My goodness, how does one start after such a long break? It’s been a dry winter. So dry that the hills and fields remained with the dry, brown look of summer well into February. Which is when we got 15″ of rain in one weekend. Then a few more storms followed and now, finally, at long last we have mud puddles and brilliant green growing at such an astounding rate, it’s almost audible. Before, going outside, would often make me feel more down and out than when I was inside. Seeing all the brown, dead, middle of winter landscape. Now, now I feel renewed hope in it all. Maybe even though we don’t have as much rain as we need, there will still be growth and flowers and greenery.
At first I took a blog break just for the holidays, but then the new year came around with a whole new set of projects and trips and other seemingly monumental hurdles for our family. So I kept silent, which makes it even harder to come back to writing. Where do you start? What should I say? Who’s even reading this? Who am I to share about my life? Am I sharing too much? Am I sharing too little? What is the idea of sharing to people you don’t know anyway? Are we as a society sharing too much? Oh, you see what a mess can be made from too much thinking. I tend to stall a lot of projects by getting too caught up in the thinking end of it.
I’ve missed this creative outlet for myself, so I stopped thinking and I’m back to doing. It’s spring, time to put on the mud boots, get outside and start weeding & planting.
I hope you’ve been well. You’ll be hearing more from me again soon.
Love your blog and I think it’s just the right balance. Glad you’re back to blogging!
Well, speaking for myself, I enjoy reading blogs, because my health keeps me pretty much housebound, and it helps to see other ideas, and perspectives, and to know life goes on and is bigger than just me and my piddly problems. You may not understand how your words contribute to that, but trust me, they do. So thank you, and welcome back!
P.S. I’ll trade you your brown and dry for my 3 feet of snow! Happy spring; I’ll let you know when it gets here to PA! Haha
Where in PA? I am from clarion County.
I’m from Union City in Erie county;about 30 miles south of Erie. The snow has melted and we’ve actually had some nice days this week! Yay, spring might come yet! ¯(ツ)/¯
I’m reading you! Glad you got some rain. I live in Florida, but have a cousin who lives in Paradise, the city in Califonia. I enjoy your pictures of what you are growing. Have a good day!
Welcome back.
Well I am watching and have been wondering where you were.
I have missed your posting – especially the wonderful pictures.
Don’t leave it so long next time Please
Angela
Aloha – I stumbled on to your blog a year or more ago when I googled how to make my own deoterant – since then, ive been reading your every post! I am a organic farmer in maui – so I love reading everything you post, you see, we have a similar and difficult to describe love for plants, projects, and simple moments of life. The other day, out in my own garden, I RANDOMLY thought, huh I havent gotten a sanoma garden email in a loooong time….I hope shes alright…I hope shes alive! So, needless to say, its really wonderful to read these posts again – I love them all. I appreciate that you write them – I dont know how you do it as a gardener and mother of three children. So I’m out here reading! I care! I think there are quite a few of us who enjoy whatever you chose to share
Aloha
I’m reading! So glad to have you back. I have blogged at various times and am on a going on two year hiatus and wondering how to get back. Thank you for “taking the leap”, I live in Sonoma during the summer and you are my connection when I am gone. Love hearing about the rain!
I am a resident in Palmer, Alaska but spend a lot of months
In Sonoma. I have become quite the gardener here, planting, transplanting from wonderful neighbors up and down our street . . . So I DO, very much, enjoy “Better Gardening”.
Kendra, I am so glad you’re back and all is well in your neck of the woods. Never doubt that your blog is interesting. I always find it uplifting and full of good feelings, information etc. as many of the of the things that you love and enjoy I do too. I have learned many gardening tips from you and many of the links that you have supplied have brought me to new and interesting things. Small things such as a homemade jar of jam or a freshly baked pie always make me smile. Thank you and welcome back.
Well I am here in Toronto, and very much appreciate your blogs! We are under yet another winter storm warning today and it seems that it will never end!
I intend to make some creams and butters that I saw last year on your website so kerp sharing! Lol
Glad to hear from you! I read all of your messages and LOVE your photography. How are your bees?
Hi! I am so glad you’ve started writing again. I found you when I was searching for homemade lotions and I’ve been using yours ever since! I also live a bit vicariously through your blog because I live in a small apartment with no green space on the east coast, and your California life is my dream. I hope you keep blogging because I love to read it!
Thank you for posting pictures. I look forward to them no matter how long your break is.
Well, I read and enjoy your posts, so keep them coming. Because I live in Southern California, I can relate to your discussion about the drought. Flowers and plants are coming up here, but the hills are still brown. Love your outlook on life and your bits about your family life, recipes, and your garden—especially the pictures. Thank you!
I’m so glad you’re back! I love your posts. I feel like you offer a peek into a world that I am working very hard to reach for myself. Home, kids, land to manage, gardens to tend… it’s all very enchanting and not far off for me. Thank you so much for sharing your life and passions.
Hi from another reader in Toronto. We just got in from shoveling piles of snow and it was so good to see that somewhere the tulips and grape hyacinths are flowering! I enjoy reading your blog and seeing the pictures. The Rey first post I read was one in which you shared how to make natural body lotion. I’ve been wanting to make it, but didn’t know where to find the ingredients. So glad you’re back and well. Looking forward to future posts.
Lovely photos.
I’ve got those little purple bulbs popping up everywhere in my yard! Do you know what they are?
Hi Melissa, they are muscari also known as grape hyacinth! Cute, aren’t they?
Welcome back and thanks for the lovely photos. It’s nice to hear from you!
And I’m reading! I’m in Hawaii but my home and garden is Sidney BC Canada. It looks like there are quite a few of us who didn’t miss a beat and are here today.
So glad you’re back, it has been a long dry winter without updates on bees, gardens and knitting!
Missed you! Glad you are writing again and posting those lovely pictures. In Atlanta, we’ve had one of the coldest, wettest winters. And yet, probably better than anywhere in the country. Happy Spring!
I am reading and I am glad you are back
Missed your lovely pictures. And guess what? Thanks to you my gardening heart woke up and i built myself a garden bet to start with some veggies this year. wooohoo!!!
Many greetings,
Susann
I always look forward to reading your blog. Missed you and glad you’re back!
So glad that you’re back! I was in Sonoma over the past week, soaking up all of the lovely sights of spring. All of the acacia blooming makes me smile!
I’m really glad you’re back writing again. Too much thinking is a good way to stop the old creative flow – something I’m very guilty of, especially at the moment. Lots of changes coming my way, but before too long I should be living a similar kind of lifestyle to yours, in Northern Spain (still got a way to go with grasping the language, but I seem to like challenging myself..). I love reading about your garden & trying out your lovely skin care recipes. We’ve had the opposite kind of weather to you, over here in the UK. Lots of rain & flooding, which brought the country to a grinding halt for a little while. But here comes the sun & hopefully a lovely warm spring. Thanks for your blog – it really inspires me!
Glad you are back. In answer to your questions…
)
Start where you are.
I don’t know.
Me (and apparently many others
You
No
No
We are all one & we find kindred souls
maybe yes.
From your friend who enjoys reading your blog & seeing the wonderful ideas & photos. I’m a kindred spirit who lives in Santa Rosa (next valley over, for those who do not live in the area) and recently moved from Pollock Pines, so I know and love Harris Tree farm & Apple Hill.
What a small world! Thanks for your ideas & inspiration!
I’m in Santa Rosa as well, Julia! I love reading Kendra’s blog because its a different view from what’s happening at my house, but in the same area!
Yay! You’re back!
I started reading blogs over the past year and yours is by far my favorite. I made your lip balm and body butter as Christmas gifts for friends this past year. I’m a young adult who dreams of one day owning a house with a big garden and living the homesteading life. Your blog is inspirational, inviting, and your photos are so lovely.
I read your blog! I live in Redwood City; a Bay Area city that was once more rural like Sonoma. I really enjoy reading about your gardening, cooking, and experimental apothecary. Thanks for sharing! I’m looking forward to what’s new and good for you and yours.
I love these beautiful flowers! I like those colors!
How long has it been? Seems like just yesterday. I guess I’ve been busy, too.
I think you picked the perfect place and time to get started, and what you said you said perfectly. By the response to just this blog, it is obvious that a lot of people read your blog, so keep sharing because you are an inspiration to so many in so many ways. (No pressure, though!)
You are right, sometimes thinking too much or too hard can stop us in our tracks, but YOUR thinking has given me a lot to think about and a ton of inspiration!
I made hand lotion yesterday using your recipe with potassium sorbate…lavender scented. I love it!
I’m writing from the east coast (central VA), we are expecting snow tonight, but that hasn’t stopped the tulips from popping their heads up through the soil or the grass from greening up or the trees from budding.
Here’s to Spring, new beginnings and you!
There you are! I’ve missed your blog!
As for the “where do I start” thing I think you just dive into what’s goin’ on in your world. I love and look forward to winter and tend to close down shop a little, as it were. Spring is the perfect time to emerge and begin again.
Glad you’re back.
Glad to see you back, and from the looks of it, so are a bunch of other readers. I know what you mean about taking a ‘too long’ break. I am there with my blog, and need to do it instead of just thinking about doing it.
Green is such an inspiring color in the spring, isn’t it?
Oh my…I think we’ve been on a similar soul-searching journey! I also took quite a break from writing. First, it was the holidays…then problems with my site…and then the great “Why?” I’ve gotten through it, I think, and I’m so glad you have, too. You were so kind to have my site on your blog roll (Growing Days), but I have changed to a new self hosted site. I hope you’ll visit–it’s scary and lonely at my new home, and maybe we can commiserate over writers’ angst! 😉 glad to see you back! ~ Julie, Garden Delights http://juliesgardendelights.com
welcome back to blogging. It looks like you have sprung up with the springing up of spring. Beautiful images. I hope you enjoy being back in blogland after your break. Sometimes I wonder too what is the point of it all – but blog on I do. Amazing the connections you can make.
Have a wonderful week, and thank you for stopping by my blog last week – I am sorry I have taken so long to get back to you!
I live in Greece , but I am from Russia. I am reading your blog. My daughters and I love your photos.Please , don’t stop blogging . Tatiana.