It's been a busy couple of weeks since I last posted...
Aaron, my baby is graduating his final Senior year this Friday and I've been feeling emotional and so very proud. Needless to say, there have been lots of errands with suit shopping being at the forefront. It's hard to believe that my baby also turns 18 in December.
Desert Rose (Adenium Obesum)
This beautiful succulent sits just outside my front door and it is currently in full bloom. Beautiful, isn't it?
As you may notice in the top picture, the only down-side to this plant is that it seems to attract mealybugs at certain times of the year. They cover the underside of the leaves which end up turning blotchy yellow and fall off. Any tips on natural ways to deal with mealybugs would be greatly appreciated. Thankfully, these periodic insect attacks haven't stopped it from looking magnificent when in bloom.
As to the title of this post?
I've been mulling over some ideas lately and I've made the decision to bring some changes to my blog. I feel like I've neglected my blog, here and there, over the past four years and I really want to change that.
I was sucked into the realm of social media for a while but, in an effort to simplify my life, I now see some of the social media platforms as big time-wasters. Twitter was the first to go and Facebook may well be next. I'm finding Facebook harder to let go of because of the art, animal welfare, and vegan groups I belong to. It's also a way for me to keep in touch with family and friends who I don't often see in person. I guess they can always message or follow my Instagram account. I do love Instagram so I will keep that.
Admittedly, social media hasn't been the only thing to keep me from my blog over the past four years
but it has been the one thing that wasn't a necessity in my life.
As my regular readers know, my Dad's rapid decline in health and his eventual passing from Parkinson's and Stroke in 2015 was a big part of my life focus for a couple of those years. I certainly don't regret that time. I dearly miss my beautiful Dad every day.
This past year or so has brought a few changes to my life and I plan to share more on my personal path here.
So, you can expect to see more posts, each covering a specific topic to make it easier for my readers. However, my art/illustrated journals will still be my main focus.
Stay tuned...
i so hear you Serena. I have been feeling the same way, that life is changing quickly and I've been doing well changing with it but the social media time wasting is hard to fit into a changing lifestyle. I always love reading you weather it's about art of life. I think the changes you're implementing will fit perfectly. I hope you have a great upcoming Christmas season (forgive me, I spent this morning planning out all aspects of recipes and buying guides to make our chistmas seamless this year).
ReplyDeleteThanks for your lovely comment, Jen. Sometimes, social media can feel overwhelming to me and I feel better about not tying myself to it anymore. Hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. YIKES!! It's a great idea to plan ahead and I wish you a wonderful Christmas season too. xo
DeleteFirstly, congratulations to Aaron on his graduation.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I hear you about the blog neglect, and social media thing. About four years ago, I decided to stop blogging, thinking I'd be better off on social media. I've since learned that was a mistake, not least because it actually meant I lost touch with some people I considered friends, who I'm now struggling to find and reconnect with. I only lasted about a year before I was blogging again (well, publicly... I didn't last long at all in general) but most of my bloggy friends don't seem to realize I'm blogging again. Anyway, it's only been this past year that I've really shifted my focus back to my blog. I still use Twitter and Facebook, and don't intend getting rid of them. But I always feel like I've been more productive when I've spent an hour working on a blog post than when I've spent the same amount of time on social media, if that makes sense.
Thanks, Tori. :) I will have to check out your blog...it's been ages since I've been able to visit. Social media is definite a drain and I do love blogging. I always feel more satisfied and productive after working on a blog post too so I totally get what you mean. :)
DeleteLooking forward to your upcoming blog posts! That's a beautiful succulent in bloom!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine. :)
DeleteCongrats to Aaron!! Hard to believe he's a grown young man already. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI am only on facebook to link my blog posts because I was asked to do so by a few people because it was easier for them to follow my blog. But, as you know, I am seldom on facebook other than that. I'm a blogger at heart, I guess. Well, I do watch youtube videos of a few people--mostly artists and crafters. I spend enough time on just those. Too much--LOL!
Lovely plant. Seems like a good time for some positive changes.
Love and hugs!! :)
Thanks, Rita. I can't believe how fast Aaron has grown up since he started high school five years ago.
DeleteI am truly a blogger at heart also and it feels great to be shedding the excess social media. I love YouTube!
I definitely need some positive changes in my life right now.
Love and hugs xo
I could give up all social media except Instagram lol
ReplyDeletethat is a very pretty pink plant :)
I don't even miss Twitter and I don't have the inclination to even go to Facebook at the moment. I may keep my art page going on Facebook but only to link blog posts. :)
DeleteWhat an absolutely gorgeous sight to come home to! I love those flowers! What a shame about the bug, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations to your son!
I can totally relate to what you're saying about social media. Facebook is definitely my least favourite of all, and I'm only on it because of the groups I belong to, many of which are from online classes and the only way to connect with others from the class. I most prefer blogs and blogging, but then I find that the problem with blogs is that they sort of float out there in the web and are easy to just go under, and Facebook & Co. are a way to somehow keep it visible. But maybe it's the wrong way. Some social media are definitely taking a lot of energy out of me, and it's something I've been thinking about a lot too, including making changes to my blog. But I'd definitely keep Instagram! I'm looking forward to seeing the changes you're making to your blog, and to read and see more from you!
Thanks, Kay.
DeleteI feel the same about Facebook and I will most likely hold onto it only for the groups I belong to, especially for online classes as you mentioned. I feel so much better since leaving Twitter. OH yes, I love Instagram! :)
Beautiful blooms and blog post! I totally understand where you're coming from. I hardly post on my personal FB anymore, but am a member of a lot of industry professional groups on there, so check in to their pages everyday. My FB art page is pretty much just a "share" from my Instagram, so no extra work required, other than to answer messages and comments.
ReplyDeleteI gave up my blog entirely, and started up just a basic website to act as a gallery more than anything else. I could happily just use Instagram and nothing else. See you there! ❤️
I could ever give up my blog as I do enjoy blogging, however, I may do the same as you with my FB art page and share across from Instagram. Sounds like a great plan to me. I'm definitely over my FB personal timeline plus browsing through an endless newsfeed. OH yes, Instagram is definitely my favourite social media platform. :)
DeleteI hope to be more regular with my posts, as well as posting more on Instagram.
I am just getting caught up after needing the month of November to really bear down and work work work. . . and it's funny, I have been reassessing my blog too. More for the year to come and the possibility of using it as my main outreach. I detest social media. I was a huge myspace user in the day and still believe there is nothing like it for artists out there at this point. I've kept in touch with many of those old MS friends. Facebook came along and, much to my chagrin, leveled the playing field. Instead of originality and creativity being the rule, everyone had a page that looked exactly the same. I never got on to twitter or instagram. . . and I DO see how they work for some but, honestly, I believe if you do not enjoy it, if that sort of connection isn't already your style or in your comfort zone, it really won't "work" for you.
ReplyDeleteThese days I'd rather focus on fewer, more reciprocal exchanges and deeper expressions than being alerted to what someone ate for lunch or whose BFF is doing what. lol
I look forward to seeing what the new-look Serena Blog entails! And congrats to your SON! It must be rather odd to have all five be grown now and done with school! :)