Ahh... a new year. A good time to review the previous year and make plans for the future. I'm not making any resolutions this year. I find that resolutions are too much like rules. As soon as I mess up once, I feel like a failure. Instead, I am making a list of goals. Goals are things to work toward -- it is OK to take two steps forward and one step back on your way to a goal.
This past year I spent a lot of my time working. Most of my spare time was used to find a house, buy it, and move in. It was quite an undertaking, but it feels good to have our own home now.
Now for my goals for the coming year (and what I will probably spend most of my time blogging about for the next year as well).
1. Produce more of our own food. I want to build a raised bed garden, plant fruit and nut trees, and try raising chickens this year. Also, I'd like to continue foraging and expand the amount that Charlie and I fish. I'd like to expand my knowledge of canning and also consider getting a freezer so Charlie could hunt some game. Not only is gardening/foraging a hobby of mine, but it is a good way to save money (pay off our house). Producing our own food also ensures that it is organic and safe. It helps the environment by reducing the oil used to transport what we consume. On a similar note, we are also trying to find more local sources for the food we can't produce ourselves.
2. Be more frugal and spend money wisely. Now that we have a house to pay off, I want to do the best I can to make extra payments on our principal. We have been less than frugal this past year with the extra money I made off all that overtime I worked. I know I can do better this year. Starting Monday, I am going back to working overtime again (they cut us back to 40 hours for the last couple of months). Although I'll have less time to do stuff around the house, it will give me more money to work with. I'd like to get our credit cards and one of our vehicles paid off this year -- and pay off some principal on the house.
3. Take better care of myself. I have let my diet and exercise slide lately. I also don't go to bed early enough so I don't have a chance to get enough sleep. I'd like to focus on taking care of myself with healthier food and more exercise and sleep. I already eat a lot of fruits and veggies, but I need to focus on cutting out fast food and comfort food -- particularly in the evenings after a stressful day at work. I have a treadmill now and am going to start using it. By making this a goal and not a "resolution", I'm hoping to do better over time.
These are my main goals for this year -- although I have many other things I hope to accomplish (craft projects, setting up/decorating the house, learn to bake bread, etc). I'm excited to see where this year leads me. I'm hoping for good health and safety for my family and friends -- and many happy gatherings with them this year.
I hope the same for you and yours. Happy New Year!!!
So, the first step is done 48 hours before you plan to serve the bread. I'll be eating this for Sunday dinner, and take it to work for lunch on Monday. I should grill up some veggies for a nice sandwich, or maybe just peanut butter and strawberry freezer jam... yum. 
Ahh... a new year. A good time to review the previous year and make plans for the future. I'm not making any resolutions this year. I find that resolutions are too much like rules. As soon as I mess up once, I feel like a failure. Instead, I am making a list of goals. Goals are things to work toward -- it is OK to take two steps forward and one step back on your way to a goal.
Take a look at her, then take a look at this photo of me. I think we look a lot alike here. 
Anyway, as I was saying... Charlie is a groovy guy. I might be a little biased, but I don't think so.
The Christmas tree is FINALLY up and decorated. This is one of my favorite ornaments -- a couple of love birds (perhaps turtle doves? I'm not sure I know what those look like) snuggling in the tree. 
These chocolate coated pretzel rods are easy to make and definitely yummy to eat! I just melted a block of "Candyquick" and cover the pretzels... then add some sprinkles before they harden up. You can find either chocolate or white chocolate flavored in the baking section in most larger grocery stores. 
I had a lot left over so I decided to jazz up some caramel corn. I broke that up in to chunks once the chocolate set up and bagged it up too. 
This last photo is of some spicy sweet pecans. This is my first year making these (Mom made them previously and I insisted on getting the recipe). I halved the recipe she gave me because I only had 12 oz of pecans. They made the whole house smell AMAZING and, well, Christmas-y. 
The cat continues to adore her sunny spot in the dining room near the slider that looks out onto the backyard. This morning there was quite a show back there. We had the most turkeys I've seen out there yet. I counted at least 23 of them -- they were having a real party! There was feasting and gobbling, males were mingling with females... why, I just imagine that they planned the whole thing in advance and sent out e-vites to all their neighboring turkeys. "Come on over to Shari's backyard, we're having a hoe-down!". Things got a little crazy when one of the turkeys jumped onto the roof of the little shed. I could almost hear the other turkeys cheering him on "Jump! Jump! Jump!" like some drunk teenager about to jump off a roof into the pool at some house party. Well, that is what I was imagining anyway.
Anyway, I went back to the hospital with coffee and bagels for Mom and I. I was able to spend the day with her while they put Dad through a variety of tests. At this point, he is doing well for someone who had a stroke of that magnitude. The stroke hit his left side, but he didn't lose his strength on that side. He is fine mentally and can speak clearly. He is only having a little loss of feeling and perception on his left side, which should be helped with therapy. 
