2010 plans

I am usually not much for making New Year's Resolution(s). Probably because I haven't been good about keeping any that I made, probably because I never did make any that was truly meaningful or important enough to really make an effort to keep (think: loose five pounds). But this year, I'd like to make a clean break from my past resolutions  (or lack thereof) and resolve to make a list and keep at them. In short, my resolution is more along the lines of a "five year plan" than the typical New Year's resolution. This way, I can, at the same time next year, look back and do some accounting of my year and see if I have been successful at my plans. Without further ado, my plans:

1. Attain at least one successful, productive vegetable garden bed.
2. Plan and ready our garden for permaculture.
3. Work out a “community garden/playgroup” plan for our garden.
4. Reduce our family’s emission and consumption according to the seven categories listed in Riot for Austerity (http://www.riot4austerity.org/blog/7-categories/). Riot for Austerity aims for 90%. My goal is 30% for our first year. And to perhaps bring it up to 90% over three years. More to come along this new emission reduction adventure.

The impetus of the plans - aka vision in corporate parlance - is to get us towards greater self sufficiency. By self sufficiency, I mean less dependence on the vast infrastructure that we rely on for our most elemental needs: food and water. This is for ourselves, for Zoe, and all the children in the world. We implemented some lifestyle changes in 2009 - reducing our water usage drastically for example. But our progress is often times one step forward two steps back. Our gasoline usage is fantastically high this year because of the months of house hunting, followed by all the times I had to drive over to the new house during the remodeling process, not to mention all the trips I made while researching products and vendors for the remodeling. We made less road trips, however, because we had no time. Hopefully, things settle down next year.

Blue

The new house has new paint, and we couldn't be more pleased, especially with Zoe's room. Zoe seems pretty happy too, as evidenced by these photos. As is often the case when photographing Zoe, these pics aren't in focus; she was too busy being busy.

Cookies and shoes

Dennis and I are now speculating if the love of shoes is innate. I took out the various shoes I've bought for Zoe over  time, shoes I've picked up when they are on sale (and thus affording me some the excuse of "she'll need it eventually, I'm saving money by buying now). Her feet are still too small for them. But her reaction was quite incredible. There was this palpable pleasure in seeing them. She uttered this sound that sounded like a half giggle and half laugh and reached down to handle them. As much as I love shoes, I haven't indulged in this love of late and so I can't see how and where Zoe picked up this behavior. Must be innate.

Also, this afternoon, I picked up a box of Belgian Chocolate Biscuits from Trader Joe's. When I opened them, there was that gasp of pleasure from Zoe too. She was so awed by the array of cookies lying in front of her. Luckily for us, she was content with just one (even though we told her she could have up to three).