GOALS 2010 January Update

CLICK HERE to READ ORIGINAL GOALS

Well, has it already been one month since setting these goals?

I do think I did pretty good for this month...I certainly hope that it can continue.

• We collected boxes the first week of January and a few weeks into January. We will continue to collect them...just in case.
• We completed the mud porch on schedule. Boy, was that thing nasty!
• This is a bonus: I took pictures of the appliances and listed two items on craigslist yesterday and have already had 4 - 5 emails about them. Still not sold, but am very hopeful.
• We did NOT do anything to the old garage. The weather is not permitting that for us right now. We have until June 1st.
• We have NOT painted the master bath. We DID however get two new outlets installed, which something that needed to be done before the painting started. We have until August 1st to paint the bathroom.
• I did 24 of 31 days of Bible reading. I found that weekends were my weakest days. I do feel more calm and peaceful this month and I am sure it is because I have been spending time with my Lord.
• Flylady Zone: I am going to give myself a passing grade because I did manage to deep clean each zone. I still need work on doing the 15 min. in each zone on a daily basis.
• No progress on the water line. Deadline is September 1st.
• No progress on the culvert in the pasture. Deadline is July 1st.
• Getting change jars together to cash in in February.
• We DID get a good set of scales...yes, I GASPED when I got on them! I lost 7 lbs. in January!
• I am giving myself a passing grade on drinking 8 glasses of water a day. I didn't get them every day...but I also didn't have ANY pop in January!!!
• Eating out was a total BUST....hanging head in shame. I knew this would get us and it did. The next two months are busy stockshows for us and I know the eating out will get us again and that part was planned...just not the January one....still going to lessen it though. It isn't night meals that get us...it is the run through the drive-thru at lunch...for this, I need to plan better.

Overall, I think we did pretty good on the goals. We stayed focused and helped each other stay motivated. Now, on to February!!

GRADE: B

My $1.00 Winter Storm Fix

We were predicted to have a MAJOR ice storm in our area a few days ago...so, while out running amok trying to prepare for the blasted thing, my car violently turned right and parked itself in a thrift store parking lot.

I just sat there talking to "Lucy"...my car, "I can't go in here Lucy..don't you realize this rain is about to turn to ice...just look at your wipers....I see ice forming."

After about 5 minutes, I decided I could make a QUICK...very QUICK run through....

So glad I did, because I found this adorable lamp shade for $1.00! I can also say I am glad I did because I made it home before the ice came....otherwise, I probably wouldn't be posting this...LOL.

So, now I wait and wait for warmer temps so I can get out that spray paint and do a makeover of the lamp....are you with me? Can I get an AMEN?

Make sure you check back with me on February 1st for my 2010 Goals update....

More of the HOMESCHOOL Field Trip Experiments

Here are a few...ok, a lot of pics from our recent trip to the Air & Space Museum.

Mr. Pilot showed how air pressure works. He has a cup of water UPSIDE DOWN.

He put a piece of PAPER over the top of the cup before tipping the cup UPSIDE DOWN.
He then removes his hand and VOILA...the water is remaining in the cup. DO THIS EXPERIMENT OVER A SINK!
ALSO USE A SOLID CUP...THE WATER YOU SEE IS FROM HIM SQUEEZING THE CUP...

Of course, the kids wanted to make sure they could do it also...so, here they are.

This is room temperature red food coloring added to a tank of water.

On the right are ice cubes w/ blue food coloring.

This experiment shows how a cold front and a warm front meet and what happens....you can almost see the storms brewing, can't you?

Soooo, after the water in the cup experiment, Mr. Pilot wanted to see if it would stay in a cup if he REMOVED the piece of paper.....
Michael was more than willing to be a volunteer....after he got his arm twisted...JUST KIDDIN.

Here the cup WITH the paper is balancing on his head....

The paper is REMOVED....I think Michael is worried at this point.
THE WATER STAYED!!!

Mr. Pilot played a joke on us....he had gel beads in the cup when he poured in the water. The gel beads soaked up the water and made a solid!

You can find these gel beads in DIAPERS....cut a dry diaper open. Now you know the secret of DIAPERS!!!

A Joy in a Time of Sorrow....

Meet little Miss Emi.

Emi was born the week of Thanksgiving.

The Lord put Emi into this family's life at just the right moment.

Right before the holidays.

This allowed the family to focus on the joys of baby smiles, baby smells, and baby cuddling.

Babies have a way of turning sorrow into joy.

Babies have a way of carrying on legacy within a family.

Meet Emi.

Emi came to help this grieving family overcome the loss of dear sweet Justin, who in September, at the age of 26, was killed in a tragic accident. Emi knows that she will never replace her Uncle Justin.

She will however, help them remember her Uncle Justin.

Emi will certainly have some of the same qualities her Uncle Justin had while he walked this earth.

Tina, Randy, Amber and the rest of the family....may you see God working in this darkness and know that you have a new light.

We love you!!

Homeschool Field Trip to Air & Space Museum

This will be one in a series of posts since it takes so long to upload pictures to this blog.

We joined a new homeschool group this year.

So far, I think it has been a blessing. I love the organization of the group.

They are also very mission-minded.

This week we toured the Air & Space Museum.

Below are pictures of one of the many science experiments conducted in the classroom to relate weather.

First, there were volunteers.

Then, each once was given a task to complete.
Can you see the hard boiled egg beside the jar?
The task was to get the egg INSIDE the jar w/out messing up the egg.
The egg did NOT just fall into the jar because the opening was too small.

So, they lit a piece of paper and using tongs placed it into the bottom of the jar.

The egg is quickly put on top of the jar. (See, it fits like a cork)

Finally, the egg "seems" like it is sucked into the jar with a LOUD plopping noise...very similar to a cork popping.

The next task is to get the get BACK out of the jar w/out crushing the egg.

There were several suggestions....

Finally, Mr. Pilot stepped in and saved the day and very quickly got the egg out of the jar.

I am not going to share details of the experiment because that would spoil all the fun for you if you want to do this experiment and know the WHYS and HOWS of it.

I encourage you to look up the experiment and try it if you haven't already done it.

Brief Overview of Vintage Tulsa Show....

I was able to steal away this past weekend to check out a new event in Tulsa...

Vintage Tulsa Show.

I totally forgot that I had my camera....shame, shame.

I didn't get many pictures...and the ones I got aren't that great.

I'm sure you will still love me anyway...won't you.

I would have snatched that pink dress in a heartbeat if I was small again....
This Stephanie's booth....she had lots of nice vintage stuff.
I even found a swirl dress.....too small... :(

My sister really wanted this original bowling shirt from a local bowling alley....

...instead, she settled for an original shirt from Pennington's Drive-In.

Notice the name on the shirts....PEGGY SUE!!

We each got one!! There were no more for our other sister who left us and was waiting in the hall....finders keepers!!

(Note: We were not drugged in the pics...just the only pics we got...so, beggars can't be choosers)

Just look at the pleated back...and the embroidered "Penningtons"!!!

There will be another show in April....must. make. room.

Goals for 2010 (END OF YEAR UPDATE)

No, these are NOT resolutions...they are GOALS. I am going to post them on here for our benefit. On the first of each month, I will update on progress.

Major Goal: Dismantle old farmstead home that we are still paying real estate taxes on...ick! The old home still has a TON of our stuff in it....from when we moved next door more than 2 years ago....I know, I know....hanging head in shame. We are going to incorporate the FLYLADY method to get this HUGE chore completed by May 1, 2010! The items I'm packing up will either go to the new house, an auction, donate, or trash.

1. Start collecting moving boxes (first week of January)(STARTED)

2. Jan - completely pack up the stuff on the mud porch (COMPLETED)

3. Feb - Completely pack up the 3 bedrooms with whole family participating. (FAILURE)

4. March - Complete the front porch/storage room. (FAILURE)

5. April - Complete packing the living room/kitchen. (MOSTLY)

May 1st - haul all items to auction. (Should we complete any area BEFORE the deadline, we will move on to the next area.) Start parting out the house and using good lumber/metal for future barn.  (FAILURE)

April 1, 2010 - Goat pen fencing completed and does moved to this pasture/playground.

-estimated cost $500.00.  (COMPLETED/GOATS LOVE US)

June 1, 2010 - Old garage cleaned out and bulldozed which will leave a slab for future small barn for tractor/lawn equipment storage and possible show animals.  (FAILURE)

August 1, 2010 - Re-paint master bathroom. There is still UNFINISHED paint job on trim from over 2 years ago! Now I want to just paint it a soft country white. Currently it is sherbet orange...sounds gross, but it looks nice...just doesn't go with the bedroom decor.  (FUNNY STORY, I THOUGHT THE OFFICE/STUDIO WAS PART OF THIS, BUT IT WASN'T.  SO....WE FAILED ON PAINTING THE BATHROOM BUT HAD HUGE SUCCESS WITH COMPLETELY RE-DOING THE OFFIC/STUDIO)  I GUESS I NEED TO ADD TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE LIST.

365 Days of Devotionals & TAG (Time Alone w/ God) for me.  (PARTIAL FAILURE, I DID INCREASE MY TAG TIME, JUST DIDN'T DO IT DAILY)

Eat out no more than 4 times in a month...this includes running through the drive-thru....any time we have to pay for a meal and not have to cook it! I prefer doing this less often, but want to be realistic here. Also, this won't apply when we are out of town at stockshows.  (EXTREME FAILURE)  (I DID COOK MORE OFTEN, SO THAT IS A BONUS)

Stick to FLYLADY ZONES....15 minutes a day means FREEDOM the rest of the day!  (SUCCESS)  (THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE BLESSING FOR ME, AND IT IS WHAT METHOD I USED TO RE-DO MY OFFICE/STUDIO)

Zone 1 - Entrance, Front/Back Porch (1st of each month to the Friday)

Zone 2 - The Kitchen/Dining room (2nd Week)

Zone 3 - The Bathroom & One Extra Room (3rd Week)

Zone 4 - The Master Bedroom

Zone 5 - The Living room

September 1, 2010 - Water line run to the barns.(FAILURE)

 

July 1, 2010 - Fix the culvert in the pasture.(FAILURE)

February 1, 2010 -Cash in huge change jars and put into rainy day account. Continue adding to rainy day fund. Goal = $1500.00 (SUCCESS)

Buy a good set of scales and start WEIGHING!!  (SUCCESS)  (WE DIDN'T LOSE ANYTHING, WE NOW JUST KNOW HOW MUCH WE WEIGH)  :)

We are also going to try to incorporate some type of "something" each month (The idea is that we continue building...not quitting):

Jan - 8 glasses of water a day. Only water when eating at restaurants.  (SUCCESS)  (I EVEN DRINK MORE THAN 8 ON SOME DAYS.)  (I ALSO DON'T DRINK SODA POP)

Feb. - 15 min. of activity straight. It can be walking, dancing, bouncing...anything!  (PARTIAL SUCCESS)  (I PARK FURTHER AWAY IN PARKING LOTS, I USE THE STAIRS, I TRY TO GET THINGS MYSELF, INSTEAD OF ASKING SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY UP TO GET IT.) :)

Mar - 15 min. of Bible reading/journaling  (PARTIAL SUCCESS)

Apr - Taking 5 min. before going to bed to run through the house and pick up/declutter  (SUCCESS)  (IF I DON'T DO IT AT NIGHT, I DO IT IN THE MORNING ON MOST DAYS)

May - 15 min. each day working outside to beautify  (FAILURE)(I DID PLANT FLOWER BEDS THIS YEAR)

June - Spend 2 hours each Sat. or Sunday cleaning pastures  (FAILURE)

July - Declutter closets and donate to local charity. At least one item each day. (PARTIAL SUCCESS, I DIDN'T DO THIS EACH DAY, BUT I DID ACCOMPLISH A MAJOR OVERHAUL)

Aug - Volunteer at the local food pantry on 3rd Thursday  (PARTIAL SUCCESS, I DID MAKE IT ONE TIME AND HAD CAR BREAK DOWNS 2 TIME AND COULDN'T GET THERE.)  (I HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR THE OTHER TIMES THOUGH)

Sep - Each Wednesday, bake cookies and share with another person/family.  (TOTAL FAILURE, I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THIS ONE AT ALL....HANGING HEAD IN SHAME)

Oct - Save change and at end of month donate to charity.  (I AM WORKING WITH MY XS GROUP TO GIVE TO CHARITY - SUCCESS)

Nov - Spend 5 min. each day organizing paperwork  (SUCCESS - ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T EACH DAY, I DID MAKE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN THIS AREA WHICH LED TO THE RE-DO OF THE OFFICE/STUDIO)

Dec - Keep vehicles cleaned (Do NOT go into the house without taking EVERYTHING)  (FAILURE - NO EXCUSE)

Stay tuned each month for updates....

ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SEVERAL GOALS, WE DID MANAGE TO ACCOMPLISH SOME BIG TASKS.  I HAD HOPED TO KEEP THESE UPDATED EACH MONTH AND TOTALLY FAILED AFTER THE 2ND MONTH....SO SAD.  I DO FEEL WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND WOULD GIVE OUR EFFORT A SOLID B- IF I WERE GIVING A GRADE.

WE WILL AGAIN MAKE A NEW GOAL LIST FOR 2011.  WANT TO JOIN US?  JUST GET OUT A PIECE OF PAPER AND PEN AND GET WITH IT.  FEEL FREE TO POST IT ON YOUR BLOG AND LEAVE A COMMENT TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.  I WILL POST OUR GOALS 2011 ON JANUARY 1ST...YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT POST.