I have no idea what the next year is going to hold, but I work better from a list. Some of these things may not be possible, but they’re written down just in case.

1. Stay cigarette free.
2. Write a short story.
3. Make a knit list. (Finish the list.)
4. Become a morning person.
5. Complete a 100 day project.
6. Update the home master list.
7. Purge the back basement.
8. Take a trip to Maine with Violet.
9. Go hiking.
10. Start and finish the Chicago embroidery project.
11. Make a picture book for each of the kids.
12. Use an alarm clock instead of my phone.
13. Practice unapologetic self-confidence.
14. Camp. (Even if it’s just in the backyard.)
15. Have a treading water contest with Violet.
16. Deep clean/purge bathroom cabinets.
17. Hang pictures in the upstairs hallway.
18. Learn to make a really good homemade spaghetti sauce.
19. Take a class.
20. Floss.
21. Go social media free for at least one month.
22. Get a mole screen.
23. Get a mammogram.
24. Mail one handwritten letter a month.
25. Have a get together at my house with friends.
26. Tend the garden.
27. Take a long weekend in the U.P.
28. Go skiing.
29. Find a sunscreen that I will actually wear on my face. Wear it.
30. Reach my goal for the 2020 goodreads reading challenge.
31. Annual fall trip to Michigan.
32. Have family pictures taken.
33. Unsubscribe from unwanted email lists.
34. Continue writing down weekly intentions list.
35. Make a list of fun “social distancing” activities for the family. Do them.
36. Learn to give myself a manicure.
37. Wear out a pair of running shoes.
38. Practice using procreate.
39. Make a batch of homemade vapor rub.
40. Do some blog housekeeping.
41. Embrace mistakes.
42. Develop a new healthy habit.

1. Stay cigarette free. (3+ years and counting!)
2. Get the second floor remodel finished. (Please let this be the year.)
3. Hang the family wall.
4. Unpack and organize arts and craft room.
5. Continue to practice unapologetic self-confidence.
6. Take impeccable care of myself.
7. Celebrate my people.
8. Tend the garden.
9. Go to Michigan.
10. Go to Italy.
11. Work on confidence in skiing blue squares.
12. Invite people in.
13. Get V their license.
14. Frame & hang embroidered cities.
15. Start another x-stitch project.
16. Get a mole screen.
17. And a mammogram.
18. And a colonoscopy. (Yay 45!)
19. Read.
20. Make artistic messes.
21. Embrace work.
22. Take V on college campus tours.
23. Purge bookshelves and reorganize.
24. Set up a home gym area.
25. Use it.
26. Earn at least silver in monthly Peloton challenges.
27. Purge/deep clean basement storage area.
28. Propagate and repot the windowsill cacti.
29. Repot the monstera.
30. Practice identifying bird calls.
31. Knit Jesse socks.
32. Knit the sheep pillow to learn bobbles.
33. Buy no yarn (excepting yarn club renewal).
34. Continue to develop comfort in all things boat – docking, driving, trailering.
35. Start step one of the backyard landscaping project.
36. Clean out the garage.
37. Find a record stand for the office.
38. Attend the local knit night at least three times.
39. Meditate.
40. Sew the recreation blanket.
41. Fix the family room cabinet.
42. Keep practicing manicure skills.
43. Take a class.
44. Renew kids’ passports.
45. Leave room for surprises.

I love making these lists every year. I surprise myself with what I do (and don’t) manage to check off them and what I find myself repeating year after year. I wonder at what point I’ll stop adding numbers to the list despite adding years to my age. I’m not there yet. Here’s a look at past years: 44, 43, 42, 40, 39, 38