Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
This quote is the January inspiration from The Balanced Life and it is speaking volumes to me each day. I have included it in my morning mediation and it has been a wonderful help in homing in on that which improves my one “wild and precious life”!
This year, I have not made “resolutions” nor have I set any “intentions”. I did not spend time thinking about any little words to choose for the year. But, rather this year I have decided to move forward with those things that worked well last year with hopes of improving them even more this year. Those things include healthy food and activity, inspiring creativity in myself and others, and giving more – especially my time.
So, with these things in mind, here is my “right now”:
Queueing Up: as many healthy Instant Pot recipes that I can for these cold winter days. I have started a board on Pinterest, and last night began day one of our “Instant Pot” suppers. I am always wowed by how easy the Instant Pot is, seriously. In less than 30 minutes start to finish dinner was ready! I would like to get to the point where I don’t need a “recipe” and feel comfortable using the Instant Pot for a variety of meals. Vicki shared a link yesterday, and I will be making it later this week. I will let you know what I think! Last nights supper was super easy: Boneless pork loin chops, frozen diced red peppers from last summer, 1 diced onion, a bit of salt and pepper, half a cup of water and half a jar of salsa. I served this on warm cannellini beans and topped with a diced jalapeno. It was so good, and the pork chops were so tender and moist!
Stitching: For a much longer time each day. I have already filled about half of my fabric and I am really happy with how Winter is progressing. I am using the books Margene sent to me to help me learn new stitch patterns and I have been enjoying practicing the new things I am learning over the course of several days. I have also been planning how to put together last years stitching, and I think I am ready to begin that process! Then I just need to figure out what I want to use for backing!
Procrastinating: Yes, this is still a problem in my life, but I am working on it! I want to participate in Beth’s Weave Along, but I have yet to wind my warp. I am procrastinating because the thoughts of warping the loom are more than a bit daunting. I am not sure I remember exactly how to do it. However, I have queued up a Craftsy class with hopes that it will jog my memory and spur me to get this done!
Selecting: Yarn from my stash to knit Kirsten Kapur’s mystery socks in February. I am also wondering why I can manage to finish mystery socks, but non-mystery socks remain in the unfinished category. Perhaps, non-mystery socks need to go in the procrastinating category! Ha!
Moving: Several times a week I have been doing this HIIT workout that Robin sent out; it is HARD but I feel so good when I am done! This has been super helpful in these bitterly cold days when getting outside at all is a challenge!
There you have my life currently, what are you up to?
Great reflections. My most serious goal is to work in my relationship with my father. I must try to watch my boundaries.
Knit goals? Im considering making ornaments this year. But ? Felted or knit?
How can it be the middle of the month already? I am just now beginning to feel well after that horrible crud but I am hopeful that the rest of the month will be fruitful.
Your stitching is so fun to watch, Kat. It’s just lovely! Kind of a fiber-journal of your days. XO
There are so many great projects and things to try and learn and DO . . . that maybe it’s not really procrastination. Just idea-overload? (That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!) 🙂
I’m with Kym!! There are SO MANY THINGS TO DO & SEE & LEARN & TRY & GO & ETC. It is endless, and there’s always some NEW thing coming along, turning heads… I’m trying not to beat myself up over all of the things about which I am “procrastinating.” There is only so much time in a day (or a life)!
I, too, tend to stay away from resolutions because they feel doomed to fail, but I do like to do a bit of reflection at the beginning of the year to think about what got done and what worked in the past year and what I might like to accomplish in the year ahead. One goal that I always seem to have is to work on using up stash. It seems like it might actually happen this year, now that all the LYSes near me have closed.
I agree with Vicki and Kym! It is impossible to do all the things I’m interested in. It does feel like overload at times. This week I am concentrating on my watercolour class. I want this art to become part of my life. Moving, reading, art inspiration, and community are what I’m concreting on this year.
I wonder what I do with my free time as not much seems to get accomplished! That said…eventually things are done, read, made, etc. You my friend are a machine! That supper looks delicious.
Another voice in the crowd here, agreeing that there is so much to make, do, warp, weave, read, cook, etc., and I think we all get a little overwhelmed by wanting to do it all. There isn’t enough time in a day, but from all appearances, you make pretty good use of your time, so I don’t think I would call it procrastination. Looking forward to more of your stitching – last year and this year!
I don’t say Procrastination, I say (re)Prioritization. and yay for spending time each morning to think through what really matters for Today.
Your stitching is wonderful! I’m stitching,too. Just simple running stitches for now in colors that reflect my surroundings this January. Much different tan your winter. Of there is knitting! Thanks again for your help!
I so enjoy seeing the progress on your stitching. I am dabbling in a stitch journal. What am I doing? Staying warm, organizing our tax returns and information from many years (Not fun but it needs to be done) stitching, knitting, reading, writing in between the regular household activities.
I use my Instant Pot a lot for hardboiled eggs and cooking chicken, not quite as frequently for dinner but still pretty regularly. That work out looks good except for the jumping jacks – as a “woman of a certain age” I find jumping jacks . . . problematic!
I do not have an instant pot but it sounds intriguing to own one. I’m trying to meal plan so that my grocery bill goes down a wee bit. Seems like I’m doing a good job so far. Lovely stitchery – today all the plans are cancelled due to snow so I’m looking forward to some much needed reading and knitting time.
Hi! The stitching is just beautiful and I love, love, love your approach to it for this year! I’m envious…swoon! Stitch on and enjoy… you are tempting me with the one pot…I also saw an electric pressure cooker…so, we’ll see.
I’m slowly moving on my four words – three a continuation from 2017 + 2018’s : mindful…
Cheers~
I love your Winter embroidery and I LOVE that yarn! Can’t wait to see what it turns into.
I love your spontaneous stitching. It always turns into something beautiful.
Thanks for the exercise link. I need to check it out.