Recharging My Inner Batteries

Wasn't life supposed to slow down after the kids left home? It didn't work out that way. I quickly found other ways to fill my days, and now I have three grandchildren nearby. Although spending time with them is a delightful way to pass the time, they also wear me out.

I exhausted myself this summer, trying to do it all. I planted a huge garden, with nobody but myself to tend to it. Every day I was up and out in the garden early to beat the heat. I wasn't feeling well much of the time, partly due to the heat and partly due to thyroid issues, so I didn't eat much and I lost weight. Yet I spent time with friends and with my adult children and grandchildren, went to the fair, went to a huge craft and arts show nearby, and got very tired. (I still need to write posts about those events!)

The last monster zucchini of the season.

Just when I thought the garden was about done and I could rest a bit, my husband injured his foot. He needed extra help for several weeks. I managed to wrap up the garden with hired help, but I couldn't leave my husband for my annual October visit to my sister's house in Montana.

A pretty tree in a nearby town.

Now he is allowed to bear weight on his foot, so I planned a November trip instead. I came down with a cold October 30th, but it is nearly over and today was the day I planned to head east. But now my brother-in-law is quite sick. In case it's not the same bug I have just had, I'd rather not expose myself to it.

The view from my retreat.

So I compromised on a 3-night stay at a vacation rental place just a few miles north of Sandpoint, Idaho. If my brother-in-law is feeling better by Saturday, I can still head over there for a couple of days. But I have to be back by Tuesday evening for a meeting I am obliged to attend.

I've been flying around in high gear for so long, it feels very uncomfortable to be doing nothing. I have been at my rental place five hours, and hardly know what to do with myself. I read half a book already, and took a nap, and caught up on some Hive reading. I got out my knitting, which I hadn't touched for weeks, maybe months. It's already dark outside, so I won't be going anywhere. I may even turn on the television.

Tomorrow I intend to do some exploring in Sandpoint. I may investigate some hiking trails, depending on the weather, or I may just go into some shops and look around. I have all day Friday, too, and am wondering whether two and a half days with no responsibilities is going to be more than I can handle. Yet I think it will take that long for me to recharge my batteries. I can't seem to relax at home; there is always something that needs to be done. So I've forgotten how to do nothing.

We'll see how this goes!

All photos taken on my Android phone.