Planning for Summer.......Now!

Well, I finally have that list on my kitchen counter whittled down to only a few items. For weeks now, I have had a running list of things I need to get scheduled! Here is a sample of what my list looked like;

Register and Pay for AP exams- high school (done)

Register for Youth Options- (college courses for high schoolers) (done)

Sign up for Summer Sports at Park and Rec (done)

-basketball

-track

-archery

Sign up for Summer activity classes (can't until 4/4/11)

Get National History Day sponsor (done)

Schedule vacations

-decide where (still undone)

Turn in teenagers work schedule for summer (done)

-(around our schedule)

Organize digital picture files (undone and there's more than 8,000 of them)

Invite friends to High School Spring Musical Performance (done)

Put important dates on family calendar (done)

-state solo ensemble, forensics, AP exams, National History Day performance

Check with relatives coming to visit (done)

-when?????

-who?????

Clean closets (done)

Submit Juried art show applications by 3/31/11 (done----show is in July).

As you can see, I have been busy and I will be busy! Living in a relatively small suburban/rural community, activities fill up fast. I have learned, through trial and error, that I need to plan our summer now......in March! Ugh! Sometimes, that is harder than it sounds. You need to realize this is more that just a list.....each item involves important decisions on the part of several family members, as well as, coordination of dates, times, and available transportation efforts. Sometimes, yes....I am being a mom here, I really have to push to get those decisions made!

But, I feel like I am finally getting through most of it! The list was daunting when I first made it but now, not so bad when I look at what's left. It's manageable! All this activity (and I really try not to over schedule) will keep my children busy and not bored over the summer months. I also try to squeeze in some school work a couple times a week to keep them up to speed for fall. Now, I can start looking for the workbooks for that..........although that is a job that I enjoy because it entails going to the bookstore!

Maybe, I'll get around to organizing my pictures soon, too. Probably not! Next week brings setting up a local display of my jewelry at a business, holding a meeting of a committee I chair, leading the garden club at our local elementary school (we are exploring worms), expecting company, and attending the high school musical! Someday, I'll get around to those 8,000 pictures! :) The picture I featured is of the snow that was still on the ground in northern Wisconsin this past weekend, from last week's storm!

Piled high, but with Blue Skies! There sure won't be sledding in the summer!

What's keeping you busy?

I'd love to hear! Thanks for stopping by!

Carol

Too many hobbies......time for writing! Seriously!

I just got home from a weekend away at our cabin in the Wisconsin Northwoods! And a fabulous weekend, it was! Our neighbors joined us (with their five kids in tow) and we really enjoyed all the Northwoods has to offer. We are getting to know our neighbors.....or rather, I am. I tend to be reserved and hang back longer than my husband, who is now involved in remodelling their kitchen! But, as the course of the weekend progressed, different topics were explored as topics of the conversational, get to know you! Eventually, the conversation ended up on writing.

Okay, now you all are thinking, this is Carol talking about writing her blog. Well, it wasn't! You see, I've always had a desire to write. And I've started many stories and written some non-fiction pieces in their entirety! I happen to like to write! And yes, I think that is somewhat unusual! I think writing can serve many purposes. It can be cathartic, it can be creative, it can be searching, or explorative. I like all forms of writing! I even still send snail-mail letters, when I have the time!

I've long had a desire to write and then, be published! I think that would be fabulous! To be able to say, I have a published book or story or article, would be a goal accomplished for me. And I've tried to work at it! I do realize that writing is something (like a craft) that has to be practiced and refined until, maybe, you finally get it right!

But, it is a craft that is hard to practice! I have made many attempts to write daily (not, at all, including my blog), somehow life always gets in the way! And I know the publishing world is hard....probably one of the hardest there is to crack! That may also stand in my way. But, I continue to love writing! And in explaining that to my new friend (my neighbor), I did admit that writing is something that I desire but know I really need to commit time to, seriously! She was floored to learn that I have several stories "in the works" and just have not "worked" on them for well over a year! The ideas are there, the work has not been!

On our way home from the "cabin" I was thinking, I do just need to commit some time to the craft of writing! I need to return to the story I started for middle-elementary readers and work on it. My children think it's good.....and so, it may be! I won't know unless I devote some time to it!

Obviously, that means time away from my jewelry! I don't know if I can do that! After all, we are headed into a busy time of year for crafts! I hosted a successful home show last year, and hope to again this fall! So, I am going to try, but we'll have to see! I know my blog is helping me to write (seriously) at least a couple times a week. That is a step in the right (write) direction! Thank you for reading it!

Have a great week! Carol