Connie’s Corner Blog Anniversary

     Yes, it is the six-year Connie’s Corner blog anniversary. It’s hard to believe! In some ways it seems like just a few months ago, when I was fifty-five. And in others ways it seems like eons since I published my very first blog post. I am a bit older now, and hopefully a little wiser. Much in my life has changed; family, career job, and my overall life-focus have all gone through a natural progression that comes with the passing of time. But one thing has not changed, and that is my passion and desire to continue writing and sharing.

When I launched Connie’s Corner, I was working full time as a museum director. Since then, I resigned from my administrative position to focus on writing full time. Then in 2015, our family purchased, renovated, opened, operated, and then recently sold a 5-star B&B in rural Washington. Whew! That was a huge labor of love filled with long hours and full hearts. So much change!

In 2014, we were a family of five with my husband, our son, daughter and grand-son. Now, our family weighs in at a whopping ten plus my parents! Our little house was definitely full to the brim this past Holiday time. Full of laughter, food, fun and love.

Blog Anniversary Connie’s corner goals for 2020

1. Launch a fresh new website theme and look. That has – just today – been accomplished. One huge task crossed off my list! Hope you are enjoying the fresh new feel. One of the biggest additions to the new site is the ability to offer my self-published cookbook for sale on my site. If you missed your chance to get a copy while we were still at the B&B, be sure and click on the shop link. You will also find my other books here as well. If you signed up for my newsletter on my old site – please resubmit your email for the new site and share with your friends too. In the newsletter I will be sharing recipes and cooking tips as well as excerpts and updates on my “works-in-progress.”
2. Consistently post blogs! Key word – consistently! With the B&B, the past few years have been hit and miss on time to write and add new posts. I will be posting twice a month (or maybe more) on topics of family, faith, food, travel, and crafts; basically life! I will also be adding some intimate reviews of books I have recently read.
3. Finish revisions on my novel – Magnum Opus. I purchased a new writing, formatting and editing program and am working through the manuscript chapter by chapter to fine-tune the story line, character development, and grammar. It is my desire to have it ready to begin submitting to agents by the end of the year. Some of you may be called upon as Beta Readers. How fun!
4. Dust off a few of my children’s book manuscripts and begin to pitch them to agents.
5. Write and self-publish an e-book. Title: How to Run a Five-star B&B. Stay tuned for updates on this project.

Personal goals:

• Have fun! This includes some great travel and event plans for 2020.
• Spend more time with family. This applies mostly to our grand-kids. We have to maximize our time with them while they still think we’re cool and not just couple of old people. We’ve moved closer to the kids in order to facilitate seeing them more often and spend some great quality time. My parents now live only 30 minutes away as well, which allows us to enjoy and assist them in their later years.
• Incorporate a healthy holistic lifestyle. I will share more on this topic in the coming months. Holistic in this sense = a well rounded balanced life.
• Reduce plastics in our home! I will also be sharing more about our journey to reduce our dependence on plastic use in our new house. So important for ourselves and the planet. #doitforthegrandkids

In closing, God has given me the word, “intentional” for the year 2020. My key scripture is Isaiah 43:19

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.“

Later, I will share some additional thoughts about this verse and how it applies to my past, and my “intentional” choices for the present and future.

I sincerely pray that you are starting the new year with a fresh healthy perspective on life as well. Remember, in Connie’s Corner:

In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be.

Cinderella

So, as we celebrate our blog anniversary I invite you to grab a cup of coffee, find a cozy chair…and join me in Connie’s Corner.