on making goals rather than resolutions

Now that the year is coming to a close, I've been thinking about the goals I set for myself with my thirteen by thirteen list. I am being specific when I say goals. I am so not a resolution person, because I think it just sets you up for stress or failure. But goals...goals are different. If you reach them, awesome. If not, then it's a good way to evaluate whether they were important enough to begin with, or whether you tried hard enough.

With that in mind, here's how I fared with my list of goals for 2012.

Number 1--Make a terrarium.

Made it.

Number 2--Henna my hair.

Yup. What I should have added to the list was "spend next year trying to UN-henna my hair." Oye.

Number 3--Make baked Alaska.

New Years Eve treat, baby.

Number 4--Finish every half finished project sitting in my studio.
They were, as follows:

A half-finished painting, done.

Two big quilts, done.

Suprisingly I think that was all I had.

Number 5--Build a chicken coop.

Weeeellll...I didn't build one. I found a tractor on Craigslist for free. It's already been modified a bit--we put in a gravity feeder and soon I'll be building an external nest box. But they have a place to hang out so I'm counting it as DONE.

Number 6--Learn how to shoot a gun well.

I totally didn't do this. Mostly because I didn't have a gun. But I got one for Christmas, so this one I think will have to transfer over to next years' goals.

Number 7--Make Macarons.

Made 'em. Lots and lots of them.

Number 8--Read Anna Karenina.

Nope. I have to say, I got it from the library and then I saw the preview for the new movie and lost all my interest in the story. How Hollywood can turn a classic book into a smutty rated R movie is beyond me. But anyway, that's a rant for another day.

Number 9--Plant Ranunculus somewhere in my yard.

Look at them grow! I just hope they actually make flowers come spring.

Number 10--Learn how to smock.

Negatory. And honestly...eh, I didn't really care about this one to start so I'm not bent out of shape about it.

Number 11--Start keeping a sketch journal again.

I did. But more importantly I started drawing for real again. It feels so good to put pencil to paper after so long.

Number 12--Go camping.

Did it--not once but twice. Though technically the second time I spent more time in a warm house than I did an ice-cold tent. Camping in the winter is not my favorite thing ever. :)

Number 13--Build a city out of paper.

Not what I envisioned, but I think it counts.

So there it is. I feel pretty good about what I accomplished, especially considering I started halfway through last year. And that's the point, isn't it? To feel good about what you've done. Why else bother with goals or resolutions unless you finish well or aren't fussed when you don't finish at all?

Now it's time for some goals for this year. I'll keep you posted as those formulate in my addled, post-holiday brain.