Contrary to appearances, I have not abandoned my blog. I got back after midnight last night from eight days of traveling, and though I had hopes to continue my California posts while on the road, it just didn’t happen. And that’s okay! Carmel and Monterey will be up next (and there will be photos and text when I finally get my act together – ha!), but in the meantime, let’s talk monthly goals!

Boxes of peaches at Kalawi Farms in Eagle Springs!

First, a little note about the fact that it’s July. Like many other people, I have the tendency to say the following or similar:
Where has the time gone?!
This year is flying by!
This year is almost over!
The summer’s basically over, and before we know it, it will be fall!

I’ve recently decided that phrases like these can not only become self-fulfilling prophecies, but they can feed into the manic tendency of our culture, normalizing the urge to always be on to the next thing. It’s July 1 – summer is NOT almost over. I’m trying to cut these phrases out of my conversation as a mini rebellion, and am interested to hear what you think :)

June goal recap:
Install a rain barrel (Still not done… our house budget is recovering. Adding it to July!)
Finish taking house photos and post tour (Photos are 75% done? Hoping to post in July.)
Finally buy Cuyana bag Yes!! Observant readers spotted it in this photo.
Hang new mirror in our powder room (Mirror purchased – yet to be hung.)
Finish preparing for and co-host a baby shower and a few other very fun events Yes! So much fun.
Pay off our second car loan and celebrate becoming debt free aside from our mortgage! Hooray!
Set a date for our Blacksburg adventure (I have an email in my inbox waiting for a response – underway!)

July goals:
— Install a rain barrel
— Finish taking house photos and post tour
— Finalize and print last third of household maintenance doc
— Clean out our “art storage room” – hang everything we like and organize/donate/sell/get rid of the rest
— Pick blueberries
— Celebrate John’s birthday!

Keeping things simple to hopefully have a 100% success rate! If you’ve posted your monthly goals, I’d love to take a peek.

Hopping on the goals train a bit late again this month, but with good reason! We just got home from our California trip late Sunday night (actually, early Monday morning), and yesterday was about getting back into the swing of things. I am bursting at the seams to tell you about our adventures; this trip was truly epic, and worthy of being “once in a lifetime” though I hope I get to experience it again :) I also have thoughts to share about preparing for a trip this complex and some tips we picked up along the way, so I think I’ll share those first as we sort through our many photos.

In the meantime, June goals!

To recap, my May goals:
Install a rain barrel (still part of the plan, but haven’t purchased one yet!)
Take photos of our house and post a tour on the anniversary of our closing (the anniversary of our closing has come and gone, but I’ve taken about half the photos, so I’m calling that a success!!)
Set an appointment with an allergist Appointment is on Friday, and I am nervous!
Address shower invitations with newish nib skills Sent! Need to take a few photos so I can share.
Hang art in the kitchen Done! Will share soon, as well.

June goals:
— Install a rain barrel
— Finish taking house photos and post tour
— Finally buy Cuyana bag
— Hang new mirror in our powder room
— Finish preparing for and co-host a baby shower and a few other very fun events
— Pay off our second car loan and celebrate becoming debt free aside from our mortgage!
— Set a date for our Blacksburg adventure

If you’ve posted your monthly goals, I’d love to take a peek!

I’m usually good about posting my monthly goals on the first of the month, but so far, May has thrown me for a loop! I had my post pretty well written but not quite ready on April 30th; I left it in draft thinking I’d do a last check and hit publish the next day. Instead I was up most of the night with what felt like food poisoning, stayed home from work and slept for most of Thursday, then hesitatingly got on a plane (RDU –> PHL –> PVD) Thursday night to fly home for an award ceremony for my dad. I was within ten minutes of Providence on my second leg before we were turned around due to fog, in the Philly airport until 2am, slept in a hotel for two hours, then caught a train to southeastern Connecticut at 5:15am, arriving at 9. Whew!! At least I could sleep on the train :)

Let’s hope the rest of May goes a bit more smoothly! I did so-so on my April goals, but that didn’t stop me from being ambitious with my May ones…

To recap, my April goals:
Set an appointment with an allergist
Break out calligraphy supplies and do something with them
Pick strawberries
Make final reservations for our California trip
Purchase a spring/fall jacket
Send out invitations for two showers (invitation number one has been printed and cut – waiting on addresses before I send!)
Fulfill one of our Easter traditions – paying for the car behind us in a drive-through line! (Yikes – we forgot!! Going to find another opportunity soon.)

May goals:
— Install a rain barrel
— Take photos of our house and post a tour on the anniversary of our closing
— Set an appointment with an allergist
— Address shower invitations with newish nib skills
— Hang art in the kitchen

If you’ve posted your monthly goals, I’d love to take a peek!

March was a busy month. Between hosting visitors and being visitors ourselves, we were a bit out of our normal routine – but in good ways. However, I did get a bit behind on my monthly goals, so I’m rolling the leftover items to April!

To recap, my March goals:
Practice new calligraphy techniques
Plant peony in backyard
Plan a really happy trip to NC for two dear friends and their gents
Set an appointment with an allergist
Help launch a new service/community at our church
Plant the first round in our vegetable beds See above! We planted sugar snap peas, kale, arugula, three types of tomatoes, and basil. We’ll put in peppers and more tomatoes later in the year!

April goals:
— Set an appointment with an allergist
— Break out calligraphy supplies and do something with them
— Pick strawberries
— Make final reservations for our California trip
— Purchase a spring/fall jacket – something nicer than my fleece, but casual enough for every day wear
— Send out invitations for two showers
— Fulfill one of our Easter traditions – paying for the car behind us in a drive-through line!

I have been striking out left and right on the jacket front – any suggestions on where I should look for outerwear? And, if you’ve posted your monthly goals, I’d love to take a peek!

P.S. Tips for growing veggies in a raised bed