listing any yarn in my shop until September, but do plan to update my shop on Friday with headscarves, a handful of large neck scarves, naturally dyed cotton velvet, goat’s milk soap, and sachets. I’ll put up a preview post on Friday morning and update the shop at 2 pm ET.
Something came over me this month and I tackled some big projects. I cleaned out our unfinished basement storage space, a very not-fun job that I have been meaning to do since early this year. And then last week I painted our kitchen! It’s not a huge change, but the old paint was in really bad shape so it looks cleaner and a bit brighter now. Now I’m obsessing over what color to paint our bedroom. I think that the motivation for tackling these projects is a need to feel like I have things together before we start officially homeschooling next week. Honestly, I am anxious about it. It’s hard keeping everyone on task and I don’t have a type-A personality or the energy of my youth to be a strong driving force behind it all. Let’s all be praying for each other as we face this school year!
Seth has decided to drop all of his college classes this fall with the exception of calculus. After learning how his engineering and physics courses are going to be structured online, he felt that he wouldn’t learn well in this format and his grades would also suffer. He struggled last semester when everything converted to online halfway through. It was a difficult decision to make and will ultimately set him back a year (particularly if classes are still online in the spring), but it’s another year of saving money for when he transfers to a four-year school and can no longer work as he does now. I told him that I took an extra year to finish college because I had a baby (him) and it’s okay if he takes an extra year because of a pandemic. This is life. It doesn’t always go as you hope or plan.
Finally, here’s a kind of crazy idea: Jonny and the kids think we should start recording vlogs as sort of an extension (not a replacement) of the blog. We’ve actually talked about doing this for many years but the technical side of things combined with my social anxiety has always stopped us. What do you think? Should we try it? Could I learn to talk on camera? I do feel like we have so many good things we could share this way. Maybe it’s time for something new.
Oh! How I would like to see you all in a vlog. As a Spanish speaker I really love to watch English vlogs to improve my bad skill on English, and I love your blog from long time and feel your family as a friend of mine!
you gave wise advice to Seth and he made a good decision. Not everyone can learn well on line compared to in person also why pay the same price for two different modalities? My husband retired from academia mid August because of the pandemic and switching all of his classes on line in the spring (totally NOT FUN). The amount of time spent on line was enormous. He’s still doing academic research and has ‘stuff’ to do and that is what he likes best.
Hi Ginny:
How I enjoy your blog with beautiful photos and updates on your family. Mabel is getting so big and she has such a wonderful smile. If I was Gabe’s mom I would probably have a heart attack with the dirt bike — he is a fearless, courageous and very brave young man.
As to home schooling, trust in the Lord for He will bless you and lead you along the right path.
As to the vlog vs. the blog —- I’m a reader by nature and so love visiting with you by words and pictures . I am an old fashion girl and find your blog filled with grace, hope and beauty.
With Good Wishes,
Judith
I am open for what ever fits your life style best. Vlog or blog. But that said I love looking back on your beautiful pictures. They bring me such peace.
Dear Jinny, i hope your blog will never end, because it is my fav. I especially love your updates on big children like Gabe -how talented! I also remember his drone and his pastry skills- and Seth. I totally understand his doubts about online courses. Sometimes you really need to have contact with teacher and other students. The past year i was a teacher for middle schoolers with special needs and it was challenging! If you engage in a vlog, i hope it will be as genuine as your blog is, without all the perfection and idealization you often see online. Thanks for your sharing your life! Chiara
Hi Ginny!
Beautiful pictures! Can’t wait for Friday to see the update at your shop and get some of the sachets. Have a good week, and be kind to yourself.
Ginny, I love the blue of Emma’s dress in this blog. Did you dye it? I am not a blue lover,but that shade is so lucious….almost an indigo.
I love your blog! so peaceful, the pictures and I love the stories you tell…. I find that I don’t have time to watch vlogs in general – I can read something quickly – but lots of people must watch vlogs or they would not be a ‘thing’ 🙂 God bless and keep you all!
I love your blog so much. The images, the words. I would watch your vlogs, absolutely, and I don’t want this space to go. So few blog nowadays, and blogs seem slower, simpler, and do something that vlogs don’t. Is it too much to hope for both?
Love the mushroom shots here, and the stories of your life, as always, inspire and calm me.
I would love to watch any vlogs you create, Ginny, but don’t stop your blogs, please! They are so inspiring and such a light to the world.
On a different note, I wanted to share an artist with you who my friend, Jen discovered. This artist is American, I think, but was stuck in France during the pandemic. There is a long beautiful story of salvation and redemption in here but for now, go check out her artwork. It is really stunning!
https://society6.com/serviamart?page=1
I love to watch vlogs of homeschooling families, so I would definitely check it out! the vlog format is far different than blogging I think, so you would have to do what you feel comfortable with…
We start homeschooling today actually. And I just had a baby 3 weeks ago, so… We need to pray for each other ?
My mom and I recently painted rooms in our homes, the Sherwin Williams color “Sea Salt”. It’s a beautiful pale gray green blue shade that changes in the light. Very relaxing. we love it
Hi Ginny,
Longtime reader of your blog here. I would probably watch some of your vlogs, if you do try that, but vastly prefer reading blogs over watching videos (and I’m younger than you are). So I hope whatever you decide you keep the blog going! Seeing your photos always leaves me with a sense of peace and security, somehow.
Hi! I think some videos would be lovely! Maybe test it out on IG to see if you like it? A quick video introduction to the goats would be sweet.
• I ordered a headscarf from your last shop update and my 2 year old son calls it my “head bracelet” every time I wear it. •
We painted our twins’ room Sea Star, and it continues to be a favorite color even after ten years. It goes with so much! You should check it out for your bedroom.
I’ve not been online as much lately and just spent a while catching up with your blog from July to now. As always your photos are beautiful and words inspiring ? I would definitely check out your vlog if you did one! But I am also happy to read that you would continue to blog – yours is my favorite! Good luck with the start of school…your fall sounds absolutely lovely with less activities. All of my kids activities are on track to continue. They love it, and I love it for them, but it is so hard getting everywhere they need to be every day and stay on top of school and do all the creative things I want to do with my little ones!
We trained our dog to ring a bell to let us know when he needed to go out. We trained him too well because he rings the bell when he wants to go out to bark at the squirrels or people walking by ?
? that’s funny!
A luna moth!!! Fantastic! I miss those from early years living in the Midwest. NICE. Your kitchen paint looks great too! We have been painting inside and outside since April. I think our neighbors think we are crazy for painting our house ourselves, but it lasts so much longer (15 years) than commercial spray painting. And it’s so much cheaper… We painted all our bedrooms Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore and love it. It’s very soothing and fresh. I think you should do whatever you are comfortable with re videos. I love your blog and find so much peace and happiness in your photos. Thank you, Ginny!
Oh yes, to the vlog, if it doesn’t overwhelm you. And it sounds as though Jonny is on board.
I’ve often wondered what you sound like and it’d be sweet to see your beloveds in the act of doing the things that make their hearts sing.
God bless you as you finish up your projects.
I love reading your blog and seeing your beautiful photography. I’m in favor of you continuing in this way. Vlogs add another dimension and you subsequently lose some of the candid intimacy. Stick with the tried and true. Ultimately the decision is yours but I am definitely in favor of the blog.
I agree!
Gorgeous Luna.
Dear Ginny, I have been meaning to write to you for absolutely ages! I love reading your blog & could spend hours here reading your posts and looking at your lovely pictures from previous months and years! Your photography is stunning, both flowers, people, places and things. You are so genuine in sharing how you feel and how you sometimes feel like you don’t have it all together! Many of us can relate with you so much more than we do with those blogs where the writer appears to have everything all together, all pictures perfect, everything colour co-ordinated and all their children looking so perfect (!!) as well as their homes! I seldom take photos of our home to share, but if I do, it is of a particular angle that does not show all the clutter…and everything else that I would not want seen! I personally prefer blogs, but it is whatever you feel is right for you and your family. As others have mentioned, vlogs are a lot more time consuming and I would not want you to feel, on top of every other responsibility, that you would have to have every angle of your home looking perfectly tidy, clean and clutter free. That simply is not realistic with a handful of children! Although…perhaps your home already looks perfect all day every day :o) and it is just mine that isn’t!
Our youngest of five children is now 19, our oldest is 31. We used to home school…some years they were in school…then later the older 3 were in public school when I had little ones…then I home schooled the youngest 2 for many years until I just couldn’t anymore and they were able to attend private school. Some of those years of homeschooling I was barely surviving, so I can certainly relate to your feelings of overwhelm regarding schooling! When I read of all your creative ventures…yarn dying, soap making, goat milking…etc..I find myself exhausted reading about all you are able to do…oh and knitting and reading! So you obviously have a lot more capability to handle more on your plate than I ever have. I know that you also have your own health challenges, which, as moms, we often tend to put on the back burner, or ignore, in order to take care of our families. Please make sure that you take care of yourself well! One reason that I love reading your blog and seeing your photos is because I can imagine being there! We live in a townhouse complex, outside the Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada. This area is rapidly becoming a high rise riddled area with far too much traffic and crime. We long to live in a more rural area and have a garden with lots of flowers and grow veggies..and quiet! Reading your blog & seeing your pictures and your beautiful family brings a joy and calm to me and continues to remind me of our hopes and dreams and to not lose sight of them! Thank you so much for sharing the beauty and muddles and sometimes chaos of your lives! Be blessed!
I really really hope you will continue with the blog. It is a bright spot in so many people’s lives! I have tried watching blogs and just can’t get into them. I prefer reading to videos. And blogs are not dead! I follow a couple dozen bloggers who post regularly (some more often than others) and another handful of those who post occasionally. It makes for nice weekend mornings of blog reading. New blogs appear every day!
Okay … that photo of the Luna Moth! They are one of my favorite creatures on earth, although, living in northern California I have never seen one. And as a child, I was just certain that THAT was the moth that Dr. Doolittle rode on in his books.
Thank you for that lovely image!
Well if you would feel comfortable doing it, I am sure it would be great! I, at least, would enjoy it :]
A vlog would be lovely. I would watch it! Make it yours. If you dom’t feel comfortable blabbing on camera front and center do it your way. Have you seen calico girl? Hers is curated much like your blog posts.
Oh yes please do a vlog!
Yes to vlog!!!
I love hearing that Gabriel rebuilt a dirt bike! My son started out that way at about 16. Now he does ATV’s and dune buggies, trucks. He loves having a project. He’s in his upper 30’s and is a truck driver but still enjoys doing those things. His son is 4 and when daddy is working with tools he’s right there with him. This will be good for Gabriel for the rest of his life. I always enjoy reading about your family. They are all very precious. Hugs,
I would love to watch vlogs of your days! I feel like you would have a very cozy, relaxing Roots and Refuge esque vibe which are my favorite types of vlogs.
Definitely for the vlog!!
Oh, I would love to watch your vlog! But you would have to still post your beautiful photos
I agree, especially about posting your beautiful photos!
I agree with so many of the comments, I love your blog and reading it is always so peaceful and inspiring. But trying something new in addition to the written word, go for it! You can always stop if it doesn’t feel right or “you”! And I agree that involving your teens on the filming and editing, learning new skills you could add to your curriculum, wow, what a fantastic idea and I bet they’ll love it!
Sorry to be an old stick in the mud, but I much prefer reading blogs. The Internet can be so temperamental with videos and the old fashioned print ones are more dependable in my area!
I really enjoy the blog. I would hate to see it change into a vlog only. I do think vlogs are a lot more work. That said, my almost 30 year old daughter says that blogs basically are out, vlogs are in. Although I really like vlogs I wonder how much time they would take up for you when you could be spending it on your crafts, etc. That said, many people are able to make a lot of income from them. In a way they sometimes become like reality TV or an expression of the ego. I don’t know, I have mixed feelings about them. And the pretty ones I know require good equipment and there seems to be quite a bit of photographic copycating going on. Oh course, an occasional vlog might draw more people in to your blog and Etsy shop. Good luck.
Oh Yes, Please DO vlog! “Visiting” with loving families like yours on their vlogs has been such a blessing and such a comfort during this strange time in history. You write so beautifully that many of us feel we already know you and your family, and your honesty about the ups and downs of real life are refreshing and encouraging. Getting to see everyone in action would be wonderful! Just please be cautious about the possible stress of editing and publishing on a regular basis. Once folks get used to watching, they will be addicted 🙂
Yes! Yes! Please start vlogging!
I took an unforeseen (and at the time pretty disappointing) semester off after my sophomore year of college. Long story short, I ultimately transferred to a school that I LOVED, and happened to meet my husband there.
Here’s hoping this break is an unexpected blessing for Seth.
A vlog might be fun and interesting. Who says you must speak? Filming life around you with some lovely music in the background sounds very nice to me. Soothing.
I’m probably the only one who will say that I prefer the blog format. I love your photography and the gentle pace of reading through your posts. It gives me time to savor the moments that you share. A blog feels more in sync with the values you share with us.
I very much agree. Do what you feel is best for your family, but I LOVE reading about your journey. More noise is not what I’m looking for. Thank you for your lovely blog posts!
I agree about having the time to savor everything in your lovely blog posts.
You’re not the lone stranger when it comes to preferring blogs. I love reading posts and connecting with others across the globe. Great photographs are a bonus. Fewer people read these days and children seem to read even less–because they don’t know how, have not been encouraged to, making us a frightfully less illiterate society. We’re forgetting how to write simple sentences too!
I agree with you too. I like the blog format – the vlog doesn’t seem like a Ginny sort of thing to me. I guess I just also prefer reading and looking at photos, than having to watch a video.
Another way to save money on college and use your student’s time wisely is CLEP tests. Make sure the tests your student takes will be accepted at his destination college. The hours he earns this way will be banked for 20 years; the scores are pass/fail and do not affect GPA.
As for video or blog. Choose Peace. You are a great writer. If some topics lend themselves to video insert those as they fit. You can choose voice-overs for audio and stay behind the scenes yourself.
I love the idea of your family starting a vlog! I can’t wait!
I would love to see a vlog Ginny, but I totally understand the social anxiety part. This is coming from a woman that deleted her entire instagram account and has a blog that no one can see, but herself. So I totally get it.
I would LOVE vlogs with you guys! How fun!
Yup, life happens. I managed to finish college on time, but if I didn’t, my parents were like, it’s fine, you almost died. Life happens! 🙂
I believe that editing film footage takes up a lot of time for vloggers – that being said, learning to film, edit and post might be a really good project for your high schoolers if you can work it into the curriculum.
Also, instead of being on camera, you could film something you want to show us (like maybe your dying or soap making process) and then do a voice over. My guess is that you have several YouTube stars living at your house that would be more than willing to be in front of the camera!
Yes! A vlog would be amazing. I totally get the social anxiety aspect (fellow introvert here), but your followers all love you and will be silently cheering you on every step of the way! On a side note, I’m eagerly looking forward to trying to nab some headscarves on Friday. I love the scarves I have from you!
Oh do, Ginny, do!!….if it doesn’t prove too stressful of course. We love reading your blog and would love to see more of how you LIVE your life.
Dear Ginny,
I would absolutely love to watch vlogs created by you!!! It might feel even more authentic to see and hear you talking and acting, although I also love reading your posts as well.
I totally get that it seems to be a threatening perspective for you to do it, but I myself, as a book-loving, creative introvert, have experienced that it is a matter of practice and time (I somehow became a teacher because I love languages and exchanging thoughts with others and being creative, but blushed and sweated throughout my first years of teaching). I wouldn’t have believed anyone who told me that I’d feel secure in front of others and most of the time relaxed about myself now when being with my school kids.
So I’m really curious if you gonna start that project 😉
Greetings from Germany, Claudia
Hi Ginny,
I think trying new things is exciting and mentally stimulating. Mate you will love it and maybe you won’t but there’s no question if you do not tryZ. What do you have to loose? We all love you and your family already.
I need more headscarves!!
Pam
Yes! Definitely, a vlog would be delightful.
hi ginny…….a big YES to the vlogs!!!!
Would love to see some vlogs, absolutely! Go for it. If it doesn’t feel right for whatever reason, you can always stop. 🙂
That’s true! Something about it makes me remember having to give speeches in high school, turning bright red and being generally terrified. But I’m not a terrified teenager anymore, so maybe I can try? Or I could let Beatrix do all the talking… 🙂
Dear Ginny,
I always feel happy when I receive a notification from your blog. Like many people I love reading about your life, though it is at the exact opposite of my life.
Your blog is perfect. I guess that as you are a very creative person you may wish to try a new technic. It will be a great pleasure for me to watch these videos. I agree with the last comment : if it doesn’t please you, you just can stop. We knitters all know that frogging is part of knitting !
All the best