It’s been a long time

Pumpkin Studio has been going on Blogspot for several years (circa 2012). Then I read the word salty became popular a few years ago. A few websites popped up using the name salty pumpkin. 

As the story goes, Salty Pumpkin Studio is a perfect fit for me, my last name change, my forever name, my brand. Alas, having my own business is complicated. The way the American economy is, I’m thinking more on going back to work to at least pay for medical bills. The problem is my health limits what I can do. 

I am not alone. I’m sure many folks are thinking about work. What to do isn’t suppose to be a retirement worry. But it is. I watch YouTubers that sold everything to hit the road as an RVer. You can eventually earn income via YouTube videos. But it isn ‘t, I feel, a gig that can last forever. 

Dilemmas are all around us. Doing the best you can with what you have, I believe, is  true freedom. What I have mainly, is this blog. Dozens( sometimes hundreds) visit here every day. There is room to build. 

So, I start researching just how much income will being monetized bring in. So far, I believe, not enough. Think bigger as in what am I able to do to make big money. 

It depends on audience/the market that wants to buy/support my products. Road block right there. As a writer, every time I posted a story or poem, I can hear crickets, coyotes laughing in the distance and feel owls rolling their eyes. 

I continue to write anyway. I believe in me. I am sure my writing ability is as good, and, sometimes better than what ‘s out there. As for my art, selling art isn’t the same as folks reading a novel. My biggest problem is depression, having the energy to produce good stories and art. We shall see.

In summary, I am considering a change in this blog’s name as well as my focus. A better move is to start fresh with a new name, a blog. 

Salty Maple Arts & Crafts is the new blog.

Me at age 3 years

What do you do when you feel like blogging but don’t have a subject?

Easy answer for if you publish:  

You either select a subject, post a nice photo,  post a stirring quote, or ramble on about stuff. 

Things that bug me:

Viewers going back reading multiple old blog posts because it looks like (nefarious) snooping. It could be. It could also be that a reader finds my blog interesting. ☺️

Social media videos that build suspense and then don’t deliver. What is it!? Who was there!? What happened!? Tease headlines like that. Some will post to see the next video or part two. I see Block as a big part for no thanks. 

When I forget something and/or do something stupid. While it makes sense that as we age, we change, it makes no sense being distracted takes on a less than stylish flare. In depression, feeling things is difficult. Add aging and already I’m creating a guidelines to explore dementia or Alzheimers. I’m distracted by other thoughts. There are things that don’t enthuse me. No big deal. I’m old. Have a cannoli. 

And a lovely photo or two or more

What happens during a blog pause

It is possible to lose track of time. Blogging can serve as a date anchor that when active, acts as your schedule reminder. 

This week I forgot the Salty Pumpkin Road travel blog had a scheduled post for today that was going to be filled in (unpublished now). I have another date planned.

Problem is a week before a medical procedure, in order to manage anxiety, I go on slow stay at home mode. So, when the travel blog shows up today published, I go all what is this!? Ah, not blogging, I traveled to forgetful city. 😢🥴😳

Other than that, this week has been slow mode for me. I know cataract removal is an easy procedure to get through. My anxiety reservoir  doesn’t care. Ironically, it takes more assurance from me to calm than it does when facing high anxiety events. My mind is not used to my not having more intense anxiety to deal with. 

Anxiety management isn’t a clear do this when that happens to create this result. Learning how takes time with every tense situation. The logistics of anxiety can be very complex. 

I have safety zones to access: sounds, surfaces, thoughts, places, objects. When used, they signal my brain with I am safe waves. It works for me to have that structure, to depend on it. I don’t suffer alone when I have safety zones.

Day 79 of Week 12 March 2026

You know those days after a brief illness, when you suddenly realize you feel better? Well, that’s what this Spring feels to me. And now I’m thinking about what I’m going to do with that energy. 

Last fall I started a travel blog (after being on my mind since my early blogging days). March is the month I planned to publish the first excursion post. 

There are eleven days left this month to get that done. I have notes on a few places, all fairly local, as well as ideas to focus on. 

The weather forecast for the next few days is grim calling for some rain and snow.

Have a Sunshine On the Mind Weekend

Read about paper making 

Play a board game with friends

Browse UV umbrellas online

Mix a big green salad

Sing from a song book

Visit a bookstore

Bake a pumpkin bread

Won’t be long now

Here’s the thing about posting

Counting the days in 2026

There may be some readers that briefly saw a post here for Things About Me. It disappeared after being posted twice a few days ago. Fun to type, but not fun to post as written. So, here’s the thing about posting personal information. 

How much of who we are that we share online is a choice we accept to a point. There is a line that separates. Only post as much as you feel comfortable with posting. 

Fun things about me:

I have no color that’s an absolute favorite. I lean towards ecru, teal and rust hues. 

Heineken is my favorite beer. I went from one a summer to a six pack to celebrate my younger years. It takes into fall to finish the 6 pack. I know how to drink, but I’m not a big drinker. 

When the wind pushes the screen door over to the other side, I laugh. When inanimate objects move on their own, it is a good wow look at that moment. If, however, the TV clicker floats across the room to me, then wow would not be my first reaction. 

I am a quiet person. An entire day can go by without my saying a word. 

Throughout my life from kid to adult, painting sunrises and sunsets has been a constant. I have no idea why. 

Pine trees are my spirit plant. Ravens and crows are my spirit animals. Cats are my spiritual consultants when they feel like it.

I don’t own a cat. 

Day 50 of Week 8 February 2026

All y’all, know this day, I have nothing interesting to post about. I look around the room for ideas. Nothing. No subjects jiggle my imagination.

Have an Interesting Weekend

Draw a snow shovel

Bake ginger cookies

Browse weather stations online

Listen to a movie score

Take a nap

Practice tree ID by leaf shapes

Buy new spiffy socks

Have a coffee milkshake

A look around the room

A Glimpse of the Real Side of Blogging

Fact is, I’m often in my pajamas typing my posts. There’s clutter stations around me that move like the tides; and sometimes, like wind storms (when I don’t tidy up after a project). 

 

I’m not going to make a photogenic breakfast. There will be globs of pancake mix on the counter. Next to the kitchen, there’s birdseed on the floor by the patio door, (pre vacuuming).  Hanging off the chair is a trim removal from a stained vintage embroidered tablecloth project. The embroidery that can be reused will go on a tee shirt. I’ve hunted for the thread to pull off all the trim, but have yet to find that thread.

It is hilarious to me to think how we really are versus our blog persona. 

Oh, there’s birdseed on the carpet tracked in on my slippers.

P.S.

Day three, zero visits to my first poem of 2026 at Coffee Frappes & Seashells

Day 1 of Week 1 January 2026

Do you see what I see?

This is a rather chatty post…

The sun is shinning bright on this cold morning in Vermont. 

Earlier, on television, I watched the year arrive with stunning fireworks in London, New York City, Sydney Australia and Paris France. There was a time when I shouted out the door at midnight, Happy New Year! 

And then, there have been more years when I slept as the new year arrives. 💤

How is your year going so far? Have you made any resolutions? Set your sights on something fun? Vowed to lose weight? Learn a new language? 

When sending an email to bloggers to let them know they are thought of, I’ve not encountered an email that will not send until today. I deleted it from All Mail. 

Catching up is my sort of New Year tradition for blogging, along with clearing out old unused accounts, changing passwords, refreshing the password book, and setting blog goals for the new year. 

 

Not a resolution maker (this year), I have told myself to try to not drink soda. There is the Dry January thing going on. I will not participate because I don’t drink alcohol enough to need or have a dry month or week for that matter.  Instead, I’m going for No Soda January. 

Ambition rides on the New Year energy of me dreaming of a long sled ride, bigger and faster than what is sanely practical. I hesitate to post my plans because when I do, things fall apart, enthusiasm disappears to be replaced with empty space that depression fills. ( I am doing better after December blog break.) 

I got plans 🤣😎, and the prayers 🙏🏻 to go with them. 

A few small things under consideration: 

Learn more photography ~ What about becoming a photographer for real? Mat and frame a few. 

Learn a new language ~ Use an audio course to learn. Irish and Mandarin would be fun

Daily Sketch ~ Fill up sketchbooks. Mat and frame a few drawings

Cook from recipes ~ Think Soup Journal

A daily dance ~ Turn on the radio

In the mean time, hunting for a calendar to buy will be fun. Way back when, businesses gave out free calendars. For years, I looked forward to using my favorites, the desk and pouch calendars. I don’t remember the last time I found a free calendar around here. Oh well. 

Tracks In the Snow

Glitch discovered for comments

In Blogspot Layout, click Edit on the post box

There you will see,  Show comment count.

It must be selected for the comment option to show up at the bottom of posts.

Note, it is not the same as the Options feature in the right column on the posting page. 

Day 339 of Week 49 December 2O25

 Merry Holidays!

Blog graphics under construction*

Looking for a new template

for 2026 that is simple and outdoorsy.

Nothing much going on here

Finishing organizing holiday 

decorations is on my list.

Fun recent discovery, summer clothes 

put in bags got mixed up 

with laundry bags. 

I put huge suitcase 

back in the closet

because I thought it was full. 

Bonus…less laundry to catch up on.

The eye surgery and dental work 

took a couple of weeks out of my

moving around much.

Cleaning off my desk

is progressing well.

Have a Clean Weekend!

Tell your boots a fun story

Bake a blueberry pie

Read about reindeer

Browse sleds online

Sing to your comb

Think about summer

Draw a pine tree grove

* Staying with this template. 

I’ve confused myself enough. 😂

Brainstorming To Soothe the Soul

It could be that the subject of blog titles, finding good names is becoming tiresome to read about here. So let me splash around in a different brain pool.

Brainstorming is all about a full fluffy easy brain play time vibe. The exercise can be like a good laugh clearing away one’s woes for a moment. Brainstorming, I believe, is healthy. 

Even if you don’t have a core goal in mind, (like creating a blog title), you can brainstorm.

Consider this: Chose a subject to brainstorm each week. Write down and research your ideas in an Idea Notebook. 

Tip: 

Don’t share your ideas if you don’t want somebody to use them instead of you.

If You ever do have an idea you want to go forward with, then lock down the legal matters first. 

Note. July 2025

Made up domain names, the majority with the word salty:

Availability look up results:

Available - 3

Priced over $1000.00 - 3

Make an Offer - 14

As I’m checking another domain name today, there was a rare screen lock. I had to reload and squeeze out of there.