"Vacation" Days

This week I declared "Vacation" for myself from Tues. until this coming Monday. Well... Okay a modified vacation? Something close? LOL!

Defining my "vacation" is in order. I'm still working with my clients in the afternoons, going out and doing what I need to do with and for them but when I'm home... I do whatever I feel like doing. Period.

So, Tuesday morning, after everyone left for school and work, I crawled into the hot tub and didn't get out for an hour. In fact, I floated on my back for a full twenty minutes straight. Thinking... "Relax. Listen to your heart beat. Relax. Breath in and out slowly." I even closed my eyes for most of that 20 min.

Now, I know that doesn't seem astounding. But let me explain. Up until this week, it's been hard for me to sit still in the hot tub and hard to stay in there for more than 30 min. LOL! Too keyed up, too much going on between my ears. So, this hour with 20 min. of it being a float... that's really something for me.

Vacation. Rest. Catch my breath and slow it down.

Wednesday morning I dipped pretzels and baked cookies for a friend's birthday. All alone in the house. No other humans, just the dogs and the cat. No music, no extra unnecessary sounds. My brain quieted down a bit more.

Wednesday evening is Knit Night. My favorite evening of the week. LOVE IT! I meet up with my knitterly friends and we have a fabulous time together. This group has been meeting for a couple years or more. Very diverse in every possible way.

Within just the spectrum of knitting, we've even got the entire level represented. Beginners to Master Knitters. It's great because I know that no matter what I attempt in my knitting adventures, I'll be okay! I get stuck, someone at Knit Night can help bail me out and/or show me how to do it. It's lovely. No fear. Onward! LOL!

Thursday morning I watched "Phantom of the Opera" and knitted. After that was over, I puttered around the house. Did a bit of this and a bit of that... quietly in solitude. Delicious.

This morning I had planned to putter around the house again but with a bit more focus and speed. My plants were needing attention and water, the blankets over the couch needed taken off and washed, the floors... And I did have to go out and work for an hour. Something came up that was unavoidable. But that was finished quickly, I got grocery shopping done (alone!) and then came home to fix a lunch.

Lunch was stir-fry. And the way we do that is like at one of those buffet grill places. All the veggies, etc. are prepared and in seperate container. Each of us took our bowl and filled it with whatever veggies, etc. that we wanted in our stir-fry and the each is cooked individually. With ramen or brown rice. Jess decided both. (one for healthy, the other for fun) Yummy and very healthy. Win win.

After lunch I set up the "barbershop" and cut Sid's hair. He was looking rather shaggy. For once, I didn't scalp him. LOL! Amazing!

Then back to the puttering and cleaning.

Lovely vacation, so far! Doesn't it sound like a vacation to you?

I guess thing elements that I long for the most would be -
     Solitude sprinkled liberally with long overdue and much desired phone visits with friends.
    Quiet puttering around the house, doing whatever.
    Sleep is very important, but my desire to make the most of my alone time has the sleep looking more like going to bed early and sleeping in an hour or so. No naps, but I may get one in tomorrow.
    Being at home, amazingly is a big part of it. Not running around in town or going some place. No, I just love being in my own home space alone. It's delicious and something I crave. So...vacation = home alone.
    Good food is a must. LOL! This time I'm thinking in terms of good for me, rather than the "fun" and fattening. So it's been lots of fresh fruit, whole grains, veggies and legumes. YUMMMMM!!!! Have you had a little Clementine or Mandarin yet this year? They are SO good and sweet. And Fuji apples? Is it possible to ever get tired of those? Snappy crisp and sweet juicy... it drips down your chin, better have a napkin handy! And pomeagrates? OhhhMY! I went online and figured out how to open them. Very easy! I polished one off for breakfast this morning. ;)

That about covers it, I think. The essential elements for my favorite vacations.

Don't get me wrong, I reallyREALLY enjoy traveling. I really do. I've enjoyed the conference type vacation where you go, take classes, shop... I enjoy traveling with my family! I like camping, even sleeping in a tent! Well, okay packing for camping sucks but once that's over it's fun!

I wonder... I wonder if someday I might be able to schedule in literal vacation time, away from work entirely AND sent my family off on a camping trip or something so that I could have an entire week of this vacation bliss? Hmmmm... I need to think about that one. Maybe it could be done! Just maybe! Even a few days!?

Stand by! The creative and motivated mind is at work! LOL!!!!

And while I'm thinking on that... I'm going to go have a couple "baby oranges" as my kids call them and then sit and knit.

What am I knitting now? HA! Dishclothes. 38 stitches across, cast on and stitch away for about 62 little rows, bind off, weave in the beginning and end tails... Quick & easy. In and out in a day. Knitting candy. And it's helping restock my gift cupboard! Love that!

Okay, off of here. I've got a really FINE vacation to plan, yummys to eat and stitches to stitch.

ONWARD!