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Happy Sunday, friends!
It’s with mixed feelings and a somewhat heavy heart that I am letting you know this is the final Scattered Sundays.
This decision was not made lightly, but once it was made, I instantly felt like it was the right one to make. And sometimes, that gut feeling is all we have to know if we’re heading down the right path.
The decision to end these was twofold. First, the kids are getting older, and don’t need their lives shared. Given that I am raising two boys, the concept of consent is constantly being drilled into their heads. And in this case, it’s felt a bit squishy lately.
Second, life is not getting any less chaotic, no matter how much I want it to be. There is a theory that I believe is attributed to Nora Roberts, that basically says when you’re juggling too many balls at once (pause for joke), you have to decide which are glass and which are plastic.
Try as I might, the number of glass balls that have been added to my physical and mental load is frankly overwhelming. And choosing to publish one less blog post a week is a plastic ball that I can gently set down. I don’t even have to drop it.
I thank you for your kindness and support, and please know that it’s not you, it’s me. 🙂 I’ll still be sharing snippets of life over on Instagram stories.
Instagram doesn’t require much effort from me, and the things you share are only available for 24 hours. It’s a good mix of fun, with nothing being permanent.
What I’m reading this week
I finished The Couple Next Door and found the ending kinda meh. I know it was fiction but it was all a bit far-fetched to me. They tried to shove a ton of plot into about 45 pages.
I’m currently reading The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn, who also wrote The Rose Code and The Alice Network, two books I really enjoyed. I’m not complicated – give me a WWII plot with a strong female lead, some spying, some smuggling, and I’m happy.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO THIS WEEK
Years ago, I discovered the podcast, Crooked City. It’s back for their third season, and naturally, they have hooked me. About the show:
This is a story about a woman who came to be known as The Horse Queen. She owned hundreds of champion quarter horses on her ranch outside the small city of Dixon, Illinois. And she was also Dixon’s treasurer/comptroller. Yet no one ever thought to ask how she could afford all of those horses on the salary of a civil servant… until the FBI raided City Hall in 2012 and Rita was arrested. For twenty years, Rita Crundwell worked hard to become the world’s largest and most successful quarter horse breeder… while also becoming America’s most prolific municipal embezzler. (source)
READER SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Bobby left this five-star review on our Air Fryer Potatoes {Pin this recipe}:
These were delicious! Made as per the recipe. I used a 1 1/2 lb bag of small gold potatoes, quartered or halved depending upon the size and it only cooked about 20 minutes total. Only problem with this recipe is that it is almost impossible to stop snacking on them!
ON SUSTAINABLE COOKS THIS WEEK
Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings – These Frozen Onion Rings in the Air Fryer are so deliciously crispy. Baked, not fried, this easy air fryer appetizer is simple to make and cooks in only 11 minutes. {Pin this recipe}
Roasted Garlic Potatoes – Crispy and perfect, these Roasted Garlic Potatoes are a delicious side dish. You’ll love that these garlic parmesan potatoes are packed with so much flavor! {Pin this recipe}
THE FIVE MOST POPULAR POSTS THIS WEEK
First time in a few months that a non-canning/gardening post has been in the top five.
I have enjoyed your posts and your recipes, Sarah, but understand and I wish you and your family the best.
Thank you, Ann.
I’m so sad to see these posts go (how am I going to get book and podcast recommendations now lol) but I also fully understand and support the decision!
Thank you so much!
Hi Sarah, thanks for all the scattered sundays over the years! It’s been my Monday morning read over here in NZ and I absolutely love your take on life! You are an amazing writer and I’ll miss reading them. But I’m so happy for you! See you on Instagram!
Thanks, Danielle, and see you on the ‘gram!
Good for you!! Sunday should be fun and no stress. We will all wait for your weekday posts as usual. Thanks for staying. You’re my go to food blogger. ❤️
Amen to that, Donna. Thank you!
As much as I will miss these posts, I am more happy for you. Many kudos for making the good choices for you and your family.
Thank you so much, Laurel!
I know it’s good for you but gotta tell you…. Your Scattered Sundays post was literally the highlight of my Sundays a lot of times. Just hearing about your week and what your family was up to made me so happy or sad depending on how your week went. I’m not on Instagram (not enough time for yet another platform in my life) so I’ll miss the updates.
Pinky swear – not a stalker – just a random girl who feels like we are Internet friends. Even though it’s totally one sided – you putting out all the effort and me just taking it in.
Thanks for all the weekly updates through the years. I truly enjoyed all of them.
I’m sorry Jan, but I appreciate your understanding. And your support and kindness of over the years.
Selfishly, I am so sorry to hear that this is the end of Scattered Sundays. But I applaud your honesty, wisdom, and strength to know and honor your priorities. It is those very qualities that made me enjoy your blog so much, and I understand why you are making this change. Thank you, best wishes, and may peace be with you always.
Thank you so much, Lisa!
I’m so sad! I have two teens – 13 and 16 as well. I emphasize with you and the business of life today. Best of luck!
You’re in the thick of it too, Danielle! Godspeed to us both. 🙂
Congratulations, Sarah! Obviously, you’re making the right decision for you, which is why you felt that relief. Elaine, too, has struggled to make such decisions and our daily life is nowhere near as chaotic (i.e., complex) as yours is. (Not that it’s a competition!) This is the state of the world today. We are all doing too much. And figuring out what to stop doing is going to become a critical skill in the next decade (I predict). Just last week, I was in a conversation with colleagues at work and wrestled with the concept of how to even decide what to stop. Various participants shared that in other such conversations or working sessions with flip charts listing what to start, what to continue, and what to stop, the stop lists were always BLANK. WTH!!?? The wider world does not model the kind of discrimination, boundary-setting, and discipline you are modeling here. I applaud you. All that said, you are a great writer and I’ve really enjoyed this series. Someday, when you write your book, I’ll happily join the line to make an advanced purchase!
“we’re all doing too much”. Such true words, Christopher! All of us will be at our breaking point at some point if we’re not willing to say no along the way.
Thank you so much for your support over the years.
Good job following your gut!
I’ll miss these posts, but I am 100% on board with practicing what you preach.
Thank you so much for your support now, and over the years!