Forgive my silence, friends. I have been working A LOT. But very little that I can show on my blog.
Most days I have been working on writing and editing the various author projects I have going, with drawing and digitizing images taking up my remaining working hours. In fact, I have been having trouble STOPPING work, often writing until seven or eight in the evening. I do take Sundays off, and it feels good, but my weeks do add up.
As I sat down to work this morning, the ever-present nagging to “do a blog” collided with a realization that 2024 is almost over. With the January Strada Challenge enticing me to consider a painting a day, it occurred to me that I needed to make my annual goals. And that means checking in on how this year’s goals went.
This has been an unusual year for a variety of reasons. One big reason was covered in the second Goals post (Part 1 and Part 2). I use these goals and refer back to them often. So, on this next to last day of 2024, here is my summary of the year’s goals.
| Type | Description | Goal | Actual |
| Reading | Goodreads Challenge | 80 | 97 |
| Nosework | NW3 Elite | 1 | 1 |
| Nosework | L2C | 1 | .5 |
| Nosework | L3C | 1 | 0 |
| Nosework | L3I | 1 | 0 |
| Life | What do I want to be when I grow up? | unknown | an author |
| Health | General “improve” | + | yes: weight, stretch class |
| Bonsai | Go to mentorships | 6 | 4 |
| Bonsai | YouTube Channel1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | Spring Garage Sale | 1 | 0 |
| Art | Art on the Edge Studio Tour | 1 | 1 |
| Art | WSO Spring | 1 | 1 |
| Art | WSO Fall | 1 | 1 |
| Art | Equine Art Show (Emerald Downs) | 1 | 0 |
| Art | American Academy of Equine Art | 1 | 1 |
| Art | NWWS Spring | 1 | 1 |
| Art | NWWS Fall | 1 | 1 |
| Art | Western Fed | 1 | 0 |
| Art | ISEA – International | 1 | 1 |
| Art | ISEA – Fall Member (juried) | 1 | 1 |
| Art | ISEA – Winter member | 1 | 1 |
| Art | Blog Posts | 52 | 27 |
| Art | Newsletter | 4 | 3 |
| Art | Apply for Alaska AIR | 1 | 1 |
Many good things happened that don’t appear on this list: Earning signature status in both NWWS and ISEA; friends made; Key and I going to our first Elite trial after earning our NW3 Elite; joining the Pacific Artists’ Co-Op Gallery; my Michigan trip. In January 2024 I knew some form of career change was coming, but the sabbatical evolved. I didn’t make as many forward health strides as I would have liked. I’ve taken on more “group projects” than I really should have. But I’m going to count 2024 as one of the better years in recent memory.
Wishing all of you a wonderful 2025.
P.S. When I was checking my records, I realized I had lost 17 pounds this year. So, I’m sneaking it in here to remind me.