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.