This year for the first time I have decided not to have any New Year's Resolutions.Not because I don't want to set goals,but because my Resolutions always fall by the wayside by March and I am tired of setting myself up for failure.( For the last 10 years, my main resolution has been about losing weight) All I can do is what I can do,and I refuse to beat myself up for it. Besides,what difference will a New Year bring? It's all up to me. I know a New Year brings the thought of a clean slate ahead,just waiting for me to write upon it, and I am eager to do that,but I don't want to feel under pressure to do so. It has to be because I want to do something,not because it's January 1. Besides,January 1 or June 1, it's all the same thing,isn't it?
That's not to say I am not looking forward to the year ahead! We have started receiving seed catalogs,so this has spurned on excitement about our next garden,which we plan on doubling this year. We are going to start planning it within the next few weeks,as it won't be long before our little seeds need to be started. One thing I think we will have to wait on is goats. We love them and want them,but we have much to do this coming Spring and Summer,and I do not want to put more on our plate. We want to put a metal roof on the house and garage. We have had issues with ice dams . We need to build more square foot garden boxes and get those ready for planting. We need a new deck,and new porch stairs. Our house and garage need to be painted.We need to redo our mud room so it's weatherproof. If we didn't have that much to do,I would be more apt to say yes to goats this year.
Today begins our back to normal routine. I am taking down our Christmas decorations,but might leave our pretty tree up for a few more days. That is the sad thing about after the holidays-all that work,planning,decorating-and then it's all over. Sigh.
Showing posts with label resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resolutions. Show all posts
Monday, January 3, 2011
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Putting It On Paper
I don't know about you,but one of my resolutions to "improve self and surroundings" was to make sure I knew what I was doing each day-ie: a list. This way,I could keep our projects organized and I could see all that actually needed to be done,rather than trying to rely on my memory,which tends to fog up a bit at times.
I know we have a lot of projects outside that we need to do. I also know that not all of them will get done this year. For instance,painting the house. That will probably be done next year,as we need to get our little farm up and running this year,and that will eat up some money.It still goes on the list,however.
I sat down and wrote this list. It kept growing longer and longer,and when I reached the end of it,I looked at it in dismay.
Outdoor To Do List
1) Build turkey cage
2)Build chicken coop
3)Build raised beds
4)Rake and clean the yard
5)Get rid of all the junk wood
6)Install the dog fence
7)Have septic pumped
8)Install drainage
9)Rebuild porch
10) Rebuild the deck
11)Rebuild the walkway
12)Plant flowers,put in granite slabs around, and install walkway to our flagpole
13)Clean out the garage
14)Repaint and plant flowers around the well
15) Sand and repaint the bulkhead
16)Get rid of the misc concrete blocks
17)Rick make a sign for the house ("The Little Yellow Farm")
18) Replace rotted house boards
19)Paint the house
20) Plant the garden
21) Set up the pool
22) Set up the rainbarrels
Hmm..how many hours in the day,and how much money do we have????? Answer: Not that much!!!
It seems very overwhelming when it is written down. I didn't realize how much there was to do until I did so. Now I feel like we are up against alot and will never complete half of what we need to do. So...what does one do when one looks at all this?
One PRIORITIZES!
Priorities are important. Like I said earlier,we can forgo certain projects,but others (turkey cage,chicken coop,raised beds,planting the garden,etc) are mandatory. These are things that HAVE to get done,if we are to establish the kind of life we want. Next year we won't have to build so many things,so we will have more time. Rick will also be better physically,so the work will get done faster. Do we really need to plant flowers around the well and flagpole? No. That can wait.
When one is starting out on a path to self reliance,the list can be long,because there is more work than just regular maintenance. Starting out is when one feels overwhelmed. You think it's too much.
That's when you look at your list,and you do the essentials first,then the rest will fall into place.
We are on the end tail of our turkey cage now. The one thing we do have to get more of is lumber. There are no cross supports on the top of the cage,so the chicken wire is a bit loose and on the warped side. It is not nice and tight as on the bottom half,because there is a bottom and a middle cross support. Now ,we could get away with it,but Rick wants it to look right.
Your best bet when starting your journey is to make a list,determine what is mandatory,and take it from there. Remember, you are not alone! We are in this together!!!
I know we have a lot of projects outside that we need to do. I also know that not all of them will get done this year. For instance,painting the house. That will probably be done next year,as we need to get our little farm up and running this year,and that will eat up some money.It still goes on the list,however.
I sat down and wrote this list. It kept growing longer and longer,and when I reached the end of it,I looked at it in dismay.
Outdoor To Do List
1) Build turkey cage
2)Build chicken coop
3)Build raised beds
4)Rake and clean the yard
5)Get rid of all the junk wood
6)Install the dog fence
7)Have septic pumped
8)Install drainage
9)Rebuild porch
10) Rebuild the deck
11)Rebuild the walkway
12)Plant flowers,put in granite slabs around, and install walkway to our flagpole
13)Clean out the garage
14)Repaint and plant flowers around the well
15) Sand and repaint the bulkhead
16)Get rid of the misc concrete blocks
17)Rick make a sign for the house ("The Little Yellow Farm")
18) Replace rotted house boards
19)Paint the house
20) Plant the garden
21) Set up the pool
22) Set up the rainbarrels
Hmm..how many hours in the day,and how much money do we have????? Answer: Not that much!!!
It seems very overwhelming when it is written down. I didn't realize how much there was to do until I did so. Now I feel like we are up against alot and will never complete half of what we need to do. So...what does one do when one looks at all this?
One PRIORITIZES!
Priorities are important. Like I said earlier,we can forgo certain projects,but others (turkey cage,chicken coop,raised beds,planting the garden,etc) are mandatory. These are things that HAVE to get done,if we are to establish the kind of life we want. Next year we won't have to build so many things,so we will have more time. Rick will also be better physically,so the work will get done faster. Do we really need to plant flowers around the well and flagpole? No. That can wait.
When one is starting out on a path to self reliance,the list can be long,because there is more work than just regular maintenance. Starting out is when one feels overwhelmed. You think it's too much.
That's when you look at your list,and you do the essentials first,then the rest will fall into place.
We are on the end tail of our turkey cage now. The one thing we do have to get more of is lumber. There are no cross supports on the top of the cage,so the chicken wire is a bit loose and on the warped side. It is not nice and tight as on the bottom half,because there is a bottom and a middle cross support. Now ,we could get away with it,but Rick wants it to look right.
Your best bet when starting your journey is to make a list,determine what is mandatory,and take it from there. Remember, you are not alone! We are in this together!!!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New Year's Resolutions
Happy 2010!
This year I have made several resolutions,which I am determined to keep.My Dear Friend Michelle and I are on the same path,and we have been emailing back and forth about what we want to do,and how to go about it.One of the problems I have had in the past is just plain motivation. I finally came to the realzation that no one is going to get the ball rolling here except for me. No one likes to hear someone whine and complain about their weight yet do nothing about it.
This is the year!!!!!!!
The first thing I did was grab an old binder,and decided to make that into my "Manifesto,"for lack of a better name. Then I was reading a blog,(whose I can't remember, I send my apologies to that person)and they had a book which they called their "Lifebook." Well, I liked that much better,as it really is all about the kind of life you want to lead. So I have adopted ( it sounds much nicer that stolen) that termimology.
What is in my Lifebook? Everything I want to work on this year. The opening page is my mission statement. I wrote and rewrote it several times. I wanted something concise,and it just seemed to keep going....and going....and going. So I asked myself: "What is it that I am trying to do overall here?" I came up with this: "To improve self and surroundings."That is my goal.
The book is divided into sections:
Self- this area is where I will keep track of the loss of weight and inches. I will also write down what programs I want to do. Not only do I want to improve physcially,but mentally as well. I have a problem with depression and anxiety,and my goal is to try to maintain a positive outlook. One thing I am going to try this year is to grow St John's Wort.It has been used to help with anxiety and depression,so I thought the tea might help.
Household-this has all my goals for the house-renovations,organization,etc.
Garden-has my plans for square foot gardening,starting seeds,and my kitchen garden.
Homesteading-plans for the new turkey cage,a chicken coop,and other things we would like to accomplish,such as getting a rain barrel to help keep the well full and to water plants,soap and candle ideas,and whatever else we may decide to do.
Trips-places,info,and maps of places we want to go
Interest-things or people that interest me that I want to learn about.I am going to be more of a scholar this year.
I have another binder that I made last January,in which I have a section for all phone numbers and doctors,a section for menus for take out,and a section for school items.It is centrally located in the kitchen,inbetween the microwave and the wall to the living room.
One thing I am loving is our file cabinet.The top drawer is all of Rick's medical and military records. The bottom drawer is all our household files:mortgage documents,bank records,vital information,product manuals,etc. I had eliminated one big file box just for Rick's stuff alone,then I was able to get rid of a strong box (which didn't lock and was stuffed)and a accordian style file system. If I need something,I no longer have to go into the bedroom,go into my closet,reach into the bottom of it,and pull something out. Now it's right here next to the computer desk in the living room.Saves time and energy!
So my organizing has begun early.
Tomorrow I start my weight loss program.That is going to be hard,as I am an emotional eater,but I am tired of being overwieght and being embarrassed about it. However,I am excited about this up upcoming year,and so far am enjoying being more thoughtful and organized about what I want to do.
I ask myself these questions:
1) What do I want to do?
2) What do I need to accomplish it?
3) How will I acquire what I need?
4) Is it feasible?
5)What are the benefits?
One thing myself and My Dear Friend Michelle had discussed in the past was beekeeping. I like the thought of having my own honey and beeswax. Plus they are a vital part of nature,and it seems like bees are disappearing.Since this year we are doing quite a few new things,I figured we would hold off on the beekeeping.I don't want to be overwhelmed,and Rick's health is always a concern. However, true to form,My Dear Friend does not only throw ideas out there,she actually does them.She is reading up on beekeeping,and,barring something major,she wants to have bees this year.Yet again,she is ahead of me!
What are your resolutions?
This year I have made several resolutions,which I am determined to keep.My Dear Friend Michelle and I are on the same path,and we have been emailing back and forth about what we want to do,and how to go about it.One of the problems I have had in the past is just plain motivation. I finally came to the realzation that no one is going to get the ball rolling here except for me. No one likes to hear someone whine and complain about their weight yet do nothing about it.
This is the year!!!!!!!
The first thing I did was grab an old binder,and decided to make that into my "Manifesto,"for lack of a better name. Then I was reading a blog,(whose I can't remember, I send my apologies to that person)and they had a book which they called their "Lifebook." Well, I liked that much better,as it really is all about the kind of life you want to lead. So I have adopted ( it sounds much nicer that stolen) that termimology.
What is in my Lifebook? Everything I want to work on this year. The opening page is my mission statement. I wrote and rewrote it several times. I wanted something concise,and it just seemed to keep going....and going....and going. So I asked myself: "What is it that I am trying to do overall here?" I came up with this: "To improve self and surroundings."That is my goal.
The book is divided into sections:
Self- this area is where I will keep track of the loss of weight and inches. I will also write down what programs I want to do. Not only do I want to improve physcially,but mentally as well. I have a problem with depression and anxiety,and my goal is to try to maintain a positive outlook. One thing I am going to try this year is to grow St John's Wort.It has been used to help with anxiety and depression,so I thought the tea might help.
Household-this has all my goals for the house-renovations,organization,etc.
Garden-has my plans for square foot gardening,starting seeds,and my kitchen garden.
Homesteading-plans for the new turkey cage,a chicken coop,and other things we would like to accomplish,such as getting a rain barrel to help keep the well full and to water plants,soap and candle ideas,and whatever else we may decide to do.
Trips-places,info,and maps of places we want to go
Interest-things or people that interest me that I want to learn about.I am going to be more of a scholar this year.
I have another binder that I made last January,in which I have a section for all phone numbers and doctors,a section for menus for take out,and a section for school items.It is centrally located in the kitchen,inbetween the microwave and the wall to the living room.
One thing I am loving is our file cabinet.The top drawer is all of Rick's medical and military records. The bottom drawer is all our household files:mortgage documents,bank records,vital information,product manuals,etc. I had eliminated one big file box just for Rick's stuff alone,then I was able to get rid of a strong box (which didn't lock and was stuffed)and a accordian style file system. If I need something,I no longer have to go into the bedroom,go into my closet,reach into the bottom of it,and pull something out. Now it's right here next to the computer desk in the living room.Saves time and energy!
So my organizing has begun early.
Tomorrow I start my weight loss program.That is going to be hard,as I am an emotional eater,but I am tired of being overwieght and being embarrassed about it. However,I am excited about this up upcoming year,and so far am enjoying being more thoughtful and organized about what I want to do.
I ask myself these questions:
1) What do I want to do?
2) What do I need to accomplish it?
3) How will I acquire what I need?
4) Is it feasible?
5)What are the benefits?
One thing myself and My Dear Friend Michelle had discussed in the past was beekeeping. I like the thought of having my own honey and beeswax. Plus they are a vital part of nature,and it seems like bees are disappearing.Since this year we are doing quite a few new things,I figured we would hold off on the beekeeping.I don't want to be overwhelmed,and Rick's health is always a concern. However, true to form,My Dear Friend does not only throw ideas out there,she actually does them.She is reading up on beekeeping,and,barring something major,she wants to have bees this year.Yet again,she is ahead of me!
What are your resolutions?
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