My 14 Goals for 2020
Goal #1 – Take Full Advantage of Having My Husband Home 24/7
The HH found me a heart shaped rock. 🙂
Goal #2 – Take Better Care of Myself.
I got to go on a mini adventure with my friend Heather, the HH finished the kitchen tile, and I made some new pottery pieces. It was a good week! 🙂
Goal #3 – Get Organized
I am a week behind on my painting goals… Whatever. Playing in the garden trumps EVERYTHING. And that’s all I have to say about that. There are two rainy days in the forecast for next week though so I should be able to get some painting done then.
The plan:
- March 1 – 7
Finish Up Hooking Projects for Etsy Updateand Finish Tile in Kitchen HA HA HA - March 8 – 14 Paint Kitchen Walls, Trim Doors and Office Door {Find new project for HH to get started on}
- March 15 – 21 Paint Master Bedroom Walls, Trim and Doors
- March 22 – 28 Make/Hang Window Treatments
- March 29 – April 4th – Finish up New Etsy listings
Goal #4 – Get Proper Window Coverings on All Our Windows.
Well, I still have 6 Roman shades to make for the sun room while I know I need to get those finished before the weather starts to warm up {to block the afternoon sun/heat coming into that room, I also found some great curtains at the Home Depot this week that I think I’ll be using on all the upstairs windows.
Goal #5 – Master Bedroom Make Over
The rug I ordered for the master bedroom looked so good in the family room that I decided to put it there instead. I also ordered some cheesy mermaid pillows {totally out of character for me} and hey, what do you know, the room is almost done now.
Goal #6 – Kitchen Update
He chose the Snow White grout!
I wanted a light and bright kitchen, and I got one. The HH thinks he did a horrible job. I think he did great {and especially for his first time}. This week I plan on painting the rest of the kitchen white and fixing the shade over the sink and then it will be done and I won’t have to think about it ever again!
I think it looks SO MUCH better than before! Mini makeovers are just that. MINI. If this was our forever house we would have bought new cabinets and changed out the flooring. But it’s not our forever home and so for around $1,000 we were able to update the hardware on the cabinets, install new light fixtures, change out the backsplash, add a Roman shade and bought white paint to cover up the yellow walls.
Goal #7 – Install Vegetable Garden
On it!! Yesterday I pulled up the back patio area to make way for the new garden boxes the HH is going to build me {next week I hope}. The beds will be about 4′ 6″ x 6′ 6″ which I think is a pretty decent size for growing vegetables.
I also rounded the corner on the espalier bed and will now be working on digging up a gazillion clumps of Iris {and moving those to along the back fence} to make room for my vertical growing area {slender bean tepees and black eyed Susan vines} as well as what will be the new back patio/bbq/eating area.
The giant compost heap at the back of the property is still frozen so I’ll get to that as soon as I can. The plan is to clean up the back of the property {currently littered with a ton of old stumps and rotting wood rounds and weeds} and get that leveled off in the next month so I can plant a row of hosta along the back fence area and some Canadian Hemlock trees along the side of the fence to hid the neighbors backyard.
It feels SO GOOD to get my hands in the dirt again. 🙂
FYI: If you still haven’t ordered your seeds, Botanical Interests is currently offering 30% off online seed orders with code SEEDS30 at checkout.
Goal #8 – Explore More of Maine
Looking forward to my next day trip with the HH! I think it will have to be on a cold or rainy day though because I want to save my sunny days for working in the garden.
On the radar for exploring Maine this month:
Bar Harbor, MaineLincolnville Center General Store in Lincolnville, Maine- Wallace’s Market in Friendship, Maine
Alewives Fabric Store in Nobleboro, Maine- Harpswell, Maine and Bailey Island
Goal #9 – Host Some Sort of Get Together
I think it will be a summer BBQ.
Goal #10 – Read/Listen to 12 Books
This week I listened to The War I Finally One {having already listened to The War that Saved My Life last year} while working on pottery. I also popped by our local library and picked up a few books to tide me over until they re-open again {they are taking it on a week by week basis}.
This week I’ll be reading:
Other Books I’ve Picked Up From the Library This Year:
- Olive Kitteridge
- Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites
- Natural Color: Vibrant Plant Dye Projects for Your Home and Wardrobe
- The New Bungalow Kitchen
- Container Gardening by Stephanie Donaldson
- A Piece of the World
- The War I Finally Won
Goal #11 – Learn A New Skill or Craft
My neighbor has been learning the art of fused glass {and coming up with some really cool pieces} and I’m hoping to learn how to make stained glass pieces soon. I also went over and checked out their greenhouse and will be starting the tomato seedlings over there in a few weeks. I’m excited!
Goal #12 – Visit 12 Museums, Historical Homes or Botanical Gardens {and bakeries too!}
January
- Maine Maritime Museum
- Maine Mineral and Gem Museum
- The Island Market
- Cafe DiCocoa
- Hungry Hollow Country Store
February
- Two Fat Cats Bakery
- Portland Museum of Art
- Speckled Ax
- Atlantic Baking Company
- Rockland, St. George, Cushing and Port Clyde Maine
March
- Bar Harbor and Desert Island Adventures Day One, Day Two and the Summer Cottage Rental Tour.
- A Really Awesome Bakery {that I’ll tell you about in a few days}
Goal # 13 – Reach 5,000 Etsy Sales by the End of The Year
As of this morning, I have made 3229 sales on Etsy. That’s up from 2804 on January 1st. I didn’t hook a single thing last week but I did update my Etsy shop with a bunch of new wool bundles {and will add more today + a few patterns}.
Goal #14 – Once a Month Menu Planning {for 2}
The fridge and freezer are stuffed to the gills and gardening season is fast approaching and we need to get a few freezer meals done before the chaos starts! Finding time though…. Gaaa. It’s a little hard right now.
Have YOU made any goals for this year? If so, DO TELL! We all want to hear about them.
Have a great Sunday everyone,
~Mavis
Mrs. Hillbilly’s Update
No update 🙁
Mel says
1. HEALTH: I’ve kept up with all this (running, hydration, etc.), and I finally caught up on all my doctors appointments this week. I feel like I knocked out all the appointments in the nick of time with all the closings around here, so I’m grateful for that.
2. HOLIDAYS: I did a bit of holiday organization, but the rest of it and the springerle carving needs to wait until summer.
3. COOKING: I haven’t made spice mixes or sous vide yogurt yet, but I’ve made brioche 3 times.
4. HOUSEWORK: Reupholstering our living room ottoman will be this summer, but I started deep cleaning the house yesterday since I’m now on Spring Break. If I deep clean one room a day, the whole house will be done this week.
5. SEWING: I finished 1 of 3 ongoing projects, made Valentine’s gift bags, finished 1 of 2 skirts, and learned to sew zippered pouches. Since I will be working from home for two weeks after Spring Break, I will be sewing many more zippered pouches as a giveaway for students this fall.
6. DIGITAL STUFF: I’ve read 1.5 of two kindle books, and I plan to organize photos and Pinterest boards this summer.
Christa H. says
Awesome! Do you have a link to the brioche recipe you use?
Mel says
I used King Arthur’s. The sandwich rolls were fine, but the loaf burned to a crisp (despite being covered with foil, cooking under the minimum time, etc.), so I’ve mostly just stuck with burger or or sub rolls. The rolls are good but not perfect, and I’m wondering if the fact that our chickens are laying eggs with disproportionately large yolks is affecting the texture slightly. I suppose it may have also caused the loaf to burn—I bake all our bread and have never burned or overcooked any of it, so that’s a mystery.
Carole says
The backsplash i s perfect, great choice HH!!
Deborah says
I love the pillows.
Shelle says
I love classic subway tile and think your HH did a great job! I also love that you’re leaving a bit of brick for a walkway between your garden plots. It looks so rustic and homey.
Is Mrs. HB okay? WA State is pretty crazy right now. She has high-schoolers, right? I’m feeling stressed with full-time work and 2 elementary-aged kiddos off school for 6 weeks, but my friends who are parents of high schoolers have a whole ‘nother level of stress going on with scholarship interviews, college tours, big projects still due, even bigger tests being cancelled, etc…. Tell her we’re thinking about her during this season of flux.
Mavis Butterfield says
Mrs. HB is doing great. She was shocked though when she went to the grocery store and the shelves in multiple aisles were cleared out. 🙁
Nancy D says
Tile looks amazing! We did subway tile in our kitchen and bathroom and it’s quite a task for a DIYer. We still see some flaws every so often but. No one else EVER does!!!!! Our schools are closed for 6 weeks (tied into spring break)! Your goals are always so inspiring. Thanks!
Margo says
I too thought the grey grout would have been a better choice, but now that I see the white grout I think it’s lovely! So bright and clean looking. And it looks great. Hi is probably the only one who will ever notice the imperfections, everyone else will see brightness, clean, shining tile. Congratulations.!
Nancy says
The backsplash is beautiful! Great job, HH!!
Teri says
Your HH did a fantastic job on the backsplash. Never would know it was his first!
Emily E. says
Hi Mavis, everything is looking great! I do have a question though: a few times now you’ve commented that this is not your forever house. Are you guys planning on a move in the future? You’re putting so much work into the house and gardens and really making it your own. Are you sure you’re not making this your forever home? What does your forever home look like compared to this house? Pardon the nosiness,; I’m just super curious!
Kathy Wolfe says
I have wondered the same thing. Maybe she will address this for inquiring minds in the future.
Anna G says
Hi Mavis, I recall a while back you sharing with us, readers, your go to paint colors. Will you share again please. I am looking for a white for the kitchen.
Thank you, Anna
Mavis Butterfield says
Palasis white from Behr paint is what I decided to paint the walls. I used eggshell for the walls, and satin on the trim. I love it.
Kim says
Backsplash looks very good! I like your new rug, your curtain choices, and the brick walkway you left near your future garden boxes. I know you are so glad to be able to get a few things started outside. Will we get to see a photo of the greenhouse since it is not your actual property? Size of it?
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ll ask about the greenhouse. 🙂
Holly says
I voted for the dark grout, but I have to say the white on white looks really good!!!