Goals and thinking ahead

Now that Christmas is behind us and the long stretch of winter looms ahead, my thoughts are already fast-forwarding to spring!  Just think.  The spring scene in the photo above will be a reality in approximately 3 short months! I've been pondering the last few days on what I hope to achieve this new year.  I don't like the word resolutions.  They seem so...well...firm.  And I never seem to keep them.  But goals are aims...hopes or dreams.  Therefore, I jotted down some goals I hope to accomplish in this new year and a few before spring.

     1 - Exercise more.   I really need to do this!
     2 - Eat healthier and drink less soda.   I've been on sugar overload since the beginning of the holidays. 
     3 - Simplify/get organized.   This means cleaning out closets, plus get rid of stuff/junk I don't need stored in the basement.
     4 - Decide on a new camera.   Or dust off the old film slr camera and relearn to use it again.  If I can find film!
     5 - Organize photos.  I've been really bad about not keeping old photos in order.  Gotta change that.  
     6 - Read the bible more.  And other more edifying material rather than some of the fluffy stuff I've been reading lately.
     7 - Comment and post more often.  Sometimes life gets in the way of computer time, but I will try harder.
     8 - Find a new couch.  Once I decide on color and style. I'll put the new one in the living room and the old one will replace the one downstairs in the family room.          

Other goals are for hubby and I together and we have already discussed things we would like to do in our house and on our back 40 6.  First project will probably be redoing the upstairs bathroom.  We've been aiming to do this for the last 2 or 3 years.  It's now or never!  We will rip off old tile and redo the walls, put in a new vanity, maybe a new tub/shower and flooring.  He says we can do this ourselves.  We'll see!  I hate to think of the mess.  Yikes!

Other goals are planting a few fruit trees.  We used to have apple trees, I miss them.  And I want to try a couple of peach trees, too.  Also, cleaning out trees and stuff sprouting around and nearby the pond.  This will be good exercise!    Then, we may try raised gardening this year.  We've definitely had problems with growing decent gardens in recent years.  Maybe this is the way to go.

We also have other goals in mind, but this is a big start.  I realize some of the goals require spending quite a chunk of money, but we are pretty frugal people and have already saved for these things.    

One other thing is on our list.  I'll post about it another day and invite your opinions.  

Until next time...