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Happy 2026! We made it!
It feels so weird to say 2026, since I clearly remember New Year’s Day 1996, during my senior year of high school. Now, I have a high school Senior myself, and the world looks a lot different than it did 30 years ago.
The past few months have felt full in every sense of the word.
We eased into a new homeschool year while juggling family health concerns, house projects, and the everyday logistics that come with caring for people you love. Scouting ramped up in a big way, with meetings, recruiting, leadership roles, and a very busy December spent helping with Troop 3’s Christmas tree fundraiser, alongside Girl Scouts, prom planning, and milestone moments like my son turning eighteen.
There were holidays, snowstorms, canning jars on the counter, cookie dough in the fridge, a sourdough starter that stubbornly refused to die, and the emotional weight of watching both joyful and difficult seasons unfold for friends and family alike. Somewhere in the middle of all that, grading and my newsletter slipped to the back burner—and that’s okay. As 2026 begins, I’m grateful for a chance to regroup, reset, and step into a new year with intention.
It has been a long time since I’ve set goals or resolutions at the start of the year; however, with the end of 2025 came time for reflection. Time to really assess what is important to me and to our family. I’m looking forward to what 2026 has in store, and am sitting back with a cup of tea on this chilly New Year’s Day to share my thoughts with you.
New Year Homeschool and Homemaking Goals
Homeschooling
This spring is the last time I will be homeschooling all three of our children, so our homeschool goals must be meaningful and manageable. All three kids will be focusing more intentionally on life skills and writing. We’re also planning some fun field trips and spring activities, making room for hands-on learning and experiences that bring a little extra joy to the season. And for the first time ever, I’m preparing one of my children for their “what’s next” as David will be graduating. It’s an exciting time, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being a tad nervous and sad too.
Around the House
On the home front, we’re tackling a handful of long-overdue projects this year. Plans include organizing the basement storage area, replacing the range hood and painting the kitchen, and finally installing the pool that’s been waiting patiently in the garage—once we take care of leveling the yard. We’re also refreshing a few smaller but impactful spaces by replacing bedroom blinds and treating the sunroom with Australian Timber Oil, all part of making our home work better for this season of life.
Around the Farmette
On the farmette, we’re turning our attention to longer-term systems and stewardship. Plans include building a new chicken coop before next winter, removing the cherry trees, and finally tackling the invasive bermuda grass that’s been creeping through the front yard. We’re also working toward more sustainable rhythms by creating and documenting clear systems—especially for orchard management and garden watering—so others can step in to help when needed. Alongside that, we have a few standalone projects on the list, including clearing out the area beneath the Japanese maple and tapping our maple trees for the first time at this home.
In the Farmette Kitchen
In the kitchen, I’m focusing on creating rhythms that make everyday life smoother and more nourishing. This year, I want to bake all of our sandwich bread from fresh-milled grains, keep Bruce—the sourdough starter—happy and active, and stay on top of my canning projects. I’m also excited to learn new skills like curing summer sausage and making goat’s milk cheese, prepare some family favorites as freezer meals for busy scout nights, and start menu planning on a more consistent basis. Beyond that, I plan to evaluate whether purchasing a side of beef still meets our family’s needs and develop a weekly routine for baking and meal prep that eases the dinner-time rush.
Caring for Myself
This year, I’m being intentional about my health and well-being. I have my medical appointments to schedule—mammogram, labs, eye exam, and annual physical—and I want to talk to a specialist about the recurring injury to my right hand and wrist. It’s time to get these on the 2026 calendar and make sure I’m staying on top of my care.
I’m also focusing on daily habits and routines that help me feel grounded and more in control. Short treadmill walks, stretch breaks, and consistent morning and bedtime routines are all part of it. I want to keep up with my planner, but also be realistic—limit errands, stay home when I can, outsource what doesn’t need my touch, and empower the kids to take on more. I’m practicing saying “no” to events that don’t fit this season of life, and intentionally scheduling downtime where I can do exactly what I want, how I want. It’s about creating space to breathe, reset, and remember that my health and joy matter, too.
The Business Side of Happily Homegrown
This year, I’m focusing on creating more structure and consistency in my work. I’m planning for homeschool events like prom and the book sale. Homeschool Evaluations are also a big part of my spring and I love offering them to our local homeschool community. I also want to establish clear “office hours” in my week and dedicate more time to writing and content creation. The teaching and sharing side of what I do is important too, and I plan to resume my weekly newsletter as a way to connect and share regularly.
From a content perspective, I’m excited to start 2026 with the Three Rivers Challenge. This will be our third year participating in this pantry challenge and sharing it with you her and on social media. I also want to develop new recipes and share seasonal homemaking and homesteading projects. My goal is to keep creating and sharing in a way that’s meaningful, organized, and sustainable for this season of life.
Looking Forward
As I look ahead to the clean slate that is 2026, I am grateful for the fresh start to set my intentions for the year. With goals for the various facets of my life, I now have a plan for being able to judge what is and isn’t important and where do I need to allow for margin. I hope to approach this year with patience, flexibility, and a sense of curiosity, celebrating progress—even the small steps—along the way.
If you’d like to follow along with our homeschool adventures, homemaking projects, and farmette life this year, I’d love for you to subscribe to my weekly newsletter. You’ll get updates, seasonal tips, new recipes, and ideas you can try at home—straight to your inbox. And if you try any of the projects or recipes I share, let me know in the comments or tag me on social media—I’d love to hear how they work for you!
Christmas in Morrisville: A Tradition Continues {2025}
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