Friday 29 August 2014

Who Am I?

They say there are two sides to every story … maybe there are two sides to every person too.

“I’m complicated, mysterious, yet content with the simple things in life.  Don’t try to understand me; you won’t figure me out.  But you’re free to like me the way I am.” ~ Marwa Avad

late second blooming rose

Take me for instance …  on this blog I talk about, amongst other things, my love of my flower garden … the countryside that surrounds me … nature and wildlife … the beauty of which motivates me to try and paint pictures with words … possibly revealing my more feminine, soft and sensitive side …

butterfly on cosmos

It’s wonderful when you can bring sparkle into people’s lives without fading away from your own true colour.  Keep the hue in you. ~ Dodinsky

However, on  my other blog, A Woman of the Soil, here … it brings out the  more down to earth … practical … no-nonsense side of me  … talking about my vegetable/kitchen garden …its successes and failures both … a part of my life that brings such satisfaction most of the time.

assorted varieties of tomatoes

“Just because I liked something at one point in time doesn’t mean I’ll always like it, or that I have to go on liking it at all points in time as an unthinking act of  loyalty to who I am as a person.  To be loyal to myself  is to allow myself to grow and change, and challenge who I am and what I think.  The only thing I am for sure, is unsure, and this means I am growing, and not stagnant or shrinking.” ~ Jarod Kintz

In each case I try to take you, my readers, on an enjoyable journey … sharing personal experiences … hopefully from a fresh perspective … giving you small glimpses of who I am … showing my take on the things I am passionate about.

rain battered sweet peas

Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you? ~ Fanny Brice

The two sit comfortably with me … I can be practical when I need to be … digging and planting,  hauling logs or sacks of grain … or I can be creative … painting delicate watercolour pictures or writing  a piece of fiction.  Both sides of my character make up who I am … sometimes one dominates the other out of necessity… but each have their place in my life … sometimes a dreamer … sometimes  logical.  Just going with the flow one day … and making hard decisions on another.

nasturtiums and fennel

scabious, flowering mint and white cosmos

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Sometimes though I lose my mojo – my motivation to do the things I enjoy – and  become very negative – but still going through the motions out of habit.  I stopped posting on my veg growing blog for almost a year; still growing veg but just not wanting to share as I just wasn’t getting any enjoyment out of it – and I was sure that that feeling would be conveyed to the readers of the blog.

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I carried on with the Rosebank blog because I could cover a variety of topics – even though it started out as purely a gardening blog.  It’s funny how things change – how we change – my mojo is back and I have started the other blog back up again and am taking delight in talking about growing veg and producing my own food once more. 

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So, there you have it – a little of what goes on inside my head –  you are probably thinking what a load of old ‘tosh’ and you are probably right, but I guess we all have different facets to our personality – at least I hope so, wouldn’t life be boring if we didn’t.

61 comments:

  1. Good for you Elaine! I love the quote about not having to do something just because you liked it before. We all change and progress and we all need a break from things now and then. Beautiful photos in this post and I'm glad you're back blogging about your veg growing :-) .

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    1. Thanks Paula - I thought that was a good quote too - and quite true I think.

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  2. Sometimes I think I change from moment to moment. My husband tells me I am fickle, but if we're not changing it becomes stagnant. I would be bored very quickly only doing/being one thing. What is known is old and stale; the unknown is where the hope gets in.

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    1. Hello Donna - thank you for visiting - variety is the spice of life as they say.

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  3. When I was stu yng to become a teacher my two chosen subjects were maths and art. At school in the sixth form this would have been impossible as we had to choose all arts or all science subjects for A levels which meant I ended up studying things that I had absolutely no interest in We were then pigeon-holed as scientists or artists. It was expected that most girls would choose arts and the boys sciences. Ab early form of brainwashing.

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    1. Thank goodness things have changed since then.

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  4. Dear Elaine - I don't think you are alone in having two different personas...sometimes we have to be tough and other times soft...doesn't mean though that we are really one or the other - perhaps we are just balanced or fickle (LOL). Anyway I enjoy getting to know you and see what things you are passionate about. Will be checking out your veggie patch blog...I am sure I will learn something new. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Hi Debbie
      Until I started writing this post I hadn't really thought about it - but you are right of course - it would be very wearing trying to be something we are not meant to be. I like the fact that there is more than one side to everyone's personality (however strange they may be at times).

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  5. Thoughtful post, Elaine. I have become fascinated by all the different elements that make up a person's character. I used to think I sometimes did things 'out of character' (and then it frustrated me) but now I realise I simply change - evolve, if you like - all the time. Sometimes I enjoy a particular thing, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I am a particular way, sometimes I am not. Both are okay. Both are a part of who I am. No need to force anything. Certainly no need to behave in the way I think people expect me to (a trap I found myself in for a long time). And I agree with Sue Garrett: I detest pigeon-holing, and we must be careful not to pigeon-hole ourselves. xxx

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    1. I think as we get older we realise that we are who we are and accept that if people don't like us the way we are then that's their problem not ours.

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  6. I'm a new visitor and I'm loving your blog already. We're very much alike. I'm going to love following along. Now, I'm off to have a peek at your other gardening blog...I think I will enjoy both!

    Jane xx

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    1. Hi Blondie
      Thanks for visiting - I have been over to your blog and enjoyed reading your 'journal'.

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  7. I didn't know you had a second blog!!! I will make sure to check it out!!! And let me just say that your harvests and those bouquets are outstanding!!! There is an old quote by bob Dylan that I like....I can only be me....whoever that is!! Lovely weekend to you friend!!! Nicole xo

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    1. Yes Nicole. I stopped posting on it for a long time for various reasons - perhaps this is a bad time to start it up again with winter coming when there isn't a lot happening in the veg garden - I will just have to see how it goes. And Bob Dylan is quite right. Have a good week.

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  8. Glad that you have got your mojo back Elaine - I will now take a look at your other side 'Women of the Soil'. Some lovely images on this post.

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    1. Thanks Rosemary. I quite enjoyed not having the pressure of two blogs to run but suddenly thought it would be good to start again - after someone mentioned the blog - and I kind of missed it.

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  9. We probably all have many sides! I haven't read your other blog so I am off over there now to visit! xx

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    1. I agree - it just struck me that I write completely differently on each blog and wondered why.

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  10. Glad to hear woman of the soil is back. I love my flowers but like you, my practical side, loves growing veggies, putting food away for winter. Change is good, what wonderful words to hear. I wish I could have told my younger self that things I held true then wouldn't last. and that is okay. I held so tight to rigid ideas, causing myself anxiety, judging others harshly. Only now am I starting to embrace change more fully. lovely post.

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    1. Thanks Marguerite. I agree there is just something special about growing veg. When I was younger I couldn't even have dreamed that I would end up doing what I do now or being the type of person I am now. Embracing change is definitely a good thing in my view.

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  11. I think that I shall have to accept that I am hopeless with flowers, but not too bad with vegs. It takes all sorts!

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    1. We can't all be good at everything can we - I have learnt to accept what I can and can't do now and not get all het up about it. Life's too short to worry about what we can't achieve.

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  12. Good Morning Elaine,

    Another interesting post.............definitely NOT a 'load of old tosh'
    Your post are always a pleasure to read.

    I am without doubt a dreamer.............in fact, most of my school reports state this fact. I was the child who looked out of the window, and couldn't wait to get out into the open, and feel the wind on my face :)

    I am, like you, practical. Spending most of my time alone, anything that needs doing, I do. I guess life does change us, it would be boring if we went along the same route endlessly, wouldn't it ???

    Great post............have a lovely weekend.

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    1. My school reports were just the same 'Elaine should spend less time looking out of the window, and more time concentrating on her work' was one quote. I can turn my hand to most things when pushed - and like that I can - it makes me feel more rounded as a person. Enjoy your week.

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  13. Not 'tosh' at all, but rather something true for you and I'm sure many others.

    Lovely to see the Kintz quote here. I recently had occasion to quote it to my mother who seems to take the opposite view and thinks you should 'stick at things' regardless.

    Happy gardening :)

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    1. It's probably a generation thing - but often life takes over and change is inevitable.

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  14. Great to hear that Woman of the Soil is back Elaine, but most of all that you have your enthusiasm for it back. It's a bit of a drug. That little packet of seeds and all the promise it holds.

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    1. Absolutely right. I'm not sure how I would feel if I didn't have a garden to occupy my time - and the time I spend thinking about it and planning it - it sort of takes over your life - a bit like blogging really.

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  15. A lovely post Elaine. Your flowers are stunning.
    I will take a look at your other site woman of the soil..
    Look at those veggies.. super. I get veggies now and again from my daughters mother..she is my neighbor.. its a little hobby she has.. ever so much better than what we by.
    Happy weekend..
    val xxx

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    1. There is no doubt that nothing can beat going out and picking a fresh lettuce or some runner beans for dinner. Even after all this time of growing my own I still get a thrill at producing some of my own food.

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  16. Love the word "tosh," which I have never heard of before. We sometimes wonder just how much of ourselves we should reveal in such a public manner. Then when we open up we find that there are others out there who share our sentiments. I will have to start reading your other blog to see how your veg garden grows. I started a second blog to chronically my dollhouse projects. I don't have any followers over there yet, so it is rather a scrappy mess. And yes, we are glad to be ourselves in Blogland, which ever face we show on a certain day makes us more interesting.

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    1. I guess each post we write reveals something of ourselves without actually realising it. But it is nice to know that most of us go through the same things one way or another.

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  17. How have I missed that other side all this time?? Rushing over to read....

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    1. It has always been listed on the side bar but I guess you just didn't notice it! Perhaps I should make it more prominent in some way - ha.

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  18. An enjoyable, and interesting, post with wonderful photos.
    I'm sure that we all have two sides, maybe more, and probably feel as you do at times as I know I do. Flighty xx

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    1. It's what makes everyone unique and interesting isn't it.

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  19. That's a lovely post, Elaine. Your blog is very inspiring.

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  20. Not a load of tosh at all. A great blog and super photos you've displayed!

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  21. Hi Elaine, I know how time consuming one blog can be, and two too! So good for you. I do wish each day was longer though. D

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    1. I'm just hoping I don't rue the day when I decided to start it up again - and yes, blogging is definitely time consuming.

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  22. Great! I love who you are and I always enjoy seeing pictures of the posies and produce from your garden, as well as reading your quotes and other bits and bobs.
    And I am now following your other blog, too. Isn't this a wonderful, uplifting time of year?
    All the best :)

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    1. Thanks Pat for your kind words. Yes it certainly is a good time of year.

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  23. I love how you describe yourself, beautifully written as always! Yes, we are all a mixture aren't we and where practical stuff is concerned we do have to knuckle down and do it.....sadly!
    I must go and check out your other blog, glad you are once again feeling inspired....beautiful pics here, you have so many pretty vases!xxx

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    1. Thanks Snowbird. I was telling husband about your log splitter the other day - and his eyes lit up - a couple of days later one arrived on the doorstep - he just can't resist a gadget.

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    2. He will not be disappointed!xxx

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  24. If you were one dimensional you'd be a drawing and not a real person. I refer a person to a flat sketch. Messier and more dynamic, but so much more enjoyable. :)

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  25. Hello Elaine,
    We are all complex personalities and how good is that! This is a wonderfully joyful post, giving us, your readers, a glimpse into what makes you a special person. It has been a most interesting read and coupled with enchanting images.

    We all lose our creative spirits from time to time so it is good to note that yours has returned and, with it, a renewed interest in your vegetable growing. Perfect!

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments - which are as astute as ever.
      Just to clarity -
      I never lost the desire to grow veg just the desire to write about it

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  26. A lovely thoughtful post Elaine . I enjoyed reading it and seeing your beautiful photos xx

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    1. Thanks Anne - nice to see you back in blogland again.

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  27. I don't really see any difference between the qualities that you describe as different. Both are about nurturing, growth and creativity. For the flowers to be beautiful they need to have started life in good, rich soil! It all looks lovely, Elaine. (And I'm waiting to hear how your other creative talent, writing, is progressing!)

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    1. I realise that they are both halves of the same whole - what I was trying to say was that I express myself differently on each blog. My writing has taken a back seat until winter. Summer is far too precious to spend indoors - but I will take it up again when the colder weather arrives and hopefully get on with the novel.

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  28. First, I'm in love with the quote from Jarod Kintz....that's perfect.

    We are who we are, and it's not a one dimensional piece of cardboard.. you explained it well in this post Elaine.

    Jen

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  29. Human beings are very complex aren't they - well, at least I am - I find it hard to pin down who I am actually am sometimes.

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  30. One of the many things I like about your posts is that they leave me thinking. I often feel like I have boxed myself into a corner with my "gardening" blog. There is certainly more to me than gardening.
    I am glad you were able to rediscover that practical, no-nonsense side of your personality and pick up where A Woman of the Soil left off.

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    1. Thanks Jennifer. I am quite sure there is more to you than gardening - I understand your feeling of being 'boxed' in when you write about one subject - but probably the fear is that you will lose your audience if you change. My audience has changed quite considerably since I have stopped being solely a gardening blog - but I am happier when writing from the heart rather than writing about what is expected.

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  31. It is far from a load of tosh. I love the quotes especially Marwa Avad. I might borrow it for my about me section. Glad Woman of the Soil is back in action.

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