2020: Week 13 done; ready for week 14

Palm Sunday - the service was beautiful. Like so many other people these days, I "attended" virtually.

My daily routine has become strange as a result of the stay-at-home order. It's been a week since I set foot outside, but I enjoy my own company and am not struggling the way so many people are. I've often joked that my fantasy is to commit a crime that is juuust naughty enough to get me sentenced to house arrest. Then I'd have an excise to stay in and read books and potter about in my home.

I do need to make sure I am disciplined and don't let the days bleed one into another and lose sight of my goals. So here goes ....

1. Say good-bye to one item a day, and if something comes in, something goes out = 366 fewer items.

I'm well on pace, although I had a bit of a setback this week. I ordered a box full of books to read, intending to donate them to the prison project when I'm done. Still, I didn't really need them - I just wanted them. I've told myself to knock off the non-essential spending. It's not a good idea right now. (Although I do really look forward to reading those books!)

2. Read one pleasure book a week that meets the requirements to donate to the prison program = 52 books a year.

I've been reading a range of nonfiction and fiction and enjoy it so much. I've been re-reading Jasper Ffords's Thursday Next series. So inventive! Such fun!

Total for 2020: 15

3. Happiness Planner project.

I have not been perfect with this goal, but I have been consistent, and I think that's a strong beginning. It's the day in, day out choices we make that determine who we become and what we achieve.

4. I will try one new recipe each week.

I tried America Test Kitchen's chicken with warm bread salad. It was ... awful, but I'm pretty sure it was my fault. My oven was dirty, and when I preheated it to 475F, it began smoking, so I had to turn it off, wait for it to cool, clean it, and then put in the chicken. It threw the timing off. And it's getting harder and harder to find things in the shops, so I had substituted a few things that might not have been good choices. So ... I'll try it again.

This week, I'm going to try a Jamie Oliver recipe. Can't wait!

Stay tough, Sparkfriends. This, too, shall pass!