It’s been exactly four 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 four months:

• I really need to review my Quest46 items on a weekly basis.  There are a few that I’ve already forgotten that I want to do. Yikes!
• Still 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’ve decided to just go with the flow.  Opportunities come into our lives for reasons.  And crafting opportunities are glittery gifts from angels.  You just can’t say no. 😉
• I was concerned that my March blog series would set me back, but it’s actually catapulted me ahead with one of the Quest46 items.  So not really a problem after all.

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

1. Memorize Psalm 91.  Continuing to memorize.  I have the first eight 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’ve stalled in my weight loss, but still exercising 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 still working on keeping our place tidy although I’ve had a few projects out during the past month.  I’m working on finding places for these so they don’t clutter our space.  Mike never complains, but it’s important to me that he feels relaxed when he gets home from work.
4. Make albums for each dog.   Have the albums, continuing to sort through pictures.  There are quite a few as you can imagine.  Trying to decide how I want the albums to flow.
5. Crochet a Ripple Blanket.  I’m making really good progress which helps because I need to be finished by May 15th.  It’s a gift.
6. Plant a vegetable garden.  Spring is here and I don’t have any planters.  I’m working on finishing our pavers, but need to start preparing my planters.
7. Journal 52.  I am several weeks behind.  Need to catch up.
8. Read 24 new books.  Have chosen 21 of the 24.  Here’s the 22:  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, Platform, The Go-Getter, The Artist’s Way, Yes Please (done), Scary Close (done)
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, March and April.  Working on May and June.
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 April 1, 2015.
13. Start a 5 year – daily, one-line journal.  Started, love it, still doing 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.  I learned very basic weaving this month and loved it.
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.  In my {Make Madness} blog series, I will have checked off 31 items by the end of March.  That brings my total to 37.
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.  Have cut the panels and downloaded the patterns.  Next up, embroidery!
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.  Feeling much better after I got my medicines sorted out.  Going to continue to increase my walking mileage for another couple of months before I attempt running.
31. Finish Central Park Hoodie.  Found the project, but I’m waiting until I’m done with Margaret’s scarf and the Ripple Blanket to start this.
32. Read through the Bible. 1 chapter per day.  Started this on January 1, 2015. Up to Exodus 33.
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’ll 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.  In the meantime, my mom wanted them transferred to cd’s and she’s been listening to them and taking notes.  Hhmmmm…
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 April, 2015.
43. Photo-a-day using the Collect App.  Love this app.  Here’s December, 2014, January and February 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 8 finished.  Should have 16 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 and my {Make Madness} Series.

Until next time,

I’m so excited for Spring.  I love soaking in the sun beams while you work in the yard.