Making a Summer Schedule Part 1

Summer arrived with a bang yesterday and my neat and organized typical Tuesday became a mess of figuring out how to proceed with summer. I had 10 orders to ship, a blog post to write fail, a summer schedule to prepare and a summer outdoor space to create. Not to mention unpack from our trip and tidy up the not so tidy house we left behind.

Let's go back to 2006 where I had a similar problem. This year though the new challenge that I have is the need to make a lot of money. Thankfully our renter is still in our house on Bainbridge although for much less than our mortgage. It's up to me to make up the difference.

Usually in the summer I can take it a little easier with bookselling and I tend to not sell on eBay at all. This summer it's different. I'm going to have to work a lot more hours. Therefore a schedule is needed this year more than any year previous. This post is going to be in two parts. This part is the planning stage for our Summer Schedule. I began to brainstorm things that I want to do this summer on our drive home on Monday from Sacramento.

Fun things to do with the children:

• Join the Summer Library Program
• Craft Time
• Berry Picking (to freeze or make jam)
• Bicycle Trips - Howarth Park, Santa Rosa to Sebastpol
• Reading Time
• Freezer Paper Stencil T-Shirts
• Carve and prepare Walking Sticks
• Dying Wool
• Listening to Audio Books
• Beach Days
• Farmer's Market (every Wednesday afternoon)
• Pen Pal Letters
• Hiking
• Make a Hiking Kit
• Summer Journal
• Swimming (pool, Russian River, Beach, State Park)
• Thrift Store Shopping (hopefully a weekly visit to the Goodwill Outlet)
• Geocaching

Summer Chores

• Laundry (I avoid it at all cost but plan to tackle it this month)
• Pack winter clothes away
• Grocery Shopping
• Clean Out Garage
• Create Summer Space on Covered Patio
• Children's chores: room tidy up, weed garden, tidy up toys outside
• Tidy up Office every week
• Organize Craft Area in Office

Summer Work

• Weekly eBay auctions (goal of $300 in sales every week)
• List Books on Amazon (goal of $300 in sales every week)
• Write 5 blog posts a week for ATG
• Write 3 blog posts a week for food blog

Without a clear schedule, I think the summer would fly by in a mess. Dave and I are going to sit down this evening with our calendars and plan our vacation days, his travel dates for work, our goals for the summer and this list above. Together we will create a Summer Schedule that will create a rhythm in our lives. We all need rhythm, even in the summertime when we are looking to relax and enjoy the warm sun and long days. 

What are you planning?

Comments

[Shara]

Well...my plans are to do as little as possible & maybe learn a new craft, perhaps finally do something with all that macrame stuff I keep buying.

[Monica]

School's out in 2 days and I've thought about a summer schedule but haven't written out anything yet. My main goal is to get us outdoors and out of the house more this summer. I'd like to have scheduled days to go to the library, have a picnic lunch at a local park and go swimming at the local pool (I even have a bathing suit this year!). I'm also have some cleaning projects on my agenda.

[Van]

I miss leisure summers. I'll be in an office 11 hours a day (like now!) every week day all summer, but this post has inspired me to take ONE day out to visit a body of water or do something similarly fun and summer filled. It's my favorite season, after all...

Good luck keeping on schedule, I think I'll write one of my own...

[katilady]

i wish i could have a leisurely summer, but alas, work beckons. i still have some goals:
blog 3x weekly
continue to learn to knit & crochet
make art 3x weekly
film at least 2 arty tutorials for youtube
visit family in portland
i'll be busy for sure!

[Vicki K]

This is great Selena - my husband always talks about the statistics (which now I can't remember) about people who Write Down their goals and plans. You've inspired me yet again.

[heidi]

my kids have been out of school for a month already....So I'm a pro, haha My kids have been fishing alot and its free. we like to come up with different food items for bait and see what works best.

We start working back at the lodge next week so I'm hoping for big tips to help pay for school clothes. I never use to talk like this last year I sure hope and pray things pick up along with the economy!!

you always cheer me up with your frugalness hey a new word.

[Paula]

I think it is awesome that you can earn income doing what you love! Yay for you!

I enjoy doing decorative painting (murals, kids' bedrooms) and gardening for fun, and sometimes for cash too!

[Queen of Fifty Cents]

Thanks for listing the library first! I always say it's the one place in town where it pays to borrow!

[Teresa Raines]

My academic work year has ended. I've tidied the library and closed it for the summer. I'm also taking one last class for the Master's. Beyond traveling to Washington D.C. next week, the summer seems to be open, but I want to sell, sell, sell all of my collectibles in storage. You've inspired me to continue to pursue selling books and my other "junque," as the summer progresses. Only 9 weeks until the school year begins again!

[amy e zimmer]

hugging Selena.

[Janice]

Wow! That is a lot going on. I am taking a month away from the desert heat and heading with the kids to my mom's home in Wisconsin. Something I do every year. We just spend our days doing the small town things and hanging out at parks and playgrounds and lakes.