Lower Cholesterol / Reduce Stress
Sweet sweet Lucy. With all the snacks the HH sneaks her everyday, I wonder what her cholesterol level is. Do they even test that in dogs? What a life she has.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Doing pretty good in this department. Our main meal {linner} has been freezer meals this week, but snacking has mostly been fresh or dried fruit. Okay, and maybe the occasional cookie.
I still have a bunch of cherries in the freezer though that I need to use up. So I have a feeling some cherry banana smoothies are in my future.
Visit 24 {new} Bakeries / Coffee Shops
The Saltwater Farm Cafe in Wells, Maine was a big winner! I’d like to go back during the summer when I suspect they have more baked goods out and their gift shop {in the building next door} is open.
Next up I think I’m going to give Standard Baking in Portland a try. Word on the street is they know how to make a good French pastry. I’ll report back. 😉
New Bakeries / Coffee Shops I’ve Been To This Year:
Go On An Adventure
No plans yet for an adventure.
Contribute to 12 Free Little Libraries. {2 town down, 10 to go}
Last week I donated to a free little library in Nobleboro, Maine. I love the free little libraries! I wonder if I could get the HH to build me one? I saw on Etsy that people are selling “Instant Little Free Libraries” ie: used books and thought, hey now, that’s pretty clever!
Towns I’ve donated books to:
- Nobleboro, Maine
- Kennebunk and Kennebunkport
Tidy Up / Clean Out / Purge
No purging this past week.
- Barn
- Garage
- Closets
- Dresser drawers
- Kitchen
- Sideboard
- DVD collection
Read or Listen to 24 Books {4 down, 20 to go}
I am currently listening to Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson. I listened to this audiobook a few years ago but it popped up in my feed and so I decided to listen to it again while I wait for the books on my waitlist to become available.
Side note: Does anyone know where I can find Steve’s Southern Banana Pudding Ice Cream? I haven’t been able to find it in any store for about 3 years now.
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
Spend More Time At The Beach
I haven’t made it to the beach in a few days… But I’m hoping that since I got lucky last time and found a bunch of heart shaped rocks, I’ll be able to find some more.
Paint
I’m getting close!!! My current paint by number kit, Vase with Cornflowers and Poppies By Vincent Van Gogh is coming down the home stretch! I figure I’ll have it done in about 3 or 4 more sittings.
So far I’ve finished:
In Stock and Ready to Ship by March 15th / March 30th
The plan is to have all my wool dyed and bundled by March 15th and all my patterns draw and kits made by March 30th. So far so good with the Etsy shop re-stock.
Hook 6 “Big” Rugs.
I am currently working on large rug #2. It’s a big one though so it’s taking a while. My goal is to get the center hooked tonight and then pull it off the frame and decide where to hook next.
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
It snowed. Again. Shocking, I know. Ahh Maine. I love it here. But I also love it when things warm up and I can grow things.
Hopefully I can get all my wool dyed first though.
Donate to 12 Different Organizations in Maine
So far I have picked up 50 pairs of socks to donate to a women’s shelter and purchased supplies off the Camp Sunshine wish list. Now I just need to wait until I am in the area of both places to drop them off. For March I think I’ll be donating to an animal shelter.
So how are YOUR goals for 2024 coming along? I’d love to hear about them.
~Mavis
Cindy R says
Not sure where you can purchase Steve’s Southern Banana Pudding ice cream, but there are recipes on Pinterest for banana pudding ice cream which may taste even fresher and better if you make it yourself.
Mel says
I haven’t heard of that ice cream, but it looks like Safeway might carry it.
I’ve done slightly better drinking water and eating more intentionally. Both are mostly foiled by the sheer lack of time in our days, so it’s harder to correct.
One of my goals was to celebrate holidays this year, and I think I’m on track there. We celebrated Valentine’s with takeout, and I started picking out Easter basket stuff.
I haven’t taken a day off to clean out my closet yet, but I’m thinking of taking all Spring Break off to do stuff like that.
Saving money continues to be extremely tricky. I’m thinking of adding a line item that is just “ridiculous baby expenses.” For example, $100 shoes required for baby physical therapy. Ridiculous. Likewise for, oh, look, the baby outgrew disposable diapers, so now we have to buy cloth ones, but most cloth diapers top out at the same size, so it’s several hundred dollars trying to find a brand that works and buying enough of them. Ridiculous.
Laura says
An idea for a donation is something for an assisted living facility. When you’re looking at library book sales for books for little free libraries, consider also purchasing books or puzzles for them. The ones in our area are glad to receive such. They may also be accepting craft supplies or something else. Maybe you could email or call to see what they may be accepting. Thanks for showing kindness in your part of the world!
Lindsey says
I have puzzles and usually take them to the free puzzles table at our library but will take the next batch to our assisted living facility. THank you for the idea.
Cecile Hoare says
Puzzles, books of all kinds, craft supplies, prize items for game nights, I would call the recreation manager of your local facility and ask what they need, what they can use, and what is on their wish list! I worked in retirement care for quite a few years and these are all items we loved to receive!
Sluggy says
Honey, I have my doubts about an ice cream company from MA making an authentic recipe for Southern Banana Pudding ice cream. Could happen as I have never tasted it but I have my doubts. But good luck in your search for that flavor.
Sluggy in Louisiana
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh Sluggy it’s soooo good though! 🙂
Rosemary says
I have completed 8 (out of 21) items on my “Things to do” list and I am hoping to get #9 finished today. It is very satisfying to cross out those completed items!
Laura Z says
Here in the Carolinas, we have a chain called Cook Out. They serve a super thick banana pudding milkshake which is delicious — it’s just a vanilla milkshake with banana slices and crumbled vanilla wafers mixed in. If you take a good vanilla ice cream, soften it a bit, stir in some crumbled vanilla wafers and slices bananas and refreeze it, you’ll have a very tasty banana pudding ice cream, especially if you top it with whipper cream. 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ll give it a go! Thanks Laura Z!
Mel says
It seems like this ice cream recipe might be based off Steve’s:
https://www.seriouseats.com/dense-rich-chewy-new-england-ice-cream-recipe
Laura Z says
Hope you like it! The richer and more custardy (is that a word? 🙂 ) the ice cream the better.
Mrs. c says
Or is the Steve’s in Boston?
Mavis Butterfield says
This one, I think. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve%27s_Ice_Cream
Allison Lee Kitfield says
If its the same Steve that had an ice cream shop just outside of Cambridge in the 80’s, I’d move heaven and earth to find what they are making. Much to my amazement, there were long lines of people,even late in the evening in sub-zero weather (only a short line, a counter, and ice cream machines were in the tiny shop) for the best hot fudge sundae, with real whipped cream, that ever was. Everything they made was to die for. One of many great memories of living in Boston!
Pat says
I googled the ice cream and Acme Markets came up.
Mavis Butterfield says
Amce markets take me to Shaw’s Markets and I’ve already looked there. 🙁 They don’t stock it.
J in OH-IO says
Mavis, I think we are now all rooting for you to create your own version of Steve’s banana pudding ice cream and share the recipe! This also might be a good nicecream flavor adding some honey and crushed up vanilla wafers and a banana pudding to the puréed bananas?
Heather says
Hi,
Check out Steve’s Ice Cream “Brand Revival of Steve’s Ice Cream” on Wikipedia. It says that Dean Foods purchased Steve’s brand in 2017 and as of July 2021, Dean Foods does not show Steve’s Ice Cream as one of the brands on its website. So it might be no longer 🙁
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Heather, that would explain why I haven’t been able to find it in about 3 years!!! I guess I’ll have to try and make my own.
Brenda Davis says
What time is Linner? Do you just eat breakfast and Linner everyday?
Blue Bell ice cream has a banana pudding flavor!
Tanya says
Blue Bell is regional out of Texas. Unless you live in the south central US you are out of luck. Also, it’s delicious!
Kathy Wolfe says
Our church has a small food pantry in our parking lot. It is free to anyone who has a need. We have a hard time keeping it stocked. Times are hard for so many people.