When I finished my 2013 daily blogging challenge, I was ready for a couple days off, but I didn’t intend to let my blog gather so much dust. To be honest, the break this past month has been nice. I’ve enjoyed being released from the self-imposed pressure of posting something every day.

In the days away from the keyboard, without any guilt that I was taking up blogging time, I have:

1. explored new corners of the neighborhood (when being outside for more than two minutes wouldn’t cause frostbite, that is)
2. read two whole books (I am no longer the only college graduate in the US who has never read To Kill a Mockingbird)
3. been on a week-long trip to Alabama, spending precious time with family, albeit under some very sad circumstances
4. survived the first two weeks of a couch-to-5K training program, in preparation for an April race that will tick a box on my bucket list
5. started an online class that will help me create meaningful lessons for students at multiple levels when I eventually start teaching adult ESL classes
6. completed two virtual jigsaw puzzles on my iPad (not a substitute for the joy of clicking that last piece in its spot, but at least there’s no chance of vacuuming up the turret of an old English castle)

In the month that I’ve been otherwise occupied, I’ve missed my blog. I like the creative outlet it gives me, and I value the feedback I get. So, moving forward, I will be posting four days a week, devoting two days to photography, and two to writing. I reserve the right to throw in extra posts each week as the mood strikes. 🙂