HAPPY 2025

I hope you're as excited about 2025 as I am. I've finished my goals and even planned January. I'm so eager for a new beginning, I've already started. One goal is to clean up my computer, and I've already started working on clearing up my desktop. Google can't leave well enough alone, and they've started posting pictures of their choice as my wallpaper. Sometimes the picture is so busy, I have to search diligently to find the item I want. This morning I did find that if you right click the little icon which says "Learn about this picture," you can switch the picture. I switched this morning and up popped the Milky Way with lots more uncluttered background so that I could see my items easily. 

As you already know, I always have more goals than I can possibly accomplish, but I usually do a lot more than if I didn't have goals, so why not? You should try it. I have a standard method I use year after year, and if you haven't set goals before, this is an easy way to start. Here are the categories.

Creative: For me, that's continuing my goal of finishing more Kindle books of food. For you, it could be painting a picture, making a quilt, knitting a sweater, finishing your scrapbook, or writing a novel. Whatever excites you.

Home: For me, it's following my cleaning schedule. I divided my house into twelve parts, and have a goal to deep clean one part each month. I've also set a goal to keep fresh flowers in my house, and work on making it smell sweet all the time. Also, taking photos of everything for insurance purposes. You never know.

For you, it might be new curtains for the kitchen, towels for the bath, or whatever.

Learn: We're never too old to learn something new. My focus this year will be on world history, and the states. This is also where I set my goal on how many books to read this year.

Social: This is where you resolve to send more cards and notes, make more phone calls, write more letters. Maybe go to lunch at a new restaurant each week. Have friends over for a meal or a tea. In my case, to blog weekly again. 

Local: These are places I wish to visit which are local. This is the year I WILL visit the Laura Ingalls home and museum. I've been saying this for years, but this time I mean it. Maybe I'll go tomorrow. 

Travel: Places you want to go which take more than one day. Did you know we have eight states which touch Missouri? My travel this year will be to visit our neighbors.

Acquire: My list included new bras and panties, nylons, a spider (not a bug - the one you use in the kitchen), new carpeting in the living room, family room, and my bedroom and bath. Maybe the dining room, but I dread the thought of moving all that glassware out of the buffet.

Yard: This is a biggie. Since I had all the shrubs removed, I have lots of ground to prepare and plant. A good way to get flowers for the Home goal.

No More Excuses: 

These are the things I keep saying I'm going to do, but I don't. I plan to declutter, but didn't make that a goal - it's tied in with following a budget, using my thread or getting rid of it, finishing my (craft) projects, and trying my gadgets. I have gadgets I've never used, and I'm sure there are some I'll pass along. And if I follow a budget, I won't be adding to my stash. And that reminds me that I want to show you my new set of dishes I bought for $5 at the thrift store in Nixa.

The final goal is to start a one-entry journal. I haven't decided whether it will be a what I'm grateful for today, or best part of my day journal as shown on my new bucket list calendar. 

That's my list and I want to share this new calendar with you. If you want one of your own, I bought it on Temu. Boo hoo. No Temu next year. Budget, you know.

Anyway, I'll share mine with you each month. And here's January, so you can start planning. I know a lot of this is for kids, but hey! we're still kids at heart.

I chose:

Start a "my favorite part of the day" journal (which might become a gratitude journal instead.)

Gift flowers to yourself.

Thrift a new mug or teacup.

Send someone a handwritten letter.

Reread a favorite book; I chose Gone with the Wind.

Go for a brisk morning walk.

And I added: 

Watch "New Year in Vienna" on PBS. It's on at 7:00 p.m. on January 1. 

Change the wreath and pillows.

I'll show you my new dishes next time. They're still in a box in the garage.

LIFE IS SHORT - MAKE IT WORTHWHILE

EAT THE RAINBOW AND ADD LEAFY GREENS

TIME TO EXERCISE MORE

WALKING IS GREAT EXERCISE

NO MORE "SOMEDAY" - SOMEDAY IS TODAY

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE