Simply..filtering....

13/6/2014

I suspect a new essential life skill might be filtering out a lot of the data and information that comes our way (see yesterday's post).

Would you agree? Any suggestions? I shall start by unsubscribing a few things I am no longer really interested in.

Meanwhile in the garden -

I'm thrilled by this new foxglove 'Pink Illumination'.

It's a sterile hybrid, so I shall try to propagate it by basal cuttings in autumn and in spring, but it should flower over a longer period than the white ones.

I'm also thrilled to have a garden big enough that I can pick a bunch of flowers for a friend without denuding it!

My garden's not huge, but it is the biggest I have had (not counting the 2 acres of the cottage on a moor where the sheep always got in and ate everything I tried to grow...I gave up and learned all about the wild flowers instead.)

10 Comments

Madeleine

13/6/2014 10:13:52 am

Hi,

there is a way out of the craziness! First, allocate set times each day when you are on the computer - and stick to them! Don't sign up for anything. I keep a list in my diary of blogs I like, and just check them out and follow up comments when I want to.

Only closest family and the children's schools have my mobile number - guess what, it hardly ever rings! I did this because with my last mobile it was constantly going off disturbing my work, my private time, and even my sleep - no more!

Let your work colleagues or clients know the hours when you check emails, and don't be tempted to check out of normal working hours. Unless you you have a job like heart surgeon, it's probably not going to be a life or death situation if you don't respond immediately.

I don't answer the telephone if I'm cooking or spending time with my family. If it's important, they will call back. If it's phone salespeople you've just successfully avoided them. We have all become conditioned to jump every time we hear a ring, beep or buzz, and we need to train ourselves to be in the moment and focus on what we are doing. Nothing terrible will happen if you don't respond immediately.

I have a 'no junk mail' sign on my mailbox, and a 'no salespeople' sign on my front door - stop the rubbish BEFORE it comes into your home.

I hope this is helpful!

Madeleine.

Freda

14/6/2014 05:19:36 am

Very helpful Madeleine - you've given this a lot of thought and what's more taken action! Stopping the junk coming in in the first place is the way to go..

Barbara In California

13/6/2014 04:14:33 pm

That foxglove is a stunner! The flowers look huge and the color is lovely. As for filtering data - I rarely look at Facebook, I don't follow too many blogs, I try to get on and off email (with limited success), gave up watching TV about 10 months ago - I don't miss it at all. I do follow the news but mostly via radio,, I stream the radio show on my smart phone so I can listen while sewing or working in the yard.

Freda

14/6/2014 05:25:05 am

We've not had TV for 20 years (but I do now watch the odd thing on the laptop..) All those hours to do things! We had rented one and when we moved house found, like you, that we didn't miss it. Thanks for commenting.

Dottie doodle link

13/6/2014 04:28:10 pm

Lovely flowers! I'm not a big user of technology but have recently stopped following so many blogs - but commenting more on those i do follow. And i'm being more mindful about how i use the internet. I could lose an hour, for no real purpose!

Freda

14/6/2014 05:26:06 am

Time is precious isn't it! And life is short!

elaine link

13/6/2014 04:30:53 pm

You are right about it being stunning - I thought it was a Penstemon when I first saw the picture.

Freda

14/6/2014 05:27:12 am

Yes, I see the resemblance Elaine

Leah

14/6/2014 02:20:46 am

I love your garden photos as I kill even cacti--and how simple and lovely your posts are! A bit of beauty in my day. I don't subscribe to any blogs but do check some regularly, and have gotten good at ceasing to check blogs that no longer do it for me instead of lingering out of habit, boredom, or loyalty.
My spouse and I went to the movies last night--first time in a year and a half, since it's so expensive, but we had a gift card and my parents were babysitting, woohoo! We were shocked at the amount of advertising that fills the screen before show time--and I'm talking ads, not trailers. Even the "turn off your cell phone " message is now a 30 second mini-movie with ads. It was like going into a big box store after not doing so for months-sensory overload. Needless to say, next time we decide to see something in a theater instead of staying home to watch as we normally do, we'll arrive 20 minutes after the posted show time.

Freda

14/6/2014 05:30:40 am

You are right that advertising is everywhere - and one of the hardest things to filter out - 20 minutes of it is awful! I'm so glad you enjoy the blog - thanks for reading (and commenting).

Simply..filtering....

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