Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Past, Present and Future: A Blogiversary

Let no one say the past is dead. 
The past is all around us and within.
Oodgeroo Noonucal, Aboriginal poet

This Aboriginal quote was on a section divider in Christina Baker Kline's novel, "The Exiles." I probably shouldn't admit it, but I didn't finish the book. I usually like Kline's books. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for that particular novel at that particular time.

But the quote struck a chord. I remembered it again as I contemplated my "blogiversary." On Sunday, I celebrated my 11th blog anniversary. I first clicked "publish" on Blogger on January 24, 2010. Today was my 1,971st blog post.  

This photo illustrated my first blog.

If I were doing this for the numbers, I'd have quit a long time ago. 

But for the past 11 years, Kim's County Line has helped me track our lives on a five-generation Central Kansas farm. Having this avenue to collect words and photos has helped me to connect with our  heritage and this life in a new way. 
 

 
It isn't just my story and Randy's. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors who came to Kansas for the promise of land ownership and a desire to dream big and work hard on the Kansas plains.

 

 Yes, the Aboriginal poet had it right: The past is all around us. 
 
Every quarter since January 2010, I've printed a blog book, compiling my posts during that time. The books now fill one cabinet and overflow into others. If my kids aren't interested in keeping them someday, maybe a historical society will be.
This isn't even half of them.

Each quarter, I write another dedication, and I invariably struggle with something to say. (Looking at those piles of books, you wouldn't think so, but ...)
 
Here's the dedication from the first quarter of 2011:
I started Kim's County Line, in part, to tell the story of our farm. It's important WE tell the story of agriculture. The tagline on the blog says, "Camera Clicks and Commentary from a Kansas Farm Wife." I hope that it also serves as a record of a period of time and a snapshot of Kansas rural life.

From 2013:

... This is dedicated to my family - the ones I love and cherish now and ones down the road who I hope will discover something about us as they read our story.
From 2014:

... We are thankful for our ancestors who also farmed this land and look forward to continuing the legacy of faith, farm and family in the years to come.
 
I've approached telling our story like the reporter I am. I take notes. I ask more questions. I want my farmer's "farm speak" translated in a way that makes sense to me so I can share it with others.
Blogging has helped me pay attention. So often, we overlook the things that we see every day. It's like we're living life at 60 miles an hour, flying by familiar places and people, thinking we already know everything there is to know about these ordinary things that make up our lives and livelihoods.


Even the most mundane, everyday things can cause us to pause in wonder. It may be something as simple as puddles in the farm yard creating momentary ice art - here one hour and gone the next. The blog has given me the eyes to see how small, simple things are really the most important things of all. 

I got my latest blog book last week, the final one compiling my 2020 blog posts. Just those four books from 2020 are 2 1/4 inches thick if stacked together.

And, yes, I struggled to cram yet another volume into an already overflowing cabinet.
 
For now, I will continue to write. I'll continue to tell the stories. And I want to thank those of you who come along for the journey - whether it's every time I post or whether you just take an occasional jaunt down the County Line.

It's my blogiversary, but to celebrate, one person will get a gift from me ...
  • a selection of my photo notecards, or ...
 
  •  a copy of "Count on It! Adventures from a Kansas Farm" my rhyming, farm-themed counting book, ...
  • OR a revamped version of my farm alphabet book
To qualify, either comment about this blog post in the comment section of the blog or on my Facebook page, Kim Moore Fritzemeier. Or, if you have trouble with either of those avenues, you may email me at rkjbfarms@gmail.com. The winner will be chosen at random from the commenters. Enter your comment by January 31 for a chance to win.

Again, I thank you!

To read more about our farming heritage and ancestors, go to these links from my blog:

18 comments:

  1. Kim, we are all winners soaking in your wonderful stories and looking forward to more! God Bless you for sharing the journey.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Jan. I enjoyed visiting with you the other day. I'll try and drop by when I'm in town at the right time. Thanks for your work at the library!

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  2. Happy Blogiversary! You make the stories of life on a farm a treat for the rest of us.

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    1. Thanks, Lori! We had a late night "stroll" to put a new baby calf and the mama in the shed around 11 last night. Always an adventure!

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  3. I’m jealous of your blog books. I’m struggling to put all my genealogy research into a book format and I’m nowhere as organized as you are. Some day . . .

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    1. They certainly aren't perfect, but at least the information is together. With this publisher, you don't get many options for layout, etc.

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  4. You have a beautiful way with words and pictures! Congratulations on your anniversary of telling your family story!

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    1. Thank you so much! If you'd like to be entered in the drawing, please let me know who this "Unknown" is. I'd be glad to include you!

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  5. I love reading this every day!!! Your pictures are amazing as well as your stories! Congratulations!

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    1. Thank you, Kelly! I enjoy writing and taking photos, so this is a creative outlet for me.

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  6. Kim, you have done such a great job of getting the voice of a "real" farmer out there! I still have fond memories of our short visit in the coffee shop in Kansas almost 2 years ago now! Although I don't get on here nearly like I used to, with being away from home so much, I still enjoy hearing all about your life on the farm. Keep up the great work!

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    1. So good to hear from you, Alica. I enjoy seeing your photos on Instagram. I need to do a better job of posting on there.

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  7. Congratulations on your blogiversary and, I hope, many more to come.

    Terri

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    1. I always am glad to hear from you Terri! Thank you!

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  8. For the past five years I have enjoyed discovering each new post as it has been published. Your life on your farm, but in a different country,is so familiar but so different to my experiences growing up in the country. Happy Blogversary and thanks for rekindling memories and sharing all that happens on The County Line. 🎊 🎈🎂🥰

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    1. Thank you, Helen. It's been a pleasure to get to "know" you when we are half a world away.

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  9. Your permanent record of daily farm life is such a gift to all who enjoy your blog. The analogies & pictures of your daily routine always cast the positive moments in each day. Thank you for reminding me of the beauty that is sometimes overshadowed by the difficulties.

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