Before I share some new Bucket List items, I’ve decided I want to give an update on some of the adventures that I’ve already shared!

1. ✓  Go to one last NASCAR race before Dale Jr retires. Thank to my big sister I was able to fulfill this wish.  In September she took me to the NASCAR race in Richmond, VA.  Not only was I able to see Dale Jr. race one last time in person, but I was also able to see him lead laps (unfortunately he didn’t win) and get a close up look at his car and crew because we had pit passes before the race!  I honestly didn’t think I would be able to fulfill this item, but I’m so happy to say I did!  You can read more about my experience here.

2. ✓  Brunch at 12 West.  As soon as I wrote this on my Bucket List, I realized how ridiculous it was that I still hadn’t been over to eat brunch.  It’s one of my favorite local restaurants and it is literally walking distance from my house!  So the next weekend, I made it point to get my family up and take them to Brunch at 12 West.  And we weren’t disappointed.  I can still think about the Crab Cakes Benedict and my mouth starts watering.  We had quiche, homemade giant cinnamon rolls, stuffed french toast, and chicken and waffles and it was all amazing!  So if you’re ever interested in a delicious Sunday morning brunch, check 12 West out.

3. UPDATE!!!  I’m still working on conquering my fear of heights!  But I’ve made a lot of improvement towards my goal.  Since first posting it on my Bucket List, I’ve climbed several sketchy fire towers in our area and then actually walked along Big Bluff/The Goat Trail when we went to The Buffalo National River.  At the beginning of this “Adventure Journey” I would have never even considered doing even those things.  But I’m proud to say I’ve made improvements…it wasn’t always pretty….actually it was pretty comical…but I still have a lot of work to do to accomplish some of my other Bucket List items.

Now time for some new bucket list items:

4. Learn to make sushi.  I never would have imagined that I would love to eat sushi.  “Sushi” just wasn’t even part of our family vocabulary growing up.  I was introduced to it by my best childhood friend Sarah, and boy am I glad that she did!  So being that I love to cook and try new things, I feel that learning to make sushi should be my next cooking challenge.  It looks easy!!  (And hopefully easy on the pocket book as well.)

5. Zipling.  Many would probably think that I have not done any ziplining because of my fear of heights, but I don’t think it would be so bad.  I don’t have issues with tall roller coasters and I’ve even done “The Dragon’s Wing” at Six Flags.  I think I’m more “ok” with those things because I’m securely tied to something.  It’s not like just walking freely, all willy nilly without a backup safety line in the event that I trip ever so gracefully over my own feet while on the side of a steep cliff.  So, yea, I want to try ziplining.

6. Wild Game Hunting.  While growing up, hunting was always a part of my family’s life.  My dad hunted wild game every season:  rabbit, squirrel, turkey, deer…you name it, if we could eat it, he hunted it.  It was important to him that we knew how to properly and safely handle and shoot a hunting rifle.  And when he decided we were old enough and could handle a gun, he took us hunting.  I went on a couple squirrel hunts and did pretty good!  But that was about it.  My other sister got into the hunting a little more than I did.  I decided I wasn’t a big fan of guns and chose to do other things.  Now looking back, I wish I would have done more hunting.  I love wild game meat and would love to be able to go into the woods and kill some game to bring home some meat for my family.  So my plan is start practicing my shooting again and maybe hook up with some buddies who still hunt a lot and see if I can figure this hunting stuff for real!

7. Fill up my National Park Passport.  I recently bought some National Park Passport books for myself and my boys (shhhhh, it’s part of their Christmas and they don’t know it yet).  There are a lot more National Parks and Monuments than I realized!  But my goal is to at least get to all the National Parks, and then as many other National Monuments and other things that are listed into it as I can.

8. Hot Springs, Arkansas.  While looking through my National Park Passport, I paid especially close attention to the parks close enough to me that I could possibly get there and back over a weekend.  I didn’t realize that the town of Hot Springs is a National Park.  After doing some reading, a trip there is definitely on my radar.  Probably sooner rather than later.  I’ve done my research and there seems to be a couple of great hotel options right on Bathhouse Row.  This may have to be an adult only trip (wink wink).

9. Food and Drink Trails.  I recently found an article on CNN (Yes, CNN, not Fox News, take that how you like) that identified “12 of the world’s most enticing food and drink trails.”  Even though many of these “trails” are “across the pond” and probably not going to happen, there were several here in the United States and even Canada that I feel I could pull off at some point.  I was most enticed by the “Beer Cheese Trail” in Kentucky.  If you’re lactose intolerant…I’m sorry…because this one sounds like it was made for me!  So my goal is to do all the ones in the United States and hopefully Canada.  If I’m ever so lucky to get to the other side of the world, I may consider some of the others, but not holding my breath.

10. Backpacking!  Now that I’ve gotten pretty good at the hiking…I think it’s about time to start the next phase…Backpacking!!!  I just need to learn to pack better!!

And for Caroline’s List

1. Participate in a rendezvous or reenactment – After visiting the rendezvous at Fort de Chartres,  I think I would eventually like to participate in one.  I would like to have the “glamping” tent but could make do with less if I had to.  I can sew, handquilt, and can, so I have some skills that I could display as well.  I may have to let Lisa put together my wardrobe.  Read about our adventure here.
2. Sit in Hot Springs – Katie and I have a lot of list items that overlap and this would be one.  I would like to sit in the Hot Springs. I think a warm bath can solve just about any problem there (along with ice cream), so I would imagine that the hot springs could work miracles.  
3. Cook a turkey – I have cooked a lot of things, but I have never had to cook a Thanksgiving Turkey.  My Aunt Opal always cooked our turkey then that has been passed down to my mom and aunt’s who usually make it a group effort.  So it could be several years before I actually HAVE to do it.  But someday I would like to say that I have.
4. Identify the Major Constellations –  I can pick out the Big and Little Dippers, but I would like to be able to look into the sky on a cold clear night and identify them all on my own. I would like to try do it without the cheater phone App, but if necessary I would resort to that.
5. Backpacking – This was on this month’s list before I saw Katie’s list.  I don’t want to try anything ridiculous yet, but I would like to try an easy overnight hike.
6. Neil Diamond – I didn’t realize this was on my list until it was a viable option.  This past spring Neil was going to be in concert and anyone named Caroline should hear “Sweet Caroline” by the original.  I was even able to score $6 tickets!  Aaron and I definitely skewed the average age by being on the very young end of the spectrum.

7, See Bison while Hiking –  While looking for some new hiking places, I found Prairie State Park here in Missouri. It has a bison herd that wanders the park and I would like to  hike among them.

8. See a Frozen Waterfall – This is another hiking related item.  With the winter hiking season upon us, I would like to see one of the large frozen waterfalls.

9, Grow Out My Natural Hair Color – I have a hair appointment in the next week and it will be time to cover my roots – my gray roots.  One day I will let my hair return to its natural hair color which is now more or less gray.  I think I will wait until it’s a pretty gray.

10. Do A Pull-up – I have recently joined the gym in town and am trying to get back in the workout groove.  I have never really been able to do a good true pull-up, so I am going to add that to my list.  A girl can dream, right?

And this month’s contributor – Darlene Weber aka Katie’s mom

Definition of a Bucket List…..A list of experiences one would like to have or of accomplishments one aspires to in one’s lifetime.

Had to look up the definition first!!!! I know I’m not a real young chick anymore but I think I can still pull most of these off assuming hips, knees, and back cooperate. So far so good!!!!

1. Hawaii…Finish visiting all of the United States. That means a visit to Hawaii. If I was a real adventuresome person I’d say we would sail, row or kayak across the Pacific. But my adventuresome spirit does draw the line at some point and that is on the water. So I’ll get there via conventional means. Once there, the interest is not so much for the beautiful beaches but the diverse agriculture and cultural history of such a faraway place still part of the United States. Though I’ve been to the other states I’d like more time to explore the Seattle/Pacific Northwest, Oregon Coast and the Pacific Highway. You know… Grunge history.
2. Alaska...Revisit Alaska to hike, camp and white water raft. Have driven to Anchorage and Denali and did stay in tents but didn’t have time to hike. Better read up on the defensive strategies for bears … yikes!
3. Dude Ranch…Stay at a western cattle ranch in the mountains with cattle drives on horses. I loved to ride when I was younger. This would combine scenery, horseback riding and farming in one package. Jackson Hole maybe?
4. Snow skiing…. maybe too much of a designer sport. I’ve been several times years ago, and though it can be choked with people, costly, and all about fashion gear….. it’s breathtaking scenery and the demand for athleticism just calls me. The Rockies are calling… it really is a Rocky Mountain High.
5. Guitar….learn it.  Played piano and other band instruments but only learned a few chords   a guitar. . Couldn’t get past the hurt on the fingers!!!!  But it’s time. Rock n roll here I come. Acoustic first. 
6. Retire….de-stress.   Won’t say anymore.
7. Horse….I have two old horses that haven’t been ridden in years. The oldest who is near 30 is such a hard keeper I may struggle to make her through the winter. But when the time is right I once again will have a nice quarter horse to ride on this farm that I worked so hard to keep. End of horse story.
8. Declutter….that will come after 7 but I want that” experience” per definition of bucket list. I want to “experience” cleared closets, drawers and garages. I got stuck with my Grandmother’s, my mother’s, and my kids’ stuff. Now isn’t that a boring bucket list addition!!!!
9. National Parks….visit or revisit each one. I have been to most of them but Dale,my husband, has not. We love to travel mostly by back roads and read about the history of the area.
10. Backpacking mountain hiking….Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place to consider. . This is generally shared with my daughter Katie’s list. I know if she goes I’ll probably get to go along. I did this in my high school and college days and think I still can.  

That is my motto on my bucket list … I think I still can!!

Check out previous lists here.