It is Monday morning but we meet for our coffee date. It happens that we are both on vacation the next two weeks and what better way then to start with a friends chat. We decided to take our cinnamon spiced strong hot coffee on a walk along the river. It’s been a while we walked through the woods and listened to the small little waves lap on shore. It is soothing and after a bit of silence we start chatting away:
If you and I had coffee…
…I share that I am so ready for this vacation. The last weeks and months have been exhausting. Work was a bit dense but I think I am more mentally drained and cognitivly burned out. I was tired and sleep long hours. My exercise routine is almost non existing and I just feel like walking through sirup. Fighting to keep moving. I know you are familiar with this feeling too.
I have decided to not look at any social media during my vacation and turned on the app limit. I did the same with my mail app. I did go in yesterday because I needed to open an email on the phone as there was an app link in. I also stopped my work email accounts and the volunteering one to fetch new emails. Something I have started during Christmas and it gives me so much peace of mind not seeing all those mails come in when I just want to check private mail or blog responses.
If you and I had coffee…
…I ask for some good vibes since the next couple of weeks are supposed to be very rainy with heavy storms followed by extreme heat waves in the 30°C/90°F. Either one not ideal for our planned golfing experience. Oh well, three days in we haven’t stepped on the gold course yet anyways. Sigh.
If you and I had coffee…
…I admit I am once again pondering about my creative endeavors. You know I have many times wondered if I could sell some of my things. I had a registered business for over a decade that I never used or made any money with (it did cost me though). I closed that end of 2024 and now I am back wondering. There is a little handmade market in my neighborhood that takes place every two years and will be on November 1st. I learned about the date a year ago and ever since wondering if I should sign up. In my head I am planning little products and how I would set up the table. Now on December 5th my church is hosting an Advent Market which we will also use as fundraising for some constructions that need to take place. And I am thinking back and forth is I could attend this too with some of my things.
Currently I still have some stock of jewelry I made from when I had a Dawanda (German Etsy) shop. I also have general little paper products like these garlands I just enjoy making but don’t know who else to give it too. And then of course I am queen of Fröbelstars. And I was wondering if I just make some and put them in a jar and call it “Stars To Go”.
If you and I had coffee…
…I confess I will not reach my reading goal this year. I am 15 books behind schedule and currently something like 1,700 pages. It is ridiculous to think I can catch up. And I am not sure how I feel about it. I like to reach goals but I usually do not beet myself up when I can not make it. However this one does bother me a bit. I like reading but something is off. Is it because I try to integrate exercise? Is it because I am cognitively overwhelmed and there is just too much stimulation? Who knows. And another thing that is rather surprising – so far this year I read more German books than English ones. This didn’t happen in the last decade. Maybe I read quicker in English? I don’t know… so much too unpack here.
If you and I had coffee…
…I complain that my zucchini and peas have dies. I was so proud of myself for sowing early and keeping the seedlings alive in my room until it was time to move them outside. Unfortunately all zucchini plants died and 2 of the three peas. My mangold is not growing whatsoever but it didn’t make any progress inside either and I had hoped to get it moving once outside. I stuck in my remaining two zucchini seeds and hope it is not too late. I had so many ideas about zucchini recipes. I am a little sad. However my Sorel has self seeded and I have a number of tiny little plans. I am hoping the get some growth in when the weather turns hot in a few days so I can harvest and put in my salad. Other than that my garden is doing okays. I am battling ants and I fear I won’t win. My mint could be a bit more supportive in growth but something is there. I will do the first round of harvest for my thyme, sage and tarragon once the rain stops and I had some dry weather for a day. My chives are crazy and I keep adding them to my cream cheese every chance I get.
How was your June so far? Any fun vacation lined up? How do you feel currently? How is your garden doing? Any suggestions about my reading life?
12 comments
I hope you have a wonderful and restorative vacation. It’s such a good idea to turn off social media and email. As for your reading goal, you were busy with other things – like your Arctic adventure! It seems natural that you’ve read less. If you feel a calling to sell your handmade items, could you try one event and see how it goes? I love the idea of stars to go!
Thank you Michelle. I am hoping it will be joyful and relaxing. We had to run to the husbands office yesterday (mainly because I was paid in a new monitor for a workshop I did for them) and now he is working. So we’ll see. Bit we have been eating out and playing golf already. So I hope it will be good. I also get a lot of reading and coffee drinking done so far. As for the craft stuff I think I will sign up for the first one and then see. I will have to be at the second one anyways so I might as well set up a booth too. I’ll keep pondering during the vacation.
Are you at the cabin?…
We have a trip coming up very soon- and it’s gonna be a big one. Twenty-five days in total. By American standards it’s a LOT of days. In the US people are happy if they have two weeks worth of vacation.
We are doing Venice, the Dolomites, Lake Garda, Bologna and Adriatic coast. My husband is coming for part of the trip but has to leave earlier- Venice and Dolomites only. The kids and I will stay back in Italy till 30/07.
Reading life… I don’t have suggestions except- hide your phone somewhere where you can’t get it and get a book you like.
Hing your phone is a very good ida. I am not doing social media and emails on my phone during the vacation and it already shows I grab the book more. However I am still easily distracted.
Your vacation sounds so fun and it’s such nice places you are going. Hope you have a lot of fun and great excursions.
We are in Berlin at home. Maybe I squeeze in some cabin time on my own. My husband isn’t too fond of the place unfortunately.
Tobia, I’m sorry to hear about your zucchini and peas dying. I am a bit surprised by the zucchini, but if your weather has been anything like ours it might explain it. I no sooner had my garden planted, for the most part, when the weather turned cool and wet. That means the beans wouldn’t germinate properly because they love warm ground and lots of sun, the zucchini and cucumbers sort of just sat there and did nothing. But that weather is done and we have had very warm temps with lots of sun. I can’t believe how fast the beans popped up since the weather turned nice, and how fast they grow each day. I’ll need to get comparison pictures to show the difference in just two or three days of good weather. So hang in there. Zucchini germinates quickly and grows fast once the weather settles. Peas are kind of iffy for me, they like cooler weather so mine are sort of yellow on the bottom. They are growing but I’m not sure how many peas I’ll get from them before they die out.
I wouldn’t stress too much about your reading. I know it’s nice to reach your goals, but in a way I see it as something to reach towards and if you don’t make it that doesn’t mean you’re a failure at all. You have been extremely busy the past few months with several heavy things going on and happening that leave you feeling like you just want to hibernate for a year. It’s ok, do what you are comfortable with right now without forcing it. You’ll be happier, I think.
Enjoy your peace and quiet. A staycation can actually be very nice, because you don’t feel pressured to much of anything.
Thanks for the garden advice. I am just a beiner when it come to growing veggies. Of course I watched my grandparents do it but it is something else if you have to do it on your own. So far no zucchini is showing up in my pot so I am not sure. I hang in there a bit longer before I start my kale that I was going for during the fall time. Then I have more earlier. So far my plan.
That single pea plant won’t produce much. Maybe I get two or three sugar peas I can eat right form the bush.
Yes, this years has been a bit heavy and I have lots going on so my escapism in reading didnt even happen. I am reading a bit more since vacation started so that makes me happy.
I hope you are enjoying your vacation! I think that truck for email is a great idea. I often turn mine onto DND or battery saver. Both of them restrict certain apps and lots of notifications, but you are right, sometimes you just want to check a blog comment and before you know it you are looking at all your emails!
My reading comes and goes too. Sometimes I am just not feeling it, or I am distracted, or busy, or just watching more TV! It will come back and those books will still be there!
Once a reader always a reader so I know it is coming ack. I just wish I would pick up the book more often instead of tv or phone or whatever.
I have turned off most of my notifications on my phone and watch. But the battery saving tip is a good one too. I may try the once I am back at the desk and need more focus. Well, I guess I could you my set up focus time… mhm.
I have no vacation coming up at all and it makes for a LONG summer… at least we’ll have hot temps and a pool nearby. That will help.
I feel you on the reading front… I’ve been so overstimulated that I haven’t read much for the first half of this year (although I am slowly getting back into it). It definitely ebbs and flows with me (and competes with other hobbies).
I totally think you should sign up for the market. You make such lovely things! (Would you have to register a business again to do that? I know it’s stricter in Germany than here).
I pool nearby is so good. Is it big enough to do some swimming or is it more a cool-off pool? I mean both are nice obviously.
Some years I just have other things on my mind instead of reading. It is just too much life right now. I am sad because I love reading but it is also ok because I know there will be phases I won’t stop reading.
Thanks for the encouragement on the market. I guess, technically I would have to get a license but I wouldn’t do it for the one time thing.
I’m so behind on reading blogs, so am here and your vacation is likely over. I hope you survived the heat wave and that you were able to relax.
Regarding your reading, I find that sometimes I get into a reading funk and I just can’t do it. I find this very frustrating, because I don’t feel like myself at these times. Sometimes I just need time, and others I need to change genres or something. An audiobook usually is easier to get me involved than a physical book, for some reason.
I toattaly agree. An audiobook can be such a good way to get back at it. And then when you are finally over the rut you don’t have the time. Like right now I am so into reading and have to keep putting down my book because I have so much work. Sigh. Just a few seconds ago I wished my job would be reading. I probably wouldn’t like it if it becomes a chore but right now I would prefer reading over coming up with a social media strategy.