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Late yesterday evening, my internet randomly started working again. Morgan discovered it, since I’d long since given up on it. There’s something wrong with the way they have the satellite signal set, and also something wrong with my modem–which they were supposed to replace last time, and I thought they did, but apparently they didn’t. I’m not sure how long I’ll be online today–I actually cancelled my satellite internet service after the technician called me, scheduled for an appointment between noon and 5, and informed me that he would be out to my house at 1:30 a.m. Coincidentally, that’s usually when I’m sleeping. I called the internet provider and they were, to their credit, dismayed about their technician and agreed to let me cancel my service without any termination charges. It’s time to try something else. I’ve had both HughesNet and WildBlue satellite internet, and I’m just done there. Recently, Frontier brought DSL down my road so I have another option. I don’t expect it to be fantastic, but it can’t be worse. I’ve got a DSL installation scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday). So in other words, my account is cancelled and yet my internet oddly started working–so I don’t know how long it will work today.
Between the derecho putting me out of power and internet off and on for two weeks earlier in the summer, and two prolonged internet outages this month, it’s been an unusually rough summer for me with internet access interfering with my ability to get work done. When I’m offline, I can’t work, and when I get back online, I’m behind everywhere. By the time I almost catch back up, I’m offline again, it seems.
Anyway, so I get back online to the following email:
“I have loved your blog, and been following it for a long time, but the intermittent posts have ended it for me. It isn’t the outage, I have the same problem myself, I am rural also, it is just that you never up date your categories. There is very rarely anything new on your website lately. I certainly understand that with you family and businesses, and animals and all. I wish you well, and realize that you probably don’t receive much income from this source and have to devote your time to other, more profitable ventures. I had wished you the same success as the Pioneer Woman, ( your writing speaks to me more than hers), but that was not to be. Good luck Suzanne, you are a great writer, Mom, and blogger, thanks.”
Really? Seriously? Note: I post every single day on my Daily Farm page (this page) and I post most days on one of my other blog category pages–as in, most days I post twice a day. I generally “take weekends off” and only post on my Daily Farm page, and if things are really hectic, sometimes during the week a super busy day means only a post on my Daily Farm page. Otherwise on weekdays, I put up two posts.
Actually, having just come off another five-day internet outage over which I had no control and which has put me out of work and behind everywhere, I really can’t think of anything else to say about this email. Maybe I’m supposed to be flattered? I’ll work on that. Right now, I’m a little stressed because I’m behind everywhere and I’m not sure when my internet is going to be cut off again today. I will be back for sure sometime tomorrow after DSL is installed. Thanks for bearing with me.
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on August 27, 2012
7:59
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Thank you for the time you put in to everything we get to enjoy on CITR, I for one certainly appreciate it.
8:02
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Good luck with the new internet service this week.
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Don’t sweat the email. It upsets me even, but don’t put any mind to it. Most people understands it takes time to write a blog post, even with internet, and you don’t have staff to write them for you
8:10
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Suzanne – you wear me out sometimes with all you do! Remember you cannot please all the people all the time. Those who love you understand – those who don’t understand don’t matter. You do an awesome job NEVER EVER let anyone tell you otherwise. You have really found yourself at this new place and it shows in everything you do. Don’t stress over being a little behind – we regulars understand whats going on and are patiently waiting for you to get caught up. All things in good time. Thats what farm life is about. It’s not rush rush rush – that’s city life.
Take a deep breath – and we will be here when you are – ALWAYS
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Life is lived one day at a time.
Remember: If you want God to laugh ~ Make plans.
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Nothing new recently? Nothing new about Shortcake and Zip? Nothing new about Glory Bee?
Oh, I know. The bread recipe has been up too long. That’s gotta be it. But, that is some darn good bread there. So it deserves to be up.
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On a side note: I have had both cable internet and DSL…DSL is much more reliable and there are no penalties should you decide to download movies, etc. because with DSL, you aren’t sharing bandwidth, it’s all yours! I love it and think you will be very surprised how really fast it is!
Now, I’m off to catch up reading your blog posts…
8:53
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I have trouble keeping up with your posts some days, as my LIFE gets in the way. But when I do find time, I savor what I find.
You are certainly have a real life, which at times provides amusing fodder and at times the sad parts. But your life, Suzanne, should never give way to the blogger. Even if the blogger pays the bills. Life should be lived as if there is no tomorrow, IMO.
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You have a fantastic blog, and I look forward to every post. They are all entertaining and beautifully written And nowhere does it say that you’re obligated to share your life with us every day. Just keep doing what you have been doing, and know there are plenty of people who understand and are on your side.
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Dear email-writer: There’s a thing called a RSS feed. Use it and you don’t have to keep checking the website. It TELLS you when your favorite blog(s)have updated. Then you can do something else while the feed takes care of updates. Perhaps if you were engaged in your OWN life, you’d not be so sour that Suzanne doesn’t post “often” enough to suit you!
Don’t let her get you down, Suzanne, you do a great job.
9:35
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Sandy,
ps::I will be comeing out there; I’m hoping some day! I swear!!! I want to move to WV::but my hub wont (sad face)
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When I first started reading your blog I had it bookmarked under Farming Blogs. Now it is bookmarked under CITR because there are so may things in your blog I want to find with just a click of the button. I really don’t know how you do it all.
10:25
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Lindy
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Last I checked, the info/reading material on this site is, ummm FREE?!
And I call such comments a “left handed compliment” at best.
Amazing.
dede
10:39
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10:40
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Mona Slocum/Evers
10:45
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It seems like every so often, some nitwit writes a screwball email such as the one you qouted, would’nt you love to know how many of these idiotic email she spreads around? She must be a very unfulfilled person with not much going in her life –she should get a life, she is probably still reading your blog just to see if you mentioned her email.
For those of us that have followed you from the begining, we all know that you post more than most any blogger out there, I haevnot read that many, but your is always up to date, and as you say, sometimes you post more than once a day.
You just keep on keepin on, those that follow you salute you!
10:46
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Sure hope the new internet provider will be satisfactory.
While you were off line, it gave me a chance to read lots of the old posts without worrying that I was missing some new stuff! Love the “More Posts You Might Enjoy” feature that keeps changing, there’s always something I’d missed in the past or wanted to enjoy again. And, thanks for the link to all the “cow” posts, some of them were new to me as well.
Keep up the good work! Wish I could come to the retreat and party, I know everyone will have a fantastic time. And NO flooded rivers and streams to cross to get home.
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I agree with all the above as well. I am totally in awe of the life you have created for yourself. The person who sent you that email needs a reality check (and should be ashamed of themselves). “Pioneer Woman” as she calls herself, may be more “successful”, but she also has a staff to write her blog, help her with her photography, homeschool her kids for her, etc, and wouldn’t know “real”if it bit her in the butt. There’s no comparison to be made.
11:03
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No more presents, no more family dinner, no more Christmas tree!
If it cant come every day, I’m OUT!
11:05
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Keep up the good work. I enjoy everything you post. Well, maybe not the preg checker posts. :-)
Mary
11:05
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I’m thinking that the emailer might be confused with your site’s layout. I know I like having posts come up in a reader and then coming here–that way I know I won’t be missing anything in a category. Don’t take it to heart.
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I love your blog and and will read it until the day you decide to stop blogging. A side note, why does my spell-check flag the words, ‘blog’ and ‘blogging’ does the person who programmed it not know about blogs?!
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Have a good day, Suzanne!
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I would chalk this up to a mistake, a momentary impulse, shrug, and move on. Don’t take it to heart. Delete, and move on. I know, that’s easy to say…..
Meanwhile please know that there are lots of us out here who love reading your blog, and you always let us know when you are offline – which means a trip for you to someone who has internet to make a post saying you are offline, which certainly says that you care about your readers!
And I for one will be sticking around, as I love your blog and am grateful you share all your adventures with all us strangers out here in the internet.
I do hope the DSL works out for you! And that the new modem works. When I moved to my new place, I got DSL, and they provided a modem which didn’t work very well but they gave me another. Then I upgraded my router and boy what a difference. I use a Mac, and bought their expensive Airport Extreme and have never had a problem since. It was worth the money to not have to do resets all the time. Anyway good luck to you! And please keep writing.
Sorry for the long comment.
Glad to see you are back and hasn’t it been a crazy summer?
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I love what SanAntonioSue said! Well done.
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You’ll love DSL. Just remember to to check your speed (Speakeasy Speed Test) once in a while. It won’t be the max, but it should not be less than half of what you’re promised. Coincidentally I’m getting a DSL upgrade this week so I will have faster uploads for mss with photos..
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Love you!!!
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I enjoy your posts whenever you are able to get them posted. Believe me, you have many, many faithful readers who understand!
1:37
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We all get busy and cant always do some things we do daily. Its just life. We are grateful for when you do post. We understand you are a busy mom and woman. Could be our little e-mailer needs to get out of her computer chair and get busy herself and then she might understand why you may not be here as often as she likes.
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Your use of photographs with story is very, very well done.
“Store bought cookies” from Dec 2010
“O happy dagger!
This is thy sheath;
there rust, and let me die.”
Morgan is so much fun! I adore her.
You also have a family of readers/followers.
I have to read all the comments to get the full story.
Thank you Suzanne for adding a bright spot to my day.
Michael Schultz
San Diego Ca
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I’m loving the soap! I should’ve dropped you a note about it weeks ago–and I can’t even claim internet outages as an excuse. :-)
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This site and the people who post here and on the forums have given me the confidence to try new things that I might never have attempted before. This summer I have made several different types of wine jelly and roasted garlic jelly (not a hit with my crowd but will be used in somethig). I know that if I have a question/problem someone here has the answer or can direct me to an answer
There are only 2 blogs I read, this one and another one by a friend who recently moved from Kansas to Alaska and is sharing his new adventue.
2:46
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You know you are doing fine. You know you are doing right. You knew this when you posted…you don’t need your reader’s confirmation, you are doing what you love, writing and farming. ‘nough said.
2:54
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We started with a dozen mixed variety. Egg production dropped off
at 2 yrs, at 4 we were getting 1 egg a day. So we got a new flock
this year. Best Chickens last flock Rhode Island Red and Barred Rock.
No roosters.
How old are your chickens? How long do you keep them? What verity do you consider getting?
Your post on Processing day was informative.
This year we are doing our first ducks. Pekin
I have some fun duck story’s. I now understand the line of ducks
going into the forest and fewer coming back. They are DUMB. What will decide if we EVER have ducks again is how they taste and how useful their eggs are.
Do you ever plan on doing ducks again?
Do you ever plan on Guinea hens again? Good warning system.
Or Peacocks ? I had Peacocks.
Maybe Thoughts for feature blogs.
Thank you
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Mamajhk, if I might, I’m interested in the blog you mentioned, if you feel it’s shareable.
See Suzanne? We’d be lost without you!
3:27
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Pioneer woman is nothing but garbage. that woman wouldn’t know a farm if it jumped up and bit her in the butt. And her recipes suck and just make you fat and full of cholesterol!!!
I love what you are doing Suzanne,I admire your courage and your ability to take on tasks that would be daunting to most men, and most of all I love your positive can do attitude. You are an inspiration to women everywhere…. Keep doing what you are doing….
3:46
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As for the e-mail, I’m not sure why someone would take the time to write to you to tell you that they aren’t going to read your blog anymore. And mentioning Pioneer Woman, well there really is no comparison. To LEARN about cheese making, soap making, sassafras, ramps, great recipes and just good life skills in general…read your blog. To look at another women’s husbands rear end and 20+ pictures of a (not very amused) basset hound read the other blog. No disrespect to the other, I just choose to spend my time looking at useful information! Take care and good luck with your internet service!
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I have Frontier DSL, and am happy with it for the most part. I do have intermittent outages almost every day though. They don’t last long, just long enough to get the “Internet Explorer cannot display this webpage” message, When I see the DSL light is lit up again on the modem, I just refresh the page. I’m sure that wouldn’t be a good thing for you and hope you don’t have that problem.
5:21
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Suzanne’s banner and colours do not need updating, they are perfect as they are! Suzanne, you are doing a fabulous job, and are an inspiration to us all! Go, girl!!
5:26
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As for DSL, I had it for several years. It worked great most of the time.
The noise filters the ISP provided worked pretty well.
However, during the Summer, we had problems with the DSL going out intermittently. The ground (like an electrical ground) for the phone/DSL line went into a flower bed. If that flower bed got too dry, the dried up dirt pulled away from the ground line, causing the internet to quit working.
To solve this, we watered that flower bed for a while, and the internet would keep working again until it dried up. It was really strange having to water a flower bed full of weeds and old roses to be able to check my e-mail, but it worked.
The other thing about DSL is the closer you are to the “substation” thingy the faster your internet is. The further away you are, the slower it is.
Hope this helps. =)
5:45
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You have a multitude of readers who love your blog and are happy to read whatever YOU post on YOUR blog; whenever YOU post on YOUR blog.
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( your writing speaks to me more than hers), but that was not to be. Good luck Suzanne, you are a great writer, Mom, and blogger, thanks.”
She just cant get enough of your writing!! Just like all of us. Her loss by leaving. We are still here for you
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Your blog is one of a few I follow diligently, and I must say I’m impressed by how often you update your blog with your funny, warm, and entertaining stories from your obviously busy life.
I guess that makes some people envious in a nutty kinda way so that they feel the neurotic need to send you emails like that.
I’m one of your biggest fans. Keep up the awesome work, Suzanne.
Lisa from Ontario, Canada
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Your devoted follower!!
Love you!]
Betsy
9:42
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Take care, Suzanne…you bring a smile to my face every day! I wish I could attend your retreat.
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I read some to of the post others had left. I had no idea so much had went on in your life. Did your son move off to college? I noticed it said you had a death in your family I suppose. I sure hate that.
BLESSINGS!!!!
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Rain
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But I do enjoy reading your posts and check in at least three times a day for my fix. If it’s not there, I live. or should I say do my work.
and smile when I do see a new post.
Thanks for sharing your life, Suzanne. I really wish I didn’t live on the other side of the country and could come to one of your shindigs.
BTW. I also love PW. Don’t know where you guys are getting your info about ghost writers and such. I have never heard that anywhere. Anyone have any proof? Guest writers and ghost writers are two different cats.
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I thank you for every post you give to your readers. We love them and look forward to reading what new adventure is going on in your life. People need to remember to extend the same courtesy to you on this blog as they would if you were a neighbor and simply didn’t have time to “chat” over the fence.
That’s the one thing I can say I hate about the internet…it removes so many of our normal filters and manners that we would use in a normal “in person” conversation.
11:23
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I have cable internet in a metro area and work from home–except when the temperature goes below zero and the cable quits working. It always starts up again just before the tech guy shows up and he can’t find what the problem is. Sigh. Ain’t technology grand?
1:49
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I will admit that I am a little disappointed about the level of drama. Perhaps it’s because your blog has the polish and poise of a publication. Perhaps it’s because the drama between you and your real life neighbors is “safer” than drama between you and a netizen. For instance, if I were to email you what I thought, being open and honest and perhaps thinking I am giving constructive criticism, would it get posted and subsequently flamed by the readership? That is something which would cause me to avoid reading more so than intermittent posting (which, since we’re on the subject, I don’t think has been that bad lately). Some folks live for drama. Some folks want an emotionally safe experience. I happen to be in the latter category.
Anyways, I think you are a tremendously talented lady and enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for all the work you put into it.
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My first thought, when I saw the barn and the headline, was that the barn had burnt down! Did anyone else have this old song run through their heads?
“Late last night, when we were all in bed,
Miz O’Leary left the lantern in the shed,
and when the cow kicked it over, she winked her eye and said,
‘There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight!’”
I’m relieved that the barn’s ok – but I guess you did get flamed!
Keep up the great work; I love everything you write.
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