Jonny and I had a brief discussion about managing time today, a recurring topic because we never seem to have enough of it. He was putting a saw milling magazine on a shelf on top of the last edition, which he still hasn’t read. I noted that you never find time for anything outside the urgent event of the moment if you don’t prioritize it. You really do have to “make” time for anything extra. That was the extent of our conversation but it led to me spending the rest of the day thinking about time, and how I manage it. I’m possibly above average in the time management category, and I am only giving myself a high-ish score, because I do accomplish a lot. On the other side of that, I almost constantly battle a little voice in my head that tells me I’m screwing everything up and pretty much failing. It’s impossible to get everything done, or to find that perfect balance. I am working on acceptance and setting realistic expectations.
For the past few days I’ve been prioritizing being outdoors with my kids, or by myself, with just the plants for company. On Saturday, I dropped my girls off at church because they were singing with the choir at a First Holy Communion Mass, and then I went to a local plant sale that a friend had tipped me off about. It was a small event, the very best kind. Some of my favorite perennials were being offered for $3 each. I bought variegated Solomon’s seal, native columbines, Echinacea, an oak leaf hydrangea, lemon balm, rose campion, and a few other things I’m forgetting now. I spent the second half of the day planting and rearranging. I’m terrible at plant placement, and always end up moving everything around over and over again. A friend gave me some free bare root shrubs and trees that she got from a forester friend: Elderberries, hazelnuts, common pears, and apples. I spent most of today working on getting them in the ground (between making meals and talking with a homeschool advisor, etc.) When the voice nagged me, I told it that I was busy. I’ll have to analyze all the ways I’m failing on another day.
What I haven’t made time for in the past few days is knitting. Usually I get a little twitchy if I don’t knit everyday, but I guess as long as I can spend a lot of time outdoors, I’m okay without it for a few days. Looking back on the last week or so, I can’t really even imagine when I would have squeezed any knitting in. But that’s because I didn’t make it a priority. And that is what I told Jonny, that if you aren’t super intentional about things beyond the absolutely necessary, they won’t happen. So usually I make sure to knit a little everyday, because I know that it’s good for me to slow down and get off the hamster wheel that is my life. And knitting is kind of sneaky, because it’s relaxing and productive at the same time. But it would completely fall to the wayside if I stopped making time for it, as I’ve done the past few days so that I could get some things in the ground.
And as far as knitting goes, in a way, I’m still recovering from that Flora Cardi (in the photos above). I worked on it on and off for more than a year and a half. I think I learned a lot in the process, but unfortunately some of that I learned the hard way. This sweater has its good and its bad points. It is definitely too big, but that is good in some ways. I can wear it over a loose dress comfortably. The sleeves are weird and floppy though, and they sit differently. So one kind of pulls up at the edge and the other hangs down. I need to rip out the edges of them and redo them (for the third time.) I do really like the lace panels, and hopefully I can do something to make the sleeves sit right. But right now, the thought of re-doing them again is not appealing. It’s funny that you can spend so long working on a project and get to a place where you don’t feel like you can spend another second on it despite the fact that it is so close to finally being finished.
At any rate, here’s to somehow managing to accomplish most of what we have to, and squeezing in a little time for those things that bring us peace, without caving to the negativity of that little voice! I’ll fold all of that laundry tomorrow.
p.s. Regarding that photo of Mabel standing on my desk. She is so frequently up to no good! In to everything and loves standing on tables or desks and taking things off the walls when she isn’t coloring on them.
Ruth Spears says
I like your cardi! You might try a little of the lace around the sleeves if you’re unappy wit the look. I also don’t want my clothes to touch me. I think that’s a much better look than the “second skin” fit I see in town. You amaze me with all that you get done. I only raised 2 kids (plus cow, horses, chickens, geese, ducks, dogs, cats, etc.) and didn’t get nearly as much done as you do. I miss living in the country.
Caroline says
Looking back through my diaries and planners from recent years, I am surprised at how often I wrote, ‘working on finding balance in my life’, ‘this week I am focusing on balance’, ‘battling to find any balance this week’. Wow, what a struggle. I live with my husband, one cat, and two chickens. Why is it so hard?
I think it’s all relative, we cook for one or we cook for 10, we clean a bathroom; it’s still a bathroom and requires the same effort. My washing basket, for just the two of us, is NEVER empty. How is that even possible? I do work full time but I’m home by 4.30ish, I should be able to do this.
This year I chose ‘balance’ as my ‘one little word’ and found the quote…. life is a balance of holding on and letting go. I let go of the perfect schedule and getting everything done in the time I thought it should be done in. I had this idea of perfect that just doesn’t exist. I read back through my 2018 memory planner on the weekend, and not once have I written ‘working on finding balance in my life’. And somehow I am way more in control than I have ever been.
Jean Dean says
I enjoyed reading all of your comments and hesitate to comment but I think the answer lies in Ginny’s first pictures. Slow and steady wins the race. Steadfast faithfulness. I would highly recommend Jeff Mansion’s book Dream Big Think Small. A worthwhile read. Maybe some of the hand crafts are to be seasonal delights. Blessings to all.
Ruth Robinson says
I so love looking at your beautiful photos and seeing the amazing place you live. I crave wide, open spaces and greenery but here in the south east of England it’s pretty impossible to live anywhere without being surrounded by houses and concrete, not unless you have significant finances. But I love that you get to raise your family surrounded by such beauty and I get to see glimpses of it- thank you for sharing. God’s rich blessing upon you and your darling family. Love from across the pond!
Ginny says
Thank you Ruth! I’m so glad I can share my blessings with you in this way. 🙂
Nathana Clay says
I agree! I am trying to pick one night or super early morning to work on projects. Sometimes I get a magical naptime miracle if more than 15 minutes, but rarely. I have one crocheted baby blanket for a friend in the last stage. After I get it in the mail I am moving on to personal projects: hats for the kids this fall and learning to knit!
Ginny says
Yay! Learning to knit! I keep meaning to mention that I taught myself Tunisian crochet recently! 🙂
Cheryl A. says
Your sweater is beautiful and honestly looks perfect. I have that same voice in my head too and I hate it. It’s very annoying actually. I’ve been trying acceptance too but love how you handled it by saying you’re busy. I’ll have to try that. Thanks for writing. I’m also going to look at how to be better with time management. It’s not easy. I never get anything done anymore. My house is a disaster and I don’t even care anymore. Ha! Take care!!
karen says
the sweater is lovely 🙂 I am great at time management, but then I do not have a house full of kids! I find that I try to keep track on paper what it is I want to do and then do it.
Ginny says
I’m finding that I absolutely have to write things down too! My sister bought me a mini chalkboard to write my daily to dos on and I am liking that a lot!
Jamie says
I’d love to know what kind of homeschool advisor you were talking with … A particular curriculum/program? Thanks!!! God bless you!
Rachel Reeves says
I a really curious about this too! I have never heard of a homeschool advisor
Ginny says
My oldest son is enrolled in Kolbe academy (http://www.kolbe.org) and I was on the phone with one of their advisors, planning out his senior year of high school! 🙂
Ginny says
My oldest son is enrolled in Kolbe academy (http://www.kolbe.org) and I was on the phone with one of their advisors, planning out his senior year of high school! 🙂
Ashlee says
Ginny,
Would you ever consider doing a post about your wordrobe? I would love to see a post about all the lovely pieces you have for yourself. You have such a gentle and effortless style.
Ginny says
I would feel silly! 🙂 I rarely shop, and when I do it’s nowhere special-mainly thrift stores, or a little used clothing store in my town, Marshall’s/TJMaxx, and Old Navy. I don’t have much clothing, and I hang on to things for a really long time! This particular dress was a more recent purchase. I got it at Marshall’s last spring. I love linen, and would wear it year round if I had the pieces to do so. I also joke that I don’t like my clothes to touch me! So I wear a lot of loose things. I wish I had the time and skill to make my own linen dresses. 🙂
Joan says
I think we all feel that way that we fail to do the things we love to do. Ginny good luck with your planting.
Joan
Marion says
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on making time for things you love to do. I feel the same way if I don’t accomplish something I yearn to do.
Marion
Marilyn says
Ginny you are so right about making time. There are so many things you want to do and at the end of the day you realize half of what you wanted to do isn’t done.
Marilyn
Ravenna says
Honestly I think you are amazing in all that you do. I have *one* child that I homeschool and still feel there is never enough time. You are so right about being intentional. I recently finished reading Living Forward by Michael Hyatt, and it has inspired me to make some changes in my own ways. You might enjoy it 🙂
Ginny says
I’ll check it out! Thanks, Ravenna!
mary says
your blue dress is so lovely! where did you purchase it? i was planning on making that cardi but after all the grief it gave you, i decided against it.
Ginny says
Hi Mary! Don’t decide against it! It really wasn’t a bad knit at all! I’m just really slow when it comes to big projects because I get sidetracked by smaller ones. I think my biggest problem with it is that I bound off the shoulders too tightly-well that and I knit the wrong size- I bought the dress at Marshall’s last year. 🙂
Debbie Ryland says
Lovely sweater. I get so much inspiration from your beautiful knits and I love your blue dress in this post. Did you make it and if so would you share pattern and If not where did you buy??
Ginny says
I wish I could make myself dresses! I don’t have the skill and haven’t yet figured out how to make the time to try. I bought this dress at Marshall’s last year. 🙂
Brigitte says
Interestingly, this prioritizing continues to be important even for an older woman like me with no children around and a part time job. Our goals don’t just happen. For me it is gardening foremost. I think up wonderful plans but ultimately I have to get out there and just do it!
Ginny says
I’m sure it’s a lifelong issue! There are always going to be so many different ways we could spend our time… (and, I think gardening is my favorite activity of all.)
Theresa says
Ginny, you are voicing the heart of many mommas. This pull for more time and yet enough time to get things done and have a little over for play and relaxing. “here’s to somehow managing to accomplish most of what we have to, and squeezing in a little time for those things that bring us peace, without caving to the negativity of that little voice! I’ll fold all of that laundry tomorrow.”
Ginny says
It’s such a challenge! Thanks, Theresa!
Annie Kitching says
I love that cardigan AND the sleeves. You are looking at it too closely!
You are encouraging me to be more intentional about Scripture reading daily. I was for a while, then “lost it” somehow. Thanks for the prompt. I think I sometimes think it will “just happen”.
Annie Kitching says
BTW – This was a great post for the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker!
Ginny says
Thank you Annie! I will try not to scrutinize it so closely! And I love that I happened to post this for the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker! I hope you are able to make the time for Bible reading. It’s hard to be intentional!
Judith Hogan says
I love your sweet cardigan and until you mentioned it, I didn’t notice any problems. As a knitter myself, I know that sometimes it can be frustrating and I’ve made my fair share of wonky items. But, over the years, I’ve also learned that perfection is overrated. It’s only you that notice the imperfections and if it bothers you so much, give it to one of your girls when they are older. They will love it because it was made by their mama. Of course it goes without saying, you will have to start a new one but sometimes that’s the fun of knitting. The next time, it might just be perfect. Good luck with your gardening, spending time outdoors with woods and earth is my idea of perfection.
Ginny says
Spending time outdoors with woods and earth is my idea of perfection too! My absolute favorite activity-even more than knitting! And maybe I will try that sweater again someday…One size smaller, and a few tweaks to the shoulders and sleeves… 🙂
Maria says
Your sweater looks absolutely beautiful but I totally understand knowing one of your projects so well that you see faults in it that no one else can. I am currently really struggling with time management- I always have so much I want to get done with the horses, goats, garden, etc – and then unfortunately the house does need constant cleaning… And now the clinic where I have been a veterinarian for almost 20 years was recently bought by a larger group, and as of next week we are required to work far more hours per week for the same salary :(. Not sure what to do!
Ginny says
Oh Maria, that sounds terrible-and so unfair!!! I hope you are able to find some sort of a solution for the work dilemma!
And doesn’t the house always need cleaning! Lately, I’ve been thinking so frequently, if only a professional could clean my house once a week–or even once a month! It would make such a difference. But that is nowhere close to being in the budget!
Emily DeArdo says
Mabel is a natural Marauder. 🙂
I love the cardigan! When I just saw the pictures I went, Oh, so gorgeous! And I still think that. 🙂 I think one thing about knitting big things–we, the knitters, tend to see all the little mistakes and it can drive us nuts! In my first shawl, there’s a part where the needle actually broke, and you can tell in the stitches, even though I rescued them, the tension is off in this one row. And I used to think, oh, I can’t wear this out! It’s IMPERFECT! But then I realized, no one will know but me…and I wear it all the time. 🙂
Ginny says
I’m so glad you wear your “imperfect” sweater. I’m determined to wear mine too!
Melissa says
Hi Ginny,
I also live in Fredericksburg and I saw that Walmart has a clearance bin of Hydrangeas and some berries a few other things for $2! I wasn’t sure why? I didn’t grab any because we are moving to our forever home on the 18th. Do you think they’re worth getting and just sticking in a pot? Are they clearanced so low for a reason? I’m trying to bring as many plants to the new house as possible. I would love to find elderberry as I use it so often. I need to pay attention to plant sales! I notice you plant a lot of native plants on your land, do you have a favorite book for that or maybe somewhere on your blog that you can direct me to?
COMama says
I bought a $2 rose at Walmart and stuck it in a pot to see what would happen. (1) I was glorious all summer long! (2) It survived the winter after I assumed it was dead and tossed it in a corner of the yard. In a few weeks, I’m going to upgrade it to full-time garden property (i.e., actually plant it). All that to say… for $2, give those babies a try; yhey might surprise you. I think WM just needs to keep their stock moving constantly.
Kate says
I’ve had this kind of success with miniature roses discounted to $1.99 at the grocery store floral dept. Those mini-roses really thrive when they’re put in the ground. And I often got a small red-clay pot from the deal.
Ginny says
Hi Melissa!
I’m guessing those hydrangeas were clearanced because they bought a bunch for Easter and they didn’t all sell! If you love them, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy some. As far as elderberry goes, I just potted up four bare root elderberries that I got from a friend for my girls to sell at children’s market in June. If they leaf out I could save a couple for you!
Melissa says
That would be amazing! Thank you Ginny 🙂 I went back and bought 2 hydrangeas and a climbing rose. We just bought a log home on 5 acres and I’ve always dreamed of a cottage style garden ? so I figured if I see plants for $2 I better grab them!
Andrea says
I really like the sleeves! But it’s not my sweater 🙂
Ginny says
Thank you! They aren’t terrible–but they don’t sit the same and the unevenness of it is driving me crazy. I’m not sure I can fix it though!
Nathana says
This is a very familiar struggle for me, but I am not very good at it. I think I am bad at multitasking around our kids. I feel like our boys (12 months) will sometimes play independently, but between them and our now 3 year old, I have a hard time squirreling away time for hobbies I love. They wake up very early. And I always tell myself if I don’t work on projects after they go to bed. But it is usually 830 by the time all of our kids are asleep at nine or later by the time we have the house picked up. And then I am just uttery exhausted.
Ginny says
I think you are smart to go to bed rather than stay up working on projects. I stayed up too late for years, and while it was in a way satisfying to be working on things and completing projects, I think it was ultimately bad for my health! I’m dealing with the consequences now. At the place you are, it might be that you have to aim for getting to work on something once or twice a week, rather than every day. Maybe a couple hours on a Saturday? Or a few minutes during naptime.
Clémence says
I like that cardigan, it looks very good in the pictures! “Hamster wheel” life, oh I hear you! I’m not an organisation maniac and often envy those super planning mums, but well I have to accept it’s not our family style and taking it more or less day by day is what suits us…
Ginny says
I am not an organization maniac either. I think I could be with more energy and fewer children, but I am tired and outnumbered! And my husband is not the least bit organized and I have had to accept that being super organized and structured is not our family style either. I think it’s very hard but very important to accept the realities of the families we’re given rather than comparing and feeling inferior to those that have different ways of doing things (that seem more organized, efficient, etc.) I really struggle with that!
Laurel says
I think your Flora cardi is lovely. I rather like the drapey look of the sleeves. I think it will especially nice when the weather is warm not to have it so tight against your skin, no? I hope you are able to get it to a place where you will enjoy wearing it!
I have yarn for a sweater for myself that’s been waiting in the wings for over a year. I always prioritize everyone else’s knits so mine never gets done. You’re inspiring me to actually get going on it. 🙂
Ginny says
My biggest issue I think is that the sleeves sit differently. I’m afraid that is due to the tightness of my three needle bind off at the shoulders, and there is no way I am ripping that out and trying again! But maybe I can do something with the sleeve edge to fix it. It is really hard to prioritize knitting for yourself! I told myself that I was going to start focusing on my own sweaters, but I am not sure I am going to be able to stick to that. Smaller projects are so fun and obviously much quicker…
Pamela says
I was smiling as I read your blog because it was good to hear that someone who knits as well as you also struggles with a pattern. I am working on a baby sweater and it’s so frustrating. I’ve started about 6 times and finally had to restart with fresh yarn, Yarn that wasn’t all squiggly from being torn out so many times. I’m determined to make this but the baby is due 6/5 – pray for me?
I love your sweet pictures and your wonderful children. Your an inspiration ?
Ginny says
Prayers for a peaceful last month of pregnancy and a completed sweater! But if you don’t get it finished, it can be a project for those early days in bed with baby. 🙂
Pamela says
Oh, sorry it’s not my baby it’s my grand daughter being born so I must get it done. Thank you for your kind thoughts ?