Saturday, December 5, 2020

November Recap

More of the same from last month. I have been regularly working on several of the goals so I'm happy with the progress I'm making.  What I did in November:


#11 - Bought a new succulent and put it in a pot. It's still alive today (I killed my previous 2 plants oops.).

#13 - Knit a Mother Bear (and finished one I had started on 1/1/20 but that one doesn't count toward this goal).

#14 - Started knitting a hat for charity

#25 - Listened to Double Indemnity and watched Strangers on a Train (based on one of the books in Eight Perfect Murders

#36 - Memorized the countries in Africa (there are a lot!) and reviewed South America

#71 - Listened to 5 songs each by Mozart and Rachmaninoff

#82 - Took a family selfie of all 5 of us

#84 - Completed about 10 pieces of my yarn puzzle

Monday, November 9, 2020

Numbered Goals List w/o Categories

 Bold = Complete

Italics = In progress

Start Date: October 1, 2020

End Date: June 29, 2023


  1. Do an “Old Testament Survey” type of study

  2. Read the New Testament in two weeks.

  3. Complete a whole devotional book.

  4. Write down an attribute of God for every letter of the alphabet.

  5. Basement organized, everything on shelves.

  6. Redo the hall closet.

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

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

  9. Set up a Pinterest board for every room in the house

  10. Do 5 small home improvement projects (ex. plants, kitchen towels, artwork, etc)

  11. Learn to knit English and do 2 color knitting.

  12. Knit 3 Mother Bears.

  13. Dye my bare Knit Picks yarn.

  14. Knit 2 hats for charity and give them away along with all the other hats you still haven’t donated.

  15. Sew an apron for myself and for my sisters and daughters.

  16. Sew a shirt.

  17. Sew a pair of lounge pants.

  18. Host a craft day here.

  19. Complete a small cross stitch project including framing or other way to display.

  20. Watch Pride and Prejudice.

  21. Go to a movie at the theater.

  22. Go bowling.

  23. Listen to 5 songs each by 5 classical composers.

  24. Play a game with family or anyone for 7 days straight 

  25. Read a book in one day.

  26. Ask 5 people their favorite book and read them.

  27. Read 3 books of 500+ pages.

  28. Have an all day reading day (minimum 8 hours).

  29. Read all 8 books mentioned in Eight Perfect Murders then read that book (can DNF any you don’t like including EPM)

  30. Read a book randomly pulled off a library shelf.

  31. Read the entire catalog of one author.

  32. Join a book club or literary society.

  33. Participate in “Middle Grade March” - read at least one middle grade per week in the month of March (any year of this list)

  34. Try Stitch Fix.

  35. Get highlights in my hair again.

  36. Do a Lifebook for Lindsey and Allison.

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

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

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

  40. Bike ride with Jay.

  41. Get 50,000 steps in one day.

  42. Walk a 10K.

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

  44. Have a smoothie every day for a week

  45. Eat a whole meal with chopsticks.

  46. Make Sour Soup.

  47. Snowshoeing.

  48. Drive-in movie.

  49. Wisconsin State Fair.

  50. Lake Geneva cruise with Jay

  51. LaCrosse

  52. Go to 3 libraries you’ve never been to

  53. Visit a national park

  54. Travel to a state I’ve never been to

  55. Go on a walk on the trail in Hortonville

  56. Visit 3 new cities

  57. Jean jacket

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

  59. A new puzzle

  60. A new wallet

  61. A new purse

  62. A new sewing machine

  63. Something to display my pencil collection

  64. New glasses

  65. Learn to play a ukulele (minimum 3 songs reasonably well)

  66. Learn CPR.

  67. Learn to play a new classic card game like bridge or sheepshead.

  68. Learn a new song on the piano and be able to play it well.

  69. Read a children’s book in German.

  70. Complete a word puzzle book.

  71. Take ballroom dancing lessons with Jay.

  72. Be able to identify every country in the world.

  73. Write a letter to myself by 10/14/20 to open when this is over (June 29, 2023)

  74. Write a letter to myself by 10/14/20 to open in 10 years (October 1, 2030)

  75. Write a letter to myself on January 1, 2021 to read on December 31, 2021.

  76. Write a letter to myself on January 1, 2022 to read on December 31, 2022.

  77. Take a day out for myself.

  78. Save $50 in change.

  79. Host an all day Game Day.

  80. Host a Soup Party.

  81. Volunteer somewhere.

  82. Do a Random Act of Kindness (send someone flowers, leave $ somewhere, pick up trash, give someone baked goods, etc.)

  83. Use all gift cards.

  84. Make a Chester photo book.

  85. Get a professional family portrait done.

  86. Go one week without spending (not including bills).

  87. Sleep until noon

  88. Make an Advent Calendar.

  89. Try geocaching or letterboxing

  90. Spend a day going to garage sales.

  91. Play Kick the Can.

  92. Memorize the Gettysburg Address.

  93. Sell homeschool books.

  94. Leave a book and take a book at a neighborhood “library”

  95. Finish yarn puzzle.

  96. Do dog puzzle.

  97. Declutter 100 items in one week.

  98. Take a family selfie once a month for a year.

  99. Finish a Sudoku puzzle.

  100. Rock painting with my sisters.

  101. Go ziplining.

Updated 1/2/21

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Recap of October

There's not much to add from what I last posted. I haven't completed anything else but I have still been working on:

Writing down the attributes of God.

I listened to 5 songs by a classical composer (Beethoven). 

I had an eye exam but I still need to order glasses.

I did a few pages in my puzzle book.

I memorized all the countries in South America and am working on Africa. I found an online quiz where you have to answer "Where is X country?" on a map and it gives you a score. I almost have all the countries done (there are many more in Africa than in South America!).

I added a few dollars to my container of coins.

I put about 5 more pieces in my yarn puzzle (it's hard!).

I took a family selfie.

**************

So I've basically been working on the same goals but have made progress in most of them. I hope to do a few new ones in November

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

101 Things in 1001 Days List #3

Here is my third list of 101 Things in 1001 Days. I did a list many years ago but didn't publish it anywhere. So this is my third try. I am pretty happy with this list - I should be able to complete most of the items on it.

Start Date: October 1, 2020
End Date: June 29, 2023

Spiritual
  • Do an “Old Testament Survey” type of study
  • Read the New Testament in two weeks
  • Complete a whole devotional book
  • Write down an attribute of God for every letter of the alphabet

Home/Organization
  • Basement organized, everything on shelves
  • Redo the hall closet
  • Remodel bedroom-comforter, paint, decor, window treatment
  • Take shelf down in The Room and replace it with something else
  • Set up a Pinterest board for every room in the house
  • Do 5 small home improvement projects (ex. plants, kitchen towels, artwork, etc)

Knitting/Crochet/Sewing
  • Learn to knit English and do 2 color knitting
  • Knit 3 Mother Bears
  • Dye my bare Knit Picks yarn
  • Knit 2 hats for charity and give them away along with all the other hats you still haven’t donated
  • Sew an apron for myself and for my sisters and daughters
  • Sew a shirt
  • Sew a pair of lounge pants
  • Host a craft day here
  • Complete a small cross stitch project including framing or other way to display

Entertainment
  • Watch Pride and Prejudice
  • Go to a movie at the theater
  • Go bowling
  • Listen to 5 songs each by 5 classical composers
  • Play a game with family or anyone for 7 days straight

Books/Reading
  • Read a book in one day
  • Ask 5 people their favorite book and read them
  • Read 3 books of 500+ pages
  • Have an all day reading day (minimum 8 hours)
  • Read all 8 books mentioned in Eight Perfect Murders then read that book (can DNF any you don’t like including EPM)
  • Read a book randomly pulled off a library shelf
  • Read the entire catalog of one author
  • Join a book club or literary society
  • Participate in “Middle Grade March” - read at least one middle grade per week in the month of March (any year of this list)

Fashion/Beauty
  • Try Stitch Fix
  • Get highlights in my hair again

Family/Children
  • Do a Lifebook for Lindsey and Allison
  • Put together journals for Ben, Lindsey, and Allison
  • Finish Lindsey’s 100 Good Wishes Quilt and scrapbook
  • Finish Allison’s 100 Good Wishes Quilt and scrapbook. (need more wishes?)

Exercise
  • Bike ride with Jay
  • Get 50,000 steps in one day
  • Walk a 10K
  • Play tennis with someone (or a family tennis marathon?)

Food
  • Have a smoothie every day for a week
  • Eat a whole meal with chopsticks
  • Make Sour Soup

Places to Go
  • Snowshoeing.
  • Drive-in movie
  • Wisconsin State Fair
  • Lake Geneva cruise with Jay
  • LaCrosse
  • Go to 3 libraries you’ve never been to
  • Visit a national park
  • Travel to a state I’ve never been to
  • Go on a walk on the trail in Hortonville
  • Visit 3 new cities

To Buy
  • Jean jacket
  • An old Bible at an antique store or thrift store
  • A new puzzle
  • A new wallet
  • A new purse
  • A new sewing machine
  • Something to display my pencil collection
  • New glasses

To Learn
  • Learn to play a ukulele (minimum 3 songs reasonably well)
  • Learn CPR
  • Learn to play a new classic card game like bridge or sheepshead
  • Learn a new song on the piano and be able to play it well
  • Read a children’s book in German
  • Complete a word puzzle book
  • Take ballroom dancing lessons with Jay
  • Be able to identify every country in the world

Miscellaneous
  • Write a letter to myself by 10/14/20 to open when this is over (June 29, 2023)
  • Write a letter to myself by 10/14/20 to open in 10 years (October 1, 2030)
  • Write a letter to myself on January 1, 2021 to read on December 31, 2021
  • Write a letter to myself on January 1, 2022 to read on December 31, 2022
  • Take a day out for myself
  • Save $50 in change
  • Host an all day Game Day
  • Host a Soup Party
  • Volunteer somewhere
  • Do a Random Act of Kindness (send someone flowers, leave $ somewhere, pick up trash, give someone baked goods, etc.)
  • Use all gift cards
  • Make a Chester photo book
  • Get a professional family portrait done
  • Go one week without spending (not including bills)
  • Sleep until noon
  • Make an Advent Calendar
  • Try geocaching or letterboxing
  • Spend a day going to garage sales
  • Play Kick the Can
  • Memorize the Gettysburg Address
  • Sell homeschool books
  • Leave a book and take a book at a neighborhood “library”
  • Finish yarn puzzle
  • Do dog puzzle
  • Declutter 100 items in one week
  • Take a family selfie once a month for a year
  • Finish a Sudoku puzzle
  • Rock painting with my sisters
  • Go ziplining

*************************

Close to half of the items were on my previous list, either word for word or some form of it. Making Lifebooks, journals, and 100 Good Wishes Quilts have been on all 3 lists! They're big projects that I just haven't taken the time to do (though they're all partially done). I hope to at least make some good progress on them!

I already finished 3 of the items. I finished the letter to myself to open at the end of the 1001 days (#73), and the letter to myself to open in 10 years (#74). I also had a Soup Party (#80) on Saturday for Allison's birthday. It was fun, I'll do it again. I made Creamy Carrot Soup and Potato/Broccoli/Corn Chowder; Kathy made chicken noodle; and Ginny made Cheesy Broccoli.

I have started working on:
  • #4 Write down an attribute of God for every letter of the alphabet.
  • #9 Set up a Pinterest board for every room in the house
  • #23 Listen to 5 songs each by 5 classical composers.
  • #29 Read all 8 books mentioned in Eight Perfect Murders then read that book
  • (can DNF any you don’t like including EPM)
  • #70 Complete a word puzzle book.
  • #72 Be able to identify every country in the world.
  • #78 Save $50 in change.
  • #95 Finish yarn puzzle.



Friday, September 25, 2020

OOPS!

Ooops how quickly I forget. I forgot about this blog! I suppose it's because I haven't really been working on any of my 101 Things goals, though I HAVE been working on what to put on my new list. I think my current list is as done as it's going to get. It is over on Monday, my birthday!

Going forward, I'm ONLY going to have my 101 Things list. It's too much to have 20 in 2020 or monthly goals - while I love lists I can only juggle so much! :-)

So......updates since I last wrote.....

We did join the CSA and got our weekly delivery for 4 weeks. We really enjoyed it - the strawberries and peaches were delicious, and we enjoyed the other veggies too for the most part. Four weeks was long enough for us though.

I don't think I finished any other goals. So I'm calling it done. I completed 48 goals (almost half! so not too bad but could be better). I made progress on 10 goals, and didn't even start 43 goals.A few on that last category I have no desire to do anymore.  I'll try to improve this on my next list. I'm making a note to myself that halfway through the 101 days I can change up to 5 goals. I'll only do this if any of the goals become impossible to do or I really really REALLY don't want to do them anymore. :-)

******************************

I'm hoping to update this monthly again once I start my new list on October 1.



Friday, June 5, 2020

CHANGES

I was going to redo my 20 in 2020 list and I got to thinking......why do I even have that list when I already have my 101 Things in 1001 Days list. If I'm going to have one or the other, I'd rather have the 101 things. So I'm going to scrap my 20 in 2020 list (a few of the items on the list are also on the other list anyway) and focus on the 101 things. That list expires at the end of September. So anything that was on my 20 in 2020 list that isn't on my 101 things list, I will put on my new 101 things list. 

I have also lost motivation for my monthly goals! I failed at May's goal, and I have no desire to do June's goal which is writing down everything I eat (maybe because I'm not eating very healthy, hmmmm?). I might just try to do it once a week, or I might scrap it. I need to get myself back into a "eating right" mindset. Right now I just don't have it. I'm just accepting that for now.

I'm working on doing other German language learning things instead of Duolingo which I did for over 500 days straight. I finished all the levels there and while I could go back and review, I'm ready for something new. But I really want to finish my "Read a children's book in German" goal from my 101 things before it expires. I also downloaded an app to learn how to play bridge, I'm hoping to get that goal checked off. I know better than to think I'm going to get a lot of goals done this summer but I'll try to do a few anyway. I can probably do the "leave a book/take a book from a neighborhood library" this summer, and maybe a few more. I'm going to be happy with that, but I'm hoping to make my next 101 things list much more doable.

End of ramble to myself.....ha ha. 

Friday, May 29, 2020

END OF MAY UPDATE

101 Things in 1001 Days

Completed:

Read the main Bible events chronologically - finished mid-May

In progress:

Join a CSA - still waiting to hear back from them if they will be doing an Appleton drop this year. They will refund my money if not.

That's it. :-)

20 in 2020

What I did do: I am well on my way to reading 75 books (read 50 so far) and 9 of them have been on audio. I planted the Christmas basil I got from Lynn and the herbs I got from Kathy, still have to plant them outside but I consider these 2 goals done. So I completed 4 things so far.

That said, I'm going to totally redo this list. First of all my tendonitis (better but not gone) might prevent me from finishing the two knitting goals and the goal to learn 3 songs on the ukulele, depending on when I start knitting again. The Covid-19 restrictions prevent me (or will probably prevent me depending on when and how much the restrictions are lifted) from volunteering somewhere, going on a Lake Geneva cruise and to LaCrosse with Jay. It's possible I can do those things but it's up in the air. So I'm going to redo the list and start fresh in June. I might still have a knitting goal on the list and change 3 songs to 1 song on the ukulele.

MONTHLY HEALTH GOALS

The goal was to eat 5 servings of vegetables every day. I thought this would be easy, it was not! Well some days it was easy, other days not so much. I started out writing what I ate every day and lost motivation and stopped doing it. It did open my eyes to see I don't eat as many vegetables as I thought. Some days I ate more than 5 servings but most days I probably ate fewer than 5. So even though I didn't accomplish this goal, it did accomplish something and I will continue to try to eat more veggies.

Looking ahead to June.....

I doubt it will happen but I'd like to get the desk area organized in our bedroom. I think it WILL get done before the end of the year but maybe not before my 101 Things list expires on 9/28 and probably not in June but I'll leave this here anyway.

Jay and I have been watching The Crown; maybe I can get him to watch Pride and Prejudice with me, otherwise I'll try to watch it alone in June.

I have an app for learning bridge, I'm going to try to get started on that.

I could also do the "take a book/leave a book" from a neighborhood library in June.

I was almost going to add a few more but I need to be realistic. I will probably spend most of June reading books on the deck. :-)





Saturday, May 2, 2020

END OF APRIL UPDATE

101 Things in 1001 Days


Completed:
92.Convert video tapes to DVD - I sent them in on Friday, May 1 so I just have to wait for them to come back, so DONE! Finally!

In Progress:
#4 Read the main Bible Events chronologically I'm still doing this almost every day and will definitely be done before the end of May.

#48 Join a CSA We signed up for one but it is tentative, if they get enough people in the Appleton area.

So not as much progress as I would like, I 'd really like to start knocking some of these things off the list! I definitely have more time in my days due to the Corona virus but on the other hand there are quite a few things I can't do while we are supposed to be "social distancing".

Monthly Health Goals

I made April's goal pretty easy - do 10 squats every other day using my exercise ball (the exercises the PT gave me for my back which I no longer do ooops. Anyway I had no problem accomplishing this.

May's goal is to eat 5 servings of veggies per day. That should be fairly easy but I will have to be diligent to make sure i eat enough.


20 in 2020

I read ELEVEN! books in April including 4 on audio so I'll have no problem reaching my goal of 75 books for the year (I've currently read 34 books). I also sewed 3 face masks though I don't plan to wear one unless they make me. I made the first one for Ben to wear at Biolife and he said it works good.


Looking ahead to May:

I plan to get my 5 herb garden plants potted and also plant the Christmas Basil. I'm looking over my 101 Things list and I just don't feel motivated to do any of it right now. But maybe that will change. I can't do so many of the things because of the stay at home order. But we'll see what the summer holds. I have until the end of September to do things! I won't even be close to finishing the whole list but it's fun anyway. I plan to do another one shortly after this one is finished and try to put a few more easily doable things on it.


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 I...