Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Thursday, March 27, 2014

A Few New Things ~ Possibilities Journal


I've already tried my hand at tatting, shooting a gun, and so forth, so this list will be more difficult to write and update.  Hmm...what haven't I learned to do yet?  And what do I still want to do? And which ones will I have time for this year?



I'm still cleaning, tossing, organizing.  Everything is pending on the cupboards being painted and installed.  Once those are up, I can move items from A to B, and then work cookware out of my garage (yes some is stored there, the kitchen lacks storage for a large family), and then more crafting supplies will be moved (even 6 totes of items still in the garage).  I'm down to the last coat of paint on the corner cupboard piece today.

I have also come across a few more unfinished projects.  You'll most likely be hearing about those whether you'd like to or not.    I'm just glad to get things done around here.

I've already started filling another box for donations.  It is very full-filling at the end of each day.  



This is the short version of my possibilities list:
 
1. Learn to spin wool with a drop spindle.  The possibility of raising alpaca is still up, but I'm not sure I want to add more work to my already fully loaded life.  And...is it really necessary to learn to do this right now?  This one is iffy for now, just as beekeeping is.

2. Sew my first apron.  I know how to sew, but have not worked on anything this "large" in years.  I do need a harvest apron for this year anyway.

3. Learn to make a new cheese with our goat's milk. We love the ricotta, but I need to venture into other cheeses if we continue to have goat's milk here.


4. Learn to make homemade vanilla extract. I use a lot of vanilla here, and organic vanilla is over $9/4 oz. bottle.  I have cut our costs dramatically by making it myself (not to mention - no fructose corn syrup). - marked off as I have already accomplished this one.  My homemade lemon extract will be ready later this month too.




5. Learn to create stitched stationery.
I taught myself this last fall, so it's checked off too now.

6.  Learn to quilt.  Starting small of course.  Maybe pot holders?

7. Lose another 25 pounds.  This will take much more determination and self-control than before.  Previously, I walked 2 miles a day, so this is being increased a bit over the last week.

8.  Buy a lake house somewhere, to go and relax, get away, at any given time I feel necessary. Okay, so this one is far-fetched, but a girl can still dream.  That's why I call it my "possibilities" journal.  Hubby is not on board for this, only because he said "going to the same place over and over will get monotonous."  I somewhat agree.  Maybe we'll simply find locations to rent.

9.  Write a novel.  There is enough activity here to write a sequel (or two or three). Ha ha!

10. Grow my own elderberries - plants have been ordered this year.  I'm excited.

11. Learn to knit socks.  I've learned how to do two types of work so far - basket weave, and seed stitch.

12. Build a greenhouse with recycled, wooden framed windows we have collected.


Okay, so it's not very long.  I do have many more in my journal, but when you are raising many kids, time is limited.  This year I plan to make more of it (time).

Looks like we'll get some warm weather and rain today.  My herb garden is slowly coming to life again.




7 comments:

Liz said...

I thinks its great to have a list like this! A few things on your list are on my too! I bought some apron patterns, now I just need to make them.

City Chick said...

What a great list! I'm hoping to learn more about essential oils. Need to make time.

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

I for one, have loved reading your lists!
Some on the possibilities list are dreamy, some are down to earth...and I like seeing that some are checked off,as done.
That makes it all worth while.
If I were to make a possibilities list...
No.1 would be ...'make a possibilities list. :)

I also think a possibilities list would promote some of that dreaminess...I've seemed to forgotten how to do.

Thanks, have a great week. Pat

Michelle said...

Love the journal ideal. you might want to add pictures. I did a number of projects then gave them a way.I so wish I had pictures of then now.

RB said...

Oh my, isn't that tatting beautiful. That's something I've never done. I'd think I'd get that tiny thread tangled and would give up. But such beauty!!!

I do knit, crochet, quilt, embroider, rehab rhinestone earrings and do AmerInd loom beading with teensy seed beads (which I LOVE doing), but tatting, I've never done.

God bless.

RB
<><

Mama Pea said...

Most of the items on your list hit home (or close) with me. (And I'm most likely twenty years older than you!) Having dreams and goals is a wonderful thing to keep us interesting (!) and joyously living life. I don't know how you get done all that you do with kiddlies still at home and all the time that takes. Then there are the animals and cooking from scratch and, and, and! Your list gave me some ideas for future blog posts of my own. Writing about things I've already done and those I still want to do. Great post!

Anonymous said...

I love lists, and your list resonates with me - so many of the same kinds of things on mine.

A few years ago I discovered www.dayzeroproject.com - it's a place to categorize and list one's goals. And there's a feature called 101 in 1001 days. It's been very motivating.