My 22 Goals for 2019
Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love
This past week was the perfect mix of New England weather. There was sunshine {and 70 degrees!} there was snow, and a lot of yard work got done. The chickens are happy, and Lucy got in a little sun bathing on the lawn. What more could a girl ask for.
Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden
Pruning in snow pants. It’s a thing here.
So are poison ivy rashes. The HH and I are both trying to hang in there and NOT got to the Doc in a Box for steroid pills to speed up the process {and get some much needed relief}. At $250 per visit to said Doc in a Box, {and one full blown episode under my belt} I’d rather use the money for this summer’s ice cream stand fund instead of a quick fix. Maybe it’s a sign I am acclimating. Or just a sign I’ve gone a little soft in the head.
Priorities. It’s all about the priorities.
Goal #3 — Plant an Orchard
Next month!
Goal #4 — Gussy Up the Potting Shed Done!
The inside of the potting shed is all done, and so now it’s time to turn my attention to the front now that the snow has melted {and I’m pretty sure we won’t be getting anymore until late fall}. I’ve already bought a sack of gladiolus bulbs, hollyhock tubers and some purple coneflower. Now all that’s left to do is to get all that planted and mulched, and then I’ll be able to call that area good until fall.
I think when fall rolls around this year, I’ll decorate the front of the potting shed with cornstalks and pumpkins and maybe some sort of fall wreath… or maybe even a giant candy corn cutout.
Goal #5 — Grow Enough Extra Vegetables, Eggs and Flowers to Earn $1500 at my little roadside vegetable stand.
The veggie stand won’t be up until there are lilac blossoms to sell, but the garlic I planted last fall is popping up through the soil.
Goal #6 — Finish Every Single Unfinished Rug Hooking Project in My Pattern Bin + 10 Things from back Issues of Magazines/Books I’ve Been Meaning to Make.
This past week I hooked another rug my next Etsy Shop update on May, 3rd. I had meant to finish 3 rugs but with the weather so nice outside, my time was pretty limited. This rug was NOT part of the 73 rug patterns that were in my project bin so I don’t get to mark it off my list. 🙁
I started the year off with:
- 73 rugs {now down to 55}
- 183 hooked flowers {finished 61, now down to 110}
- 10 “things” from back issues of magazines {finished 0}
Goal #7 — Create 12 New Rug Hooking Patterns {with at least half of them being large ones}
6 down, 6 to go! If all goes as planned, I’ll have 3 new patterns to add to my Etsy shop in May! Wahooo.
New Rug Hooking Patterns I’ve Created And Added to My Etsy Shop This Year:
Goal #8 — Split and Stack 2 Cords of Wood for Next Winter
Nothing to report.
Goal #9 — Do Something with the 5,002 Photos on My Phone
I still have 8 months, right?
Goal #10 –Lose the Muffin Top
Working theory: Muffy will just fall off during gardening season.
Goal #11 — Run, Walk or Crawl a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon
Monday is the Boston Marathon. And The Girl {and one of her college buddies, PLUS an old neighbor of ours} will all be running. And, as you might have guessed, I too will be doing my own sort of marathon on Patriot’s Day. So stay tuned for that! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Goal #12 — Read or Listen to 26 New Books {9 down, 17 to go}
I finished The Alice Network on Friday {about a 4.5 of 5 stars} and then started The Coddling of the American Mind but had to hit the delete button after 20 minutes because of the narrator’s style. The speech was slow and almost like he was talking to a 4 year old.
And then I checked NPR’s How I Built This for new podcasts and ended up listening to the most recent one with Alice Waters, and it was wonderful. 🙂 You can find the interview HERE.
I am waiting my turn on the library wait list for the following audio books:
- The Shape of Mercy
- The Long Winter
- Walden
- The Four Tendencies
- Before We Were Yours
- 12 Rules for Life
Books I’ve Read or Listened to So Far This Year:
- Marilla of Green Gables #1 Favorite
- Secrets of a Charmed Life #2
- Where’d You Go, Bernadette #3
- Carnegie’s Maid #4
- The Alice Network #5
- Finder’s Keepers
- Delicious!
- Will’s Red Coat #6
- Following Atticus
Goal #13 — Try 52 New Recipes.
9 down, 43 recipes to go.
We were eating leftover BBQ for 5 days. 5 DAYS!!!! No time for a new recipe last week. 😉
Goal #14 — Clean Up 52 Old Recipes on the Blog
Seven recipes down, 45 to go. I need to get going on this goal.
Goal #15 — Fill 100 Canning Jars 4 down, 96 to go.
That’s about to change next week though because we bought 40 pounds of Bartlett pears for $20 the other day and they need to be used up! I’m thinking pear vanilla jam and carrot cake jam will be just a few of the recipes I’ll be making next week. 😉
So far this year I’ve I canned 4 jars of Almond Pears.
Goal #16 — Finish Furnishing Our House
Nothing new to report this week.
Furniture pieces I’m still on the hunt for:
Coffee table for the family room- Console, cupboard or sideboard for the one and only tv in our house which is in the family room. I could totally live without a television, but my husband says the tv stays.
Long rectangular table for the craft room.- Table for the formal dining room {We moved the kitchen table to the dining room and so mow we are looking for a table for the kitchen/keeping room area}.
- 2 wing back chairs for the family room.
- I’d also like to decorate the mantel in the keeping room as well as put up some sort of decoration above the other 3 fireplaces in the house. I’m not one for a lot of things on the walls, but it would be nice to throw up a little pilgrim bling on the plaster.
Goal #17 – 52 Dates with the HH {12 down, 40 to go}
This past Friday we had a pretty epic date day. 9 hours of exploring northern New Hampshire. We even stopped off at the Mount Washington Resort for a look around. Afternoon tea at the resort is on my to-do list for this summer with The Girl, and by the look of the place, I bet they do it well!
Goal #18 — Take One Adult Education Class
I have signed up for 2 adult educations classes that I’ll be taking in May. One I’m keeping a secret for now {I’m taking that one with a neighbor} and the other class is a wooden spoon carving class that my buddy Heather from Massachusetts and I are going to take.
Goal #19 — Secret {for now} Holiday Project
Still a secret. I suspect I’ll get started on my new idea sometime in May.
Goal #20 — Create 12 Wowie Zowie Party Platters
3 down 9 to go.
Next week I’ll be stopping by my favorite salami shop, Bricco Salumeria & Pasta Shop for a salami or two for our Easter party platter. I’d totally be fine with just making a giant plate of pickety bits for dinner, but I’m not sure if the HH is planning on smoking a ham or something, I’ll have to ask.
Goal #21 — Visit 12 General Stores
3 down 9 to go.
Well, we attempted to visit Fadden’s General Store but they were closed {even though the hours posted on their website said they’d be open!}. But this is New England…. and in between tourists seasons {ski, maple and summer, fall} so this kind of thing {stores randomly being closed} is just part of the scene around these parts. We did make it to Zeb’s though, and I’ll be sure to post about our trip there next week.
So far this year we’ve visited:
- Dan and Whit’s in Norwich, Vermont
- Hussey’s General Store in Windsor, Maine
Goal #22 — Compete with Carole….. Get on My Front Door Game On
Nothing new to report. Although I did see Carole out front the other day. 😉 Maybe she’s working on her game plan for spring.
Front Door Bling I’ve Made So Far This Year to Compete with Carole:
- Late January : Valentine Heart
- Late February : Shamrock
- Late March : Giant Carrot
**************
How about YOU? What are your goals for 2019? If you told us about them HERE, check in! We want to know how you are doing. Because seriously, it’s so much easier to get those goals checked off your list when you have people rooting for you! 🙂
♥ Mavis
You can read more about my 22 goals for 2019 HERE.
Lana says
Crazy as it seems poison ivy seems to be a bacteria. A friend brought her son over to me to check with the applied kinesiology that I am trained in. This kids face looked like a pizza hold the cheese. He tested well for Warrior from Hopewell Oils . com. We put it on the bottoms of his feet and then Mom and I sat there gabbing and her son’ face just deflated in from of our very eyes. He was better in one day!
Pj says
When my husband smokes meat, he does a large amount and we freeze it. As time passes, we use the meat in all sorts of meals. It saves time on dinner prep and we don’t have to eat it for several days in a row.
Lolly says
Yes!!!! It’s soooo nice to have meat ready to use!
Alice says
I would have bought the pears for that price in a blink. Please, did you order them and can I do the same?
Mavis Butterfield says
It was a local store buy… They don’t ship. 🙁
Rita says
One of the best books that I’ve read in years is “Where the Crawdad’s Sing.” Couldn’t put it down!
Helen in Meridian says
Funny thing, she lives in North North North IDAHO.
Margery says
My posion ivy routine is , shoes off at door, straight to the bathroom, all clothes into the bushel, me into a cool shower want to keep the pores closed. I shower with tecnu. Then the clothes and shoes go into the washer and get cleaned. Yes it is a pain but I had posion ivy bad once and hardest part was not only my poor body but kept on reinfecting myself since before I knew I had it I had spread it all over the house via shoes and clothes. Luckily posion ivy is only in certain parts of the yard so if I am gardening in a non infected spot I still change and shower just in case but don’t have to wash the clothes right away. I also use the round up posion ivy killer and it seems to help keep it under control.
Darby says
I agree! I have had a couple bad rashes so now I treat myself everyday as if I’ve come into contact with it. I also use baby wipes and wipe the dog down in case he is bringing it in. I take no chances. I scrub my skin to get it off and use the Mean Green scrub.
Crystal says
For audiobooks where the narrator is really slow, sometimes speeding up the listening speed works well. Sometimes it just distorts things, but I regularly listen to books at 1.15 or 1.25 speed to compensate for an overly slow narrator.
Lolly says
That resort looks AMAZING!
Last week was something. I did manage to pay bills….but I just sent them off, I didn’t reconcile the checkbook, nor see what we could put into savings….and tomorrow will be 3 paychecks since I dealt with doing that….ugh. We SHOULD get some into savings, I just hope it’s at least what we planned….
I did not sew last week. It felt like one more to do, vs something enjoyable, so I never bothered. I’m not going to sew when I feel like I HAVE to. It’s a want-to thing. But this am church was cancelled due to severe weather (tornados in the weather system that came through), so once we got to leave our hallway, I pulled out my projects and worked until I felt weary of it. (I’m a bit sick and my energy is gone when it is gone.) I finished 2 flannel baby blankets, topstitched 4 appliques, and did the first sewing on 4 cloth napkins. I hope I’ll want to clip strings this afternoon!!
I have NOT started on any of my Christmas sewing. I told my kids that this summer we need to spend 2-4 mornings a month working on Christmas!
No meals given out this week, but I did batch cook chicken breasts for later use, and I made a TON of refried beans and froze them in bean burritos for lunches. I also made a double batch of chicken salad (for sandwiches) last night for dinner + a meal today….and we have a few other leftovers in the fridge for dinner tonight. So no cooking for me today!!!
No walking. 🙁
Laundry folded….I kept up with it some days, but not everyday.
I did hide a bit this week. But I also dealt with 4-5 nights of insomnia + running full tilt + getting sick at the end of the week….so those things make me full of I don’t want to’s….and I tend to hide more.
This week ahead I want to send a gift to a friend, get my dog an appt at the vet, get my driver’s license renewed, and get further progress on the baby gifts I’m doing. Oh, and get that checkbook all dealt with….and money moved over to savings!! We have a huuuge weekend with church….prepping for an easter egg hunt on fri night, the easter egg hunt sat, and church services on sun. So alot of busy-ness at the tail end of the week. Today and tomorrow at home are a huuuuge gift this week!
Patty P says
I pushed through The Coddling of the American Mind and finished it the other night (thank goodness). I was wondering how you would like it. I read it (so didn’t have to listen to a narrator like you did), and thought it had some good points, but it was very dry. I teach high school (juniors and seniors) and was hoping for some enlightenment (which I did get), but about 85% of the book was either repetitive or not very interesting. You didn’t miss too much by deleting it.
Also, a few years ago on our way back from vacation in Maine we did a detour to the Cog Railroad on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire (we passed the resort you had a picture of on the way to the Railroad). It was a bit pricey, but an awesome experience. The car goes right up the side of the mountain, but the seats in the car are angled so that you are sitting straight when you are going up the mountain! Once at the top you can check out the summit and the center up there. We went in August, took sweatshirts with us, and were freezing on top of the mountain! Worth the trip!
Mavis Butterfield says
The cog railway is on our summer date list! 🙂 I’m excited.
Torry says
I’ve been dealing with my bum knee and getting ready to have surgery on Tuesday (NOT on the knee; it is a hysterectomy with bladder repair), so not much got done on my goals.
Except, I cut out 10 pair of lounging pants, traced an apron pattern and then got it onto fabric and cut out. And I used my stash for all of them!
I also did some deep cleaning in the room I’ll be sleeping in as I recover.
I have been reading down my books. By the end of summer, I hope to have no books in stacks on the floor. I want to have them all on shelves.
DH and I did have a date day this week; we used up gift certificates at a local nursery to buy 4 beautiful rose bushes. He’ll plant them when he won’t get soaked doing it.
Actually I did pretty well, all things considered! No walking every day, no new recipes (but I am doing the favorite recipe for Easter cookies and putting them into the freezer, so no one is disappointed on Easter.)
Teri says
Hope your surgery goes well and you have a speedy recovery. Take good care…
Lolly says
Praying all goes well with your surgery and the recovery!
Kristy says
Have you considered trying to find jewelweed for the poison ivy? I haven’t used it yet since I haven’t personally run into the nasty stuff since moving to the east coast, but several older people have told me that if I do to make a tea of jewelweed for the infected area. Just a thought and if you have it growing near you it never hurts to try.
Wendy says
Jewelweed is great for poison ivy. It will take a few more months for the plants to come up and be ready to use though. But the tea can be frozen in ice cube trays for when jewelweed is not growing in the cooler months.
Karen says
If you could get a family doctor he or she would probably call in a prescription for steroids when the need arose.
Margery says
1. Read one non-fiction book per month :
Not happening unless you want to count cookbooks.
2. Monthly date with the husband :
In the last few weeks we have traveled to Branson MO and enjoyed some time with our current everyday family of three. I also fit in an at home date with the husband with a tray type dinner eaten in bed while watching a movie together. While the youngest ate pizza and watched a movie downstairs.
3. Weekly Game Night :
In the last month we have played many games but one of the favorite things was a trip to a place called the Boardroom which was pretty cool, pricey but it was fun to spend an evening with all the children playing lots of different games. In fact we came home with a new game called Code Word.
4. Try a new recipe each week – This month there hasn’t been much cooking going on as I have been spending more time outside,cereal does count as a meal right. I am looking forward to more cooking once school lets out for the year and the garden is producing.
5. Fall-Spring Garden-
The last few weeks have all been about the garden from adding fencing to building beds and so much more. We built two new beds, had 4 yards of soil delivered to fill them, planted spring veggies, did a general clean up of the yard, installed lattice under the deck, moved the rabbit habitat,built fencing to separate the dog from my garden.
6. De-clutter-
Still haven’t done the garage but have gone though the boy’s clothes and after seeing how big the doesn’t fit pile is, will have some shopping to do for summer.
7. Loose some weight-
Need a new plan
8. Learn a new skill –
I made soap, it wasn’t nearly has hard as I thought. I did a hot process soap using a crock pot and have been using the lavender coconut oil / olive oil soap I made. Just the other day I made another using coffee, and have plans this week to make another using oatmeal. I can safely say that everyone is getting soap and towels for Christmas.
9. Reduce trash-
Bit by Bit
10. A Financial goal-
Getting there dollar by dollar
Mavis Butterfield says
#8 🙂
Lolly says
Making soap is great fun!! As the soap sets awhile, it will harden some. Mine made with coconut oil were softer than the ones made with lard. And I believe tallow makes an even harder bar. I looove hot process soap, cause you can use it right away! Have fun making more!
Sara says
For poison ivy try rubbing the contents of msm capsules on the rash.
Lolly says
Yes, the sulfur should help!!
Betsy in MN says
Have you thought of trying homeopathy for the poison ivy? I love this medicine and have found it very effective. You can take Antimonium Crudum when you are experiencing the effects of poison ivy. You can also take Rhus Tox as a preventative.
Teri says
Bummer about the poison ivy already nabbing you. Hope you found a good lotion/medicine for it. Very impressed with the girl and the Boston marathon. You must be very proud! Have a nice time and will be cheering her from home.
Marybeth says
Zeb’s is the best. We try to get there at least once every summer. We love Mount Washington resort. You have to take the Cog train to the top of Mount Washington. Fun and scary at the same time. Make sure you use wipes on Lucy to make sure she doesn’t have any oils on her fur. She could be spreading the poison ivy without knowing. Feel better.
Mel says
My sewing room is filled with tomato plants, and my guest room is filled with chickens. Spring is not the season for goal progress.
Laura says
Mavis you need to get Poison Ivy/ Poison Oak soap from Lehmans. It works every time. Use it every time you work outside (just in case). It will make the rash go away. It is about 7.00 dollars a bar but worth it’s weight in gold. You and the HH will love it!
Lauralli says
FYI on the steroids for poison ivy…..it’s my understanding that doctors aren’t going to give it to you regularly anyway because then it wouldn’t work as well in case you need it for a serious health condition later. I can attest that it is misery though! May you find relief soon! Also, it gives me much delight to know how much you enjoy How I Built This since my recommendation! 🙂
Julia Park Tracey says
Goals for the year…Slowed down because of family tragedies.
1. I’ve visited 3 bakeries so far, and tried three new restaurants (meant to be one per month, falling behind). I have also tried zero new wineries (we live in Wine Country) so far. I will catch up in summer, I guess.
2. No 5K yet — when it stops raining = stops being muddy, I will get back to trotting (I can’t call it running) and see if I’m up to a 5K eventually.
3. On target financially with my freelance work and our AirBnB goals (25% there freelance, 10% there AirBnB). Tourist season is coming and we should be booked almost fulltime, instead of the random weekend. We even had to cancel a guest because of the major flooding. Annoying!
4. Excellent progress with current novel and in talks with an agent. He gave me revisions to do and wants to hear back my midsummer. I”m on it!
5. Personal savings — way behind.
6. Getting in the garden a little at a time. It’s therapeutic for my sore heart and my cloudy mind after losing our son this year. Having goals seems bizarre but also necessary. I have to keep moving. One of us has to function. I work out me feelings in manual labor, in writing, and in therapy. That gives my husband room to grieve in his own way and on his own timeline (all of us are in one form of therapy or another). (Sorry if that’s too personal.)
7. We’ve reduced plastic, picked up trash along the road, bought/shopped local, avoided Big Box stores, and lived a pretty green life; that continues apace.
8. Currently reading Christian Kiefer’s Phantoms and Tommy Orange’s There There. Both supposed to be amazing, but I’m having trouble connecting so far.
torry says
Julia Park Tracy, you have my hugs and, if you want them, my prayers. My brother died when I was in the second grade, he was in the first, and I should have had therapy. Even now, I don’t have the right attitude about anything having to with death. You are doing it the right way.
I just got home from having the surgery. My “one night” in the hospital became 3 nights. First I had trouble waking up so they had to put hoses down my nose and throat. That meant I was coughing up ugly stuff. Then I had breathing issues, so they put me on oxygen. One thing became another and after wading through every thing, I am finally home!
I came home with a catheter, which I wasn’t happy about, but I will do my best to get over it. Go in Monday to have it removed.
I want to thank those of you who held me in prayer.