MID-YEAR RECAP

I keep forgetting to update this blog and I'm nor positive about exactly what progress I've made and what I've finished since my last update. 

I know I've made progress on reading through the Bible (#6), redoing my recipe binder (#9) (about 3/4 done with that), completing a reading challenge (#32), I bought a new game, Cockroach Poker (#71), and taking a photo of the same place every month for a year (our backyard, on19th of each month).

I finished knitting myself a sweater (#11) and a short pair of socks (#12). 

I'm probably behind where I should be but all my goals are yet doable so I'll keep plugging along!

MARCH UPDATE

 Finished since my last update:

#5 Memorize the hymn My Father’s World

#29 Watch a movie of a book I already read (i.e. Still Alice)

#79 Identify flags of largest countries (chose 25 major countries)

#83 Re-memorize Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

#88 Write a letter to myself on January 1, 2024 to read on December 31, 2024

I have quite a few goals in progress:

• #6 Read through the whole Bible (doesn’t have to be in order) 

• #9 Redo the recipe binder and try at least 5 new recipes from there

• #11 Knit a sweater for myself

• #12 Knit a pair of short socks for myself

• #22 Watch 5 documentaries - nature, science, history, and any 2 of 

your choice

• #32 Complete a reading challenge every year of this list

(2023/2024/2025/2026), can be yearlong or for a season 

• #38 Have all our kids over for dinner (at the same time) at least 3

times

• #41 Photo books up to date (2020 - present)

• #50 Walk on 5 new trails

• #57 Make 5 new cocktails from the book Ben got you for Christmas

• #58 Try 5 new to you ice cream places

• #63 5 new cities

• #71 5 new games

• #90 Try geocaching or letterboxing

• #96 Take a photo of the same place every month for a year

• #101Finish more goals in this list than my last one (> 63 goals) 

SIX MONTH UPDATE

 Update on the whole list so far. Items in BOLD are finished and items in ITALICS are in progress. It's a little pathetic so far, need to accomplish more!

1. Write out a Bible verse every day for 30 days 

2. Finish memorizing John 14 and 15 

3. Complete a Bible study book

4. Learn to play a hymn on the piano 

5. Memorize the hymn My Father’s World

6. Read through the whole Bible (doesn’t have to be in order) 

7. Remodel bedroom-comforter, paint, decor, window treatment

8. Take shelf down in The Room and replace it with something else

9. Redo the recipe binder and try at least 5 new recipes from there

10. Decorate main bathroom

11. Knit a sweater for myself

12. Knit a pair of short socks for myself

13. Learn to knit English and do 2 color knitting

14. Make something on the mini-loom

15. Dye my bare Knit Picks yarn

16. Try drop spindling again

17. Wear a handknit for 7 days straight

18. Sew an apron

19. Sew a shirt

20. Sew a pair of lounge pants

21. Watch Pride and Prejudice

22. Watch 5 documentaries - nature, science, history, and any 2 of your choice

23. Watch 3 movies in one day

24. Ask 5 people for a movie recommendation and watch all 5

25. Watch a movie made the year I was born

26. Write a song - 3 stanzas and a chorus (this will be hilarious)

27. Read a book with a soundtrack

28. Read a book made into a movie and also watch the movie

29. Watch a movie of a book I already read (i.e. Still Alice)

30. Read a 1000 page book

31. Get Kindle Unlimited for at least one month and read only books available there

32. Complete a reading challenge every year of this list (2023/2024/2025/2026), can be yearlong or for a season 

33. Pick a book for Ginny, have her pick one for you, and read them

34. Read a book of poems and memorize one

35. Try Stitch Fix

36. Get a facial

37. Buy a whole outfit from a store display (top and bottom, accessories if I like them)

38. Have all our kids over for dinner (at the same time) at least 3 times

39. Frame our family photos

40. Do a small family photo wall

41. Photo books up to date (2020 - present)

42. Listen to the CD of Mom and Dad

43. Do a Lifebook for Lindsey and Allison

44. Put together journals for Ben, Lindsey, and Allison

45. Finish Lindsey’s 100 Good Wishes Quilt and scrapbook

46. Finish Allison’s 100 Good Wishes Quilt and scrapbook. (need more wishes?)

47. Bike ride with Jay

48. Get 50,000 steps in one day

49. Play tennis with someone (or a family tennis marathon?)

50. Walk on 5 new trails

51. Eat a whole meal with chopsticks

52. Make Sour Soup

53. Cook through a whole cookbook (can veto 10% of the recipes)

54. Make one recipe from every cookbook I own

55. Eat vegan for one week

56. Make Schaum tortes

57. Make 5 new cocktails from the book Ben got you for Christmas

58. Try 5 new to you ice cream places

59. Drive-in movie

60. Wisconsin State Fair

61. LaCrosse

62. 3 libraries you’ve never been to

63. 5 new cities

64. A state park you’ve never been to

65. A national park you’ve never been to

66. Camping

67. Five antique stores

68. Jean jacket

69. An old Bible at an antique store or thrift store

70. A new sewing machine

71. 5 new games

72. Fresh flowers every quarter for a year

73. A hula hoop - use it for 15 minutes a day for a week

74. A plant stand

75. Flowers for a random person

76. CPR

77. Play Canasta with actual people, not just on the app

78. Take ballroom dancing lessons with Jay

79. Identify flags of largest countries

80. Identify 25 bodies of water, oceans, seas, straits, major rivers etc. (at least one per continent)

81. Memorize the Emancipation Proclamation

82. Memorize Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Address

83. Re-memorize Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

84. Know what every article and amendment to the Constitution is about

85. Learn how to play pickleball

86. Learn 25 basic signs in ASL

87. Write a letter to myself on 7/1/23 to open when this is over (3/28/26)

88. Write a letter to myself on January 1, 2024 to read on December 31, 2024

89. Write a letter to myself on January 1, 2025 to read on December 31, 2025

90. Try geocaching or letterboxing

91. Play Kick the Can

92. Buy an art box from letsmakeart.com (or another art in a box) and complete it

93. Teach Theodore to walk on a leash

94. Do something for the pro life cause (Vida or Wisconsin Right to Life, etc)

95. Get everything off old laptop

96. Take a photo of the same place every month for a year

97. Complete a 30 day challenge

98. Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find

99. Take a picture for each letter of the alphabet of things meaningful to you or that you find interesting or beautiful - make a book out of it

100. Document a day in my life with a picture every hour.

101. Finish more goals in this list than my last one (> 63 goals)

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER-DECEMBER RECAP

I didn't realize I haven't updated since September.  That is perhaps due to the fact that I only finished one goal, though I did make progress on several goals.

Finished:

#3 Complete a Bible study book: I finished a Kay Arthur Bible study book on Isaiah. I didn't care for it that much, but I followed it loosely. I realized I really don't like using Bible study books so I'm counting this one and don't ever plan to do another one.

I guess that's it for completed goals.

In progress:

#6 Read through the whole Bible: I finished Isaiah and maybe another book or two

#11 Knit a sweater for myself: I had to put it on hold for a while because I was knitting a hat and scarf for Lindsey for Christmas, but I recently picked it back up. The body is done except for the ribbing at the bottom and I'm almost halfway done with that. So then I have both sleeves and the neckline to do.

#32 Complete a reading challenge every year of this list: Since I started this list mid-year it was too late to try to get in on most yearlong reading challenges, so for 2023 I made my own Bingo card and I got a "bingo" so that is done for 2023. For 2024 I'm doing Booklist Queen's 52 Book Reading Challenge.

#71 Buy 5 new games: I bought Abandon All Artichokes and Tapple for the family for Christmas.

#79 Identify flags of largest countries: I'm still working on memorizing 25 major countries, almost got them down

Now that life has slowed down after Christmas I hope to focus on getting more of my goals complete!

SEPTEMBER RECAP

I finished one goal (unexpectedly!) in September:

#47 Bike ride with Jay: We rented e-bikes in Door County on 9/18 and rode 11 miles through Peninsula State Park.

I made progress on 5 goals:

#11 Knit a sweater for myself: I changed from the Adelaide pattern to Autumn Pullover, frogged 3 times before finally getting things right.

#22 Watch 5 documentaries: watched The Secret Life of Baby Owls with Jay and Allison on 9/29

#32 Complete a reading challenge every year of this list: I am working on my Book Bingo card. Books that filled a square: Peace Like a River, Yellowface, Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton/Della and Darby, 

#79 Identify flags of largest countries: I bought a pack of world flag cards and memorized Mexico, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Guatemala so far

#99 Take a picture of each letter of the alphabet...make a book out of it: I wrote the letters A-Z on an index card and started filling out things to take a picture of