This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Just Breathe

August 21st, 2012

We’ve been up at 6 am every morning to start work on the upstairs and falling into bed later than usual.  Last night, I sat down at 10:30 to write this post and decided it just wasn’t going to happen! So a day off from writing a blog post it is.
As usual, on my “days off” I’ll leave you with a photo of Dexter, who has the art of relaxation down to a science!

I love how Dexter is so flat in this photo. He certainly knows how to relax! My ideal relaxing moment is a cup of coffee and a good book.

What’s your favorite relaxing activity?

12 Comments to “Just Breathe”
  1. Julia@Throwback Road on August 21, 2012 at 7:48 am

    Good for you Susy! Sometimes taking the day off is a good thing! Of course I have taken most of the summer off…..oh well. Sometimes life dictates and you will have lots of amazing posts once you move to Maine. Can’t Wait!

    Reply to Julia@Throwback Road's comment

  2. Rhonda on August 21, 2012 at 8:26 am

    I can’t wait to read about your new adventures in Maine!

    My favorite relaxing activity right now is crocheting. I can’t seem to get enough. It’s weird.

    Reply to Rhonda's comment

  3. Joan on August 21, 2012 at 9:00 am

    Summertime: Taking the kayak out, then finding a quiet spot along the shore and laying back quietly just observing for a few minutes before an energizing paddle home. This morning I was watching a loon close to my kayak, then another one surfaced beside it, stretched up out of the water flapping it’s wings and then settled down next to the first. After a minute both dove. Wonderful. Yesterday I watched yellow damselflies (like a dragonfly) laying eggs on lilypads. You never know what you will see if you sit still for a minute in a beautiful place.

    Winter: Laying around with my dogs and a good book in front of the woodstove.

    Once you are done with your move, you’ll have time to relax again. I bet you look forward to it!

    Reply to Joan's comment

  4. Sherri on August 21, 2012 at 9:09 am

    Browsing the library with a coffee and no kids :)

    Swaying on my hammock on a warm day… listening to the birds and chickens…

    Sitting on the couch with Grandma’s blanket and the cat on my lap next to a huge stack of books and beer stein of tea (so I don’t have to get up to refill it :) )

    Reading in bed in the evening after a long hot shower or early in the morning with fresh coffee

    Watering the garden with a hose by hand…. a meditative, slow process that forces me to relax. My mind slowly empties and I relax into the moment.

    Looking at old photo albums…

    Taking a (rare) nap.

    A bath with essential oils and a book (I’m more of a shower person on a day to day basis, so a bath really relaxes me).

    Sitting on the front porch, watching the chickens scratch and peck and watching the birds and butterflies… looking at the flowers, hearing the frogs, etc… slowing down long enough to really absorb how much work we have accomplished at our place. Instead of thinking about what’s left to do, I think about how much we have done!

    Take it easy, Suzy… don’t get sick…. I know you are eating well, but good sleep and a little stress release in the form of relaxation is imperative… hugs XO

    Reply to Sherri's comment

  5. Sierra N Hampl on August 21, 2012 at 9:25 am

    I can only imagine how busy you’ve been. I too, love to relax with a good book and a good cup of coffee. :)

    Reply to Sierra N Hampl's comment

  6. glenda on August 21, 2012 at 9:37 am

    my favorite way to relax is to sit on the back deck with my spinning wheel, some nice fleece while surrounded by my cats. I’ve not yet done this all summer long. Love your blog and it’s going to be so interesting to read about your new adventures. I am envious(no not jealous) that you will be getting hens. I routinely go through periods of wanting chickens very, very much. It goes away but then I soon begin to long for a few hens scratching around in the back garden. Wishing you great success with your house sale and the big move!!!

    Reply to glenda's comment

  7. Maybelline on August 21, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Sleeping.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  8. tj on August 21, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    …What you said. :o) Just yesterday evening I was sitting in my fav’ reading chair in our kitchen looking thru old handwritten recipes of my Mom’s, missing her all the while, and sipping on a cup o’ chamomile tea.

    …Yeah, I’ll say, Dexter has got the chillaxin’ goin’ on! You go Dex’! ;o)

    …Enjoy your day and squeeze in a nap too if you can, ‘kay?

    …Blessings :o)

    Reply to tj's comment

  9. daisy on August 21, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    “Just Breathe” is exactly what I’ve been saying to myself on a regular basis lately. It truly helps to focus on the here and now. You’ll get it all done and all will be well in your new home. Dexter, I like your style!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  10. Jaye on August 21, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    I’m with you on this, coffee and a good book.

    Reply to Jaye's comment

  11. Liz J on August 21, 2012 at 6:34 pm

    Awesome pictures ~ Dexter is a real cutie!!! As far as favorite “relaxing activity”, ha ha, those words really don’t mesh do they. It’s a been a long time. I’m busy dealing with tons of tomatoes and stuff that needs to be frozen and canned. I guess I thrive on that though. I don’t really relax until the snow flies, and then I resent it because I can’t be outside :) Life is good!

    Reply to Liz J's comment

  12. Chris on August 22, 2012 at 6:12 am

    Wow, the finishing line is so close now. Almost there!

    My favourite way to relax has to be walking around the yard. We get all sorts of flocking birds, carnivorous birds, nesting on the ground birds and just to stand in the garden, I see and hear them everywhere. When I stand still enough, their sweet melodies and brisk appearances calm me to the core.

    Reply to Chris's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
The Mad Dash

Last Thursday our contractor finally arrived. He was scheduled to come a month ago, but you know how those things...

Close