We are halfway through the year, and it’s time to check in on how I’m doing with this year’s home goals. At the start of the year, I said that I needed a reset, and I planned my projects with that in mind. As I review the list, I feel like I’m doing pretty good. I’ve made progress in most areas. It’s nice to feel like I’m more organized and getting through things.
I also feel like this update might be a bit premature as I have two reveal posts coming soon.
Read on to see how I’ve done so far.
Driveway
Guess what? I can finally say that the garage and mudroom renovation (begun in 2021) is done. Yup. We have a paved driveway. All the details and photos coming soon.
Coop
Slowly but surely the coop is moving forward. We’ve had a new foundation wall built and I’ve started framing the exterior wall. I’ve also been working on clearing some of the “yard” around the coop. This long-awaited project is happening.
Vegetable garden
The vegetable garden has been crossed off the list for 2024. I’m a bit disappointed, but I know it was the right decision. We are working off and on in the other gardens, and I’m seeing progress there which feels really good. And despite our neglect, we have had some good harvests. One and a half pounds of asparagus–our best ever–and raspberries, which are starting now.
Clean-up inside
I made a few tweaks to my bedroom, added a craft shelf to Ellie’s soon-to-be playroom, cleaned out a few other spaces and finished off the final details for Ellie’s bedroom (another reveal that is coming soon). I still have a lot to work through, but we’ve made some progress and I can see the future.
Clean-up outside
I’ve chipped, I’ve mowed, I’ve pruned, trimmed, picked up rocks, tarped. Our new chipper has been a great addition. I’ve already started rebuilding brush piles, but they’re more contained, and I know I can clean them up again before they become gargantuan. I’ve run the rotary cutter over the septic bed and along the edge of the front field, and I’m confident I can continue to maintain these areas. I’ve “groomed” a few new sections of the property, and getting each of them cleaned up feels like a good accomplishment. I also had a milestone last week when the first big load of Matt’s stuff left the barn.
Personal goals
Earlier this year I also shared some personal goals. Here’s how I’m doing on them:
- Walking: 290km (48km per month–ahead of my goal of 42km per month)
- Monkey bars: I still do them every week and whenever Ellie and I visit a playground. I haven’t mastered a chin-up yet, but I’m working on it. I definitely feel that my grip strength has improved.
- Reading: 19 books (not quite on track for my goal of 50 books this year)
- 1,000 Hours Outside: 644 (in pretty good shape to hit our goal, I hope)
- Family albums: I’ve completed 2020 and am hoping to finish 2021 as well. That would leave me with just 2022 to catch up on (and ’24, of course).
- Rest: Still my hardest challenge. I’m more conscious of my need to rest and I feel like I’m doing a better job of listening to my body. Though I still need to go to bed earlier.
These personal goals are less about making big changes (aside from rest) and more about maintaining a balance for myself. They’re a good reminder of some of the other things that are important to me.
Overall, I feel like I’m making good progress, and that feels good. This mid-year review makes me proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and gives me motivation to keep going.
Home on 129 Acres 
That all sounds like excellent progress! I’m looking forward to the reveals. And I admire the wisdom of letting go of what you know would be too much as well.
I hope I’m not in the “too much” category myself. I’m planning some professional changes – offering group piano lessons as well as individual – and it’s really pushing me out of my comfort zone. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I hope it doesn’t become too much in the sense that they will be in addition to what was already a very full schedule last year. But they’re an experiment, so I can’t let go of other things until I know whether or not the experiment is successful. We’ll see! I’m sure I’ll have some uncomfortable moments but hopefully it will work out in the long run.
It can be hard to find the best balance. I think it’s worthwhile to try–as you are doing–and recognize that you can adjust as you need to.
Congratulations Julia on your many accomplishments you have set out for yourself at this mid point of the 2024 year ! You have done a marvellous job on everything.
My goals are modest in focusing on family time and retirement relaxation (something that doesnât come easy for this gal whose full time career spanned 40 years) including raising two children as a single parent.
We held a special family dinner last Wednesday for my daughterâs upcoming 40th (tomorrow) birthday. I made one of her favourites Beef Wellington with homemade Yorkshire pudding, vegetables with cheese sauce, mini cupcakes for the grandkids (Julie rarely eats any dessert anytime) with birthday cake ice cream that Julie did have a scoop of.
We celebrated our granddaughterâs 6th birthday along with her brother on Saturday here at our house while her parents participated in childrenâs foundation charity motorcycle ride event. I organized a make your own pizza lunch, bake and decorate mini birthday cakes. It was all a big success with the kids having a ball finishing with having a tea party consuming two of the cakes. The other two decorated cakes were wrapped up for them to take home.
Enjoy the remainder of your summer with Ellie. A âhelloâ to Steve from us too !
Pam
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Those sound like lovely celebrations, Pam. How nice that you’re able to put the time into making them so special. I think that’s part of fulfilling your goals around family and retirement too.