Lower Cholesterol / Reduce Stress
I think it’s a well documented fact that having a dog is a wonderful stress reducer. Especially when they enjoy long walks, napping and sharing tea and cookies with you. I do in fact believe we have the greatest dog on the planet earth.
But OH LUCY! I just want to give her 10 million smooches a day.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
I did a fantastic job of getting in my fruits and veggies this week. Hooray for me!
Visit 24 {new} Bakeries / Coffee Shops
So far this year we have tried 3 new coffee/pastry shops. Standard Baking Company has been my favorite. I adore French pastries, and this place has the best so far.
With 21 more coffee/pastry shops to visit, I think it will be fun to see which place comes out on top at the end of the year.
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}
This time around I was able to donate a few books to the cutest Little Free Library near Gardiner, Maine. I LOVE this project!!! I also think it’s fun to see what other people have left.
Towns I’ve donated books to:
- Gardiner, Maine
- Nobleboro, Maine
- Kennebunk and Kennebunkport
Tidy Up / Clean Out / Purge
Absolutely NO purging this past week. And mostly likely I won’t until after I get all my wool dyed. Focus. Focus. Focus. That’s the plan.
- Barn
- Garage
- Closets
- Dresser drawers
- Kitchen
- Sideboard
- DVD collection
Read or Listen to 24 Books {4 down, 20 to go}
I finished listening to Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson. This was the second time I’ve listened to this audiobook and for me, it’s a good reminder to stay the course and to take the time to get it right.
Next up is These Precious Days by Ann Pachett. But I have 7 more days until it’s my turn. Maybe I’ll find something else to listen to between now and then, maybe I won’t.
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
Spend More Time At The Beach
It may be 20 degrees outside, but when the sun is out it totally doesn’t feel like it. No found treasures this past week. But hey, maybe next time.
Paint
Finished at last!!! Vase with Cornflowers and Poppies by Vincent Van Gogh. On to the next one!
So far I’ve finished:
In Stock and Ready to Ship by March 15th / March 30th
Another week another table full of wool. I have a ton I need to bundle up. Hopefully I can get the next round listed in my Etsy shop by next weekend.
Hook 6 “Big” Rugs.
I am currently working on large rug #2 and #3. When I have large backgrounds to work on, it helps to be able to take a break from one rug and work on another one. Weird, I know, but overall it helps move thigns along.
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
Pro Tip: If you’ve ever wondered how you’d survive if the food supply was disrupted, PLANT KALE. It will pretty much survive any type of weather.
Beans, rice and kale. Plus whatever else you could forage. What more would you need?
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
Kath says
I love this post. You are truly living a magical life.
Jamie says
Yes, my kale will come back even in severe northern Illinois winters!!
Brianna says
Kale is hardy. I know someone who grows it for decor as they have a catering business and they use it on their food spread when they cater, it looks really nice. I cannot eat kale as a medication I take specifically states to avoid it, but I never enjoyed it other than in a soup.
Your paint by number turned out really nice. Are you going to hang it up?
I used to listen to audiobooks and podcasts as I worked around the house, but the hubby has been working from home this past month, so I haven’t been able to. I know I could wear some earbuds, but I cannot tolerate things in my ear very long. Thankfully, the weather is getting warmer and I spent the afternoon weeding the front flower bed yesterday. It was nice to get some fresh air, hear the birds, and feel productive in the dirt. I have a few shrubs to transplant (rose of Sharon, crepe Myrtle) and I better hurry up on it before they aren’t dormant. I’m okay if I kill them too, but I just want them out of blocking my windows because the previous homeowner planted them right in front of the windows maybe 18” from the house and they have ripped the screens up and block the window. The rose of Sharon also has stained a lot of the brick facade. That is my goal this week if the ground is soft enough, dig those shrubs out.
KC says
I know earbuds are the normal moving-around way to do audio, but some headsets stay in place for some activities, esp. “sleep” headsets, and that might work out? (I have the Acoustic Sheep sleep phones in the thinner fabric, and they’re basically a headband with the audio components tucked inside.)
Jeanine says
Are you hanging your paint by number pictures in your house? Are they difficult to do? Sounds like fun to do.
Mavis Butterfield says
I have one hung so far and need to get frames for the others. They aren’t hard at all. Go for it.
eliz says
Dogs are the best. I loved to give my lots of smooches too. Its been 3 yrs since I’ve had dogs. I do sleep better not having to worry about my old dogs hurting though.
Unfortunately, I think reducing cholesterol is mostly about the type of foods consumed or not consumed.
Pauline in Upstate NY says
While I can’t comment on the “audio” version, These Precious Days by Ann Patchett is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read (and I say that as someone who doesn’t usually read books of essays). The author wrote these very personal pieces in a way that moved me deeply, and I promptly ordered a copy sent to my BFF.
Tracey says
Agree! Ann Patchett writes from the heart.
Rosemary says
I have completed 10 things on my “Things to do” list (11 more to go). I think I have finally decluttered the whole house including all the paperwork. I have firmly resolved not to allow it to get cluttered again. There is a church in my area that has a huge yard sale every year and I love going to it (I have gotten some great buys) . . . but this year I am NOT going (it is next week). Hopefully, I can stick to my resolve . . .
Similar to your little library boxes, our area has food boxes and we have been putting items in there. I got rid of some food (can goods) that I knew we were not going to eat (all good – nothing expired). Last week I saw that someone had put a couple of books in there. I have a few more things to put in there next week. I don’t know who thought up that idea but it sure is a good one!
Lindsey says
If you like novels or mysteries, Remarkably Bright Creatures. One of the central characters is an octopus, and the writing is some of the most creative I have read in some time. I also learned some things I did not know about these creatures. Honestly, I only read it because someone brow beat me into it, and I ended up enchanted by the creativity of the writer.
Donna says
I read all the time and I LOVED this book!
Bonnie in GA says
I love your painting!
Tracey says
Love Lucy! Love your paint by number!
Did you know you can take both of your loves and create a CUSTOM PAINT BY NUMBER??!! I’ve seen it on etsy- and the paints are included!