Molly tagged me.

Molly tagged me today. She's done this once before and I ignored it (which I felt kind of bad about). So this time, because I love Molly, I'm playing the game. I'm surprised by how uncomfortable it makes me. I've always considered myself an up front, spill your heart to anyone, give it all away kind of gal...yet I hesitate. Do people really want to know these things?

Generally, tagging is when you post 6 things about yourself that people (most people) don't know. This time it's more specific. Here are the questions Molly tagged me with:

1. What's the story behind the name of your blog?
2. Why did you start blogging in the first place?

I'm lumping these two together because I can't answer one without answering the other. My blog is named after Down & Dirty, my third book; I'm very proud of it. It's full of projects for beginning (and not-so-beginning) gardeners. I've included some family gardening projects, a few tasty recipes, and a lot of my heart.

The book came out in February, 2007 and the PR people at my Storey Publishing thought blogging about the book would generate buzz. I was surprised by how quickly a business effort became entirely personal.

I was unsure how to start; I'd never been much of a journal-keeper. But writing in short, independent bits feels natural to me and I loved blogging almost immediately.

3. What has been your best blogging experience? What about the worst?

No worst experience so far (knock on wood), although when I was cut off from the internet in Hijiori-onsen I felt a few pangs of blog withdrawal. The best thing about blogging has been the way it connects me to friends, family, and people I don't even know.

4. What do you think will happen to your blog in 2008?

I hope what happens is that as I travel around the country in the next few months I'll meet some of you. If I'm travelling where you'll be (click on additional appearances), please let me know. Looking forward...