Monday, June 11, 2012

A Day Away From Dirt

Today was a mental and physical health day off for me. This morning I went to a handwork group and sat and stitched for a couple of hours accompanied by good conversation and much laughter.

When I came home I did the weekly laundry and ironing.

Got everything dried and put away except for the last load of sheets. After dinner I took them down and threw them in the dryer for 10 minutes to finish them off because we may have thunderstorms tonight. (Maybe I should have left them out on the line because we could really use the rain . . . )

I did no work at all in the garden (and the earth didn't stop turning) but I'll get back out there tomorrow. Cooler temps are forecast which will make much nicer gardening conditions. Yesterday our thermometer in the shade hit the high 70s so I know it had to be a least ten degrees warmer out in the garden in the full sun. There was a whole lotta sweatin' goin' on. I wore a t-shirt rather than tank top because I'd been getting a titch too much sun on skin that's been covered up for several months. Still my arms below the short sleeves of the t-shirt got a leetle too red and I think it was wise to keep them completely out of the sun today.

You know how you can be too physically tired to sleep well? That's what happened to me last night. Several days of pushing in the garden and my body sent me a few subtle signals that I needed a day off. Only problem is that by relaxing a bit today, my body now feels akin to a wet noodle and I can hardly keep my eyes open. It's only 8:05 p.m. Okay with all of you if I sign off and get into bed?

20 comments:

Shannon said...

I had the same kind of day as you. Took a day away from the garden as well, to make jam. It was nice having the break, and wow, was it humid out their today, so I'm glad I was inside. I too, have been having trouble sleeping, after long hours outside gardening. I Enjoy all your posts on gardening. They are fun to see the progress and encouraging, as sometimes I start to wonder if it's all really worth the hard labor I put into it!

Katidids said...

Glad you took the day off. I weeded a bit early this morning but @ 11 pm we were still at over 70% humidity..it was not a day for gardening here either. Sleep is futile here also, I think its partly trying to turn the mind off and quit thinking of "tomorrow's" to-do list

judy said...

you didn't think I'd catch that-sure ,leave the sheets on your beautiful hanging area,and it would sure even rain, but now it didn't ?glad you took a break-me too-the grad party was a success but I was done in,my house is trashed and my central air can't be used ,more circuit board issues,2 keep tripping and getting warm. I had 2 of the handiest of men stop by the party but I couldn't bring myself to ask them to look . pretty sure I need a electrician

Anonymous said...

Oh you so deserved that day of rest Mama Pea! So glad you let yourself take it (yes, I know you don't often).

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

I love the way you hang those sheets! I never thought of that, it would keep the wind from wrapping them around themselves. Brilliant! And maybe you need a whole day of just laying flat. Call it an investment in the future ;)

Mama Pea said...

Shannon - Yepper, gardening IS hard work, no getting around that! But especially now in these days of food costs rising so much and the food in the grocery stores being raised in such a way that there remains little nutrition plus (good grief!) possible toxins, how can we not raise as much of our own food as possible? You've got a wonderful helping work force there at your house and they are growing up knowing where food comes from so hang in there. I keep telling myself the gardening/harvesting/preserving season is short and oh-so-worth it!!

Mama Pea said...

Katidids - The breezes yesterday brought in some cooler weather for us so sleeping was more comfortable last night. But my body had more aches this morning after NOT working in the garden yesterday so maybe it's true that it's better to wear out than rust out!!

Mama Pea said...

judy - No rain over night but it's gray this morning and they're saying possible sprinkles before 10 a.m. and then turning sunny.

So glad the big part was successful. Good luck getting that air conditioning going again soon.

Mama Pea said...

Stephanie - Ha! You're not one to sit on your duff either!!

Mama Pea said...

Jane - You should see the "parachutes" the sheets create in really strong winds!

Yes, I need a whole day of just laying flat. You go first. ;o)

Unknown said...

Hope you had a better rest last night.

Susan said...

I like your clothesline set up - it looks so, so, arbor like! Don't we ALL need some down time, garden waiting or not? I have read two and a half books in the last week. That has GOT to be a record! So, what are you stitchin?

Lisa said...

Hey Mama Pea! Your 'day off' sounds like a wonderful way to re-charge your batteries. Though I love to be outdoors, too, it's hard to maintain that level of work day-in and day-out.... particularly as I've gotten older. I so wish I'd chosen this lifestyle when I was younger. I could've gotten so much more accomplished! I bet your sheets smelled absolutely wonderful.

Patty said...

I hope that you're feeling well rested now. I still need to hit the garden hard, and hopefully tomorrow I will, FINALLY! :)

Mama Pea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mama Pea said...

Simply Scaife Family - I did have a good night's rest. Matter of fact, I hardly remember going to bed!

Mama Pea said...

Susan - Thank you! My clothes line set up is on my deck which I love. No need to tromp out onto the wet grass . . . or snow!

What am I stitchin'? You will soon find out! Hee-hee.

Mama Pea said...

Lisa - I'm betting you do just as much in a day's time now as you did 20 years ago! I know I got tired then and I get tired now. But it's a good kind of tired and wouldn't trade it!

Mama Pea said...

Patty - Ha! Can any of us feel well rested until maybe November?? I'm seeing the end of my planting. If I push, I can get it done tomorrow. Maybe I'd better because we're supposed to get heavy rains Thursday!

Erin said...

I hope you are getting some rain, I heard the southern part of the state had some. Definitely take it easy, my motivation completely leaves when it gets hot out!