Drawing the winning tickets for the fabulous Lands' End garden totes and goodies.
Suzanne Fedoruk and Katie Kiefer from the PR firm for Lands' End look on.
Good morning dear friends.
I'm feeling guilty. Today is beautiful with fluffy clouds, patches of blue sky, which we call "sailor's jackets" in Maine, and gardens bursting with new life. Where am I right now? In my own cozy bed, piled high with a down quilt, a sunny yellow blanket, my favorite Mary Oliver books of poetry, and my computer.
We left Minneapolis on Sunday, but our airline had overbooked and so it took us an extra day to get home. We were sidelined in Phoenix for 24 hours and almost didn't make it onto the next morning's flight. Had we not gotten onto that one we would've been stuck another day. I am so happy to be home and to have a moment of quiet and peace that I can't bear to move. Honestly, I DO feel guilty taking this time, especially after reading these precious words from Mary Oliver, "Be ignited, or be gone."
How do YOU handle all the stresses and tugs at your time? How do you bounce out of bed and face every day with vigor and enthusiasm? Do YOU ever feel guilty when you take time for yourself? I think I am a positive person with a zest for life and a great love for what I do, but sometimes it catches up with me, nips at my ankles, and takes me down.
Jeff took a few videos of some of my television segments last weekend, also some shots of the wonderful Lands' End children's event in Minnetonka on Saturday. We had so many attendees, children from about age 3 to 13– lots of moms, dads, grannies, and aunts and uncles. Great participation and some awesome art projects by the children who decorated pots and planted Russian Mammoth sunflower seeds.
Dale, the "Garden Guy", on Fox 9 in Minneapolis
Belinda Jensen, NBC's host on KARE 11 in Minneapolis
Lands' End store in Minnetonka
Kids at the Lands' End store get to meet my "girls" in their "worm hotel"
Everyone who reads this post should get on line and register their favorite school for the Lands' End Million dollar give away. So many schools will benefit from this sweepstakes, but they must be registered to win.
I visited three fourth grade classes in the Minneapolis area
Please let me know how you handle taking time for yourself. It will help me and hopefully many others.
All joys to you and yours.
P.S. Oh gosh, this week's post on Lowe's gardengrowalong.blogspot.com is actually an entry from my garden journal. I was so ticked off when my heirloom Speckled Swan gourds were gnoshed to the ground. Read my solution and also check for the video, which Jeff and I made last week. In it I share my secret for successful seed planting.
18 comments:
welcome home sharon! i think maybe you should stay in your comfy bed until it is time to leave on the next trip! i can't believe it is just a week until kary gets little teddy. i can't wait to see the change and watch this little one thrive under her care. i do bound out of bed each morning. i've never used an alarm. i am one of those people that thinks the world will end if i sleep until the sun comes up. i get up at 4:30 each morning. i have so much to do each day that i need to get an early start. especially when it is warm because i like to get my cooking and baking done before it gets too hot out. i view my gardening as something i do for myself because i enjoy it so much. and i just bought myself one of the new 2010 camaros today. it's the kind of toy would have killed to have in high school. i am also going to treat myself and buy the coolest rims i can find for it. i even bought a standard transmission for extra fun! zoom zoom zoom! now i can drive my chevy to the levee!!!
Hey, cool car. I can see you are re living your teen years. Can't wait to see those rims. Wow.
From now on you can be my human alarm clock. I like to get up early too, but NOT at 4:30.
Yes, I am happy that Kary is getting Teddy (JUNIOR) soon. That will pull her up by her boot straps.
Sending love,
Sharon
Glad you're happily at home :) What a life you lead! So exciting! Lands' End is a lovely clothing line as well. Wish I could attend one of your events! Come to New York! ♥
Welcome home! Sounds like you are right where you needed to be! Enjoy it without the guilt!I'm tired just watching you! Really, you are an inspiration! I think it's those quiet times when we are safe and cacooned that we can become rested enough to get back out there and do what we do... What ever that may be! I'm not an early riser ( that's my hubby ) I do like to make the most of each day though, so I try to fit in a few simple pleasures for myself throughout the day. Depending on the season. A cup of hot tea, or a cold drink to sit down with and think or daydream. Time in my garden, with a book or a favorite magazine, or I'll make a catch up call to someone who I have been thinking about. The rest of my time is for my family,creating and writing..It's a wonderful balance of all good things...but when I over do it, I have learned to just put myself to bed... It's better for all of us!
Rest up! The world awaits!
Deb~
Hi dear Erin,
I just MIGHT be there this summer for an event. I'll let you know.
Love,
S
It is really important to have those times for oneself! Just to cut off the world and not care about anything else. Why not just stop answering the phone for a whole day, let people leave messages on the answering mashine.
You can listen to the mashine once in a while that day just to check if You can wait until the day after to call back. It´s really important that one only calls back in emergency cases all the rest can wait till the next day. Skip the computor too that day!
If You done those two things You´ll have the day to do what You think is realxing!
Have a great day now!
Christer.
I think t doesn't matter how positive and active and energetic you are, we all need some quiet moments just to be dtill -- in bed or in the sofa, surrounded by loved books, a cup of tea or whatever makes us feel happy. No need to feel guilty, though I know it's easier to say it than to do it. I've just gone through one of those moments myself. I've been flooded with work since December, with Christmas, Easter and work travels in between. I came back from my last field trip just in time for Easter. In the days after that, I just didn't seem to be able to produce a single useful report, comment, evaluation, whatever. So I just gave up for two or three days, I picked up my long forgotten book I've been reading since February, I spent some time in the garden... And now I'm back.
You seem to have been pretty busy yourself, with all the travel, interviews, etc. and yet, you still find time to post! You should feel proud, not guilty!
Oh Sharon, this is an exciting life you lead!
I am going to BEG my mother to go meet you in Berkeley and get a book signed for me! Wish I could come myself, but as you know...I'm quite far away. :)
I am so sorry about your gourds! One year I lost all my pumpkin and sunflower seedlings. Very frustrating!
Sending you hugs!
xoxo Dawn
Welcome home Sharon.
My homemade sign in my kitchen says "there is no place like Home" and truly there is no place for that special comfort and peace.
You do have a very busy life and have to have that down time for balance.
I firmly believe that we all NEED to take TIME for ourselves doing something we enjoy, even if it is snuggled cozily under quilts and reading. It makes us refreshed and better able to handle our daily world.
I find if I can *create*, whether it be writing, quilting,sewing or painting or being out in nature with my animals,in the garden or on a walk with my camera I feel whole and able to tackle the world.
Somedays I get up,bring my coffee back to bed with me and read a bit before I head out to the horses. There are days I just *need* to do that first :)
Rest up !
~marcia in MA
Dearest Sharon, what a chord this post struck in me. I struggle all the time to maintain a balance between me & the rest of the world...feel that I fail more often than not! I'm one of those people that feel guilty if I sit down during the day. I love to start the day early & use that quiet time...but it doesn't always work that way! I relax by working in the garden (I can justify that as it's WORKING, you see?!) and catching up on my favourite blogs & tweeters...but I still feel guilty when I do! I need to work on this. Lovely to think of you snuggled in your blanket - it very much sounds as though you need and deserve this time to yourself! xox Rachel
i love being home alone (of course, with my two pups, am I ever really alone???) But I've never used my computer to write in bed. Uh, where have I been? I'm not a person who jumps out of bed in the morning. I stumble to the coffee pot, lol. Today I need to focus on my garden. Thank you, Sharon, for motivating me. Now it's your turn to rest!
Hi Thea,
I tried to reply to you personally, but your profile page, which lists your e-mail address, is not available.
Thanks for your words. I laughed at the image of you stumbling to the coffee pot.
Joys!
Sharon
How wonderful to be home again! With all that you did, you deserve some time to relax and unwind. I love getting in bed with a good book myself :-)
Mary Oliver! Wonderful!!! My favorite is "The Poet with His Face in His Hands".....
Oh Sharon! How could there be any room for guilt in that beautiful setting you described! I'd still be there if I were you!
; )
I understand all you share - I have difficulty stopping. There is never enough time to do all we want to do - then we overdo and almost collapse.
Take care of yourself and enjoy your "garden".
Fondly from One Woman who moved back to the woods last fall and is creating another garden.
Sharon, i stumble so that someone may laugh!! I became one of your 'followers' so a profile is there now. have a lovely day - its gorgeous here in d.c. t
It sounds like you were busy, but I bet everyone who got to hear your talks or meet you must've been very happy to do so. Have a great time in Napa, it's so pretty there.
I don't get much time to myself, especially with my youngest being 3. Getting outside in the garden on the weekend by myself is definitely rejuvenating. Even just going to the grocery store alone and being able to turn the music in my car up loud helps.
Nothing more rejuvenating than taking it very easy at your own pace,a day to dream, and let the clouds passing by,forget about *the modern world* just for a little while..
glad to hear you are back♥
take care,
Erika
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