When Life Gives You Peaches

My love for peaches started early, when as a child we would drive through the country side of South Alabama on the way home from the coast and Daddy would stop in Chilton County. (Chilton County Alabama’s claim to fame is also the Peach, and some of the best ever Peach ice cream) Just the smell of ripe peaches brings so many wonderful memories. Most of you probably know, I now live in the heart of the Deep South. Georgia is famous for its peaches, and within minutes of our home here, we have hundreds of peach farms, private orchards and larger orchards that we here in the South refer to as “Parks”. A Sunday drive through the nearby countryside during the summer will tempt even the most faithful weight watcher to stop for a basket or two of these yummy fruits!

On a recent weekend, we decided a country side tour was in order and of course we couldn’t resist a basket of ripe peaches and a taste of some home made peach bread. Coincidentally, we have a lovely neighbor who had the same idea that weekend and appeared at our door shortly after we arrived home with another basket of peaches for us. Feeling a little overwhelmed by all the seasonal goodness, I pondered what to do with 2 full baskets of peaches. After all, we’d never be able to eat all that fruit before it spoiled! And then it hit me! Make Ice Cream of course! After peeling, pitting, slicing and freezing most of the rosy jewels, I chopped a few, added the sugar and cream and churned away!

The perfect end to a perfect weekend. And a perfect use for an overwhelming supply of goodness!

I’ve read a lot about a recent issue with bloggers blacking out PR and Publicity for a week during August. Claiming to be overwhelmed, the author of the idea suggested that her readers not participate in any publicity or pr events during that week. Basically telling them that she intended to tune out and wanted them to do the same. My answer to that is BUNK! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take inventory. Find what your own personal priorities are and lay them out for yourself. If you’re too involved with your blog and PR opportunities to suit your own needs, then reassess, but don’t black out; unless your intention is of course to totally leave the radar screen. (Kind of counter intuitive, if you ask me. But a great piece of link bait by the author, who drew all sorts of media attention by this tactic )

Remember, its easy to say NO to PR reps. Its just as easy as saying yes. Rest assured, there’s not an ounce of pressure on you to deal with any company you don’t want to introduce to your audience. It is first and foremost YOUR Audience! People read your blog because YOU decided to put your thoughts out there, you struck a chord and created a connection. You’re in charge. Not the reverse. If as a result of dealing with PR people, you’ve offered your readers something that they like and you feel rewarded by it, why would you stop? It certainly won’t benefit you and your blog. All the chatter and posting about the “black”out has certainly benefited the author of the idea. I’ll be watching that blog during the blackout, just to see whether she actually follows through on her own idea, if the PR contact link disappears and the ads disappear, I’ll be slightly more convinced. But, I still think there’s a better way to handle being “overwhelmed”.

The next time you’re overwhelmed, don’t quit. Don’t turn off the goodness! Find a way to enjoy all the goodness coming your way, make some ice cream! And enjoy!

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