And I'm plugged back in!

First off, Blogger is apparently having issues and my banner has disappeared and it won't let me put it back!  Welcome to the internet!

Thanks for all the good wishes on my week of no internet.  I can't believe a week has gone by already.  I feel a little dirty being back on here.  It's like when I quit smoking 20 years ago; for years afterward I would dream that I had started back up again, and then I would wake up with such leftover feelings of remorse.  That's a little of what I'm feeling now, not remorse, but a wariness of getting drawn in by my internet addiction.  I think I proved to myself, though, that I'm not addicted; I just allowed myself to get a little overwhelmed by information overload.

I had a fantastic week; I recommend this little exercise to everyone!  I really wasn't tempted to get on at all, except once when I wanted to finish listening to a radio program I had been listening to in the car.  I decided to wait until this week and grab the podcast.  I did get on briefly Saturday to get the dirt recipe for my raised bed.  DH can vouch for it, I didn't go anyplace but here.

Now that I'm plugged back in, I want to be sure I don't go back to that overwhelmed place.  I want to use the internet as a source for inspiration and a tool for building my business, but it only needs to be one little tool; I don't need to drown in it.  I think Andrea is right, scheduling - a better schedule than I had! - is what is needed.  I've decided to continue being unplugged in the evenings and on weekends, as well as limiting my time during the day.

By not being on the internet so much, I was able to accomplish a long list of things I had been wanting to do.  My mind was clear and I was able to focus on my own ideas, and know they were mine.  I swear I even had more energy!  That may be because I was up moving around more:)  I worked on some drawings and some needlework.  I cleaned my studio; it's just amazing to me how quickly I can trash that place.  I FINISHED  a book!  The Barbara Kingsolver one, The Lacuna.  So so good!  And my biggest accomplishment was digging in the dirt:)

DH helped me build this raised bed for my veggies.  We sort of miscalculated on the dirt, even after my internet backslide, so I just filled half of it.  That's ok though, because I can't plant the other half until Mayish.  That side will be for tomatoes and all of those other warm season plants.  I did put in rainbow and green chard, peas, beets, carrots, and onions.  The bamboo tripods at the back are for the peas to grow up.

I got the fork idea from the book Joy in your Garden.  It's so the cats won't use it as a litter box.  And believe me, Rose the six-toed cat was sitting there watching me fill this with the same look she has while she waits for me to finish cleaning her litter box!

I also brought this bed out a little, and planted a peony, a dianthus, some gladioli bulbs, and snapdragon and larkspur seeds.  In other parts of the yard, I moved my rhubarb from its too shady place, took out an aspen that just really has no chance down here in the valley, and I planted raspberries, strawberries, oregano, peppermint, and a poppy.  I am so happy to have a yard to play in again.  It soothes my soul.

Have a great day!  I'll be back tomorrow to show you my drawing I'm working on.