I am putting this blog on hiatus for most of July in part because in this end of June/early July transition, I scheduled myself back-to-back weeks of (for me) high activity. This past week was five straight days of riding camp (kids on ponies, what could be more wonderful?), and next week I will be a camper on a pony. (We’d better get to paint rocks, too, just sayin’).
With a few other logistical planets refusing to conveniently leave or slow their orbits, I am in the middle of what I call a compression phrase. Life should ease up and simplify in a week or two, but I also know that I take longer to bounce back from exertion of any kind than I used to. If I was up at 5 am for nine out of ten consecutive mornings, I will need more than one day to get back to more and better sleep.
If I was out in the heat for nine out of ten days, I will be heat-zonked for more than a day, no matter how much I hydrate, use sun screen, and wear a hat. If my step count averaged 15k per day… and so forth.
But just now today–the one day out of ten when I don’t have to be anywhere or do much of anything–I am stockpiling as much rest and refreshment as I can. This has involved a day of solitude (so far, fingers crossed…). A day to stay home and not set bottom in driver’s seat or foot off home turf. A day when I can wear my jammies and flip-flops until noon (so stylish with my writing-day compression socks). A day when I can spend hours just reading my current Lord Julian work in progress (still have to write the denouement). I can drink three cups of de-caf tea to slowly, slowly get my engine turning over as I start the day at the computer.
By way of reward for a week well done and another challenging week on deck, I have busted out my stash of special occasion Highland Chocolatier’s Sao Tome dark chocolate truffles. This evening, I will probably go on a deadheading spree among the daisies, roses, and cone flowers. I should scrub the floors soon–nothing like humidity for making dirt stick to floors–but today is not that day. (Tomorrow might be.)
I could use several of these re-charging days back to back, but right now, I only get the one, and I am loving it. When I report for duty early tomorrow morning (duty I signed up for, which involves getting breakfast served to a bunch of horses), I will do so fortified by my version of a lovely day.
What is your version of a lovely, re-charging day after enduring a challenging schedule? To one commenter, I’ll send $100 Vera Bradley e-gift card.
PS: Look for my next blog post around July 20th or 27th. I’ll post about it on social and in my news feed, and send out a newsletter thereabouts. Until then, happy summer, happy reading, and may you all enjoy plenty of wonderful days!
Watercolor painting while listening to audio books from my favorite authors. I don’t care if it’s just a color study, landscape, or trying to get specific flowers right, or I go abstract.
I have to disengage my critical work skill brain and engage it in another way. That is after I spend a day catching up on lost sleep.
I needed to re charge after my dog clubs specialty show…I have never been so tired!
The dogs woke me up at 5:30 the day I came home (why?) so we started our day early. I made coffee, fed the dogs and chilled out with Greg (the corgi) with coffee on the deck.
I skipped dog class, did laundry and took a nap in the afternoon. I wore comfy clothes and didn’t stress out about making dinner.
The nap helped a lot….and the time on the deck…I think of it as a recharge.
Sometimes you need to take it easy and take care of yourself
Enjoy your time at riding camp. You will make a difference.
I will look for your next blog in a few weeks.
I recharge by reading outside, with my feet up and a glass of mineral water or iced tea at hand. Listening to the birdsong and getting natural light, with loose (or no) deadlines is such a recharge for me!
I hope your hiatus time brings you just what you need, Grace!! Happy summer 🙂
going for a hike
When I was working, I rarely planned anything for the weekend (other than weekly laundry) to recharge myself. And that included staying in my nightgown all weekend, if possible. Now that I’m retired, it’s not much of a problem.
Have a good rest and do not include me in the drawing as I have no need of anything from Vera Bradley (so let it go to someone who does).
We were gifted with a 5 day cruise about the time we were finishing our home.
All the cooking was done.
All the housekeeping was done.
Wi-fi and cellular didn’t work.
They brought me my coffee in the morning. I had only about 5 outfits with me. I slept a lot, moved around the boat sitting in the shade avoiding people… Build in an extended break (5 days?) if you can, find a change of scenery? and some pampering.
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I love to sit in my recliner, with a good book and a tall glass of cold water. Simple things!
For me recharging takes place in my kitchen. I just love to turn on some loud music, tie my hair back, scrub in, and start cooking while dancing around the room. Whether it’s a Christmas cookie marathon (I start the first week of November and bake about 700 cookies), or cooking for a party with our musician friends, cooking gets my juices going. Sure, at the end of the day my back is aching and I’m exhausted, but mentally I have become more myself. Enjoy your time off Grace! Stay safe. Stay well everyone!
I could use a few recharging days myself right now. But with surgery for my husband on the 8th and a knee replacement for me on the 15th, I won’t be able to do that anytime soon.
When I do recharge, I sleep in, get a great massage, stretch, nap and read a great book (Lord Julian!) while munching on M&M Peanuts. Lots of M&M Peanuts. Because they are 50% healthy! Right?
How lovely to hear of your recharge! After a tumultuous work month, my love decided we needed to leave for a couple of days and booked a night up at the non-sulfur hot springs near Buena Vista CO. I lazed in the pools read a couple of books, and didn’t go on the hikes he enjoyed. (Oh, I can also attest that sunscreen does expire, and after time at 9,000 ft, I am paying for that mistake, but so be it…) Two days of that were a true balm. Enjoy your time off!
And I love the new cover design. These have a bit of a feeling of adult “I Spy” which makes them especially fun. Can’t wait to read all of the upcoming writing.
Love, love, love your books. Currently reading the Lord Julian series.
Your blog is a happy moment, I so enjoy reading it.
July is my birth month-75th-plan to purchase many books….75 possibly
I’ve never had anything Vera Bradley, have purchased for granddaughters. It would be amazing if I won (I never do) so my hopes are not very high.
Anyway, enjoy your well deserved hiatus.
I seem to need a lot of recharging time these days. I sit on my porch staring at the trees and birds, feet up, iced tea at hand, reading and rereading one of your lovely books while I wait for Lord Julian to saunter by. I am enjoying the contemporary Maryland/Scotland/lawyer stories right now, and it took me until halfway through Elias in Love for the second time to realize that Auld Michael and his Brenna kissing on the parapets of Castle Brodie are our Michael and Brenna from The Laird!! I always save your books to reread and enjoy how they fit together. Lovely, and thank you.
It is hard sometimes to get a whole day to re-charge, but I know it will be a good day when I am the first one up. The house is quiet except for the coffee maker. That first cup is heavenly. And if I am truly blessed there is a leftover chocolate donut with my name on it. I should be reading the newspaper, but most likely will continue reading the book I was reading the night before. Yep, a good day.
I went camping! No phone, no computer! It was bliss for four days. Then I had to come home…boo!
Enjoy your “me time”! Collect all the rest, fresh air, highland cookies, time with the beloved animal the horse and the Lord.
Being retired my schedule permits for many of these days off of responsibility. My idea of a grand time off is seeking a comfortable place to reflect on all the wonderful gifts the Lord has provided me in the past year. A trip to Scottland, Assisi, Italy, England, or any one of my favorit European cities whould be the cherry on top of a delicious caramel sunday with wet nuts and a tall glass of ice water!
Can’t wait to read Julian’s next eposide! Enjoy.
That one time I got lost: So about a year ago, I was in Phys. Ed class, and we went around the neighborhood for a jog at the beginning of each class. I hadn’t done it before because of medical reasons, but the teacher evidently forgot about it. I’m incredibly bad with directions and easily distracted, so I lost sight of the rest of the group and went completely the wrong way. I ended up being lost for TWO AND A HALF HOURS. the best part is that I single handedly changed my school’s Phys. Ed policy. More stories here https://clck.ru/3ALGk3
Laying by the pool reading the latest Grace Burrowes romance novel 🙂
My ideal decompression day is one I just had. My husband is currently in a hospital 1.5 hours away. He is being treated for cancer and side effects reared their unexpected head. At his urging, I took the day off and decompressed. I ate leftovers (no cooking), read, and as soon as I would sit down, the cats would appear and cover my lap. It really helped and I feel I can face what’s coming (at least for a little while).