day of rest
we celebrated a day of rest on sunday, at home together. we read, i baked. luke fermented some vegetables from the farm & huck took a nap. i made a delicious salad of local arugula & luke warmed up eggplant parmesan leftovers in the oven. i stayed in bed for a good long time while luke did a bit of journaling on the front porch.
we have been thinking a lot about taking a day of rest each week, a sabbath. we decided to commit to six weeks of intentional rest on sunday as a sort-of experiment in our home. i have already noticed in myself a hesitancy to rest, a difficulty to trust that my to-do list will be checked off another day. i recently read somewhere, pinterest perhaps, this quote: “stop the glorification of busy.” it really stuck with me, got me thinking, made me stop. i often glorify busy as some sort of earned title. if my calendar is filled up & i’m still working on sunday, i must be successful. let’s be honest, though. my day of rest was much more enjoyable than a sunday of emails & laundry. my computer doesn’t need to see me more than my husband. turning a page of a book is much more comforting than opening a new tab. i’m tired of busy.
so instead of pinning delicious recipes of peach preserves, i actually preserved. it’s been far too long & my canning supplies were tired of gathering dust in the garage. i spent the evening chopping, boiling, simmering, mashing, & sealing peaches into ten jars of peach butter. perfect on top of sunday morning’s biscuits.
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| labels from second issue of taproot |
i want to share a bit of my sunday’s rest with you. comment below with any thoughts you might have about today’s entry or any experiences you have with setting aside a day for rest. i’ll mail one lucky reader a jar of peach butter along with a few surprises & a handwritten note. i’ll choose a winner on thursday morning, september 20th, & mail the package the following monday, september 24th. i’m excited to hear your thoughts! closed!
love,
natalie
Vanessa | 17th Sep 12
I've been finding it very restful to turn off my computer on Sundays. I fudged a little yesterday, but mostly, I spent the afternoon reading a favorite book. Turning off the 'net makes the day seem so much longer!
ANNIE COPPOCK | 17th Sep 12
I know that you and Vanessa are probably right but I still fight rest the way I fight sleep. The real hook for me is the way I can get SO much done! I love getting to stay home all weekend (preferably without leaving the house at all) and just taking care of "me and mine" for a change after the rat race of the weekdays. The end of the weekend found me sitting in a very clean TV room next to a very clean and partially organized kitchen with quite a bit of laundry done upstairs. It felt REALLY good. A part of me wonders if taking care of "me and mine" counts as rest? There were lots of breaks with coffee and homemade cookies in the midst of all the progress. Does that count? Besides, naps make me feel gross. And I did unplug from the internet all weekend. I just didn't sit still much. Can you hear me justifying? Thanks for constantly inspiring me! I thought of you when I went out to gets an egg from the chicken coop and some basil and mint from the herb garden.
Junque Rethunque | 17th Sep 12
That sounds so wonderful! I need to schedule my week so that I can actually fit in some rest. 😉
Liz / Tangible Ingredients | 17th Sep 12
I really love the idea of having a rest day, but I too struggle with the downtime. I crave it all week long, but when the time comes to settle down and just be for a bit, I feel idle, restless, and lethargic. Still looking for that balance, I suppose. I really like your six week trial period idea. When we were working 60 hour weeks in Antarctica with just one day off, having Sunday as a rest day was such a treasure, and I didn't feel bad about watching movies, taking naps, lounging around. Hmm… Thanks for the always inspiring words and photographs. I always look forward to your posts.
The Mini Coopers | 17th Sep 12
Hey Natalie! I loved your post on a day of rest. While my husband and I are unable to do it every weekend, we do try to schedule (yes, schedule) a quiet day at least one day every few weeks. While we do catch up on some chores (we'll do laundry while home brewing, or reading or whatever), it is incredibly refreshing. I love the 6 week trial – I can't wait to hear how it goes for you!
beth | 17th Sep 12
HI Natalie,
I loved your post and am very interested to hear your thoughts after you finish your six week experiment. I've been doing some studying about the Slow Media movement, talking with friends about it and making it a practice to unplug more in our daily lives. I've going to print out your glorification quote and put it where I can see it and think about it more. Your peach butter looks scrumptious and those labels are so sweet. Who wouldn't love something made by hand. I think those things just taste better. Have a great week, I hope Sunday is just as restful and productive in other ways.
Melissa | 17th Sep 12
This post resonated with me, because I'm always trying to fill all my time with working for school or just working. And sometimes I need to make myself slow down as to not go insane or just dead tired. So a day of rest and just enjoying the weather, the boyfriend, the cat on my lap and a good book is heaven.
jessie | 17th Sep 12
i'm so glad you and luke and huck got some rest this weekend! i have totally been feeling the need for unplug time lately, and resisting..which is weird, because i know that i need it so much! i had a similar thought to your "i don't need to see my computer more than my husband" when i was wondering what jude will learn from my actions — if he or the ipad is more important to me. i hope he learns that HE is! anyway, just a similar thought to yours, so i thought i would share. happy monday, friend! 🙂
Anonymous | 17th Sep 12
-bunny
I've never tried canning before, but this makes me want to try +)
uk7ss@yahoo.com
||| laura frantz ||| | 17th Sep 12
beautiful post and photos. i am trying to say yes to rest in more meaningful ways lately as well.
britt snodgrass | 17th Sep 12
We're reading the book, "Sabbath," by Wayne Muller in our Sunday School class. Each page provides a new meditation on rest, intentionally slowing our pace and renewing our interest in the present. Though Muller is Christian, he writes about sabbath as practiced by other cultures and religions, too.
I love this quote: "The Sabbath is a revolutionary invitation to consider that the fruits of our labor may be found in the restful and unhurried harvest of time. In time, we can taste the sweetness of peace, serenity, well-being and delight." (p. 101)
Those preserves look delicious!
Unknown | 17th Sep 12
Waking up late, then drinking coffee on the porch with the newspaper is my idea of a perfect, restful Sunday. Especially if my favorite dog is curled up next to me. It brings back peace for the rest of the week. I manage to make it happen at least twice per month. 🙂
Daniela B. | 17th Sep 12
Hello Natalie!
I find very difficult to take a day off, I love TO DO things and I schedule also my free time. I am more happy when I do a lot of things, sometimes I take a day off (mostly if the weather is very very bad we can't go outside, or if am ill), but I usually find very difficult to rest.I need it, and like it, but if I nap during the day or just relax too much then I feel unconfortable,I often think I am loosing my time!I need to find a balance but I am also very happy of my life right now, because I do a lot, but all things I do and appreciate very much, so it isn't so tiring after all 🙂 Daniela
Chloe | 17th Sep 12
i think a day of rest is such a great idea; something that should be instilled in everyone's week. an edible giveaway is such a great idea. what a beautiful act.
Kee | 18th Sep 12
First of all, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your blog. Your life looks lovely and I think we would probably be friends if we knew each other. I think we share a love of gardening, preserving, attempting to slow down, be with loved ones, and take great care of what we nourish ourselves with. Sundays, to me, are bittersweet. I feel like they need to be a day for rest because of the busy week that starts on Monday, but it's hard not to do all of the "to-do's" and get caught up. I like to devote at least Sunday mornings to rest and often sleep in a little, make a nice breakfast and eat slowly, and go for a walk with my man and pup. If I at least have these few hours of slowness, then I feel like I am somewhat recharged for the week ahead.
Great post, and thanks for your inspiration and lovely photos as always.
sara f | 18th Sep 12
what a beautiful post. indeed, the "glorification of busy" is a reality everywhere.
i love it that, eventhough you did rest, it was purposeful rest 🙂
thankyou for the sweet reminder of taking a day of rest.
never heard of peachbutter, but would love to try some 🙂
hugs from portugal
abby | 18th Sep 12
I also struggle with surrendering to rest. I remember when we had cuddle time every night after dinner – almost a ritual of sorts, slow coffee time every morning, easygoing evenings doing creative things together, frequent hikes and beach walks… that all feels like another time, and now life can just seem busy all.the.time. We are working on including more cuddles and easygoing evenings into our days again, but it's amazing how incessant those "to do lists" can be. Funny how it can take being strict with oneself to take it easy, ha! You always bring up such great reminders, Natalie.
shari | 19th Sep 12
i love this post. i often feel the need to go out on the weekends but i love the idea of setting aside a day of rest at home. you two inspire me and your peach butter sounds great! xo
Carrie | 19th Sep 12
I've been following your blog for some time now, but this post has stuck a deep chord with me.
Recently I have been trying to find balance in my life, trying to weigh the importance of personal and professional obligations. In the hectic world of graduate school, I find myself longing for nothing more than to have a day of rest. However, academia isn't very accommodating to taking personal days or to leaving things for tomorrow. I find that, now that I'm in my second year, the to-do list is constantly following me around, creeping into every moment that isn't already filled with school. I've noticed myself postponing sleep, much needed rest, and opportunities, saying that I'll do them when I'm done with grad school. These past few weeks, I've realized that I don't jive with this philosophy. Though I still think school and education is important, it becomes too much when I feel bad for prioritizing the betterment of my personal life over my academic one. My life is now and I shouldn't be putting it off any more. It is time for me to start living it, not waiting for my professors to give their approval.
Thank you for inviting me to put these thoughts into words, Natalie. It has given me more clarity on this evolving perspective.