Lower Cholesterol / Reduce Stress
We went on a long walk and came across 2 wooden chairs someone had set out by their trash cans but the HH said we didn’t need them. 🙁 Lame.
I love this about Maine. People put out random things at the end of their driveway and it’s like a big treasure hunt on trash day. I LOVE IT! You just never know what you are going to find.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
We are currently eating our way throught the 12 oranges my mother in law sent. I’m thinking about using the last ones to make scones.
Visit 24 {new} Bakeries / Coffee Shops
We found a new coffee shop/bakery/cafe! And they sell loaves of Fire King cinnamon bread!!! If you live on the east coast and have enjoyed the best cinnamon french toast of your life in a restaurant, they probably used this bread. OH MY WORD! It’s sooo good!
I’ll tell you more about the cafe soon.
New Bakeries / Coffee Shops I’ve Been To This Year:
Go On An Adventure
No plans yet. Although I did seriously think about signing up for Sue’s international artists residency exchange in Southern France.
I decided in the end though it was an area I wouldn’t want to visit without the HH. And I don’t speak French. I can pronounce French pastries, but that’s about it. 😉
Contribute to 12 Free Little Libraries. {1 town down, 11 to go}
So far we’ve donated to 2 free little libraries {although since they were so close to each other, I am only counting it as 1}.
- Kennebunk and Kennebunkport
Tidy Up / Clean Out / Purge
Nope. And it’s not likley to happen until after I get all my wool dyed.
- Barn
- Garage
- Closets
- Dresser drawers
- Kitchen
- Sideboard
- DVD collection
Read or Listen to 24 Books {1 down, 23 to go}
I am currently listening to George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy by Sally Bedell Smith. The audiobook is 23 hours long!!! I have 3 hours to go.
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
Spend More Time At The Beach
I am still on the hunt for the perfect piece of driftwood for my friend Kathy’s husband’s terrarium. I didn’t find it, but I did find King George.
Paint
My current paint by number kit, Vase with Cornflowers and Poppies By Vincent Van Gogh is coming along. I’m going to need a magnifying glass though to paint the center. Yikes!
So far I’ve finished:
In Stock and Ready to Ship by March 15th / March 30th
Things are moving along. I still have a long way to go, but I have my head down and aI am plowing though my list. I have about 100 patterns in my Etsy shop right now so this goal is going to keep me busy for the next 2 months.
I love my Juki!
Hook 6 “Big” Rugs.
I finished my first large rug of the year; Hidden In The Garden and now I’m on to my next one.
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
I currently have my lavender seeds in the refrigerator {they need a cold treatment before they’re planted} and will be starting those in another month or so. Otherwise, not much to report in the gardening department.
I did pick up two new plants at Trader Joe’s though and am seriously thinking about buying the majority of my plant starts this year rather than starting them from seed. We’ll see how things line up with my goal to get all my wool dyed / patterns drawn first, and then go from there.
If only there were more hours in the day, I could fit it all in.
Donate to 12 Different Organizations in Maine
The supplies I ordered from the Camp Sunshine wish list came in {I bought 9,000 pipe cleaners and 2,000 googly eyes} and now I just need to drop them off.
For February I’m thinking about donating to a local animal shelter. I hear they need cat food. I know nothing about cats other than they meow! Do you have a cat? What kind of food do you buy for your cat? What should I buy?
So how are YOUR goals for 2024 coming along? I’d love to hear about them.
~Mavis
Mel says
Our stray cats like Iams dry food, Fancy Feast gravy lovers wet food, and Hartz delectable squeeze up treats.
My goals are going okay. I did slightly better with food and hydration, but it was a busy week, so I still need to improve. Saving is probably the biggest challenge though. We’ve had roughly $500 of unforeseen expenses every single week of January, so that seriously cuts into savings no matter how aggressively I budget.
Holley says
Our local shelters have wish lists posted on their website. Maybe you could check to see if yours does too.
Melonie K. says
Our animal shelter has a specific list of foods they use; they try to keep the animals on products that are easily accessible to folks of all income levels in our community so no one is prevented from adopting because an animal is accustomed to an expensive or niche brand. I’d check with your shelter to see if they have one they prefer.
Another helpful item for cats would be kitty litter – shelters often go through a lot of it.
Our shelter always has bleach, towels, and blankets on their list as well; they go through a LOT of bleach cleaning up after the animals and can use old towels for cleaning, grooming, and for animal bedding, and the blankets for bedding, of course.
Margo says
Had to laugh when I read your goal of purging. We were one of the unlucky ones last month who got flooded from the recent So. Cal storms. I’ve had a goal of purging things for a long time. Most of our belongings and furniture made it through the flood, but there’s still quite a bit that has gone or is going. Everything else is in boxes. But like I told my husband, it all doesn’t have to make it back into our cupboards and shelves.
Karen says
I agree with the above, I’ve volunteered at cat shelters and they often have wishlists on their websites. The shelter we volunteer at currently will also take any and all aluminum-they sell it to get money for supplies. They also regularly ask for crafty people to knit or crochet cat toys.
Paula says
Check with the shelter on a specific kind. I volunteer for an animal shelter. They keep them on a certain food so that they don’t have tummy problems. So, if they receive a different kind, they donate it to an animal food bank.
Jennifer says
Paying off the car hasn’t seen much progress due to car repairs on dh’s car, and an expensive tree removal emergency. I have so many goals and essentially not enough money for them all. If only I could get kids off my payroll that would really help. My #2 is fully on her own. My #1 lives at home but covers all his expenses. But the food! And utilities increase! Oh my! My #3 lives at home but is in paramedic school. He works some and covers his wants. I cover room, board and tuition. My #4 JUST graduated esthetician school. The count down is on until she is fully on her own. Hoping by August 1st when her lease renews that she will be able to cover it completely. But at only 19 I can see us still needing to help.
If you had to bring in more money how would you do it?
Sharon says
Hi. If I can maybe suggest also donating to trap and release for feral kitties. They rarely get help. Even though community cats help keep vermin down. Maybe do a google. They always need help. They always need towel and blankets and pillows that people throw out.
FeralCat says
Thanks for this. Feral cats mostly need food – and anything and everything is great as a donation for them. Canned food is best for the ferals (and all cats) because dry food tends to leave them a bit dehydrated. I usually feed Wellness (which used to be cheaper), but cat food has gotten so expensive post-pandemic. It is sad.
Kippy says
I agree with checking with the shelter to see what pet supplies and or food they need. I order food etc for my pets from Chewy. Prices and selection are good and you could probably have the items shipped directly to the shelter!
LizG says
A lot of the shelters around here use Purina Cat and kitten foods. Like others have said, check to see what your shelter wants. They usually have a reason for requesting a specific food or litter brand.
Tracey says
Those chairs need a home!
Lately I’ve been snapping a quick pic of items I see put out for free in my neighborhood and make a brief “for free” FB Marketplace posting without a specific address, but putting in description that there’s a free item on the road. No need to get involved.
Dawn says
The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland is a life-saving shelter located in Westbrook, Maine. They also transport “death row” animals from other states. Their wish list is available online.
Also, you may not know this but most animal rescues always need linens so whenever I am clearing out old towels, sheets and blankets I drop them off at my local rescue.
Torry says
Disclaimer: I am not a pet owner. Having said that, I wonder if pet shelters would prefer money, so they can bulk buy. Maybe check with them to see what they prefer.
I know that we no longer donate food to the food banks in our area; instead, we donate money. Since they can get more with what we would have spent, it just makes sense.