Little Things

Drying cherry tomato seeds.Checking the progress of The Onion that Wanted to Grow.Wondering how long it will be until the rose bush outside my kitchen window will burst into all its yellow glory.Sticking my thesis around my loungeroom wall...... so I can edit it more easily.
It's been a good day.

50 Things I Want to Do

Here is just a little list of 50 things I want to do by the end of 2009. I have printed off a copy that I am going to stick to my wall, though I would like to get it laminated first. I hope this inspires you to think about specific things you would like to achieve over the next year!

1. Become proficient at making all our bread (sourdough)
2. Start having homemade pizza regularly (sourdough bases)
3. Make yoghurt regularly (every second night)
4. Make Quark (cheese from yoghurt)
5. Make soap
6. Make dandruff hair rinse for Julian (1:1 white vinegar and water, rinse before shampooing)
7. Go to the gym regularly (twice a week)
8. Get a job over summer
9. Grow my own mushrooms
10. Do the dishes every day for 30 consecutive days. Go out to dinner after completion of this goal!
11. Knit dishcloths (set of three would be nice—could do cool thematic thing)
12. Make some more kiwi fruit jam. Yum!
13. Knit a hot water bottle cover
14. Finish off all my embroidery projects
15. Get my ‘frame-worthy’ embroidery projects framed (Teddy bears picking apples longstitch, teddy bear fishing cross-stitch, house longstitch)
16. Finish quilting my lapquilt. Or pay my husband's sister to do it!
17. Grow my own herbs
18. Make fruit cordials (and another link)
19. Make chutney
20. Make red onion jam (great for pizzas, apparently!)
21. Make all my Christmas and birthday cards—have a stash of handmade cards on had for all card emergencies!
22. Acquire a preserving kit and jars
23. Make a nativity set (dough or fimo)
24. Get into a routine of cleaning my bathroom/toilet every week
25. Get my driver’s license
26. Learn how to make cheesecake. Become comfortable with making it!
27. Get into a routine of getting up at a regular time (6:30 or 7) to have my ‘Quiet Time’ with God
28. Get a pasta machine and start to make my own FRESH! pasta
29. De-worm my cat, and perhaps get him vaccinated too!
30. Make ice cream (or frozen yoghurt) that is light and fluffy
31. Switch from commercial cleaning products to homemade ones
32. Make my own crackers and dips
33. Grow sprouts
34. Start a cell group (kind of like a Bible study group but different!)
35. Stop biting my fingernails
36. Go to the dentist
37. When tomatoes are in season preserve a whole lot (sauces, chutneys etc.)
38. If I find a cool way of preserving cherries, do so when they are in season
39. Make my own apple sauce
40. Make my own vinegar
41. Make whipped butter for spreading on bread (for every cup of butter, add ½ cup water, and if you want also half a cup of olive oil… I think)
42. Infuse oils and vinegars—find some awesome tall skinny jars/bottle for this
43. Learn to weave baskets—or at least get a really good book on it
44. Paint the bookshelf. Perhaps paint both bookshelves to match?
45. Get a beautiful teapot, and start brewing my own tea
46. Make iced tea
47. Keep thinking of our dream house—start collating pictures and ideas we love
48. Stop shaving, start waxing. (Well, getting waxes.)
49. Cook one meal a week in the slowcooker
50. Make bagels

Ten Things

Well, I tried to use my blog as a motivational tool, but it hasn't really worked. And yes, I am a bit behind on the thesis front of things... Which brings me to today's topic: Ten Things I Am Grateful For! I've seen many other people list ten things they are grateful for, some occasionally, some on a regular basis. So... what am I grateful for today?

1. My husband, who buys me chocolate whenever I need it "if it will help me study better." And because he loves me. He has also been doing a lot more of the cooking lately, which has been great!

2. My new hot water bottle (even though it's heading into summer lol!) and it's oh-so-cute cover! (Noooooo. Not homemade. Store bought. Sorry. Though I could knit one myself: I have a pattern that just uses garter stitch and embroidery)
3. My diningroom table: a beautiful old, extending table, with THE MOST COMFY dining chairs in the world. I kid you not. I can sit in them ALL day and still not have a sore back (or backside) when I finally get up. Great for studying! Speaking of studying...

4. My thesis supervisor, who has great faith in my ability to write quickly yet well. He has been really encouraging! Hopefully he won't be disappointed!! Also speaking of studying...

5. My new fitball!!! It is totally awesome because it is pink!!! I bought it for studying, as they are great to sit on. Not only are they great for balance, but also for your posture. Having said that, I am sitting on it now, and am slouching over because I have my knees tucked up strangely. I can sit on it crosslegged. But it is very dangerous. If the opportunity ever arises I shall get my husband to video me attempting to sit on it crosslegged, and then falling off. I may use it for exercising in the unforeseeable future.
And here it is more in context: in my "study space". If you can, look past the mess to see the diningroom table and chairs!6. My basketful of lemons. I am still deciding what to make with these... lemon curd? lemon butter? lemon marmalade? Heaps of lemon icing? Some of each (there are 8 of them). Hmmmm. Any suggestions?

7. My sourdough starter! Oh, the adventures that await!

8. The new ink cartridge in the printer!!! Yay yay yay yay yay!!!! Now I can print out the recipes I want to try, instead of writing them out by hand! And I can also print out the thesis drafts so I can edit it more easily. Not so 'yay' but still very good.

9. Friends and family. Generic I know, but I have been going through something really tough over the past month, and I have been surrounded by people who love me. I really appreciate it!

10. Not living with a fussy person who can't cope with a bit (a fair bit) of mess. (I don't clean when I have essays due! Too busy playing solitare, checking Facebook or reading blogs!) Speaking of mess... does anyone want to clean my kitchen??? (Spot the yoghurt maker... Hint: it is pink! Like my fitball!! It is currently making nectarine flavoured yoghurt! Yummy!)