Library News 22 October 2021
Published on October 22, 2021
New Non- Fiction eBooks
Your Edible Yard by Crystal Stevens
The Lavender Lover’s Handbook by Sarah Berringer Bader
Never Put a Cactus in the Bathroom by Emily L. Hay Hinsdale
Green Home by Anders Royneberg
Regrown by Paul Anderton & Robin Daly
New Naturalism by Kelly D. Norris
Te Mahi Māra Hua Parakore by Jessica Hutchings
Wild Your Garden by The Butterfly Brothers
The Scentual Garden by Ken Druse
The Sound of Cherry Blossoms by Martin Hakubai & Alxe Noden
All of these books can be found using Libby and Overdrive which can be accessed from our library website here: https://www.tetakere.org.nz/Your-Library/Digital-Resources/eLibrary
Pam Coleman
Community Engagement Librarian
Putting the Pro in procrastination
My goal almost every weekend for the last few months has been to tackle the two extremes of my garden – a concrete jungle in the back yard and a wildflower garden to the front. However, procrastination is my friend. "Procrastination is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off impending tasks to a later time."
I have used quite a few excuses to avoid the garden so far. “We are far too busy renovating.” “It’s raining.” “It’s too hot.” “I don’t have enough fuel for the mower.” I am all for equality in our marriage but I did even resort to saying, in an annoying whiny voice, “I have tiny women hands and the weed wacker shakes and hurts my bones.”
We do like to potter in the garden but my husband and I dislike grass with a passion. It has become a battle of wits as to who can find the best excuse to avoid mowing the lawn. He won. A minor (ish) motorcycle accident has left my better half recovering from a couple of broken ribs, a dodgy leg and a very bruised elbow and ego.
To help (or rub it in) he borrowed ‘Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time’ by Brian Tracy as well as a few magazine titles from our collection “New Zealand Gardener” and “NZ House and Garden.” I preferred Wild Your Garden by The Butterfly Brothers. Do weeds count as wildflowers?
I do envy those who have patience and make time to nurture their garden. I looked wistfully at the beautiful gardens in the gardening books and magazines and I’m enthused and inspired. By the time I have flicked through the pages of the books, scrolled, pinned and sorted all of my Pinterest garden images, its dark.
I’m in good company though, Leonardo Da Vinci was a famous procrastinator. He finished the Mona Lisa in 1517 despite having started it in 1503. Psychologists say that procrastination can help with creativity. The time you spend processing your tasks and projects can help you come up with amazing solutions. Even when you are not consciously thinking about what’s on your creative do-to list, your subconscious is.
My lawn is so bad now that friends have gently suggested that I hire someone to do the lawns. I may put the pro in procrastination but as a canny Scot to suggest paying for a gardener gave me the heebie-jeebies. This means action! First, I’ll pop the kettle on and read just one more chapter.