My 14 Goals for 2020
Goal #1 – Take Full Advantage of Having My Husband Home 24/7
The lily the HH picked out has bloomed. And it’s ORANGE!! Can you believe it? What are the odds? According to all of you, lilies and their pollen are poisonous so this sucker is headed over the the neighbors house lickety split. ORANGE. He had to pick orange!! š
Goal #2 – Take Better Care of Myself.Ā
Ice cream was a high priority for me and Lucy this week. Did you know Dairy Queen will make your pup a doggie bowl {ice cream + a dog biscuit on top}. Yes, yes they will. Lucy ALWAYS eats the ice cream first and saves the biscuit for last. It’s super cute and man of man does she get excited when I tell her we are going to ice cream.
Goal #3 – Get Organized
It’s time to start thinking about fall, and getting all my art and craft projects organized. Hopefully I can get started on that this week. There are kits to make, bins to clear out, projects to put in chronological order and ornaments to make for this holiday season.
Goal #4 – Get Proper Window Coverings on All Our Windows.
This is the tutorial I used in case anyone is interested. I decided not to make any shades for the sunroom windows. All that sunlight…. it’s too beautiful to cover up.
Goal #5 – Master Bedroom Make OverĀ
Well, I’ve painted both closets and painted my writing desk so that’s done. I also cleaned the hardwood floors last week and gave them a little shine.
Goal #6 – Kitchen UpdateĀ
Hey… a new orchid plant! Way to go HH. You picked a good one. š
Goal #7 – Install Vegetable Garden Done!
Currently giveaway away tomatoes at the end of my driveway like a crazy person. Squash is growing like mad, and the chickadees are enjoying all the sunflower seeds on the spent heads.
Goal #8 – Explore More of MaineĀ
We went for a drive with the puggle princess yesterday but didn’t go anyplace new. We had a good time and Lucy loved exploring the rocky beaches. It’s tourist season here in Southern Maine, so staying home and hanging out with neighbors are what all the locals are doing for fun these days. We have a dinner date with the neighbors next week. I’m excited!
Goal #9 – Host Some Sort of Get Together Done!
Does having a yard sale count? Yes, it totally counts.
Goal #10 – Read/Listen to 12 BooksĀ
Does anyone out there have the Libby app? Maybe you can help because either my library doesn’t have a big selection of audiobooks to borrow, everybody in town is listening to audiobooks which means there are few to choose from, or I am doing something wrong because according to the app there are only 89 audiobooks to pick from. I don’t understand. Help!
No new books this week. š Might have to buy a real one at this rate.
Currently waiting to read:
- The Dutch HouseĀ {6 weeks to go}
So far this year I have read/listened to:
- Olive Kitteridge #3
- Olive, Again
- Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
- 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 WardrobeĀ
- The New Bungalow KitchenĀ
- Container Gardening by Stephanie DonaldsonĀ
- 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
My neighbor got his kiln!! You can see the pictures here. We are hoping to fire something in it towards the end of the week.
Goal #12 – Visit 12Ā Museums, Historical Homes or Botanical Gardens {and bakeries too!}
Sadly a lot of museums and botanical gardens are not open {or the effort is go to them is too great} that this goal has sort of fizzled. It started out great, but quickly went downhill. š Hopefully we’ll get to do all the things I wanted to do this year, next year.
January
- Maine Maritime Museum
- Maine Mineral and Gem Museum
- The Island MarketĀ
- Cafe DiCocoa
- Hungry Hollow Country Store
February
- Two Fat Cats Bakery
- Portland Museum of Art
- Speckled AxĀ
- 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
July
- Wallingford Farm in Kennebunk, Maine
- Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde, Maine
Goal # 13 – Reach 5,000 Etsy Sales by the End of The YearĀ
As of this morning, I have made 4731 sales on Etsy. That’s up from 2804 on January 1st! Only 269 sales to go before I hit my goal.Ā This past week I listed a few new bundles of wool and these adorable cardinal bird ornaments. I LOVE how the turned out!!
Goal #14 – Once a Month Menu Planning {for 2}
- The HH’s meal plan for the month: Snacking & BBQ
- My meal plan for the month: Ice Cream, Pie, Salads and Pickety Bits
*********
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
Mel says
About half my original goals are still indefinitely on hold, but I’m chipping away at new goals that emerged as a result of this year. So, I made 6 more hydration face masks last weekend and mailed those out, and I have 4 more to make today. I also ordered fabric to make curtains for work (now that everything is online, we realized we needed curtains to block light coming through doors and backlighting everyone on Zoom). And last weekend I gave my sewing room a mini makeover, so it’s now MUCH easier to work on these things.
Geunita Ringold says
Mel, what is your website?
Mel says
You mean for masks? Oh, I don’t have one. I’m just mailing masks to family, friends, etc. The latest batch went to a former student. I’ve been making them since April, but I modified the design recently so that people can drink through a straw without removing their masks. I got the idea from Etsy, so you could try there if you need to buy one.
Amy F says
Mavis
We
Had the same problem with Libby. Local library just didnāt have the money. After lots of research I found Out that you can purchase access to the Brooklyn Public Library. For $50 a year I have online borrowing privileges at BPL and their selection is PHENOMENAL!! At $4 and change a month it is totally worth it for my family. You can place 10-15 holds (canāt remember which.) we absolutely love it.
Amy F says
I forgot to mention, BPL works with Libby.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you Amy F!!! I am going to look into that.
Amy F says
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Background to how I found it. I have a child with dyslexia. After a lot of time, work and tutoring she now reads on level. One of the most helpful tips Iāve found over the years involves children listening to the audiobook as they read the physical book (not eBook). You can imagine how quickly those costs can add up!! I spent hours looking for libraries that allow out of town cardholders. Most require you to GO to the library for a card. BPL allows online application with a few documents uploaded. We now borrow library books or I buy used books on Thriftbooks along with the audiobooks I download from BPL. That $50 a year has probably saved me thousands of dollars over the last few years! She reads 2 to 3 books a week now! Where there is a will, there is a way.
Kathy G says
Great info. Thanks for the tip!
Donna says
Had similar issues with Libby. We also have Overdrive and it’s fine. Don’t know if you have to live close to purchase access to other libraries or not but the last time I looked, it was $10 for Nashville. Might check out some other cities.
Patty P says
Hmmm….That’s weird about the Libby App. Our library seemed to be that way last fall, but they have really amped up over the last few months on their selections. Mine currently says 4055 available. Are your settings too refined? Do you have too many limits on what you want? The only preferences I have set are that they are audio books and they are available now.
Mavis Butterfield says
Nope. The only setting I put is audiobook.
Cindi says
Do you have library cards to any other libraries — perhaps libraries in places where you used to live? I have four library cards and between them all I have a lot of selection for ebooks and audio books. (and there’s nothing illegal about this — in Colorado, at least, you can have cards to any other state library, plus my MIL lets me use her library card for electronic books.) So I have a local library card, one for the county seat, one for the town where I used to live, and my MIL’s card.
Sue says
Yes! I do this too, but with Overdrive (which a librarian friend tells me is better than Libby, though I couldn’t tell you the difference).
I have one for my own library system, one for the city where my mom lives (and I have my own card/account), and two that are logged in under cards belonging to friends — with their blessing, of course.
I usually am looking for a specific title rather than whatever’s available, and lots of times one library system will have it in audiobook while the others don’t. Definitely worth it to have multiple places to look!
Sue says
Oh, one more thought — don’t limit yourself to what’s currently available. Browse through all that they have, and when you find something you’d like to listen to, but it’s not currently available, put yourself on the list for it.
Then find something else for the immediate moment, but… soon you will have items from your holds list coming available and you can borrow them then!
Brianna says
My Libby has 3948 audiobooks available today. I am in a small Montana town and county too.
Susan Backus says
I use the Libby through the Overdrive app. My library is city only so they have some sort of agreement with other various libraries. About 9. I currently have around 1200 audio titles available to borrow and it’s all free. See if your library does some sort of collaboration like this. The Overdrive app automatically listed all the libraries included.
Linda T says
Yes, I have a library card with Dayton Metro Library. Borrowing books with Libby is accomplished by going into the Overdrive.com site, which will prompt you for your library, etc. I just love this service!
Stephanie says
Is it possible that the āWhatās Availableā section are audio books you can borrow right now without being place on a waitlist, and that there is a larger selection available that others already have borrowed?
Dianne Hewitt says
Sorry checked website======I am WRONG—NOT FREE unless you live in Philadelphia
Karen says
I think it has to do with the system your library is part of. Libby thru the Gig Harbor library has 27,000 total audiobooks and 18,000 available. It is part of the Pierce County system.
Dianne says
Hi Mavis,
Nice Tiger Lily – it belongs in the ground.
I agree – don’t cover up those beautiful windows in the Sunroom. Love going into mine in the winter – heater and blanket!
Love the Orchid – very pretty.
Keep up with the ice cream – it does not taste the same in the winter.
How nice of you to offer up your rewards in your garden to your neighbors!
Love the Cardinal.
Keep being you!
Dianne
Tonya Stoddard says
Hi Mavis
Thanks for all the great recommendations.
I just finished āThe Dutch Houseā and really enjoyed it. I had to speed read it since it was due in 4 days!!
I loved the Nightingale as well! So good. I listened to āthe girl with 7 namesā and really liked it as well. āThe Fountains of Silenceā is good and similar to āBefore we were yoursā.
I have the Libby app and it is great and listen all the time. I looked and the available audiobooks is over 2500! Good luck.
Karen J says
Dutch House is totally worth the wait. I read it first, then listened to the audio version with Tom Hanks. So so awesome.
I am new to audiobooks as I couldn’t seem to focus. Now that I have a FitBit and walk (a lot) I’m able to enjoy listening to a book.
I do get my audiobooks through the Libby app to my phone and often do have to wait, but use Overdrive for my kindle and that seems faster.
I totally enjoyed both the print and audio version of The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See.
Leslie Moss says
Island of the Sea Women was THE BOMB! I would recommend reading it from a hardbook though. Atleast that’s my take- because it’s a graphic book. Listening to it might be too jarring.
Katie says
Have you talked to anyone at your library about it? Maybe they just don’t have that many audiobooks purchased? My guess is that you are seeing a correct number. You could look at “everything” and see what that number is? My library has a fair amount of audiobooks, BUT the percentage of books it seems anyone would be interested in is small. I see the same books “available” pretty much all the time. Every once in a while I catch a “good” book as ready to borrow, but usually I have to place holds and wait. Unfortunately, I’m only allowed 3 holds at a time for Libby. We have overdrive too, but I think the two platforms are connected, and I’m looking at the same collection of books.
Ronda says
So glad that the neighbor is sharing the glass kiln. So much fun. Creative Paradise is a good website for ideas and tips on what to make and firing speeds and such. It is a learning curve but so worth it for the absolute works of art that comes out of them. Next chance I get to use a glass kiln I will be taking advantage of it as I miss the one I used to have.
Tiffany Torgerson says
I checked my Libby app and I have over 900 available audiobooks. You could check to see if your library also does the Hoopla app which is free. Or you could check out Scribd which is a paid service but you get 3 audiobooks per month at $10/month. (It says unlimited and that may be true for ebooks but with audiobooks I’ve found it limited to 3.)