Photo Credit: maplemama
I know nearly every blogger is talking about resolutions and goals for 2011. And for good reason. Without goals, a person tends to drift without clear direction, but with goals, one can set a course. Even if the goal is not fully achieved, at least something is a most certainly gained in the process.
So if I make a list of goals for the new year, I will direct the limited time that I have as well as my limited energy to those goals. Without a list, I will flit from thing to thing and most likely miss achieving the very thing that I really believe is important. I don't like to think of these as "resolutions" because as soon as I do, I feel pressure and guilt that no one in particular places on me, but it's just there. However, if it's a "goal", than it's just something I'm aiming for.
Oh, and I can assure you, I know I won't meet all my goals. I always have way too many. But there again, the pressure is removed when I know this ahead of time. So now, I can just type away and list all my dreams and desires for 2011 and not feel anything but joy and excitement.
My 2011 Goals
(In no particular order)
• Make my own bar soap
• Order bees and get my hives up and running (and possibly add a second hive)
• Finally learn to make sourdough bread!
• Sprout more seeds for salads, etc.
• Help Molly start a flower cutting garden and business
• Start seedlings on time for an early spring garden
• Reseed certain crops every 2 weeks - like lettuce!
• Start a fall vegetable garden and have season extenders ready to go
• Finish the laundry room
• Paint and add bead board to the entry hall
• Complete the 30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge - at least twice!
• Make two twin size quilts for the younger girls and coordinating euro shams
• Finish my study on Colossians and do a study on Titus
• Organize my food storage better and fill in the gaps
• Finish organizing my recipes
• Get the paperwork always on my desk under control and keep it that way!! (least likely to happen)
• Make Farmgirl Cyn's Homemade Deodorant
And my biggest challenge for 2011...
• Get a small barn and two goats for milking!
I'm working hard on this one, but God is going to have to provide some things for this to happen before the goats are born so I can be ready for them.
You should know this is not my entire list; it's just the things that have been running in my mind for months and I really want to tackle in 2011. So expect the list to change over the course of the year.
Now it's your turn. I love to read other's goals for homesteading and otherwise. Won't you share yours?
Happy New Year!
2011, I believe, will be the year of corn in my garden. At least, I'll give it a try. I will also attempt grafting my fruit trees. Your list is an inspiring one. Good luck and best wishes for a wonderful 2011.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog a few months ago and have really enjoyed everything you write. Thanks. My husband and I plan to move soon, so we can't do too much homesteading right now, but as soon as we move...boy do I have some plans.
ReplyDeleteI thought you might be interested in participating in January Reflections '11 over at my blog.
Here is more info. http://thegloriousimpossible.com/pages/january-reflections
Wow! What a great list, Amy. I look forward to reading along as you tackle (and blog) about these projects.
ReplyDeleteThere is some unknowns as to what will come next for Jamey this year, so it's hard to know what our {homesteading} year will look like. Because of this, I'm only setting a few goals for myself. I'm committing to memorizing scripture this year, to begin to teach Sadie to sew, and to improve my prayer life (in quality and frequency).
Happy New Year, friend. May you and your family feel God's presence each and every day.
I'm amazed at how many of our goals are the same! You know what they say...great minds.. LOL!!! ;D Great post! ;D Thanks for sharing! ;D--Sara
ReplyDeletegreat goals! i look forward to seeing how they unfold.
ReplyDeleteGirl, I could just 'copy and paste' your goal list! It is so in line with mine! Especially the last one. We had goats 6 years ago...milked them, made cheese, had organic gardens, chickens....always wanted bees. Now we are on the hunt for our own little hobby farm. It might take a few years...because I really want to buy for cash...which means a lot of hard work ahead of us.
ReplyDeleteI love your site.
Have a wonderful New Year.
Eerily similar to my own list! My list is almost two pages long...but those also include things to do in my lifetime, not just in 2011. But for starters...the two immediate goals I have are make a patchwork quilt and learn to bake bread. Too bad we weren't neighbors...we could do them together!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year..xox
Well, I won't go on aboutmy goals but I will say that I know you'll efficently get all of yours done since you're so organized!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love Happy Campers and know that your quilt will turn out great.♥
My biggest goal: pray more, pray longer, pray specifically, PRAY! I so look forward to seeing the progress on your barn and goats goal!!! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWith a possible move to an apartment in Phoenix, homesteading stuff might be out of the picture for the next year! But its one more step closer to our dream of our own homestead somewhere not so arid one day! Sometimes you have to take a step back before you can move forward.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by my blog. It's nice to 'meet' you. :) You have a lovely blog!
I saw in your profile that you live in Tehachape. I have a cousin who lives there.
I have lots and lots of projects for our garden and our home in 2011. I don't know if we will get them all done, but I'll have fun trying!
Happy New Year to you!
~ Jo :)
An ongoing goal of mine is to make my own "stuff," instead of buying it... just like your making your own deorderant.
ReplyDeleteI conquered lye soap making last year and that was a big accomplishment! This year -- try to sell some of the big batches of soap I made last year! Haha!
I would also like to have a couple of goats to milk and then make cheese and goat's milk soap.
Looking forward to 2011! :)
my husband and i want land so we can start our own little homestead. that won't be happening in 2011 but hopefully soon! i can't wait. i started sourdough in 2010 but accidentally used up all my starter one morning making pancakes... oops! so i'm working on getting my own starter going as we speak! i'm crossing my fingers. if it doesn't work, then i'll just order another dehydrated starter but i thought it'd be cool to get my own going.
ReplyDeletep.s. this is a great blog by the way! i'm really enjoying it!
Kait, we had to move into a rental for 2 1/2 years in order to build our "dream home" on 4.5 acres. But it was so worth it! And in the meantime, you can do so much, even in an apartment - bake bread, grow herbs, make your own detergents and things, plan, read, plan some more, and save as much as you can! Oh, and I believe congratulations are in order??!! Best wishes for your homesteading vision and your newest family member soon to arrive!
ReplyDeleteStacy, I left my starter out and ruined it! At least you got to eat yours!!
I'm loving hearing what's up in 2011 for each of you! Keep it coming!!
We don't live on a homestead yet, but still manage to do quite a few things. Last year was our 1st attempt at sq.ft. gardening. I hope to improve upon that this year. I want to compost more than we have been. I really enjoyed your post on the cute little compost containers for the kitchen. Now to buy one! Also on my list is to make bread, tortillas, and yogurt on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteInstall a rain barrel, hang another clothes line for summer drying and make more household cleaners and beauty products.
Along with many goals for spiritual growth, deepening our relationships, getting out of debt. We also have a bathroom remodel, reading nook, and closet remodels on tap for this year.
One of my goals this year is cook from scratch more often - I have to get my mind around the whole "it's such a chore" mindset and into the "it's so nice to enjoy a good meal" mindset!
ReplyDeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteLove your list! Mine is a work in progress...Got some financial & reading goals done over the break. Thx for the link on the hubby encouragement. I printed it out and put it in my Quiet Time basket - can't wait!
Blessings!
Jennifer
Hi Amy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to start off the new year by reading this post. It gives us all such inspiration to be a better person, harder worker and true to ourselves.
In the past I've always made "New Year Resolutions" only to be disappointed three months later when I realize that I'm heading in the same comfortable routine without even giving a second thought to my resolutions. It's like wanting to lose weight, it's better to make small goals for ones self rather than to say I want to loose 100 pounds in three months. I am reminded by the saying, "Slow and Steady Wins the Race". That's going to be my motto for 2011. Persistance I've learned does pay off. After 47 years, I've hopefully learned at least that. However, I can't go a year without making myself atleast a couple goals which I think are attainable as long as I am focused. They are:
- Being a more patient mother, wife, daughter and manager.
- Continuing to add organic material into my garden which in turn will provide me with a more bountiful harvest.
- Being of healthy mind and soul and simply being myself.
- Keeping my blogs fresh, interesting and worthy of reading.
And, lastly I saved the most wanted goal for last, although by no means is it the least important.. To find my way back to God..
Thanks for giving me a breath of fresh air everytime I open your blog up to read..
Leslie
Leslie,
ReplyDeleteExcellent goals. And thankfully, God always has His arms open wide for us! That's a prayer he'll answer for sure!
Glad to have your here!
I finally posted my goals. I probably set too many goals but I like to have a vision. I would rather have a goal that I didn't accomplish than not have a vision for improvement.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I think we need to get together on the soap making and sourdough making goals ;)
http://healthyhomesteading.com/2010/12/reflections-on-2010/
This year my homesteading goals are:
ReplyDelete-grow all our dried beans, garlic, tomatoes and green chilies (the later two also need to be canned) for the year.
-get bees
-figure out the best rotation schedule for the new flock of chickens
-effectively use cover crops
-start building emergency food stores