May all the blessings of heaven rain down upon you and yours. ~Irish blessing
After lengthy wrestling with myself, I’ve come to the decision to shutter this blog home of mine that I’ve been managing for 16 (!!) years.
I started Musings by an ND Domer’s Mom when my son went off to college, intending to make it a four-year chronicle of college life, with advice for other parents whose kids were taking a similar journey.
(I’d learned at a writing seminar that a “platform” — one cornerstone of which was blogging — was crucial to an author’s success, and I hoped to give my work-in-progress every chance of victory.)
Over time, my focus expanded. I’ve challenged myself to write poetry, taken seasonal photos showing Central Illinois beauty, and penned tributes to those who have left this earth too soon.
I’ve allowed two Shelties (Dallas and Monkey) to share their unique and often humorous takes on life around here.
I’ve participated in photo challenges, blog awards, and Walktobers (since 2017); written about healing gemstones, community band, and the angst of writing and publishing; ranted on topics I feel strongly about; and run guessing-game contests.
I’ve also suffered through many a WordPress technical snafu!
While my posts largely went unnoticed at first, as I became more comfy in my blogging voice, readers arrived! Some became regular commenters; others only replied when a post tickled their fancy.
Some of the folks I’ve conversed with over the years have now quit blogging, leaving a void where their words were.
Some quit because of overly snarky or threatening comments. Others tired of making the effort to find interesting things to say. Still others found themselves lacking time for blogging because of other commitments.
The majority of interactions here have been delightful. Laugh-out-loud repartee, links to additional resources, the true give-and-take that blogging was meant to be.
And I’ve enjoyed all of it.
Perhaps that’s the hardest part of saying farewell: losing contact with dear ones that I’ve come to call my friends. Across the country and overseas.
So, I reserve the right to drop by and see what you’re all up to, maybe even adding my two cents to the discussion. And I might start another blog somewhere down the road.
Thanks for joining me on the journey. Thanks for your support and friendship. Never doubt you’re special in my eyes.
I wish you well. As Star Trek‘s Mr. Spock would say, “Live long and prosper.”
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Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Sorry to see you go. Wishing you all the best. xo
Thanks, Darlene. I didn’t find you until fairly recently, but I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and reading about your interesting trips. I appreciate your coming along on my blogging journey and wish you well!
Drop in anytime!! All the best.
Thanks, I will!!
Thank you for sharing your life, yourself, and your walks for Walktober! I’m sorry to see you go, but I understand completely. Wishing you all the best, whatever you do, wherever you go. ♥
Thanks very much, Robin. I might not have “met” you or joined in the Walktober posts, had it not been for Dawn. And when I read the roundup posts and saw the fascinating places others had been, why, I just knew I wanted to participate — and so did my Shelties! Thank you for taking time to organize that for all those years. I appreciate your kind thoughts and wish you happiness in the years to come!
I will miss you, Debbie! (And Monkey, too!) Thank you so much for the wonderful variety in content you shared with us over the years. I have also noticed that many fellow bloggers have left the blogosphere and like you say, they have left a void where their words were. Impermanence is part of life. It has been said that we shouldn’t be sad because it is over, but happy that it happened. So I am grateful for the time you’ve been in my life and the comforting words you’ve often offered me. Best wishes as you begin the next chapter in your life story!
Aw, gee, Barbara, thanks! That’s a good saying with a hearty ring of truth: Don’t be sad because it’s over; be happy that it happened. I am happy that I was able to blog for so many years and found so many wonderful people online, but in some ways, this rather feels like a death. It’s sad losing contact with all of you — that’s why you’ll probably see me visiting your blogs on a fairly regular basis (though I might not comment as often!). Hugs to you and if you venture to Central Illinois, give me a call!
I’m sorry to see this, Debbie. I wondered what was up since you hadn’t posted in over a month. I’m going to miss you. And Monkey! I arrived here when you’d just lost your sweet Dallas and I grieved with you.
I hope you’ll continue writing and taking walks and photos. I’ve enjoyed all you’ve shared and will miss it! May God continue to bless you in life, wherever you go from here.
You know you’re always welcome at my blog. Please let me know if you ever start a new one!
What lovely thoughts, Kelly — thank you! Yes, if I start a new blog, I’ll notify you. And I just might do that, you know. I’m already feeling “on the outside, looking in,” and that’s not a comfortable place to be. I’ve done some research — but so much more is needed — on what avenue is the best place for my writing and photos. Monk, of course, is furious that I’m quitting this blog and wants everyone to know it wasn’t his decision. Nor was he consulted! As he’d say, Humph!!
Debbie, my longtime blogging friend, I TOTALLY understand how you feel because as you know, I too have struggled with “do I” or “don’t I” continue with my blog. I’ve had my blog for 19 years. And as I shared in my email with you, I went through a period of being tired of hearing my own voice.
However this year, I’ve been contemplating changing the topic of my blog and moving more into a “focus topic blog” in sharing my favorite “products”. So, I guess you could call it a “product recommendation blog”. We shall see. We shall see. If I do, I will definitely email you to let you know.
I will miss you and your blog, my friend. As I shared with you many times before, you have such a gift with words. Also, I enjoyed that you posted about different things throughout the life of your blog, which included guest posts from Dallas and The Monk. Your blog was always so interesting.
I wish you a faaaaaaaaaaabulous summer! And let’s not lose touch, okay? Happy Sunday to you and The Monk!
You’ll be greatly missed.
(((((((((((( xxxxxx You and The Monk xxxxxx )))))))))))
Ron, your heartfelt comment brings tears to my eyes — thank you! Thank you for being such a dear friend, thank you for your own interesting posts. I’d welcome a “product recommendation blog” from you — you’ve got a wealth of knowledge, and as you know, I’m always eager to learn new things.
I know you know how hard it is to quit blogging, having done so recently yourself. I weighed the pros and cons a gazillion times (and actually had my final post written weeks ago!). When one of my online friends quit blogging ages ago, she pointed to certain nasty comments she’d received as the reason. My first thought was, Why let the meanies push you away? Now, however, I see just what she meant, having had snarky comments (that I haven’t approved so they’ve not appeared here) myself. Strange, that people convince themselves of their own worth by trying to hurt others.
Much happiness to you, Ron, and yes, you’ve got my contact info and I expect you to use it! The Monk sends his best as well. Hugs from both of us! ((( YOU!! )))
Aw, Debbie. I hate to see you stop blogging. You have become a bright spot in my blogging experience and I will miss you. I understand your decision and although I have no plans for the same I have to say some days it is a chore to continue. At my age, this applies to life as well as blogging. I wish you all the best, and am sending a big hug to Monkey
John, you can’t know how humbled I am at your lovely comment! You’ve been my hero for such a long time — how you’ve managed to post every day, write EIGHT(?) novels, move across state, and have a family life. Blogging has been good for me, and I’ve enjoyed it. But you’re right: it does take a lot of time and effort, and that takes away from some of the other things we need and want to do. Maybe when things settle down a bit, I’ll find my way back to the blogosphere. Or maybe I’ll just turn The Monk into an online money-making machine — ha!!
Best wishes to you. Hugs
While I totally understand your decision (a hard one, I imagine), you and Monkey will be missed. Take care, au revoir!
Thanks, Eliza. Yes, I wrestled over this decision for a long time before pulling the trigger. I still find myself wavering! I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and learning from all your gorgeous plants and flowers. Best wishes for your ongoing success.
Nooooooooooooooooooo!!! No, this cannot be! Any minute now I will wake up and find it was all a nightmare! The blogosphere without Debbie and Monkey? Unthinkable!! I refuse to believe it, so there! *stomps off, sobbing*
Seriously, though, you will be greatly missed by this blog buddy, Debbie, Hope to hear from you from time to time, especially when that second book comes out – the reserved spot on my TBR will always be there! Very best wishes and thanks for your friendship. ♥️
FF, your lovely comment made me smile through my tears! I’m still wondering if I should have made this decision (and it doesn’t help that the Monk is giving me the evil eye every time I go past him!). I already miss all of you, and it hasn’t even been a week yet. Maybe I’ll revisit my decision and choose another blogging platform under another name — that way, it might give me time to heal from the snarky comments somebody-who-shall-remain-unnamed tried to leave. I considered making my blog private to keep the meanies away, but that would’ve been convoluted for the rest of you (and I’m not sure I wanted the aggravation). Don’t worry — I’ll still visit your blog and make note of your recommendations. All the best, my friend. All the best!
I just can’t understand what motivates people like that! I’ve had to block a handful of people over the years, but as you know, you still see their comments even if they don’t make it onto the post. But I do hope you find a way of coming back to blogging in some way – if you decide that’s what you want to do. It can feel like a chore sometimes, though, so I understand the desire to quit! I’ve written a goodbye post a few times over the years myself, but so far always changed my mind.
I’m happy you’re still blogging, FF, and I’ll keep popping by as often as I can. I’m sorry you, too, have experienced some of this sort of meanness. You know, if it were coming from bots, I’d simply disregard it and go about my merry way; however, since it’s coming from someone I know, someone who should know better, I just can’t. I don’t want to get into a spitting contest for all the world to view! Nor do I understand how these people have so much time on their hands to shadow others and spread misery about!
I have to say I’m not surprised. I’d noticed you were posting less frequently; I wondered whether you were finding your blogging less satisfying, and were disappearing slowly, like the Cheshire Cat! On the other hand, a lack of surprise doesn’t mean I’m not as sad as many of your other commenters. I’ve always looked forward to your posts, and remember details of many of your stories, because you’re a great story-teller. So many of your posts glittered and gleamed like those gems that you introduced me to!
In Jimmy Buffet’s song “La Vie Dansante,” (The Dancing Life) there’s a line that goes “every stop, there’s a place to start.” I really hope that you start blogging again, in a different place or with different topics, but if not, all good wishes for the future. Keep dancing!
Linda, I’m blushing at your kind words — thank you for being such a good friend! Thanks, too, for always adding some “lagniappe” to my posts through your thoughtful comments and additional resources. I can aways count on you to help educate me and my readers through links I’ve probably been too lazy to search out! Possibly, that’s the journalist in me, taking the fast lane when the scenic route offers so much meatier food for thought.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know you through your blogs, too. I think, if we were to meet in person, we’d never run out of things to talk about! The Monk is NOT happy about my decision to quit this blog, so I just might cave to his pouting ways. He can be pretty persuasive (even though he has yet to pay me back through chewing up the furniture, ha!)
Thanks for Jimmy’s song. I’ve long loved him and his beachy vibes! No wonder you settled where you did. Keep dancing, indeed!
Enjoy your blog retirement! Hug Monkey from Pen and me.
Will do … to both! We’ve been through a lot together, you and I: from losing Dallas and Katie, to getting Monk and Pen, to remembering our happy childhoods, to all our band concerts. I’ll still pop over to your blog now and then to see what you’re up to!