My 14 Goals for 2020
Goal #1 – Take Full Advantage of Having My Husband Home 24/7
This past week the HH mowed the lawn for the last time this season {about a 2 hour job} rewired the outlets in the hallway, and removed the old light fixture and began to put up the new one only to discover it was broken {frustrating!}. He also brought all my pottery supplies in from the barn to the basement {so the clay and glazes wouldn’t freeze} and bought Lucy a bunch of bird watching supplies. 🙂
That Lucy, she LOVES watching all the wildlife here from the big picture windows that face out to the water.
When we were in the process of buying the house we figured we’d install a fence for her next spring. But after seeing all the wildlife saunter {deer, a coyote} and fly {eagles and falcons!!} around our backyard, we have now decided against it for her safety.
Luckily, there’s no shortage of places to take her for walks around here.
Goal #2 – Take Better Care of Myself.
My desire to leave the house these days is pretty much zero {unless it involves pastries} but I know I need to move around more than I am now. In the past keeping track of my steps has been a good was to track my progress, but I have no idea where my old pedometer went, and I don’t keep my phone on my person every second of the day {to count steps} and I don’t like anything around my wrists {Fitbit} and so what’s left? Maybe I need to get another clip on pedometer.
Goal #3 – Get Organized
Our winter project {supposedly the only one} is underway! This past week I taped off the trim, had the HH patch the blue walls and got crackin’.
Have I ever told you how much I LOVE TO PAINT? It took a couple of coats of paint to cover up the blue, but man oh man was it worth it. The whole space, it feels so much calmer now.
The new light fixture should be arriving on Tuesday and HOPEFULLY I can get the HH to start pulling up the red tile in the entryway this week. Who knows, maybe if I start pestering him now, he’ll get the tile installed by Christmas for me. Now that would be an excellent gift, don’t you think. 😉
Goal #4 – Get Proper Window Coverings on All Our Windows. Done!
Goal #5 – Master Bedroom Make Over Done!
Goal #6 – Kitchen Update Done!
Goal #7 – Install Vegetable Garden Done!
Goal #8 – Explore More of Maine Done!
Goal #9 – Host Some Sort of Get Together Done!
The only visitors we had this week were 4 turkeys in our yard. The previous flock size was 13 so it appears several people in the area will be enjoying a fresh wild turkey this Thanksgiving. I took a picture of them on my real camera… but haven’t found the cord yet that allows me to upload them to my computer. How is it that cords always seem to disappear during a move?
Goal #10 – Read/Listen to 12 Books {1 more to go. I’m only counting real books, not cookbooks or home decor books}
I am still working my way through Chickens, Gin, and a Maine Friendship: The Correspondence of E. B. White and Edmund Ware Smith. I read a few excerpts on the days that I sit down to lunch by myself. On the other days when the HH and I eat lunch together… we talk about current events {his favorite topic} and it makes me wish husbands came with mute buttons.
Working from home together… it’s not for everyone, but we seem to be doing okay with it.
Books I’ve enjoyed this year:
- The Dutch House #1
- The Adventure’s Son #4
- Olive Kitteridge #5
- Olive, Again
- Evvie Drake Starts Over #6
- Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers #7
- Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man
- Save Me the Plums
- 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 #2
- A Piece of the World #3
- 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 Done
I learned how to make swizzle sticks with my former neighbor and I think they turned out great for my first try {you can see the kiln pictures here}.
Goal #12 – Visit 12 Museums, Historical Homes or Botanical Gardens {and bakeries too!} Done!
Yesterday we left the house early {with Lucy in tow} and went on sort of a food pilgrimage. We made FOUR STOPS and it was pretty awesome. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow in my food post. 🙂
- The Mitten Store
- Maine Mineral and Gem Museum
- The Island Market
- Cafe DiCocoa
- Hungry Hollow Country Store
- Two Fat Cats Bakery
- Portland Museum of Art
- Speckled Ax
- Atlantic Baking Company
- Rockland, St. George, Cushing and Port Clyde Maine
- Bar Harbor and Desert Island Adventures Day One, Day Two and the Summer Cottage Rental Tour.
- Tinder Hearth Bakery in Brooksville, Maine
- Puzzle Mountain Bakery Pie Stand in Newry, Maine
- Red’s Eats in Wiscasset, Maine
- The Bees Knees Honey Stand in Kennebunkport, Maine
- Rococo Ice Cream Kennebunkport, Maine
- Beech Hill Farm Hopkinton, NH
- Wallingford Farm in Kennebunk, Maine
- Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde, Maine
- The Gnome Lady, Thomaston, Maine
Goal # 13 – Reach 5,000 Etsy Sales by the End of The Year DONE!
As of this morning, I have made 5446 sales on Etsy. That’s up from 2804 on January 1st. Wahoo! My new goal is to hit 5600 sales by the end of the year.
Friday I listed a bunch of new giant wool bundles in my Etsy store and this week I plan to get another pillow {or two} finished. If only it would snow, then I feel like I could really get some work done. 🙂
I’ve also been busy packing up ornaments {a few designs are already sold out} and it has been fun to see where they are shipping to. So far I don’t think I’ve shipped any to New Mexico, Mississippi, North Dakota or Wyoming.
Goal #14 – Once a Month Menu Planning {for 2}
- The HH’s meal plan for the month: Hershey Bars and Ding Dongs are the winners this week.
- My meal plan for the month: Baked Goods!
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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 view.
~Mavis
Kim says
The newly painted hall looks so fresh and crisp. I love the wide plank floors. The hall seems wider than standard. Perhaps that is just an illusion? I am enjoying seeing glimpses of your new abode! You always do such a great job putting your interiors together!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, the hall is wider than standard, and now it looks even bigger with the white walls. 🙂
Mh kelly says
White is my favorite color. My whole house is white. Love the floors.
Peg says
Husbands with mute buttons made me laugh out loud! And you have sent an Etsy shop purchase to Wyoming
Lorraine says
Since husbands don’t have mute buttons, sometimes I have to request he play the ‘quiet game’.
It doesn’t always work. But, when it does, it is GREAT.
Jeanine says
I hope your new fixture is the Moroccan Star. One of my friends has 5 in her house in one room! Your new home is getting your mark on it. Have a relaxing Thanksgiving and enjoy the bird watching.
Nancy D says
I’ve always enjoyed the many different windows you’ve pictured Lucy (aka Gladys Kravitz) looking out of….what a wonderful life you’ve given that pup! So happy for you!
Nancy D says
*photographed not pictured
Patti says
My goals continue – #1 was to lose weight this year – ha!ha! – but I am trying to resist regular, common foods in honor of Thanksgiving foods, ie: make my calories count this week!!! I continue to read the Pulitzer Prize winners in order starting with 1918, knit (on a pair of socks now), and sew (started pillow inserts for new pillows today). Other goals have been to declutter so I took some furniture and knick knacks to a consignment shop and two bags to a thrift store. You have inspired me to no end this year and I will forever start the year with goals and work towards them at a slow but steady pace. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving week!!
Tonya S says
Hi Mavis
Long time reader of your blog. What a wonderful adventure you have had this year.
I purchased 3 of your garden stakes and 1 hot chili pepper Christmas ornament for my birthday in October.
So you can mark New Mexico off your list .
Wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving full of pie!! What is your favorite pie?
Mine is Lemon Meringue. ❤️ Something about the sweet and tart that gets me.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you Tonya. 🙂 Right now my favorite is Wild blueberry pie… but lemon meringue is right up there at the top! Gobble gobble.
Carolina Cooper says
One of my goals this year was to remember to give a special gift to my granddaughter on her 18th birthday, which was yesterday. YOU made it happen, Mavis. Last year, you had a give away from special things on Etsy. I won a beautiful handmade necklace with a disc that says “dancer” and a separate tiny gold heart. It was from Artful Accents. Today the young lady who is studying to be a professional dancer received her gift and she LOVED it and put it on right away. Thank you!
Mrs. M. says
Carolina Cooper,
I was also one of Mavis’ winners. I received the “Faith” necklace and gifted it to my sister for Christmas last year.
She is a firefighter dispatcher and this has been a challenging year for those in the trenches. I’m thankful she has faith, and I see her wearing it very often.
Thanks, Mavis, for blessing us!
Heidi P says
I too love seeing peeks at your new home. Barn? Curious minds want to know/see more!
I just placed an etsy order of ornaments and pocket angels. Can’t wait to get them into my hot lil’ hands!
It’s been my goal during covid to support small businesses whenever possible and I thought it was about time to support someone that has inspired me over many years.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday:)
KCB says
Off topic. Can the hot water and baking soda in your chocolate chip cookie recipe be used successfully in any other cookie recipes?
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t know, but I will give it a try on my next batch of gingersnaps and see.
Judi says
You have a barn! The wood floor is gorgeous!
Christie says
Husbands with mute buttons! LOL!!! Let me know if you figure that one out. I love my husband dearly but working from home with him is a whole new challenge after our 20 years together.
Rita says
You have a barn? Any chance you’ll be getting chickens? Maybe a good project for the HH would be making another coop like he crafted at your other place. That was super nice.