Finding the right balance
I created my website a little over two years ago. In the beginning my main focus was writing about vegan cuisine. I constantly received questions/comments from those curious about the vegan lifestyle so I would refer them to my website. I mentioned others that I loved but they wanted to hear from me. I imagine because they know me.
Although I enjoy writing about vegan cuisine at times I grew tired of blogging mainly about that so I started writing about other things I’m interested in. After all being Vegan is only one aspect of who I am.
In fact most times I don’t think of myself as “Vegan” or “She who does not eat any animals” unless I’m at a restaurant then I think about it. If I don’t get to choose the restaurant at times my selections can be quite limited. I’m not going to even begin to tell you how frustrating that can be! Thank goodness I prefer to prepare my own meals, eh? 
I’m still learning and trying to figure out what work best for The Raw & The Cooked. I’ve got to tell you I like that name better than Raw Vegan Momma or Vegan Momma so yes this name, I believe, is here to stay.
Not only is is TR&TC the name of The Fine Young Cannibals album (I loved that group) it also clearly describes the types of food I prepare. 
Raw for myself, and occasionally cooked for my daughter.
If you haven’t noticed the past few weeks I’ve been making changes to my website. I’ve added sponsored reviews (those are clearly labeled and can be find in some of my blog posts) and am testing out text link ads (in the sidebar.)
I don’t want to take away from the original content but I do think it would be nice to toy around with ways I can make money from my personal website.
on May 6th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Hi! First, I wanted to let you know that I replied to your comments on my blog.
I enjoy just about anything you post. You are very interesting, knowledgeable, fun, creative, and friendly. I’m hear to stay! :) Plus, it’s your site/blog…you should do with it whatever you wish!!!
I’m going to watch Smokin’ Aces and then I will be back online later. I will probably blog a bit, too. I’ll check back!
on May 6th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Harmonia,
Thanks! I’ll definitely do what I wish. I’ll be happy when I figure how I want the blog to be! :-) Then again I’m sure it will always be going through some type of change.
on May 6th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
I’ve gone thru that a few times. Now that I am back blogging…I think you are the only one that reads. According to the stats there are others but they don’t comment. oh well. I will continue to see what happens with mine. In the meantime…always look forward to reading yours!
on May 6th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Harmonia,
Give it time some of your regulars will come back.
I imagine you have a high amount of lurkers. I have a lot of them and occasionally a few will comment. I do understand not everyone wants to comment so that’s fine by me.
on May 7th, 2007 at 2:57 am
I have had trouble with comments as well. It seems like I get a better Click through rate then I do comment rate per visitor.
on May 7th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Dave,
I just installed the text link ads on my site. I’m still playing around with the placement it will be interesting to see how that does.
It can be hard figuring out what the reader wants to see.
on May 7th, 2007 at 7:58 am
I have been thinking about this as my blog will be one year old very soon. I have very varied interests and my blog is not living up to that at this point. lol. I intended art and music to go up more regularly, not to mention graphic designs and what not. Instead it has primarily become a photo blog. I did not really start putting my blog out there until I joined MyblogLog after a fellow blogger sent an invitation. For a blog showing primarily photos, I am grateful to have the visitors I do have as it is hard to have that with just photos (being an amateur photographer), I think…. but yeah, there is more to me than photos. ;) I even have music on my blog way back at the beginning. :) I have a few graphics too. I think what might filter in more in the near future is “homeschooling”….”education”… hmm…(maybe)…sorry for the long post… :)
on May 7th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Beth Ellen,
It seems that you are reaching the realization that I had with my blog. I never get tired of looking at photographs so I’ll always be popping by your spot.
Homeschooling has a huge audience. I’m doing that with my daughter. It’s always nice to “meet” other homeschoolers.
I do think adding variety enables you to reach more people. I saw my numbers jump when I did that.
on May 7th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Opal, I’ve been enjoying popping into your blog the past few days, and have enjoyed your comments over at mine. I’m curious, though, because obviously I’m not at all vegan or vegetarian. I find it rather ironic (or amusing?) that I’m rubbing company with Dairy Myths and Animal Cruelty sites here on your blog roll. I mean…I’m pleased that you’re enjoying my blog and thrilled to death that you’re sharing it with others…but I dunno, seems kinda funny to me. Are you okay with the fact that I shear sheep and keep them for milking and such?
Of course, from my viewpoint, there’s a huge difference between commercially raised anything and the teensy farm next door, although not all small farms really care about their animals. Maybe I just don’t understand all the ‘levels’ of veganism?
Well, anyway, just had to ask, but am glad you’re visiting me!
on May 7th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Tracey,
That really doesn’t bother me at all. I realize that everyone is different so I accept that fact. A few of my friends are farmers and I understand and accept that it is their life. I only use the term “vegan” so people realize that hey she tries to avoid animal products. I’ve made a conscious effort to avoid it for over 15 years. I never liked how animals tasted. I was raised around many farm animals and considered them friends just like my cat and dog. I saw many killed for food after a while my parents stopped killing them (probably because of they got tired of my tears.) LOL
The one thing that can turn me off quick about any group is how some within a particular group can attack others that seem different than ourselves. You drive a lot of people away by doing that. I dislike PETA. For the most part their message is “good” but they dump a lot of negative campaigning that I find despicable.
In all honesty I don’t think it’s cruel to sheer a sheep or milk a cow, or collect a small amount of honey. We did not have sheep but we had friends who did. It seemed extremely uncomfortable for them to have all that fur especially during the warmer months. We milked our goats. If we didn’t milk them they had could have developed a lot of pain in their udders. I think we can live, work, and share with one another (yes that includes animals.) I didn’t have bee’s but a friend had topiary and he treated his bees well. I’ve been thinking of getting a hive for the past few years solely for the benefits they will give my crops. They can keep their honey.
You don’t have to be vegetarain or vegan to be healthy. I’ve met sopme very unhealthy veggies. You don’t have to be veggie to be compassionate. I’ve met some that lack compassion for others. Pretty hypocritcal if you ask me.
I try to find the right balance as a “vegan”. I know everyone won’t choose to be vegetarian or vegan. I respect that and don’t think any less of them.
on May 8th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Thanks for explaining your thoughts to me! I really appreciate it. I never wanted to eat our animals when I was a kid, but have gotten over that as an adult. I’m not a huge meat eater, but as the years have gone by I’ve decided that we need to be raising our own to insure the well being of the animal (not to mention our own health!)
You’re right about shearing the sheep; far more cruel to leave that heavy fleece on them during the summer. They get very uncomfortable and have an open mouth pant even shorn sometimes. They’re not always thrilled about ’spa day’, but then, reasoning isn’t one of their better skills =)
on May 8th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Tracey,
Raising your own, if you are able, is definitely best. Many of the factory farms pump the animals with so much crap. It’s truly shameful & potentially harmful for those unfortunate enough to eat those animals.
At times I think some of the “leaders” within the animal rights movement don’t really think about what they are saying. I can imagine some of the sheep aren’t too thrilled about sheep shearing, lol.
I’ve written a few “leaders” about the misinformation they spread. I wrote those letters over two years ago. I’m still waiting to receive a response. ;-)
I’ve been told a few times I’m not a “True Vegan” I actually let my carnivorous animals eat meat. (Gasps) Imagine that! ;-) My response, “I’m Vegan they aren’t!”