Yesterday was a travel day. From the hills of Belmont down into the city and out to Miramar in Wellington, New Zealand.
Back to Second Son’s City Garden for a few days.
It was raining like crazy, so in the afternoon, before the children came home from their various schools – I gave myself a book day. I gave myself permission to sit curled up on the couch with my book. I love a good book day. No writing – just reading.
I am re-reading Hilary Mantel’s series. I am taking all three books to my daughter in Melbourne. So I have to have all three of the Wolf Hall series read by the time I leave Melbourne. These are not new books and I have read them before – they were in my re-read bookcase. I am on book two – Bring Up The Bodies. Mantels writing is all I wish my writing was. I love how she manages to run right to the edge of the rules of grammar and produce an entirely individual lilting rhythm to her words. So much of it is unspoken. Raw. Evocative.
I soak up her words and am often checking myself to slow down and read each word. I go too fast.
In these books I love it when More goes down into the kitchens to talk to his Head Cook. Especially the references to the stock pot. He is always checking that is is hot enough so as not to poison the household. I would love to go back to cooking for big numbers so I could justify a great big stock pot that bubbles for days.
I used to put everything into the stock pot. All the prep scraps from a meal. Then strain it off for the pigs.
Anyway – yesterday was a book day.
Today is a garden day. It is raining on and off this morning and cold but I am determined to clear off this new space. We are unearthing a brick terrace. Perfect for the morning cuppa. It even has a tree with a big branch just right for a hammock swing. And I want this finished with seats and a table before I leave.
I will send you an update.
Have a lovely day!
I am off out into the wintry morning the moment there is a break in the rain.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
16 responses to “Do you give yourself permission to just sit?”
I think you work incredibly hard and deserve time off to read!
I love the Wolf Hall trilogy, especially Wolf Hall.
I could definitely allow myself to relax more. Not only the body but the mind. I struggle with this a bit, cannot lie.
I wonder if this is a learned behaviour – to be able to relax. Do you think?
Oh Celi!!! Enjoy your books!!! Love those pictures you shared!!! Life is quiet around here ~ no rain lately but the grass is super green and really growing!!! And not even any super windy days!!! Crops are looking good once again in most areas ~ but we’ll see what harvest produces!! Enjoy a good time with your Family.
Well you have just inspired me to dig through my bookcase and find the Wolf Hall trilogy. I read them so many years ago and now I realize I’m ready to revisit those wonderful stories again. I’m so enjoying your visit to NZ.
That looks like a good workout for your back! I will need to look up winter in New Zealand. Not a snowy winter … but how cold does it get? Not many swap their summer for a winter UNLESS they are a farmer and that is the easiest season to slip away.
I am spending lots of my dotage sitting & reading. I mentioned to you all that I’m reading Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell & rereading Middlemarch both this summer. So as I read quite slowly – I’m still at them & loving ever blissful hour. Your photos, adventures, & writing are lovely. Thank you for them.
You are always welcome! I also love our daily chats – unless it is a travel day!! Lots of those ahead yet!
Reading days are especially nice in the winter months- I do most of my reading then while watching the books grow on the shelf as it is also my time to browse through used book stores to cross some off my reading list. Such good progress on the new outdoor space. I’m excited to see it complete.
I love a good garden challenge. So satisfying!
I have hit the big seven oh and now I make every effort to stop by 3 pm. Now in summer I retreat to my swing chair on the deck with a glass of switchel and relax for an hour. In winter I have an easy chair and ottoman and lap robe. Sometimes I play solitaire and/or candy crush on my tablet, sometimes I read. Hopefully soon I’ll have the brave little chipmunk who scoots under my chair eating out of my hand. When my hour or so is up I head out to feed all the critters. It’s my time, I have earned it!
I love a book day. I’m a slow reader so I would never get Hilary Mantel’s books completed in time. Enjoy every minute.
I give myself permission to sit just as long as my twitchy brain will allow, before I feel the urge to jump up and do something ‘useful’. It’s not usually longer than half an hour. I have two books beside me waiting to be read: Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent, and Kaffe Fassett: The Artist’s Eye by Dennis Nothdraft. Somehow, I can’t sit still long enough to start…
I don’t give my self permission to just sit and read, I wish I could. My anxiety brain tells me that there are too many things needing to be done, tidied and cleaned. I dream of the day all is in perfect order and I will let myself sit comfortably and read. Silliness I know, life is too short and I should do it anyway.
I smiled at the title for I just sat down after a day of nonstop running around over 10K steps saying to myself I must allow myself a sit down.