Between the Lines: Insights from The Boondocks Blog

I am excited to share that I was invited to participate in a special blog series organized by Katherine of Katherine’s Corner. This series, called “Between the Lines,” highlights bloggers who are 50 and over. Katherine is showcasing a new group of ten bloggers each Tuesday for ten weeks. I was honored to be featured in week six. Each week ten interviews are published on Katherine’s Corner, and during the eleventh week Katherine herself will answer questions about the project and her vision for this series.

“Between the Lines” invites readers to look beyond the posts and meet the people behind them. For me, the phrase also has a playful double meaning: those “lines” are the wrinkles I’ve earned and am proud of—each one tells a story.

Why did I start blogging at this stage in life? After many years raising four children and managing a household, I felt it was time to do something for myself—something that would inspire me and wake up my creative mind. I have loved crafting and repurposing for as long as I can remember. Watching so many makers share their projects online encouraged me to begin sharing my own modest creations and to connect with like-minded people. Let’s be honest: not everyone wants to save old things—many prefer to shop—so it felt liberating to find a community that appreciates repurposing.

My decision to start blogging also coincided with the economic difficulties in Greece. I grew tired of listening to pundits offering no real solutions, and I wanted to focus on practical, creative responses. My basement was full of items waiting to be reused, and repurposing them felt like a positive way to respond. I also viewed blogging as a potential stepping stone to a new chapter in my life. Who says you can’t begin something new after 50?

I dove in with no formal plan, and you can read about my early challenges and what I learned during my first year in my One Year Blogoversary post. Blogging is still a learning process—there was so much I didn’t know at the start—but I love a good challenge, and this has been exactly that.

At first, blogging felt like being stranded on a lonely island—very much not “build it and they will come.” Everything changed when I discovered commenting and linking: suddenly, others could find me and respond. That opened up a whole new world. I had to rely on tools like Google to learn how things work, and those tools quickly became indispensable.

I was fortunate to discover generous and knowledgeable bloggers who offered guidance and encouragement. Over time I formed friendships across many niches and age groups because blogging doesn’t care about boundaries. While I focus on DIY and repurposing, many of my closest blogging friends write about food, parenting, photography, and crafts. They share experience, not sales pitches, which feels genuine. I only wish there were more hours in the day to read all the blogs I admire.

• I’ve acquired many new skills, including social media techniques and the use of chalk paint—something I hadn’t experimented with before.
• My long-forgotten love of photography has been rekindled, helping me see my projects in fresh ways.
• Blogging has become a potential new career path or a fulfilling pursuit in its own right, limited only by the effort I put into it.
• I hope I’m modeling for my daughters that it’s never too late to follow a passion and build confidence to try something new.
• Keeping a regular blog trains the mind and creativity—those brain cells appreciate the workout.
• Anything that encourages me to tackle the home projects I keep putting off is a winner. A weekly post deadline has been the push my home needed to get a full upcycle.

All of this is not dramatic from the outside, but for someone who didn’t know how to use a computer ten years ago, it feels like a big step. I wake up with a sense of purpose and energy, often eager to start the next DIY project or try a new creative technique.

There is no limit to what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it. You’ll see that spirit throughout the “Between the Lines” blog series. Visit Katherine’s Corner to read the interviews and learn more about the bloggers featured in this project.

Featured bloggers in this series include:

1. Katherine’s Corner
2. My Side of 50
3. A Miracle in My Living Room
4. Kim Today
5. Brandywine Cottage
6. Vanity and Me
7. The Boondocks Blog
8. La Bella Vita Cucina
9. It’s All Fine Whatever Tickles the Fancy

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This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.

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