Easter and back to real life

A gorgeous Easter after days of wind and rain. We awoke to a faint, but beautiful sunrise over Puget Sound and the mountains, flowers dripping with rain, and my sons bursting with excitement for the annual treasure hunt (map, clues and all)... the Easter Bunny at my mother's house goes all out.

I've been away for over 2 weeks and feel buried. Being without internet and phone felt strange at first, but I have to admit, I got used to the solitude. It felt nice to sleep and wake with the sun, only answering to the basic needs of myself and my family - who joined me the 2nd week.

Now I'm struggling to get back to 'real life': reply to messages, ship out book orders, fill out paperwork for junior high, nurse a sick kid, sit on the founding board of a new Choice School (focused on math, science and technology), design art lessons for 125 kids, prep for jewelry classes and trunk show in New York, write a newsletter (sadly behind schedule), plan my Autumn Festival retreat, finalize color proofs for the next iteration of Eye For Color, write a section for a Dutch book, apply to teach at venues a year or so out... all due this month.

I feel overwhelmed and a bit resentful to give up my peace and quiet and simple life of the last 2 weeks. But at the same time I am excited about all of the items on my plate. Perhaps I just need a bit of ramp-up time. And a cup of tea.