17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 45 of 52

17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 45 of 52

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

I really thought the driftwood and egg shells and other things I’ve listed would have sold by now. Maybe I don’t have enough listings in these categories? Or maybe people aren’t looking for seashells and driftwood this time of year? Who knows.

No movement on the 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

We went on a mini craftcation and had a great time! We are still hoping to head to Quebec City for the Christmas Market but so far our schedules don’t line up… So we’ll see.

Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {29 of 52 sent so far}

I didn’t mail any cards this past week. 

Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA. 

My favorite time of year… Well, in the kitchen anyway, it has arrived and this week I’ll be doing a bunch of baking. Mince meat pies are on the menu. Have you ever made those before? This will be my first time. I’ll let you know how it goes.

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

• Pear Frangipane Tart
• Cauliflower, Broccoli and Squash Casserole
• English Muffins
• Currant Scones
• Sticky Toffee Pudding 
• Beef In Horseradish Cream

Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space

I’m back to researching Juki sergers. I just need to make a trip to Portland to test one out. 

Changes I plan on making to the space:

• Rip out the old gross carpet and replace it 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 {77 of 100 done so far}

I was able to get another 2 more rugs done for my next Etsy update {hopefully this week}.  Now I just have to turn them all into pillows. I have one more rugs I’m trying to finish first though… And then I’ll start working on stitching and stuffing pillows. 

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

I have drawn out the last 3 patterns I needed to finish this goal, but I still have to hook them up. Then I’ll need to get them made into patterns/kits and ready to offer on Etsy. So I likely won’t be able to mark this goal off my list until sometime in December.

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. FAIL

Maybe next year? — I’ll tell you about it towards the end of the year. 😉

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

We got a wee bit of snow the other day… And it was super exciting. Lucy loved it. It didn’t stick around long though and didn’t really bother any of the vegetables we still have planted in the front garden.

A big snow storm. That’s what I want. Then you really know winter has arrived!

Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard

More progress on eating down the pantry… I cracked open 2 jars of Split pea soup and a few jars of salsa.  We’re getting there! The new plan is to have this cupboard empty by next year’s canning season.

Make $500 Selling Plants, Flowers or Vegetables {I made $95} FAIL

Indoor herbs… Are you growing any in your kitchen this winter? It’s so nice to have a little pop of green when it’s super cold outside.

This year I sold:

{3} rosemary plants @$3.00 each = $9.00
{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} 9 down, 3 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
• {4} Notecards from Etsy seller ColorBoxLetterpress

Update Every Single Recipe On The Blog To A Printable Format 

I updated the upsidedown gingerbread pear cake and made it a printable! Yee haw. Only 580 more recipes to go.

26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband {24 down, 2 to go}

No dates with the HH this past week but we did go to the library. {The library doesn’t count as a date because we stop by there pretty often.} We found a new book called Maine on Glass and it’s pretty awesome. 

If you live in Maine or are looking for a gift for someonw who lies in Maine, this is a great book filled with all sorts of photographs from the 1900’s. 

• 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
• Date #18 Kayaking
• Date #19 Lunch!
• Date #20 Donut date at The Port Clyde General Store
• Date #21 Apple Picking at Bailey’s Orchard
• Date #22 Waldoboro Historical Society Talk
• Date #23 Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  Date #24 Kennebunkport, Maine

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. 

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