Hello, dollies…welcome to this month’s Where Bloggers Live, 05.2020 where I am sharing my blogging workspace. We had planned to talk about our offices at home last month. But went with a special corona virus edition instead, because that was everyone’s reality. Sadly, it’s still everyone’s reality, huh?
WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE
This fun series is kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! Who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes and lives? Last month we talked about how Covid-19 is affecting our world. You can read about my post here. In the coming months, this group of 7 bloggers will be sharing our homes, outdoor spaces and kitchens.
Just a reminder: Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After occasionally uses affiliate links. This means that if you click or make a purchase from a link provided I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Today, though, we are taking a peek at the areas in our home where we do our blogging. A sort of a behind the scenes of where and how we put our blog together. The tools, apps, etc., we use to create our posts. And how we plan our posts.
My Blogging Workspace
My blogging workspace is really just my laptop computer. That, and wherever I happen to be sitting, with it on my lap. To be completely honest, I do most of my blogging in the late afternoon or evening on the reclining couch in the den. PC is usually sitting beside me on the other side of the couch, playing computer games.
But, there is also…
My Loft
I have worked hard in the last couple of weeks to declutter, organize and generally clean up my loft so that I can start using it as my blogging workspace, too. It’s always been a kind of craft space, a devotional area, and library. But in the last week, I purchased a hobby cart and worked to put most of what was on top of my desk, onto the shelves and racks of the cart.
Now I can work from my desk.
Unless both of my kitties jump up there.
But I will still use my desk as a craft space, too. Right now, for scrapbooking and painting rocks, which is one of my spring bucket list activities.
Will be updating my progress on that bucket list on 05.21.2020. Hope you’ll come by to cheer me on.
My Library
You know I was a librarian, right? As I prepared to retire, I began building an at-home, personal library of some of my favorite children’s books. And the book shelves of my little library are sprinkled with photographs, keepsakes and gifts from loved ones.
My fairy tale shelf.
Some of my favorite chapter books and novels.
A shelf of devotional and motivational books.
And a little of this, little of that on the shelf below. See the notebooks on the right side of the top shelf? I have page protectors filled with sweet notes and greeting cards from friends and family.
My Quiet Time Space
This blogging workspace also serves as my quiet time space. Especially in spring, summer and fall. In the winter, I can often be found in bed under the covers for my devotional time. Since I’ve cleaned off my desktop, though, I have enjoyed doing my QT there.
My cross wall is also in my loft. I usually write my Spiritual Sunday posts sitting on my loveseat with my crosses beside me for inspiration.
Sometimes I wish there was a closet in my loft. And a door to the little area. Because it is so wide open and seen by anyone entering the house from the front door, I feel like I should try to keep things neat and picked up. Kind of hard when I am mid-project. No matter what, though, my loft, my blogging workspace/craftspace/devotional space makes me happy.
But when it’s cold or I am especially lazy…
My Bed
On the coldest winter mornings, my blogging workspace might just be my bed. I will see PC off to work, grab my laptop and crawl back under the covers to work on posts.
I can be hot all day long but really detest being cold!! All those years living in Panama rubbed off on me, I guess. The kitties help me with blog writing in my bedroom, too.
Blogging Tools and Apps
Afraid I don’t have much for you here. I don’t have a lot of blogging tools or apps that I use on Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After. Here are a couple of things probably every other blogger in the world uses but I will share, just in case someone out there isn’t familiar with them.
- Goodreads app enables me to share books I am currently reading and hoping to read in the future https://davidsword.ca/
- Image watermark that adds my blog name in small print on all of my images to help protect them from being used elsewhere http://dfactory.eu/products/image-watermark/
- Weather effect for the little leaves, snowflakes, birthday cakes I sometimes have falling across my blog page https://awplife.com/wordpress-plugins/weather-effect-wordpress-plugin/
- Pinterest pin board gallery that shares my latest Pinterest finds with my readers https://wordpress.org/plugins/pinterest-pinboard-widget/
- Feed Them Social allows me to share my Instagram posts on my blog landing page https://feedthemsocial.com/
Your Turn
If you are a blogger, tell me a little about your blog writing space in a comment below. Then I hope you will take a minute to visit the blogs of the other gals in this great group.
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Julia at When the Girls Rule
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
- June 12: Your yard/garden/outdoor area
- July 10: Kitchen
- August 14: Vacation/Staycation
- September 11: Closet Tour
In the next few weeks, I will be responding to these questions all about motherhood for 10 on the 10th. And have updates for Wellness Weekend 05.17 and my spring bucket list on 05.21.
Final Thoughts
This post should have gone live earlier today but we received word yesterday that PC’s father had passed away. Wally had been on hospice for a couple of weeks but returned to the hospice wing of the hospital on Wednesday with breathing difficulties. And he died alone, without loved ones, yesterday afternoon.
Wallace Clingan was a tough cookie. He fought diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart and kidney failure for years. My mother-in-law May was his wife, nurse and dietitian. And has cared for Wally, with the help of my brother-in-law John, in their home under some of the toughest situations.
Wally was a Baptist pastor and established a number of churches across the country. The whole Clingan family can be credited with strengthening my relationship with God. And I am grateful. Praying May can get some rest over the next few weeks, then maybe come see us for a little bit. Thankful Wally is no longer trapped in a failing body. Hope he is playing baseball up there in Heaven. We will miss you!
Hugs and kisses,
That s lovely yo see! It looks cosy. I always sit at our dinner table with vieuw at our garden. Have a lovely weekend!
I love looking out at our yard. We have done some work on it the last couple of weeks and I really like looking out there now!
So lovely to see your workspace. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you!!
Your loft looks like a cozy spot to work. After a year of renovations our balcony and condo
exterior, I am able to use my alcove again. It is a bright and cheery spot to work and decluttering in ongoing. I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your father-in-law. Take care.
Thank you, sweet Joanne.
Glad you are back in your alcove. Isn’t it nice to have a little corner all our own!!??
It’s really interesting to see the inside of where you live, I love seeing inside other people’s homes! And homes overseas are always such a different style to English ones. Thank you for sharing.
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your father in law, it sounds as if he was influential in many people’s lives and will be missed my everyone there. It would be hard at any time, but right now with so many restrictions in place it must be horrible not to be able to quickly get to his wife’s side and give her comfort and support. Hopefully it will not be too much longer before you can see her.
Thank you, sweet Deb. I love seeing houses in other parts of the world. Last night I dreamed I was in India visiting a palace there that had a swimming pool in every room. And holographic statues!! Crazy.
It has been difficult to know PC’s mom’s struggling and we can’t be there to hug her or help her. We hope to be able to travel to Ohio and Kentucky to see our moms as soon as the restrictions lift.
This was fun! Seeing all your lovely spaces and places where you share your thoughts. What really strikes me is how different they all are…I wonder if you consistently blog certain types of posts from certain places and if they inspire you differently. Love your cross wall…what a perfect place to reflect on the gifts we are given. Also, each of your spaces looks to be shared with sentimental treasures that I suspect are very uplifting.
I’m so sorry to hear about Paul’s dad…but grateful you shared such a loving tribute. We are blessed to have spiritual guides in our lives, even more so when they are family. I hope it brings you comfort to believe that, even though Wally’s family could not be with him, someone so spiritual knew he was never alone…and passed with loving companionship right by his side, where it was his whole life.
xoxo
Thank you for this precious message. I stopped mid-reply to email you. I appreciate your message Paul’s dad. We are relieved that
he is no longer struggling in this world. And know that we will see him again.
You are a treasure.
Leslie, I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your father-in-law. My thoughts are with you and PC. Take care.
Thank you, dear Natalie.
So sorry for the loss of your father in law, that must be so hard, especially when you can’t be there with the virus.
On a lighter note, it’s nice you are able to change things up a little and move around to blog! I like your loft space, it looks really cute! 🙂
Thank you, dear one.
My loft is a favorite place in my house. It reflects me!!
So fun seeing all of these spaces in your home! I love your cross-wall! I always have my Goodreads up when I’m reading book review posts!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I need to write up some mini-book reviews because I have enjoyed several of the books I’ve read lately. I get a lot of my ideas for what to read from my blogger buddies, too.
Thank you. My loft is a favorite spot in my home. I guess it is the most ME room in the house. PC would probably say every room is a ME room. His office is really the only room he has decorated. Poor baby!
My condolences on the loss of your father-in-law.
What a cozy space your loft is. My office space is open to the “public” as well and it’s the room everyone uses to enter and exit our house, so I try to keep it picked up but other people hamper that: coats, umbrellas, etc.
Thank you, sweet Daenel.
I imagine that your office space was near an exit…maybe the back door? Mine is in the middle of the house, visible from the front door. But at least it is upstairs so someone coming into our house might not see the mess on my desk right away!!
What a fun peek into your home! I loved seeing your workspace. I have a desk, but often my lap is my workplace since I blog while watching television with my hubby most nights. I hate being cold too and often travel around the house plugging my little space heater in most days! Haha! My husband is the exact opposite of me. I think he was so happy when I was pregnant and hot all the time because for once we were on the same page!
My lap is often my office, too!! And for years, I have been cold natured but once I went through menopause, I warmed up a little bit. Glad for the change.
I really hate to be cold!!
So sorry for your loss. I blog and do most everything at my desk!
Thank you, dear friend. My desk is my breakfast table, my devotional space, craft space, blogging space and so much more. Good thing it stands on sturdy legs.
Oh boy, I am so sorry to hear about your FIL’s passing. Sounds like he left an incredible legacy and the fact that the whole family brought you closer to God is a credit to his influence. Prayers and hugs to all of you, I know how hard it is to lose someone, even when you know they are finally at peace. Hugs!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you, sweet Kellyann.
I’m playing catch-up and loved reading about your spaces. Loved all your crosses. I have a few but mine are scattered around the house. I see your cats are great “helpers too”. Panama?? I never lived there but spent a wonderful month there many years ago. Very fond memories. Sorry about your father-in-law. It’s never easy. Thanks for sharing.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
Thank you for the sweet comment.
How interesting that you spent time in Panama! Was it a mission trip? Or just a vacation?
My cross wall was one of the first things I started when I found God. I bought crosses and would touch
each one and pray for certain situations or people.
Not a vacation or a missions trip. Hubby was working for the army and he was there for 3 months – I was able to join him for one of those months. It was an interesting trip and I have several momentos that I cherish.
Iris
Ahh, interesting. Were you on the Pacific side…Ft. Clayton? Or the Atlantic side…Ft. Davis? We lived on both sides. The last apartment was at Ft. Kobbe, on Howard Air Force Base on the Pacific side. I would love to return with my daughters and granddaughters so they could see where we lived when they were so young.
Ft. Clayton, on the Pacific side. We were blessed to be able to take a boat ride through a big part of the canal on a private boat. My husband met the boat owner who was a pilot on the canal and he offered to take us. It was an amazing experience.
For some reason this comment just showed up on my blog. Nice to know someone else to talk Panama with!!
My condolences on your father in law. Peace and blessings.
Beautiful blogging space Leslie.
Thank you, my sweet friend.