Reflecting Goals: the round-up: newberys

I'll be posting this weekend my goals review. I love the time to reflect as the old turns into the new.

Here are my recommendations after spending a year reading the John Newbery winners. You can see all my reviews and ratings on my goodreads shelf that was dedicated to this endeavor. I really enjoy goodreads and it makes my reading organized, which is so helpful with a hectic life.

Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian by Marguerite Henry
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

december books

finishing up the newberys.

can't believe it.

november books

I only have 1.5 of these left to read. I sprinted through october's, and a few other books before diving into november. I just am feeling the before the holidays, baby, crazy life crunch... and I really want to complete this goal.

Almost done!

october books

I'm on my last quarter of newberys. Its strange. I'm looking forward to reading these. Looking back over the last few months with the market and so much on my schedule with photo shoots and community involvement, I have zero idea how I finished those. Most of these are thick, which is daunting, but there are a few skinny ones. I will say, I'm not looking forward to reading Lincoln: A Photobiography-- I taught (high level TA for the American Heritage Department at BYU) a semester that focused on Lincoln and after all the reading of texts, preparing lessons, reading term papers, etc... I am Lincoln-ed out. still. I know.

september books

I read them. except smoky the cowhorse and the story of mankind. those were both still on the shelf from july and I couldn't take them anymore. definitely some great ones from this stack.

August's shelf

There are some "hang-er on-ers" from last month. Didn't completely knock out 1922-29 along with the regular stack. Oh well.

The books look good, and some are slim, which is a blessing. But overall, I'm approaching this month with trepidation. This was the front page of the first one I started:

This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values 

as it would if it were written today. Parents might wish to discuss with 

their children how views on race have changed before allowing them

 to read this classic work.

eek!

july bookshelf

whoa delayed. Probably because the stack is so huge this month. I'm trying to knock out all those extras (1922-1929) this month. i've already finished three. So I'm on a good pace. This week is another market week, but I've hired some help so it will hopefully be even more successful (if that's possible. Last time was off the hook insane. I loved it) than last month. If you come, make sure you check out Noona's Kitchen. Her cuc-amole rocked my world when I was there on saturday with Todd and the kids.

my june shelf

picking up this stack at the library had me a little anxious. but then I remembered I was picking it up on the 2nd of the month---- not the 20th, as I've been moreso doing. who knows though, I am seriously considering reading this and this before I dive into the stack.

I found a new sweet light spot in my house. It makes me stop every day with the desire to photograph something in it. these books were the first thing. granted, they're highly adjusted, but the spot is there. and I'm excited.

the may shelf

still plugging away on those newbery winners over here. Thankfully, May is a short stack.

my april shelf

I'm done with a quarter of the newberys. It feels good. Here are the next three months outlined, if you're following along. I have been enjoying them with only a few that have make me bored to tears. There are some that I can't believe I hadn't read before. If you're new around here, this is what I read for the last three months. I'm taking these resolutions of mine seriously.... even if one or two have fallen by the wayside (journal writing. sad.) The one roll a month thing has become more than one roll. And I like that.

   

the march shelf

february killed me.... almost. there were a few good ones, but the bulk... ugh.

hoping this month is better

my february shelf

here's what I'm reading this month for my resolutions. I did swimmingly last month.

Resolved

Its done. They're written. And posted. And emailed out. And logged. I look at resolutions this way: what am I going to commit to that I think will better my life? What will add inner calm? What do I want to look back on as accomplishments? For me, the following FITS into my life. There is always more one wants to do, but for now, this is what fits.



I made it easy this year. The fabric ready for dresses and quilts (not cut, mind you, just purchased). The patterns for dress choices are waiting patiently. I have music and my flute ready for friday afternoons (did you know I played from about 9-18 with lessons? Betcha didn't. I still love it. Even think I might try to join a community orchestra one of these days). I've been picking hiker's brains about how to train up for Timp. The kids both like being out of doors (I've accomplished something!), so I think this might be a family-ish affair, at least the training part. I started the five@five yesterday, complete with five minute timer. Twelve rolls of 35mm film are on their way to me.

In 2010 I kept a journal of sort by way of a christmas present for the hubs. Every day (Since Dec 25 2009) I wrote something I observed about him that I loved and was glad we were married--> be it in an interaction with me, the kids, his work or church calling. I gave it to him this christmas and I think it served a great purpose in terms of letting him know how much I love him, but not only that, it is a happy record of a year of our early married life. Time to get back to my own journal, though.

Maximum 10 commissions. That is where client work can fit into my personal art. 10. None to occur in November and December 2011. Setting a limit is freeing. It keeps me from getting bogged down. Allows me to focus on my own artistic growth.

My January books are all ready to go. Sitting in a stack. Willing me to start early yesterday (I didn't).


It was exciting organzing all the books for reading. Here is the layout for the first quarter. If you have small children, this might be a good goal for you as well. I have created a layout for each quarter. To get the layouts, email me at alisha@alishastamper.com and I'll happily send them your way :)


What are YOUR resolutions? I hope they're fabulous!