I am not an indecisive person. I don't wonder and waver. I think pretty quickly and very rarely regret any decision I've made or action I've taken.
I just wanted to say that right out because I am changing my mind, and I want you to understand how unusual this is. I'm going to continue with my Letters from a Hill Farm. And you, my dear and gentle readers, are the reason why. I have never in my life received letters such as the ones you sent me in response to my endpost on the blog. Your kind affection toward me, your interest in these letters, your sadness that I was stopping, and your hope that I would reconsider were overwhelming to me. Your notes brought tears to my eyes. And I missed you.
There aren't words to express my thankfulness for your letters to me. My heart is full.
I could go on and on, but I won't. I'll just begin again after my week away. In case you missed the previous posting, this is what I am referring to.
It will be good to have you back. Enjoy your time off!
ReplyDeleteJodi, I was away for the last week. I should have made a reference to the previous posting. I'll do that. Sorry for confusion. And thanks for your nice words.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those who doesn't officially follow you, but I have a link to your blog in the sidebar of my Thrifty Style blog. It shows me when you post a new post and I read it...When you announced you were leaving, I wrote (on my main blog) a note about how much you will be missed and reflected on the sweetness of the blogging community.
ReplyDeleteYou can't imagine my delight that you have chosen to return.
P.S. I hadn't removed the link in my sidebar yet :)
You can't imagine
Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletexoxoxo
You can't imagine how my face lit up when I saw your post!!! I'm all warm and fuzzy inside now!! Loving the new header and so over the moon that you are going to continue to share your life with us!!
ReplyDeleteYay! I was hoping you'd come back! From (other) Nan :-)
ReplyDeleteNan, I feel like I know you through your blog. I am not a blogger but a reader of blogs. I have followed yours for quite some time and was dismayed when I read your post last week about discontinuing. I was so upset I called and told my 93 year old Mom last week. I am a retired school librarian in VA and I have enjoyed your book reports. Now that i have time to read more adult books it was a great source of recommendations. I told my Mom what were we going to do. She too has loved your recommendations....especially our discovering Mrs. Pollifax. She is pretty well house bound but loves to read and your choices have brought her some really good books. Selfishly I am glad you have reconsidered. we may not have communicated with you before but know that we are out there reading and loving your blog. I know it is work for you but you have a lot of kindred spirits who found it so refreshing to find someone who thinks like we do! Thanks again for all the enjoyment and great suggestions. Marge
ReplyDeleteI did miss the last post, and am glad I did. I would have been so sad to think you were leaving. I may not always comment, but I'm always reading! The book reviews, the recipes... everything. Keep it up, Nan. Please.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to see you back!
ReplyDeleteI've been checking your blog every day hoping for a miracle . . . Halleluiah!
ReplyDeletemd
Dear Nan
ReplyDeleteI tried to write on your last post, but was unable to, I'm SO
glad your voice of reason and wonderful taste in books will contintue to enlighten!
Hooray! I've found so many wonderful new to me writers because of you. You remind me of Gladys Taber for the new Century.
xx
Julie
Welcome back Nan! I was missing you already. :)
ReplyDeleteHOORAY!!! I'm rejoicing. :)
ReplyDeleteYay! Just think how many years Alistair Cooke did Letters from America. Keep the letters from your hill farm coming.
ReplyDeleteNan, it has been a pleasure to read you blog. I was surprised to see another entry pop up today! I was thinking you were getting tired of writing, or feeling like you HAD to put up en entry. If that is so, consider "Blogging without Obligation." It's your blog don't write for us - write for yourself. Be well, and thanks.
ReplyDeleteBut, wait, I thought you had turned off the comments. I had wanted to tell you that you have become my Gladys Taber with your descriptions and letters. I think that you love Gladys as much as I do, so you know what a compliment that is.
ReplyDeleteGood. A little hole in the cosmos has been filled up. I am so glad you are back.
Nan -- I'm so glad you're back. It's only been a few days but you left a gaping hole in the blogosphere! I missed you. That said, it is okay for you to take a couple days off every so often....
ReplyDeleteOh Nan this post just made my day!! Thank you for coming back. I was not one of your readers who e-mailed you but I have spent some time each day since I read your letter composing a letter to you in my mind, while I searched my files for your e-mail address. (Now I can quit looking!).
ReplyDeleteAs a fairly recent reader you could repeat quite a few posts before I'd notice (But I know your conscience wouldn't allow you to do that).....
I just love the mixture of your lovely posts -- cooking, reading, gardening, loving.... it's a beautiful blog and I'm so glad that just this once you were indecisive.
Hugs. (I'm glad I hadn't deleted you from my google reader -- was so happy when a new post popped up.)
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! No pressure, just a shout of joy! I'll be here to read anytime you feel like writing.
ReplyDeleteHi Nan: Well this is indeed good news. Welcome back I have missed you.
ReplyDeleteNan, I'm so glad. Truly, yours is one of my favorite blogs to read, be the posts about books, the shipping forecast, your garden, or your children's home building.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you have reconsidered. I don't follow much on the internet, but always enjoy checking out your blog.
ReplyDeleteYaaaaaay!!!!! I am happy to see you have changed your mind! When you wrote your farewell post, I thought of sending you an email, but then decided against it because I thought you wouldn't want that kind of letter after having taken the decision. I am glad others were not deterred :-)
ReplyDeleteOh hurrah!!! You have a public Nan :) And your blog and your lovely spirit that shines through brightens up so many days! I know you'll just blog whenever you feel like it, but it's so nice for me here in the UK to picture your life and share a little of it! Donna
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased, Nan. I was really surprised by your decision as you have one of the most popular and visited blogs on the net and I knew you would be sadly missed. Delighted you changed your mind.
ReplyDeleteNan, I didn't read your farewell until yesterday, when I was so sad to think that I wouldn't be able to read your lovely blog any more. I was busy composing a letter to you to say so when my internet access went down and it didn't get sent. So you can't imagine how delighted I am to read your post this morning.
ReplyDeleteOvernight I found myself thinking a good deal about the communities that have formed around blogging, and how pleasant it has been to make friends that we may never meet but can share some of the events of our lives with. And mostly what I enjoy about the blogs I read regularly aren't the big events, it's the small observations about people's daily lives - I love to know what your weather is doing, or what birds you see in your garden, whether your children have been visiting, or what you had for supper! I would hate for it to become a burden to you, but it will be a delight still to have your posts to read.
Only just heard you were stopping yr blog, so visited to leave a farewell comment and found the good news. So pleased you are continuing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you'll be back! I was really sorry to read the post saying you were going to stop blogging but hadn't gotten around to commenting.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Tabitha (Sydney, Australia).
Oh, huzzah! :) I am glad you've changed your mind :)
ReplyDeleteThis is good news, Nan. Thankyou!
ReplyDeleteNan, I am so glad that you changed your mind. I was away on holiday and found your farewell post when I got home. It made me very sad, although I understood how you felt after 4 years of blogging. Lots of our old correspondents from those early days have given up and I regularly consider it but I'll keep going now you have decided to.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking just this morning that I missed you Nan.I didn't take your blog spot off of my reader I was ever hopeful that you would come back. I am so glad you reconsidered. Everyone needs a vacation from time to time. Enjoy yours.
ReplyDeleteHURRAY!! You have just brightened my dark, dreary morning.
ReplyDeleteOh hooray - I'm so glad so many did what I thought about doing :)
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you changed your mind. I would have missed you Nan!
Have a good holiday!
Well after a Nasty shock ..we get a nice surprise LOVELY
ReplyDelete(Does this mean I can stop frantically copying recipes in long hand while fielding queries from young ladies.."but why is she stopping Mum?".. they were quite practical though "perhaps see wants more time to do other fun things" We're just hoping you get to do both ..:0)
Nan, this news has made my day. I was so upset when I saw you were stopping and I'm glad I sent you a note...and that so many of us thought alike and convinced you to stay. Hurrah! What wonderful news! Can't wait for your next post. :)
ReplyDeleteA wonderful decision!! I am truly delighted that we can continue our friendship and share snippets of our lives,
ReplyDeletenot to mention all the books I may never have heard of!
Hugs and welcome back :-)
Niki
How lovely, Nan! I look forward to reading whatever whenever......
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how happy it makes me that you have decided to continue. I look forward to seeing a post from you each morning and when it isn't there the day dims just a little. Welcome back...you were greatly missed.
ReplyDeleteI got so excited when I realized that you are back I forgot to mention how disappointed I had been that we wouldn't get to see the completed log house...and now we will! Yipee.
ReplyDeletehappy, happy, happy
ReplyDeleteso glad you're back - I was missing you already
by the way, I picked up Deborah Crombie's "share in death" at the library last night - amazed at how a Texan writes all these minute details of Brit life in the Yorkshire moors - I laughed out loud and almost fell out of bed when I read, "he took his grip from the boot" on page 5
Oh thank goodness! I didn't know you'd left--just checking in. I tend to blog more, and read more, in the fall/winter and I'm thrilled you are still around. I have often thought of doing the same thing, after five years, but just taking the occasional break is good enough. If readers don't like these pauses, well, just let them know you need some time off. They'll be back!
ReplyDeleteAll best to you up there in northern hill country!
Catherine
Oh my! I just saw this post and I want to say how grateful I am that you have decided to keep up your blog! Thank you. I really enjoy what you write and what you share.
ReplyDeleteKay Guest
Rebecca, how very, very kind of you. I will come and read the post. I don't think I've ever been the subject of a blog entry before.:<) I don't follow either. I just have the blogs I read listed at the bottom of my page. I'm happy to have met you and will visit.
ReplyDeleteLes, thanks dearie.
Staci, so sweet; thank you.
Nan, thank you.
Marge/Sunshine Lady, this makes me cry. I am so touched, and so grateful you took the time to write in such detail. It means the world to me to think of you and your mum finding out about books from me. And I'm thrilled she likes Mrs. P. - such a great, great character. Inspiring.
I "linked" with you on the Stillmeadow site a couple of years ago. That site has disappeared. So glad "Letters" isn't going to. You wrote "I am a simple person and lead a simple life". This "simple person" enjoys taking tea with you of an afternoon. It is the best of "simple".
ReplyDeletePamela, thank you. I feel the same about your words.
ReplyDeleteAnita, thank you so much.
Mary, I am so touched. Thank you.
Julie, that's the nicest compliment I could ever receive! Wouldn't Gladys have been the best, best blogger. Really that's what her books are like, little blog entries that discuss whatever she is thinking about at the time. Thank you.
Heather, what a nice thing to say. Thank you.
Thoughts of Joy, thank you!
ReplyDeleteAh, Thomas, Alistair is one of my favorites in the world. Thank you. Is there a collection of his letters? Did you used to watch Sesame Street? 'Alistair Cookie!'
Webster, thanks so much.
Clair, how very kind. She is my heroine of all time, and what a compliment to be mentioned in the same breath. Thank you.
Carol, thank you so much.
Sallie, such dear words. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJ.G., thanks so much.
Donna, thank you.
Sprite, what a nice thing to say. I loved the mention of the 'shipping forecast!'
Carolyn, thank you.
Wow, Cath, what a thing to say! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Geranium Cat. I'm pleased you like those 'little' things of life as I do.
Susie, thank you.
Librarian, thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteDonna, what a nice thing to say. Thanks.
Tabitha, thank you very much.
Jenn, thank you so much.
Cornflower, and I thank you.
Monix, I am so glad you will continue! I need to see those 'babies!'
Bellezza, and thank you.
ReplyDeleteLisa, how very nice. Thank you.
JoAnn, thank you.
How very nice, Island Sparrow.
Val, I just love those girls! Thank you.
Bookssnob, thanks so very much for your words.
Niki, thank you and I feel the same way.
Nan, it is wonderful news to hear you will continue your letters. I know the many fans of your blog, including me, are wearing a big smile. Your book reports have introduced me to authors I might never have discovered on my own. Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tinky,
ReplyDeleteJill, what a dear thing to say. There should be an update on the house coming soon.
Janice, thank you so much. I'm pleased you are reading the DC book - that is a funny passage you noted.
Thank you, Catherine.
Kay, thanks for your kind words.
Tracey, a beautiful thing to say. Thanks.
Bella, thank you so much.
If you happen to come back to read my responses to your comments, I thank each of you so very much. I answered them in batches and it may seem a bit confusing but my replies are all there.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely thrilled and delighted that you will not give up on blogging. Your blog has become very precious to me in many ways and I've admired your range of interests and your way of life.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you keep the blog to the precise extent that you remain engaged and happy with it and that you do not burn yourself out.
You do not know me, but you have provided me with inspiration when I needed it; you have provided me with comfort when I needed it; you have provided me with ideas when my own brain seemed barren. I admire your taste and am influenced by it in so many ways. It is a new and rather unusual kind of relationship but please know that your blog has done much good when you may have not expected it in the least.
I'm so relieved you reconsidered. I was in complete denial about deleting your link from my sidebar. Very thankful I needn't do it now.
ReplyDeleteNan,
ReplyDeleteI am delighted you have reconsidered and you are back to blogging. I so enjoy your blog and look forward to all your updates.
Blessed Be
Great news! I look forward to visiting again - thanks, Nan.
ReplyDeleteSunt l. r., your words are just incredible. I feel so warmed, and so grateful. Thank you for writing.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, thank you. I have some folks on my sidebar I haven't deleted either, hoping they will return.
Anon. (Carole?), thanks so much.
Deirdre, thanks so much for leaving a note!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you have changed your mind, Nan. It troubled me that one of my favourite bloggers was giving up - and of course I know a blog is very time consuming - but thank you for returning!!
ReplyDeleteVintage Reading, oh gosh what a nice thing to say. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLook at you, missy! 63 comments. I knew the blogosphere loved you. :)
ReplyDeleteNan, I am so glad you reconsidered! I would miss you terribly-I love to hear about the sheep, farm, your daughter and son-in-laws house, etc., etc. YAY!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are staying - was dismayed to think you might be leaving the land of blog, because this is a place I love to visit.
ReplyDeleteOh my - you make me smile.
ReplyDeleteI tried to reach you and for some reason my emails would not go through. Or did they?
I would not have known if you had not commented on my journal.
Love to you Ernestine
Hurrah! I am so pleased. I love checking in on your farm, your life, the plantings and the recipes and your book reviews and your insights and thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAlso - how could your blogfriends be denied the view of your daughter's finished house! Welcome back, Nan!
Welcome back! I had left your blog in my Google Reader just in case. :) I agree that the book blogging community is so great and what started me blogging and what keeps me blogging.
ReplyDeleteSo happy about your change of mind, Nan. It's comforting to know that your gentle words and thoughts will again be just a click away.
ReplyDeleteOh my - I just did a little dance of joy. I don't blog myself but have always appreciated the thoughtfulness that always appears in your posts. When I read your farewell post, I felt so sad and went to my husband and said that I felt that I had just lost a friend even though we had never met each other. I'm so thrilled that you have reconsidered!! I can't wait to check your posts again!!
ReplyDeleteLes, several of those are mine, you know.:<)
ReplyDeleteSherri, thank you so much. btw, Matt isn't a son-in-law. :<)
Thank you, Kerrdelune.
Ernestine, I wrote back yesterday. Hope you got them. Thank you.
Thank you, Susan.
Christy, thank you.
Marcia and Rebecca, how very nice, and thank you both.
yeah. congrats on changing your mind!!
ReplyDeleteand you know what they say - if you can't change your mind, are you sure you still have one.
the hill lives on!!
wv: mistly
Adding my note to the rest and sending gratitude your way for keeping the blog up and running. Just take your time, post what 'you' want and when 'you' want to!
ReplyDeleteYou are so appreciated here in Ontario,
Joanne at Seasonal Hearth
I agree with all the lovely, heartfelt things that have been said about you above, Nan.
ReplyDeleteWhether it be a recipe, a book, a post about family, farm, or garden a certain calm seems to radiate through it and, somehow, it makes the world a better place to be in.
Thank you for changing your mind for once!
Carole
Kimy, thank you. And that's encouraging about the mind. :<)
ReplyDeleteJoanne, thank you for this note, and for your email. I'll write back soon.
Carole, thank you for those very special words.
Oh Nan, I am so happy you are back! I was soooo sad when you closed your blog and have thought about you a lot since. I decided today,to have another little look at your blog just in case and there you were, back. I couldn't believe it as I really felt your decision was going to be final.
ReplyDeleteThank you for changing your mind.
Patricia
Australia
Oh dear, I don't visit you nearly as often as I should, but I would be among those who would count your absence as a great loss, Nan. I always feel so refreshed after visiting your blog, and I'm sure that you will always have some thoughts to share regarding the farm, your gardens, life, and all. I'm so very happy that you're back. ♥
ReplyDeletePatricia, thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteNancy, thank you, and no 'shoulds!'
Wow, Nan! What joy!!! I hadn't tried to get in touch when you stopped your blog, because I thought cutting off comments then meant (in part) that you wanted to return to a more private life, and I respected that; I didn't want to intrude. But I was actually grieving - it's the only word for it - and I couldn't resist having a look at my old favorite site today, as I used to do on so many days over the past few years. Only to find this marvelous resurrection! As I said, what joy!!! Thank you, thank you so much. I couldn't be happier. You can have no idea what it's like on a busy day to peer over the hill at life as I want it to be, and as I know it is whenever I pause to look around or take the time to bake my own toasted oatmeal cookies (for just one delicious example!). It's all very selfish, really, but your blog grounds me in all the things I love. I can't thank you enough for all of the gifts your blog offers to its followers. And that's true even if you decide that you can't keep it up always. I just wanted you to know. Bless you, and thanks so much for being there once again, however long you can sustain it! Callooh, callay, oh frabjous day!
ReplyDeleteOh, Annette, what words! Thank you so, so much.
ReplyDeleteWell, somehow I missed this. But I am SO glad you've changed your mind, Nan. Welcome back.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Yvette!
ReplyDelete