Goal Number One

 Ah, my main goal. The goal I want most to accomplish. The goal with the biggest block. Yep, I failed again to update my photo albums. Not only that, I stopped keeping up this blog in April. Well, a 45% off coupon on blog books that expires a few days has got me caught up on blogging again. Nothing like two dozen blog posts in threes days. :-)

I have many good excuses. The garden was much bigger this year. I painted the exterior of the house! We've had some troubles to deal with this fall. But life will always have "things" to handle. Ah, well. There's always next year, right? :-D

Goal Number Two

 So my number 2 goal for 2021 was to expand the garden.

SUCCESS!!

Wow, did that ever happen. I canned over 200 jars this year. Jars of salsa, tomato sauce, pickled jalapenos, and home made Rotel. Plus I've been canning chicken as well. It's not home grown chicken, but it gives me a convenience food that doesn't freezer burn.

The garden was so productive (and painting the house was so time consuming) that I'm afraid quite a lot went to waste because I just couldn't handle it all.

Next year I'll do better. I won't be painting, so that should help in the time and energy department. All in all I was very pleased with how the garden did. I am also very pleased with my shelf of canned goods from the garden in the basement.

Makes me smile.

But that is not all; oh no, that is not all.

 

I usually have a weight loss goal in the number 2 slot. But I had just given up. I tried so many diets, so many exercise routines. Nothing seemed to work for me. So I made no weight loss goal last January. But in late May I ran across another diet strategy and decided to give it a try. I have lost 15 pounds!! Not very much, I know. But I went down, not up! And it's been slow. Excruciatingly slow. I know now what works for me. And I know how I could speed it up, but other things need my attention more. As long as I am steady or making progress, I am satisfied. But, golly, I am happy to finally have lost some weight. (It's intermittent fasting, if you want to know.)

Goal Number Three

 The end of the year, the time I look back to evaluate how I did on my three goals.

Goal number 3 was to tidy my office space. And I did! I got rid of a filing cabinet, so now I'm down to 1 and the space is lovely. I got the electronic equipment moved so scanning and copying are handier. I culled my books so my shelves aren't quite so cluttered. Mr. Wonderful helped hang the art work. I finally made the insulated Roman shades. Done by February's end.

And then the year took over. My bookshelves could use another de-cluttering. My desk is awash in 3x5 cards, which I use for note taking, recipes, lists, charts, etc. And the floor where the other filing cabinet was is filled with packing boxes of things I've ordered and need to store. The copier is covered with things I need to file.

*sigh*

So success? yes . . . and no. I'm still pleased with what I accomplished. On ward!

Christmas Eve Gift Time

 This year, there were no major things we needed, so gifts were smaller, but still enjoyed. (although my camera was dead so I had to have Brad take the pics and they still won't orient they way I want. Poo.)

The chemists main present was a rotating swift (it helps in balling skeins of yarn). There's no fire in the fireplace this Christmas eve. Seventies today. :-D

 The wee one got several things, including a fidget cube, a purple cube clock, and this really cool

axolotl her sister crocheted for her from her own pattern!

My guy is so hard to gift, but his sister found a couple of DVDs he will enjoy, and I found an adult sized minecraft shirt for him.

I was very proud of what I managed to get for Mr. Wonderful. We have this cute little concrete frog in the flower beds. Mr. Wonderful had been saying all summer that we needed a concrete turtle to go with him. On the way home from band day at the state fair back in September, I stopped at a concrete statuary place on the way home and got him a turtle. He rode for about a month on the floor of the backseat of my car. Mr. Wonderful never saw him. I kept my secret!

Blessed Yule to all.

Fall Band Concert

 The 8th grade band was the final group for the fall band concert.

Still not playing in the high school auditorium, but that's because renovations are not yet finished.

A medley of holidays tunes, plus three movements from the Nutcracker Suite. They did so well.

The flutes did their trills so nicely and sounded so good on Waltz of the Flowers.

My guy even joined us for the concert.

Nice evening capped off with a stop drinks and a little holiday lights viewing.

Today I Finished . . .

 . . . PAINTING THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE!!!!

Oh, but I am happy to see the end of this project. I could not have done it without my dad's help. He came out a couple of times to help with the high work that I am so slow doing because I'm so nervous.

Happy, happy day.

Fall Colors

 

This fall has been gorgeous. Our new little pampas grass start grew a lot this year.

Our new maple looks so pretty.

Another has all the color transitions.

I think it looks weird, but cool.

And Miss Adventure is sporting new colors for fall as well.

Happy Halloween!

Bread and Stew

 I have finally accomplished something I have attempted several times over the decades. I have finally learned how to bake a decent SOFT loaf of bread. I am so pleased.

Plus I have canned several pints of beef stew for Mr. Wonderful. That's my potatoes, carrots, and onions in that jar!

Paint, Paint, Paint

I am still painting the exterior of our home.

This project seems like it will never end.

But I keep keeping on.

Maybe someday it will be done . . . 

Today I Finished . . .

. . . another quilt top.

I bought this quilt kit because I just loved both the colors and the pattern. But now I have three quilt tops needing to be quilted. Gotta get my needle flying! 

Band Day at the Fair

The band director is having the 8th graders do more. This year he signed them up to march at our state fair.

Miss Adventure loves marching band.

My flautist.

:-) 

One Side Close to Finished

 The new siding for the west side is up and caulked.

Now for the second coat of paint.

Harvest Time

 The harvest is rolling in and I am preserving like crazy.

Salsa and tomato sauce today.

Makes me smile.

Rainbows, Potatoes, and Siding

 

This morning there was a beautiful, full arch with faint double, rainbow in the sky. Unusual to have a morning rainbow. Storms generally blow through in the afternoon leaving rainbows in the east, but today the bow was in the west.

Last week I harvested the potatoes. 43 pounds, if I can manage to store them well.

We've been preparing for new siding on the west side. I've been priming and putting on the first coat on the ground - a huge blessing from my contractor.

And Mr. Wonderful and I have been taking off the old on weekends. Soon a much needed repair will be complete. And a much needed painting of the exterior of the house has begun.

Amusement Park

 To celebrate her birthday and to have a last blast before school starts, Mr. Wonderful took Miss Adventure to the amusement park in the BIG city. She had a blast!

(and photos from Mr. Wonderful's phone can't seem load in the direction I choose. Grrr...)

Pretty Bird

 

 This gorgeous and elusive yellow bird came to eat sunflower seeds from our volunteer sunflowers.

He brought along his not so brilliant mate.

And the four o'clocks seem determined to bloom at 8am instead of in the afternoon. Silly blooms.

Birthday Girl

 A special someone turns another year older today.

She wanted pierced ears, so my sister said she'd spring for the piercing and first earrings for her birthday. Miss Adventure, my sister, the chemist and I headed for a downtown jewelry store.

And so she is now pierced.

Cupcakes to celebrate.

Happy birthday Miss Adventure.

Summer's Glory

 My garden and my flowers are doing so well this year.

I've planted a riot of color along the wall.

Lovely spider lilies.

Glorious zinnias.

Mammoth marigolds.

Watermelons growing plump.

Anaheim peppers stretching out.

A surprise sunflower by the back fence.

My garden is really thriving this year.

Makes me smile.

Making Paper

 My sister had a couple of paper making kits she had purchased long ago and wasn't using. She asked if I would like them. I thought the girls and I might enjoy trying it out this summer.

Today was the day, with Miss Adventure sporting a crown she had made from gold energy drink cans that she had collected from friends. I thought it turned out pretty cool.

Anyway, back to paper. First shred up discarded paper, mix with water, and put through the blender. First, a pale yellow for the chemist.

Then a lovely mint green for Miss Adventure. (Color courtesy of old Et Cetera shop tags.)

Pour it into the sieve/mold.

After it has drained, press more water out, then place between some thick paper called couch (kooch) sheets which will absorb water without damaging the new paper.

These turned out very nice. I want to try again, this time with marigold flower petals and other plant materials. Fun to experiment.