Ok folks, this is a long one, but it’s also my last long one for a while (and chock full of intersting stuff), so pour yourself some coffee, put the baby on the boob (at least figuratively) and settle in!

An offering of limes from our backyard. I wish I could throw a limeade fiesta to thank you!

Alright, so I was shooting for 100, and wondering if that might be a lofty goal, but 258 responses??!! And not just responses, mind you, but thoughtful, love-filled, heartfelt and incredibly HELPFUL responses?

I am honored. Thank You. You guys are seriously awesome.

First of all, I want to assure you that (after this post) I’m not going to keep talking about the ins and outs of why and how I blog and what about it I struggle with. I realize that doing so detracts from what you’re here for, and geeze, it’s not like you don’t have your own challenges to contend with every flipping day, but I’m so glad I decided to do this survey because — while you now know a thing or two about my life (heck maybe even three) — I suddenly feel like I know YOU, or at least a small piece of you, or at least the tiniest sliver of a small piece of you.

Two hundred and fifty eight of YOU just reminded me that I am writing to living, breathing, laughing, striving, searching, thinking, celebrating and expanding warm bodies and not just into to the obscure vastness of the interwebs, and that SO helps me see value in all this lovin’ I’m logging with my laptop. (He’s hot stuff alright, but he’s no warm body.)

So, about this little community we’ve been growing…

Not surprisingly, you are a deliciously diverse, heart-centered and thoughtful bunch. What did surprise me is that 97% of you are women! While the 258 responses only represent about 4% of my monthly visitors (and yes, I am tempted to follow this phrase with a string of exclamation points), I figure those of you who took the time to respond are among my true posse, mis compadres – my sistas. (Sorry Dad, Hunter and the sweet little handful of men who read me ’cause you love me – you can still be in the club too!)

A few more stats: Nearly 95% of you are parents, 60% of you are between the ages of 30 and 50 and 75% of you read every or almost every post.

This is all hugely helpful to know. One, I can now rest assured that I am writing to mothers almost exclusively; two, that I am writing to my contemporaries and three, that most of you keep up with my story, which means I can more or less pick up where I left off from one post to the next instead of having to factor for first time readers. Kind of. Here’s the deal with that…

While my numbers are looking pretty good, I’m still growing this thing. This means that, while I’d like to title a post something simple like, “Gotta Love Mexico” and share some interesting experience I had while incorporating my perspectives (this is the way Soule Mama rolls, but then she’s already built her readership), my posts are more likely to get shared if i write, “The Mexico They Don’t Show You in the News” (soon to come) followed by a numbered list. It’s a bit of a game, this blogging thing, and I have to work it to make it.

So, just know that I am trying real hard to hold all these things in mind (Pin-able posts, FB-friendly content and organic, fluid storytelling posts) while still being authentic. Because truth be told, if I can get one or two to go BIG, (like this one did with around 100,000 hits), then my readership jumps through the roof literally overnight. Bare with me while I find my balance?

Back to the survey.

Here’s what you said you want more of…

While this certainly tells me something (and honestly, what I was hoping), your 400+ comments spoke volumes. I’m still rereading them and digesting them slowly, but here are a few threads woven throughout…

• You want me to be real, to be ME — to tell my story, to give my unadulterated and uninhibited perspective, not by preachin’ (I ever tell you my daddy’s a preacher?), but by staying centered, digging deep within myself and speaking my truth.
• You want me to keep reflecting on my parenting journey in whatever capacity I am able.
• You would like shorter posts for practical reasons, but don’t really care to give up the meatier ones.
• You want more everyday examples of how to live the revolution despite the limiting infrastructure of modern (US) culture, lack of time, tight budgets as well as the internal obstacles we often fail to see.

Sounds good to me!

The most fascinating response was this one…

I knew it wasn’t quite fair to ask you to reduce the way you see yourself to one of three options, but it really helps to know I need not handhold and convince you that consuming is out of control or that alternative energy is a good idea, for example. You know these things and are dedicated to doing your part. Your comments, though, exposed an overwhelming theme:

You are countercultural in your beliefs but less than you’d like in your actions. Consequently, you feel guilt and inadequacy and hunger for inspiration and encouragement.

See, I needed to know this!

Allow me just a minute for a few logistics (as long as we’re talking shop):

Basefook – If I have a love/hate relationship with anything I engage in regularly, it’s Facebook. I won’t get into the nitty gritty, but here’s where it matters as far as you’re concerned. I maintain a fairly active FB page for RFH. It’s the number one way my stuff gets shared, I drive a considerable amount of traffic by posting images like this…

…and it’s the one place I post everything I write.

HOWEVER, Facebook recently changed its policies. Now, only an average of 10-15% of those who’ve “liked” my page receive my posts UNLESS I pay 5, 10 or 15 dollars per post to reach a larger percentage of my own audience. Lame, I know. To keep receiving all Facebook posts from me, hover your mouse over the “Like” button on my page. In the drop-down menu, select “ADD TO INTEREST LISTS.” Then create an interest list (and make a name for your favorite sites). When you select that interest list you will then receive ALL of my posts and not 10% of them. Cool?

Mothering – Unless you have “liked” my Facebook page, you might not even know that I also write for Mothering.com. The best way to make sure you get everything I write is to like my FB page and then follow the steps I mentioned above.

Subscriptions - Question: are those of you who’ve subscribed through RSS getting my posts?? I have reason to believe there has been a major error for months now with google reader and that you may not be receiving anything. Arggg.

And Finally, MY PLAN

1. There’s a book in the works, my friends! But first, I’m writing an ebook. This way, I can have a downloadable, printable, Kindle-able book in your hands in a matter of a few months (as opposed to a year or more), I’ll have a better place to pack my meatier content, I’ll be able to both drive traffic and make money AND if when I sell a shit ton of copies, the dog ear-able, lend-to-a-friend, keep-on-the-back-of-your-toilet kind of book I plan to write next is almost guaranteed a good publisher.
2. I’m shortening my posts – because that’s what the majority of you want, because the time to write a book doesn’t grow on trees (not even tropical ones) and because my sanity is kind of a big deal.
3. I’m growing my sponsors - For real. After reading The Soul of Money, (brilliant, I tell you – can’t recommend it enough {and BTW, I get a cut of every book you buy through my links to Amazon}), I have a totally new lease on this whole money thing and see the incredible potential I have to help support small businesses, counter the big box chains in the ways I can, and help to support my family all at once. I’ll be handpicking amazing products made by people whose ethics are in line with my own and introducing them to you once a month. By all means, send me links to your favorite handmade products and cottage industry craftsmen!

Thanks for sticking with me through this growing process. I appreciate every single survey, every single comment and every bit of thought and heart that went into your responses.

Oh, and to the participant who asked to borrow my hot husband? You might have had me fooled had you not also confessed that what keeps you coming back is your utter addiction to me. You’re pretty irresistible yourself, Hunter Berry. Thanks for the feedback. ;)

Anyone know what this plant is that recently flowered in our backyard?

Its blooms stay closed all day…

…then open by night, releasing the strongest, most glorious lilac-y fragrance I have ever smelled.