Skip to main content

Relaxation

Captain's Log, Supplemental

Just back from my writer’s retreat in Minnesota, I’ve started to reevaluate my time. I’m realizing that I need to make more of an effort to protect my creativity (since I now make my living off of it) and allow myself to relax.

One thing I realized in Minnesota is how much I love the sound of running water. My friend Sharon Hinck likes the sound of the ocean (or in her case, Lake Superior), but I think because I grew up in Hawaii, it doesn’t do anything for me.

But streams are wonderful. Waterfalls and rushing rivers are okay, but I like streams the best. Water gurgling over rocks.

So, I thought—why not utilize that in my workspace? We’d received a tabletop water fountain as a wedding gift and never even opened the box. Why not use it now?

Here is my new tranquility corner!



What do you think?

What do you do for your tranquility? Or is it more along the lines of, "Relax? What's that? I think the last time was in '89 ..."

Comments

Jenny said…
Oh this is nice! I think I need some "running water" sound too because I catch myself hanging out in the fountain area at Home Depot! lol! I would have a hard time keeping my kiddos out of anything tranquil....
Ronie Kendig said…
Kewl! I don't have a tranquility spot. However, I do burn scented lavender candles, which are supposed to help you relax. Or I drink chamomile tea. :-D
Carolynn said…
I love the fountain! Mine broke down a while back so I need to get a new one.
Can't seem to find one I like though :)
Sharon Hinck said…
I'm just giggling at how you can call storms and five days of power outages, and the ongoing adventure and chaos of our household a "writer's retreat." LOL!

I WISH I'd gotten a picture of you hard at work on your laptop - by candlelight.

The peppers from the garden are missing you - no one else is eating them.

I'm glad our Minnesota streams have inspired you, even though Lake Superior made you yawn. ;-)

Come again anytime! There are more hiking trails to explore, and more bunnies, badgers, and chipmunks in the garden. I miss you!
PatriciaW said…
Water is always relaxing. I grew up on Long Island (NY). I love all bodies of water but nothing tops being in/near the ocean.

I don't have a spot but seeing water does it for me. So does certain scents, like lavender or almond.
Mary Connealy said…
You grew up in Hawaii?
You are such an interesting human being, Camy.
Gina Conroy said…
Tranquility? What's that? With four kids and a dog (very good dog, I should confess) tranquility is a hotel room for the weekend.

I'm counting the days until ACFW!

Popular Posts

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci...

A Wallflower’s Slip of the Tongue – Free Regency eBook

If you enjoy Regency romance with wit, awkward ballroom encounters, and a heroine who can’t quite keep her thoughts to herself, you’ll love Lissa and the Spy . This free Christian Regency romantic suspense novella is the perfect entry point into my Lady Wynwood’s Spies series. Get it free when you join my newsletter (details below). Miss Lissa Gardinier survived her last London Season by pretending to be as inoffensive as possible. But at this ball, she lets her true thoughts slip yet again . And this time, they involve an unfortunately named spaniel. Excerpt Last year during that first dance with Mr. Collingworth, upon seeing him excitedly discuss his dog breeding, she had been encouraged to also speak without restraint. So she had voiced her exact thoughts rather than hiding behind a vapid facade. “Why in the world would you name a dog Lickspittle Furrybottom?” At Mr. Collingworth’s startled look, Lissa realized that she’d said that out loud now , in this dance with him. “… Not...

What Is a Brutus Cut? A Regency Hair Trend Inspired by Ancient Rome

Regency Haircuts and Disguises in Lady Wynwood’s Spies In this excerpt from Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 8: Traitor , Phoebe prepares for a dangerous mission—one that requires her to disguise herself as a young man. The hairstyle she receives, called a Brutus cut, was actually quite fashionable during the Regency. Read on to find out more about this curious trend and why it suited her new identity so well. Excerpt from Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 8: Traitor : By far, the absolute worst part of Uncle Sol’s plan was that Phoebe had to cut her hair. Of the four agents, Phoebe and Mr. Coulton-Jones would be the least likely to be recognized when they entered the Ramparts building—Mr. Coulton-Jones, because of his skill in altering his facial features and his posture, and Phoebe, because she could play a convincing young man, which no one would expect. A disreputable hat would hide her long hair to an extent, but it would not fool anyone who looked closely. Also, because she would lo...