Reflection on Self Challenge

December has started so it is time to reflect on the challenge I gave myself for November. I was to post a picture and a blog post each day of the month, length did not matter.

It turns out posting every day was a challenge I could not meet. I started out poorly, which foreshadowed the rest of the month :-( I ended up with 16 posts out of 30 days, roughly 1 every 2 days.

Why didn't I make the challenge?
One reason was scheduling. My work schedule is erratic normally, but November was crazier than usual, with me covering for my boss a lot. Since I do have a life outside work, family and it's associated stuff (read housework) took precedence over personal stuff. I should have scheduled the blogging time into my day. Looking back, in the morning after tending the pets, would have been the perfect time to blog. No one else is up and the day hasn't gotten busy.
Another was gear. My everyday tools are my Blackberry phone, iPod Touch and my Dell laptop. A lot of my best photos are taken with my Canon camera. I didn't think about how and WHEN I use these devices. Yes I loaded the app on my iPod, but I didn't have it on my phone. My phone is not associated with my laptop, it's associated with our desk top computer. So I'd find myself taking pictures with my iPod and then being somewhere I didn't have wifi so I couldn't post. If I took the picture with my phone I had to email it to myself to get it to my laptop to post. (No I don't do email on my iPod) As we all know, if it ain't easy, most people won't do it. That was the trap I set myself.
Lastly, I don't think I had enough focus. I allowed myself to get distracted, to not "get'r done" as it were.

Thoughts-
I'd like to do it again. This time I'll put more thought into the "how" and "when". I did like the challenge of having a picture with each post. I'd definitely keep that part. Practice makes perfect, so I think I'll do another challenge in January or February. No point doing it in December when I know I'll be too busy. On the upside I did more blogging than ever before and I also learned how to use a few more blogging tools.
Was it a bust? No. Was it an overwhelming success? Not even close. But I'd do it again so that counts for something.

Inspiring

It was a fantastic walk home from work tonight. The snow had stopped and there was no wind. Everything was frosted with heavy snow, resembling a fantasy world. I only had my phone with me so no pictures could do it justice. Even so it was good for my soul.

Snowfall

Winter has hit hard. We've received
over 20 cm of snow in the last 2 days. I try to keep the front & back steps cleared at all times. Which has meant hourly sweepings. Right now the temperature is 0C so the snow is heavy.
Outside it looks lovely. Very Christmasy. Or heavily iced (like a cake) depending on your mood.

It's Monday...

The last week has been very productive both at work and at home. Unfortunately personal things like posting seem to belong to a third less defined space that sort of overlaps both but not really. I even took an unplanned "no internet" day yesterday. To make up for that I have 2 pictures for today. the first is how my day started, with the cat drinking out of my cup as I went to let the dog out. It didn't bother him at all that I was standing right there.

The second is one of many shots taken when a huge flock of birds plundered the tree outside my kitchen window. Only one hit my window in the 20 minutes they were there.

Winter

It was beautiful this morning as I walked to work. Unfortunately it was -17C with a windchill. There was no way I was stopping to take a picture. Instead I took a picture of the mountains as I was leaving work. The sun was setting already.

Food

Happens to be the one thing I don't photograph. Yet it is a very important part of our lives. Food is not just nutrients for our bodies. It is a way for us to show how we feel about others. It's a way of caring for others too.
Our family members have a number of food allergies and sensitivities. Each person is different which can make meal times a bit of a challenge. When I cook, I tend to pick something everyone can eat. Hubby picks something he feels like making, then happily makes different versions. Since we take turns cooking it makes for a good balance of meals.
Tonight it meant pork chops done several ways and oven roasted veggies. Thanks honey, it was great.

A Simple Request

Hubby asked one thing of me last night while we were watching our shows. He wanted me to put down my phone and "be with him" while we watched tv.
When you've been married this long how can you say no?