Since children's camp, the kids all went to their grandparents' house for a couple of weeks. I cleaned and tried to get declutter my room. I made decent progress in the room proper, but the closet now needs help. We managed to get our dresser from the storage unit into our room, so that was a good move. Then our air conditioner decided to go out. We had some Freon added and the coils cleaned, and it's back in business. The man who installed it didn't put a filter in it, and left vague instructions on how/what to do. I am unhappy with that, but he's no longer in business, so there's nothing else to do.
In an effort to be accountable, here is my progress since the last time I blogged.
Blog more.
I haven't been blogging as much recently, but maybe this fall with school back in session, my weekly schedule will allow for more posts.
Keep the food budget to $400 per month.
This is still not met, even though I have made progress. We could do a Cheap Eats week, and we might a few times this fall, once the weather cools down.
Start a garden.
The garden is overgrown with weeds, and I found my jalapeno plants are not jalapenos. They are banana peppers. Ridiculous, right? My tomato plants have produced some, but I really think the heat has done more damage than my neglect. June and July were unseasonably dry, and then August got really hot. We had what we call "false fall" - a slight reprieve from the 90 degree plus heat for a few days, before it starts again.
Pay more attention to my health.
I tried a new tactic over the past 2 weeks for eating. It hasn't been successful either - I am adding more water, but the bottom line with this lesson that I think I learned is that my body isn't ready yet. I am focusing on sleep and my mental health, as it is all integrated, in a new tactic this week. I was paying attention to what I ate, and then I didn't, and I don't think my weight really changed (I drank less water, so I know I am retaining some, but drinking more should counter that).
Read 50 new books this year.
I haven't read as much as I would have like in the past few weeks. Going a little seems to dampen that. I have a queue though, and I actually read more when school is going. There is one book I am close to finishing, two are started, and I have at least two more in line. With four and a half months left, I will have to spend a lot of time reading to make 50 this year.
How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time, Mystie Winckler
Poor Richard, James Daugherty
The Empowered Wife, Laura Doyle
Fortress of the Lost Amulet, Michael Webb
Different, Sally Clarkson
Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
The Convivial Homeschool, Mystie Winckler
The Out-of-Sync Child, Carol Stock Kranowitz
How to Manage Your Home without Losing Your Mind, Dana K. White
The Nemechek Protocol, Patrick Nemechek
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood, Danny Trejo
The Magnolia Table, Joanna Gaines
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith
Legend of the Golden City, Michael Webb
The 4 Hour School Day, Durenda Wilson
The Lazy Genius Kitchen, Kendra Adachi
The Unhurried Homeschooler, Durenda Wilson
Declutter our home and make it hospitable.
I mentioned before that I started working on my room. It had become kind of a dumping ground and neglected while I worked on other parts of the house. I still wish I could take a month and focus on it, but that's not possible. So, I have to make small changes as the weeks pass. There are a few things that I can do during the week, and I will have to save major projects for the weekends.
Complete 12 craft projects in progress.
I finished my sweater, and a hat, but I don't know if either really counts as an "in progress" item. I am using my stash, and not buying more yarn for projects (mostly - the hat was an exception), and I started another sweater for myself. I am planning on making progress with a WIP that's about 5 years old. That sounds terrible, doesn't it? Fortunately, it will still be welcomed by the recipient. I hope to have it done for Christmas.
Forgive the terrible picture - it was taken in haste and excitement. The sweater fits perfectly and doesn't slide backwards. It is made of silk yarn, and it is perfect for most of the year here.
The hat has been blocked, and I am debating on adding a pom-pom to it. I can make one from the same yarn, or get a white faux fur one, either of which can be detachable. I just haven't decided yet.
I think that's all the progress I have made on my goals for this year. The summer was supposed to be a "catch-up" season, where the responsibilities were less and time would be freer. That didn't work out the way I expected. Maybe the routine of fall and school will help.
