New Year's Resolutions Check In
Aug. 31st, 2025 01:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithWe made it to the end of August! \o/ If you have completed some of your medium-term goals or subgoals, and/or you're still chugging away at your ongoing goals, then pat yourself on the back. You worked hard for that. We have also finished summer. If you're doing seasonal goals, hopefully you have completed your summer batch and are about to start on fall.
This year I'm trying something new, continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them. The main drawback is that this update becomes more of a chore each month.
These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 4
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 10
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 17
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 24
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In February 28
New Year's Resolutions Check In March 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In April 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In May 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In June 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In July 31
Your Resolutions
Some people prefer to make their resolutions in fall. Others refresh their goals.
Other folks are working on their New Year's resolutions from January. Find ways to keep going. What progress have you made?
How are you doing on your outdoor goals? Fall brings new ideas for fun and chores. Check to see if you have goals for gardening, yardwork, nature trips, etc. If not, you might want to set some goals now. For instance, many folks preserve food in fall, so explore how to plan and save money in harvest season. In general, autumn will be a good time for transitions and letting go. Here are some ideas on setting monthly goals.
Explore some ideas for the month ahead ...
9 September Goals to Finish the Year Strong
9 September Goals That Will Help You Level Up Your Life
27 simple tasks to get ready for fall for you and your home
100+ Fall Outdoor Activities for Kids
2025 September Activity Calendar -- Bella Luna Toys
How Not to Fail the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge
Mindful Goal Setting: Summer Reflection, Fall Intentions
Savvy Cleaning & Organizing: September Printable
September 2025 Nature Connection Calendar for Families
September Family Goals {Free Printable}
September Garden Chores
September Garden Chores for All USDA Grow Zones
Why September is a Great Time to Check in on Your Goals
My Goals
Here are my goals for 2025.
Completed: 37 previous + 2 new = 39 total
AUGUST completed goals: 8/4/25 packed up 3 bags of Mom's clothes
8/19/25 Make a summer/fall order, American Meadows order arrived
Static:
These completed goals either have just one fill, or I don't track extras.
* Hang 2025 calendars. [MET 1/1/25]
* Change the community calendar link in![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
allbingo to the new 2025 Community Calendar. [MET 1/1/25]
* Fill in desk calendar with repeating posts and other memoranda by the end of January. [MET begun 1/1/25, completed 1/31/25]
* Move poetry printouts. [MET 1/1/25]
* Clear out some backlogged email. [MET 2/17/25]
* Sell at least one poem of 50+ lines, eligible for the Rhysling Award long category. [MET 2/8/25 "Everything Happens for a Reason"]
* Sort through bingo cards and remove those from 2024. [MET 1/1/25]
* Participate in thesnowflake_challenge. [MET 1/1/25, completed 1/31/25]
* Participate in the March Meta Matters Challenge over onmarchmetamatterschallenge. [MET 3/31/25, begun 1/15/25]
-- Write "Why We Need Fanifestos." [Begun 3/1/25, completed 3/30/25]
-- Snowflake Challenge 8: Primer for Nimona [1/15/25]
-- Check that reviews and other meta from the past year have been archived.
-- See from 2024 my gather post on my blog and my introduction inmarchmetamatterschallenge. [Reprised on 3/1/25]
* Participate in Three Weeks for Dreamwidth. [MET begun 4/25/25, completed 5/15/25]
* Run the Rose & Bay Awards for 2025. [MET begun 1/1/25, completed 3/1/25]
* Finish spending holiday money by the end of January. [MET 1/25/25]
* Finish at least two catalog orders for spring plants by the end of February. Orders sent in March or later do not count.
-- This may need adjusting, as some catalogs already arrived and two orders were made in December: American Meadows Order 12/15/25, Breck's Order 12/25/24, American Meadow seeds arrived 12/24/24. [MET 1/16/25 sent requests for Buffalo Seed Company and OPN Seed to my partner Doug, 1/18/25 Buffalo Seed Company Order sent and OPN Seed Order sent, 1/19/25 Pinetree Garden Seeds Order, Prairie Moon Order, and Select Seeds Order sent, 1/23/25 OPN Seed order arrived, 1/25/25 seeds from Prairie Moon arrived, Edible Landscaping Order sent 2/25/25, K. van Bourgondien Order sent 2/26/25, One Green World Order and John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds Order and Burpee all requested 2/28/25 sent 3/3/25, 4/1/25 Pinetree Garden Seeds order arrived, 4/2/25 Burpee order arrived, 4/8/25 Prairie Moon plant order arrived, 4/9/25 K. van Bourgondien order arrived, 4/23/25 Edible Landscaping order arrived, 4/25/25 American Meadows plants arrived, 4/30/25 Select Seeds plants arrived]
* Fasten white wagonwheel so it stays put. [MET 2/5/25]
* Sort seeds into new seed-storage containers. [MET 1/5/25 Sorting Seeds on a Snowy Day, 3/6/25 sorted large seed bags into new container]
* Put more bee plants in the prairie garden. [MET 12/25/24 already ordered Monarch Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix (also bee-friendly) from American Meadows, 1/18/25 ordered Bee Lawn Mix from OPN Seed, 1/23/25 OPN Seed order arrived, 4/27/25 sowed Monarch Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix (also bee-friendly) in the notch of the prairie garden, 4/28/25 sowed Monarch Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix in east-west strip of prairie garden, I have a bee tree this year! :D 3q3q3q!!!]
* Plant some landrace seeds or plants. [MET 1/18/25 ordered sunflower 'Hopi Landrace' from Buffalo Seed Company, 5/8/25 planted sunflower 'Hopi Landrace' in telephone pole garden]
* Add a "Planting Ahead Goals for 2026" tracking page. [MET 1/1/25]
* Clean the window prisms. [MET 1/8/25]
* Assemble and hang hippie strand. [MET 1/9/25 received star and moon crystals, 1/24/25 assembled and hung]
* Hang mandala painting in living room. [MET 5/3/25, also hung new "The Starry Night" diamond art]
* Put new hair ties onto metal snap-rings. [MET 1/23/25]
* Make at least one hiking or driving trip to view spring flowers and/or migrating birds. [MET 3/31/25 marsh park]
* Make a summer/fall order for things that aren't available in winter/spring.
-- American Meadows? [MET arrived 8/19/25]
-- Prairie Moon?
* Watch for new issues of A Day Away central Illinois magazine and pick them up. It comes out twice a year: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Available at Grissom Family Orchard or The Village Hall and Municipal Building in Greenup. [MET begun 2/26/25, not found yet, completed 6/6/25 with Spring/Summer 2025, 8/31/25 found Fall/Winter 2025]
* Make at least one hiking or driving trip to view summer wildlife, a butterfly house, or a permaculture garden (such as the Charleston Food Forest). [MET 6/10/25 Photos: Lake Charleston Butterfly Gardens, 6/21/25 Charleston Food Forest, 8/2/25 Charleston Food Forest, ]
Active:
These completed goals may have extra fills.
* Finish at least one poem that was partly written and then abandoned. [MET 5/3/25 "The Most Dangerous Animal in the Zoo"]
* Participate in at least six bingo fests. [Begun Public Domain Day Bingo Card 1-1-25, Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-25, Tolkien Bingo Fest Card 3-1-25, Aesthetics Bingo Fest Card 4-1-25, Color Fest Bingo 5-1-25, Pride Fest Bingo 6-2-25, Western Bingo Fest 7-1-25 (blackout), Crime Classics Bingo 8-1-25, ]
* Complete at least one significant outdoor project. [MET]
-- Bought numerous planters for new picnic table [1/21/25]
-- Bought two jugs for making comfrey fertilizer [1/21/25, assembled jugs for comfrey liquid fertilizer Part 1: Jugs, Part 2: Leaves [6/9/25]
-- Bought fan fossil rock, pink mica rock, and 5 cobblestones at Country Arbors Nursery 2/20/25, set them outside 2/21/25]
-- Bought Gorilla 9 cubic foot dump cart 2/27/25, assembled cart 2/28/25
-- Installed rain gauges in barrel garden and septic garden 3/10/25
-- More transplants from the Charleston Food Forest [hardneck garlic and strawberries 3/25/25]
-- ordered Yardistry 6.7' x 7.6' greenhouse from Costco 4/8/25
-- greenhouse received 5/9/25
-- assembled planters for new picnic table April-May
-- Set up planned birthday planter? Add trellis?
-- Build a hibernaculum?
-- Make shelter pipes for tree frogs?
-- Climate-resiliant vegetables or flowers?
-- Get troughs and/or square pots for new picnic table. [1/21/25 and later]
* Revisit Country Arbors Nursery to shop for rocks.
-- large flat cobblestones for edging purple-and-white garden [MET 2/20/25 bought 5]
-- small piece of fossil-bearing slab [MET 2/20/25
-- small pink boulder with large mica chips for purple-and-white garden or wagonwheel garden [MET 2/20/25, 3/18/25]
-- two sandstone flagstones with worm trail fossils [MET 3/18/25]
-- also plants.
-- looked for pond plants but they didn't have what I needed [5/28/25]
* Read at least four cookbooks, marking recipes of interest. [MET 1/16/25 Feast: Food of the Islamic World, 1/30/25 Warm Your Bones, 2/15/25 Italian Country Cooking, 3/8/25 170 South African Recipes, 4/19/25 Taste of Home Grandma's Favorites 2024, 5/2/25 Milk Street: Cook What You Have: Make a Meal Out of Almost Anything, 5/17/25 Taste of Home's More Grandma's Favorites 2025, Nutritious Delicious 5/28/25, 6/18/25 Hello! 365 Tomato Recipes, 6/26/25 Taste of Home's Easy Everyday Cooking 2025, 7/22/25 The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook, 8/4/25 Reader's Digest Live Longer Cookbook, 8/21/25 Southern Living Slow Cooker Cookbook, 8/26/25 Baking for Two by America's Test Kitchen, ]
* Try at least one new cooking ingredient. [MET 1/25/25 bought scamorza cheese, cardamom extract, Little Italy Pizza spice blend, and Santorini spice blend; 1/26/25 made Italian quiche with scamorza and Little Italy Pizza spice blend, 1/31/25 guava jelly in grilled cheese sandwich with queso fresco, 2/21/25 halloumi cheese and Santorini Citrus spice blend in Halloumi Veggie Burgers, 3/16/25 cardamom extract in Pistachio Cardamom Cookies , 6/13/25 bought 2 patty pan squashes, 6/14/25 made Santorini Stir-Fry with Chicken and Patty Pan Squash, 7/10/25 pink oyster and blue oyster and lion's mane mushrooms, ]
* Organize at least one area that is currently a mess.
- Shrink book stack in front of printer [MET 1/23/25]
- Take books off couch?
* Work on cleaning up the fairy window:
-- Remove dead leaves / plants. [MET 2/1/25]
-- Move empty pots to lower storage shelf. [2/6/25]
-- Repot plants that need it. [Begun 1/21/25 bought small pots for repotting, 2/1/23 tested deep plant saucers in brass hanging planter; need to buy another 8" one]
* At least 3 times, pack up some of Mom's old clothes and donate them. [MET 3/7/25, cleaned out refrigerator 6/18/25, bag of clothes 6/26/26, bag of clothes 8/4/25, ]
* Visit a Pagan store at least 3 times. [MET 3/28/25 Half Moon, 4/11/25 Half Moon, 6/26/26 SarahLee's Healing Mountain Crystals and Three Crows Emporium]
* Catch a street fair. [MET 4/25/25 Spring Fest, 5/16/25 Strawberry Jam, 6/7/25 Fairy Market, 6/13/25 Marshall Farmer's Market, 7/11/25 Marshall Farmer's Market, 7/22/25 Edgar County Fair, 7/31/25 Effingham County Fair, 8/15/25 Mattoon Farmer's Market at winery, 8/26/25 Champaign Farmer's Market, 8/30/25 Tuscola Family Fun Day and Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival, ]
Begun: 25 previous + 0 new - 3 completed = 23 in progress and 14 completed
(most of these cannot be finished quickly)
* Actually look at this list of goals, at least twice a month, before the end of the year in hopes of meeting more of them and not trying to cram in December. [Begun 1/1/25, 1/3/25, 1/4/25, 1/5/25, 1/6/25, 1/7/25, 1/8/25, 1/9/25, 1/10/25, 1/16/25, 1/17/25, 1/18/25, 1/19/25, 1/21/25, 1/23/25, 1/24/25, 1/25/25, 1/26,25, 1/30/25, 1/31/25, 2/1/25, 2/3/25, 2/5/25, 2/6/25, 2/8/25, 2/13/25, 2/15/25, 2/16/25, 2/17/25, 2/19/25, 2/20/25, 2/21/25, 2/22/25, 2/24/25, 2/25/25, 2/26/25, 2/28/25, 3/2/35, 3/3/25, 3/5/25, 3/6/25, 3/7/25, 3/10/25, 3/12/25, 3/16/25, 3/19/25, 3/24/25, 3/28/25, 3/29/25, 3/31/25, 4/1/25, 4/2/25, 4/8/25, 4/9/25, 4/13/25, 4/15/25, 4/20/25, 4/23/25, 4/25/25, 4/27/25, 4/28/25, 4/30/25, 5/1/25, 5/3/25, 5/4/25, 5/5/25, 5/15/25, 5/18/25, 5/19/25, 5/28/25, 5/30/25, 5/31/25, 6/1/25, 6/2/25, 6/3/25, 6/6/25, 6/9/25, 6/10/25, 6/11/25, 6/13/25, 6/14/25, 6/15/25, 6/17/25, 6/18/25, 6/19/25, 6/20/25, 6/22/25, 6/26/26, 6/27/25, 6/28/25, 6/29/25, 6/30/25, 7/1/25, 7/4/25, 7/5/25, 7/7/25, 7/10/25, 7/12/25, 7/13/25, 7/14/25, 7/19/25, 7/22/25, 7/30/25, 7/31/25, 8/2/25, 8/4/25, 8/7/25, 8/19/25, 8/24/25, 8/27/25, 8/31/25, ]
* Continue holding one Poetry Fishbowl per month. [Begun 1/7/25 short forms, 2/4/25 "I believe in dragons, good men, and other fantasy creatures," 3/4/25 Yes, actually, it IS that bad, 4/1/25 Cozy Coping Skills, 5/1/25 Ethical Supervillains, 6/3/25 Gentleness Is Strength, 7/1/25 Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance, 7/15/25 anything goes, 8/5/25 Books and Learning, ]
* Collate at least three more poetic series or threads into collection files. [Begun 1/6/25 Nebuly, 2/24/25 Cousins of the West, ]
* Create more supporting materials for poetic series as necessary, such as character cast lists or scientific notes. [Begun 1/31/25 added more entries in notes for Peculiar Obligations Animals, 6/23/25 started vocabulary list for Peculiar Obligations]
* Supervise updates of the Polychrome Heroics material and other series. [Begun 1/7/25 withnsfwords updating Quixotic Ideas, 1/9/25 finished updating Quixotic Ideas, 1/21/24 updated Officer Pink, Daughters of the Apocalypse, and Arts and Crafts America, ]
* Participate in at least six bingo fests. [Begun Public Domain Day Bingo Card 1-1-25, Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-25, Tolkien Bingo Fest Card 3-1-25, Aesthetics Bingo Fest Card 4-1-25, Color Fest Bingo 5-1-25, Pride Fest Bingo 6-2-25, Western Bingo Fest 7-1-25 (blackout), Crime Classics Bingo 8-1-25, ]
* Continue posting inbirdfeeding. [Begun 1/1/25]
* Continue posting innewcomers to help newcomers to Dreamwidth. This largely replaces reddit_refugees, which will now get only occasional updates. [Begun 1/1/25]
* Continue posting ingoals_on_dw to support New Year's resolutions and other goals. [Begun 1/1/25, Goal-Setting Frameworks series in Three Weeks for Dreamwidth 4/25/25-5/15/25]
* Keep up with writing records better, updating at least monthly. [Begun 1/16/25]
* Test the durability of the two new paint pens on plant markers. [Begun 1/3/25 set up test tags with old Sharpie marker, new Sharpie oil paint pen, and new Craft Master paint pen; 1/20/25 smear test of three pens, 2/3/25 first fade check, 3/3/25 second fade check, 4/4/25 third fade check, 5/6/25 fourth fade check, 6/1/25 fifth fade check, 7/2/25 sixth fade check, 8/1/25 seventh fade check, ]
* Add storage to garden shed.
-- Pegboard and hardware for hanging tools? [Begun 3/3/25 looked at pegboard in Home Depot, looked at metal diamondboard pegboard in Menard's 3/18/25, found Rubbermaid garage storage system at Home Depot, 5/2/25 bought modular white plastic shelves for either garden shed or greenhouse, ]
-- Tool bucket or rack?
-- Shelves?
* Continue developing the landrace Shithouse Marigolds named 9/5/23. [Begun 3/2/25 sowed Shithouse Marigold seeds in pots, 5/1/25 sowed Shithouse Marigold seeds in oval pot, 5/5/25 planted Shithouse marigolds grown from seed, ]
-- Some volunteer sunflowers are blooming in telephone pole garden. [7/7/25]
-- Some zinnias from Charleston Food Forest are blooming in septic garden [7/18/25]
* Take care of Midwinter Grove: [Begun 6/1/25]
-- Colorado blue spruce (needs a lot of extra water in dry times)
-- 'Royal Family' hollies (extra water and care while establishing)
* Keep track of my crowdfunding activity as the year goes on. [Begun 1/1/25]
* Keep track of things I would like to receive as gifts. [Begun 1/1/25]
* Make at least one new recipe per month. [Begun * 1/5/25 Reggae Medley and Daybreak Blend smoothie, * 1/7/25 ginger beer tropical blend smoothie, * 1/26/25 Italian quiche, ** 2/3/25 pineapple Daybreak Blend smoothie, ** pineapple strawberry smoothie 2/13/25, Pasta with Scamorza Sauce 2/16/25, * 2/21/25 Halloumi Veggie Burgers, 2/22/25 Halloumi Lamb and Tomato Skillet Dish, 3/17/25 Pistachio Cardamom Cookies, * 3/19/25 Cocojune passionfruit Daybreak Blend with extra passionfruit smoothie, ** 4/13/25 Granola Butter Brownie Batter smoothie, * 5/5/25 Granola Butter Cookies, ** 6/14/25 Santorini Stir-Fry with Chicken and Patty Pan Squash, 6/15/25 watermelon smoothie without banana, * 6/15/25 Pretzel Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, * 6/17/25 watermelon smoothie with frozen banana, * 6/19/25 Chicken Stir-Fry with Mushrooms and Swiss Chard, * 6/20/25 Pretzel Bread Savory Bread Pudding with Ham, ** 7/1/25 orange tropical mix smoothie, 7/5/25 orange strawberry smoothie, * 7/7/25 chicken stir-fry with peapods and shredded carrots, ** 7/12/25 pistachio butter smoothie, * 7/19/25 Dark Chocolate Brownies with Raspberry Spread, * 8/24/25 shrimp stir-fry with leftover vegetables, * 8/24/25 guava mixed fruit smoothie, 8/27/25 green smoothie with pea shoots, ]
* Quite good, ** Made 2+ times
* Finish sewing projects on couch. [Begun 4/15/25 cut hems, July started sewing hem on brown dress, August working on black skirt]
* Work on cleaning up the fairy window:
-- Remove dead leaves / plants. [MET 2/1/25]
-- Move empty pots to lower storage shelf. [2/6/25]
-- Repot plants that need it. [Begun 1/21/25 bought small pots for repotting, 2/1/23 tested deep plant saucers in brass hanging planter; need to buy another 8" one]
* When posting for Moment of Silence, include "carry on the work" suggestions based on each person's activities. [Begun 1/7/25 Peter Yarrow, 2/24/25 Roberta Flack, 2/26/25 Michelle Trachtenberg, 6/10/25 Sly Stone, 6/11/25 Brian Wilson, ]
* Do more archiving of web links to combat linkrot. I primarily use the Wayback Machine, Ghost, and Archive Today, but there are other options. [Begun 1/1/25]
* Take and post pictures at least once per season. [Begun Winter 1/3/25 Testing Pens on Plant Labels, 1/6/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot, 1/8/25 Photos: House Yard, 1/16/25 Photos: Winter Sunset, 2/26/25 First Flower, Spring 3/2/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot, 3/5/25 Making a Tiny Terrarium in a Spice Jar for Lichens, 3/12/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot, Photos: Savanna and Prairie Garden, Photos: Back Toward the House, Photos: Garden Shed, 3/24/25 Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side, Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 2 Left Side, 3/27/25 Photos: Antique Jar Terrarium Build Part 1: Washing, Drainage, and Barrier, 3/28/25 Photos: Antique Jar Terrarium Build Part 2: Mixing Substrate, 3/29/25 Photos: Antique Jar Terrarium Build Part 3: Adding Mosses, Photos: Cookie Jar Terrarium Part 1: Setup, 4/21/25 Photos: Cookie Jar Terrarium Part 2: Planting, 5/14/25 How to Secure Trough Pots to a Bench, 5/14/25 Photos: Sunset, 5/14/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot, 5/14/25 Photos: Savanna and Prairie Garden, 5/15/25 Photos: Cookie Jar Terrarium Part 2: Planting, Summer 6/1/25 Photos: House Yard and Photos: South Lot, 6/9/25 How to Make Comfrey Liquid Fertilizer Part 1: Jugs and How to Make Comfrey Liquid Fertilizer Part 2: Leaves, 6/10/25 Photos: Lake Charleston Butterfly Gardens, 6/11/25 Photos: Dark Gardening, 6/19/25 Charleston Library Butterfly Gardens, 6/21/25 Coles County Community Garden and Charleston Food Forest, 8/2/25 Charleston Food Forest and Coles County Community Garden, ]
* Watch for Greenup events and try to catch at least one (any season). [Begun 2/26/25, not found yet, 5/30/25 found Cumberland County Fair in Greenup August 9-16, 6/6/25 found dates for Apple Fest Oct. 9-11 and Christmas in the Village Dec. 13, ]
* Revisit Charleston Food Forest at least once each in spring, summer, and fall. [Begun Spring 3/12/25, 3/24/25, Summer 6/19/25, 6/21/25, 8/2/25, ]
This year I'm trying something new, continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them. The main drawback is that this update becomes more of a chore each month.
These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 4
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 10
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 17
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 24
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In February 28
New Year's Resolutions Check In March 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In April 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In May 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In June 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In July 31
Your Resolutions
Some people prefer to make their resolutions in fall. Others refresh their goals.
Other folks are working on their New Year's resolutions from January. Find ways to keep going. What progress have you made?
How are you doing on your outdoor goals? Fall brings new ideas for fun and chores. Check to see if you have goals for gardening, yardwork, nature trips, etc. If not, you might want to set some goals now. For instance, many folks preserve food in fall, so explore how to plan and save money in harvest season. In general, autumn will be a good time for transitions and letting go. Here are some ideas on setting monthly goals.
Explore some ideas for the month ahead ...
9 September Goals to Finish the Year Strong
9 September Goals That Will Help You Level Up Your Life
27 simple tasks to get ready for fall for you and your home
100+ Fall Outdoor Activities for Kids
2025 September Activity Calendar -- Bella Luna Toys
How Not to Fail the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge
Mindful Goal Setting: Summer Reflection, Fall Intentions
Savvy Cleaning & Organizing: September Printable
September 2025 Nature Connection Calendar for Families
September Family Goals {Free Printable}
September Garden Chores
September Garden Chores for All USDA Grow Zones
Why September is a Great Time to Check in on Your Goals
My Goals
Here are my goals for 2025.
Completed: 37 previous + 2 new = 39 total
AUGUST completed goals: 8/4/25 packed up 3 bags of Mom's clothes
8/19/25 Make a summer/fall order, American Meadows order arrived
Static:
These completed goals either have just one fill, or I don't track extras.
* Hang 2025 calendars. [MET 1/1/25]
* Change the community calendar link in
allbingo to the new 2025 Community Calendar. [MET 1/1/25]* Fill in desk calendar with repeating posts and other memoranda by the end of January. [MET begun 1/1/25, completed 1/31/25]
* Move poetry printouts. [MET 1/1/25]
* Clear out some backlogged email. [MET 2/17/25]
* Sell at least one poem of 50+ lines, eligible for the Rhysling Award long category. [MET 2/8/25 "Everything Happens for a Reason"]
* Sort through bingo cards and remove those from 2024. [MET 1/1/25]
* Participate in the
snowflake_challenge. [MET 1/1/25, completed 1/31/25]* Participate in the March Meta Matters Challenge over on
marchmetamatterschallenge. [MET 3/31/25, begun 1/15/25]-- Write "Why We Need Fanifestos." [Begun 3/1/25, completed 3/30/25]
-- Snowflake Challenge 8: Primer for Nimona [1/15/25]
-- Check that reviews and other meta from the past year have been archived.
-- See from 2024 my gather post on my blog and my introduction in
marchmetamatterschallenge. [Reprised on 3/1/25]* Participate in Three Weeks for Dreamwidth. [MET begun 4/25/25, completed 5/15/25]
* Run the Rose & Bay Awards for 2025. [MET begun 1/1/25, completed 3/1/25]
* Finish spending holiday money by the end of January. [MET 1/25/25]
* Finish at least two catalog orders for spring plants by the end of February. Orders sent in March or later do not count.
-- This may need adjusting, as some catalogs already arrived and two orders were made in December: American Meadows Order 12/15/25, Breck's Order 12/25/24, American Meadow seeds arrived 12/24/24. [MET 1/16/25 sent requests for Buffalo Seed Company and OPN Seed to my partner Doug, 1/18/25 Buffalo Seed Company Order sent and OPN Seed Order sent, 1/19/25 Pinetree Garden Seeds Order, Prairie Moon Order, and Select Seeds Order sent, 1/23/25 OPN Seed order arrived, 1/25/25 seeds from Prairie Moon arrived, Edible Landscaping Order sent 2/25/25, K. van Bourgondien Order sent 2/26/25, One Green World Order and John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds Order and Burpee all requested 2/28/25 sent 3/3/25, 4/1/25 Pinetree Garden Seeds order arrived, 4/2/25 Burpee order arrived, 4/8/25 Prairie Moon plant order arrived, 4/9/25 K. van Bourgondien order arrived, 4/23/25 Edible Landscaping order arrived, 4/25/25 American Meadows plants arrived, 4/30/25 Select Seeds plants arrived]
* Fasten white wagonwheel so it stays put. [MET 2/5/25]
* Sort seeds into new seed-storage containers. [MET 1/5/25 Sorting Seeds on a Snowy Day, 3/6/25 sorted large seed bags into new container]
* Put more bee plants in the prairie garden. [MET 12/25/24 already ordered Monarch Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix (also bee-friendly) from American Meadows, 1/18/25 ordered Bee Lawn Mix from OPN Seed, 1/23/25 OPN Seed order arrived, 4/27/25 sowed Monarch Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix (also bee-friendly) in the notch of the prairie garden, 4/28/25 sowed Monarch Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix in east-west strip of prairie garden, I have a bee tree this year! :D 3q3q3q!!!]
* Plant some landrace seeds or plants. [MET 1/18/25 ordered sunflower 'Hopi Landrace' from Buffalo Seed Company, 5/8/25 planted sunflower 'Hopi Landrace' in telephone pole garden]
* Add a "Planting Ahead Goals for 2026" tracking page. [MET 1/1/25]
* Clean the window prisms. [MET 1/8/25]
* Assemble and hang hippie strand. [MET 1/9/25 received star and moon crystals, 1/24/25 assembled and hung]
* Hang mandala painting in living room. [MET 5/3/25, also hung new "The Starry Night" diamond art]
* Put new hair ties onto metal snap-rings. [MET 1/23/25]
* Make at least one hiking or driving trip to view spring flowers and/or migrating birds. [MET 3/31/25 marsh park]
* Make a summer/fall order for things that aren't available in winter/spring.
-- American Meadows? [MET arrived 8/19/25]
-- Prairie Moon?
* Watch for new issues of A Day Away central Illinois magazine and pick them up. It comes out twice a year: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Available at Grissom Family Orchard or The Village Hall and Municipal Building in Greenup. [MET begun 2/26/25, not found yet, completed 6/6/25 with Spring/Summer 2025, 8/31/25 found Fall/Winter 2025]
* Make at least one hiking or driving trip to view summer wildlife, a butterfly house, or a permaculture garden (such as the Charleston Food Forest). [MET 6/10/25 Photos: Lake Charleston Butterfly Gardens, 6/21/25 Charleston Food Forest, 8/2/25 Charleston Food Forest, ]
Active:
These completed goals may have extra fills.
* Finish at least one poem that was partly written and then abandoned. [MET 5/3/25 "The Most Dangerous Animal in the Zoo"]
* Participate in at least six bingo fests. [Begun Public Domain Day Bingo Card 1-1-25, Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-25, Tolkien Bingo Fest Card 3-1-25, Aesthetics Bingo Fest Card 4-1-25, Color Fest Bingo 5-1-25, Pride Fest Bingo 6-2-25, Western Bingo Fest 7-1-25 (blackout), Crime Classics Bingo 8-1-25, ]
* Complete at least one significant outdoor project. [MET]
-- Bought numerous planters for new picnic table [1/21/25]
-- Bought two jugs for making comfrey fertilizer [1/21/25, assembled jugs for comfrey liquid fertilizer Part 1: Jugs, Part 2: Leaves [6/9/25]
-- Bought fan fossil rock, pink mica rock, and 5 cobblestones at Country Arbors Nursery 2/20/25, set them outside 2/21/25]
-- Bought Gorilla 9 cubic foot dump cart 2/27/25, assembled cart 2/28/25
-- Installed rain gauges in barrel garden and septic garden 3/10/25
-- More transplants from the Charleston Food Forest [hardneck garlic and strawberries 3/25/25]
-- ordered Yardistry 6.7' x 7.6' greenhouse from Costco 4/8/25
-- greenhouse received 5/9/25
-- assembled planters for new picnic table April-May
-- Set up planned birthday planter? Add trellis?
-- Build a hibernaculum?
-- Make shelter pipes for tree frogs?
-- Climate-resiliant vegetables or flowers?
-- Get troughs and/or square pots for new picnic table. [1/21/25 and later]
* Revisit Country Arbors Nursery to shop for rocks.
-- large flat cobblestones for edging purple-and-white garden [MET 2/20/25 bought 5]
-- small piece of fossil-bearing slab [MET 2/20/25
-- small pink boulder with large mica chips for purple-and-white garden or wagonwheel garden [MET 2/20/25, 3/18/25]
-- two sandstone flagstones with worm trail fossils [MET 3/18/25]
-- also plants.
-- looked for pond plants but they didn't have what I needed [5/28/25]
* Read at least four cookbooks, marking recipes of interest. [MET 1/16/25 Feast: Food of the Islamic World, 1/30/25 Warm Your Bones, 2/15/25 Italian Country Cooking, 3/8/25 170 South African Recipes, 4/19/25 Taste of Home Grandma's Favorites 2024, 5/2/25 Milk Street: Cook What You Have: Make a Meal Out of Almost Anything, 5/17/25 Taste of Home's More Grandma's Favorites 2025, Nutritious Delicious 5/28/25, 6/18/25 Hello! 365 Tomato Recipes, 6/26/25 Taste of Home's Easy Everyday Cooking 2025, 7/22/25 The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook, 8/4/25 Reader's Digest Live Longer Cookbook, 8/21/25 Southern Living Slow Cooker Cookbook, 8/26/25 Baking for Two by America's Test Kitchen, ]
* Try at least one new cooking ingredient. [MET 1/25/25 bought scamorza cheese, cardamom extract, Little Italy Pizza spice blend, and Santorini spice blend; 1/26/25 made Italian quiche with scamorza and Little Italy Pizza spice blend, 1/31/25 guava jelly in grilled cheese sandwich with queso fresco, 2/21/25 halloumi cheese and Santorini Citrus spice blend in Halloumi Veggie Burgers, 3/16/25 cardamom extract in Pistachio Cardamom Cookies , 6/13/25 bought 2 patty pan squashes, 6/14/25 made Santorini Stir-Fry with Chicken and Patty Pan Squash, 7/10/25 pink oyster and blue oyster and lion's mane mushrooms, ]
* Organize at least one area that is currently a mess.
- Shrink book stack in front of printer [MET 1/23/25]
- Take books off couch?
* Work on cleaning up the fairy window:
-- Remove dead leaves / plants. [MET 2/1/25]
-- Move empty pots to lower storage shelf. [2/6/25]
-- Repot plants that need it. [Begun 1/21/25 bought small pots for repotting, 2/1/23 tested deep plant saucers in brass hanging planter; need to buy another 8" one]
* At least 3 times, pack up some of Mom's old clothes and donate them. [MET 3/7/25, cleaned out refrigerator 6/18/25, bag of clothes 6/26/26, bag of clothes 8/4/25, ]
* Visit a Pagan store at least 3 times. [MET 3/28/25 Half Moon, 4/11/25 Half Moon, 6/26/26 SarahLee's Healing Mountain Crystals and Three Crows Emporium]
* Catch a street fair. [MET 4/25/25 Spring Fest, 5/16/25 Strawberry Jam, 6/7/25 Fairy Market, 6/13/25 Marshall Farmer's Market, 7/11/25 Marshall Farmer's Market, 7/22/25 Edgar County Fair, 7/31/25 Effingham County Fair, 8/15/25 Mattoon Farmer's Market at winery, 8/26/25 Champaign Farmer's Market, 8/30/25 Tuscola Family Fun Day and Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival, ]
Begun: 25 previous + 0 new - 3 completed = 23 in progress and 14 completed
(most of these cannot be finished quickly)
* Actually look at this list of goals, at least twice a month, before the end of the year in hopes of meeting more of them and not trying to cram in December. [Begun 1/1/25, 1/3/25, 1/4/25, 1/5/25, 1/6/25, 1/7/25, 1/8/25, 1/9/25, 1/10/25, 1/16/25, 1/17/25, 1/18/25, 1/19/25, 1/21/25, 1/23/25, 1/24/25, 1/25/25, 1/26,25, 1/30/25, 1/31/25, 2/1/25, 2/3/25, 2/5/25, 2/6/25, 2/8/25, 2/13/25, 2/15/25, 2/16/25, 2/17/25, 2/19/25, 2/20/25, 2/21/25, 2/22/25, 2/24/25, 2/25/25, 2/26/25, 2/28/25, 3/2/35, 3/3/25, 3/5/25, 3/6/25, 3/7/25, 3/10/25, 3/12/25, 3/16/25, 3/19/25, 3/24/25, 3/28/25, 3/29/25, 3/31/25, 4/1/25, 4/2/25, 4/8/25, 4/9/25, 4/13/25, 4/15/25, 4/20/25, 4/23/25, 4/25/25, 4/27/25, 4/28/25, 4/30/25, 5/1/25, 5/3/25, 5/4/25, 5/5/25, 5/15/25, 5/18/25, 5/19/25, 5/28/25, 5/30/25, 5/31/25, 6/1/25, 6/2/25, 6/3/25, 6/6/25, 6/9/25, 6/10/25, 6/11/25, 6/13/25, 6/14/25, 6/15/25, 6/17/25, 6/18/25, 6/19/25, 6/20/25, 6/22/25, 6/26/26, 6/27/25, 6/28/25, 6/29/25, 6/30/25, 7/1/25, 7/4/25, 7/5/25, 7/7/25, 7/10/25, 7/12/25, 7/13/25, 7/14/25, 7/19/25, 7/22/25, 7/30/25, 7/31/25, 8/2/25, 8/4/25, 8/7/25, 8/19/25, 8/24/25, 8/27/25, 8/31/25, ]
* Continue holding one Poetry Fishbowl per month. [Begun 1/7/25 short forms, 2/4/25 "I believe in dragons, good men, and other fantasy creatures," 3/4/25 Yes, actually, it IS that bad, 4/1/25 Cozy Coping Skills, 5/1/25 Ethical Supervillains, 6/3/25 Gentleness Is Strength, 7/1/25 Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance, 7/15/25 anything goes, 8/5/25 Books and Learning, ]
* Collate at least three more poetic series or threads into collection files. [Begun 1/6/25 Nebuly, 2/24/25 Cousins of the West, ]
* Create more supporting materials for poetic series as necessary, such as character cast lists or scientific notes. [Begun 1/31/25 added more entries in notes for Peculiar Obligations Animals, 6/23/25 started vocabulary list for Peculiar Obligations]
* Supervise updates of the Polychrome Heroics material and other series. [Begun 1/7/25 with
nsfwords updating Quixotic Ideas, 1/9/25 finished updating Quixotic Ideas, 1/21/24 updated Officer Pink, Daughters of the Apocalypse, and Arts and Crafts America, ]* Participate in at least six bingo fests. [Begun Public Domain Day Bingo Card 1-1-25, Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-25, Tolkien Bingo Fest Card 3-1-25, Aesthetics Bingo Fest Card 4-1-25, Color Fest Bingo 5-1-25, Pride Fest Bingo 6-2-25, Western Bingo Fest 7-1-25 (blackout), Crime Classics Bingo 8-1-25, ]
* Continue posting in
birdfeeding. [Begun 1/1/25]* Continue posting in
newcomers to help newcomers to Dreamwidth. This largely replaces reddit_refugees, which will now get only occasional updates. [Begun 1/1/25]* Continue posting in
goals_on_dw to support New Year's resolutions and other goals. [Begun 1/1/25, Goal-Setting Frameworks series in Three Weeks for Dreamwidth 4/25/25-5/15/25]* Keep up with writing records better, updating at least monthly. [Begun 1/16/25]
* Test the durability of the two new paint pens on plant markers. [Begun 1/3/25 set up test tags with old Sharpie marker, new Sharpie oil paint pen, and new Craft Master paint pen; 1/20/25 smear test of three pens, 2/3/25 first fade check, 3/3/25 second fade check, 4/4/25 third fade check, 5/6/25 fourth fade check, 6/1/25 fifth fade check, 7/2/25 sixth fade check, 8/1/25 seventh fade check, ]
* Add storage to garden shed.
-- Pegboard and hardware for hanging tools? [Begun 3/3/25 looked at pegboard in Home Depot, looked at metal diamondboard pegboard in Menard's 3/18/25, found Rubbermaid garage storage system at Home Depot, 5/2/25 bought modular white plastic shelves for either garden shed or greenhouse, ]
-- Tool bucket or rack?
-- Shelves?
* Continue developing the landrace Shithouse Marigolds named 9/5/23. [Begun 3/2/25 sowed Shithouse Marigold seeds in pots, 5/1/25 sowed Shithouse Marigold seeds in oval pot, 5/5/25 planted Shithouse marigolds grown from seed, ]
-- Some volunteer sunflowers are blooming in telephone pole garden. [7/7/25]
-- Some zinnias from Charleston Food Forest are blooming in septic garden [7/18/25]
* Take care of Midwinter Grove: [Begun 6/1/25]
-- Colorado blue spruce (needs a lot of extra water in dry times)
-- 'Royal Family' hollies (extra water and care while establishing)
* Keep track of my crowdfunding activity as the year goes on. [Begun 1/1/25]
* Keep track of things I would like to receive as gifts. [Begun 1/1/25]
* Make at least one new recipe per month. [Begun * 1/5/25 Reggae Medley and Daybreak Blend smoothie, * 1/7/25 ginger beer tropical blend smoothie, * 1/26/25 Italian quiche, ** 2/3/25 pineapple Daybreak Blend smoothie, ** pineapple strawberry smoothie 2/13/25, Pasta with Scamorza Sauce 2/16/25, * 2/21/25 Halloumi Veggie Burgers, 2/22/25 Halloumi Lamb and Tomato Skillet Dish, 3/17/25 Pistachio Cardamom Cookies, * 3/19/25 Cocojune passionfruit Daybreak Blend with extra passionfruit smoothie, ** 4/13/25 Granola Butter Brownie Batter smoothie, * 5/5/25 Granola Butter Cookies, ** 6/14/25 Santorini Stir-Fry with Chicken and Patty Pan Squash, 6/15/25 watermelon smoothie without banana, * 6/15/25 Pretzel Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, * 6/17/25 watermelon smoothie with frozen banana, * 6/19/25 Chicken Stir-Fry with Mushrooms and Swiss Chard, * 6/20/25 Pretzel Bread Savory Bread Pudding with Ham, ** 7/1/25 orange tropical mix smoothie, 7/5/25 orange strawberry smoothie, * 7/7/25 chicken stir-fry with peapods and shredded carrots, ** 7/12/25 pistachio butter smoothie, * 7/19/25 Dark Chocolate Brownies with Raspberry Spread, * 8/24/25 shrimp stir-fry with leftover vegetables, * 8/24/25 guava mixed fruit smoothie, 8/27/25 green smoothie with pea shoots, ]
* Quite good, ** Made 2+ times
* Finish sewing projects on couch. [Begun 4/15/25 cut hems, July started sewing hem on brown dress, August working on black skirt]
* Work on cleaning up the fairy window:
-- Remove dead leaves / plants. [MET 2/1/25]
-- Move empty pots to lower storage shelf. [2/6/25]
-- Repot plants that need it. [Begun 1/21/25 bought small pots for repotting, 2/1/23 tested deep plant saucers in brass hanging planter; need to buy another 8" one]
* When posting for Moment of Silence, include "carry on the work" suggestions based on each person's activities. [Begun 1/7/25 Peter Yarrow, 2/24/25 Roberta Flack, 2/26/25 Michelle Trachtenberg, 6/10/25 Sly Stone, 6/11/25 Brian Wilson, ]
* Do more archiving of web links to combat linkrot. I primarily use the Wayback Machine, Ghost, and Archive Today, but there are other options. [Begun 1/1/25]
* Take and post pictures at least once per season. [Begun Winter 1/3/25 Testing Pens on Plant Labels, 1/6/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot, 1/8/25 Photos: House Yard, 1/16/25 Photos: Winter Sunset, 2/26/25 First Flower, Spring 3/2/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot, 3/5/25 Making a Tiny Terrarium in a Spice Jar for Lichens, 3/12/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot, Photos: Savanna and Prairie Garden, Photos: Back Toward the House, Photos: Garden Shed, 3/24/25 Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side, Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 2 Left Side, 3/27/25 Photos: Antique Jar Terrarium Build Part 1: Washing, Drainage, and Barrier, 3/28/25 Photos: Antique Jar Terrarium Build Part 2: Mixing Substrate, 3/29/25 Photos: Antique Jar Terrarium Build Part 3: Adding Mosses, Photos: Cookie Jar Terrarium Part 1: Setup, 4/21/25 Photos: Cookie Jar Terrarium Part 2: Planting, 5/14/25 How to Secure Trough Pots to a Bench, 5/14/25 Photos: Sunset, 5/14/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot, 5/14/25 Photos: Savanna and Prairie Garden, 5/15/25 Photos: Cookie Jar Terrarium Part 2: Planting, Summer 6/1/25 Photos: House Yard and Photos: South Lot, 6/9/25 How to Make Comfrey Liquid Fertilizer Part 1: Jugs and How to Make Comfrey Liquid Fertilizer Part 2: Leaves, 6/10/25 Photos: Lake Charleston Butterfly Gardens, 6/11/25 Photos: Dark Gardening, 6/19/25 Charleston Library Butterfly Gardens, 6/21/25 Coles County Community Garden and Charleston Food Forest, 8/2/25 Charleston Food Forest and Coles County Community Garden, ]
* Watch for Greenup events and try to catch at least one (any season). [Begun 2/26/25, not found yet, 5/30/25 found Cumberland County Fair in Greenup August 9-16, 6/6/25 found dates for Apple Fest Oct. 9-11 and Christmas in the Village Dec. 13, ]
* Revisit Charleston Food Forest at least once each in spring, summer, and fall. [Begun Spring 3/12/25, 3/24/25, Summer 6/19/25, 6/21/25, 8/2/25, ]
