“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
Darrrrling, the blooms are just marvelous, wouldn’t you agree.
Would you take a look at those big fat juicy peonies! I want to squeeze them they are so lovely. There are still a few peony plants that have not bloomed {in front of the potting shed} and I am hoping those will be pink ones. If not, I may have to break down and order a few because they are my new favorite flower.
Goal #3 – Shop Small
Yesterday morning the HH and I were out running errands when I noticed a sign for a local horticultural center’s plant sale and so of course we had to stop and look around. I don’t need anymore flowers {Seriously!} but one can never have too many tomato plants, right? We ended up paying $6 for an India Rose tomato plant. Have you ever grown one of those before? Click on over HERE to see what they look like when they are ripe. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL and pretty tasty too.
The other thing I noticed… Was all the tomato plants they were offering were started in little biodegradable grow bags. I’m totally going to order a set and see if I like starting seeds in the bags rather than using Jiffy pellets.
Goal # 4 – Have a Designated Meal Prep Day 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, and we are very near the finish line with only about 10% of the area left to clear before we can get Manny out there. I wanted to get the corn planted by June 1st, but now it’s looking like it will be June 5th or 6th.
Goal #6 – Clear Land for a Chicken Coop and Future Raised Garden Bed Area
Right now we are just trying to keep the main vegetable garden weeded and get the corn patch cleared. Construction on the coop will begin in early July.
Goal #7 – Grow 500 Pounds of Vegetables
Hey now, check out those little turnips! I always had such a hard time trying to grow turnips in the Pacific Northwest but here, they grow like mad because of the humidity. I’ll have to plant another row for my Dad so he’ll have some to pull when my parents come to visit later this summer.
Goal #8 – Hook 100 Rugs
I officially have 48 rugs left to hook until I can check this goal off my list for the year! Last night I wrapped up bouquets of my hooked flowers and listed them in my Etsy shop along with 3 whale rugs and a chicken pillow.
This was the second month in a row I waited to list a group of items all at once {as opposed to sporadically as I finished them} and I really think I like the whole once a month system better. It’s such a time saver and going forward I think I’ll be doing themed listings once a month instead of a bunch of random things. For instance, this month I’ll work on a red, white and blue pieces to list for July. And the month after that, animals.
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 don’t have any bakeries on the calendar for this week {but I do have a long list of one’s I want to try}. However there is an ice cream shop the HH and I are planning on checking out in the next few days and I am REALLY EXCITED about it!!! I LOVE ice cream and I’m learning it’s a BIG thing around these parts so you know, it’s important that I try and fit in and try as many as I can this season, right? 😉
Goal #12 – Start a Collection
I was able to add another *free* plain wooden frame to my collection yesterday. I found it at the recycling center as the HH was unloading our cardboard and trash. I am slowly amassing a list of winter arts and crafts projects to work on and this frame will fit right in to the mix.
Goal #13 – Read {or listen to} 26 Books
I picked up One Potato, Two Potato up at the library this week hoping to find a few recipes for this winter as I’m pretty sure we are going to have a boatload of potatoes to use this winter.
Goal #14 – Try 12 New Canning Recipes
Imagine how gorgeous this hutch is going to look later this fall when it’s filled with canning jars. I may have to buy a case or two of half gallon canning jars for the bottom row though as the shelves are not adjustable. I just don’t know what I’d put in them. Pickles maybe?
Goal #15 – Secret {for now} Holiday Project
Ahhh yes. I popped by the thrift store last week and found two black dresses…. which will come in handy for my secret holiday project. 😉 Mum’s the word on what this goal actually is, but I’ll be excited when I can finally get started with it in the next week or so.
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2018? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2018 Goals HERE.
Lacy says
Mavis, along with your collection of butter molds and was it rolling pins? You totally need to start collecting those Antique Blue Jars! Those would be perfect in your house and give it that primitive feel! I’ve collected several over the years and have all my dried good stored in them (think, dried beans!). Your peonies and gorgeous and I’m obsessing over your hooked flower sets. I’m trying to figure out how I can buy them without my husband knowing! Lol. I look forward to your Sunday morning posts, especially now that you’re on the east coast! It’s gorgeous country!
Lissa says
are you familiar with the Smitten Kitchen’s blog or cookbooks? She has lots of potato recipes that amaze. Our current favorite are Melting Potatoes and wicked (hehe) easy.
https://smittenkitchen.com/2018/03/melting-potatoes/
Deborah says
Canned foods need to be stored in a cool dark place. If your room is dark, it will be fine to use the hutch. Sorry to rain on your parade. I do love the hutch though. I love hearing about your adventures in gardening and other areas.
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s not a bright room so I’m not too worried.
Deborah says
Good. I was kinda worried.
Connie says
I store rice and beans in half gallon canning jars.
Carole says
I use the half gallon jars for dry canning on my food saver, beans, rice, popping corn. They’re great for that.
Donna says
For the bottom shelf maybe dried beans? They woul look beautiful in really large jars! I use the half gallon jars as canisters often. There is even a dry canning method I read about a while back. There are so many ways to preserve the bounty. Your hutch is gorgeous! I love reading about your dream life and can’t wait for more. Donna
Mavis Butterfield says
Dried beans! Excellent idea.
Sandy says
You could also dehydrate fruits and put them on that shelf. Harriet’s apples dehydrated?
Diana says
In addition to the dried beans and rice suggestions, I store pasta in my large cannisters.
As for the potato book, better make sure it has lots of sweet potato recipes… snrk, snort…. 😀
Jeanie says
I have a question. When I read your blog, the text and YOUR lovely pictures are interspersed with ads for all kinds of dumb stuff. It is in the actual blog posting, not down the side. Is there a way to remove that when I am reading? Sometimes I miss the entirety of your blog thinking the last thing is an ad when in reality the text continues under the ads.
Crystal says
Unlikely to be a way to get rid of it. The ad placement being in the middle of the post probably means she gets paid more for that ad on the blog than if it is located elsewhere. I agree that it is really disruptive in reading, but ads are how most blogs make money, and making money is how most blogs are able to stick around long term with reliable new content.
Sarah says
I don’t see any ads on her blog. There are a couple different ways to read blogs without ads. First, you can install an ‘ad blocker’ to your browser. Or! (and what I do) is just read blogs through a feed reader. I use Feedly.com It’s free. You add the blogs you want to read to the list, and every day they auto populate, and don’t have ads.
Jessica says
I use Feedly as well
Lace Faerie says
Bloglovin works, too.
Margaret Hudgins says
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! These adds are so annoying. I’m very low-tech, so I’m thrilled to know about this. Thanks again.
Marybeth says
All of the ads are on the left when I read it so they aren’t a bother. Maybe it is the format that you are reading it in.
Jean says
Jeanie,
I will try and explain (readers chime if you can help!)
Try using the ‘Reader view’– on the left of the computer address line (where it reads ‘onehundreddollarsamonth.com’) there are four little lines.
Click those lines and the ads disappear–
This feature may not be available on all devices & it may cancel pictures or videos from your view also.
I hope that helps!
Jeanie says
Thank you so much! It works!!!!
Melissa says
Peonies are my favorite, too! The white ones with the little pink tips are my absolute favorite (just like the ones you pictured). Sadly, when we moved, we had to leave our peonies, including the white ones that were starts from my husband’s grandma’s garden. A few months later, we drove by our old house & the new owners had torn out every single perennial, including those peonies.
Love your blog. Keep up the good work, Mavis!
Rebecca in MD says
Love all the photos you share. The peonies and irises are sooooo beautiful.
Tamara says
Oooo! I’m guessing scarecrows for your secret holiday project!
Gina says
A haunted house? Haunted wedding (black lace)? Haha
Jill says
I think one of next year’s goals should be visiting 52 ice cream parlors. Think of all the new flavors you’d discover. Sounds yummy to me! 🙂
Pj says
Secret project guess… You’re waiting for the arrival of a bandsaw to make wooden choir people for the yard during holiday time, which will be dressed in the clothes you bought this week! Hahaha I love the guessing… Can’t wait for the reveal!
Tracy says
Please, please! Not lawn people!
Leslie says
Animal theme? LOBSTAAAAHS! X-D
Gee says
In addition to the beans, I use the big jars for dried herbs. I’m pretty sure you’re growing some of them. 🙂
Torry says
Well, you’ve gotten a lot of suggestions for using that big space; however, I’m going to go a different direction. It may be possible to add another shelf. My husband did that for me on a bookcase that didn’t have enough shelves for my ever growing collection of books. He bought good lumber and stained it to match. I have to look really hard to see which ones they are!
SandyF says
I cannot even imagine what in the world your super secret holiday project could be. Black dresses required? You aren’t running away with the Amish, you aren’t joining the LBD project (little black dress project)
I can’t wait to hear what it is. , I doubt you are joining a choir…not going to be spinning signs on a corner, joining corporate America by )gasp) getting an office job…
We will all wait for the big announcement. Love it
Lissa says
I would just stack pints on top of each other :).
Laurie in CA says
Secret project guess, you’ve ordered either a piano or a cello and plan to revise your long ago dream of being either a concert cellist or pianist. One must wear black when you are performing in a concert dahhhling!
CSirca says
Does anyone else think the dresses look Navy and not Black in the picture?
Lisa Scott says
Yes!
Laura says
Mavis, You could always make pickled eggs or those large pickles in those half gallon jars! You do have happy hens after all!
Julia Park Tracey says
Half-gallon jars look good with preserved lemons in them. Or some of your homegrown dried beans. Or start a kombucha.
Connie says
I love your hutch. It’s simply beautiful!
andrea d says
Your goal posts are always so motivating- time to get my butt in gear since the year is just about half over.
Here are some of the things I keep in my half gallon jars- rice, beans, citric acid (for my canning projects), marshmallows, ‘extra’ sugar- one with white sugar and one with raw, dried onions, popcorn kernels, homemade vanilla (then I transfer to my smaller jar as needed), and then I have a couple for chocolate morsels- one for semi-sweet, one for mini’s, one for dark, and one for larger melting wafers. I also have 2 with random Pez dispensers. For some people this might sound like bulk buying- but for our larger family it’s just the basics 🙂