17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 32 of 52

17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 27 of 52

Earn $1,493.04 {Last Year’s Grocery Expenses} Selling Totally Random Things Online

I can’t believe the T-Rex hasn’t sold yet!! I mean really, how often does this kind of item come up for sale?

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
• 1 Martinson Coffee Can for $19.95
• 26 Dried Pumpkin Stems for $39.95

*Money earned selling random stuff so far $267.65

* 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

Now it’s between Québec City during Christmas time or Cape Cod in the fall. It’s s tough one. If we go to Cape Cod though, I already know I’d want to stay at the Chatham Bars Inn again. 

Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {22 of 52 sent so far}

Like Mel said, I think I’ll be able to knock this goal off my list with Christmas cards {but I’m hoping I can do it sooner}. 

Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA. 

No new recipes this week but with things starting to slow down outdoors, and the fact that normally this time a year I’d be canning like mad, I think it might be time to crack open Mary Berry’s AGA cookbook again and find some recipes to try. 

British recipes I’ve made in the AGA so far:

• English Muffins
• Currant Scones
• Sticky Toffee Pudding 

Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space

I should be finished with my latest round of new patterns and kits in a few more weeks and then after that, I’ll put a new coat of paint on the walls. After that… Flooring! Yee-Haw. 

Changes I plan on making to the space:

• Rip out the old gross carpet and replace it with pine floors {the HH wants carpet}
• Fresh paint
• A proper light fixture
• New serger
• New work table {I bought 3!}
• A sitting area with a spot to hook

Hook 100 Rugs {57 of 100 done so far}

I am currently in love with blue turkeys. And I have no idea why. 

Create 15 New Rug Hooking Patterns 12 of 15 completed so far}

My latest rug hooking pattern is called Betty’s Big Chickens with American Flag. This is the 12th new pattern I’ve introduced for this year. Only 3 more to go and I’ll be able to check this goal off my list. 

New patterns I’ve added to my Etsy shop in 2023:

• Betty’s Big Chickens with American Flag
• 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
• Mable’s Kittens

Revisit An Old Friend.

I’m working on it! I’m nearly there. I’m just waiting for 1 more thing to arrive. 

Grow 1,000 Pounds of Vegetables In The Religious Family Sized Garden

So far we have harvested exactly 1 tomato from the religious family sized garden this year. AWE-SOME, right? 

After expanding the garden last fall to the enormous size it is now, the HH is threatening to throw down a bunch of grass seed and turn it back into a field. 

And you know, I totally don’t care at this point. 😉 All that work! I still don’t believe it. It’s so disappointing. 

But, on the bright side… The kitchen garden is doing well. The beet seeds I planted a week or so ago are up, so there’s that. 

At least I know there will be some homegrown beets this fall. Unless of course we get an early frost. Which will probably happen because THIS YEAR SUCKS.

But hey, my first summer squash is nearly ready to be picked. Unless the deer get to it first. 

Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard

With the garden not producing much this summer, all efforts to eat down the canning cupboard are on hold. Luckily we still have a bunch of homemade salsa, ketchup and jam in the cupboard. 

But still, this time of year we should be filling UP the cupboard, not emptying it.

Make $500 Selling Plants, Flowers or Vegetables {I’ve made $92 so far.}

I have pretty much given up on selling anything at The Duck Lady’s place this summer. I was supposed to be in charge of growing pumpkins for the stand and well, we all know how that’s going. 

Who knows, maybe this means next summer we’ll get a bumper crop and I’ll make twice that much, right? 

I’m over it. Okay, so not really. Maybe I should start a peony farm instead. Everybody loves peonies, right?

So far I’ve sold:

{2} rosemary plants @$3.00 each = $6.00
{8} 6-packs of corn @ $3 each = $24.00
{4} 6-packs of basil @ $3 each = $12
{9} 6- packs of pea starts @$2 each {then I upped the price to $3} = $24.00
{4} Daffodil bouquets @$3 & $4 each = $14.00
{4} Chives @$2 each = $8.00
{1} Basil @$2 each = $2.00
{1} Mint @$2.00 each = $2.00

Buy 12 Handmade Items {From 12 Different Artists} 8 down, 4 to go

I purchased 2 wooden wreath forms from Etsy seller DavesWoodStudio. I have big plans to turn them into driftwood wreaths. Just as soon as I finish up drawing my patterns and putting together the rug hooking kits I’ll get started. 

So far this year I have bought:

• {2} Wooden wreath forms from DavesWoodStudio
• {3} Linen Aprons from BedCult
• {2} Charcuterie boards from FarmHillWoodShop
• {3} Fair Isle Hats Rachel of Barkland Croft
• 2 Quilts from ZoëDawn Shop 
• 3 Bread Bowls from ZoëDawn Shop 
• 1 Handmade braclet from a little girl’s lemonade/craft stand
• {2} Watercolor Palettes 
• {1} Fair Isle scarf from Mati Ventrillon

Update Every Single Recipe On The Blog To A Printable Format 

I didn’t update any recipes this past week. 🙁

26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband {17 down, 9 to go}

Yesterday we met up with Kiln Guy and The Chef and went to see Cat Video Fest 2023. It was really, really silly and the whole time we were there I was thinking… I can’t believe I’m sitting in a movie theater watching cat videos. 

What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon. It was fun! 🙂 And it supports the local animal shelters too.

• 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
• Date #10 Jameson Point Lobster
• Date #11 Marshall Point Light, Hedegrow Market
• Date #12 Bet’s Fish Fry
• Date #13 Moody’s Diner
• Date #14 Beth’s Farm Market
• Date #15 The Beach
• Date #16 The Craft Store
• Date #17 Cat Video Fest

Goals already accomplished 2023:

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. 

Set Aside 200 Items For A Yard Sale DONE!

The yard sale was a great success! The Duck Lady and I were both able to get rid of a lot of items we didn’t want and as an added bonus, I only had 1 box of stuff to drop off at the thrift store. Yee-Haw!

How about YOU? How are you coming along with your goals for this year? 

~Mavis