“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
My goals for 2018
Goal #1 – Write Like No One is Reading.
“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.” ~ Barbara Kingsolver
Goal #2 – Slow Down
This dog. Once the temps reach 80….. She can only bear to be outside for about 10-15 minutes tops before running in the house to plop down on the floor. Poor Lucy. Also, because I don’t really go anywhere anymore, I brought her car seat in the house and now it’s her favorite spot to take an afternoon {or morning} siesta. What a sweet, sweet pup.
Goal #3 – Shop Small
I bought eggs from cooler at the end of someone’s driveway. 😉
Goal # 4 – Have a Designated Meal Prep Day Eh, It’s Not For Us
I threw in the towel early on this one. Meal prep, and cooking in mass quantities is just not for my family at this stage in our lives.
Goal #5 – Install a Vegetable Garden
Operation corn, dried bean and pumpkin patch continues. I think we have about 65% of the land cleared and now the big push is on to get the area cleared and tilled up by June 1st so we can get the corn seeds in the ground. The pilgrim life, it’s kind of a lot of work. Who knew?
Last night, just before it rained I planted 50 sweet potato slips at the edge of the {future} corn patch. I paid $28.20 for the 50 slips and although I’m not sure how many we will end up with, I would be thrilled if we were able to harvest at least 50 pounds of sweet potatoes to get us through the fall and winter seasons. Have you ever grown sweet potatoes before? Do you remember how many sweet potatoes you harvested from each plant?
Goal #6 – Clear Land for a Chicken Coop and Future Raised Garden Bed Area
At just over 6 weeks old Lucy’s babies are doing great. They are almost big enough to take on a field trip to the other end of the yard {and away from the garden} for some free range time {and hopefully they’ll eat some ticks too!}. Our backyard has a split rail fence with wire fencing attached to it {to keep Lucy in the yard} and the chickens are almost big enough now that they will not be able to squeeze through the little squares on the wire fencing.
Every morning Lucy runs out to the coop to check on her babies and I’m sure she is going to LOVE it when we can let them loose to run around the yard with her.
Goal #7 – Grow 500 Pounds of Vegetables
The garden here is GOING NUTS! The funny thing is, I haven’t watered it once. I don’t know if it’s the humidity, the fact we seem to get rain about every 5 days or so or what… but the vegetables seem to be growing very well here and I am already making plans to expand the growing area for 2019. I would love nothing more than to be able to get to the point where we are growing about 75% of our food in our own backyard. How cool would that be?
Goal #8 – Hook 100 Rugs
I officially have 56 rugs left to hook until I can check this goal off my list for the year. This week I continued working on a few whale pieces and wool flowers for my next Etsy shop update coming this Saturday at 6pm EST.
Goal #9 – Make a Set of Dolls
I plan to make a set {or two} of primitive dolls later this year after the garden has been put to bed.
Goal #10 – Make a Sampler, Frame it and Hang it on the Wall Done!
Goal #11 – Visit 22 Bakeries
I’ll have a new bakery to share with you next week!
Goal #12 – Start a Collection
The wood furniture collection continues! I am currently on the hunt for 2 upholstered chairs and a coffee table for the family room, a dining room table to go with the 6 chairs I scored for $75, 2 period style lamps, a side board or some sort of low cabinet for the television and about 6 work tables {preferably wooden}.
Well, a couple of days ago I popped by Goodwill and they were having a 50% furniture sale. The only catch was in order to get the discount you had to take it home with you that day. Apparently the lady said they had way too much furniture and they need to move it pronto.
Funny thing was though, the table I bought was originally marked at $60. Then they marked it down to $20. And then it was half off so it was $10, and then the cashier asked if I was a senior because if I was I would get an additional 20% off. AM I A SENIOR? Seriously?
Yada yada yada…. She ended up selling me the table for $8 because she said everyone deserves a discount. Ummm okay. Thanks? But maybe, in the future, if Goodwill would just price their DONATED items at a reasonable price in the first place, they might move their goods a little faster.
But what do I know? I’m just the customer. Who usually walks out of the store empty handed because their prices are ridiculous. This time though, I feel like I actually got a bargain.
Goal #13 – Read {or listen to} 26 Books
I waited 3 months to listen Sister’s First and then stop listening to it about 1/4 of the way in. Ehhh, it wasn’t for me. Then I started listening to Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks. I made it about 45 minutes in before deleting that one two. I just couldn’t get into it. I think it was the author’s voice. So now, I am listening to Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. The book is actually narrated by Richard Thomas {John Boy} and well, I could listen to him talk for days so I think I’ll make it through to the end of the book no problem.
Goal #14 – Try 12 New Canning Recipes
Its official, canning season has begun! This past week I canned a few jars of Susan’s Lilac Jelly recipe. I used deep purple lilac blossoms and the jelly turned out a beautiful soft pink. I haven’t been able to do as much canning the past few years but I have plans to do lots of canning this summer.
Also, I’ve decided I am going to make a jam sampler for both my parents and my in-laws to give this Christmas using some of the Weck jars in my collection. I’m not sure how many jams I’ll make, {I think I’ll shoot for 10 – 12} but it will be a great incentive to try some new recipes this year.
Goal #15 – Secret {for now} Holiday Project
I’ve only got 2 weeks to go before my “secret” project arrives. 🙂 🙂 🙂
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2018? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2018 Goals HERE.
Melissa says
I’ve been asked a few times if I want the senior discount. I’m your age. I thought it was because my hair is au naturel (gray). The face still looks young but the hair doesn’t.
Why they asked you, I have no idea. Nice she still gave you the discount, though. That’s what they always do for me, too.
Terri says
I look young for my age. I have to ask for my senior discount. I think they are just trying to be nice if they ask. And some stores are offering senior discount at 50.. Hard to tell anymore. Just wish that when I finally reach the time when I want to look younger that I have the bank account and doctor that Jane Fonda has. She freely admits to having work done. And she looks great.
Tricia says
I planted about 9 or so sweet potato plants in a raised bed last year and had a 22 lb harvest. They are delicious!
UpstateNYer says
You are in New England now. It’s Yard Sale and Estate season! Forget the local Goodwill there for a while and shop the locals. You might be surprised at what goodies you find.
Mrs. C. says
Yes, I’ve planted quite a few sweet potatoes. Honestly, sometimes they grow like gangbusters, othertimes, not so much. I haven’t figured out why. There are TONS of different varieties. Check out Southern Exposure Seeds so that you can plan for next year. The pest issue I had last year were wireworms. Stinkers.
Jamie says
I have had wire worms for a few years. They….are…..horrible!!! I live in Seattle. So sorry, I know your pain 🙁
Nancy says
We grew sweet potatoes in our garden at our church for food pantry and they did very well. The deer do come to eat the leaves, but did not cause too much damage. The last two years, mice have destroyed a good amount of the crop by gnawing a small amount and then the potato rots.
Mrs. C. says
Daria says
Thank you for buying from my company, Johnny’s Selected Seeds!! I have grown a few sweet potatoes before- keep them well-watered and let the vines go crazy, and you should have a big harvest.
E in Upstate NY says
Oh, before they’re gone, try dandelion, violet and honeysuckle jelly! Then when sweet corn is in season, try corn cob jelly. Oh, and if you have chives growing there, try chive flower jelly. These will definitely expand your varieties.
E in Upstate NY says
oops, dandelion, violet and honeysuckle are not one jelly, but separate varieties.
Leslie says
Oh and violet syrup! Been dying to dry this myself, but can’t find a good source of violets, and haven’t had good luck with them growing here.
Alex Graywolfe says
The port orchard Goodwill is awesome same with the thrift store on Bay Street caross from the KFC, I am planning my next trip to a thrift store there, always vintage always awesome. So furniture collection amazing growing potential from there.
I now so want to cross the bridge today.
I’m a homeschool Mama of two girls and junking is our pass time.
Jodie says
I made Lilac Jelly this week, too! It is so good. Yours is so much prettier. Mine turned out clear.
Julia says
I got our current couch at one of those marked down half off Goodwill days. I paid $15!
Julie says
we always plant our sweet potato slips in hills or ridges, and continue to keep hilling them as they grow. Always had a great harvest.
Marie says
I do too!
Ken Newman says
Last season Joan and I planted one 4′ x 8′ raised bed ( 18″ deep ) with 10 slips of “Beauregard ” sweet potatoes and harvested 57lbs.
Leslie says
Love the whale. Are you going to make some lobsta’ rugs?
Mavis Butterfield says
I was thinking about it. We’ll see. 🙂
Margery says
Still trying to think what your secret project could be, I was thinking blacksmith work, but you seem to enjoy textiles, so thinking large floor loom. I can’t wait to see what your plans are.
As far as menu planning around here it’s odd in that I need two plans one for the summer and college breaks when we are a family of 7 with boys who eat well, and the rest of the year when we are a family of 3 and the only child is a picky eater. I made a huge pot of soup on Saturday and it usually last us the week, nope it was all gone and they were asking for more. Not looking forward to making this weeks list. But at least we have a routine, Sunday is snacks and leftovers, Monday- breakfast, Tuesday – grill, Wednesday- big salad day , Thursday is pasta, Friday Pizza, and Saturday is soup.