Before I dive into this annual adventure, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for the kind words and thoughts, and thank you for sharing your pets with me in this space. After my last post, your generosity and kindness reminded me why I love this community so much.
And, as promised, I’m back today to participate in the 2018 Pet Blogger Challenge. If you’re not a blogger, feel free to skim, skip, or come back another day–I have another post in the works right now based off an email I got a few days ago telling me I’m a terrible mother and, yep, it relates to my pets! {{Not to worry, btw. I’m not even slightly upset because the email was absurd to an incredible degree. More on that later.}}
I love this annual challenge–really, I love any time for reflection–and participated every year except one. This year, I’m stoked to see some new questions and am so ready to dig in. BTW, I didn’t really have a pic to go with this post, so I did that Instagram Best 9 for the year and thought it fitting for a year-in-review-style post!
I honestly don’t think Cooper could get any cuter. 🙂
Now, without further ado…
Here are the questions–with my answers–for the 2018 Pet Blogger Challenge:
- For those who may be visiting your blog for the first time, how long have you been blogging and what is your main topic? I launched this blog in 2009, and my tagline sums up my topic: obsessed with dogs. Since I launched, though, I’ve brought two cats into the family, and they’ve featured more and more over the years.
- What was your proudest blogging moment of 2017? This year, I experienced the highest highs–adopting our magical baby girl, Violet–and the lowest lows–losing Emmett, my heart and soul and very best friend. And, in the midst of that, we adopted a kitten. It was a busy year filled with joy and grief in immeasurable quantities each. My proudest blogging moment of the year wasn’t a single moment, not an instant, or a concrete anything. Rather, my proudest moment was finding some new edges to myself, boundaries and strengths that I hadn’t seen or felt before. We have had so. much. happen. in the last six years, but this year might have been the most revolutionary for me in terms of personal and professional development. And I’m really proud of that.
- Which of your blog posts was your favorite this year and why? (Please include a link.) The caterpillar and the butterfly but mostly the goo because I captured an exceedingly raw moment in our life, maybe one of the toughest, and it really helped me move forward. Writing that post was cathartic.
- In terms of your blog, how do you measure success? This is so interesting to me because, looking back at the old challenge posts, I see a theme: Each time these sorts of questions arise, I realize that I haven’t really set any goals or measure of success for myself. In fact, I’ve been pitiful about tracking stats and analytics and inconsistent about measuring social growth. I think my measure of success has just been… writing. I created this space initially to have somewhere for me to write about my greatest passion–my dogs–and I’ve been so fortunate that people have come, read, and stuck around. The pageviews, brand partnerships, and so on are all the results of that, I suppose, but my goal has always been to write. That said, I need to be more purposeful this year for a couple reasons: 1. I have extremely limited time to write now, so I have to set some goals for myself, and 2. I have an ebook project that I’m alllllmost finished with that I can’t wait to launch, and growing this space relates to the success of that launch. What those measures look like… well, that I need to work on. But my focus is going to stay on the writing, on authenticity, and then growing in a natural way from there.
- In what ways has your blog changed during 2017? My interests are still exactly the same: pit bull advocacy, environmentally-responsible pet care, positive dog training, and animal welfare. The cast of characters shifted dramatically. For almost the entire life of this blog, it starred Emmett, Lucas, and Cooper. Now, the leads are Cooper, Newt, Ripley, and Violet. It’s a continuation of the story… a new chapter in the same book.
- What was the biggest blogging challenge you overcame in 2017, and what did you learn that could help other bloggers? I say this with a light heart: So, it turns out, if you go from posting twice a week to twice a month, your traffic decreases by more than half! 🙂 I think my big lesson is that seasons in life shift, and there’s no point in beating yourself up because your priorities in your current season are different from those in your last season. This space IS a big priority for me, though, so lesson-part-two is better time management. I’ve been getting up an hour earlier these past few weeks to work on the ebook I mentioned above. Once I get that to a good place, I’m going to continue this habit and really dig into my writing here.
- When things get hard, what keeps you blogging? (Question submitted by Pamela Douglas Webster of Something Wagging This Way Comes) Two things: I’ve made incredible, lifelong friendships through this blog, through this community of dog lovers. They are kind, loving, generous people who happen to be the best cheerleaders a gal could ever ask for, and they keep me going every single week. Second, my animals. They started it all, and they are the things that ground me, that bring all my values to life. I look to them no matter what gets hard in my life, blogging included.
- Looking forward to 2018, what are you hoping to accomplish on your blog this year? Two things: First, launch my new ebook project. I’m pumped about this project, you guys. It brings together several of my passions in one place. I can’t wait to get it out in the world. Second, more consistent writing. No numbers goals. No metrics or data or analytics. Just coming here consistently–shall I throw out a specific? like twice a week?–and showing up to write.
- In addition to what you’d like to accomplish, is here one specific skill you’d like to improve or master this year? (Question submitted by Jodi Chick of Kol’s Notes) I’d like to nail down some content marketing best practices for myself. Is there a tool I need to invest in, like CoSchedule or something, or just better habits for sharing and engaging on social? It’s not natural for me to promote my work, so I’d love to delve more into that world for the betterment of this space.
- Now it’s your turn! You have the attention of the pet blogging community – is there a question you’d like answered, or an aspect of your blog that you’d like input on? Share it here, and we’ll answer you in the comments! Per my answer to question 9, what kind of posts do you like to read? Do you want more stories about the herd? More DIYs? How about pets + babies posts? If I’m going to write two posts per week (starting this week, I suppose), what do you want to see more of–or less of–in this space?
Whew! There you have it. This might be my longest Pet Blogger Challenge yet, so thanks for sticking with me!! And a big, huge, monumental thank you and virtual hug to our friends at GoPetFriendly.com for hosting this challenge each year. I seriously can’t wait to dig in and read the other posts in this hop!
I believe people should write what they feel needs to be shared. DIYs are always awesome too.
I agree!! Thanks so much, Jana!
You have had a pretty intense year! We had three senior cats when Madeline was born (one passed away when she was six months old, the other two a few years later) so I understand that mix of joy and grief that you described with Violet and Emmitt.
I am with you on focusing on the writing and being authentic. These are my goals, too. I like storytelling (and have zero DIY skills) so that would probably be my preference. 🙂
Looking forward to learning more about your e-book!
Oops, sorry I misspelled Emmett!
Kristin, you’re an incredible storyteller. I love following your work to get inspiration! And thank you so much for sharing your experiences, too. You are a parenting inspiration to me as well!!
I agree that if you write your heart the passion will come through. McDonalds might sell a lot of burgers but it’s that little clam shack near the beach the everyone remembers all their lives.
Can’t wait to see your new product launch.
BTW, I thought nothing could be more adorable than the picture of you feeding Violet while Cooper laid in a nest of your legs. But then I saw Cooper’s grin in #8. It was pretty adorable.
Aww! Thanks, Pamela! I’m a pretty lucky gal to be surrounded by so many cute babes. 🙂
I haven’t been very good at commenting on your blog in the last year or so. I rarely pull out the laptop and my ipad is old so its slow, freezes and then crashes but when I read todays blog I had to post.
I seriously can’t believe someone had the audacity to send you an email about your parenting. What would give a person the idea that they had a right to question or give their opinion on your parenting? You have given us all a lovely glimpse into your life with your beautiful little family and for someone to send a negative email like that is inexcusable, Im sorry someone was such a huge a$$hat and did that. I know you don’t need my validation but stuff like that really, really makes me mad. like seriously?!? Vent over (sort of)
I am probably the worst person to comment on what I would like to see more of because I love all of your blog topics. Even though I am not a big DIY person or any kind of a DIY person at all really, I like to see how creative others are. I love when you share pictures of your family, whats cuter than a baby with her dog, or a dog snuggling a kitten or a Newt running through her tunnel to a startle a Cooper? UHM nothing! so pictures are always awesome. I would love to hear how Cooper is doing with his allergies and IHT because he and Cash have some of the same issues and maybe a Cooper and Newt update, are they still besties or has Ripley taken over the playful kitten role and Newt is “too mature” to play with the smelly dog?
Love it all, whether it’s twice a month or twice a week, we are all still here, well most of us, and can’t wait to read more.
Thanks so much, Sof. I know you and I chatted offline a bit about some of this stuff, and I always appreciate your insights! One thing you said that serves as a good reminder… pictures. I’m so awful at taking, editing, and posting photos, so I’m adding that to my list of things to think about as I create new content. Thank you so much for that prompt and for always being such a good friend!
Those are some pretty adorable pictures! I can see how they made the top 9 🙂 I know what you mean about it not being natural to promote your work–that’s probably part of the reason why I forget to share things on Facebook, which is one of my goals for this year!
That’s a great goal, Beth! I’m in the same spot, and Colby shared some awesome tools in the comments below that I’m looking into, just in case it helps you, too!
I remember your post about the caterpillar and the butterfly and I thought it was such a wonderful analogy. Sometimes, you’re just the goo – and that, too, is OK. The thoughtfulness and reflection you bring to all of your story-telling is such an inspiration to me. Also, I’mma need that email address so we can start a letter writing campaign because anyone who would tell you that you’re a terrible parent needs some love in their life, so they can better recognize it when they see it. watching you and John manage your pack and seeing the pure joy that is Violet is so amazing. Every baby should be so lucky as to have a family like you.
You are way too kind, Jodi!! Thank you so very much. <3
You know, it’s the unusual in a Blog that stirs. The very unusual I speak of, I call ‘contact dreams’.
I lost my Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever of fifteen and a half years this day a year ago, in the very early morning hours of Monday, the 9th January 2017. The day prior gave no indication of any issues until we approached the night. Ashley became woozy and was having difficulty with the “runs.” Clearly she was not feeling well and I thought it best she sleep with me on the bed.
Very early in the morning , she was was exhibiting pain and began howling and shuffling in her sleep. As the hours moved into the early morning, I knew this would be her last night with me. I would have to ‘take her in’. The pain was so great that I could not perceive taking her in her in, in that condition, for emergency. It would be too much. I would have to hold and comfort her until she calmed. Perhaps then. I held her paw and her head by my side. The pain subsided. We slept lightly holding each other. Dozing off, I realized it became too quiet. Something’s not right. Turning the bedside light on, I looked to Ash and realized – she had gone. It turned out a nasal tumor had perforated her skull.
Weeks later, I had a dream where I saw Ashley with a young lady by a river, she saw me and began swimming toward me. I did not recognize the lady she was with, but realized she was in good hands and no longer needed me. I abruptly awoke. Ashley loved swimming! I had totally forgotten. In the last years of her life, so much time was spend trying to understand how to deal with her age and then the illness, that swimming was totally out-of-mind. Yet, it was the first thing she showed me, at the first opportunity! How she loved to swim. It meant she was doing what she loved. Swimming was her joy!
I have had this kind of fulfilling encounter many times. Each time one of my loved pets passed, within weeks to months, there would be a unique encounter. One, where the best times where reflected back to me, like saying, ”everything is all right. I am doing well, don’t worry.”
Just a dream.
No, in all these years, I have come to call them ‘contact dreams’. Not just a dream. I have come to believe we need to take that dreamscape more seriously and call it an ‘alternate’ reality. A shared space created for both minds to communicate a deep love to each other. We should take that alternate reality and treat it as a Greater Reality. One that is more real and loving than the so called reality we occupy daily. In it we can communicate all we feel, very fast and very deeply. The word ‘dream’ is a joke and make little justice to it. No, not a dream. I was with Ashley, and engaged with our hearts as never before. A meaningful time.
That’s my Blog.
I hope you consider such encounters in future Blogs, if possible. We have so much to learn about the greater reality we live in. And we need to share these with each other to learn what its all about. The more we look to these experiences, the more we have them. Without any loss or fears. Conversely if we don’t believe, then we don’t experience. That is what I have learned. I believe we can do our beloved animals justice when they reach out to us, by sharing with others our deepest encounters after they are supposedly “gone.” And if we haven’t experienced it ourselves, then simply knowing that others have could fulfill us until the time is right for us to do so.
This is my story of Ash, a year ago today. It cleared me of all my pain and doubts about her well being. Especially after the dreadfulness of her illness and my helplessness. The purpose was not to dig into the pain but to go beyond it completely and forever.
Way beyond.
Thank you so much for sharing such a meaningful experience. You’ve given me a lot to think through a process, so thank you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts. It’s a lovely story and sweet Ash lives on in love!
It’s been a hell of a year, huh? You are so generous with your heart and limited time, it seems greedy to ask for more. But if I had to ask–more stories of the herd. Past, present, future plans, all of it. It’s so comforting to know, “Oh thank God, I’m not alone. Someone else has already gone down this path or is also going down it.”
It HAS been a hell of a year, and sometimes I can’t even believe how quickly time is rushing by… You hit on exactly what I love about this community: We’re all in it together! Sharing our stories and experiences drives some pretty great connections. Thank you so much for the kind words, and please give Denim some extra scritches for me!!
I have sucked at reading blogs the last half of 2017, so my next stop is the caterpillar post…:-)
I love the stories of your pack…well I just love the way you write, so that’s what keeps me coming back. It’s your space and I say fill it with what you love.
I sucked at reading blogs, too. It’s hard to find the time/balance between writing new posts and reading/engaging with other posts. For a while I was trying a tool, Feedly, but just completely lost track. I’d love to have a week to binge on everyone else’s blogs! 🙂 A girl can dream!
Friend, watching your life change so dramatically this year was heartbreaking and filled with joy at the same time. Thank you for taking us along on your journey. Those are the posts I love! I will also be looking to you on the time management thing this year so would love to hear more about that topic.
Denise, I feel the same about your unfolding story. I can’t wait to see where 2018 takes you and your growing family!!
Honestly, with a new baby, new kitten, new job, Cooper, and Newt – you should consider just showing up on your blog a huge success, Maggie! Add to that the grief of loosing Emmett, and most people would have crumbled. Thank goodness the Universe sent the precious Violet at just the right moment.
What I love about your blog is that I feel like I know you. The way you share your life, what’s going on with the herd, and what you’re learning along the way is different than any other blog I’ve read. Please, when you have time to be here, please just keep being you.
For content marketing, I love Buffer. I pay the $10 monthly fee, which allows me to pull in 15 RSS feeds (including my own) and schedule them to be shared across all my social platforms. I sit down while watching TV and schedule all my post for the following week in less than an hour. It’s a game-changer!
Thanks so much for joining the challenge again this year, Maggie, and all the best to you in 2018. I can’t wait to see your ebook!
Thanks for hosting the challenge again this year, Amy! I always love the opportunity to turn inward and think these things through, and I absolutely love combing through the other posts to read the experiences of other pet bloggers. Thank you for your efforts!
And thank you for the kind words! I just bookmarked Buffer to look into the subscription service, as well.
Big hugs to you, dear friend!
What a year you’ve had indeed. I’m so sorry for all your losses and trials, and it seems that you embraced the challenges and grew as a result. That is not always easy to do!
I’m excited to learn more about this ebook project that you have in store. I’m also planning to dabble in publishing this year, so I may just be reaching out to you soon to chat about that whole world.
I’ve only read a few of your blog posts to date and I appreciate how raw and honest you come across. It feels like we’re having a conversation.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Jen. And please do reach out to talk publishing!! I’d love to learn more about the project you’re working on. Cheers!
I understand how it is when so much has changed since you first started blogging, but I love how you said it is a continuation of the same story. I’m glad you plan to keep going.
Anything about your herd, or pets and babies, both of those work for me! I’m not much of a DIY person, but I still enjoy reading about those kinds of things too.
Thanks, Jan! You’re one of my storytelling inspirations. I love how you share your life with your crew in such a conversational way–by the time I got to meet you in person, I already felt like I knew you!
I’d be interested to see pets + baby posts. I’ve been wondering how much I want to share about Emma on the blog. It’s been over 9 months since she was born and I think all I’ve shared are a handful of pic on Instagram and Facebook. I’m going to look into automating more of my social media and started researching Buffer, MeetEdgar, CoSchedule, and Hootsuite. Are there any others I’m missing? All the best to you in 2018!
It’s a fine line, isn’t it? I’m never sure about how much to share of baby stuff not only for relevancy but also since she can’t decide for herself whether or not I share her pics online, is it appropriate? Not sure that random thought makes sense, but it’s my current struggle! I, for one, would LOVE to see more Emma pics because she is so darn adorable! And I’d love to know how (if at all?) you integrate her into working with the dogs. Is she able to be a part of training in any way?
And thank you so much for that list of tools. I’m looking more deeply into CoSchedule right now. I’d love to hear what tool you decide to go with! Cheers to you and yours, Colby!
I love your answers to all of these questions – really engaging! Best of luck in 2018! 🙂
Thanks so much for the kind words, and all the best to you in the year ahead, as well!
Hello Maggie, I’m a first time visitor hopping over. I’ve read a few of your posts, including your gooey one. You have such an authentic voice sharing the story of your family, humans and pets. Whatever you decide to post content-wise, keep that voice.
For schedulers, I use Tailwind because I’m focusing on Pinterest. I think I may focus on one social media platform per year just to try to keep my sanity.
What a great tip, Irene! Thank you so much for sharing. I’m off to check out Tailwind! And I love your advice on focusing on one thing at a time… really, there’s so much out there that we’re supposed to all stay on top of somehow, and you’re right… it’s impossible to stay sane in the face of it all! Thank you for the kind words and for sharing your tips!
Thank you, Maggie, for sharing your feelings and story through this challenge. I really appreciate your guts as I know how hard it is to share your emotions with the people. I love my dogs very much and always try to have a good relationship with them and that they are being fed dog food with probiotics which keep them healthy and active.