Miscellany

Winter Hiking

Jason Fun, Miscellany
Main trailhead

I’ve mentioned that I love to be outside and especially hiking in our woods.  Hiking is good for my wellbeing.  I’ve mentioned how it help rehabilitate my knee after an injury, but it also gives me “quiet time” to let my mind wander on issues, meditate, or pray.  And of course it’s good exercise.

Even with snow on the ground, I still enjoy a hike.  This day I had to trudge through 6 inches of snow to get my path reestablished.  That ended up being more work than I expected, and I worked up a good sweat by the time I was done.

This is what iPhone Health has to say about my normal hiking path.  This was the first time I’ve tracked it, so I found it fairly interesting that going up and down all the ravines equated to 20 floors of stairs.

Of course we got another 6 inches and 2 more a few days later, not a common occurrence for Indiana, but since I like snow, very welcome.  I was about a week after my first trudged through the snow,  before I got back to the trail.  You can see, I’m not the only one that uses the tail, but unfortunately the deer didn’t clear much of a path.

Good times.

 

2021 Update on Blog Posts

Jason Miscellany

I like to do projects and build.  I’m inquisitive and like to try things.   And I like to share the things I did.  This blog is the best outlet for me to share.

I wrote Stages of a Blog Post blog to show my process, how it can get lengthy, and why I don’t share as much/often as I think I should.  However, as it got to the formatting and publishing stage, I realized it feels like I’m making excuses.  So since the text was done, I decided to post it as-is with this quick follow-up intro.

Instead of saying it may be a while between my posts, let me share what’s in my head and pipeline for upcoming posts, along with some expectations.

  • More on the portable coop & chicken tractors.  I think I’ve covered the base build processes for these, but I’m looking to fill in holes, provide updates on how things are going, include things I’ve tried or changed since, and add new features I’ve installed.  I want these posts to help others with their own homesteading and are the main reason I post.
  • Posts on other “projects” I’ve done.  Various things, not directly chicken related.
  • Some posts on technology.  Things I do or know that may help others or are just fun.  I’m not looking to solve technical problems or write ‘How to guides’.
  • Fun stuff.  Anything from a short ‘look what just flew over my head’ to a series on an activity or event.  Stuff I consider fun, not necessarily related to homesteading, although making time for fun is part of homesteading.
  • Of course Brothers M. Poultry, especially Brother M. Monday’s in May.

My commitment is to produce at least one post a month.  My expectation is to produce more.  Right now, I’m seeing a rush of 4-5 posts just in January.

Please like posts and follow me.  I hate to admit it, but likes and especially follows really are a good motivator.  Thanks.

Stages of a blog post

Jason Miscellany

I’m consider myself a novice at posting blogs, cannot seem to call it blogging.  As with a lot of things I do, I researched the basics and jumped right in.  I like to share my experience and experiences in hopes that I can help someone out or maybe at least entertain them.  So, I thought I’d give you a look at how a blog happens for me. 

I come up with ideas I’d like to share all the time, usually while working outside, or doing something else where a computer is not handy, so I outline them in my head.  Getting those ideas written down isn’t easy.   Typically what I do is take pictures of what I’m doing so that if that idea ever makes it ‘on paper’ I can add some color and graphics to it.

When I do blog writing, it’s usually in spurts.  Sometimes I just need to get a post out to meet a deadline I’ve given myself, so I force myself to write.  These times I usually stick to doing a final edit of a post in WordPress and publish it.  

Other times it’s because I have an itch to write. These times I’m usually in my note taking software, OneNote, and usually follow a flow:

  1. Bullet point all the topics that are in my head.
  2. Add an “outline” to bullet points. Usually just sub bullet points vs outline
  3. Flesh out a draft to the outline of topics
  4. Second pass at drafts/move text to WordPress
  5. Format WordPress drafts and add graphics
  6. Final review and publish

1 & 2 are meant to prevent me from losing ideas.  3-5 don’t always flow from one to the next.  I may be really interested in a topic and focus on moving that topic through the flow, sometimes all the way, but usually just to the next phase.  

The flow is how I was taught/learned to write.  It creates better finished products as my thoughts mature through the process.  My writing, however, is what it is.  Hopefully it’s not too awful and will continue to improve.

For example, on the day this post reached stage 3 it was bout 6 months ago and I had the following topics in each stage

  •  7 ideas & outlines
  • 4 first drafts (2 topics may never be appropriate to see the light of day)
  • 3 drafts in WP waiting formatting (1 either I didn’t save the text or just created a template page for an idea)
  • 2 waiting final review

This post was a long way to say I’m not a naturally affluent writer and each blog post takes time. And “free”/writing time is not something I have a lot of.  That’s why there can be long pauses between my posts even though there are plenty of ideas and wishes to get those ideas out.

Extortion – The new norm?

Jason Miscellany

 

Outdoor Life

Jason Miscellany

I love the outdoors; however, last couple of years, due to my weight and a knee injury, being active outdoors has been more of a chore than a joy.  Last fall I got serious about fixing that.  While I haven’t hit my goal weight yet, I’ve made significant progress and my knee stays un-swollen and pain free most of the time.  This means that I’m spending most of my free time outdoors catching up on projects and feeling the breeze and sun on my skin.

 

Seen on my daily hike in our woods

 

 

That’s my way of saying I’ve not spent much time on updating posts.  🙂  However, I have jotted down several notes and since it’s rainy this weekend, I’m going to get a post or two out.  Hope you enjoy.