Spring Aims Update

April is over and now it's May. Here is a recount of how my spring aims list fell out.

 1. Light a candle or use fragrance melts everyday, but change from winter to more spring like scents.

I am primarily using the wax warmer right now, and have changed scents to lighter citrusy fragrances.

2. Bake something delicious every week. 

Week 1 Baked an almond flour cake

Week 2 Peanut butter cookies

Week 3 I was sick and couldn't smell or taste. No reason to bake

Week 4 Mini cheesecakes

3. Continue hand copying my recipes into the new book.

 Nope

4. Plan a joint activity with TheHub during the work week

Did a few, then the "sick" happened and plans stopped.

5. Self pampering. The feet are looking better, and I have found a lotion in my stash (never used before) that is lightly scented and feels so good.

6. Learn something new every day.

Every single day I find something I never knew before.

7. I did not start germinating seeds in time, so I need to shop for some plants to  transplant.* 

Bought a couple but they are still in the cups they came in. Our neighbor did give us some plants she started from seed, and we now have tomatoes, eggplant and assorted peppers planted,

8. Clean and replant all the various pots in the yard. Nope, first the pollen was too bad, then I was sick. Moving this task to May.

9. Rearrange things in the house. This is the time to change over curtains, bedspreads, etc. 

Did a little, but not the full changeover.

10. Go through spring/summer wardrobe and give away any clothes I  am not likely to wear. The same goes for shoes.

They are organized and in bags, but will not be gone until Monday when The Exchange Club picks them up.

11. Organize remaining bathroom and linen closets.  

Nope 

12. Schedule a documentary to watch with TheHub weekly. 

This is the easiest thing on my list because we enjoy watching them.

13. Volunteer.

I managed to volunteer at 2 different places this month. Of course volunteering at IP is where my heart is. 

14. Play the piano for at least 15 minutes 4 times a week.

I don't think I have touched  the piano all month

15. Read a minimum of one book a week.

Done except for the week I was sickest. My eyes watered so much I could not even see to read.

16. Have lunch with friends at least 4 times during the spring season. 

I had made plans to meet one of my friends for lunch but had to cancel when I was so sick, so April was a wash. I'm looking forward to May.

17. Contact someone I have not spoken with in a long time. Out of sight, out of mind should not happen with people who have had meaning in my life.

This was pretty easy. I have not spoken to Mom's former next door neighbor in a few years. I called her and caught up with all of her comings and goings. I was shocked to find she had her 90th birthday this past month.

18. Go to church regularly, both to services and some of the other offerings our church has.

This is pretty easy, since we go to church regularly. I did miss the week I was so sick. Nobody would want me there anyway.

19. Laugh as much as possible. Laughter is a gift I need to use everyday.

My sister and I were rolling over my fork story.

20. Maintain contact with my sons, DILs, and granddaughter.

This is easy because I love them all very much

21. Try to not be petty. I can be, and it is an unattractive trait.

This was not a bad month, though I did have one instance of being very petty.

22. Have a road trip or day trip a couple of times a month.

April was a complete bust for road trips.

23. Go to an actual movie theater once a month just to get out of the house and be among the living.

This did not happen___again

24. Have coffee at a coffee shop once a month.

Nope

25. Enjoy every day, even if it is difficult.

This was pretty easy to do, except for when I felt so bad.

26. Be more approachable, and willing to talk with people I have only spoken to before. 

I have been much more intentional about talking with people I have never met before. Of course it requires that I go places to be in the company of people I don't know.

27. Do something toward Christmas '26 each month

I read a Christmas book, read a Christmas decorating book, and bought one rather silly present.

28. Use existing products before buying more. This is continual, and I have not yet replaced the makeup that makes me look like a vampire.

I am still looking like Vampira. I guess I will use it all before I get any that is the correct color.

29. Get rid of books

No

30. Inventory the pantry and laundry room stash

Done

31. Defrost the freezer.

Reorganized but not yet defrosted.

32. Go to bed earlier. I am serious this time.

This has been hit or miss with me.

33. Try to find a new hobby. 

I still think I want to try learning to crochet, but it has not happened yet. 

34. Maintain a close relationship with My Beloved Sister and invite her to our house for dinner once a week.

Done, except for the weeks I was ill. Amazingly she did not want to come here then.

35. Go to some of the spring festivals around town.

We did go to the Lebanese Food Festival, but only as a pick up customer. I did to need to be around people then.

36. Visit a new to us restaurant each month. There are too many out there and available for us to get stuck in a rut.

No

37. Use some of the restaurant gift cards and certificates we have accumulated.

No

38. Have neighbors over for a meal. 

Our neighbors that moved were back in town. They had moved only the essential furnishing when they left before, but kept furniture in their house to show when it went on the market. They did not anticipate the house having 4 separate offers on the first day, so their estimated timeline changed quickly.

We asked them and another couple we are friends with to have dinner with us as a farewell evening. They were great neighbors and I wish them every happiness in their new town.

39. Entertain some of TheHub's cousins who live near us now.

I tried and they were unavailable each time.

40. Meet some of our couple friends for dinner out, or burgers here.

Not this past month

41. Get all my clothes for our spring "big trip" ready.

Done!

42. Try something new every week. This can be a food, a craft, a lesson, etc. Just something I have not done before**. 

Hmmm. I did a couple of weeks, but not every week.

43. It is time to get started using self tanning lotion to get rid of my ghastly (or ghostly) winter pale look. 

Still looking like Casper

45. Send cards to a few folks I have been thinking about, but have not actually mailed them anything.

I even have them addressed, but have not stuck them in the mail yet.

47. Plant some fall blooming bulbs.

Not yet

48. Be grateful every day.

And I am!

44. Listen weekly to at least one music genre that I don't listen to regularly. I am also including listening to musicals I am completely unfamiliar with.

Week 1. Listened to Mahler symphonies. I've never been a big fan of his music, and after listening to it for a week I am still not a fan. Ponderous may be the word for his style.

Week 2: Listened to unfamiliar to me broadway musicals. I loved doing it!

Week 3: It was bossa nova week and the music was pretty happy and made me think of exotic beaches and sunshine. 

Week 4: Listened to a lot of ragtime. I did not mind it, but I was glad when the week was over.

46. Find someone in need and give them a little help. Sadly this was much easier than I wish it would have been. One of our good friends died leaving his family grief stricken. There were numerous ways to help. 

And that is it for April. I still have one more month in Spring. Hopefully it will be a better month.