Dear Lovely Readers,
Happy Happy Happy May!
It’s a beautiful Indiana blue sky out there, new lambs and calves are everywhere, and it’s 15 days before Jeff and I get married.
This guy is pretty awesome, and I’m so thankful to be able to start our married life together without needing to postpone the ceremony itself.
Today, the governor increased the limit for the number of people at a gathering from 10 to 25, which means we’ll be able to have our bridal party and both photographers at our wedding.
I’ve been packing, editing book chapters, and tutoring online. Freelance communications work has been pretty quiet, but after the wedding, I’ll be revisiting that work. I haven’t been able to think strategically very well lately, especially when our wedding has faced so many challenges and the situation changes so often. It’s been a day-by-day existence lately. I’m trying a new medicine and working through physical therapy, so the side effects of that have been challenging, as well. I have some ideas for new communications projects to tackle after May, though, so I’m excited about those.
A little while ago, I finished a set of seven videos for the local Career and Technical Education district, and once those are approved, I’ll share them. I’m excited about the final project. I was able to combine my skills as an educator and a communicator while working in one of my favorite mediums: video.
Video enables me to combine sound and photographing into a really good story. Interestingly, I don’t do a whole lot of video on a personal basis, even though with all the farm work that would make some neat produced videos. I tend to focus on my writing to tell the farm stories.
I do still manage the farm page on Facebook and started an Instagram account for it a few months ago. I’ve enjoyed using Instagram for the farm, posting short videos of new lambs. But I deleted my personal Instagram account today. It just got to be too much, and it was taking away from my writing. I’d been focusing a lot on what photos would look good for Instagram and not taking artistic photos with my really good camera.
I also tend to enjoy using Twitter more, so I decided to post what I usually would on Instagram there instead.
There just gets to be a point with these social media channels where it gets to be too much. I thought about starting a blog just about the farm, but it would be pretty similar to what I’m doing on Instagram. So I split things up: photos for farm stories, writing for personal stories.
So the hope is that I’ll be able to concentrate more on blogging and making art with my camera. The more I write, the more ideas I have, so it’s just a matter of sitting down and doing it.
As with anything, that’s the hard part.
But hey. Wedding! Even with all the changes, it’s still an exciting event, there will still be cake, and there is still Lots of Stuff to plan. So I don’t need to worry about the rest of the stuff. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work?
Maybe we can at least have that part be normal.
So take care until next time, stay safe and healthy, and use wisdom and think of others as we begin to venture forth from home.
Cheers!
Elise
The Kiwi Hoosier 