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Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

Rediscovering Life after Retirement

Categories: Living Life, Reviews and Reflection

Final Update Spring 2025 Bucket List & Goals

Final Update Spring 2025

 

Hey, ladybugs🐞and flutterbies 🦋, thank you for stopping by to check out my final update on this spring’s bucket list and goals.  I fear there are going to be a number of activities bumped to summer that were also bumped from winter to spring!!

The gals listed in the graphic below have also put together a seasonal bucket or possibilities list, as my friend Christie calls them.  We will be publishing our summer lists on 06.23.2025, next Monday.  Hope if you have a similar post, you will consider linking up with us.

 

Update Spring 2025 Bucket List and Goals

 

Mark your calendar and come join us with your plans and goals for the summer season.

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Final Update Spring 2025 Bucket List

Spring and fall are probably my favorite seasons for creating and fulfilling these lists, because of the weather.  Our spring weather was short-lived, though, this season and we are into our second week of triple digit temps already with summer still a week away.  This El Paso heat is more uncomfortable than usual after a week in Alaska and a week in Colorado earlier this spring.

You may remember that for each bucket list post, I will use this key to indicate my progress on each activity in update posts that follow this bucket list and goal reveal.

Key to my Progress:
  • ⏱️ = work on goal underway
  • ✔️ = goal met
  • ❌ = goal not met

 

  • Alaskan cruise:  Oh, my friends, this activity earned two thumbs up and that coveted checkmark. We so enjoyed our Alaska Explorer Cruise on the Holland America Westerdam.  If you haven’t seen the posts I have been sharing about our adventures, please click here and here.  And for a post about what I packed, please click here.  Alaska is a dazzling wilderness of untarnished beauty.  I could have just floated along and done nothing more than watch the world pass by our veranda.  That and EAT!!  ✔️
  • baseball:  had hoped to surprise PC with tickets to a game early in the season but the season is sailing by and we have yet to go to a game.  Was hoping to do this once we got back from Colorado but the temperatures have been in the 100s* – just too hot for a ball game.  Bumping to summer. ⏱️
  • beach huts:  bumped from winter.  I purchased the video and online directions for this collage craft project through Jennifer Chamberlin at the Maker Beehive.  But haven’t sat down long enough to get this collage started.  It WILL happen this summer!!  ⏱️
  • book challenges:  ongoing activity.  I have signed up for 3, yes, THREE book challenges this year.  I have signed up for the 52 Book Challenge, the historical fiction book challenge, and Goodreads.  This will be an on-going bucket list activity throughout the year so I will add this to summer.  Continuing progress on all 3 challenges.  ⏱️
  • breakfast and book on the patio/balcony:  have enjoyed doing this several times but going to up the ante by saying I need to do this once a week all summer…and possibly beyond.  Bumping to summer. ⏱️
And
  • fresh flowers:  I never ever ever buy myself fresh flowers.  What better season to do so than spring? And what better way to show myself a little self-love? Bought a simple bouquet at Walmart last week and it is still lovely and the blooms are still perky and pretty.  Bought bouquets for the gals in our writing group, too. ✔️

Final Update Spring 2025 Bucket List and Goals

  • Goodwill date night challenge:  bumped from winter, this is something PC suggested. I think it will be loads of fun.  But guess what?  Yup, still hasn’t happened.  I really, really, really, really want to do this…so, onto the summer list it goes.⏱️
  • sibling and spouses trip to Creede, Colorado:  my sister Valerie and her husband Roby, my brother Kevin and his wife LeeAnn and PC and I traveled to Creede, Colorado where my siblings and I vacationed with our parents as children. We stayed in this lovely log cabin.  And on 05.31.2025, we sprinkled our parents’ ashes into the Rio Grande near the ranch where we stayed on our family vacations years ago.  The whole trip was wonderful, better than I could have hoped for.  Need to write about it.  But for now, here’s  a picture and that coveted checkmark.  ✔️

Final Update Spring 2025 Bucket List and Goals

  • writing courses:  I have registered for a couple of online writing courses this year.  One a children’s writing workshop by Judy Blume through MasterClass,  a memoir writing workshop by Joyce Maynard through CreativeLive.  And I signed up for the DailyOm’s “A Year of Writing to Uncover the Authentic Self.” For now, I have been focusing on this third class but will wind them all up before year’s end.  This is an ongoing activity but worked on my DailyOm course yesterday when we met with our writing group at  2Ten Coffee Roasters. ⏱️

By my count, I had 9 bucket list activities.  Strange number.  Not 10, not 8!!  Only totally completed 3 of them.  The book challenges and writing courses are kind of year-round, ongoing projects.  So they will naturally continue throughout the rest of the year.  But I need to complete them both by December.  That accounts for 5 of my activities.

The other 4 – dropped the ball, girls.  Gotta do better in summer.  Gots to.

Spring 2025 Goals

 

Talk about a broken record.  A lot of carry-overs from winter that are now carry-overs from spring but it was a good spring, even if I didn’t get much done!!

Home
  • clean the pool and patio furniture: we have rinsed off the patio furniture twice and still need to do it again as the wind as been dreadful this season and everything is covered in a fine layer of dust.  We doned our wetsuits and  finished pumicing all of the pool tiles then filled in areas where the grout around them was cracked.  The pool looks pretty darn good.  Heated the water on a couple of weeks ago and opened the pool on the following day.  Calling this done, son. ✔️
  • finish the walk connecting the deck to the walk on the west side of the house:  one of our winter goals was to complete a walk on the west side of the house and we earned the coveted checkmark on that one.  This spring, PC has extended the walk to run between the pool deck and the west side walkway.  And it looks so nice.  You can see it in this photo.  He has been working very hard on our grass, getting the sprinklers set up just right and we have both been pulling weeds.  Hope everything survives while we are gone to Colorado.  ✔️
  • paint baseboards:  bumped every season for over a year now.  We have the paint but still no progress.  Surely, spring is the best season to paint baseboards and… or NOT!!  Still hasn’t happened.  Have to boot this goal into summer.  ⏱️
  • touch up wall paint inside the house and paint the pullouts on the front porch:  this is another goal carried over from seasons past.  Still hasn’t happened!!  Can you say…SUMMER? ⏱️
  • winter ‘spring’ cleaning room to room for the second story of the house:  oh, yes, baby, this house is clean.  Or was – for about 5 minutes.  Probably need to start cleaning it all over again before long.  But for a few minutes things looked pretty spic and span ’round here.  ✔️

A couple of checkmarks earned but nothing to write home about.

Heart
  • complete and submit my Social Security application:  until the Social Security Fairness Act of 2025 was enacted, as a public school educator, I was not entitled to the Social Security I earned through other jobs I held.  Now I am.  Thank you former President Biden.  I received my first Social Security check (minus my Medicare payment of $185) for $246 the middle of May.  Yay!!  But it still feels really weird to be talking about my Social Security and my Medicare, how in the world am I already old enough to draw both?  ✔️
  • donate blood:  I did donate blood fairly regularly until I hurt my foot. Haven’t done it since.   ⏱️
  • grow out my bangs:  I’ve been trying to grow out my bangs which aren’t really bangs but more like hair curtains.  Still working on growing them out but haven’t cut them just trimmed the ends.  Going to call this done.  My bangs may never grow to the length of the rest of my hair but they are no longer fringe. ✔️
  • Photomyne photos:  bumped from winter.  This is an app I am using to scan old photos and keep them stored for PC,the girls and me.   Check out Photomyne, here.   I just started working on this project again since we got home from Colorado.  Bumped to summer.  ⏱️
And
  • red light therapy:  our Planet Fitness has something called the “Beauty Angel” that provides red light therapy. Ordered eye protection from Amazon and figured out that I was supposed to be – ummm – naked or in some semblance of undress?  Have designated Wednesdays as red light therapy days but not ready to give myself a checkmark on this yet.  Going to be more consistent about this in the coming season…which is SUMMER. ⏱️
  • track my Weight Watchers points:  ongoing as I work to meet my goal.  I have been tracking again but need to stick with it through summer and probably all the rest of the days of my life!!  Staying about 138 pounds right now.  If I could get to 135, maintain and increase my strength and overall fitness, I would be HAPPY!!  Going to try to lose those pesky 3 pounds before summer season ENDS.  ⏱️
  • use Rover.com and sub money to pay off Amazon card, and keep balance below $200:  bumped from winter with no explanation required!!  I have been taking my extra money and making double payments on my card.  Still a ways to go but doing well on this activity.  Probably won’t get it paid off by the end of summer so this goal may be hanging around a little while longer. ⏱️

So, that’s 12 goals.  And, thank goodness, more checkmarks.  Almost accomplished half of these.  Earned that checkmark for 5 goals.  Tracking WW points and the red light therapy probably need to be forever goals.  That leaves 5 goals that MUST be attended in the new season. MUST.

Your Turn

 

If you have a final update spring bucket list and goals post, won’t you link it up with us?  Making plans for summer?  Please consider linking up with us on 06.23.2025 to share that post and those plans.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I’ve been making mental notes of things I want to and accomplish this summer.  Now to commit them to an official list.  Better get them written down before they are long forgotten!!

Have a blessed week, friends.  Thank you for spending a little time here with me.

Hugs and kisses,

 

leslie

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About Leslie Roberts Clingan

I am an aspiring blogger and children's author, wife, mother, daughter, sister, - in-law, responsible pet owner and recently retired elementary school librarian. I hope to figure out the next chapter of my life as I transition from crazy, busy work world onto totally idle retirement and now to something in-between.

Comments

  1. Lysha

    June 16, 2025 at 6:30 am

    I understand about not getting around to painting baseboards. We have similar projects on our to do list that I think we’ll just end up paying someone to do…maybe.

    Reply
  2. hena

    June 16, 2025 at 2:02 pm

    You did quite a lot..
    I don’t set goals for myself.. I have a few people I’d like to host over the summer.. dates have been set and invites sent. Otherwise I just want to try to relax.. hit up the farmers market.. try some new recipes and read. Spend time with the boys and just really try to relax.
    As an A type person I didn’t get the relax gene but I am working on it.

    Reply
  3. Nancy

    June 17, 2025 at 3:14 am

    Always lovely to read what you have been up too! Have a nice day Leslie!

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      June 25, 2025 at 7:37 pm

      Thank you, my friend.

      Reply
  4. Joanne

    June 17, 2025 at 1:00 pm

    Aw, hopefully you at least completed your most important goals and bucket list items. I find that when I have a long list I tend to prioritize those that I REALLY wan to do and kind of ignore those others that I’m not nearly as excited about.

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      June 25, 2025 at 7:38 pm

      Yup!! I am the same way. Hope this summer I can get those baseboards painted if I don’t do another thing. Thank you!!

      Reply
  5. jeanie

    June 18, 2025 at 7:13 am

    I’d say pretty well done on your bucket list. I think I need to take a few lessons. I noticed your comment on Joanne’s blog about watercolor. Don’t be afraid — it’s glorious! And yes, you’ll mess it up at the beginning, everyone does. DaVinci probably messed up more than a few paintings too. There are loads of excellent watercolor tutorials on youtube to get you started. I’m currently painting an art journal of our England trip last fall. Some pages — Wow. Some? Well, let’s just say that there’s always room for improvement. But the point is to get a beginner set and some good basic tutorials and see where it takes you! You might fall in love with it and if not, you’ll know you tried! (In your spare time – that’s quite the list!)

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      June 25, 2025 at 7:28 pm

      Hello!! Thank you for stopping by to visit. Yes, I am terrified about doing my watercolor painting. So proud of Joanne for jumping in with both feet. She does so well. I have opened a tab to visit your blog and get to know you. Thank you for the suggesions about watercolor tutorials. I am going to make this happen. Everyone I know uses YouTube videos to learn to do everything. I never think to check YouTube. Anxious to see the art journal you are creating for your trip to England. I have always dreamed of taking a little sketch or watercolor pad with me on travels and stopping long enough to sketch or paint a beautiful scene on our trip. I guess with camera phones we can capture the moment and then sketch it later but there is something attractive about doing in on the spot.
      Thank you, thank you for fidning me and taking time to leave me these wonderful suggestions. Please stop by again.

      Reply

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In what felt like the blink of an eye, I have gone from full-time wife to my sweet husband, hands-on mom to my two beautiful daughters and elementary school librarian to a retired, empty nester with lots of time on my hands. Join me on my journey to rediscover who I am. Glad you are here...
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