There IS Life After Facebook
Let’s see. It’s been about two weeks since I left Facebook and, simply put, I don’t miss it one bit. I feel calmer, more centered, rested, and ready for each day. I can 100% attest to the fact that Yes, Virginia, There IS life after Facebook. In these two short weeks, I have read two books and loved them both. So much so that I am putting the links to them here in case you want to either purchase them from these links ( in which case I will get about .05 cents), borrow them from your public library, or purchase from your own indie book store or mine.
The Garden Awakening by Mary Reynolds
and The Best Cook in the World by Rick Bragg
Both are wonderful reads, and I have just started Mary Pipher’s new book, Women Rowing North.
(Please let me know if you find the links offensive, and I will leave them out in future posts. OK?)
My garden is about half way prepared for spring planting. It’s the one area where I feel behind, but gardens are like that as there’s always something to do. Before I leave for Ireland, I really hope to have my strawberry bed cleaned and tidied, and the greens, peas, and radishes planted. I’m soaking my sweet peas tonight so I can slip them in tomorrow.
My favorite sweet peas
I was able to prune almost all of the trees. There are two larger ornamental cherry trees on the east side of the house that I didn’t get to, and after reading Mary Reynolds’ words about summer pruning, I’m going to give it a try. I’ll report back on how that goes a few seasons from now.
Now, along with the lightness I feel from less social media, I’ve even taken to leaving my phone at home when I head out into town on errands and such, and surviving just fine. Today I went for a car service appointment, and out of eight people in the waiting area, only one was not bending over a phone. The posture reminds me of when we followed along dutifully at church services with our missals when I was a little girl. Two weeks ago, there would have been 100% on phones, as I would have been that eighth phone devotee. Just as I had hoped, emails, texts, and a voice mail were all waiting for me when I got home. So was my son, Duncan, and after a catch up chat about two newly scheduled dates for workshops that he will be leading, and making myself a nice spot of tea, I settled down to respond to everything in my own time.
So, since I’ve brought up Duncan 😉 here are links to the two new dates for the Art of the Pie Day Camps that he will be leading this summer at Pie Cottage:
…and some lovely words from a pie camper after taking his workshop this Saturday past:
“Loved the Camp with Duncan. My husband said it was the best pie crust I have ever made. Looking forward to more pies in my future!”
Duncan McDermott Graham, Art of the Pie Day Camp
If a workshop at Pie Cottage, or a visit to the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, is in your summertime plans, here’s a link to the website travel page with some ideas of things to do in my little neck of the woods.
The countdown has begun for my journey to Ireland–24 days! In preparation, I’m taking an online course about The Book of Kells. Being able to take it is another reminder for me that, yes, there IS life after Facebook. I’m looking forward to seeing it during my two days in Dublin, before I head to the west coast where I’ll be for the rest of the three weeks on the Emerald Isle. I studied some about the book when I was at university in the 1970’s, and had planned on seeing it when I had been accepted into a summer program at Trinity College during that same time, but life happened, and I didn’t get there. So, better late than never. Right?
A page from The Book of Kells (Trinity College, Dublin)
I’m so glad to hear that you are soaking your sweet peas seeds for planting tomorrow. I put mine to soak today also. I wasn’t sure if it was to early or not but sure hope it isn’t. Love reading your blog and enjoy your trip!
I always feel that planting seeds is the ultimate act of faith. One little tiny seed, takes root, grows, blossoms, and bring so much joy and nourishment before it fades away, Deborah. Happy Gardening!
Kate, I just returned last night from my trip to Japan. It was wonderful and I wish you a wonderful trip to the Emerald Isle. There is something about “the island mentality” that is true in the islands of Britain, Ireland, Japan, and the Olympic Peninsula — we are almost an island, to be sure! You are reminding me that I need to get my gardening underway, in the form of sweet peas, which I promised myself to plant a lot of this year. Cheers!
Welcome Home, Margery! I loved seeing some of your cherry blossom photos. Sweet peas in the garden are my favs. xo k
I just finished a genealogy course from FutureLearn. What an amazing gift to have FutureLearn available on line. I traveled to Ireland a year ago last fall. Who would believe anywhere would be so green and the rain so soft. My DNA surprised me with more Irish than I knew. I always thought sweet peas and potatoes were supposed to be planted by St Patrick’s Day, but my garden space is still buried in snow. My latest bake was not a pie, but Guinness Brown Bread. Have a most wonderful trip….!! LINDA
Thank you, Linda. I’m thinking of trying to post a few blog posts to share the trip and pics while there using just my phone as I really don’t want to take a computer, or tablet. Fingers crossed that my fingers won’t fumble too badly. 🤪
Kate, in Summer of 1967, at the end of an academic year in Florence studying Art History, I ”begged” a scholarship off Trinity Colege for the summer term’s Book of Kells course. It was in the days of the gloved master physically turning one page each day then locking it back under the glass case in that huge ancient Trinity hall. It was such a thrill. I worked in their country cottage outside Dublin where students lived for my room and board. While “The” book was the major attraction, I also remember the Irish breakfasts w baked tomatoes, eggs and hearty Irish bread as my other fav memory of the summer. It was bold because I sold my ticket home to stay on for the summer.
I hope you have such fabulous memories of your trip there. The Book is stunningly beautiful and so movingly marvelous. Drink in every letter and illustration! Peace, Mary Doherty
Thank you for your memory, Mary. Selling that ticket was very brave! I look forward to the journey and magic that awaits me there. Blessings, Kate
When you visit Trinity college, you will see the Brian Barou (sp?) harp. It is fabulous! Such history. But DONT miss the library there. I stood in awe with my mouth gapping open! Words simply cannot describe the most incredible library I’ve ever seen. And you are a book worm Kate! Bring your camera!!!!
I will look for it Kellen. When I played hammered dulcimer with the Celtic group I toured and recorded with so long ago, one of our tunes was Brian Boru’s March. I had forgotten about that…and him.
Well done for giving up facebook!! I think we are all surrounded by stuff we don’t need, and if we can make our lives less cluttered we’ll have more time for things that are really important, like talking to people face to face!! 🙂
I’ve been having a lot more conversations in real life!
I have a small business presence which I’m building on Facebook. While I could delete my personal page, I don’t think I have the strength to only tend to my business page and not my personal page… I am striving to keep politics off my feed, but I find it difficult on some days…
Have a safe and enjoyable trip. Maybe we’ll see some IG posts of your journeys and discoveries?
I’m planning on posting on Instagram. You can follow at @katemcdermott or my personal Instagram feed @thepiechiatrist. 🙂
Thanks for the reminder about the sweet peas! I need to do that. It has been raining so much here, I haven’t been out in the yard much. (I know you probably aren’t going to sympathize with that!) I am looking forward to getting my tomato plants in first of April. Enjoy your trip to Ireland!
I worry about the rains in Santa Barbara after the fires. Tomatoes for me are months away yet. >
I think the worst is over regarding the rains. Fortunately the last few storms have been pretty gentle. But everything is quite saturated.
Let’s hope it holds.
I look forward to hearing about your trip and seeing pictures. Will you be with a tour group or on your own?
A dear friend and I are journeying together. The last week I will be heading out to one of the Aran Islands on a writers retreat.
Ireland — hOMe!!
So true, Bonnie! xo