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12 Goals for the New Year

My 22 Goals for 2019 – Week 27 of 52

By Mavis Butterfield on - 32 Comments

My 22 Goals for 2019


Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love

Wearing dryer sheets on my hat to repel mosquitoes. This is what living in New England has done to me.

In other news… Mrs. HB sent me a text yesterday to say that she’d be flying east later this summer for another training session {for her job that she’s not supposed to have because she’s supposed to be retired} and wanted to know if I’d be up for a visit from her.

OF COURSE I WOULD!!! I told her we are now a BYOF household though so she’ll have to pack her own fan. Also, if it’s going to be this hot when she visits, I will be booking us a room {with free hotel points of course} in a city with a walking downtown though so we can have a/c. I bet she’d like Portsmouth. Boston might be a bit too hilly for her. 😉

Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden

Everything in the garden has seemed to DOUBLE in size in the past 72 hours because of all the heat and humidity. It’s nuts. If only there was a button to push that would turn on the wind so there would be a nice breeze {and a skeeter free zone} summer around here would be much more tolerable. Hopefully by this time next week, the spinner gourds will be climbing the fence.

Goal #3 — Plant an Orchard

Still going back and forth on this one. Miss Lemon is doing well though.

Goal #4 — Gussy Up the Potting Shed Done!

Goal #5 — Grow Enough Extra Vegetables, Eggs and Flowers to Earn $1500 at my little roadside vegetable stand.

There’s no doubt about it, the weeds are winning this year. I finally got the HH to bag the grass the last time he mowed and you can see where I mulched the garden {far right in the picture}. It’s like night and day I tell you.

It’s funny, I had used raised gardening beds to grow vegetables at our last two homes and never really had a problem with keeping up with weeds. Gee, I wonder why? The HH said I should just “let the garden go” this year… but I’m not going to give up. I’ve got a veggie stand to fill with pumpkins and tomatoes!

The bugs are REAL though… every time I walk outside when there’s not a breeze, they dive bomb me and I go running back into the house. I need to get it together and get the garden weeded once and for all and then mulch like mad. I think I am going to have to resort to newspaper and maybe even cardboard this week.

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. 

I finished 5 patterns from my pattern bin this past week {pumpkin and cat heads} and listed the finished pieces in my Etsy shop on Friday. I’ve already started on a batch of mini pillows for next week so hopefully I’ll be able to get the pattern bin whittled down to 40 patterns or less by the end of next week..

I started the year off with:

  • 73 rugs in my pattern bin {now down to 43}
  • 183 hooked flowers {finished 120, now down to 63}
  • 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} DONE!

So far this year I’ve added 12 new rug hooking patterns and 13 beginner rug hooking kits to my Etsy shop and I’m hoping to add a few more before the year is over.

New rug hooking patterns I’ve created and added to My Etsy Shop this year:

Rug Hooking Kits

Goal #8 — Split and Stack 2 Cords of Wood for Next Winter 

I looked out the window the other day and noticed part of the woodpile had fallen over. I told the HH it’s a sign of a COLD winter and that he better hop to it and chop some more wood.

Goal #9 — Do Something with the 5,002 Photos on My Phone

I still need to clean this pan! Good thing there was a photo on my phone to remind me. 😉

Goal #10 –Lose the Muffin Top

No can do Bob. Too busy eating ice cream this week. Must.Stay.Cool.

Goal #11 — Run, Walk or Crawl a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon

I was looking up 5k fun runs to participate in for Independence Day but then realized I couldn’t take part in any of them because you know, someone has to stay home and watch the babies.

Goal #12 — Read or Listen to 26 New Books {15 down, 11 to go}

I need a new book!

I am waiting my turn on the library wait list for the following audio books:

Books I’ve Read or Listened to So Far This Year:

Goal #13 — Try 52 New Recipes.

18 down, 34 recipes to go.

Goal #14 — Clean Up 52 Old Recipes on the Blog

9 down, 44 to go. I updated the photos on the blueberry crisp recipe.

Goal #15 — Fill 100 Canning Jars 41 down, 59 to go.

Last week I made strawberry jam {I’ll post the recipe this week} and am now patiently waiting for fresh figs to hit the farm stand shelves so I can make fig jam. I LOVE FIG JAM!

So far this year I’ve I canned:

Goal #16 — Finish Furnishing Our House

I picked up a free 6 board chest at the recycle center this past week and originally I was thinking about using it as a coffee table but am now thinking about using it as a tv stand in the family room. I think I’ll clean it up today and bring it in the house and see how it fits in the space. Also, I need to add wood glue to my list so I can try and fix the back of the chest.

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.
  • 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 2 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 {22 down, 30 to go}

We visited the charming little town of Sugar Hill, New Hampshire the other day and just look at it’s tiny little post office!!! Isn’t it cute? I’ll tell you about our visit next week.

Goal #18 — Take One Adult Education Class Done {I’ve taken 2!}

  1. I’m keeping the first class I took with my neighbor top secret for now
  2. Spoon Carving Class with Heather.

Goal #19 — Secret {for now} Holiday Project

The big reveal… Friday, September 13th, 2019. Only 67 days to go! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Goal #20 — Create 12 Wowie Zowie Party Platters

4 down, 8 to go. Seriously slacking in this area. I don’t think I’m a fruit and berry party platter kind of girl, I need meats and cheeses and well, it’s not exactly meat and cheese weather right now. So I’m fine with waiting until fall to work on this goal.

Goal #21 — Visit 12 General Stores

6 down 6 to go.

We visited a new store this past week! I’ll tell you all about it in a few days. Hint: The cheese is YUMMY!

So far this year we’ve visited:

Goal #22 — Compete with Carole….. Get on My Front Door Game On

Hello summer! 🙂

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
  • May: White wave petunia hanging basket
  • June: Tin Star and Flag Bunting

**************

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.

Have a Great Sunday!

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Comments

  2. Carole says

    MULCH!! Must use for weed control. Here in south Texas if you don’t you lose. I get cardboard from the recycle center, FREE, your favorite word, put it down then mulch like crazy. Keeps weeds down, you still get some but they are just growing in the mulch, and it helps with watering. Here, we are now in the NO RAIN season, temps hovering at 100 so mulch is critical. By August I am done, its our winter. By end of September we are gardening again. We have possible rain and cooler temps. Its a process

    Reply

  3. Mel says

    When we have to work outside for extended periods in summer (like weeding), we run an industrial fan in the yard on a heavy duty extension corn. Keeps the bugs at bay and cools it down slightly.

    Last week, my goals were to
    1) Finish organizing the living room, dining room, and bathroom cabinet. (Done!)
    2) Organize my husband’s beekeeping supplies and the last 3 kitchen cabinets. (Done!)
    3) Increase time on treadmill. (Done!)
    4) Clean oven. (Done!)
    5) Celebrate the 4th of July! (Done! And I found some new great recipes.)

    I’ve now organized our whole house, so I’m switching gears to cooking and cleaning, and my goals this week are to
    1) Dust. (I do this regularly, but it’s time to do the high ceilings and other spots like that.)
    2) Wash the throw rugs. (Same as dusting—time for a deeper clean.)
    3) Dehydrate my cayenne peppers.
    4) Trim and clean garlic for storage.
    5) Make a run to the dump.
    6) Maintain or increase time on treadmill.
    7) Make 25 freezer meals.
    8) Make 10 freezer breakfasts.

    Reply

    • Mavis Butterfield says

      Mel, at first I thought you were a bit of a nutter with your whole box fan idea when you mentioned it last week… but now, I am going to give it a try. Because seriously, the bugs are insane. Stay tuned. 😉

      Reply

      • Mel says

        That’s okay. I thought my husband was a bit of a nutter when he first brought it out. 😉 I think they’re called utility or shop fans, and they usually say “high velocity.” Ours is small enough to use indoors and super quiet, but it’s powerful enough to keep the bugs pretty well away. They can’t fly against the current. It’s also nice if you’re grilling or eating outside.

        Reply

  4. Carolina Cooper says

    Looking forward to your review of Harman’s Cheese & Country Store. I love that place! Another great place in Sugar Hill, NH is Polly’s Pancake Parlor. Everything is made to order and they use real maple syrup from their own trees. It is just a short distance from Harman’s.

    Reply

  5. Jennifer says

    When we lived in CO and had no AC we had 2 things to help us cool down. An attic fan (but the nights need to be much cooler than the days for this to be effective) and a swamp cooler. We had one that was a little bigger than a box fan. Basically you pour water in the bottom and the air that blows out over the water is cooler that way. Obviously the colder the water the better. I have seen make-shift ones online maybe you could look one up?

    Reply

    • Bobbi says

      I’m from Colorado, but now living in Virginia. Swamp coolers work well in Colorado because it is not humid, at all. They dont seem to work well in humid environments- and can cause mold and mildew issues in your house.

      Reply

    • Sandy says

      I don’t really know why, but there aren’t a lot of bugs here in the PNW. It doesn’t get humid, really, and you can sit outside all the time and not be bothered. If you get a mosquito bite it is unusual (at least in my area) and I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a mosquito bite. Moving from the Midwest originally it was an incredibly pleasant surprise. Of course we get rain all winter and as soon as it gets nice out everyone is outside as much as possible. I suppose maybe if you were deep in the forest camping for days it could be an issue…

      Reply

  9. KC says

    If you want to use the chest for storage that you’d be accessing more than twice a year or so, then I’d stick with using it as a coffee table; hauling a TV and all its cords off to lift the lid would be a reasonable pain. (but you may have some twice-a-year swap-out things like flannel sheets, or long-term storage things where you want to *have* it but you don’t need it for now, or only use it once a year, or whatever, in which case, sure, TV stand.)

    Reply

  10. Laura says

    I too LOVE FIG JAM!! We always had a fig tree in our yard growing up (always the first thing my mom planted if we moved) and she had her secret sources for extra figs as well. Once she was driving along and spotted a huge fig tree in someone’s yard, and she slammed on the brakes and walked up to their front door and asked if she could pick their figs (they said yes, and she was invited to come back every year!). Anyway, fig jam is yummy on its own, but it helps make a regular grilled cheese sandwich awesome (especially if you use brie cheese).

    Reply

    • Torry says

      Laura, I seriously love your mother! (My mother once sent us kids to pick blackberries on someone’s property for the people who owned the land and they came over later and told my mother that we were to come back in three days and pick again. Then she saw the look on my mother’s face and hurried to say that “this time, for your use!”
      We did pick again and had great jelly to show for our and our mother’s efforts!

      Reply

  12. Melissa D says

    Mavis, this is totally unrelated to your goals for this year, but… do you know if there is a google group or “did you find this?” lost and found in the towns in your general area? 2 weeks ago we drove to Maine from Atlanta… with 3 kids including a kid playing a ukulele in the back seat…and just got back. But my 9YO son lost his fave hat in Boothbay — a ball cap from the National D-Day Memorial. It is is his pride and joy. I think we lost it buying whoopie pies after the parade in Boothbay (no regrets). I am hoping a kind soul might have picked it up and would love me to reimburse him $5 shipping (and possibly a whoopie pie) for sending it to us.

    Also I had an excellent “Lazy Lobster” dinner at Robinson’s Wharf — I did not feel equal to taking apart a lobster on my own. (So maybe relevant to your date night?…)

    Reply

  13. Amy says

    I just finished reading The Gown by Jennifer Robson. It’s a fictional take on the making of Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown. It’s infused with history while creating a lovely story. It would make for a great audio book while crafting.

    Reply

  15. Tracy says

    Spend just one hour outside weeding, staking, harvesting, etc. every morning, early, early, early, and you’ll keep up with everything, beat the bugs, escape the heat and stay in love with gardening. I kill myself early in the season to get everything planted, (lots of ornamental beds, as well as veg), cleaned up, edged, mulched, etc., before the heat hits in mid June. Tons of mulch or compost is pretty key. I buy 10 sq yards of Sweet Peat every year (for 25 years) and now my soil is like chocolate cake. That way the rest of the summer is about maintenance and I’m disciplined about banging that out first thing in the morning. Because if you let it go…you’ll never get on top of it in the heat. You’re in a new climate and you’ll find your way, Mavis! I absolutely hate the heat, yet I’ve found a way to garden a very large series of beds, love it, and have armloads of flowers and more veg that I can eat, freeze, or donate. You’ll find your way to what works for you. Don’t get discouraged!

    Reply

  16. Linda says

    I have found that the more you rototill older fallow land, the more old dormant weed seed you bring up to the surface to reach the sun and rain….and then grow. In my experience , I stopped tilling. Just loosened soil in rows to plant into, then mulch, mulch mulch seeded areas, and then use old carpet (the best) for paths , or cardboard with mulch on top to hold in place. If you let it rain on the cardboard you want to put down, it gets flexible enough to place and form to the path , and then put mulch on top. Good luck. Also, as the stacked firewood dries, it shrinks in size , and makes the stack looser. Then it is much more liable to fall over…I learned to leave the cut wood in a pile for a summer season to dry out and then stack it with engineer metal stakes at each end to hold ends in place. Is SO frustrating when a stacked wood pile falls over. I’m also a city person who moved to the country and learned by failure.

    Reply

  17. Christa H. says

    Week 27 of 52:
    I’m feeling very behind due to unexpected things over the past couple months. School is out so I will try to catch up.
    1. Establish our farm- got mulch and garden compost quotes and loads of both will arrive this month. Bought a zero-turn mower for the yard. We have the subcontractors coming this week to fix little issues with the house.
    2. Decide upon side hustles for farm money- honey for sure. I harvested about 1.5 to 2 gallons of honey last week and it’s delicious. I set out the crushed comb and wax on a baking sheet and the bees cleaned it all and took any remaining honey back to their hives.
    3. Build a chicken coop- hoping to build it by the end of the year. I want to raise my own chicks and get a variety to have different egg colors to show my students.
    4. Establish my bee/butterfly garden- my neighbors brought their tractors and plowed the pollinator garden for me. Trying to find someone to put in the fence posts for me. I got to witness one of my hives swarm. They went up a pine tree about 30 feet and too far to catch them. After 1.5 days they were unfortunately gone.
    5. Plan the fruit/vegetable/herb garden- Weeds and poison ivy are crazy here. I relocated some beneficial weeds like violets and wild daisies.
    6. Grow broomcorn and mammoth sunflowers- FAIL- bought seeds but will have to plant next year
    7. Create a bee lawn on the west side of the house- bought seeds. Planning to sow in the fall.
    8. Start a fruit orchard- need to go back to the state farmers market. I want to order some interesting bushes and trees
    9. Create a sitting area near the beaver dam- have a bench but will not go near there until it freezes here due to ticks
    10. Begin a wish/prayer tree on the path to the beaver dam- decided on the tree
    11. Water bath can at least 10 items- summer plans
    12. Learn to use the pressure canner- summer plans
    13. Ferment at least 10 items- summer plans; want to make kimchi
    14. Try at least 10 new recipes- 4 of 10 done. Made your meatloaf recipe and it was the best I ever had! Also made fresh salsa and jalapeno ranch dip similar to Chuy’s restaurant and smacked cucumber salad with sumac onion and radishes. All are keepers.
    15. Find and make a good Vietnamese beef pho recipe- summer plans
    16. Get new pantry very organized- DONE. I do want to label some items with new stickers since I noticed some are yellowing from age.
    17. Organize art supplies/paint glass jar lids- art room is now ¾ organized now and I moved the furniture around last week to make it more spacious
    18. Hang art on the walls- 4 items are up
    19. Inventory all my cookbooks so I know what I have- I think I will use the app Libib
    20. Make Christmas ornaments and garland- bought two vintage ornaments at an antique store to alter.
    21. Make potpourri from foraged and garden items- summer plans
    22. Finish at least 2 embroidery projects- ironed, backed, and put a second one in a hoop so it’s ready to embroider
    23. Make at least three paintings- bought canvases; organized paints
    24. Find furniture for the screened porch- still looking
    25. Get my Instagram up and running again- soon

    Reply

  18. Linda says

    Mavis, I just finished a great e book borrowed from our library “The Marriage of Opposites”. It is a story about the family background of Camille Pissarro, the Father of Impressionism, about whom I knew nothing. His family lived in St, Thomas in the 1800s, and his mother’s headstrong ways caused quite a ruckus in the community. He, in turn, was a very determined man. Look it up, I finished the book in 2 days!
    As for your weather, it comes to you after we get it here in Ohio, and I hate to tell you, we’ve been 90s and humid for well over a week, and the bugs have been fierce here, too.

    Reply

  20. Patty Mayhew says

    I also use Buggins when outside. We had Buffalo knats at the beginning of summer and now it’s flies. I’m disabled and it’s hard for me to garden but I still try. Right now I am fighting weeds. I keep at it but between fatigue and heat I can only last for about an hour at a time. I also mulch, but alas they got away from me before I got my mulch down. Today I’m going to pick some wild bee balm to make salve. I love to make my own homemade salves and tinctures.

    Reply

  21. Torry says

    Because of my schedule, I am always posting on Monday instead of Sunday. Sorry about that.
    My goals:
    1. Sew: I finally got over my neck and shoulder issues enough to finish 4 more bibs.
    2. Use up my stash: All bibs are from my stash.
    3. Find and finish half done projects: this is on hold until I am released by my doctor to move more than 10 pounds.
    4. Walk every day: done.
    5. 1 new recipe every week: I spent a lot of time going through and sorting recipes this week. I gave my daughter-in-law a box of cheesecake recipes. (So maybe I’ll get cheesecake without the work.)
    6. Clean more often: I have stayed on top of the cleaning.
    7. Husband date night: Not this week. At his request.
    8. Read more often: I am making roadways into the stacks. Yes, stacks, plural. When I get those down, I’ll work on the shelves. (I buy faster than I read, or sew, for that matter.)

    Reply

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