After another busy holiday season, we turn the page to greet a new year. No matter what is going on the world around us, at this time of year, it is right and just to feel full of hope and optimism for a better future. Each of us has a clean slate; a chance to improve our circumstances and make a better life for ourselves and our families. Naturally, this leads to the traditional New Year's Resolutions.
Our household is no different. We have set our goals as a family, and individually, for 2010. With our eyes set on building our better future, here they are:
- Finish construction on our cabin.
- Pay off the last credit card on which we still have a balance.
- Double the number of beehives we have.
- Increase our backyard food production and food storage capacity to 60% of our total yearly food consumption.
- Source 30% of our food from local growers . (The remaining 10% is to allow for food we consume before the growing season that is purchased and not taken from our pantry, as well as the occasional "luxury" purchase- avacados don't grow in New England!)
- Increase the distance we will not travel by car (weather or emergency permitting). On foot, 1.5 miles from home. By bike, 5 miles from home.
- Learn at least two new skills. Me- spinning with a wheel, and either sewing or weaving. Eddie- hunting and plant recognition.
Some of these are hold-overs from last year, where we were able to make partial progress, but not complete the project due to either time constraints, finances, or mobility. Becoming pregnant again happened about a year before we had planned on it, so that made getting around more complicated. It also means that the projects I take on in 2010, like the spinning and knitting, are things that I can do at home. With a toddler and a newborn, that's already like having two full-time jobs! So, any skills I work on need to be things that can be done inbetween caring for the little ones.
So, with some adjusting from last year, these are our major projects and primary goals for 2010. For each of these goals, there is a strategy as well as target dates for completion or evaluation. What are your goals for this year? Do you know how you will accomplish them? Do you have target dates to evaluate your progress to help keep you on track? Post a comment and let's hear about them!
Live better, a little every day.
Our weekend plans were snuffed out when we were hit with about 14 inches of snow, very odd for our part of Massahuchusetts. We are along the Southeastern coast, and almost always get yucky, slushy rain. This time, instead, we were hit with large quantities of the fluffy stuff. Very pretty, unless you have to drive in it, or shovel it. There were three foot snow drifts in some areas of our yard. It will be interesting to see if our little Karl enjoys playing in the snow. We've got his snow suit all set up and ready to go!
After one final run for supplies, we spent the weekend indoors watching movies and drinking hot chocolate. Really is there any other way to spend that kind of a weekend? Well, ok, if I weren't pregnant, there would probably be a little creme de minthe in the hot chocolate. I was also able to get a lot of holiday knitting done, two matching wool hats with ear flaps, and a fair isle scarf.
I have two more knitted items to go, some last minute holiday baking, and about 10 cards to address, and I'm officially done with holiday preps!
Today, I was able to record another episode of the companion podcast. Episode #4 deals with setting goals for 2010. As I type this blog update, I'm waiting for the podcast to upload. I had made arrangements to use a relative's internet connection to speed up uploading large files like a podcast, but I am stuck homebound for a bit. I actually had to record much of the podcast while resting on my left side due to a pregnancy-related health issue. I have had to remain off my feet for most of the day, and was not able to get the podcast uploaded any sooner. I'm hoping, even with our slower than slow connection, that it will be updated by at least midnight!
Where there is a will, there is a way!
Live better, a little every day.
Today's project was knitting a bath mitten. It took about 3.5 hours to knit, and certainly wasn't difficult. But, I was a bit distracted today (just didn't get enough sleep last night) and made a little "boo-boo". After weaving in the ends after knitting the thumb, being so careful to weave them in on what was supposed to be the wrong side of the mitten, I ended up sewing the darn thing inside out. It looks fine, except for a distinctive line going across the middle of the palm. I now have to decide if it would be better to rip out the sewing, or just knit a new one.
I've had it with bath mittens for one day. Even if I end up knitting a brand new one, it won't take me long to do it, so I'm tabling that project for Monday. Now, it's on to knitting wool caps with earflaps.
Well, first, it's on to enjoying a hot cup of homemade hot chocolate with cinammon and real whipped cream, then on to the caps. How did we ever get to the point where whipped cream-like oil from a can with added chemical propellant became acceptable?
Live better, a little every day.
Somewhere along the way, celebrating the holidays became synonomous with buying expensive gifts for friends and family as the primary method of demonstrating that we "care". It has almost become a holiday tradition to go into debt that is barely paid off throughout the year (if it's paid off at all), only to do it all again once the holidays role back around.
The point of celebrating the holidays is the company, not the loot. For the past few years, we have chosen to opt out of spending rediculous amounts of cash to tell our loved ones that we appreciate them. This year is no different. We will be giving gifts, but ours will be be of hand-knitted items, baked goods, homemade candles, and some of our honey crop from this autumn. We are also cleaning out our closests and storage unit. This is partly to make room for the new baby, but also to look for items that others may find useful to give as gifts, or to sell on Craig's List or eBay for last minute shoppers. We have made an exception for a gift for our son, and are purchasing a set of wooden alphabet blocks that are made in the USA of non-toxic materials.
We've set a limit of $150 to cover everyone on our list, children included, and it's a long list. So far, the biggest expense has been the yarn, coming in at around $70. Most of the yarn was made in the USA, but the choices were limited. I was unable to get the colors that I originally planned, and had to substitute yarns from different manufacturers. But I have what I need to make some thoughtful, handmade gifts.
Today, I started and finished a cowl, made from organic cotton. It is essentially a tube that you slip over the head and functions like a scarf, except that there are no long pieces that hang down and can come untied. The pattern itself was certainly a beginner level pattern. Now that I've made one according to the directions, however, it will be easy to adapt it. I've got a vision of a nice blue cowl with white snowflakes. Only this time, I'll make it out of wool so that it stays warm even when wet. We have plenty of January birthdays in our family, so I'll have time to play with the idea after the Yuletide season has passed.
The next knitted projects include a knitted cotton shower mit and some knitted lace-trimmed cotton washcloths. After they are done, it will be time to scour the internet for some good cookie recipes!
Live better, a little every day.
