Well, I have officially decided to consider #61 done. Since Christmas, my husband and I have been really trying to do things as a family. This is a real issue with us sometimes, because all of my husband's leisure activities run towards extreme sports (motorcycle riding, off-roading and rock climbing in his Jeep, scuba diving, cliff- repelling, water-skiing). It's a little difficult to take a baby along on these adventures and he is not really happy doing anything else. In fact, this was our biggest and most frequent argument for some time.
But now, we have been really trying to meet in the middle on the weekends. Going on long drives, visiting with our parents, and planning camping trips with our few (very few) friends who actually have children. We are also getting ready to join the local rec center so that we can use the indoor pool together and take turns walking the indoor track with the baby while the other parent gets their workout on the machines. These may seem like small things but, it was so rare that we did anything together, that I am ecstatic about even these small steps.
I think that we are now both actively looking for ways for the three of us to be together and still have fun!
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Where did all of this stuff come from?
Day 39
I'm starting work on number 4, making up a household inventory. Just like always, I'm shocked at the amount of stuff we have, when I take the time to look closely around me. It's very funny, because I was raised with very little, and I am not one to shop for items I don't need or intend to use. My weaknesses are books and clothes for my daughter, but even then I am more likely to shop at Goodwill than the mall. But someone had to acquire all of this, and I love my husband too much to blame it all on him. Maybe, while doing this inventory, I'll find the strength to weed out a few things and make my job easier!
I'm starting work on number 4, making up a household inventory. Just like always, I'm shocked at the amount of stuff we have, when I take the time to look closely around me. It's very funny, because I was raised with very little, and I am not one to shop for items I don't need or intend to use. My weaknesses are books and clothes for my daughter, but even then I am more likely to shop at Goodwill than the mall. But someone had to acquire all of this, and I love my husband too much to blame it all on him. Maybe, while doing this inventory, I'll find the strength to weed out a few things and make my job easier!
Friday, February 04, 2005
I'm Still Here
No, I have not abandoned my list. It's just that I'm now at a point where the things I am working on need extended periods of time to work on them. I am beginning my Christmas list. I found a wonderful book,"Last-minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson. It is full of great little gift ideas that, in theory, take between one and eight hours to knit. They would take three times that for me, of course, but they are fairly simple patterns that rate high on the "oooh, ahhh!" scale, especially if you splurge on a really expensive yarn. The fuzzy little angora baby booties are the cutest I've seen yet!
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Greetings from New Recipe Land
Day 16
I just finished my menu plan for next week. I've been doing them for the last two weeks and it feels good to be back on track again. I used to do them every week but I fell out of the routine during the holidays (which is funny because that is when I could have used them the most!). I can't believe how wonderful it is, to wake up every morning and not have to ask myself "what's for dinner?". I just look at my fridge and there is the week, all planned out. It also makes my shopping list easy to make, and I find that I spend less because I only have to get specific items most weeks. (Once a month, I stock up on pantry regulars and taxable items- i.e.:Paper products, shampoo, toothpaste)I haven't yet ventured into planning the whole month at once, but I think for my first try at that, I might just go over my old weekly menus and compile them into monthly menus. Then, comes the cooking for the whole month in one day and stocking the freezer. I'm not sure how that will work for us, but I have a friend that swears by it.
I've also been staying true to number 13, and trying a new recipe every week. I've been looking for some great vegan recipes to add to our diet. My hubby is diabetic and has high cholesterol, so, the less meat in his diet the better (I'm afraid that he doesn't agree though :). Tonight we tried a black bean soup recipe from February's "Family Fun" magazine. It was really good, with salsa, black beans, vegetable stock, cilantro, and lime juice all smashed up together. Add a little sour cream on top and YUM, YUM! Even hubby said he wouldn't mind having it again!
I just finished my menu plan for next week. I've been doing them for the last two weeks and it feels good to be back on track again. I used to do them every week but I fell out of the routine during the holidays (which is funny because that is when I could have used them the most!). I can't believe how wonderful it is, to wake up every morning and not have to ask myself "what's for dinner?". I just look at my fridge and there is the week, all planned out. It also makes my shopping list easy to make, and I find that I spend less because I only have to get specific items most weeks. (Once a month, I stock up on pantry regulars and taxable items- i.e.:Paper products, shampoo, toothpaste)I haven't yet ventured into planning the whole month at once, but I think for my first try at that, I might just go over my old weekly menus and compile them into monthly menus. Then, comes the cooking for the whole month in one day and stocking the freezer. I'm not sure how that will work for us, but I have a friend that swears by it.
I've also been staying true to number 13, and trying a new recipe every week. I've been looking for some great vegan recipes to add to our diet. My hubby is diabetic and has high cholesterol, so, the less meat in his diet the better (I'm afraid that he doesn't agree though :). Tonight we tried a black bean soup recipe from February's "Family Fun" magazine. It was really good, with salsa, black beans, vegetable stock, cilantro, and lime juice all smashed up together. Add a little sour cream on top and YUM, YUM! Even hubby said he wouldn't mind having it again!
Friday, January 21, 2005
Just Keepin' on Keepin' On
Day 14
No real accomplishments to tell of. I'm working on building the skills needed to finish some things and trying to be consistent with the long term goals. I have to keep reminding myself that I have almost three years to finish my list. I don't have to get it all done in one night. In fact, I think it is better for me if I try to space it out over time. It helps me to learn to work on long term goals. I am just as guilty as the next American when it comes to a demand for instant gratification. It's a product of our society, but something I'd like to change, even if only in my own little corner of the world. Here's to delayed gratification!
No real accomplishments to tell of. I'm working on building the skills needed to finish some things and trying to be consistent with the long term goals. I have to keep reminding myself that I have almost three years to finish my list. I don't have to get it all done in one night. In fact, I think it is better for me if I try to space it out over time. It helps me to learn to work on long term goals. I am just as guilty as the next American when it comes to a demand for instant gratification. It's a product of our society, but something I'd like to change, even if only in my own little corner of the world. Here's to delayed gratification!
Monday, January 17, 2005
Cleaning Out the Virtual Closets
Day 11
Cleaning up and defraging the laptop tonight. I don't think that this has been done in over two years. Poor Laptop! It tends to get ignored when it comes to maintenance, and then we wonder why it runs so slow and gives us trouble. I should have made it a list item to defrag once a month !
Cleaning up and defraging the laptop tonight. I don't think that this has been done in over two years. Poor Laptop! It tends to get ignored when it comes to maintenance, and then we wonder why it runs so slow and gives us trouble. I should have made it a list item to defrag once a month !
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Reading
Day 10
I've been pretty consistent in doing #63 on my list (reading for at least an hour every day). I had forgotten how much fun it is to get lost in a book, consequently, it has helped me with #62 (no more than a hour of TV a day). I'm a pretty fast reader when given the time, so I've managed to accomplish a lot in just a few days. Wednesday night I read a book called "The Art of Mending", a fictional story about families and their problems. It was OK but not impressive. I also just finished "The Complete Works of Jane Austen" for the fifth time. I love her all of her books but "Mansfield Park" is my favorite. I started Jane while I was sick after Christmas, as it was the only book on my headboard that I could reach without getting dizzy. Plus I have been pouring over about 20 knitting books for the last week trying to find some patterns that I like for socks.
I've gone through the list of Newbery medal winners (#64) and realized that there are only about twenty that I haven't yet read, so I think I'm going to choose maybe twenty or thirty of the Newbery honor books to read also. Going over that list was like walking down the memory lane of my childhood. The were so many old friends on that list! In fact, it reminded me that I hadn't read "The Westing Game" in awhile. I think that I'll get that one and "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" out, dust them off, and enjoy them. The list also reminded me that I have a lot of shopping to do to complete #92, Peanut's Library!
I've been pretty consistent in doing #63 on my list (reading for at least an hour every day). I had forgotten how much fun it is to get lost in a book, consequently, it has helped me with #62 (no more than a hour of TV a day). I'm a pretty fast reader when given the time, so I've managed to accomplish a lot in just a few days. Wednesday night I read a book called "The Art of Mending", a fictional story about families and their problems. It was OK but not impressive. I also just finished "The Complete Works of Jane Austen" for the fifth time. I love her all of her books but "Mansfield Park" is my favorite. I started Jane while I was sick after Christmas, as it was the only book on my headboard that I could reach without getting dizzy. Plus I have been pouring over about 20 knitting books for the last week trying to find some patterns that I like for socks.
I've gone through the list of Newbery medal winners (#64) and realized that there are only about twenty that I haven't yet read, so I think I'm going to choose maybe twenty or thirty of the Newbery honor books to read also. Going over that list was like walking down the memory lane of my childhood. The were so many old friends on that list! In fact, it reminded me that I hadn't read "The Westing Game" in awhile. I think that I'll get that one and "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" out, dust them off, and enjoy them. The list also reminded me that I have a lot of shopping to do to complete #92, Peanut's Library!
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