How many of us started the summer eager to start all the projects that have been accumulating over winter? Paint the baseboards, plant some trees, put up that fence, learn ceramics, steam-clean the couch cushions, read that library book … I could go on. At our place, maybe because Jim’s a teacher and has a distinct break for summer, we get really ambitious in late June and a little depressed in late August when we realize most of the things we planned to do didn’t get done. Jim is especially discouraged, knowing back-to-school will mean less time and energy to finish building that deck or backyard patio we were hoping for. We could sit down and argue about it, and I can’t say that doesn’t happen, but the reality is that won’t make things any better. Instead, the end of summer is the perfect time to put things into perspective and be kind to each other and to ourselves.

Jim quotes Bill Gates, who quotes other people, “People overestimate what they can get done in a day but underestimate what they can get done in a year.” What he means is that maybe we were too ambitious to think we could do all the work we planned this summer, but we still have time and taking small steps will get us there. Small steps are the key. One of my summer projects has been building a small stone path through part of our garden to give it some structure. Every time Jim stirs the dirt up with Jolene (she’s his orange tractor, we still owe you the story), I’ll pull a couple of stones and lay them down. It takes about five minutes a day and I’ve finished one walkway and started a new one so far this summer. When we were in Maine, I took home some stones from the beach with cool reddish tones to add to the project. It’s an interstate project now and I’m so excited about it.

This got us thinking about all the other little accomplishments we can be proud of and that can keep us motivated to keep going. We’ll share a few with you in the hopes that it can inspire you all to make your own list, and also so we don’t forget. (They are in no specific order).

We moved my daughter home from college and stored all her extra stuff.
We organized (with our volunteer crew!) and attended three Hudson Valley Plant exchanges and have two more ahead!
We went on a mini vacation to Maine, visited six towns, and walked on three beaches, saw old friends and ate fresh blueberries with our breakfast.
I traveled to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Portland, Ore., Minneapolis, Nashville and Grand Rapids and Battle Creek, Mich. for work.
Jim supervised some young people who finished painting the house and foundation.
Jim built a walkway by hand with granite for the front of our house.
Jim planted about 500 trees and bushes.
We had a great visit with my oldest daughter and showed her around Accord, Red Hook, Saugerties and Kingston.
Jim and I harvested and froze enough basil to last until next season.
Jim mowed lawns, and we pruned and weeded yards.
I finally followed up with my neurologist and found a primary care doctor.
We grew eggplant and zucchini, jalapenos and basil and I made tons of vegan pesto, eggplant parmesan and spicy hummus.
Jim put a new roof on the shed.
Jim put a hose bib on the house and now we have hot and cold water outside.
I built a stone pathway in our garden.
We did yoga at People’s Place.
We drove to Massachusetts and Connecticut to visit friends and pick up stuff from auctions, but mostly to drive around.
We had bonfires and ate smores.
We saw two bald eagles.
We walked to the river and played with our dog on the beach.
We stayed on top of our bills.
We visited our neighbors and brought them flowers and veggies.

It’s not a bad list. We were too ambitious. Instead of complaining about procrastinating, we’re going to forge ahead, keeping Bill Gates’ (or whoever’s) rule in mind and knowing that if we track our progress over a year, the list might include that deck and maybe even the patio. Some tried and true tricks include breaking bigger tasks into smaller chunks, and starting with something that is accessible now, not later. Experts also suggest making a clear plan, finishing what you started, avoiding distractions and being kind to yourself. We aren’t the best planners, or finishers and, well, distraction is our middle name and explains why we’ll drive to Connecticut to pick up a vintage Hostess pastry grocery store shelf from the 1960s instead of working on that deck. But I keep reminding myself that the year I moved in, I cleaned the basement in October, and it wasn’t too cold or wet to wash all the racks outdoors and let them air-dry. There is still time!

Barbara Magnoni and Jim Rich are Kingston Wire subscribers, and co-founders of the Hudson Valley Plant Exchange, living in Kingston. Rich is a coach and health teacher at Kingston High School.