(Or something like that.)
A while back, I placed a donation page on my site in response to requests to make it easier for people to donate to Chickens in the Road. This post is also in response to requests for a reminder on a monthly basis. I would prefer, beyond belief, to not need to ask for donations to this site. It is my joy to provide this website. I am living my dream on a farm with goats and chickens and a Giant Puppy, oh my, and sharing that dream with all of you through my stories and photographs is so meaningful to me. But it is also true that I am a struggling single mother with three children, and hosting and other technical services for this site are not provided to me for free and I struggle to pay for those services. This site receives a significant amount of traffic (to my gratitude!), which impacts those costs.
I do want to say, due to some comments and emails I received when I first placed the donation page on my site, that I do have a job. In fact, several. I have been writing books for nearly eighteen years. It is not a high-paying job (especially with book sales in a spiral due to the economy), but it is a rewarding one–I have always pursued work that allowed me to find my joy by giving joy to other people. I love to make other people happy. Outside of writing books and this blog, my time is devoted to taking care of my three children and my farm. In other words, I have no time. But I love this site and somehow, even if it’s at midnight (and often it is), I find time to make it happen every day.
If you enjoy my blog and forum but are in the same financial straits due to the economy that I am, please disregard this plea. If you enjoy my blog and forum but think I need to get a job at McDonald’s, please disregard this plea. If you enjoy my blog and forum and are able and willing, please consider a small donation. A donation of as little as one dollar is appreciated more than you could ever know.
Please click here for newly expanded donation options. If you would like to receive something tangible in return for your donation, you can buy the Chickens in the Road 2009 Wall Calendar or Coco tile coasters or a Coco mousepad. (More to come soon.) Click here to go to my CafePress store for the calendar and more.
Thank you for being here every day. I love you guys!! I will be here until they drag me off to the poorhouse, LOL.
Heidi says:
OH SUE! I wish I could help out – but farming is not really profitable either!! I could send you beef as payment, but not sure you want that as curency!! LOL I love your site and I am here daily regardless! Thanks for taking the time to share yourself and family with us everyday!! LOVE YA!!!
On November 23, 2008 at 6:27 am
Barbara McDevitt says:
You are my entertainment this weekend so I sent you my movie money.
I am also missing church this morning so I probably should also send what I would put in the collection plate but…
I love this site. You have made the right choices for you and your kids and the fact that you can squeeze in working on this blog daily is just a great benefit to those of us who enjoy it daily.
Great work – Barb
On November 23, 2008 at 8:07 am
Becky says:
There are always doubting Thomas’s, no matter where you go. Ignore the negtive remarks!
Those of us who love your sight, also love you and what you are trying to accomplish.
We are all struggling. Some worse than others. But if we pull together and take care of eachother, as God intended us to do, we will see eachother through the rough spots.
Praying for you, Suzanne!
On November 23, 2008 at 8:37 am
Cathy J says:
Amen, Becky and all! You are a huge blessing to me, Suzanne!
On November 23, 2008 at 8:39 am
Kelly says:
I think you could do well with a Chickens in the Road cookbook . Your recipes and instructions are great !!!
Where are your publishers in all this ?
Why are they not helping support your blog or helping you to publish a cookbook ?
They could share some co-op money with you , even if your website is a different genre’ than your books , it’s all still promotional !!!
On November 23, 2008 at 8:53 am
wkf says:
Like everyone else I too am in financial straits. But everyone can scrape up some cash if they have too. So I am sending what I can. It’s not much but I enjoy your blog too much to not try and help. Good Luck!
:flying:
On November 23, 2008 at 10:10 am
Leah says:
I have no idea, the costs involved to run this site. But friends stick together. I’m purchasing a calendar today and donating what I can too. I look forward to visting all of you everyday since I stumbled upon Chickens In The Road, and I’m so glad I did. :hug:
On November 23, 2008 at 12:05 pm
LeaAnn says:
Suzanne,
Your blog is one of my favorites. Probably because you are so real. Someone I can relate to. I admire what you have accomplished so far. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us.
On November 23, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Susan Flemming says:
Just wanted you to know that while I don’t often comment, your site is my first stop each day in the on-line world. Thank you for sharing glimpses into your life.
On November 23, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Donna says:
Suzanne…I don’t know HOW you have the time to do ALL that you DO accomplish. You can run circles around me!!! I am in awe!
On November 23, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Liz says:
I’ve sent you a bit of financial support, not a huge amount, but, like you I am a single parent with hens and a giant breed dog (Newfoundland)- I also keep quail and several rescued (i.e. old, ill or otherwise no longer wanted) four legged friends. I do not, however, have to support a blog! So, here’s to you!!! I always enjoy reading your blog each day… just before I go out and chop the ice from the hen’s water and feed all the two and four legged girls and boys before I finally get back to scrape the mud and various species of poo from me before I settle to what I laughingly call my life. Keep writing, keep me laughing. With very best regards, Liz
On November 23, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Patty says:
Suzanne you are such an inspiration to me. You’re such a strong woman, following your heart and working for a dream for yourself and your kids. Like the rest, I can’t wait to read your blog every morning. Since I work online til 3am I usually get to read it during work and it gives me something to look forward to. I have bought a calendar and was thrilled to get the notice it was shipping yesterday, and I will also donate what I can. Like the others I don’t have much to spare, but something is better than nothing. Oh and my mother in law as a Great Pyr, I think that Coco mousepad would be perfect! One more name crossed off my Christmas list! We love you Suzanne! Hang in there!
On November 23, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Susan says:
Things are tight all over. I donated, unfortunately it wasn’t as much as I would have liked to. You bring so much joy to my life!
On November 23, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Teresa in nc says:
I would loved to have helped financially but right now I am just not able. I love the idea of a country cookbook. I wonder if the publishers would consider that. Maybe even a section on how to save money. Oh well, I am spending as little as possible until spring (when we will have a bit more to spend). I haven’t been able to get on this site much lately, but I do appreciate all you do.
On November 23, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Melissa Marsh says:
Suzanne, I cannot tell you how your blog has impacted my life. And I am completely serious. When I read your post where you asked yourself the question, “Am I really happy?” I asked that question to myself and the answer was a resounding NO. So I have made changes in my life, BIG changes, to find my happiness. And I am getting there. Slowly, but surely.
You have been an inspiration to me when I thought what I was doing was nuts, when I struggled with my choices, when I wasn’t sure if I could do it. I come here every day and your blog is my little slice of heaven.
Thank you, THANK YOU, for having this blog! :snoopy: I am donating some money to you (though I wish it were more!) because I cannot imagine not reading Chickens in the Road everyday.
On November 23, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Gayle says:
I donated today, I love your blog and how much joy you’ve brought to this “wanna own a farm” someday, surrounded on all sides by neighbors girl! :shocked: I have a beautiful chicken coop sitting in the backyard built by my husband for the 2 chickens I’m allowed in my city. So your chicken stories are always appreciated!
On November 23, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Estella says:
I love this blog!
I am a retired senior on a very fixed income, but I received notice that Cafepress has shipped my Chickens In The Road calendar.
On November 23, 2008 at 6:21 pm
MissyinWV says:
Suzanne this site that you created makes me smile everyday it’s my first stop each morning.(Chicken in the Road has officially replaced the newspaper with my coffee) Your vision has made me even prouder to call WV home. Thank you for believing in dreams and showing others dreams can come true. Of coarse you have my support and admiration. Good Luck!!!!
On November 23, 2008 at 7:56 pm
rostle says:
Lots of folks are in your predicament… they go out and get a job.
On November 23, 2008 at 8:56 pm
TeresaH says:
Yes, so many of us are poor people! I was a struggling since mother for years so I know how that goes too.
On November 23, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Leah says:
:wave: Just because of the ugly comment two rows up, I’m making another donation right now. :flying:
On November 24, 2008 at 12:01 am
G says:
Hi- just wantd to say thanks for using the Amazon system. I find that terribly easy to use and thus can fulfill my desire to help out a bit. I really enjoy your recipes, thanks so much for your enjoyable site.
On November 24, 2008 at 4:49 am
Kelli says:
For the first time in my life, I must regretfully admit that I do not have an extra nickle to spare right now. Our ends are not meeting, not even close. But I wanted to thank you for your blog. It has cheered me up plenty of times. We are moving to the country (closing today on a very small piece of property, but we do have cows for next door neighbors), and hopefully we will have a few extra dollars in the months to come. For now, as a member of the human race, I would like to apologize on behalf of those people who are so miserable that they have to use the internet to spew negativity at you. Keep your chin up and thanks for the wonderful stories and pictures!
On November 24, 2008 at 6:50 am
Diane says:
Well then nasty people just burn my butt. I sent another dontation also. I know its not much. But I feel this way. Suzanne you put so much into this blog. I enjoy reading it every day. So why not contribute a little bit to help keep it up. And what folks are forgetting is that you do have a job. You are a writer. You are a mom. And you run a farm.
I do love the suggestion of you writting a cookbook with some of your farm stories and recipes and pictures in it. I think it would sell very well. I would buy it!!!
On November 24, 2008 at 6:56 am
Becky says:
Those of you reading this post that don’t realize that Suzanne has a job. She does, she’s a writer. She writes books.
Her problem is just like any other single parent household. She only has one income. And as most of you know, it takes two incomes to survive in today’s world.
Been there, done that. And unless you have been there, done that, you should keep your snyde remarks to yourself.
As I said earlier, Suzanne. Ignore the negative remarks!!!MOST of us who visit you daily love you no matter what!
On November 24, 2008 at 6:59 am
MARY says:
:butterfly: Note to “Rostle”: Why would you read this blog if you didn’t like it? This IS Suzanne’s job. SHE IS A WRITER!!!!!!!! Go kick someone else’s water dish!! Suzanne, I am unable to send anything but prayers and good cheer, but I know you will persevere, and make everything happen the way it is supposed to! Have a great day!! :treehugger:
On November 24, 2008 at 8:44 am
MARY says:
:rockon: P.S. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody11111 :sheepjump:
On November 24, 2008 at 8:47 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
THANK YOU!! I can’t say that enough. I love you all! (Your kind words make me cry!)
On November 24, 2008 at 10:21 am
mirela says:
Because of you, I spent wonderful moments in the kitchen with my son, making the Grandmother’s Bread. Can you imagine that your recipes made this possible? I should also mention that my son is a teenager (15) and at this age, I consider myself lucky if I get a few moments with him once in a while…We will keep trying your recipes and I am forever grateful for discovering your wonderful blog!
P.S. Donation on the way 🙂
On November 24, 2008 at 10:41 am
Minna says:
I love your blog!
Oh, geeze, some people… :fryingpan:
I am unable to send anything (when you are a student you don’t have too much to spend either), but an idea. Ever heard of one red paperclip guy? He started out with one red paperclip and ended up with a house. I thought that if he could do THAT I could certainly trade some stuff I don’t need for something more useful. I for instance traded some things for a huge amount of yarn and now I intend to trade some of the stuff I’ve made out of it for something else.
https://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/
On November 24, 2008 at 11:07 am
Jennifer says:
Being a mom is the most importatnt job in the world! And being able to do other “jobs” from home so you can care for your children is great. I admire and respect all you do to give them as much of your time as you can.
On November 24, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Cousin Sheryl says:
Suzanne – -Hang in there!
I have watched Suzanne work hard in writing books and in creating, writing and maintaining this blog along with raising kids and keeping her farm. She does work hard! It is not easy to be creative and write something EVERY day (especially if the kids are in a bad mood, the cat just coughed up a hair ball on the counter and the gear box on the car has water in it!) Suzanne is one of the most disciplined people I know in completing her work on a daily basis in addition to being a great mom and a spectacular cousin/friend.
Suzanne, you know where I am. Your slice of pumpkin pie, a cup of hot tea and my big ears are here for you. Support in many forms is just “over the hill.”
Thanks to all you loyal bloggers out there! You are a great bunch!
On November 27, 2008 at 1:30 am