Hello 2026! It’s always exciting to welcome a brand new shiny year!
Like all years, I hope this year brings health and wellness to all my loved ones (including all my dear readers!).
For the house, I hope it brings us a chance to finally start tackling the rooms inside. As many of you know, this house is stuck somewhere between 1960 and 1970 when it comes to walls and floors. When we first moved in we managed to update just two rooms – the lower living room and Dave’s studio. Then we had to focus on bigger/costlier projects (drying up/insulating the basement, replacing all the windows, and updating the HVAC). That left us with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, the upper living room, dining room and kitchen left to update.
Our mortgage will be refinanced in June, and I’m hoping that will help us consolidate some things and free up some cash to do a couple of rooms. We’d like to start with my office and Dave’s workout room/guest room. I think two rooms is a good goal for this year.
For my gardens, I hope it brings rain!!! As you know, last year was very dry, so some better weather would be great. I didn’t expand the fence borders as I’d hoped, so I plan to that this year. But as I noted last year – not to buy more plants, but to spread out the ones I have a little better. I am going to start lots of seeds in seed snails this year. I’d like to promise that I won’t buy ANY new plants, but we both know I’d be lying. Maybe I can limit it to one or two new roses that I don’t really have room for…
For crafting…
First, I’d really like to clean up my rage craft table. I’m hoping to do one project a weekend this winter before gardening season gets under way
Second – continue knitting from the stash. If I can complete at least 12 knit projects this year, I’ll be a happy lady!
Third -for quilting… like my knit projects, I’d like to complete at least 12 quilts. I did eight last year, so squeaking out 4 more shouldn’t be too hard if I set my mind to it. I will also be using only stash – because I am literally tripping over fabric in my studio. I really need to pare it down to a more manageable level!
I hope 2026 brings us all everything we hope for.
Wandering Cat Studio 
happy new year Val
you have thhought out your goals. thats how they happen.
my goals are to keep losing weight gently by walking and weight watchers modified. Ithink Rio is settling a bit more. training never ends. i want to teach him the talk button’s. given. by zach as a gift
Projects are limited ro needle felting right. now. still learning the craft
the perennial garden should run itself. weeding will be key but kept to container gardens mostly. only annuals for those.
health focus is key. Walking with Rio without injury is key.
travel to mexico to see zacch is priority. we lan to also try a camper this spring…..a long time goal of ours
family time with Allison is a hope we can work towards as she keeps very. busy in Detroit.
happy new year Val! kathy b
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Beautiful moths and butterflies!
Happy New Year, and I’ve got to hahaha in the ‘not to buy more plants’.
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sounds like you are ready for the new year to unfold!
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Sounds like very doable goals ….. looking forward to seeing all the projects you create and …………….more photos of the boys!
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That’s a lot of goals for one year! I’m excited to go along with you on any remodeling adventures. You know how I love it and right now we’re out of rooms. Well, there is one bathroom to go but The Mister is really not on board for it after spending all that money on tree removal.
Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year!!! Your photos are awesome as always. I will enjoy following along as you create your projects. Thank you for sharing with your readers.
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I enjoyed reading about your goals. I should be better about setting them but I never seem to follow through long term on resolutions/goals.
I’ll be right here watching you complete yours, one after another.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
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Happy New Year! I smiled when I heard stash…my thoughts also…but that will not happen:)
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