Monday, August 22, 2011

just a little more time


This weekend I picked tiny sour plums from our wild plum trees, the first they've ever given us.
I harvested and saute'ed enough lobster mushrooms to fill a pint jar and froze them for winter, and made a batch of dye from the leftover bits.
I hung many, many loads of laundry on the line.
I made a batch of yogurt in the crockpot.
I picked a half gallon of chokecherries and made syrup.


I hauled in several logs for drying from the tree that fell in the last storm.
I taught my youngest how to strip the seeds off the parsnips.
 I ordered some silk fabric, even though I swore I wouldn't buy any craft supplies until I had made a dent in the pile I have now.
I held a salamander.
I made 8 quarts of refrigerator pickles using my grandma's recipe.
I made meals, gave baths, and tucked in children.


I did not craft, though I desperately want to.
I did not figure out why gmail is putting things in spam that shouldn't be there.
I did not clean the house.
I did not get caught up on emails or blog-reading, though I wanted to do that too.

I have trouble finding time for all of the things I want and need to do.
I don't feel as though I'm spending my time doing unworthy things, I just wish I had a little more of it each day.  I suppose I'm not alone in that.

How did you spend your weekend?  Did you get everything done that you wanted to?

12 comments:

Mousy Brown said...

I always feel that the days are too short and listen with amazement to friends and colleagues talk of being bored and worrying what they will do when thet retire...I can't imagine ever running out of things to do, read, make and discover! In fact I have just added a few more things to my list reading this post...I better get started! :D

Lisa at lil fish studios said...

Mousy - I'm with you. "I'm bored" is not something that comes from my lips often. If only the bored people could offer me up some of their extra time I think I'd be all set! And if I could off-load some of my chores on them, I'd be even happier. :D

Tricia said...

Lisa, My mother-in-law was a very simple and very wise woman. I have always been that friend who would drop anything to go with you shopping, play tennis, go for a ride with my Mom, etc.. I asked my friend to play tennis (we were much younger) and she said, I can't, I'm ironing. When I mentioned it to my MIL, she said: There will always be dishes to wash, clothes to iron, floors to be swept - always - so grab every second of good times with your friends you can (and in your case - doing those things that bring you so much joy). The good thing is, we all enjoy the things that bring you joy. You are one of some of most industrious young women I've followed in awhile.
It will all be here for you tomorrow....

Ellen said...

I really believe in doing what brings you joy and nurtures your spirit. Chores can wait. Hugs, flowers, clouds, dragonflies, summer days can't. I have Parkinson's and literally can't do anything while I wait for my meds to work so I treasure every minute my body does function.

Mel said...

I didn't even come close to doing all I intended to this weekend. I find that if I list the things I did, instead of the things I didn't, I feel a little less stressed. There is too, too much to do, and not enough hours or energy for me to get them done. I keep telling myself baby steps, incremental progress, I'll get there.

We moved into this house 14 years ago when I was pregnant with my second. I'm staring at piles of things we do not need, have outgrown or forgotten, and struggling to let go, let go, let go, so there is room in this house again. It is no easy task. But I crave simplicity now like never before so each weekend I attack another corner or closet.

Your weekend sounds very accomplished to me. I am especially envious of the pickles. Blossom end rot or some other malady left me with no cukes this year.

Good luck fitting it all in. I think you're doing great.

Tumus said...

PICKLES! I've got some pickling the same way in my fridge atm. You'll have to share your recipe at some point. I've decided I'll just go thru all of my canning books and try the various recipes to see which I like best :)

Anonymous said...

I think you're doing remarkably well (well, minus the crafting itself of course) I know what it is, and I don't have four children to take care of, but two only.
We must accept the fact that we can't do it all. You can't eat a whole cake in one time, you eat it in pieces. Life is just the same. The hardest part is to choose the pieces of the cake. Some shall be big, other shall be thinner ....
ok, I stop talking abt cakes, but you get the idea. I only hope you are ALL doing fine, and are healthy & enjoying the end of summer/summer break. Ours end in less than two weeks now.
Need to email you tomorrow. (off to bed now)
You take care, ok ?? oxoxox mwah
aunt Z

Anonymous said...

I'm reading my own thoughts in your words and I don't even have children yet to occupy my time. There's just never enough time to do it all! I was much better off before I married, when it was just me having to slog through the mess if I was caught up in a project. = )

Unknown said...

wow.. I think that all sounds wonderful stuff you achieved!!!.. But yes you are right.. usually it is an either/ or scenario.. do i create.. or do I do everything else? I'm sure no one needs clean clothes or to eat today ? hehe..:) I am working toward balance.. and knowing when to just throw all 'else' away till tomorrow when there is something very magical at that moment right in front of me .
I think all mothers feel this one ..for sure :)
Cheers , Helen

Margie Oomen said...

i have given up trying to keep up with everything and really learned to go with the flow and not forget to have spontaneous outbursts of creativity whenever the urge hits.

joanie said...

I read about everything you did over the weekend and then I had to take a nap - I got exhausted just reading about it! Wow, you're amazing Lisa.
For various reasons I have far less control over my own time than I used to so I tend to live along the same lines as Margie and give in to bursts of creativity, albeit less often than I'd like.
My weekend was spent with in-laws and a friend I haven't seen in many years who was visiting the UK and spontaneously visited for a couple days with her three children. We had so many gut-busting laughs - way more important than getting laundry done, deadlines met, vacuuming, and, and, and :)

Mona said...

I'm doing a little catching up on reading blogs, so I'm a bit late here. But I just know exactly what you mean. Sometimes , for days - or more, I think so much about things I want to create (while doing stuff not too different from the things you mention). But never get the chance to sit down actually doing it. And when there are a bit of time, it's one o'clock in the morning and I need to go to bed in order to maintain a little brain function the next day. Sometimes I manage to get a bit of crafting time - but mostly not. I difficult, for you can put off laundry and cleaning - but I find it hard to put off the kids ;)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails