101 in 1001 August Update

Hello again!  It has been a number of months since I last came on this blog to update the 101 list, and there is a very good reason why!  You see, end of May, I had our baby girl!  She is adorable, but kind of a velcro baby.  I don't mind too much, but I don't come to the computer much and it is very difficult to update my blog on my phone, so I haven't taken the time to do this yet.  I also haven't completed my regular 3 items a month, either.  Oops.  I have a lot to do to 'catch up'.  That's ok.  We'll get there yet.

Here is the list.

2. Do the 1000 hours outside challenge (1000 Hours Outside )  1000/1000  Done July 2024

This one took longer than it should have.  We should have completed it end of April instead of end of July, however I forgot to keep track through winter at all, so I just estimated an hour per day as there was little to no snow, and yet super cold.  Weird winters we've been having lately.  Snow makes winter much more fun.  I kind of want to try this again, but I'm not sure how well I'm keeping track to be honest.

6. Go to a family camp  DONE August 2024

August 1-3 we went to our church family camp.  They had some cabins that we were able to use one of, which was good as we are a family of 10, and it was a cabin with 10 twin beds.  Baby was in her playpen, though.  It was difficult as it was super hot, and chasing the younger ones during the weekend was daunting.  I found it stressful, but the kids had fun and that was what we were hoping for.  We also had a lot of issues on the farm, so my husband was back and forth a lot.  I think that didn't help.

35. Use Cricut to make van decals

I designed them!  I reworked the design I had already done so they look better.  Now I need to cut them and apply them to the van.  When will I do that?  Not sure.

47. Do ‘on farm’ work that saves us at least $20 000 from if we would have hired out. (6200/20000)

So, I did the taxes for the farm again this year.  That saves another $3000.  My husband saved $200 in labor by installing a radio on the truck himself.  

70. Meal plan for 3 months (Done June 2024)

I did this!  Part of March, through now, actually.  I want to continue.  I need to continue!  It helps so much.  I'm not sure why I quit all those years ago.

71. Build cute signs for the house/farmyard (5/5) DONE July 2024

My daughter found another thing on the farm that she decided needed a repaint and design.  So, we worked on that one together.  I think it turned out nicely, and it's kind of funny as well.

89. Make homemade egg noodles DONE August 2024

Monday my oldest was talking about homemade noodles and homemade garlic bread.  So, she made the garlic bread and I tried my hand at homemade noodles.  Found a good recipe for egg noodles, and attempted making a single batch that is gluten free as well.  They turned out so well!  My oldest loves them, and we made enough to freeze some for later, too.  Not the regular ones for the family, though.  They were consumed rather quickly!

92. Make own pierogis from scratch (make the cottage cheese)  DONE August 2024

This week I finally made pierogis again, after many years of vowing not do do that.  I didn't like making them as they often wanted to fall apart while boiling, and I had a circle cutter thing for making them that just did not work well as it wasted so much dough.  So, I did them the way I remember my mom doing it, and no wasted dough!  Yay!  I made 1 gallon of milk into cottage cheese, which made about a pound.  That made only about 40 pierogis.  The kids loved them.  Next, I need to try doing this with the gluten free flour and see how that will work out for my oldest as well.  

94. Hatch our own chickens

So, we are trying this yet again.  In June my daughter made a homemade incubator and attempted to hatch 16 eggs.  Not a single one hatched.  We candled them and a few were not fertilized, a few started, and there were 3 or 4 that looked to have chicks but unfortunately due to a heat spell and them being in the workshop, I think the temp went too high and it killed them in the last few days.  A friend borrowed us their incubator, so we are trying again.  I haven't bothered candling the eggs yet... a little afraid of messing things up by doing so.  It's been 11 days.

Anyway, that's all for now.  Thanks so much for reading my probably boring post.  I'll need to do an update with pics of the baby later yet.

101 Update for April

So, I am continuing on the 101 list.  I try to take a look at it periodically to remind myself to do the things.  It has been hard with it being winter (the 1000 hours challenge has officially been over a year and we still have over 200 hours left to fill, mainly because I've been forgetting to keep track since December of the time the kids have been outside!  Oops!).  With pregnancy, a number of the building tasks I had planned to complete just have not happened.  I've been crafting a lot more, though.  I just find myself physically incapable of doing things like I used to in pregnancy.  I can hardly wash dishes without being completely winded and in pain!  It really is tricky.  I want to keep exercising, too, but man!  This baby is up in my ribs and lungs!  Either way, I got some done this month.

 6. Go to a family camp
We are currently working on making this happen.  We have the date, we just need to make sure we can work the weekend so we can be away before we sign up.

35. Use Cricut to make van decals

I designed them, now I need to create and cut them, putting them on the van.

38. Bring a meal to a family (2/3)

We have given goodies to a few people in the last month. Mainly breakfast type things.  Since they were smaller, I'm putting them down as one meal.

40. ‘Egg’ someone's house for Easter (give them an egg hunt) DONE

We did 2 houses for Easter this year.  The kids had so much fun!

70. Meal plan for 3 months

I've been continuing to work on this.  Got printouts for 4 months, and am including a plan for freezer meals to prep a couple for when baby arrives.  I don't think I can do very many freezer meals, however.  Our freezer doesn't have much room for full meals!

79. Get the kids into swim lessons  DONE

They are signed up and it is paid for!  We are finally doing this!  I've been trying for years and always miss the sign up day.

36 down, 65 to go!

101 in 1001 Update

Trying to keep up with this.  Honestly, I'm more interested in making crafts right now than doing this.  But some of these things I can do.  

6. Go to a family camp

We are prepping to sign up for one through our church!  I'm excited about this, although also a bit anxious as we will have a little baby at the time.

32. Create free to use items in Cricut design space.  

I know I technically finished this one already and this puts me at 19/15, but still.  I'm really proud of this!

Since the challenge was still happening, I made even more things for that.  One is a sign (I'll post the image under #71 below).  

40. ‘Egg’ someone's house for Easter (give them an egg hunt)

Been planning this one.  I have the things we need.  Hoping to set it up tomorrow.

67. Make baby picture wood slices for each child for our ‘tree’, with a wedding photo of us

I have the wood slices ready and just need to find all the baby pictures of each child to put onto them.  That's going to be a bit of a trial.

70. Meal plan for 3 months

I have planned 3 weeks already, and have a printed 'plan' for 3 months laid out, just not filled in yet.  It's hard to plan too far ahead.

71. Build cute signs for the house/farmyard (4/5)

I made a Laundry Room sign this last week for in our house!  I love it!

March Crafting Challenge

 Hello again!  I might just be bragging a little today, but I am SO proud of myself!  I joined a March Craft Challenge with Cricut.  This month is 'National Craft Month' and I have always loved crafting, I just rarely take the time for it anymore unless it is 'needed' (like making things for Christmas).  So, I joined up!  Cricut has a draw going on now for each day of the month.  Every day you can enter once using the fonts or images that they provided somewhere in your craft.  You then are entered in a draw for $100 you can use through Cricut.  So, this month I have made SO MANY crafts through Cricut Design Space, and I am so proud of myself!

These are my entries into the first week of the challenge.  I used their flower image for the Easter card, and the two fonts given for the sign.  I designed the little people myself!  And the sign was even put up on the barn bathroom door already!  Yay!

For week 2, I found I really liked the images given.  So, I made a 'summer'-y card as an invite that would work  for a backyard BBQ.  I also made Thank You cards using one of the challenge fonts.  And then the balloon image just begged to become a birthday card!

For week 3, which is still happening, I just loved all their images!  They had a mother's day image and I dreamed of making a potted plant with 3D flowers, so I did!  I saw a watermelon on the placemat my 4 year old likes to use and thought that would make a fun card idea, so I used the other summer image for that one.  Then, yesterday, my oldest daughter mentioned how fun it would be to make a card that had all the 'mixings' layered on the outside with a cake inside.  So, I designed a pop up birthday card using the image of a cake that was given for week 3.  

I'm looking forward to designing something using their week 4 images.  There's another mother's day heart image that looks promising, and some 60s flowers, as well as a 'Happy Birthday' word art that fits with those flowers as well.  I kind of want to attempt making another sign or wooden project, I'm thinking about something for my dining room table using the pallet I ripped apart last fall, but we'll see.  I'm really liking all the cards I have in my card box now!  It's been a long time, and that poor box had gotten very empty.  

I just think it's interesting how I needed a 'challenge' to get me to experiment with my Cricut Maker again.  I think I've made more projects in 3 weeks than I have all year!  It's crazy!  I wonder how many more things I'll make this next week?  

My oldest has been designing and handmaking her own cards this month as well!  I'll have to post the pics of those items if she is ok with it (and once I have them on this computer.  They are currently on my phone).  She's been making a lot of video game inspired cards, mainly Zelda themed.  

Honestly, crafting is the perfect activity for someone who is uncomfortably pregnant.

101 February Update

Time for another 101 update.  I'm pretty happy, even though I didn't complete 3 things like I wanted.  Only 2.  But I've gotten stuff done on a variety of them.  Perhaps I'll complete more next month.  I still want to get some 2x4's so I can finish up my son's bed and build the shelves in my laundry room.  I am hoping to do these two things specifically before baby arrives!

7. Find 5 interesting places/events to visit in local area (5/5) DONE Feb 2024

Went to a kids fair in February as my husband had only part of the day off (he lost his weekends off for Feb and also April, so we're trying to find things to do with the kids that aren't very time consuming and close to home.  It's been hard.  Especially since when May comes, I'm going to be very hugely uncomfortable as I already feel like I usually do at 36 weeks pregnant and am only 29 weeks).

32. Create free to use items in Cricut design space (10/15)

They have a March Crafting Challenge on right now, and I've joined in.  Made 2 items this last week and working on another.  

50. Do one month of ‘shop the pantry’ challenge (DONE Feb 2024)

Cleared out the pantry at the same time, and our freezer is looking a lot more manageable as well.  It was nice to go through and get rid of a bunch of things that we already had without buying quite as much stuff.  

67. Make baby picture wood slices for each child for our ‘tree’, with a wedding photo of us

Working on this.  I have my wood slices.  I just need to find my photos (located in various discs and such) and I think I might just print them out and mod podge them on instead of having the 'ink' go into the wood like I've seen others do.  I like that idea but I don't have a laser printer and that's what you need for that technique.  

70. Meal plan for 3 months

Started working on this now.  Got my sheets printed out.  Want to plan freezer meals I can use for when baby arrives... which will be approximately 3 months.

71. Build cute signs for the house/farmyard (3/5) 

I made what I think is a cute farm washroom sign with the little washroom images I designed myself to look more 'farmer-ish'.  My kids got a real kick out of it.  You can see the picture above.  Used a scrap of pallet board from my stash, 'painted' it with a wash of greyish brown before putting the cricut cut sticky paper down and sponging white paint over that.

End of January - Another 101 update

I am trying to make an update at the end of each month, although I haven't been as good at that lately.  This month I've been working on a variety of things.  Trying to complete 3 per month, and this month wasn't too hard!  Yay! 

1. Celebrate five strange holidays  (Coconut Pie day,) (Cheeseburger day) (Hot Tea Day Jan12) (Bagel Day Jan15) (Chocolate Cake day Jan 27) (5/5)

We celebrated three different 'fun' days this month.  They were rather easy, too.  I like the food related ones.  There was a Winnie the Pooh day as well, but my kids aren't as into that anymore.  Not even my younger ones.  I wanted to do Puzzle Day on the 29th but with birthdays things were a bit busy.  DONE!  Although, I still want to do something for Chinese New Year and Lantern day next month.  I think those are fun.

2. Do the 1000 hours outside challenge (1000 Hours Outside )  640/1000

Been trying to keep getting the kids outside at least one hour daily.  It has been very cold out (dangerously so for a few days).  I'm not sure if we will hit the 1000 hours before the 22nd of April, but I think we will just continue regardless until we hit 1000 hrs.  Yesterday we went to a large sledding hill and the kids had a fantastic time!

32. Create free to use items in Cricut design space (t-shirt, Christmas gifts,) (8/15)

Made a birthday card for my nephew and was able to post it in the design space for others to use.  I should make a girl version, but I didn't.  Oh well.  Maybe I'll add to it later.  Half done!

43. Make praying for our leaders a habit (do so each evening for a month) (finished Jan31 2024)

I've been actively doing this since the first of January.  I want to continue (hence the term 'habit') after the month is over.  I am seeing change in our government this month which is keeping me hopeful.

50. Do one month of ‘shop the pantry’ challenge

Started this a week ago.  I am thrilled with how many things we are getting out of our basement freezers.  I also decided to completely sort and rearrange the pantry while doing this (we had mice in September, and while I did wash the shelves the food was on, I want to wash all the shelves and wipe down the walls and such as well).  I would love to one day paint everything in there white to make it bright as it's all that wood color, but I don't have the time and energy for that.  It has taken me a week or more working on it already and I haven't gotten very far as I only get to it about 30 minutes per day.

65. Declutter 25lbs of toys from house (Done January 2024)

January we did a large declutter in the girls' room, and I finally decluttered a bunch of stuff from the basement.  We removed a huge diaper box of toys and books, as well as 3 grocery shopping bags.  I forgot to weigh them, but I have another smaller box (about 1/3 the size of the diaper box) that doesn't feel half the weight of that diaper box, and it was 12lbs, so I'm certain we hit well over the 25lbs I set.  Maybe I should set it for 100lbs!  Hahaha.  

66. Organize decorations and label (done January 2024)

Finally took down my Christmas tree yesterday.  I rearranged some of my Christmas stuffs into all the same style of bin.  6 bins for everything, and my wreaths and everything are all fitting in there now, too!  I labelled them all so it should be easy to find what I need.  I aim to place all the decorations into the one closet in the basement.  It fits 12 bins.  Although, I have baby clothes down there too.  Man, I was going to declutter the baby things and now we are expecting another!  

96. Build a greenhouse - changing to add 'or a Summer Kitchen'

I want to change this one to add the option to 'build a summer kitchen'.  I am really wanting a summer kitchen to keep the bugs out of my house when cleaning up produce in summer (this year was bad for those little flies).  And egg washing during the summer.  And we have been using the smoker a lot as well, so this would make using it even simpler.  It just makes more sense for our family currently.