17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 27 of 52

17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 27 of 52

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

Still no takers on the 26 dried pumpkin stems I listed on Etsy yet, but I think they are going to sell to someone who wants them for their velvet pumpkins or other fall crafts. Time will tell. 

If only T-Rex would sell, I’d have this goal in the bag. 

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

*Money earned selling random stuff so far $227.70

* 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

Québec City is still at the top of our list. Maybe this fall or winter. Everyone keeps saying don’t go during the winter {too much snow, too cold}. But the thought of a city all lit up at Christmas time seems so much more magical than fall foliage. We’ll see. 

Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {21 of 52 sent so far}

No cards sent this past week. But Lucy says hello. 🙂 

Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA. 

I made another batch of currant scones this past week and they were just as good as the first time I made them. The recipe is a 10/10 so if you’ve been looking for the perfect scone recipe, I’ve found it!

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

• English Muffins
• Currant Scones
• Sticky Toffee Pudding 

Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space

No new improvements happening in the studio lately, but I did manage to get a few batches of wool dyed. Now comes the hard part, getting it all bundled up and listed on Etsy for sale. 

Changes I plan on making to the space:

• Rip out the old gross carpet and replace it with pine floors {the HH wants carpet}
• Fresh paint
• A proper light fixture
• New serger
• New work table {I bought 3!}
• A sitting area with a spot to hook

Hook 100 Rugs {56 of 100 done so far}

I am currently working on hooked rug #57. This one has cats and flowers and I am loving how the backgound is turning out. Very muted and old looking. Primitive hooked rugs should look old, don’t you think? 

Create 15 New Rug Hooking Patterns 12 of 15 completed so far}

My latest rug hooking pattern is called Betty’s Big Chickens with American Flag. This is the 11th new pattern I’ve introduced for this year. Only more to go and I’ll be able to check this goal off my list. 

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

• 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.

I’m working on it! I’m nearly there. I’m just waiting for 1 more thing to arrive. 

Grow 1,000 Pounds of Vegetables In The Religious Family Sized Garden

The religious family sized garden is still in a holding pattern. While we did get two rain free days this past week it still wasn’t enough to dry out the field. We did get the raised beds moved out there and have one of them filled with garden soil. 

If it would dry out enough down there I could get the rest of the weeds pulled in the raised bed garden space and get a few rows of beets and turnips planted.  

We’ll see, but I think this year might be a bust garden wise. The kitchen garden seems to be okay though. 

Here’s the latest weather forecast for Mid-Coast Maine. Giddy up!

Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard

The canning cupboard is thinning out. But now I’m thinking maybe we should slow down a bit on the salsa and jam because of the garden situation. 

We did go empty 5 jars last week though so cutting back on my morning toast with jam might be a little hard. 

Make $500 Selling Plants, Flowers or Vegetables {I’ve made $84 so far.}

I should be selling my flowers at The Duck Lady’s stand but I like them so much I can’t bring myself to sell them. The Endless Summer Bloomstuck Hydrangeas I planted two years ago are blooming like mad this summer and I can’t help but keep them they’re so pretty. 

So far I’ve sold:
{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

Buy 12 Handmade Items {From 12 Different Artists} 7 down, 5 to go

I forgot to show you the bread bowls I bought fromZoëDawn Shop. I’m excited to use them and to get those cool lines on the top of my loaves of bread. 

So far this year I have bought:

• {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

Update Every Single Recipe On The Blog To A Printable Format 

I updated the apricot jam recipe. 

26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband {14 down, 12 to go}

No date day with the HH this past week. But I’m hoping we can find somewhere new to try this week. Something with pastries maybe. 

• 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

Goals already accomplished 2023:

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. My favorite thing we made was the sticky toffee pudding. 

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!

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

~Mavis