Summer Sabbatical/Failure to Function

How was your weekend?  Actually how has your month been?  Since I haven't checked in since early July I thought I would drop a line and splain myself a bit (okay the truth is I actually put "geez, post to your blog" on my to do list).  Thankfully, I have now accomplished one thing, which is HUGE.

I am not sure what has happened to me, but for a bit over a year now I have had a strong tendency to look instead of do, to sit instead of stir, to mope instead of live.

In my defense it has just been so darned hot!  So I know the last couple of weeks of June and the first of July I was justified in doing little to nothing.....everyone was doing it (or not doing it) don't you know? 

Then we took a little road trip to the gulf coast.....love me some time in Destin.  Nothing like the first look at that gorgeous water when you cross Destin bridge.

I enjoyed a week of lollying about on the beach.  I never seem to be more at peace than when I am near the ocean.  It is the equivalent of Pooh's thinking spot for me.  I generally use this time to clear my mind of junk, realign my priorities and dream up a zillion new projects I want to accomplish.  This year I just sat.   I had some hormonally sketchy days that I attributed the brain fog to, but overall I was good with just being.

Of course it didn't hurt that this was the view from bed!

The last morning we were there this was the first thing I saw.

Wow, what a way to start the day :)

 It did me so much good that for the first time in 26 years of beaching it in Destin, I didn't cry on the way home (I know, the family has learned to completely ignore me on departure day, I can't help it I just don't want to leave the peace I feel there to return to "real life")!

It really was a beautiful ending to vacation.  I was sure when I returned home I would be renewed and ready to get with the program. 

I can honestly say that I did get with it, in the yard.  We were blessed with 6 inches of rain while we were away, so I have mowed twice in 6 days.  I have surely enjoyed the new growth of everything since that rain, it all looked so brown and beyond help when we left.  I am so glad to have the flowers looking happy again and hopefully we will be enjoying them into early October.

My rejuvenated spirit seems to only dwell in the yard though :(  I cannot seem to accomplish anything else.   My endless whining about my lack of ambition has gotten on my nerves along with everyone else's. 

So as I wait and pray for this all to pass and to feel like the old me again, I have decided to look at it in a different light.  I have decided not to think I am unambitious....I have decided that I had taken a sabbatical (I just didn't know it).

Sabbatical (literally means a ceasing) is a rest from work, or a hiatus, often lasting from two months to a year.  So here I was thinking I was just being sloth like when really I have been on a sabbatical (apparently, an extended one of just over 1 year and 3 months)!  Who knew.....I'm not feeling quite so bad now.  In fact I am embracing this hiatus......

With some mint iced tea, a book and several magazines!  Hopefully now that I have figured out my problem I will be back on track soon.   Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week!

Cool Blue Country Tablescape

Welcome to my Cool Blue Country tablescape.  It has been so hot here lately that I wanted to create a table that "felt" cool and welcoming.  This table relaxes me just looking at it (I can't wait for it to cool enough to try it outside).  So lets take a tour.

This tablescape started with the tablecloth.  I found it at New Moon Antiques in Lawrenceburg, TN.  The price was right at 5.99!  I love almost any plaid and the cool blues and greens in this cloth just made me think of picnics.....had to have it.

Thanks to the tablecloth's color combinations I was able to use several of my favorites to create this table.  The dinner plates and salad plates are Food Network plates from Kohl's (gift from Wonder Hubby) several years ago.

The green glasses with the napkins are Chantilly Green from Indiana Glass Company (thank you to a sweet blog reader for that info).  The blue glasses were my grandmothers that I received when she passed away, good memories of drinking out of those :)

The little appetizer plates are from TJ Maxx as are the tropical spreaders.

Love my collection of clear bowl candle holders, I use them for sooooo many things.

The napkins are a blue and white gingham and a sea foam green linen layered.  I found these at New Moon as well.  The gingham ones still had the tags, $3.99 each at Kohl's....got them all for $5.00 and the green ones for $4.00.  It was a good day!

The table features some of my Fiesta Ware.  The cream and sugar set in Chartreuse, and bowls in Lemongrass and Peacock.  The cake plate is from Burton and Burton.

The centerpiece is a basket leftover from my retail shop.  The picture doesn't pick up the detail of the light blue on the fish that dangle all around.  Love the blue jars and the daisies. 

The white milk glass bowls were from my grandmother.  I just love them.  The ice cream spoons are a Garden Ridge find from years ago.

So now that the table is set.....what should we have for dinner?  I am thinking we shoud sip sweet tea or mint lemonade and enjoy a chilled soup (strawberry maybe?), a garden salad with homemade ranch dressing, lemon/garlic fish and garlic rice.....and for the finale.....homemade ice cream of course!  I hope you enjoyed the tour, thanks for stopping by.

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday




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