My 14 Goals For 2024 – Week 38 of 52

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

Let’s just say… We will be eating a lot of apples in the coming weeks. I’d say months but I highly doubt they’ll last that long because HELLO… Apple pie! Which totally counts as a healthy meal.

Visit 24 {new} Bakeries / Coffee Shops

We didn’t check out any new bakeries this past week but we did go to a new diner. Does that count? I had a hot chocolate… and it was spot on.

New Bakeries / Coffee Shops I’ve Been To This Year {That I liked}

• The Cookie Jar Pastry Shop
• Fortnum and Mason
• Ritual Bakehouse and Patisserie
• Caramel Patisserie
• Standard Baking Co. 
• Saltwater Farm Cafe
• Coffee Roasters of the Kennebunks
• Farine Bakery and Cafe
• Night Moves Bread
• Cape Porpoise Kitchen

Contribute to 12 Free Little Libraries. {7 town down, 5 to go}

I didn’t contribute to any new libraries this past week but I did pick up two books at the local library for $2 each. Do any of you have the Jamie Oliver VEG cookbook?

Do you have a favorite recipe in there you think I should try? Do tell.

Towns I’ve donated books to:

• Snowshill, England
• Gardiner, Maine
• Nobleboro, Maine
• Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Maine
• Cape Elizabeth, Maine
• Raymond, Maine
• Bellevue, Washington

Spend More Time At The Beach

We took the puggle princess for a walk on the beach. She found a crusty crab to eat. Hardly anyone was there. It was a good day. 🙂

Read or Listen to 24 Books {8 down, 16 to go}

I didn’t read or listen to any new books this past week. 

Books I’ve Read or Listened To This Year: 

• Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service by Gary Sinise. 10/10
• The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron 9/10
• 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

Paint 

I’m still trying to decide if I am going to add to my paint by numbers collection this winter or try something else. I wish there were more of Van Gogh’s sunflowers to choose from. I think a whole wall of those would be pretty cool.

Paintings I’ve finished this year:

• 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 made ZERO progress on the turkey rug I’ve been hooking. ZERO. C’mon snow! I’m ready for you.

Large Rugs I’ve Hooked This Year

• Three Roosters
• Hidden In The Garden 
• Yankee Doodle
• Double Nantucket Whale Runner with the American flag

Visit 6 Greenhouses {4 down 2 to go}

We visited my all time favorite greenhouses at Kew Gardens and I have loads of photos to show you. But I think I might wait until this winter to share them. There is so much other stuff going on right now that I want to share.

Grow Baby Grow

I’ve already set out today’s project for the HH; putting together the 3 obelisks that were delivered on Friday. I’m sure he’ll thank me later. 😉

The obelisks that I ordered from H Potter were on sale and since I knew I wanted a few more for my garden next summer, I went ahead and ordered them. In case you’re looking for the same type of thing, they are super sturdy and the quality is really good.

Donate to 12 Different Organizations in Maine

Although this totally wouldn’t count for this year… I’m thinking about starting a flat or two of plants for a charity garden sale next year. The idea came to me when I was out walking the other day and saw some free plants out on the curb. 

Anyone know of any church or school or garden club in southern Maine that hosts one {and is always looking for plant donations?}.

So Far This Year I’ve Donated To:

• Grammy Rose Dog Rescue
• 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
• Honor Flight Maine

So how are YOUR goals for 2024 coming along? I’d love to hear about them. 

~Mavis

Goals I’ve Already Completed This Year

Go On An Adventure DONE

I’d say that spending over a week in England totally counts as an adventure. I didn’t start the year thinking I’d go… But hey, you just never know what’s just around the corner now do you.

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!

• Barn
• Garage
• Closets 
• Dresser drawers
• Kitchen 
• Sideboard
• DVD collection