Many of you have asked where in the world I've been.

All I know is that after 7 plus years of blogging and a different lappy, which I don’t like, I seem to have lost my blogging fervor.

Someday, when you least expect it, I will post again.

For those of you still waiting I say thank you.

Meanwhile, I am rather prolific on twitter. Find me: @KeethaB
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The Eclectic Company - Waitin' on a New Adventure!!
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Monday, May 18, 2009

Follow-Up

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You know what happens - - - you go to visit the doctor and he says, "I need to see you in six weeks for a follow-up."

This isn't that kind of a follow-up. I HOPE this one is much less painful.


WESTBY

You have visited me three or four times since I posted my plea to you to delurk. No luck, you are still lurking.

Maybe you don't know I mean YOU. If you live in Wisconsin, anywhere near Westby or Vernon County, I DO MEAN YOU!!!

You now have quite a following who ALSO want to know you - - - that's how we inquiring minds are - - - we WANT TO KNOW.

I've made you "semi-famous," don't you want your admiring public to know who you are???? :-)

Check out these comments YOU received on my blog:
"Hope they 'fess up for you!"
"Will be curious to see if they come forward. It would be cool to connect!"
"Hoping you find your fellow cheesehead! :-) (Plus now I'm curious...)"
"Now you have us all just as curious. :)"


LIFE'S JIG SAW PUZZLES

You left me such great and affirming comments about our 34 year (come Sunday) marriage. Thank you all!!

HOWSOEVERMUCH - - - I would be very remiss to all of my "young" readers if I didn't share this little secret to a long and GREAT marriage - - - - Are you ready??? It's a very well kept secret and I wouldn't share it with just anyone - - - - Look closely - - - Here it is:

HARD WORK
No "Divorce" word in your vocabulary
HARD WORK
Commitment
HARD WORK

That's it. There is no short cut. There is no easy way out. Love is 95% commitment, the "feelings" come and go - - - but the commitment must REMAIN.

That's the secret, and you won't learn it in movies, novels, or fantasies.

BUT - - - the end of the work is well worth it. I promise. I know, I'm living it.


TABLESCAPE


I must confess, I almost didn't republish this post - - - I was afraid I would insult those of you who spend hours and hours making those really FABULOUS tablescapes, and I didn't want to do that.

Hopefully I didn't, as no one left me a comment telling me I had crushed the life out of their hopes and dreams as tablescape artists - - - so if I did crush anyone they were far too kind and polite to let me know.

BUT - - - I DID inadvertently release the inner "that's my kind of tablescape" in many of you!!!! Well - - - then - - - come on over and join me for a little lounging around the TV eats!!! PLEASE - - - just let me know when you're coming so I can CLEAN THE BATHROOM. Wink wink - - - sort of.


SPITTIN' SNORTERS


Oh you do my heart good,
Joining the Spittin' Snorter's Club!!!!

I won't tell you who started it all - - -
But the "spitter" AND the "Snorter"
Are both in the comments.

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20 comments:

Diane said...

Keetha, you are SO RIGHT about the secret to a successful marriage! It's very hard work and so very worth it! In January, I buried my husband of what would have been 34 years on this June 14. It was a wonderful life together. That's not to say it didn't have it's difficult times; it surely did. However, now ALL the times are precious memories to me! Too many couples give up BEFORE the best part starts.

I love reading your blog. You are wise and wacky...just my kinda gal!!!

Many hugs........

Diane

I can't find my blog said...

Diane-I'm so sorry for your loss! I hope we get to 34 years.

Keetha-I also agree with you on marriage. Even though I've only been married 1/3 of the time you have it is certainly hard work. We both went into this agreeing that divorce was not an option, ever. It changes how you look at things.

Keetha Broyles said...

Diane - - - I too am so sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine. I know you must have to lean really hard on Him to get through these days.

Thank you for the words about my blog. Being a blogger yourself, I'm SURE you know how much those kinds of affirming words mean.

Headless & Diane - - - we're on the EXACT same page about marriage. Yes, hubby and I have a lot of fun and we are happy, but it comes at a price of commitment and SACRIFICE on both our parts. There have been some REALLY difficult days that we've had to work through and through which if the ugly "d" word had been in our vocabulary we may well have thrown our hands up in despair.

Anonymous said...

I agree with ya'll, my hubs and I have been married for 16 years, babies to marriage compared to you :)When we got married, we both committed to never think the D word, it changes your whole perspective on marriage...Keetha, I so enjoy your blog, look forward to every new post!You are truly a very original person, and have so much to share!!;)

KBeau said...

We celebrated our 38th in December. I agree with everything you said about marriage. I've got to catch up on my blog reading. We drove all the way back from Annapolis yesterday. So I'm intrigued by this lurker you mentioned. Will have to go back and read your earlier posts.

Brad, Carmen, Braylen and Alea Fleck said...

Is that Arroz con Pollo from Mi Pueblo on your tablescape? That's my favorite if it's so :)

Keetha Broyles said...

Nope - - - it's from La Charreada - - - that's MY favorite. ;-)

Anonymous said...

33 years here, you say "hard work," well I keep telling her to work harder and she stops and puts her hand on her hip, I've learned thats not a good sign.

I bet Greg has learned that too.

Keetha said...

As someone who's getting married a week from Saturday, I appreciate this advice! I'll take it to heart. :-)

Anonymous said...

MY HUSBAND IS MY BEST FRIEND AND WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED 13 YEARS!
NOW DAYS IT SEEMS SO SAD THAT MARRIAGE ISNT AS IT SHOULD BE.
I HOPE AND PRAY THAT MY KIDS WILL STAY WITH THE ONES THEY MARRY TILL DEATH DO THEY PART. ITS NICE TO SEE YOUR COMMITMENT!

Kristin - The Goat said...

I love spitting watermelon seeds. I think because it's somewhat acceptable LOL

I'm so happy to finally come back to your blog and see what you've been up to while I've been gone. I've missed you :) Thanks for coming by my place, it was great to see your comments when I logged in from far away!

Martin LaBar said...

Yes. Hard work. And hard work.

And making Christ the center of a relationship.

korie said...

thanks mom!!! the ppl i work with think that because chris and i are talking about marriage that i need to hear all their negative advice on the topic and it just annoys the crap out of me!!! i never ask them for marital advice and theres a reason for that....

Keetha Broyles said...

Thank you, Korie, for coming to my blog AND leaving a comment.

If you follow my advice, AND Dr. LaBar (comment right before you) you will not only make your new marriage work - - - it will THRIVE. I believe in you. :-)

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Your marriage comments, so true! Congratulations my friend. Many more years to you!

nancygrayce said...

Congratulations! You are totally right about what it takes....I know, because I am divorced from the first husband....coming up on 14 years with my sweet now husband. We both know there will be NO divorce!

So we work hard! And laugh often!

nancygrayce said...

P. S. that is MY kind of tablescape!

Keri said...

Momma...you forgot a very important SOMEONE in that equation to making marriage work...

Julie said...

Craig and I have only been married 12 years in June, but I completely agree with your marriage advice!

I was actually thinking the other day in my crabby, sleep-deprived state that this is when commitment takes over instead of relying on feelings. Does that sentence even make any sense?

It does take LOTS of hard work! We both agreed before we got married that divorce will never be an option.

It also helps that Craig makes me laugh....a lot!

Keetha Broyles said...

Yes Julie, I understand that sentence completely - - - that is reality.

Marriage is hard work. I did not mean to demean the importance of having Christ as the center of a marriage - - - that is a given. BUT, even if both involved are Christians, there can still be discord and it takes COMMITMENT to keep it working. Lots of commitment.