up dating the list

looking back what i have done the past few months...
what's checked off my list for  this year and where i'm headed toward. i love lists and it is so much fun to check off what's done and what i still can look forward to do!

this years list is a bit different, but not so much. just trying to keep life in check, be ready for surprises and of course list writing. i have been adding asterixs for things accomplished. and then i have to add to some letters, just because i love life and list-writing!

:: applaude my children when they accomplish what they have set out to do. and also when they
              bring home good grades. i have been very hesitant to take notice of their grades, as i don't
              think that they are very important. but the kids kind of think so...
             * some of the kids have been writing good grades, that made it easy to applaude, one passed
              an exame which made me applaude.
:: balance the tasks and things i want to do, so it doesn't push me to hard and i feel rather constrained
              and pushed in the corner by the things i commited and must do's.
             * i had one week at the beginning of april, i pulled the brakes and got myself into a time out.
:: choose to buy second hand clothes and if not possible fair trade, even for hard to find items.
:: devote an hour a week to taking better photos, reading the book "sehen lernen" by banek banek.
:: eat out with friends. maybe just with joel, i think i would very much enjoy that.
:: fermenting has become a bit of a magic process for me. in this respect i want to keep the
               kombucha going and in general try some more recipes on fermenting and conserving food
               like eggs in vinegar or belle peppers and making herbed vinegar myself.
:: go on an adventure with naomi.
              * we went shopping once for pants for her, it was fun.
:: hand-stitch some kind of project, a new tiny series would be a wonderful challenge.
              :: hiking with good friends
              * we did so and it was absolutely the best day since a while.
:: insist and be consequent on the issues of an earth friendly life stile, like buying bulk and bring my
              own mug to the coffee shop.
             * i regularely stop by "bare ware" at steinberggasse and buy oats and millet in 5kg bags. As
             well as loose tea and some of the vinegar.
:: jogg maybe i could say run 4 times a week, this would be perfect 3 short runs and a long one.
             * this is going well and it is refreshing.
:: knit one item a month, be it mittens, a shawl or a hat, maybe the linnen tunica liesl which i got
               started on and stopped and unraveled again...
:: look at natures beauty once more. take the moment to observe the bird playing with the wind.
              * i spotted some wood peckers and observed how our chickadees are looking for worms.
              well, there is potential...
:: maybe just be brave to not set every thing and every plan in stone, but be flexible and bendable
               with scheduling and enjoy the freedome in that
:: nurture my spiritual life with still and times of prayer on a regular basis
:: organize a little house concert
               this was on my list for the past couple years, and i'm so excited about the event in planning,
               i will keep you posted.
               * we had a house concert in march and it was delightful. we have to do this again...
:: protect the space and needs of our children in our community household. this is sometimes a bit of
               a challenge, as we live in community and share our kitchen table and living room space with
               8 more people in our household. it is important to me and i need to remind myself to very
               sensitive of this issue.
              * this one is definitely in check. there have been two moments when i had to stand up for it,
               and i did.
:: quilt the granny square quilt
              i want to keep this on my list and check off until the summer
:: reading for enjoyment, pleasur as well as education
                The Children Act by Ian McEwan
                A Spool of blue thread by Anne Tyler (a bit boring)
                Daring to drive by Manal Al-Sharif
                Wie Adam, Eva und die Evolution zusammenpassen by Timothy Keller
                Schottland: Whisky, Seetang und karierte Röcke by Rolf Sotcheck
                Gardening with Chickens by Steele
:: sew a few baby kimonos
               * in the making :)
:: teach with lots of enthusiasm and joy in my reglion classes at church. i want to put my
               knowledge and passion into this new challenge.
:: utilize my energy and the space i live in, to hoste gatherings and have people come and visit
:: visit friends abroad, the plan is for summer: go to london and visit the b's and travel to schottland
               too, this is in planning and so super exciting
:: watch a good movie in the theather with a friend
              this didn't happen last year, but maybe after ski vacation there will be an evening...
              * we went and saw the "phantom thread", i really liked it. a good night out with my friend.
              and that was not enough, we invited friends and watched "three billboards outside ebbing"
              which was very good too.
:: relax a bit more, not everything needs to be handled and talked through with the urgency and high
              flying emotion it is being brought to my attention.
              * just this week, i decided to walk off and go for a run. it was a good alternative as the
              person i was trying to explain something to, decidedly didn't want to understand. i was
              i was relaxed after the running and let go of it.
:: yearn for the peace that God puts in my heart and the every day rythm of things.
:: zeroing in on the important stuff and let go of every thing else.