cleaning house and a surprising cancellation

Blogger continues to be quiet, especially in my tiny Equine Expressions corner. I started seeking out active bloggers, and tried to find places to connect with others. In the process, I decided to clean house. I reviewed my reading list and cleaned up my read feed. Removing any blog that had not posted since 2018. If I haven't heard from you in two years, I most likely won't. Some were harder to unfollow than others. Even those that said good-bye. I held out hope they would come back and interact more in-depth. Other bloggers just plain 'ol disappeared. I found more than one site had been taken over by Asian gobbledegook. Best not to be connected to those!! Time will tell if "house cleaning" helps with connection. I am not holding my breath.

As the doom and gloom continues to get worse, it is important to have positive connections.

I was surprised to see yet another cancellation, for next Spring. Midwest Horse Fair 2021 has been officially cancelled. The venue is used for emergency needs due to COVID-19, and our State extended use through April 2021. The fair is too large to hold elsewhere. It doesn't affect me personally, although depending on conditions I likely would have attended. How sad for the horse community at large, and the vendors that depend on its revenue and exposure. 

Some days it is easier than others to look on the bright side. Animals live in the moment, and help keep things in perspective. SO grateful for our four legged family! I wouldn't be me, without them.

Hiking with our Tank,
Jameson and Remi (grand dogs)

where have all the bloggers gone

" Where have all the bloggers gone, long time passing?

Where have all the bloggers gone, long time ago?

Where have all the blogs gone?

I miss them, every one.

Oh, when will they ever return? "

I've recently noticed some of my favorite blogs have **poof** disappeared. Not just inactive, but removed. Vanished. Deleted. It's all part of the invisibility of the internet, but it just feels odd. After reading what you chose to share, and getting to know you. Perhaps they've run off to the greener side of Social Media, or didn't want to leave bread crumbs?

I followed a couple bloggers who said good-bye a long time ago. They switched to Instagram. While I love seeing their horsey photos & catching snippets from them, let me tell you it's not remotely the same. At least I know they are okay. Not sure about those that up and suddenly disappear. I certainly hope they are okay, and just had a change of heart.

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A while ago I noticed Kate's blog was missing from my reading list. You know, Kate from Illinois. Sorry, I do not remember the exact name of her blog(s). I tried to look them up via comments on my blog, just incase the computer gremlins are playing tricks on me. Alas it appears both blogs have been removed, along with her comments on my blog. Only her profile name remains.

Kates first blog had an incredible wealth of horse health information she shared with us. I recall it had the word "Horse" in the blog name, and her more recent blog was titled "The Oak Tree" or similar.

Yesterday I noticed Mrs. Shoes blog about life on her farm has gone away. Into the darkness *sniff* No more updates on the beautiful place they built up from scratch, animals, Mr. Shoes or her canny humor. Not many of my posts went by without my hubby commenting on her often funny commentary. 

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I truly hope those of us still blogging continue sharing, for all that it offers. 

I don't blame anyone for shutting their blog down. It should be time well spent, and enjoyable. If it wasn't, I would stop as well. Altho I don't think I could hit delete on something I spent so much time creating. 

Blogging doesn't have to be a regimented chore. I blog to get things off my mind. To journal our life happenings. For friendship, and to get help or ideas from like-minded knowledgeable horse lovers. Many of which I hope to meet in person, some day. 

If you do choose to hit delete in the future, or become an inactive blogger, know I've truly enjoyed sharing all things horse (and more!) with each of you. Certain things trigger memories of what we've shared. I do hope you will write when the mood strikes you, or stop by for a visit and let me know how life is treating you and your horses. Don't get lost in the fog.

foggy barn

pasture time ~ 5 of 5

After seeing all horses playing together in the pasture, and each of Cierra, Nemo, and Koda's featured posts, this series closes out with a few quieter pasture times.

feels sooo good to be back together

unspoken words exchanged

what is THAT on your head?

visiting with neighbors

I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine

pasture time together is the best

I hope you've enjoyed viewing the photos as much as I've enjoyed taking and sharing them! Shooting pics of our horses in the pasture after we ride on the weekends has become an enjoyable part of our summer routine. 

Pausing, to soak in, what we so fortunately have as a special part of our lives... 

In other words, I've got more pictures to share! However I've got other things to talk about first, before those memories start fading. I will continue to intermittently post some collective pasture photos of our horses, while I've got 'em. How's that for incentive to blog? It's working for me! Go on, give it a try. Capture some memories, and let us share in your joy.

how do you preserve your posts?

How do you preserve your posts? or don't you? 

I know some of you lost posts, heck entire blogs, and went to some great lengths to get some of that precious history back.

I am leaning towards making a personal photo type book out of my blog, every couple years. To preserve my journey, a diary of sorts ~ just for me. Something I can hold in my hands, when I am unplugged. I think down the road, this would be something I would truly treasure.

I did a Google search, and found these three options:

http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook

This one let's you test out your site:

http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html

I also found a (free) pdf blog maker - sounds fast, however no picking and choosing:

http://blogbooker.com/
 
Any suggestions and/or recommendations??

learning

I'm not only learning about being a horse owner of two young horses, I'm learning about blogging about horses - oye de mi! Both are definitely a work in progress.

We have three horses in our family - Koda, Nemo and Harmony. We see the boys daily, and take care of them ourselves - something I would never venture to do without my horse savvy husband. For now, Harmony is boarded where our daughter can hopefully achieve her goals and rides with her 4H friends - unfortunately I don't get to see Harmony much. I'll try to post pictures soon.