It’s been exactly three months since my Quest46 started.  {If you’re new to my blog, Quest46 is a group of 46 goals I gave myself for the next 365 days (or 273 as of today).  You can read about it here.}

Observations after three months:

• I wrote in my last update that I love the cumulative affect of working on things every day.  I often feel the compulsion ‘to be done’ with things and that’s not possible for most of my Quest46 items.  I’m discovering that this really hard-wired into my personality, but it’s a good exercise in perseverance.
• I’m learning to go easy on myself when I miss a self-imposed goal.  Hey life throws you curve balls and I have to keep everything in perspective.
• Being aware of these commitments I’ve made is making me mindful of projects that will present themselves in the future.  I’m working really hard at learning to say ‘no’ graciously.  I was improving, but suffered a set back when I added a wedding gift project and an event at my church.  I feel good about my decisions so we’ll see how it goes.
• I’ve managed to pick up my pace, but I’m planning a blog series for March and may experience some setbacks ;-).

I’ve written the entire list along with current progress.

1. Memorize Psalm 91.  Continuing to memorize.  I have the first five verses under my belt.  I wish I could say this is getting easier, but I’m terrible at memorization.  I’m still amazed at how God uses each recitation to reveal more about who He is.
2. Lose the rest of my weight and increase my fitness.  I’m down a few pounds.  Increasing my exercise and varying it by adding strength training and stretching seems to be helping.
3. Find and implement new ways to honor Mike daily.  I’m doing better at keeping our place tidy.  Now I want to work on making sure dinner is ready when he gets home.  He’s so awesome about fixing dinner after a long day’s work, but I’d rather have it prepared for him so he can just relax.  We’ll see how it goes.  He really is the better cook.
4. Make albums for each dog.   I found the albums I want to use. Still working on pulling out pictures and sorting them into folders.
5. Crochet a Ripple Blanket.  Ordered and received the yarn for this project.  The ripple has begun.
6. Plant a vegetable garden.  Sometime in spring.  A dear friend already started me off with some vegetable seeds and seed pots.  I need to start preparing my planters.
7. Journal 52.  I am about two weeks behind.  I’ll take some pictures soon and post them.
8. Read 24 new books.  Have chosen 21 of the 24.  Here’s the 21:  The God Ask (done), Manage Your Day to Day (done), Handmade Market Place, Lore of Running, Outlander #1, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Yarn to Go, Jock of the Bushveld, Dear Mr. Knightly, How to be the Leader of the Pack, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals, Lady Susan, The Scent of Water: Grace for Every Kind of Broken, White Fang, Unbroken (done), Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, The Go-Getter, The Artist’s Way, Yes Please (done), Scary Close
9. Make a scarf for Margaret.  Here’s the pattern, started a month ago with the intention of sending it to her for her birthday in January, but discovered a major mistake and ripped out 30 rows.  I’m not entirely sure when it will be done, but it will be before November 24, 2015.
10. Make birthday cards for family and friends.  Finished November, December and January, February.  Working on March and April.
11. Send two “thinking of you gifts” every month.  Gift #1 done, Gift #2 done, Gifts #3-11 done.
12. Complete 6 online classes.  Still need to do this.  First one scheduled for March 1, 2015.
13. Start a 5 year – daily, one-line journal.  Started and love it.
14. Learn how to make paper.  Probably during the summer.
15. Make Christmas stockings.  This is one of those Christmas one’s that will be for next year.  Don’t worry, the doggies will still get plenty of treats ;-).
16. Learn 12 new recipes.  #1 complete.  Pumpkin Pie (low carb)  #2 complete.  Creme Brulee (low carb)
17. Learn how to weave.  Sometime this year.
18. Record 12 card making video tutorials.  Start this in the new year.  Dabbling with the idea of making this a series.  Just dabbling.
19. Make a smaller soap box and make different scented soaps every month.  Soap can be temperamental in colder climates.  I’m waiting for the days to warm up a bit.  Mike had to resort to store bought.  Uhhggg!
20. Paint Kitchen Cabinets.  Looking to do this in June, 2015.
21. Learn how to dye with natural ingredients.  Waiting for springtime.
22. Work 52 items off “My Todo’s” Board on Pinterest. Completed 6, but need to step up my game. #1 I made paper beads using old books, bead cores and Utee Ultra Thick Embossing Resin.  #2   I made dog collars for a friend’s dog.  #3  Homemade Soft Scrub Cleaner #4  Made Valentine heart wreath with dyed coffee filters.  #5   Made homemade mosquito repellent.  Smelled good, but didn’t work.  #6   Made dog chew toys.  These were super popular.
23. Make mini-albums of dogs for Christmas presents.  I’ve changed my mind again.  I’m back to the mini-album idea and doing it for next year.
24. Make Mike a Dr. Who Quilt.  Starting in March, 2015.
25. Start a fairy garden.  Going to wait for spring.  Started a Pinterest board to curate ideas.
26. Paint patio furniture.  Scheduled for July, 2015.
27. Plant a cutting garden.  Spring, 2015.  Did get a head start on planting a flower with my amaryllis. 
28. Make dog biscuit gift bags for Christmas.  This was going to be a Valentine gift, but that didn’t happen.  I’m switching back to Christmas 2015 because I found some cute containers when I was organizing my craft room. Still don’t think the dogs will mind.
29. Complete all the achievements of the 7 Minute Workout.  Started this and loving it.
30. Beat my time in the Urban Cow Half Marathon.  Increased my walking mileage, but going to wait to start running.  Had a bit of a set back with some diabetes medicine and need to get back on track before I start adding intense exercise.
31. Finish Central Park Hoodie.  Found the project, but I’m waiting until I’m done with Margaret’s scarf to start this.
32. Read through the Bible. 1 chapter per day.  Started this on January 1, 2015. Got waylaid last week, but will catch up this week.  Up to Genesis 48.
33. Make birds for wall tree.  The first birds will appear on the Valentine’s tree.  Post to come.  The birds didn’t appear.  I’m thinking they’re be here for Easter.
34. Declutter and decorate Master Bedroom.  Started decluttering using the method found in the book “The life-changing magic of tidying up” by Marie Kondo.
35. Make Cloth Art Journal.  Scheduled for the summer.
36. Learn to knit socks.  Found the pattern and the class.  Will wait until Central Park Hoodie is finished (31).
37. Work on Project Life every week.  Trying to carve out Sunday afternoons for this and not being very successful.  I’m already a month behind, but I’ve been keeping track of journaling throughout the week.
38. Transcribe Da’s tapes.  Started listening to them, but need to carve out focused time to take notes.
39. Make dog beds. Came up with a better plan for my Etsy shop.  They’re now a ‘Made To Order’ item so now I’m prepping the material, but waiting for the order before I make the beds.  This new system is saving me time and potentially supplies.
40. Pray for my nieces and nephews.  Everyday.  I’m really enjoying this.
41. Add a new item every month to Etsy shop to build variety and inventory.  I haven’t added a new item every month, but I’m adding hand crafted cards to my inventory.
42. Put together a team for the local SPCA Doggie Dash in June.  Will begin in March, 2015.
43. Photo-a-day using the Collect App.  Love this app.  Here’s December, 2014 and January, 2015.

44. Read Pride and Prejudice.  Will begin this in the new year.
45. Knit 1 square per week for Knit-a-square. I have 6 finished.  Should have 12 finished.  Got some knittin’ to do.
46. Be a better blogger and blog-reader. Post consistently. Comment regularly.  Work on this everyday.  Really pleased with my {31 Days of Cards} Series.

Until next time,

I know you made the chew toy for Pippin, but I’d really like one too.