Go On A Solo Adventure. Done
A solo adventure to Fair Isle. I don’t think I could have picked a more unique, isolated 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. My favorite thing we made was the sticky toffee pudding.
Revisit An Old Friend.
I’m working on it! I’m nearly there.
Card by WillowcreastPress on Etsy
Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {15 of 52 mailed so far}
Currently working on card #16
Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA.
So far this year I have made 2 truly British recipes in the AGA. I think I might tackle Cornish pasties next. Or Chelsea buns. I can’t decide.
Set Aside 200 Items For A Yard Sale
I feel like I’m doing really well on this goal. So far I have already set aside 104 items and I suspect that once I get the craft room fully cleaned out I’ll easily reach my goal of 200 cast offs for the yard sale.
Earn $1,493.04 {Last Year’s Grocery Expenses} Selling Totally Random Things Online
Current obsession: Pine cones. I spotted some giant ones over by the side of the property, I think I’ll collect those today.
I haven’t had the extra time to devote to getting all my recent finds listed, but I’m hoping to soon.
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
Québec City is still at the top of our list. 🙂 Although lately, the views here are pretty good too. 😉
Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space
I am on my last batch of wool to dye and then all I need to do is fold, stack and bundle it up. Then I just have a few more patterns to draw out and then I’ll be done with stocking my Etsy shop for the summer.
It’s supposed to rain tomorrow so I am planning on getting all the craft bits finished today and tomorrow, then do a big craft room clean out, get all the odds and ends listed on Etsy and then I’ll be done in there and ready to move on to the next step.
I also found a work table I like at The Home Depot.
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’m still chugging along on pieces for my next Etsy shop update the first Saturday in May. I should have between 12-15 pieces {rugs and pillows} to list.
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
So apparently we’re adding a small orchard to the garden. 🙂
I ordered 4 Rhode Island Greening trees {they should be here soon} and we also picked up a Fuji apple tree and a Liberty apple tree at our local nursery. The HH said they wouldn’t fit in the car {he always says that!} but guess what, they did! 🙂
Once they’re planted, we’ll then have 6 apple trees, 2 plum and 2 pear trees. It might be nice to have some cherry trees too {for pies} but I don’t know if I want to compete with the birds for those. We’ll see.
Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard
It may not look like it, but the canning cupboard is really starting to look a little thinned out.
The pasta sauce is nearly gone {just 2 jars left} and while I think we’ll probably have enough salsa to last us until August {when we should be swimming on tomatoes again} I do think I’ll meet my goal.
Make $500 Selling Plants, Flowers or Vegetables {I’ve made $13 so far.}
I dropped off some more flowers at The Duck Lady’s place the other day and am hoping to drop off some herb starts once they get a little bigger and the weather warms up just a little.
So far I’ve sold:
{3} 6- packs of pea starts @$2 each = $6.00
{2} Daffodil bouquets @$3 & $4 each = $7.00
Buy 12 Handmade Items {From 12 Different Artists} 3 down, 9 to go
I was driving home yesterday and there were a bunch of little kids out in front of a house with big handmade signs for lemonade and handmade crafts. Seriously, how can you not stop and support the arts? 🙂
So far this year I have bought:
- {3} Fair Isle Hats Rachel of Barkland Croft
- 2 Quilts from ZoëDawn Shop
- 1 Handmade braclet from a little girl’s lemonade/craft stand
Update Every Single Recipe On The Blog To A Printable Format
I didn’t update a single recipe this past week. I really need to get my act together.
26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband {8 down, 18 to go}
Taxidermy and pastries. Now there’s an interesting combination, don’t you think?
- 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
- Date # 7 The Quiet Girl movie
- Date #8 Rockport Farmer’s Market
- Date #9 LL Bean & Solo Pane e Pasticceria
How about YOU? How are you coming along with your goals for this year?
~Mavis
Kim says
The adjustable height table is brilliant.
Can’t wait to see this “room” become a “studio.”
Gardening in Sachse, TX is going well. We are actually having a spring that lasts longer than 20 minutes. Onions, potatoes, sugar snaps, bell peppers, tomatoes are in the ground thus far.
Mel says
I’ve been chipping away at baby proofing. We have two sets of stairs, doors that don’t latch, and a weird open concept layout, so there is a lot to do. I have a few more outlets to cover, one more door to latch, one random kitchen drawer that no lock seems to fit, some breakable stuff to pack up, and a couple cords to deal with. Other than that, I just need my husband to anchor the furniture and install the last 3 gates, and our little guy should be able to move safely through the whole house.
In less productive news, we finally got in to see an allergist after a 2 month wait. He insisted our baby did not have food allergies and openly mocked me for thinking so. Testing of course revealed he does in fact have the 3 allergies we thought he did, and 3 additional allergies have emerged since we tested. We got a referral from our ped to a network of specialists, but it’s a 4 month wait. We called other allergy centers across the state, but the wait times are 8 months. So, figuring out medical care for our baby (while also trying to find a nanny so I can return to work) is probably going to preclude me from doing any other projects for a while.
Christy says
Call the specialists office regularly and see if there have been any cancellations and/or, if you haven’t, ask them to put you on a wait list for a cancellation. My sister has done this and with flexibility, has been able to get some appointments quicker than originally thought.
Mel says
Yes, we’re doing that. But the cancellation lists are also a mile long.
Cindy R says
Mother always has the intuition when something is not right. Same thing happened when my son was young. Nobody believed me that he had allergies. When I got him into the specialist for testing his back looked like a patchwork of red hives from everything he was allergic to. Good luck getting in to see the allergy specialist as soon as possible!
Mel says
Thanks! What’s odd to me is two doctors had already confirmed allergies, including the ER doctor who saw him after he had to be rushed to the hospital.
Paula says
Mel,
Always go with your gut feeling. Mom’s usually know best. My children are grown, but my instinct has come in handy numerous times. Once my son fell off the swing set. He got up and started playing again. But , during the night he whimpered in his sleep. I thought he broke his foot. I took him to the pediatrician. The doctor said ,” No one walks on a broken foot.” He made me feel about 2 inches tall. But, he did send us for an x ray. I just got home and got an urgent call from the doctor. I need to come straight back, his foot was broken.
Take the strength from the millions of moms who knows what’s best for their child.
Mel says
The doctor had yet to admit he was wrong. I scheduled a follow up solely to request an apology.
Jennifer says
Good for you!!!
Heather says
Sorry you are going through a baby with allergies. My daughter is having similar issues with our granddaughter. They are not being referred to a specialist even though I think she needs one.
Mel says
I think our pediatrician would have given us a referral anyway because she sort of agreed that the first allergist we saw was sort of the medical equivalent of the village idiot (also the only allergist in our county), but I also made it clear we weren’t leaving without one. I guess it might not hurt for your daughter to ask? I’m sorry she’s in the same boat.
Julie says
Mel, If you haven’t heard of NAET, please research it! It is acupuncture allergy elimination treatments. 100 percent safe, even on babies and no drugs or side effects.
Mel says
Thanks. I don’t have time just yet to do a thorough search, but from what I can tell it might have been debunked? I’ll ask tomorrow (we’re driving 2 hours to see another allergist just to get some stopgap advice from a competent doctor before we can get to a specialist).
Brianna says
Allergies are terrible. I have them and 2 of 3 of my kids do. My 13 yo has developed aquagenic urticaria and he will get the final testing and diagnosis the beginning of July. We have traveled to many places to check how he reacts in showers and he still reacts. It has been heartbreaking. He will test for many common chemicals found in water and treated water and water itself. He is seeing and dermatology allergist and immunologist. This allergy has been going on about 15mos. And it has been a lot of testing and trial and error and scary at times. I am praying it is to a chemical found in water and not water itself. We have had to film and photograph his skin reaction to show to many different doctors because they did not believe us at first and it was minimized to soap, shampoo, temperature, teenage skin, etc. Doctors do not always get to see the worst of it either and with photos and video they can see how terrible it becomes. Keep advocating for your child until you get an accurate diagnosis and a good allergy treatment plan. Sometimes it takes a lot of persistence and a long haul and just doctor hopping until you are taken seriously and can get a diagnosis. It is hard as a parent to see your child suffer from allergies and the scary and unpredictable allergic reactions and feel helpless and guilty at times.
BarbaraW says
Liberty apples make the BEST applesauce!
Erin says
My husband uses that table as his sit/stand desk. It’s really well made & customizable. It will make a great workstation for crafting!
Cindy Brick says
Nooooo, not the blue canning jars — my cousin and I collect those!
(I’m a sucker for uranium/vaseline glass, too.)
Those are older jars, which should be worth more to antique-lovers. You knew that, right?
We just got back from a two-week cruise. Then I ‘happened’ to catch the flu from some dear soul on the plane, coming home. And we’re moving back to the fifth-wheel, after living in our friends’ house all winter. I have no brain, unless you count mush. But somewhere in there is a list of goals for the year…
Heather says
Thanks for posting about the adjustable height table. I had thought of Home Depot. Someone recently posted one at IKEA which is about twice the price. Thinking this would be good in my sewing/craft room.
Joanna says
On the list for 2023
Write a children’s book.. Always wanted to do that
Find a husband
Complete my masters … At least continue to take classes
Work on my container garden!
Find a way to gently remove bunnies away from what’s left of my tulips… Which are non existent as we speak. 🙂
Lynda Silver says
I keep the bunnies away from my tulips by covering them with different kinds of cages, as soon as they start coming up. I use old freezer baskets, bird cages, etc. After the tulips come into bud, the leaves are no longer tender, and the bunnies lose interest, so then I can remove the cages. My garden looks strange for awhile, but it works. Small fruit trees need some chicken wire around the trunks in winter, or they will eat the bark, and kill the tree. I also plant lots of small dutch white clover in the lawn. It makes the lawn nice and green, adds nitrogen, the flowers are good for the bees, and the bunnies will eat that instead of things in the garden. I had chicken wire cages built that I put over my lettuce beds. It is not hard to defeat them once you have a system. I live in southern Ontario, Canada.
Susan says
Hope you attain all the goals on your 2023 list! 🙂
Ellen C says
Highly recommend the work table from Home Depot. The drawers are just a tad shallow but that keeps me from overstuffing them.
Terry McA. says
I’ve fiddled around with a new blanket this week, and I think I might have solved my dilemma. All of the 12 pt star patterns you find for crocheting come with a solid center. I didn’t like this, so I crocheted, and undid, several beginning rings until I found one I absolutely think works well. I’ll be entering this afghan into the fair in August when it’s done!
Stacey says
Hi Mavis, you warmed my heart buying the necklace from the kids’ stand. I’m sure it encouraged the little artist to keep perfecting their craft.
Mavis Butterfield says
I hope so. I love sseing those pop up stands. I used to be that kid. 🙂
Deed says
The work table will serve you well. It is like the over-bed rolling table used by hospitaĺ patients (and nurses) in patient rooms. I have an old onethe garage. It’s great for projects!
Joanna says
Thank you!!! 🙂