Thank you

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Yesterday when I posted that I was considering deleting my food blog, I sincerely thought that I would publish that post, think on it for a few weeks, and then delete it. I never, ever dreamed that there was any one, much less more than one person, who stopped by every day, or at least every time I post.

I told you that when I created this blog I imagined regular chats with a few regular readers. I never had images of becoming a "Pioneer Woman" who regularly gets hundreds of comments on each post, but I did imagine that a few women would become my online friends, and that they would pop in for a recipe and a little "conversation." What happened was that I became a better cook, a more creative cook, and I enjoyed sharing my recipes. What didn't happen was the conversation.

You know what it's like when you talk to your kids and no one responds, and you feel like you're talking to a brick wall? Well, that's what it was like posting recipes. A few folks kindly said, "Hey that looks good," or, "I tried this recipe and my family enjoyed it." And I do really appreciate all those comments. But I was looking for more conversation -- really about anything. "Hey, I love that spice -- do you have any other recipes using it?" or, "I'm in a chicken slump, any ideas?"

When the comments stopped coming almost completely, I had decided that I had veered off the path of interest for you and my blog was just another Google hit for most folks.

Your comments really, really touched my heart. I truly had no idea you were there.

I love that you come to my blog when you're looking for a recipe because you know what I have here is likely to work for you. I love that you like the stories about my family, who likes what, and what was a huge hit at dinner. I love that some of my favorites have become your favorites, too. I just love knowing that you are there, when I didn't know you were.

I don't need to consider this change more than I have in the past 24 hours. Your lovely comments convinced me to keep this blog, and continue writing. It's not too much work, at all (I cook every day anyway!), but it is a labor of love and not one I was willing to labor for just random Google hits. This blog may not be what I imagined -- lovely conversations with friends of the heart, but God often takes us down the paths we least imagined. Maybe my path is not that of lovely conversation across the Internet miles, although I will still be hoping for that lovely conversation.

You see, to me, blogging is not about quality, but quantity. I would rather touch base with five online friends in a day than to read 30 fabulous blog posts. To me, popping into someone's blog is like popping over to visit them at home. I like to read each post with interest and linger over each "conversation." That's obviously not what blogging is for every one -- I certainly understand that. We're all very busy in this day, and lingering is not always possible, especially at a food blog. Sometimes you just need to pop in and get that recipe you saw a few weeks ago.

But, I do hope that you'll bring your hot cup over to the computer once in a while, and stay, and chat.  I want to know about you, what your family likes, what you like to cook. I do so want to be your friend, please know that.


PS I don't use Google Reader myself, so that's another reason why I had no idea you were there -- if you didn't show up on my Traffic Feed, I never imagined you were any where else. ;-)

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