Go On A Solo Adventure.
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.
Revisit An Old Friend.
This goal is a bit of a play on words, but I’m working on it!
Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {12 of 52 mailed so far}
Currently working on card #13 & #14.
Side Note: It’s mating season here in Maine and the turkey population has swelled massively over the past few weeks. At times we have 20-30 turkeys in the backyard grazing at a time.
Yesterday we had 5 Toms in our yard! Seriously, who needs television when you live in Maine?
Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA.
I made sticky toffee pudding {It was fantastic, I’ll share the recipe soon}.
And in other news, the HH’s side of the kitchen is now complete! Hooray! Now I just need to find 1 more thing for my side and the kitchen will be done.
Set Aside 200 Items For A Yard Sale {I’ve set aside 12 of 200 items so far}
Three more items {rolling pins} made their way to the yard sale box this past week. My pace has been pretty lackluster on this goal so I’ve decided that all of next week will be dedicated to “spring cleaning” so I can get this goal checked off my to-do list.
Earn $1,493.04 {Last Year’s Grocery Expenses} Selling Totally Random Things Online
I am convinced people will buy anything and so I am currently collecting used tea bags. And yes, I do realize this is what hoarders do. 🙂
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
- Set of 3 Brim Coffee Cans for $39.95
*Money earned selling random stuff so far $207.75
* 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
Still no idea where yet.
Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space
Still swimming though an ocean of wool. I’ve given myself until the end of the month though to get everything dyed and kitted up for the summer. I think I can do it.
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 another rug last night for my upcoming Etsy shop update in May.
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
The seedlings are underway! We’ve still got snow on the ground here in Mid-Coast Maine but it’s melting… So gardening season is just around the corner.
Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard
Making progress!
Make $500 Selling Plants, Flowers or Vegetables
I was driving past the Duck Lady’s place on trash day and her neighbor had this cute little Christmas tree out next to his garbage bags… So I turned the car around and scooped it up.
I plan on repainting the base and then adding some of my miniature ornaments to it and listing the whole kit and kaboodle closer to Christmas. 🙂
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 my 3 favorite cookie recipes with the “grams” needed. I also ordered the digital scale I’ve had my eye on.
26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband {4 down, 22 to go}
We spent date day this past week walking around downtown Camden checking out local shops and grabbing a bite to eat at the local pizza place too. We also stopped by Uncle Willy’s Candy Shop and loaded up on sweet treats for some Easter baskets.
- Date #1 Thomaston Cafe for lunch. It was lovely.
- Date #2 Rising Tide Co-Op
- Date #3 Oysterhead Pizza
- Date #4 Oysterhead Pizza
- Date #5 Schanz Family Maple
- Date #6 Camden, Maine for lunch and candy
How about YOU? How are you coming along with your goals for this year?
~Mavis
Christie says
The turkeys are so cool! We have other wildlife, deer, groundhogs, fox… but I have yet to see a wild turkey in Maryland.
Mel says
I see them often in Maryland! They’re around.
J in OH-IO says
You are so creative and resourceful with putting things to use and having a vision for what they can be! Good job on nabbing that small tree for future use. Hmmm…. Used tea bags… interested to see if someone will buy them and what will they use the for??? Curious minds want to know! I originally thought that the used tea bags were what you used to dye your wool and saw the Mint one thinking you used it so the wool would smell good and not like dye. HaHa! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your blog – it makes me smile. The turkeys in your yard have to be fun to watch and I can only imagine their antics and strutting around. The first time I saw a wild turkey close up was on Thanksgiving Day (of all days!) driving on the highway when it flew in front of my car. We joked we almost had our Thanksgiving turkey early and were very thankful the turkey flew on it’s way across the highway and didn’t crash into my car.
Mel says
We’ve finished turning our guest room into a play room. I’m now working on baby proofing and trying to figure out what to do about childcare after I go back to work since the daycare we lined up a year ago fell through. In terms of baby proofing, I set up two play enclosures, installed baby gates, covered most outlets, added locks to doors, and added locks to some cabinets. I’m waiting on more supplies to arrive to do the rest, but it feels like we might actually get ahead of things before our baby is crawling. In terms of childcare, we got on a bunch of daycare wait lists, but the odds don’t look good, so I’m now looking into nannies as well while generally freaking out.
Holley says
Is this the chosen artwork on your husband’s side of the kitchen? May I ask who it is????
Holley says
P.S. – Are you not adding to your Etsy shop this month?
Mavis Butterfield says
Early May is my next update for finished goodies.
Erin says
I’ve never seen anyone else spell their name this way! Our 13 year old daughter shares your name (spelling as well)
Holley says
WOW! I know, I never see my name spelled this way! The reason it is spelled HollEy is because 1) I was born two days before Christmas and 2) that is the way the brand Holley carburetor is spelled and my daddy raced cars when I was born. Then, when I met my husband, he also raced cars and I think he married me because he thought my name was cool! LOL Please tell your daughter I LOVE her name! 😉
Jennifer says
I can’t believe you were named after a carburetor brand… can’t wait to tell my husband (who is a car guy!) What a GREAT story! And I’ve always loved the name Holly, no matter how it’s spelled. 🙂
Holley says
Thank you, Jennifer!
Lindsey says
That coffee maker! I would go nuts trying to use it just to get a simple cup of coffee. I would end up driving to McDonalds or someplace for a cup instead.
tia in boise says
I am behind on almost all of my goals. Whenever I have “free” time, all I want to do is vegetate. It’s really making me see how exhausting (mentally) my job is. I thought I could play catch-up during Spring Break, but all I could do is recover!
What I plan to focus on this week is sleep. My goal is getting to bed by 11:00. I’ve found that if I aim for 11, I get started then and am going to bed by 12:00. So this week my plan is to shoot for 10, and be in bed by 11…..
I will set out my workout gear at night, so when I get home from work, it’s staring at me, and I have no choice but to get out for a run/walk.
I need to focus on carving out at least half an hour in the evening to work on non-work related items.
So that’s my plan!
I’m wondering how aggressive wild turkeys are.
Mavis Butterfield says
Tia if you are going to bed at midnight, what time do you get up in the morning? As far as the turkeys, we haven’t had any problems with them.
tia in boise says
I like to get up at 6:15 to get my morning stretches in and get ready and grab my bazillion things and leave the house by 7:00. (I do bathing and hair washing at night, so that cuts down on morning routine.) Those nights that I go to bed at midnight make it harder to get up by 6:15, obviously.
Janene Graham says
Hello! Great work on selling those items! I am still trying to sell items for the last year on FB and not a lot of luck!
I have a question- I made your Cranberry Cinnamon Pear Sauce in late January and froze three 1 cup servings. – how long do they last in the fridge? Thank you!
CHRISTY ROSE says
I can see why you set those patterned rolling pins aside to sell, they look miserable to clean!
SueD says
Will you be sharing which scale you decided on? I just bought a new one, the KD8000, as I’m starting to get into percentage baking, and also needed a bit more accurate scale than I have been using.
Mavis Butterfield says
I ordered the KD-7000. 🙂
Janice says
Have you had problems with the turkeys in your garden? If so, how do you keep them out?
Mavis Butterfield says
Nope {knock on wood}.
Jules says
Used tea bags?? If there is a demand for those I might be able to make some side money! We go through tea like there’s no tomorrow
Mavis Butterfield says
We will find out. 🙂
Sheryl Taylor says
Omg-I totally want your rolling pins-maybe you need to post those on your Etsy shop-or just skip the garage sale and sell them to me-won’t get you closer to your 200 items but will help you clear put extra stuff all the same…
Lindi Turnipseed says
I too love the rolling pins. Post them in your Etsy shop!
Mrs M says
I watched part of an episode on Cooks Country last week where they testes hefty cutting boards. I was almost convinced to buy one. We’ve used skinny, plastic ones (that go in the dishwasher) for years.
How difficult is it to sanitize and care for that beautiful cutting board?
Mavis Butterfield says
What a coincidence! My husband watched a video from America’s Test Kitchen and they recommended a cutting board from Teakhaus and that is the one he has. He loves it and it is easy to maintain.
Mrs. M says
Thanks!
Dana Robinson says
You should sale your rolling pins in your etsy store .. I would buy them .. just a thought
Mavis Butterfield says
I would, but they would cost too much to ship.