To 'celebrate' my 2 years of blogging, I thought I'd return to my very first post and redo my "Bucket List." Before I revamp and make a new one, I thought I should take time to review the original. There have been a few checks (✓) added as I accomplished a goal...very few, but I do celebrate those. I have added comments, where appropriate:
1) Kitchen:
a. Make a sourdough starter and sourdough breads - I love Sourdough bread, but still have not been motivated enough to try my own. Our pizza dough gets close, since I leave a little every time I make a new batch. If it sits 2 weeks, the family seems to love it even more, and recognizes the sourdough type of flavor.
b. ✓Make my own yogurt - I'm so glad I did this. I really love it after it's been drained, and my go-to, healthy breakfast is our homemade Greek yogurt with roasted almonds, unsweetened coconut, and a squirt of Blue Agave nectar.
c. Make fresh pastas - Still think I might like to make fresh ravioli from scratch. We'll see.
d. ✓Create more veggie-rich meals, including work lunches for DH
2) Sewing:
a. Machine Embroidery…I have the machine and I should use it!
b. Sew for the local crisis pregnancy organization
c. Sew for myself and the kids again…Make a duct tape body form? - I REALLY want to do this. But I think I might have to wait until our young marrieds get into their own space, and my sewing room is no longer their laundry/office/storage area.
3) Gardening
a. Study greenhouse gardening…Get the greenhouse fixed, finished, and working for us
b. Learn succession gardening
c. Learn all-season gardening
d. Establish and plant berry gardens
4) Yard
a. Create flower beds around the front porch, and eventually redirect the driveway - The building of the garage addition will actually force some of this to happen, and in those same plans, I should get a bigger veggie garden area with better exposure. It'll happen!
b. Remove sod, and put gravel around the garden boxes
5) Woodworking - Maybe in the new garage's shop area!
a. Butcher block cutting boards
b. Tables and work islands
c. Start business?
6) Raise chickens…? We’ll see…- Still on the radar, but a ways down the list.
7) Art and Crafts - Doesn't seem to be happening!
a. Learn to knit
b. Keep a sketch diary
c. Refresh my painting skills
8) House
b. Design a pet area, including a contraption to keep the dogs out of the cat food, or we’ll need a doggie treadmill (Rosie is already almost rolling down the stairs in the morning.) - We put the cat food on the sewing counter (not the best solution), which did help Rosie regain her proper weight range. But I hope for a better set-up in the new enclosed breezeway between the house and garage.
9) Homeschooling - There have been big changes in our approach this year, with still more adjustments needed. Definitely a subject for the new list.
a. More writing!
b. ✓Expand the great new math program (Teaching Textbooks) used for grade 7 and Algebra this year for all the kids at all levels
c. More reading!
d. History timelines
e. Have a ‘project component,’ so there are always ongoing projects underway for each child
10) Self-Improvement - SO LITTLE progress here. Need to rethink and refocus.
a. Daily devotions/Bible
b. Daily exercise…Oh, ok…
c. READ…Quit returning books to the library only partially read.
d. Periodic dates with DH…The Love Dare?
11) Write blog entries that don't take 2 days to post, and 2 days to read! - Instead of becoming more productive, I've cut back. I think that was the better approach for my family and my priorities.
Now, no more looking back, or feeling badly about what I didn't do... But, instead, taking steps everyday, forward toward new experiences and a renewed set of goals.
I wrote and scheduled this post before I decided to begin the 31 Days (An Apple A Day) project. But it's made me realize something. I have a LOT of trimmings from the apples, and the deer really enjoy fruit. So instead of composting it all, or throwing it in the trash, I could share with these friends in our yard. We'll give it a try next time they come 'round.
