Oh,and the Friday Five

1. What are your favorite ways to relax and unwind?

Well, knitting, of course, but also quilting, reading, reading magazines, gardening, cooking, and (if I'm in the right mood) even cleaning house.
I also love to take hot baths, especially at the end of a hard day.

2. What do you do the moment you get home from work/school/errands?

Usually the first thing I do is get my mail out of the mailbox. (And then dump half of it in the recycle bin; I get a lot of junk mail). Then, I usually set up the sprinkler in my garden (it's been way too dry here).

3. What are your favorite aromatherapeutic smells?

Herbal scents like rosemary. My favorite smell of all is The Thymes "olive leaf" scent. I also like some rose scents but only if they are the natural oil.

I find scents that are artificial or overly flowery tend to upset my allergies.

4. Do you feel more relaxed with a group of friends or hanging out by yourself?

Actually, by myself. When I'm with friends I feel the pressure of keeping up my end of the conversation, when there are times I just don't feel like talking.

5. What is something that you feel is relaxing but most people don't?

I think my relaxation is a lot more "active" than what many people consider relaxing. I feel really good after spending time hoeing or weeding in the garden, but a lot of people would think that was hard work. Likewise, if I have the time and am in the right mood, I can find cleaning house very relaxing - the whole world becomes a set of simple binary decisions: is the item where it is supposed to be or do I have to move it somewhere else to put it away? Have I already swept this floor or does it still need sweeping?.

I can't just sit. I can't just watch tv (unless it's a tremendously compelling movie). And I'd go nuts on vacation if my whole vacation were sitting in a beach chair somewhere.