I’ve been writing at Nutfield Genealogy for almost ten years
now. I started this blog as an
experiment in 2009. The original plan was to write up small stories of my
family history, instead of writing one big genealogy book. The idea of a book was a very scary,
overwhelming project, but when I learned about blogging I thought “I can do
that!”. And I did. For much longer than
I ever though I would blog!
My blog has changed over the years. I’ve added a lot of local history, especially
with the 300th Anniversary of the settlement of Nutfield by the Scots
Irish in 1719 approaching. And I’ve
added a lot of local New England history as I travel around doing my own family
research, including trips outside of New England to places like Nova Scotia,
Hawaii, Spain, England and The Netherlands.
These are all places I never dreamed of visiting more than ten years
ago!
And my Weathervane Wednesday posts have come and gone. I already announced that soon I will post my
last weathervane story and photo. It
will be the 400th weathervane post!
It all started with my husband, Vincent’s, love of photography as we
travel around New England, and, somehow he started taking weathervane photos
along the way. Then I found out I was related to the renowned weathervane
artist Shem Drowne. And then I found
lots of my own family history in weathervanes on top of churches where ancestors
were married, baptized or buried. And
weathervanes on the barns and homes of ancestors. And on the town halls and
civic buildings where they lived. And on.. and on… and then it was enough. Enough weathervanes!
And I’ve written almost 400 “Surname Saturday” posts for almost
400 immigrant ancestors. I’ll try to
finish my way through my ahnentafel chart this year, and then that will be the
end of “Surname Saturday”. And the end
of “Tombstone Tuesday” because, I’ve done almost 430 tombstone posts and
although I might continue to post a few more gravestone photos, I won’t feel obligated
to do one every single Tuesday anymore.
Yes, I will still post, but not four or five days a
week. Maybe just once a week? That will be a big change for me!
Why the big changes?
Well, Vincent is retiring.
We plan to travel. And do family history research. And pursue other
hobbies. And I’ve found that when he is home, I just can’t find time to write
and research blog posts every day. It’s
a new chapter in our lives. We want to make memories with our family, too, to pass on to our descendants.
But I’m not retiring Nutfield Genealogy. It will still continue – in a new way!
Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Big Changes at Nutfield Genealogy", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 14, 2019, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2019/01/big-changes-at-nutfield-genealogy.html: accessed [access date]).
Good decision.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Vincent on his retirement. I'm sure you'll find traffic to your blog won't slow down as you have so much evergreen content. I look forward to the continuation of Nutfield Genealogy - in a new way! Wishing you all the best, Heather.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on so many years of blogging so often--and enjoy having more free time to make new memories!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all you've done and all the support you've provided! Enjoy your new free time! I hope, among other activities, you'll be attending Old Home Days, so I can give you a hug and say hi in person.
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely be at the Nutfield Founders Day in April and Old Home Day in August!
DeleteOnce Kirk retired I didn't blog hardly at all. I realized how time consuming it was and we wanted to do other things together. Congratulations on Vincent's retirement and your semi-retirement from blogging. Yours will always be one of the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of your amazing posts over the past decade. Enjoy your time with Vincent and more importantly, creating lasting memories with loved ones.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your new life activities with your family. You will love retirement. :)
ReplyDeleteWise choice to change things up from time to time.Not only is it kind to you, it is more interesting for your readers. Best wishes on your travels.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your great work--quite a wonderful legacy. You are very generous in sharing your fine research and writing. I look forward to reading more of it via this online library. Best wishes,
ReplyDeleteAurore Eaton, Manchester, NH
Thank you, Heather! Enjoy your 'next chapter' to the fullest! Your blog often gives my own research a boost, and I will continue to eagerly await each installment of Nutfield Genealogy.
ReplyDeleteJudy Mann
How wonderful Heather and Vince!!! All the best to you and many heartfelt thanks for all of your hard work and sharing! You've done an absolutely unbelievable job!!
ReplyDeleteI’m very happy for you and Vince. Your blog has always been one of my favorites. I wish you both the very best in your travels and adventures. I am happy to hear that you'll still be writing though. I hope you'll write about your genealogy adventures too. Happy trails.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! - are you going to do a book too at some point? To pull some things together? Or do you think it would need too much editing.
ReplyDeleteI've started a blog and would be pleased if I could manage one a month. They tend to grow arms and legs and each post is a biggie. That probably means I'll never get any readers, but I'm hoping it will be easier to re-imagine the material in something more like book form.
Jim - https://noisybrain.wordpress.com/
Hi Jim! I do back up my blog every three months into a book using Blog2print.com A few times I have chosen a theme (such as my mother's family) and made a book using just those blog posts. But I don't know about a big compiled genealogy book. That idea seems overwhelming to me!
DeleteI am full of admiration for your intensive blogging schedule - and yes, you deserve a change and a break to enjoy your husband’s retirement. I have been blogging for nearly 10 years - my family history blog, Auld Earlston (my local history) and a short lived Journal Jottings on my everyday life - even that was getting too stressful a schedule to keep up,with, along with my other activities. So I think you will be doing well to maintain a weekly post. Good luck and enjoy your “new” life!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new change! Can't wait to read about your new finds!
ReplyDeleteAll the best in the next chapter of your life! I'm impressed you've got 10 years of regular blogging under your belt (says the gal who has just started).
ReplyDelete