establishing routine

Sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet, friends - otherwise you might never jump in at all. I am in that both-feet state of mind this week as I return from my Canadian sabbatical, refreshed and rejuvenated and with a heck of a lot to do. I came home to a smaller household as Mr's beloved dog gave in to old age while I was gone, but I find that I have more to do now rather than less. Our younger pup has so much energy to burn off that some days I find myself exhausted just looking at him; my cat is desperate for my attention and affection; and my husband is battling a shift that sucks at a job he hates, and he needs me to bolster him and keep our life in order while he deals with the drudgery. Meanwhile I dream of bursting gardens, wood-fired ovens, chicken coops, maybe a vacation to the beach... my hopes for this summer are endless. What does all this mean? It means that it's time I wake up and smell the coffee, as it were. There has been a profound change in me during the last year, and I am keenly aware of it. The time has come for me to step up to the plate and truly swing with all my might if I want to see our dreams realized.  

I am starting fairly small: trying to set up a routine for myself. Housework broken down into days of the week, forcing myself out of bed so that I can get things done before the husband comes home, making sure to get outside for a couple of hours every day to play with the pup and weed the garden and keep a close eye on our newly-tilled beds. Trying not to overlook those pesky little chores that seem to get put off for months and months. These things seem so minute, but I feel that without them my days will dissolve into an endless chorus of "I can do it tomorrow" wherein tomorrow never comes. 

So far, I feel like it is going well. I am trying to approach each task with vigor and make the most of all the hours in my day. Having spent weeks with my darling grandmother - watching her complete more tasks every morning than I may sometimes do in a week - made me feel appropriately lazy. If I want to be even half the woman she is I'm going to need to step it up. I want to do something to make myself proud, and being able to be more productive and efficient at home seems like a pretty fine place to start.