Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Only a few more weeks until it’s strawberry season here in Maine and I think this year I may visit a u-pick farm if the timing lines up right. You just can’t beat fresh, local strawberries! And strawberry shortcake for dinner? I’m looking forward to it again!
Visit 24 {new} Bakeries / Coffee Shops
Last week we checked out 2 donut places. The first place was a 10/10, The Cookie Jar Pastry Shop in Cape Elizabeth. The second one had me telling the HH that I wanted my calories back.
Why is it so hard to find a good bake shop these days!? It’s like finding a needle in a haystack I tell you. But at least now we know we can pop by The Cookie Jar Pastry shop anytime we’re in Cape Elizabeth for a sweet treat.
New Bakeries / Coffee Shops I’ve Been To This Year {That I liked}
- The Cookie Jar Pastry Shop
- Ritual Bakehouse and Patisserie
- Caramel Patisserie
- Standard Baking Co.
- Saltwater Farm Cafe
- Coffee Roasters of the Kennebunks
- Farine Bakery and Cafe
Go On An Adventure
I think I should go to London. For the tea, the cakes, the museums and to load up on my favorite biscuits. You can never go wrong with London.
Contribute to 12 Free Little Libraries. {6 town down, 6 to go}
I was able to contribute to another free little library this past week, this time it was in Raymond, Maine. I’m so glad I decided to do this and I’m looking forward to donating to more of them.
Towns I’ve donated books to:
- Gardiner, Maine
- Nobleboro, Maine
- Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Maine
- Cape Elizabeth, Maine
- Raymond, Maine
- Bellevue, Washington
Read or Listen to 24 Books {7 down, 17 to go}
I’m not listening to anything right now, but I am looking forward to signing up for a new library card once we move.
Hopefully whatever {free} digital subscription service they use is better than the one I’m currently using. The goal is not to have to PAY to listen to audiobooks.
Books I’ve Read or Listened To This Year:
- Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service by Gary Sinise. 10/10
- Elizabeth The Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith 9/10
- Wait Till Next Year by Dorris Kearns Goodwin 8/10
- George VI and Elizabet:by Sally Bedell Smith 9/10
- Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson 9/10
- These Precious Days by Ann Pachett 9.5/10
- Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Spend More Time At The Beach
It was a good week for walking at the beach. Lucy found several crusty crabs to snack on and I found a few treasures. 🙂
Paint
I think I’m about 40% of the way finished with my latest {and last?} paint by number. It’s a big one {24” x 36”} and so far it’s looking like the real deal.
Once I get it finished, I plan on hopping on an airplane and visiting the site. 🙂 Because that’s what crazy people do.
So far I’ve finished:
- Portrait of Joseph Roulin
- Red Boats at Argenteuil
- Regattas at Argenteuil
- Vase with Cornflowers and Poppies
- Sunflowers
- Garden Path with Chickens
- Goldfish
Hook 6 “Big” Rugs.
I didn’t work on any rugs this past week but I do plan on starting on one tonight.
Large Rugs I’ve Hooked This Year
Visit 6 Greenhouses {that I’ve never been to before}.
No visits to any greenhouses this past week, but I already know which one I want to go to first.
Grow Baby Grow
Although I’m without a garden at the moment I did pick up 3 flower baskets {I couldn’t resist} and will hang them up as soon as we move in. My next garden will be an interesting one, that’s for sure. 😉
It’s going to take A LOT of planning to get it just right. More on that later though.
Donate to 12 Different Organizations in Maine
We finally made it up to Camp Sunshine to drop off our donation of 9,000 pipe cleaners and 3,000 googly eyes. The grounds are spectacular and I’m so glad this place exists.
So Far This Year I’ve Donated To:
- Cleaning Up My Local Beach
- New Hope MidCoast {50 pairs of new socks}
- Humane Society {180 trays of cat food}
- Travis Mills Foundation
- Camp Sunshine
So how are YOUR goals for 2024 coming along? I’d love to hear about them.
~Mavis
Goals I’ve Already Completed This Year
In Stock and Ready to Ship by March 15th/ March 30th Now April 15th DONE!
I finally finished up all the major wool dyeing and pattern/kit making I had hoped too. All the “extra” wool is tucked away in bins so if I run out of wool in my Etsy shop I can whip up some more bundles in a jiffy. A summer off from dyeing wool… It’s going to be pretty rad.
Tidy Up / Clean Out / Purge DONE
We cleaned the whole house, inside and out. And then we sold it. Yee-Haw!
BarnGarageClosetsDresser drawersKitchenSideboardDVD collection
Jamie Weaver says
If I could go to the UK right now and I wanted to go to a big city I would go to Edinburgh. It is a bit more pedestrian friendly, less crowded, and it is easier to get out of if you want to visit the country side for an afternoon or overnight. It is also less expensive.
Erin says
Most of the libraries in Maine have an Interlibrary system that allows you to borrow from other libraries throughout the state. I almost always have access to great audiobooks, even though my town is tiny. And I know you aren’t a fan of subscriptions, but for about $35/yr you can become a subscriber to large library systems like DC, LA & such. Then you’d have access to every audiobook imaginable. It’s such a great benefit for a really low price. Way cheaper than audible!
Brianna says
I live outside DC and utilize their amazing library system. My mother, who lives in a very rural western area with a tiny library, uses my card so she can get all of the audiobooks among other resources. She loves it and it helps her pass the time as she has a hard time reading books. She loves the digital magazines too. It has really opened up a whole new world for her the past year or so. I would recommend it, even if it was $35.
Virginia says
Thanks for the tip! I’m going to check that out. Good timing since I just paused my Audible subscription — tired of the monthly fee.
Sue says
Yes! I try to only activate my audible subscription when I want audiobooks that simply aren’t available from anywhere else.
Most of the time I use Libby, which is an app that uses your library card to connect you with their digital collection of ebooks and audiobooks.
The thing is, you can connect multiple library cards to access multiple collections! So Mavis, you could continue using your previous library’s digital collection, PLUS add your new library, and maybe get a card from a big city next time you’re there, so you can include their large collection too! Makes it much easier to find a short line for popular new releases, because big libraries buy many copies of each book.
Plus I find fewer physical quality issues with digital audiobooks as compared to actual discs, especially from the library, where they get scratched so easily. I’ve got some bluetooth headphones and I listen all the time while I’m out doing yardwork etc.
eliz says
What are your favorite biscuits that you buy in London?
Mavis Butterfield says
Jacob’s Polo biscuits are my favorite. But I usually fill half a suitcase with a big variety of them. And Hula Hoops, chomp bars and other stuff too. 🙂
eliz says
Polo biscuits look really good.
Annette says
I can’t have petunias. They become a feast for budworms and I hate having to buy bottles of spray.
Ideas?
Mary says
Just got back from a week in London, the English country side and Edinburg. Goal – have tea everyday, which I did. By the way i was a solo traveler in a small group of 16 with an amazing British guide, Anita.
MEM says
Mavis, it looks like you didn’t rate Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand? I read it and would give it 10/10.
Molly says
Have you been to Brigham and Cook British Goods in Freeport? I can’t remember if I learned about this place through you or not. They have a huge selection of snacks and food.
Another idea for you is to make a day trip to the Mt Washington area. You can get lunch or tea on the porch at The Mt Washington Inn or if you dare drive to the top of the mountain. It’s terrifying and gorgeous! Definitely take warm jackets for the top.
Mavis Butterfield says
I haven’t been to the British store in Freeport yet but it’s on my list.
Tracy says
WOW! Got me humming ” I see London, I see France, I see Mavis’ lalala …”
Jennifer Jo says
Rebecca just arrived in London today!
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh that’s exciting!!! I really want to hear about her experience on the Queen Mary 2. Tell her take take loads of pictures. I hope she is having fun.
sandy says
Oh London. It is calling. I have to go to the Corgi Statue in Rutland county. I only wish I could take my two corgis…
Mavis-where do you get your paint by numbers from?
Mavis Butterfield says
Etsy. If you click on the highlighted links below the paint by number, it will take you right to the ones I’ve painted.
Nancy H says
You might be interested in this – for Mother’s Day my son-in-law had a paint by number kit made from one of his pictures of our daughter. He then painted it and presented the picture to her for Mother’s Day. It turned out great. I am not sure which company he used.. I think he told me paint your pictures was the name of it. If you do another paint by number maybe you should consider doing one of your own photos. Maybe one of Lucy.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ve thought about doing one of Lucy. Maybe this winter.
Jennifer says
We have a Little Free Library that was turned into a free food pantry. I have decided to donate to that once a month since I frequently drive by and it looks empty. As for the real LFL I do need to clean out my bookshelf since my dh brought back a box of classics from his parents house. Maybe I will find LFL to donate some old ones to.
Dawn says
Mavis, as a Maine resident you may be able to join the Portland Public Library…here is a snippet from their website.
“Free Library cards are available to:
Residents and full-time students attending school (5 or older) in Portland or any town in the Southern Maine Library District (York County, Cumberland County, and part of Oxford County).”
I live in Massachusetts and have a library card at my local library plus I was able to get one for the Boston Public Library which gives me access to so many more books, and I only use it online. If The Girl still lives in MA maybe she can get one and share?
Mavis Butterfield says
Dawn!!! That was exactly what I was hoping for. Free. Awesome. Thank you. I will get one as soon as we move in.