“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
My goals for 2018
Goal #1 – Write Like No One is Reading.
“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.” ~ Barbara Kingsolver
Goal #2 – Slow Down
Lucy the Puggle Dog. If anyone knows how to slow down and relax, it’s her. These days when she’s not exploring, she’s sunbathing in the middle of the lawn. What a life!
Goal #3 – Shop Small
I only made one big purchase this week and it was at the thrift store for $4.00. I found 2 pine frames {the exact style I was looking for} with glass. The small was $2 and the larger frame was $1. I also snagged a tin candle colder for the bathroom for $1.00.
Goal # 4 – Have a Designated Meal Prep Day – FAIL
I’m throwing in the towel early on this one. Meal prep, it’s not for me and my family at this stage in our lives. I really thought this would be a great goal to tackle in 2018, but gone are the days of feeling rushed to get dinner on the table and being constantly on the move shuttling kids around or running errands. It’s a busy week if I leave the house twice. And you know what? I’m totally cool with that.
Goal #5 – Install a Vegetable Garden
I’m getting there! The past few days I’ve been working on cleaning up the {soon to be} potato patch. I’ve developed sort of a system for cleaning up the backyard garden space. First, I rake up any debris, leaves and large rocks popping out of the soil. Then I have Manny do his thing turning over the soil and pulling up vines and roots. Then the next day I go through the same area with a landscape rake, smooth the area out and pull up anything sticking out.
Then I fill the wheelbarrow with compost, spread it over the garden space and do another run with Manny to mix the soil. After that, I use the fine tooth rake to smooth everything out again and then I plant the seeds! It’s a lot of work, but I keep telling myself that next year I’ll already have established vegetable garden beds in place and it will be so much easier.
Goal #6 – Clear Land for a Chicken Coop and Future Raised Garden Bed Area
I need to put a {huge} list together of projects for the HH to get done because seriously, would you believe he is STILL researching something to mow the backyard with? I don’t even know how that is possible. Gee, it’s a good thing we were able to fit the PUSH MOWER into the moving truck!! I have a feeling having to mow the grass ONE TIME with that baby…. will produce some sort of riding mower in the garage.
The goal is to have a full size chicken coop around early-July. I wouldn’t hold your breath though.
Goal #7 – Grow 500 Pounds of Vegetables
Getting the rest of the spuds in the ground is the name of the game this week. We’ve already planted 10 pounds of Rose Finn fingerlings out by the mini greenhouse.
Goal #8 – Hook 100 Rugs
Only 59 rugs to go until I can check this goal off my list. This past week I finished 3 more rugs. I’m going to hold off on adding them to my Etsy shop though until I can finish a few more pieces. I’ve been toying with the idea of just uploading new stuff to the shop the first weekend of every month to allow more time to work on other projects. Plus it would give me sort of a deadline.
Goal #9 – Make a Set of Dolls
I plan to make a set {or two} of primitive dolls later this year after the garden has been put to bed
Goal #10 – Make a Sampler, Frame it and Hang it on the Wall
Check it out! My sampler fits perfectly in the $1.00 frame I found at the thrift store.
Now I need to decide if I am just going to make one more sampler {to hang on the nail already on the wall} or fill the entire wall with samplers. I don’t know, it might be kind of fun to make one sampler a year and gradually fill the space at the bottom of the stairs over time. This is our forever home after all, what do you think?
Goal #11 – Visit 22 Bakeries
No new pastry shops this week.
Goal #12 – Start a Collection
No new treasures this week in our physical possession BUT, we did find a used dining room table and hutch that will fit perfectly in our home. The owner is in the process of getting their house up for sale though so we will have to wait a few weeks before we can pick it up.
Goal #13 – Read {or listen to} 26 Books
This past week I’ve been thumbing through the pages of Country Home Collection 1991 for some decorating inspiration. Classic homes and gardens, they never seem to go out of style.
The book is filled with that old country home look we’re going after where less is more, and handmade and simple pieces fill rooms instead of mass produced junk from China. It’s like stepping back into a gentler time, and I love it.
Other books I’ve read or listened to so far this year:
- Mason Jar Nation
- Tasha Tudor’s Heirloom Crafts
- Tasha Tudor’s Garden
- Colonial: Design in the New World
- A Secret Gift
- Colonial: Designs in the New World
- Bad Days in History
- New England Farmgirl
- Founding Gardeners
- The Bookshop Around the Corner
- The Bassoon King
Goal #14 – Try 12 New Canning Recipes
I don’t have a canning recipe to offer you this week but there is this lovely bouquet of daffodils I picked for the kitchen. 😉
Goal #15 – Secret {for now} Holiday Project
I’m hoping I only have 6 weeks to go before my “big ticket” item arrives so I can get started {practicing} on my big winter holiday project. My mother keeps calling with more ideas and wants to help out when they come to stay with us this summer. How funny! Love ya Mom! 🙂
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2018? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2018 Goals HERE.
Tiffany says
Not that I want to give your husband even more to consider – but we purchased a cyclone rake https://www.cyclonerake.com to us behind our riding lawn mower. We only have a 1/2 acre but I love it. You can use it to collect the grass and the leaves. I used to dread the raking of the leaves in the fall – now all the neighbours have been at it for weeks and we haven’t even started. We can get it done in hours now (might take you longer with the bigger yard). With the amount of land you have I think you both will really appreciate something like this! It was well worth the money for us. Loving your updates – and especially love Lucy hanging in the middle of the lawn this week! I was laughing out loud when I realized what the picture was! Have a great week!
Sarah S says
I had to laugh at your comment about your DH taking so long on the lawn mower. My husband did the same thing. In fact he spent more time deciding on a lawn mower than he did when it came time to buy a car.
EJ says
Been reading your blog for a bit now and this is my favorite post. Your joy, peace, and contentment shine thru in every word and photo-it made me smile just reading it. You’ve worked so hard to achieve your goal-what an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Have a wonderful day! 🙂
p.s. my husband thanks you for sharing the recipe for Mississippi Pot Roast!
Mavis Butterfield says
Best pot roast recipe ever! 🙂
Mel says
What’s going in the triangular nook in the corner of the stairs? It looks like it needs a butter churn to go next to the Butterfield sampler.
Also, I like that you named your tiller–we name our tools as well.
Em says
The sampler looks perfect! I like the idea of adding one each year, but whatever you do will be the right thing.
Susan says
I’m in gardening mode, too. DH tilled last weekend and I planted a few things : radishes, lettuce, kale, beets, onions, dill and carrots.
Almost everything has sprouted. I’m waiting a bit to plant the corn, beans and squash.
Started tomato plants indoors a couple weeks ago, and put them out into the hoophouse with the jalapeno plants (also started from seed)
Daughter’s herb garden is going gangbusters right now! Picked lemon balm, calendula and borage this morning.
Also picked oregano, thyme and some chives.
Fred Meyer has pineapples on sale for $1.48 each. (through today) Really nice big ripe ones. I bought 4 and made 14 pints of Pickled Pineapple with Candied Ginger and a Stick of Cinnamon. I’ve been really itching to get something canned!!! 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
You and your canning recipes! 🙂 🙂
Susan says
Oh….and 4 rows of potatoes! We got 100 pounds last year. Hoping for the same this year.
Lissa says
A Secret Gift was a terrific book. Glad for the suggestion.
Robyn says
Hi Mavis- I might be wrong- but I seem to remember you asking for great raspberries for the NE? I’ve read that Royalty Purple from Fedco are really delicious. Maybe you were wondering about strawberries in which case I can’t help you there!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Robyn!
Betsy in MN says
I love the pictures of you in the new garden. But I am wondering if you will have too much shade? Vegetables need full sun and it looks like a lot of tall trees adjacent to the garden.
There is still frost in the soil in my garden, so I am getting anxious!
Jo says
I wondered that too. Beside woods is rarely a good place for a garden on the East coast. I also really wonder what the roots are. If those are maples or many other east coast water loving trees you will be watering the garden a lot more than expected. A lot more. This is one of hundreds of reasons people keep mentioning to wait a year before major gardening renovations in the blog comments. All of us want you to be successful and to not accidentally pull up wonderful heirloom, or food for people and wildlife, plants. I have 100+ year old pass along plants like asters. You never know what is in a property as old as yours.
Mavis Butterfield says
Two houses ago we had a giant garden {one year I grew over 2,000 pounds of vegetables} and it was in a heavily wooded area so I’m more worried about wildlife getting in the garden than shade. As far as the vines go, they are choking out my other plants {the blueberry plants were covered in them} and our neighbor has been hacking away at his every weekend as well. Some vines are good, but these particular ones are a nuisance.
Mavis Butterfield says
The HH will be cutting down about a 20 foot border of most of the tall oak trees behind the garden plot this summer so plenty of sun will hit it. We will be able to use the downed trees as firewood for our wood stove during the winter months. There are an incredible amount of trees on our property and although I do love the wooded setting, the garden needs full sun and our home needs to be heated. Luckily though, the garden plot near the potting shed gets tons of sunshine as the trees are thinned out there.
Alison says
We are coming up on our 4th summer in this house, and I finally got the courage to cut down the two holly trees that were shading the garden. I hated to down healthy mature trees, but I have plenty of other hollies around the property and they were serving almost no purpose (except shading the garden). I’m so excited to see how it flourishes this year with the additional sun. We are aging the wood for a year or two and will burn it when it is ready. No regrets.
Torry says
I’m still managing to get sewing into each week, which was my goal. This week, it was cutting out more lounging pants and making hair scrunchies for my daughter’s SIL. Also, I worked on decluttering some craft stuff. I hope that someone else will be able to put it to use.
I love how you tell us what you are doing and what you’ve given up on! Honesty, it is the best policy!
Tracy says
I swear, Mavis, Lucy is half the comedic value of your blog. Th picture of her flat out in the yard was funny….until I saw the one of her inside the chicken coop, looking like your only (giant) chicken. She is just the best. And hey, congratulations on completing your sampler. I have one suggestion for you to consider: instead of sewing in a “fake date” (1722– dates in samplers typically are the time the project was sewn rather than the date of a home’s original build, or something else.) Perhaps consider using the real, current date/year? Your samplers might be worth something someday, years from now, but not if they’re deemed “fakes” or faking being antique with an incorrect date. It could be fun to fill the wall with samplers, dated with the year you actually completed it and commemorating your years in your lovely home.
Cass says
I absolutely LOVE the idea of filling the area with samplers….One a year, highlighting something you want to remember from that year…dated….This year’s should be a house. With flowers. And possibly trees. You are talented enough to draw it yourself….use chalk so you can just brush the mistakes away and any residual when you are done.
LOVE watching your home become YOURS.
Carrie says
I know nothing about making a sampler but this sounds like the cutest idea! Like a yearbook page for the Butterfield family.
Marcia says
Meal prep days are awesome! If you need them. I need them.
I miss the days of working 30 hours a week, when I finished work 2-3 hours earlier. Pick up kid or kids, go to the park, stop by grocery store, leisurely cook a meal that is done cooking by six…
Those days will come again for me. Enjoy it!
Carrie says
I’m not a meal prepper either. I am better at making big batches of food and using leftovers for lunches or another meal. My go to these days have been big salads with whatever meat we have leftover. I made pulled pork last night and we had sliders with beans and turnip greens from the garden. We will have a “southwest” salad tonight with some of the meat. I’ll probably make fajitas another night with some of the meat too. I do work full time but don’t have kids to run around.
Wendi says
Totally off subject but I built poly tunnels over my raised beds this spring using your design and tweaking it a bit. Two of my raised beds are 2’x16′ so I used 1/2 pieces of pvc for low tunnels and covered them with painter’s plastic. Everything is growing beautifully. Just one question…when do I uncover them? We’re in PA and have had a cold spring so far but the risk of frost has passed. Suggestions anyone?
lynne says
Adore your sampler on that wall, and the idea of one a year to fill that wall is a perfect one! Also… I WANT that tulip hooker! will be checking your Etsy page frequently for that one! And I agree with an above comment…Lucy in the middle of the lawn sunbathing is hilarious! LynneinWI
Colleen says
If you’re still shopping for a mower/utility tractor you might want to consider this line https://www.ventrac.com/products/tractors. Very versatile and popular in our area.
Debbie - MountainMama says
Ahhhhh Tasha Tudor’s garden…..one of my all time favorite garden books!!!!!!!!!!!!