E: Earth calling Melissa. Repeat…Earth calling Melissa.
M: Copy Earth.
E: You have been off the radar for over a week. State your location.
M: Here.
E: Surely you have an excuse for your absence.
And, surely you have an excuse for having an imaginary conversation with a planet.
M: Negative and negative. And don’t call me Shirley.
That pretty much sums up my excuse for being M.I.A.
I was in la-la land, if you will.
Engaging in planetary dialog, if I may.
Truth be known, I didn’t feel like it.
There. I said it.
Judge away.
Get off my back, I took a blogcation! haha (almost as ridiculous as saying you took a staycation, but not quite)
Enough claptrap.
We had some family out visiting for Jon’s winging (more on that, maybe tomorrow? tonight? after i get finished calling Jupiter?) and then it was Valentine’s Day (which is completely irrelevant but I feel it may be camouflaged as a legitimate excuse if I type it with enough confidence)…and then nothing really important between then and now. (Except two spider bites! But that is a whole other story for another time) Time away from the Blogging world has been a little refreshing, I have to admit. Sometimes the line between internet and reality can really start to blur and, meanwhile, real life starts passing you by. And even worse, blogging starts to become a check-list, an obligation, like it is something I have to do (both reading and posting) and that is where I draw the line. There was no way I was going to allow something that started out to be so fun and enjoyable turn into a source of stress. Seriously, blogging? Self-imposed stress? haha It sounds so ridiculous, I know.
So, I decided it was time for me to make blogging fun again. And that meant a few changes around my blog. Since I am a one-woman show, keeping up with four different blogs (within one) was biting off a little more than I wanted to chew at this point. What can I say? I have a big appetite. I know I’m not really considered niche-y, but my problem is not that I can’t think of anything to blog about… I just can’t choose one thing over another! I love having variety in my life.
So… I am going back to the one blog format (for now at least)… so all of the posts from the Homestead, Life on the Prairie, Boots and Bonnets and the Cookery will appear on the main page. All of the new posts will be on ONE page. The pennant menu bar will direct you to “featured posts” (updated regularly. Or when I feel like it. haha) from each along with an index of posts and projects.
This is easier for me and I have a feeling, easier for all 3 of my regular readers (hi mom!). haha
Easier = less stress.
Less stress = more fun.
Got that? You may be quizzed on it later.
So, I really haven’t been doing nothing. I’ve been working on my blog… just not posting this week. Is my momentary hiatus justified yet? 
I should also note… that I am playing catch up today with emails. If you’ve emailed me and I haven’t returned your email yet… I promise, promise, promise I’m not being rude. I’m just behind and will be answering emails today. After I detail the kitchen. (I think I used every dish in my cupboards yesterday. I’m not kidding… who uses that many dishes to bake and cook a few things? Apparently this girl. Dishes are done… but the detailing is not. I can’t wait. ha!) 
So, yes. Emails today.
And now!…For the real order of business…
Happy Birthday George Washington.
You are a champ.
Happy Monday,
