My 14 Goals for 2020
Goal #1 – Take Full Advantage of Having My Husband Home 24/7
Last week the HH was able to scrape all the old paint off the two windows on the garage and apply the glazing to the windows. It takes about a week for the goo to totally dry but I should be able to give the windows a fresh coat paint in a few days and then we can mark that task off our checklist.
Goal #2 – Take Better Care of Myself.
I squeezed in a walk on the beach every day last week but one. This week I am going to make a list of all the islands I want to visit this year. Who know’s maybe I’ll be able to convince the HH to move to one. 🙂
Goal #3 – Get Organized
I was able to get the side fence stained early in the week and was planning on tilling up the side area {where I’ve already planted 3 trees and a few pumpkin seeds} but then the temps jumped up and working outside is no fun at all right now.
It looks like Monday will be the coolest day… so I think we’ll work on the side area and then focus on indoor projects the rest of the week.
The plan for June is to:
Re-glazeand paint 2 garage windows- Paint double dutch door in kitchen
- Paint wall in guest bedroom {we patched up some small holes and now the entire wall needs to be painted. Grrr.}
- Go on 3 mini adventures {1 down 2 to go}
- Collect mussel shells {I have a project in mind}
Trim tulip bulb stalks back{done}- Dig up area long side fence for future flower border
Work on staining the fence{the side fence for June} {done}
Goal #4 – Get Proper Window Coverings on All Our Windows.
All that’s left is window coverings for the sunroom. Which I’ll probably finish this fall because right now, we are enjoying the sunshine that streams through the windows all day everyday.
Goal #5 – Master Bedroom Make Over {almost done!}
I was looking at houses online last week {it’s an obsession of mine, what can I say?} and saw several with painted floors. Personally, I LOVE painted floors {in the right house} but I think I’m probably not in the majority with that so I think it’s best to stick with just re-staining the hardwood floors upstairs.
Still left to do:
Paint Writing Desk a Glossy Black- Paint the Creamy Closet Doors White
- Refinish the Floors {late summer project because I don’t have the supplies and the windows will need to be open all day because of the fumes}.
Goal #6 – Kitchen Update
All that’s left is to paint the double Dutch doors. But THIS IS MY WEEK! 😉 After Monday it will be too hot to work outside so I’ll have no choice but to paint them. Ha.
Totally unrelated story….
Mrs. HB called be from Mississippi the other day {she’s there visiting her mama} and asked me if I would fly down {to Mississippi} and rent a car with her and drive the car back to Washington and then fly back to Maine. Apparently her brother rescued some puppies and now she wants to bring one back home with her.
She called Amtrak but they don’t allow dogs in the private cars and the puppy is too big to bring on the plane, and her airline is not allowing dogs in cargo {plus she’s not on a direct flight home anyway} and so she thought… Oh, I’ll just call Mavis, she’s always up for an adventure.
I told her I had absolutely no interest in an adventure like that. She couldn’t believe it.
And that’s all I have to say about that.
Goal #7 – Install Vegetable Garden Done!
I love my little garden boxes!
Also, I snagged 18 pepper plants at a family gathering yesterday. I’ll probably share them with my neighbor because I already have a few peppers growing in my boxes already. But hey, free plants!
Goal #8 – Explore More of Maine
On the radar for exploring Maine in June:
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
- Camden, Maine
Red’s Eats for Lobster Rolls
Goal #9 – Host Some Sort of Get Together
We didn’t have people over but we did hang out with the HH’s side of the family yesterday and earlier in the week I had tea at my neighbors house on her new screened in back porch. She served crackers with cream cheese and salmon and strawberry shortcake and I brought along a few sweets too. Grape-Nuts custard, brownie bits and cream cheese filled fruit tarts.
It was lovely and after tea she gave me a tour of her flower garden. 🙂 I have the coolest neighbors I tell ya.
Goal #10 – Read/Listen to 12 Books
No new audiobooks this past week but I did pick up the book Downsizing by Mia Danielle from a table of free stuff someone had set outside their house last week. It’s well written and I like how it’s broken down into sections/scenarios.
So far I have read/listened to:
- Olive Kitteridge #3
- Olive, Again
- Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man
- 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
- The Nightingale #1
- A Piece of the World #2
- The War I Finally Won
- Vertical Gardening
- Front Yard Gardens
- The Complete Cooking Light Cookbook
- Beach House Style
Goal #11 – Learn A New Skill or Craft
Not yet. Thinking seriously about buying a glass kiln though {and so is my neighbor} because we all know I need another hobby to fill my time.
Goal #12 – Visit 12 Museums, Historical Homes or Botanical Gardens {and bakeries too!}
Last week we got ice cream at Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton, NH.
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.
- Tinder Hearth Bakery in Brooksville, Maine
May
- Puzzle Mountain Bakery Pie Stand in Newry, Maine
June
- Red’s Eats in Wiscasset, Maine
- The Bees Knees Honey Stand in Kennebunkport, Maine
- Rococo Ice Cream Kennebunkport, Maine
- Beech Hill Farm Hopkinton, NH
Goal # 13 – Reach 5,000 Etsy Sales by the End of The Year
As of this morning, I have made 4251 sales on Etsy. That’s up from 2804 on January 1st! Only 749 more sales to go before I hit my goal.
Last week I added a new rug hooking kit, Old Fashioned Tall Tulip to my Etsy shop and listed a bunch of new wool bundles as well. I am currently working on my fall offerings {which I plan to list the first Friday in August and September} and those pieces are keeping me busy in my down time. It’s hard to get any hooking done these days though, but I’m trying.
Goal #14 – Once a Month Menu Planning {for 2}
The HH’s meal plan for the month: BBQ
My meal plan for the month: Ice Cream
So far so good. 🙂
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Have YOU made any goals for this year? If so, DO TELL! We all want to hear about them.
Have a great Sunday everyone, enjoy the sunshine.
~Mavis
Mama Cook says
Inspired as always!!! Can I ask what is under the terra cotta pots by the fence?
I have to say, I am rather surprised you didn’t jump at the adventure with Mrs HB!☺️
Mavis Butterfield says
I am using them as markers for the pumpkin plants nearby. I didn’t want to accidentally step on them.
Vanessa says
Tell Mrs. HB that I’m available!!
Mrs Hillbilly says
Thanks !!! My Mom is going with me and I am sooooo excited ! It will be a huge adventure . I have never driven cross country . Ms. is going to regret not taking me up on my offer !!!
Mavis Butterfield says
You are nuts.
LaToya says
We LOVE custards!
I have an excess of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and I’m going to try your recipe with that. Obviously I won’t soak them … but crunch them up with some butter, not too much … yeah, that’s the ticket! It may disintegrate, but it’ll still taste good.
Have a great week, Miss Mavis!
tia in boise says
I kind of forgot about my goals once I had to teach from home, but am now anxious to get back to them. Listing them all here (despite any lack of forward progress) for the accountability:
1. Organize 20 areas of the house.
Well, I finally got down on the floor and wiped down all the lower kitchen cabinets and island during quarantine! so 1 down, 19 to go….
2. Pay down 20% of debt on one card.
Moving in the right direction, but I really underestimated the hit my account was taking by interest. Eeeek! I don’t use that card and pay more than the minimum, but I’m going to have to make a bigger payment each month to make this goal.
3. Cut back on sweets.
Huh. yah……I decided that I would only allow myself dessert if I run that day. And then I decided that I would only allow myself dessert if I’d lost a pound since the last weighing…..
4. Soda only on pizza night. I’ve been doing pretty well avoiding sodas–but then I usually do during the summer.
5. Create and implement cleaning schedule.
Well, I made a schedule and then wimped out telling everyone about it. Then 2/5 of the people moved out….I need to find the list and retool it…and then follow through!
6. Set up sewing machine and complete 20 projects.
Well, of course, this one is almost accomplished: 9 masks for myself, friends, and family; 3 baby bibs, a completed set of napkins, and 2 mask extenders!
7. Go on 20 dates with DH.
We had 5 dates under our belt before quarantine. We’ve gone out to hit balls at the range and to play a half-round. Coming up soon: set up the cornhole game I bought years ago and head out for some frisbee golf!
8. Lose 20 pounds.
Ha! I never wrote what my weight was in January! I have lost 4 pounds since the beginning of April.
9. Exercise 20 minutes every day.
I’ve run 5 days a week…I need to make sure to go on walks or do some calisthenics on days I don’t run. I’d also like to lift some (MINOR) weights as well.
10. Make 20 new recipes.
If mae 10 new recipes–only a couple of them were worth making again…
11. Get rid of (trash or donate) 20 things.
Totally forgot about this one. Ooops! (Maybe when I get around to cleaning the garage…)
12. Never be without water.
I’ve done a pretty good job with this one–not so much Jan-mid-March, but since quarantine and during June, yep!
13. In bed by 11:00 on weeknights.
Well, this one’s problematic. I was doing well when school was in session. Now I’ve reached menopause and can’t sleep. No since going to bed if I’m not going to sleep anyway….
14. Complete 20 acts of kindness.
Oops! totally forgot about this one, too! I know I did a couple kind things earlier in the year….but apparently didn’t write them down–sheeeesh!
15. Purchase and use journal–food, exercise, gifts…
Made the journal–have been writing in it occasionally–need to keep it handier!
16. Classroom: Stay focused and leave by 4:00 each day.
I was doing a great job on this! Not sure what next school year will bring. We moved into a new building and it will take a lot of unpacking and categorizing and deciding…and who knows if I’ll even get to teach in it this fall…
17. Stop swearing.
Just realized yesterday that this goal has taken a huge hit lately! Yikes….
18. Complete Book Nerd Challenge–50 books.
Excelling at this! Well…excelling at the plan, anyway. I’m currently reading books # 6 and 7–not bad for not starting a book until May.
19. Track found money and items.
This one has taken a hit….I usually find an average of $7 in a year. I am only at $1.43. I did find a really nice pair of sport sunglasses while running, and they’re now my running sunglasses!
20. Put stuff away once used–each day.
Work in progress.
Vicki in Birmingham says
Wow…I must say I was surprised at your turning down Ms. HB in the adverture she mentioned and invited you to join her in…and you were surprisingly abrubt about it too. Hmmm. I guess we all have things we need to do that don’t allow time for adventures with old friends. Maybe another time.
Sue P says
I don’t think she was being abrubt at all. Come on, you know her and Mrs. HB talked! She just doesn’t need to explain her reasoning to us! And I totally respect that!
Mrs HB says
No she WAS abrupt and to the point ! That Ms Mavis never minces words !!she said I was crazy for doing it and had absolutely no intention of going with me . None , nada., no way ! I love her anyway !!! Her loss 🙁
KATHY HORT says
The sign of a true friendship right there. You can say what needs said with no fear. The best part is that it seems reciprocal 🙂
Ann Burgess says
Hi Mavis, love your blog? Column? It’s great, very inspiring. I notice you do not have
Lubec, ?Maine on your list. Best time to go s in the fall when the leaves of the wild blueberries turn red and spread a magic carpet over the area, Seal island is not far away and a puffin haven.
Camden, did you know this was the string for the scandalous film of the 1950’s, Peyton Place? The amphitheatre at the local library used to be used as an outdoor theatre for Shakespearean plays in the summer. My Mom was from here and I used to spend summers here. Very pretty town.
Ann Burgess
Nancy says
I loved Peyton Place, the book, the series, and the movie.
Sue says
Well, for me flying is not on my list of want to does. Just don’t wanted be exposed to the stuff in the air. .
Mavis, I hope you get to that island, it’s one of my dreams.
I love that red lobster.
Alison R says
There is a service that flies pets to their new homes, no idea what name or how to contact but know that people have used them to transport pets.
Mrs HB says
I am happy my Mom and I are driving. Once a a lifetime adventure !!!
jane scott says
hello Mavis, but to Mrs.HB…..We drove from Maine to Las Vegas 4 years ago, it was sooooo awesome. 2 people, 2 cars and 2 cats. I would love to do the drive yearly actually, You really get a feel of how vast and wonderful our United States really are. I have unsolicited advice though, stop everywhere you even think you want to see. This was difficult traveling with cats so we weren’t able to make a lot of stops, that’s my biggest regret!
I took good notes, mileage each day, places we stopped, even gas amounts/prices. I look over that tattered notebook at least once a week, dreaming of a repeat. You will love the trip.
Jane from Maine, currently in Las Vegas.
Miss hillbilly says
Thank you for the idea ! I will keep a journal and I am so excited as well!
Christine O. says
Hi Mavis,
Thanks for showing us the book “Downsizing” by Mia Danielle that you picked up. I went and found her blog and have already listened to a few of her podcasts. She is great and exactly what I needed to hear right now!
As far as Mrs. HB and you go, it’s all good. A true friend will always appreciate your honesty! Much better than a fake friend who never says the truth to you.
debbie in alaska says
One of the greatest experiences of my life was driving from Connecticut to the West Coast in 2008. I took a month, stayed off the highways and took back-roads and byways and stopped at all the diners I could find. It was an amazing experience! I stopped at national parks along the way. Doing it now would be a little different with the current situation, but you’ll have so much fun regardless. Enjoy your adventure!!