Keeping the Sabbath, or Vacation from Renovation

Around Tara, we usually operate on all cylinders. Even when we're not diving into the latest house project, life is busy. Sometimes, we just need a day off.

Yesterday was one of the prettiest days we'd seen in a long time, so naturally we worked outside ALL day long (I have the sunburn to prove it). As I've mentioned before, Tara lacks curb appeal in a most obnoxious way, so any time we can spend dressing her up a little bit is well needed. My mind immediately goes to some saying about putting lipstick on a pig, but little by little I am beginning to see progress. She looks a lot better than she did when we moved in at least.

As the sun began to rise yesterday morning, Rhett moved a good deal of dirt into the gaping holes left by tree removal last fall. We're ridding our yard of the potholes by evening things out, and I bet our neighbors appreciate that. Rhett moved (and compacted) dirt with a borrowed golf cart, and the area he removed dirt from he later leveled, making space for a shed/treehouse he's going to dig posts for this week. (Yes, he's going to build it, too).

Meanwhile, I transfered about 50 bulbs from a section of the yard into the front beds so passersby can see whatever these bulbs turn out to be- daffodils? lillies? tulips? We weren't here last spring so this is anyone's guess- here's hoping it's pretty! Clearing out the beds was a mess- they probably haven't been de-leafed since I was in kindergarten. I also edged the front beds, trimmed back bushes, and cleared the weeds from my pansies.

Later in the afternoon, Rhett fired up his tractor and finished off the day by mowing the lawn. By the time he crawled into the house about 6pm, we were both too exhausted to eat anything other than a frozen PF Chang's meal and go to sleep, especially when we realized we were going to lose an hour of sleep (daylight savings time be damned!).

So, this morning I made an executive decision- today would be a day of rest.

Really!

My friend Julieann said to me once when I was bemoaning being lazy on a Sunday that sometimes we just need to have a Sabbath. Great advice! Our oldest daughter is vacationing in Florida with family, so why couldn't we have a mini-vacation here? And oh, what a wonderful morning it has been.

I had forgotten how much I love the sound of Charles Osgood's voice, and CBS Sunday Morning is always a real treat. Call me a dork, but I would love for that man to read me a bedtime story- is that weird? Even though he's talking about a tsunami, his voice is strangely pacifiying. Love that show, and watching while playing with our baby was heaven. Hot tea with honey and granola with blueberries for breakfast, too.

After a stroll through the neighborhood (Rhett pronounced himself too sore from the day before to go, so he stayed home with the baby) I went to get a pedicure. At 10am. I felt a little funny about it, but I think I am going to be a much better Christian for having had a little pampering so early in the day. When I returned home, I shopped online for shoes (is this day shaping up to be great or what?!) and, of course, started writing all about our little vacation from renovation.

It's a little after noon now, and Rhett has gone to borrow a post-hole digger for the shed/treehouse and head over to Ace Hardware for some tools. I, too, am getting antsy and anticipate an afternoon of playing with the baby, organizing/alphabetizing something, and planning a meal to cook for dinner (no more frozen PF Chang's tonight). Maybe a little racquetball, too? Anyway, like all good vacations it looks like this one is nearing the end, and for my type-A personality, a mini-vacation is about all I can handle unless we are forced to leave our home.

And what would I write about? Pedicures?

So, it's back to business as usual. But keeping the Sabbath, for however long, is surely a nice break from the traditional busy-ness. And please note that I meant to post this on Sunday, but became busy once again as soon as I was done relaxing.