Struan Farm Stories Waiting to be Told

Yep, the garden boy, one of those "pensive posts."

A recent incident has had me thinking about why I write this blog about Struan Farm and enjoy doing it as much as I do. Initially I started blogging to get up the curve on technology ahead of opening our farmstay business. I thought it might also be a good promotional vehicle for the business, and it has been, somewhat. But the blog has evolved to be so much more than that for me. 

For me it's about sharing our life at the farm, its adventures and its moments. I've always liked communicating, understanding and being understood (to the extent possible), and coming up with stories and photographs is fun. Almost always fun, sometimes poignant. In winter when it's raining for weeks on end doing six posts a week is sometimes a stretch. There have been family stories, gardening stories, pet lambs, gnomes, Clifford the dog stories, baking triumphs, disasters and experiments, along with the trials and tribulations of pest control. If I look at themes they're pretty wide ranging, although sometimes I do get into ruts like most people (tomatoes? weeds?).

John hates seeing his photos because he says he looks "old." I think he looks handsome and distinguished, at least most of the time, don't you?!  But the moans about Karen's blog stopped after Jim's grandson and his wife tracked us down thanks to a post (the Jim of Jim's Hut). Their stay and blessing of the Hut was one of the more emotional events in our recent lives. 

The process itself is creative and cathartic. It makes me think. At a time of life when most of the other stuff I do is physical work outside. I need that too, it grounds me and blows any cobwebs out of my head, something about connecting with the soil perhaps.

A few days ago I was asked not to publish any photographs or make mention of a particular member of our family on this blog, which had me scrambling to edit and/or rewrite several posts I'd finished for this week. While I don't like being told what I can or cannot do or say (John will attest to this), I have complied with that request. But this absence created and will create an obvious void. It's important that this individual is not erased from our family for many reasons.

Practically I have always sanitised things for public consumption, certain topics are deemed not blog worthy or simply kept private. Duh.

I won't let this little episode suck the joy out of sharing our happy family gatherings, even if one of us cannot be pictured or talked about right now. I've survived cancer twice. I will continue to share Struan Farm stories about family and other things, because the joy is there, in the stories waiting to be told. And it goes without saying some sadness too.

Comments

[Lizzie and James Ngarama]

The joy you experience in your writings, is received as joy also by us that enjoy reading and view your Struan Farm stories shared. Your talent with words and photography is amazing. While we dont always comment on line, every post is viewed with pleasure.

[Karen]

Many thanks for your kind words Lizzie!

[Dermot Ross]

Good for you, Karen. Your posts are always a pleasure.
x

[Karen]

Thanks Dermot!