Robin is having a Blog Hop party for those of us who aren’t at BlogHer.

The way I see it, I have the advantage by not being at blogher:

1. I don’t have to care about what I wear.
2. I don’t need to get a pedicure.
3. I don’t have to miss my kids or pump milk.
4. I don’t have to stand around awkwardly wondering if anyone will talk to me.
5. Because meeting new people makes me nervous.

Instead I’m at home, thinking about painting my 15 year old breakfast table and chairs, having bacon and eggs for supper and doing laundry. Just the way I like things.

I’m absolutely terrible at writing about myself. Maybe I should send you to my about me page which I am tempted to take down every time I read it.

A quick summary might include: I like to take pictures, I don’t like to make phone calls, I enjoy writing and reading, but I won’t try new foods.

That’s the abridged version. Some more facts would include that I am married, have 4 kids, live in a rural part of Arkansas and used to be a teacher.

Here at the blog you’ll find a variety of topics like homeschooling, motherhood, photography and every Monday I’m hosting a show and tell to share what we learned about photography during the week.

But it’s not all hearts and flowers around here. Once I even did this to my baby’s picture:

I just feel terrible about it.

I have learned so much since I started blogging. It has been so much fun to “meet” people and not even have to worry about having my pajamas on when I say hello.

Can’t wait to meet you, so be sure and say hello if you stop by.

My name is Melissa. I write this blog.
You can reach me at afamiliarpath@gmail.com

I live out in the country. A rural, southern town in Arkansas that isn’t even technically a town. It’s a highway with a school and a bunch of churches and dirt roads. There’s no public library, no post office, but many ball fields which stay full all summer long. There’s still plenty of pasture land, so on a summer afternoon a breeze will blow in the smell of fresh cut hay. The neighbors are far apart, but mostly related, and the party line is long gone, but the local paper and a few people keep the hot news passed around.

I guess that’s more information about where I live than who I am. And since this is supposed to be about me, I guess I should get around to that part. I’ve always found the “about me” section on anything to be the most difficult part to write.

I’ve lived in this small town all my life. I married a guy from high school one year younger than me. I barely gave him time to graduate before I had him at the altar in a nice tux. We lived on bologna sandwiches, while getting our degrees, in an apartment in our college town for a few years before moving back home. I taught English at a private school until we had kids. We had 4 of them, and now I homeschool.

I was saved and baptized in a Baptist church, and we go to church on Sundays and have a potluck lunch with my family after services. I have a lot of aunts, uncles and cousins and we like to eat together.

If you read very long on this blog, you’ll find out I like to read, I like to tell stories and I like to take pictures. I like to meet new people, but I have a phone phobia. Email is my friend.

I also like to hike, but not if it’s too cold or too hot, raining or uphill.

What other people are saying about me:

On my relationship with friends:
Terri says, “Shouldn’t you get like permission or a copyright release or something before you post atrocious pics of your friends?”

On my fabulous personality and good looks:
Emily says, “You’re such a good sport! and adorable to boot.”

On how my blog smells:
Kelly says, “I love the smell of sharpened pencils.”

On conversations I might have with my vacuum cleaner:
Cindy says, “I love you. I’m sorry I went so long not believing how lightweight you are. I love you enough to let my girls use you while I sit on the couch eating bonbons. You are good, little Oreck.”

On my crazy house dreams:
The Nester says, “The homes in my dreams all turn into mazes where they get creepier and freakier as you walk through them.”

On my love for a good book:
Marsha says, “We are kindred book loving nerdy spirits, my dear friend.”

On my criminal background:
Brandy says, “I can see the headlines now…you should apply and be on that show about the world’s dumbest criminals!

On getting blog comments.
Sarah says, “It’s kind of like why you can get 32 comments for writing, “Why did my child pee in the toilet brush holder” but get none for pouring out your heart into a memory post.”