Go On A Solo Adventure.
A solo adventure to Fair Isle. I don’t think I could have picked a more unique and cozy spot to spend a few weeks. Good news! My box of supplies has finally left the island. Now we’ll just have to see how long it takes to get to Maine. 🙂
Take An Adult Education Class.
The Girl and I have signed up for a cooking class! My lips are sealed for now though as to where and when it will take place.
Revisit An Old Friend.
This goal is a bit of a play on words, but I’m secretly working on it and I should be able to tell you about it in early April.
Birthday Hedgehog by Astrid ShecklesArt
Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {10 of 52 mailed so far}
I found the cutest little hedgehog card on Etsy! Now I just need to figure out who to send it to.
Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA.
I made my first recipe from the Mary Berry cookbook that came with the stove and it turned out fantastic. I’ll share the recipe soon.
Set Aside 200 Items For A Yard Sale {I’ve set aside 4 of 200 items so far}
This week I set aside a French press, an old adapter and a cabinet pull for the yard sale box. I better get moving if I’m going to have enough stuff put together by April.
Earn $1,493.04 {Last Year’s Grocery Expenses} Selling Totally Random Things Online
Do you think anyone would be interested in a box of woodland finds {moss, bark, pine cones}? I think I’ve found a new item to collect.
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
*Money earned selling random stuff so far $137.85
* 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 don’t have any plans yet, but holing up somewhere to work on crafts and ordering room service for a few days seems like a totally fun thing to strive for.
The only rule is, the hotel has to be free {presumably with credit card points.} And there will be matching flannel pajamas.
Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space
The goal is to be able to start working on the craft room by the end of April and to get it done before gardening season {end of May} kicks into high gear.
But before I can take everything out of the craft room to pull up the carpet and paint and do all the fun stuff, I first need to organize and re-stock everything.
And that means getting all the wool cut, patterns drawn, kits made and wool dyed so that when we tear the space apart everything will still be in stock and there won’t be any shipping disruptions.
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 {20 of 100 done so far}
I have three more pillows to finish and one giant rug for my next Etsy shop update on March 4th. The goal is to have about 2/3rds of this goal done before the end of May so I can concentrate on gardening.
Create 15 New Rug Hooking Patterns {8 of 15 completed so far}
This past week I added the Fat Cat with Easter Eggs to my pattern collection.
New patterns I’ve added to my Etsy shop in 2023:
- 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 far the only gardening that’s going on around here is seed starting. So far I have started onion, leek and lavender seeds. I do need to go through all my seed packets though and get them sorted by plant/start date so I think I’ll tackle that project this week.
Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard
My game plan for next week: Use everything up in these jars. Think I can do it?
Make $500 Selling Plants, Flowers or Vegetables
Fresh basil. That’s what I wish I had right now. I think I’ll get some started under the grow lights and then bring the extra plants over to the Duck Lady’s farmstand once they get a little bigger. With a little luck, I might have some ready by Easter.
Buy 12 Handmade Items {From 12 Different Artists} 1 down, 11 to go
I packed the 3 hats I bought from Rachel of Barkland Croft in the box I shipped back home so who knows when they will get here. I should do a little research and see if there are any winter markets going on here in Maine. It might make for a fun date day adventure.
Update Every Single Recipe On The Blog To A Printable Format
This past week I updated 9 more recipes to a printable format on the blog!
- Spiced Applesauce Cake w/ Caramel Glaze
- Sugar Snap Pea and Radish Salad
- Cashew Cranberry Brittle
- How to Make Lasagna Cupcakes
- Watermelon Rice Krispie Treats
- Felicia’s Italian Pineapple Rice Pie with Coconut and Lemon
- Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Butternut Squash with Spinach and Pasta
- Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup with Kale
26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband
Well, we didn’t plan on a trip to the grocery store turning into a date, but it did. 🙂 Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow.
- Date #1 Thomaston Cafe for lunch. It was lovely.
- Date #2 Rising Tide Co-Op
How about YOU? How are you coming along with your goals for this year?
Have a great day everyone,
~Mavis
Mel says
Our goal is to turn our guest room into a combined guest room and playroom. This past week, we bought a sleeper sofa to replace the queen bed and free up floor space, and it should be delivered this coming week. I also picked out some preliminary toy storage (our son is only 7 months, so we don’t need much yet, but I wanted to have some storage that we could use as he acquires more toys) and a play enclosure. This week, I just have to double check measurements that everything will fit. I’m hoping our extra coffee table will also fit up there.
Mel says
I forgot to mention that since you live in New England, dried/pressed fall leaves might sell well on Etsy. Shipping them might be tricky though.
Paula says
I love reading our your Shetland trip to Fair Isle. I am currently planning our trip to Shetland in September. Our trip will have a different focus. I am going with my husband and good friends, Liz and Rusty. This is the first time that we are including friends in a trip. We go to Scotland each year. We go to different islands on each visit. It is always a great adventure! We will start in Edinburgh for a night, then head for 2 nights in Aberdeen. And finally, head to Lerwick for 3 nights. We are planning on exploring the ancient ruins, Viking history, Shetland ponies, sheep and wool, learning about the fire festival, Up Helly Aa, and traveling to the island of Unst. Unst is the northern most part of the UK. You can stand on one part of the island and look out and there will be no land mass between you and the North Pole. There is also a lot of World War 11 history. The “Shetland Bus” was an underground movement to help get things in and out of Norway during World War 11. “The Shetland Bus” was not a bus at all. It was a series of small fishing boats that braved the North Atlantic at night to bring aid to Norway after they fell .
Wendy C says
That sounds like a wonderful trip!
Jeanine says
You could use the lichen to dye wool. It comes out in a nice yellow.
Mavis Butterfield says
I didn’t know that! Thanks. 🙂
Margo says
Just looked up your ham and bean soup. Yep, that’s gonna be dinner this week. We are in for a chilly and wet week coming up. Perfect for your bean soup. I think folks will buy pine cones, moss, and bark. Just make sure you bake the cones and bark to eliminate any larvae first. Definitely good crafting materials!
Sandy says
I think people will buy woodland stuff. I was once at a fancy boutique in PDX. They had moss and mistletoe and lichen for sale. I literally looked out the window of the shop and there it all was, hanging in or on the tree. As I was standing there contemplating “who the heck would buy this when you can go pick it off any tree on this street” a well dressed lady picked some up off the table and took it to purchase. I guess I had my answer. That was many years ago and it has always stuck with me as a lesson — some people really do have more money than sense. Remember, this wasn’t Craft Warehouse or Michael’s pricing. This was fancy boutique PDX pricing!
I bet someone will buy it all. I’m just waiting to see who buys your cardboard toilet rolls.
Emily says
Stick with the pine cones. I think they will sell well. Moss and lichen grow so slowly it would make me sad to see them for sale.
Brianna says
I agree, moss and lichen are part habitat and a food source for many creatures and are symbiotic and beneficial for some trees and ecosystems. People in Yellowstone NP started gathering a sample of ‘moss’ to take home and it has decimated some of the micro ecosystems there. A little bit has a huge impact and it has been a problem in the past decade and cannot be replenished fast enough on its own. If you find the moss or lichen laying on the ground and detached, then that is different, but removing it deliberately from its niche can be problematic.
Annette says
Good information!
Virginia says
I’ve never had a yard sale, thinking they’re more trouble than they’re worth. I try to sell the more expensive items via EBay or FB Marketplace, but donate the rest. I thought you lived in a fairly remote area as well, Mavis, so I was curious about your motivation to hold a yard sale? I’m always in a quandary about what to do with household excess. I want to purge (and I have A LOT of unused items) but selling takes time. Maybe your readers can chime in on this topic too. I’m curious what others think.
Lisa says
Send the hedgehog card to Mrs. HB for her birthday! Haven’t heard about her in a while.
NeeNee says
My Birthday is April 1st if you want to send me that adorable card!!!
Hahaha Just Sayin
Loved reading about your fantastic trip !!
tia in boise says
After a super-stressful week of sleep-deficit 2 weeks ago, I caught a killer cold. So this week only the essentials were done.
I’ve been hydrating, eating whatever sounds good, getting as much sleep/rest as possible, and not worrying about everything else.
Thank goodness for Presidents’ Day–one more day to recuperated and to get ready for the week. I’m showing myself compassion and not worrying about what I didn’t get to!
This coming week will be all about catering to DH’s needs since he has come down with the cruddy cold!
J in OH-IO says
tia in boise-
Hope you are all feeling much better soon! Take care!
Dianne says
Hi Mavis,
Yes, I believe that you will have no problem using these foods up.
Beth says
Belfast has a great farmers market in the winter that you may enjoy. It’s every Saturday.