I’m never really sure how I feel about New Year’s resolutions. Many years I’ve set unrealistic goals, vague, nonspecific ones or none at all. This year there are a few things I’m determined to accomplish, so I’m going to make a more focused effort.

I’ve failed at:

• Organizing 23 years of family photos. An overwhelming task, as we have more than 100 photos of our 21-year-old’s first week of life. It only gets worse from there.
• Fitting into a pair of size ?? jeans. You didn’t really think I was going to say what size, did you?
• Cleaning out 23 years of clutter. My husband used to keep those little black plastic cylindrical cases that held rolls of film. Remember film?
• Never using a word I wouldn’t publish in a church bulletin. I work with computers. Enough said?
• Watch less TV. Really?

Any expert will tell you goals must be specific, realistic and measurable. I think it helps if there are milestones along the way. So this is what I’m trying for this year.

I’ve put it in writing not because it’s fascinating to read, but for the sake of accountability and the hope that it will force me to focus more intently. I’m going to allow myself a relaxing New Year’s holiday, then it’s get-serious time on Monday, January 4.

What are your resolutions and how do you plan to keep them?

I’m not the world’s best photographer or wine connoisseur, but I’ve decided to do a series of not-fabulous-but-kinda-fun photos shot through wine with the iPhone. This is the first one, which I took nearly a year ago, of our less-than-idyllic backyard. (I wonder if there are any other words I can possibly hyphenate in this paragraph.)

Here is the second in the series, not shot with the iPhone for obvious reasons.

Production note: wines used for the … Through Wine series are rich, oaky, buttery chardonnays. I know it’s very “suburban mom,” but that’s just how I roll.

Greers Ferry Lake in central Arkansas is just about my favorite place on earth. The simple, unspoiled beauty of creation relaxes me in ways I cannot explain and through the years it has been the setting for some of the best of our family times; this past week was no exception. We just returned from a five-day stay there and I snapped this photo as we sat on the lake at sunset waiting for the Fourth of July fireworks display.

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from bethgsanders