Lifestyle of Learning 2023 Edition: Volume 13

 December 1 - 15

"Leave the earth dry and live with no regrets." -Mariah Johnson

-I have read above quoted book, Relentless Melt by Jeremy Bushnell, and In Time of Harvest by John Sinclair.

- I attended Cocoa Chronicles, a live radio show performance.

- I am reading The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman.

- I managed to get to the gym twice (still recovering) and went for a walk at the park to see the Christmas lights.

- I am doing a lot of journaling.

- I am listening to the following podcasts: The Piketon Massacre, Zone 7, Shallow Graves

- I am researching and have begun doing exercises to improve foot, ankle, and knee health. Did you know that there are 33 joints in each foot?

- I learned to play Ono99.

Lifestyle of Learning 2023 Edition: Volume 12

 November 16-30

"The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions, the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind of look, a heartfelt compliment, and the countless infinitesimal of pleasurable thought and genial feeling." -Coleridge

I read Nevada: Off the Beaten Path by Donna Peck, Black Fortunes by Shomari Wills, Home-Making by J.R. Miller, Return to Abo by Sharon Niederman, The Case of the Runaway Corpse by Erle Stanley Gardner, and Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred Taylor. 

I saw an original theatrical production, At Risk.

I am listening to these podcasts: Zone 7, The Fall Line, Gone South, Dark Valley, Witnessed: Fade to Black, X22, LISK, Citizen Detective, Shallow Graves, Why Can't We Talk About Amanda's Mom?, The A to Z of David Bowie, and The History of Rock Music in 500 Songs.

I am reading The Autobiography and Other Writings by Benjamin Franklin, Human Property Hanging in the Family Tree Yields a Harvest by Ann Lee, and The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World by Andrea Wulf.

I am researching the history of and what to see and do while traveling on Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway.

I am exploring the Preservation Acts albums by The Kinks.

I researched recipes and tried several new ones.

Turkey pot pies by Bishop

I saw a stage production of Elf the Musical.

Lifestyle of Learning 2023 Edition: Volume 11

 November 1 - 15

"To conclude, therefore, let no man out of weak conceit of sobriety, or in ill applied moderation, think or maintain, that a man can search too far or be too well studied in the book of God's word, or in the book of God's works." - Francis Bacon

I have read Beyond the Limelight: Some Pioneer Recollections of Missouri and Oklahoma, Johnston's Shut -Ins State Park by Harry H. Johnston; How Should We Then Live by Francis Schaeffer; and The Raven and Other Favorite Poems by Edgar Allan Poe.

- I am listening  to these podcasts: Let's Talk Memoir, X22, Zone 7, The Hillside Strangler, Devil Town, The Fall Line, Witnessed: Fade to Black, Dark Valley, The Snake River Killer, and Gone South.

- I have continued to do some weightlifting.

- I've been dancing!

- I am taking Hillsdale's online course The Genesis Story: Reading Biblical Narratives.

- I went for a walk at the botanical gardens. I got some exercise and made some seasonal natural observations.

- I did more public speaking. It does get easier the more I do it.

- I am reading Home-Making by J.R. Miller, Heroes of the City of Man by Peter Leithart, The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tales of Troy by Padraic Colum, Off the Beaten Path: Nevada, Roll of Thunder, and Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor.

An Update on My 23 Hard Things in 2023

1) Write 12 snail mail letters. DONE. I completed this goal in June but have continued to write letters. In October I wrote a letter to my friend Sara and Aunt Carol. 18/12.

2) Initiate three dates with hubby. DONE. I continue to invite him on hiking ventures. This has been a pleasant way to connect.

3) Purge 1200 items. DONE. I reached my goal in July but still attempt to purge 100 items per month. In October, I purged 231 items. 2121/1200.

4) Read 48 books. DONE. In October,  I read 28 books! Including books of the Bible, I have read 146/48 books. Excluding books of the Bible, i have read 80/48. I have absolutely slammed this goal!!!

5) 12 of the 48 books read are to be books that I own. DONE. I read 26 books from my personal library in October! 52/12.

6) Have one adventure per month. I hiked at a new location, hubby and I had a picnic (that may have been a first), I did some public speaking, and I helped a committee at work pull off a celebration, our ESOPtober celebration. I'm doing new things and stepping into new roles.

7) Make and maintain a minimum of six monthly journals. DONE.

8) Make 36 blog entries. I made three blog entries in October. 28/36.

9) Repair camera. DONE. 

10) Repair mandolin and learn to play one song. DONE.

11) Dance. Doing it and loving it! I am really making progress on this goal. Dancing is becoming more natural. One evening I was caught by my youngest following a new dance tutorial. "Are you dancing?" "Um

12) Learn to tiptoe (move like a child). DONE. Still can do.

13) Learn to skip (move like a child). DONE. Still can do but not smoothly and, dang it, my foot keeps acting up. Ugh.

14) Do one cartwheel, although a round off will do (move like a child). Nope. I havent even tried yet.

15) Remove tree from front yard. DONE.

16) Repair front porch stairs. DONE.

17) Write a letter to Carole's mother. Written but not sent, still uncertain.

18) Take vitamins a minimum of 275 days this year. 258/275, need 17/61.

19) Floss teeth a minimum of 275 days this year. 231/275, need 44/61.

20) Track expenditures a minimum of 275 days this year. DONE. 283/275.

21) Do not go to Andy's alone. Still a fail. I went three times in October! Ugh!

22) Try 15 new smoothie, salad and vegetarian recipes. I tried two new recipes - roasted parmesan broccoli and a vegetarian chili with sweet potatoes. Both are soooo good! 12/15.

23) Complete at least 75% of Balancing the Sword Volume 1. DONE.

 

"Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them." -Madam C.J. Walker

Lifestyle of Learning 2023 Edition: Volume 10

 October 16 - 31

"We need intimate knowledge of the past. Not that the past has any magic about it, but because we ... need something to set against the present, to remind us that the basic assumptions have been quite different in different periods and that much which seems certain to the uneducated is merely temporary fashion. A man who has lived in many places is not likely to be deceived by the local errors of his native village; the scholar has lived in many times and is therefore in some degree immune from the greatest cataract of nonsense that pours from the press and microphone of his own age." -C.S. Lewis

- I went for a walk at a botanical center. I made natural observations while moving my body and I made note of how the various gardens were presenting at this time of year vs. earlier in the year.

- I have been doing some journaling and continue to experiment with styles and approaches.

- I have resumed watching YouTube videos related to journaling. I really enjoy February and June and Suzi's Tiny Desk. Their work resonates with me.

- I read Battle Cry for My Generation by Ron Luce, Sacred Rhythms by Christine Sine, Mountainair N.M. Centennial History  1903-2003 by Bert Herrman, Tell Me Everything by Erika Krouse, Footprints in the Ash by John Morris and Steven Austin, Scopes: Creation on Trial by R.M. Cornelius and John D. Morris, Land of Burning Heat by Judith Van Gieson, Ribsy by Beverly Cleary, Our Little Macedonian Cousin of Long Ago by Julia Darrow Cowles, The Legacy of Lord Baden Powell by Eleanor Clark, The Search for Christina by Eleanor Lattimore, Winter Pony by Jean Doty, The Official Guide to America's National Parks, and Unfit for Command by John O'Neill and Jerome Corsi.

- I listened to these podcasts: LISK, X22, and Gone South. 

- I have resumed working on my disco routine and I learned the Wobble. I have also found another dance tutorial that is going to be a blast. Imma dancin'!

- I hiked the nature center.

- I am reading Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, In Time of Harvest by John Sinclair, Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington, Eat Your Way Across the U.S.A. by Jane and Michael Stern, and How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer.

- I watched The Shining Code 2.0.

- I have picked up the mandolin again. It felt good!

- I completed Hillsdale's online courses Introduction to the Constitution and Constitution 101 and am taking American Heritage From Colonial Settlement to the Current Day.

I survived... I mean, did... some public speaking.

- l have written two letters this month and am working on the art of letter writing. My mom and older sister are gifted letter writers. I am not but am trying and am making progress.

- I did some weightlifting and I have started utilizing the rowing machine.

- I am researching kettlebell techniques. Kettlebells will be a great way for me to get resistance training in when I am on the road and away from a gym.

Lifestyle of Learning 2023 Edition: Volume 9

 October 1 - 15

"Nothing is too small to be noticed, and once noticed, there is nothing that can't also be extraordinary." -Elizabeth Spencer

-I went for a hike at a nature center. I saw several different types of caterpillars, a snake, an eastern chipmunk, a tufted titmouse, and a red bellied woodpecker.  I researched the sounds that a red bellied woodpecker makes. I was then able to identify that woodpeckers call. There was a lot of bird activity, although I didn't clearly see very many of them. I do need to learn more about identifying birds via their call.

- I read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, 1984 by George Orwell, Mitten Strings for God by Katrina Kenison, Oklahoma Crossroads by Michael Wallis and David Fitzgerald, Martin Luther's Ninety Five Theses edited by Stephen J. Nichols, Route 66 Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion by Tom Snyder, Adam and His Kin by Ruth Beechik, The Secret Summer of L.E.B. by Barbara Brooks Wallace, William Harvey and the Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood by Thomas Huxley, Humanist Manifestos 1 and 2, Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson,  Number the Stars by Lois Lowery, Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe, Jason by Dorothy Hamilton, and What I Wish For You by Alexandra Hardy- Shamaya and Isaac Garuda.

- I am learning important lessons at work. Last month, I took special GGOB training and, this month, I have been part of a committee that developed a minigame. I was able to utilize my training to guide the team. I also had the opportunity to put some ideas regarding leadership into practice. It has been educational.

- I saw a caterpillar for a monarch butterfly. It was throwing a munch on a milkweed plant.

- I learned of the "Treasury of Merits," or as Martin Luther referred to them the "treasures of the church." This refers to the "medieval Roman Catholic teaching that the surplus merits of Christ and the saints are kept in a heavenly treasury." This idea has given me plenty to ponder.

- "Since we can only experience history through our imaginations,..., the ruins we encounter serve as vital props for any journey of the mind in time. In viewing some roadside ruin, then, we are better able to re-create for ourselves the period in which it stood. An interesting thought - that by seeing clearly what remains, each of us gives some ruin a second life. A chance to exist again, as it once was, in the projection of our mind's eye." This quote from the Route 66 Traveler's Guide really resonated with me. It has proved to be true for me. Traveling Route 66 during my childhood stoked my imagination and created in me a curiosity about a time before mine. This is what drives my desire to take an epic American road trip. I continue to research America - places to see and experience, and foods to eat. I am exploring routes across America, back and forth, and up and down. I am learning quite a bit about my home country.

- I am watching videos related to car camping and van life. My favorite, presently, is Alauna Roby.

- I am listening to the following podcasts: X22, Gone South, LISK and Zone 7.

- I hiked at the Water Valley Mill, twice.

- I am reading battle Cry for My Generation  by Ron Luce, Sacred Rhythms by Christine Sine, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor.

- I did some weightlifting.

An Update on My 23 Hard Things in 2023

 It is time to check and see what progress was made towards my 23 Hard Things in 2023 goals through the month of September.

1) Write 12 snail mail letters. DONE. I completed this goal in June but have continued writing letters. I wrote two in September; one to Mama and one to Keegan. 16/12.

2) Initiate three dates with hubby. DONE. 

3) Purge 1200 items. DONE. I completed this goal in July but still attempt to purge at least 100 items per month. In September I purged 220 items. I'm getting the hang of this! 1890/1200.

4) Read 48 books. DONE. In September, I read 27 books. This does include books of the Bible that I completed. Not including the books of the Bible, I read 7 books in September, for a total of 52/48. Altogether, I have read 118/48.

5) 12 of the 48 books read need to be books that I own. DONE. I completed 7 books from my personal library during September. My new total is 27/12.

6) Have one adventure per month. Hubby and I went on a day trip. We tried a new bbq joint and went to a farmers market and an orchard. I also took a little day trip with my sister. We went to a quilt show and a youth entrepreneur show. We got our house re-piped! That was an adventure!

7) Make and maintain a minimum of six monthly journals. DONE.

8) Make 36 blog entries. I published 5 blog entries in September. 23/36.

9) Repair camera. DONE. Now I need to go on some photo taking expeditions.

10) Repair mandolin and learn to play one song. DONE. I have really enjoyed learning to play a little on the mandolin and have missed not playing over the last couple of weeks. I will focus on getting back to this enjoyable hobby during October.

11) Dance. Some but still not as much as I would like.

12) Learn to tiptoe (move like a child). DONE.

13) Learn to skip (move like a child). Not gracefully but DONE.

14) Do one cartwheel, although a round off will do (move like a child). Nope and I can't even imagine trying just yet. I am getting more comfortable with my ability to move my body but am still nervous about moving in some ways.

15) Remove tree from front yard. DONE. I am hoping to get some more trees removed or trimmed back, if the finances allow it.

16) Repair front porch stairs. DONE. AND we have finally re-piped the house! We have certainly made progress on home maintenance this year!

17) Write a letter to Carole's mother. Written but not sent, still uncertain. 

18) Take vitamins a minimum of 275 days this year. 231/275, need 44/92.

19) Floss teeth a minimum of 275 days this year. 201/275, need 74/92.

20) Track expenditures a minimum of 275 days this year. 252/275, need 23/92.

21) Do not go to Andy's alone. FAIL. I went twice in September. Sigh.

22) Try 15 new smoothie, salad, and vegetarian recipes. I made vegan tacos and have figured out how to make a very satisfying yogurt parfait. 10/15.

23) Complete at least 75% of Balancing the Sword Volume 1. DONE. I completed the book, in its entirety. I will move on to Volume 2 next year.

With the disruptions in my routine, caused by the re-piping and more, I felt less than focused on my goals. However, I still made significant progress. Possibly, I am forming new, and desirable, habits!

Lifestyle of Learning 2023 Edition: Volume 8

 September 16 - 30

"People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering." -St. Augustine 

- I watched some YouTube videos by Jay's Garden Journal on sheet mulching and berms.

- I have been listening to the following podcasts: Bible John: The Creation of a Serial Killer, X22, Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch, Undetermined, Zone 7, LISK, Gone South.

- I read Little Vic by Doris Gates, Left Behind by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins, and Character for Life: An American Heritage by Don Hawkinson.

- I went to a local festival where I viewed cool art, mostly photography, tried apple cider donuts, watch dancers perform original choreography, listened to a guitar playing and singing duo, and watched a couple of local theater troupes perform.

I listened to a lecture by William Potter titled "Sabers, Spears, and Catapults: A Providential History of Warfare Technology."

- I am reading 1984 by George Orwell; Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis; Mitten Strings for God by Katrina Kenison; A Treasury of Great Poems: English and American by Louis Untermeyer; and Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock.

- I went for a walk at a botanical center. It had a really cool mosaiced sundial. You stand on the month that it is presently and your shadow lands on the time, roughly.

- I took an online  course on Classic Children's Literature, including Beauty and the Beast, The Snow Queen, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,  Aesop's Fables, The stories of Beatrix Potter and A.A. Milne,  Treasure Island, and The Wind in the Willows. I scored 100% on all quizzes!

- I have been to this botanical gardens many times and had never seen the history walk. This time, I stumbled upon it and thoroughly enjoyed the biographical sketches etched into the stone.

- I am receiving, and am reading, emails from a memoirist who was offering a free online course. I couldn't take the course but I can get the emails read. I am hoping for inspiration and assistance.

- I saw a hawk at the park that I believe may be a broad winged hawk, light morph, immature.

- I listened to a five part lecture series on The Inklings.

-I am utilizing what I learned at the GGOB training to help develop a minigame at work.

- I am using the resources at the Memoir Network. I have begun making a memory list.

-I viewed a production of Peter Pan Jr. as presented by a small community theatre.

- I resumed watching journal related videos and I have done some journaling.