When I am writing I often struggle with where to begin. What words to use to capture your attention. Finding the words, that will literally launch an essay, is a struggle sometimes.
Often I simply start in the middle (like human relationships we often start our sentences mid-thought) then track back. This is not the best way to communicate, 90% of the responses I get from Him Indoors begin with: I have no idea what you are talking about.
So, to find that perfect first sentence. And write quality shit. To Up my game. I need to focus; I need to focus my time. And factor in REST. This is new.
And as I add writing expectations to my writing schedule, I’ve decided to write like it’s my job and write five days a week. Hard. Then have two days off; like a real job.
And yes, that is in between my farming and my second job in the evenings and the caregiving.
Not too bad though! Ordinary.
The people who gathered around the MiL after her stroke, my support network, are showing cracks in the block. Not me! Don’t worry about me. But I have less support, now that MiL is on a more even keel. People have moved on to more important things.
Mum would bring up that saying – about sorting the sheep from the goats – (surely both bring talents to the table and I would rather not be a sheep that’s for sure). But that is what she would say.
I prefer sheep over goats as far as farm animals go. But you know that already.
Anyway. Next: Our John – otherwise known as Him Indoors (lately) is now in the midst of preparations for surgeries and so forth. Nothing life threatening – just a life well lived.
So as my life grows and expands and I shuffle about to fit more into it: I am reminded to always keep oneself healthy and fully charged at all times, the little blue bag open and ready to roll, the garden (glasshouse) watered, and the feed shed up to date; a person cannot rely on other people. People are fragile. Their bodies can only take so much wear before they begin to tear. They don’t mean to drag a person down. They don’t mean to grasp at a person for help and drown the help in the process. But lives get in their way too. And promises are forgotten. Or reconfigured. Or remembered differently. Or they simply forget.
So we must stay focused. And stay organized. And stay strong and to that end I have introduced TIME OFF. (I know – I hear you – you have been telling me to do this FOREVER. I guess I am a slow learner).
If writing is one of my jobs (though the pay is questionable) then I must take time off to REFRESH.
Just like a regular job. So five days a week I will write to you here. Love you. Here.
Five days a week I will post a 10 minute SoundScape on SubStack. Five dollars a month.
Once a week (on a Sunday) I will publish a podcast/newsletter at SubStack. Free.
Once a week I will publish a sustainable blog post at The Sustainable Home. (Previously known as the kitchens garden dot ORG). More on that when Melanie gets back from her holiday. Free.
This weekend I gave myself an entire weekend off to concentrate on farming) SO the Sustainable Sunday Podcast will come out this afternoon (obviously not Sunday) and it has two important polls. So when you see that hit your inbox – go vote. I would love the feedback.
This morning I loaded all the white chickens into big yellow crates to be taken to the little local slaughterhouse. It took a while and they are heavy. I know that sounds sad but soon I will have enough chicken to last a year for four families. Plus a few to sell, give away for holiday dinners, and donate to refugee families.
That little hawk flew straight into my study window yesterday: gave himself a smack in the head, then sat on the porch looking very confused for a little while, before he disappeared again.
A lovely looking bird really. But he feeds well at the Farmy!
Have a great day! The sun is out here!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
23 responses to “Write like a Mother; it’s a Real Job”
I get the “I have no idea what you are talking about” often. It’s like I’m thinking about things and then start talking as if I had been talking all along. I haven’t heard “Him Indoors” for a long time-cute! I like your idea of treating writing like a real job. I did that 15+ years ago (when I had a real job) and now I have ten books published. It works. And I’m so in the habit that I can’t stop writing. The little hawk is adorable. xo
You are amazing! You do so much. And the concept of rest is soooo important and one I am not good at. But as I’m recovering from knee replacement I’m really getting it! Also, I love that Our John’s surgeries are simply the result of a “life well lived.” I’m going to adopt that!
Yes!! And I have nursed my Mil through 2 knee replacements – walking a lot was super important. They would say: Keep moving that knee! You can’t break it!
I am doing all the PT exercises and walking a lot! Weaning myself from the walker to the cane. And now driving!
What a relief that you can drive again! You are rocking along!
After my major misadventure 7 years ago, i found the most difficult thing was not being allowed to drive for six months. I am pleased to see you are now driving.
Driving = freedom! I never realized how much that was true.
It does! Esp in America where you have to have a car to get anywhere. Certainly out here!
Poor hawk, though perhaps he might be wary of the farmy in future…
Save some R&R time for yourself 😉
Yes! Definitely! I will be giving myself permission to sit and read in front of the fire!
That’s the ticket!
My mum’s equivalent phrase was sorting the wheat from the chaff. Funny how theses phrases differ from one country to the next. We also used to say “ yum yum pig’s bum” which l immediately thought of when l saw your pigs from behind picture. 🐷🐷
Oh – yum yum pigs bum! Yes! We say that one!! Love it.
Your mum knew her Bible. Separating the sheep from the goats is from the Gospel of St. Matthew, ““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
Yes. She knew her bible , alright!
I somehow missed this post but am encouraged that you have made the decision of time for yourself. I think for some who wants to write and share every day it is a job, then add all the other jobs on top. Some jobs must be limited because farming cannot be one of those unless each animal can learn to fend for themselves. We know how that would go over with Tima, and that is not well at all 🙂
It’s really important for a bit of time for yourself, it took me almost 70 years to really learn that! I now sit down every afternoon for 30-60 minutes. Sometimes read, sometimes play a game on my tablet. I have to do it before evening feeding chores, that means I can’t cave and just stay sitting, I HAVE to get up and move again. I also prefer to rely on myself, not that I don’t have people willing to lend a hand but I get a tad crotchety if I have to do it on someone else’s schedule, I’m afraid when I want it done, I want it done now and I do believe I might be too old to change, ha.
An afternoon siesta! I used to insist my students had a siesta. And they also work! I hate it when I encounter a job o cannot do alone- it takes all my patience to wait for Him Indoors to come out to help me which often takes days. Totally get it.
Hmmmm … I’m glad you are aiming to find some time to sit. JUST SIT – can you ‘just sit’? Although as I read your plans it sounds like five days a week here on the blog … one day on the podcast … five days on the soundscape… and one day on the Sustainable Home. It still adds up … to more than seven days. Which is ridiculous for me to point out to you bc I am guilty of the same frenetic pace. It is so easy to slide into busy-ness … and can be darn difficult to find the calm amid the circus of our lives. It is so much easier to say ‘yes’ to something than ‘no’. I hear you though – you are working on saying YES to your SELF. As you sort through what brings you balance know that we out here in the cyberfarmy understand. We are not a graspy group. And – by the way – I think your writing is compelling. You would sit on the shelf beside Barbara Kingsolver in my mind. Hugs!
Yes. I am adding more work and trying to use less time. Doesn’t really make sense does it!
I’m behind on my blog reading so I opened this in my browser instead of the WordPress reader. Now I’m wondering if my comments will get through this way because they usually go into the abyss from the reader.
Anyway, just saying hello and I like your idea to approach writing as a job. As I look at my blog plan for 2024, I might need to do that too.
Have a wonderful day, Cecilia, and let me know if you see this comment.
Every pen writes until it runs dry, and then it needs to have its ink replenished. I’m glad it’s time for you to accept you need a refill. Just think how smoothly the ink will flow now, instead of the pen needing to be shaken or scribbled hard to make it work.
Honestly – its only because I have the time, now that another daughter in law is managing the mother in law. I really really appreciate the time I have to write today.