Go On A Solo Adventure. Done
A solo adventure to Fair Isle. I don’t think I could have picked a more unique and cozy spot to spend a few weeks. I’m already dreaming of going back.
Take An Adult Education Class Done
The Girl and I took a 3 day British Baking Classics course at King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont and had a good time. Winter in New England can be kind of long… So this class came at just the right time of year. 🙂
Revisit An Old Friend.
This goal is a bit of a play on words, but I’m working on it!
Set of 6 Easter Cards by CelebrateLilThings
Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {11 of 52 mailed so far}
So far this year I’ve mailed off 11 cards. And as an extra bonus, one of the people I mailed a card to last month is now coming for a visit this summer, and I’m pretty excited about that!
Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA.
Now that I know how to make a hot water crust, I’m looking forward to making some steak and chicken pies in the AGA. Kiln Guy and The Chef are coming for lunch next week… So they can be my taste testers.
Set Aside 200 Items For A Yard Sale {I’ve set aside 8 of 200 items so far}
I didn’t set aside anything for the yard sale this past week. We had a lot going on and well, it just wasn’t a priority. It will be soon though if I plan on hitting my goal of 200 items by the end of April.
Earn $1,493.04 {Last Year’s Grocery Expenses} Selling Totally Random Things Online
So far I’ve sold $167.80 worth of totally random stuff.
Next up will be the crushed egg shells I’ve been collecting for a while now. It turns out crushed eggs shells fetch a pretty penny and are a hot item online as people like to buy them to add extra calcium to their chickens diet.
Why they aren’t doing this themselves with their own eggs is a bit of a mystery to me though.
Sold so far:
- 1 Box of “Native Organically Harvested Maine Driftwood” for $89.95
- 1 Box of 12 Heart Shaped Rocks for 24.95
- 1 box of 6 Heart Shaped Rocks for $22.95
- 1 box of 2 Folgers Coffee Cans for $29.95
*Money earned selling random stuff so far $167.80
* At the end of the year I will deduct all the shipping/supply/selling fees from the grand total.
Go On a Staycation/Craftcation With The Girl
While we did use free hotel points for our entire stay in Vermont, there was no room service nor did we sit in our room all day and work on craft projects so this is still a goal I need to accomplish. 🙂
Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space
It’s been over two weeks now and I am still in love with the light fixture for the studio that I spotted in a magazine. If I’m going to get it though, I need to sell a big piece {rug} to pay for it. It will happen… Eventually.
Also, while I was trying to get all my patterns drawn, kits packaged and wool dyed by April 1st so I could start working on the craft room, I’ve decided to hold off until May 1st.
This way I know for sure I’ll be able to get all the wool stuff taken care of and be able to spend this summer totally immersed in the garden, canning and fixing up my new studio space. Getting 6 months of backstock though so I can just “pull” orders all summer/fall …that’s the hard part.
Changes I plan on making to the space:
- Rip out the old gross carpet and replace it with pine floors
- Fresh paint
- A proper light fixture
- New serger
- New work table
- A sitting area with a spot to hook
Hook 100 Rugs {38 of 100 done so far}
I finished 2 new rugs last week. 🙂 One was a special order that I need to turn into a pillow and the other one will be included in my May 6th update of finished pieces.
Create 15 New Rug Hooking Patterns 10 of 15 completed so far}
New patterns I’ve added to my Etsy shop in 2023:
- Fair Isle Sheep
- Olde Hares
- Antique Hearts and Flowers
- Fat Cat with Easter Eggs
- Fat Cat with Shamrocks
- Fat Cat with Hearts
- Horse and Hearts
- Valentine Kitties
- Little Chicken
- Hit and Miss Flower Basket
Grow 1,000 Pounds of Vegetables In The Commune Sized Garden
We’re still living in a frozen tundra and I haven’t completely sorted my seeds by planting date yet. I suppose I better hop to it.
Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard
There was no movement in the canned goods department last week because I was out of town but I’m working on a plan for next week.
Make $500 Selling Plants, Flowers or Vegetables
I am actively collecting appropriate sized glass containers {not Weck jars!} for this summer’s flower sales. Other than that, there isn’t much to report for this goal yet.
Buy 12 Handmade Items {From 12 Different Artists} 2 down, 10 to go
So far this year I have bought from Rachel of Barkland Croft and had my friend Zoë turn all my fabric squares into 2 quilts for me. I love supporting crafty people who love what they do!
Update Every Single Recipe On The Blog To A Printable Format
This past week I updated a chocolate cake recipe to a printable format;
26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband {3 down, 23 to go}
- Date #1 Thomaston Cafe for lunch. It was lovely.
- Date #2 Rising Tide Co-Op
- Date #3 Oysterhead Pizza
How about YOU? How are you coming along with your goals for this year?
Have a great day everyone,
~Mavis
Ranae says
That is awesome to have points for free hotel stay. What credit card do you use to get those points?
Margo says
This past week I was looking for something on Pinterest and a craft popped up utilizing the type of plastic clips you find on breads. I clicked on it and it showed me how I could make wall art and led me to Etsy. And you too can buy (or in your case sell) plastic bag clips for $100 a box! Not sure how many you get, but can you imagine? I think I had that stunned emoji look for a minute, but glad to know there’s something to be done with them other than reusing them to close bags and there’s actually a market for them!
Mel says
My goal was to turn our guest room into a play room. Last week we moved the bed out and set up a large play enclosure, swing, and rocker in its place. I started putting up wall decals since I won’t be able to paint, and today I assembled toy storage furniture. We still have some more furniture to drag out and more decals to put up, but it’s close.
Nancy H says
In answer to the egg shell question I was always told by my father not to feed egg shells to our chickens as it would make egg eaters out of them. We always pulverized the shells and added them to the compost and garden when I was growing up. We always gave the chickens crushed oyster shells. I am wondering if the people who are wanting the egg shells have found that shells from other chicken don’t have the same scent so doesn’t lead to chickens cracking their own eggs.
Tamara says
I am not sure but I think as long as the egg shells are crushed and not just broken like those in the photo (or whole, bad eggs) the chickens don’t make the association. I put tiny crushed shells in the bird feeder for the bluebirds.
tia in boise says
My goals for the year:
Some I’m doing great on.
Many I’m doing just okay on.
A few items I’m just waiting for Spring Break to deal with.
A few I’ve done nothing with. Oops!
Making sure I bring my water bottle to work tomorrow for the week.
Going to bed before 11:00 tonight–and every night this week!
Going to eat spinach salad many times this week to make sure my iron is high enough to donate blood the following week.
KC says
A random note to have some vitamin C with your spinach salad (red peppers, citrus, tomatoes) to help the non-heme iron absorb, and move your calcium intake away from your iron intake (calcium and iron inhibit each others’ absorption). (in theory, the vitamin c doesn’t have to be *right* next to the plant-based iron – see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36231177/ – but more studies have shown good results from pairing vitamin C with non-heme iron sources)
(also, fortified breakfast cereals that are high in iron are amazing as an iron supplement if you snack on them without milk but with some vitamin C – orange juice, fruit, gummy vitamins, whatever.)
Thank you for doing blood donation!!!
J in OH-IO says
Thank you for donating blood! Way to go!
Poppy says
I don’t know, it’s a beautiful fixture, but it looks like something I’d see featured on the facebook group Things Designed by People Who Don’t Have to Clean Them.
Mavis Butterfield says
Funny! 🙂
Joanna says
Working toward buying my first house! Yikes what a goal… Baby steps!
Lori says
Egg shells are also good to use in your garden. They add calcium to the soil which a lot of plants need and like, plus the egg shells have rough jagged edges so if they are sprinkled around the base of plants it keeps slugs and other creatures off your plants.
Wendy C says
One of my goals is to workout at least 3 days a week. My family bought me an elliptical machine for under my desk at work so I’m using that every day. And I hit the weights at the gym one day last week. Baby steps. 🙂
Terry says
My goals for 2023 are numerous!
Lose weight (down 14lbs so far, 150 lbs to go!)
Finish school! I should graduate this year with a double BA Special Ed and Elementary Education.
Plant a garden this year. (I have already purchased the raised beds and trellises.)
Can, dehydrate, or freeze my loot from my garden!
Visit the farmers market every week this summer.
Take a trip to anywhere… for a weekend.
Go fishing this spring for catfish to smoke and sell.
Finish at least 3 blankets before August (I haven’t started yet)
Make at least 100 bars of soap to sell before August! – Must do before big fair
Find some “me” time at least once a week, church not included.
There we go, my list for the year.
Charlotte Ruth says
Just found your blog and am so inspired! I have been meaning to restart my Etsy store for ages, but my big goals this year are around getting our new house comfortable and my new garden set up (hoping to keep chickens for the first time and get bees again as well!)