17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 51 of 52

17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 51 of 52

Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA. 

The HH made a haddock pie the other day and it was weirdly satisfying. We are still trying to figure out the purpose of the hardboiled eggs in the recipe. 😉  I’ll post the recipe soon.

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

• Pear Frangipane Tart
• Mince Meat Pies
• Cauliflower, Broccoli and Squash Casserole
• English Muffins
• Currant Scones
• Sticky Toffee Pudding 
• Beef In Horseradish Cream
• Christmas Stollen {not exactly British, but I’m counting it!}
• Haddock Pie

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

Instead of hunting for treasures along the shore, this past week we pulled up the floating dock. And in record time with no freaking out. Okay, so maybe the HH freaked out at the end a little. But hey, it’s up! 

Also the winch he bought a few years ago for specifically pulling up the dock {insteading of paying for someone to pull it up/set it in the water for us}… Well it has finally paid for itself!

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. 

Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space

The JUKI serger I ordered last week should arrive in a few days and I’m pretty excited about that. I have a HUGE stack of patterns ready to serge and I’m excited to get started.

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 ORDERED!
• New work table {I bought 3!}
• A sitting area with a spot to hook

Hook 100 Rugs {97 of 100 done so far}

I still need to get 3 more rugs hooked before the end of the year. With only 7 days left in the year, they are all going to be mini rugs, that’s for sure! I really like hooking larger pieces, but I do like hooking the smaller ones too because I can bring them along while we are out running errands.

Create 15 New Rug Hooking Patterns DONE! {16 of 15 completed so far}

I am waiting until after Christmas to share the 3 new patterns I’ve just completed. In the meantime, I’ve been working on the paint by numbers kit I started last week, Portrait of Joseph Roulin by Vincent Van Gogh. 

I am OBSESSED with this thing!!! I think I’m going to frame it and hang it on the wall by my desk when I’m done. 

The HH thinks I’ve lost my mind. Says it’s one step above putting puzzles together. BOOOOO. I told him to go back to researching things he’ll never buy and leave me alone. 

Husbands. They just have to add their two cents.

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

• Three Trees
• Pink Potted Tulip
• 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

The garden has been put to bed for the winter. No more vegetables. 🙁

Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard

The canned good section at Camp Butterfield is looking pretty sparse these days. The good news is, at least I know I’ll have plenty of room for all my homecanned goodness next summer. 

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

Currently dreaming of peonies. 

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

Update Every Single Recipe On The Blog To A Printable Format 

Only 576 more recipes to go! 

Goals already accomplished 2023:

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

The HH and I sat down and finished all our holiday cards and as a result… This goal is now complete! Yee-Haw! 

26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband DONE

No date day this past week but had anyone purchased a rug from rugable before? This one popped up in my feed the other day and I really like it.

• 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
• Date #25 Portland Art Museum
• Date #26 Solo Pane e Pasticceria
• Date #27 Alan Claude Gallery in Gardiner, Maine

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. 

Go On a Staycation/Craftcation With The Girl DONE

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.

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!

Buy 12 Handmade Items {From 12 Different Artists} DONE

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
• {3} Rug hooking patterns from 
• {?} Stitchery patterns from Lori Brechlin
• {3} Cards from ColorBoxLetterPress

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

~Mavis