17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 34 of 52

17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 33 of 52

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

Yesterday I worked on getting the rest of the pieces of driftwood cut for the bottom layer of my driftwood wreath. It took awhile, but I did it. 

Before I can start gluing the pieces on though, I need to buy some wood glue {hopefully tomorrow!}.

No movement on T-Rex.

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

It’s between Québec City during Christmas time or Cape Cod in the fall. It’s tough one. We might do both, we’ll see. 

Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {24 of 52 sent so far}

My neighbor was dividing up some of his plants and brought me a purple coneflower bush. I LOVE purple coneflowers! I think I’ll plant it out front alongside the Shasta daisies. 

Note to self: Write a thank you card.

Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA. 

I made Mary Berry’s beef in horshradish cream this past week and it was fantastic! I am counting this as a British recipe because it came from her book, she has an AGA and she’s British! 🙂 

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

• English Muffins
• Currant Scones
• Sticky Toffee Pudding 
• Beef In Horseradish Cream

Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space

We finally got everything moved out of the craft room, next up… A fresh coat of paint! It’s a big space. Maybe too big and I’m now considering moving the craft room to the basement as the space is a little smaller which translates to a more organized space and less mess. We’ll see.

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 {59 of 100 done so far}

I finished another {small} rug this past week. Now I’ve just got to turn it into a pillow. 

I hooked Doreen’s Olde Sturbridge Pumpkin for my stash of kits and I just love how he turned out. I have a small collection of rugs and other bits I need to get listed on Etsy, so hopefully I can get that done in the next few days. 

I can’t believe we are less than a month away from fall! Crazy!

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

Did you know you can grow onions in wet, mossy conditions? Yes, yes you can. This year’s big garden is a total dud. And I’m still mad about it.  Grrrrr. 

Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard

We are s l o w l y emptying the canning cupboard this year. I think we’ll crack open a quart jar of the pressure canned split pea and ham soup this week. 

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. The only thing I have to sell is mint, and we’ll she has plenty of that. 🙁 Maybe I should dehydrate it and use it for tea this winter? 

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

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 {18 down, 9 to go}

No date day this past week. We’ve mostly been working in the yard. 

• 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