“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
Ahhh, I love this goal. I really do. And starting this week, things should be a lot easier for me to implement this goal. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
Goal #2 – Slow Down
Yesterday, I went to bed at 6:30. I’m not sure if this is a sign that I am getting old, or if my body just needed 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep. But whatever the reason, I FEEL SO ALIVE this morning. Who knew the secret to life and felling motivated was rest?
Goal #3 – Shop Small
I inquired about a handmade mug. Still waiting to hear back.
Goal # 4 – Have a Designated Meal Prep Day
So this week I was able to get all my meal prep done in two days. But I think that may have been because 2 of our meals were pulled out of the freezer and another was spent hanging out with my parents at their new favorite hot spot {more details on that tomorrow}. The idea of prepping a weeks worth of meals ahead of time is a good one. Executing it though, and getting a system down is another story.
Goal #5 – Install a Vegetable Garden
My gardening schedule this year is going to be kinda like…. Hey, I know we just got here like yesterday but WHERE IS THE BOX with all my seed starting supplies because I have to start all me seeds RIGHT NOW if I’m going to get everything in the ground on time. It’s going to be pandemonium I tell you… but not really because I am a planner and everything I need with be ready to go. It’s just going to work out that the day after we get there, I’ll need to set up my grow lights and get all the seeds planted. Whateva. We all have priorities, right?
Word on the street is New England has a shorter growing season, but with the summer humidity, don’t you think it will all {the growing times} even out? Maybe I’m delusional but I think as long as I have a solid planting schedule in place {I still need to make one} everything will work itself out.
And those Jiffy Seed Starting Trays with Peat Pellets… they’re my favorite thing to start seeds in. I picked up 3 sets from The Home Depot yesterday and they were $7.99 each {they are MUCH cheaper in-store than online}. Like Crisco, some people love them, and some people hate them, but I’ve been using them for years and have always had great success starting seeds indoors with them. In fact, I may go back for 2 more sets. If you don’t want to shell out big bucks for some easy peasy Jiffy greenhouse sets, you can always start your seeds in recycled egg cartons and yogurt cups {so start saving them now!}. For me though, this year, the convenience factor wins over cost.
Goal #6 – Clear Land for a Chicken Coop and Future Raised Garden Bed Area
I was looking for a project to work on for the 3,000 mile drive and well, here she is. I may not be able to start clearing land for a chicken coop right away but I can work on a chicken rug for kitchen on the way there. 😉 The goal is to get the pattern drawn out and wool strips cut and ready to go so that I can work on the rug along the way. The finished rug should be about 26″ x 30. Hopefully by the time we pull into the new place all I’ll need to do is steam the rug, and bind it.
Goal #7 – Grow 500 Pounds of Vegetables
I STILL NEED to sit down and go through all my seeds and see what I have, what I intend to plant and what seeds I need to order. Also, even though I know my garden space will be 45′ x 15′ that still doesn’t account for the rows of grass I’ll have in between the double dug beds {which will lesson the actual growing area}. Several people mentioned that the row of grass between the rows to be the same width of the mower which totally makes sense to me.
So maybe within that 45′ x 15′ space I want each growing space to be 4’x15′ each and then a row of grass and then another growing space? Or maybe I want a few of the growing beds to be a little larger? Does that make sense? I don’t know, like I said, I need to map everything out first. I have always LOVE, LOVE, LOVED the vegetable garden layout at Monticello {above} and thought having something like that {but on a smaller scale} on the side of my potting shed, would just be so dreamy in a backyard setting.
All I know is I adore the look of double dug garden beds surrounded by grass. And that’s the look I’m after. Yes, I know there will be a lot of maintenance involved, but I think it will be worth the effort.
And then there is this garden square from Mt. Vernon. It’s pretty grand too. But instead of a well in the center I’d put a chicken coop. Decisions, decisions, they’re never easy.
Goal #8 – Hook 100 Rugs
8 down, 92 to go! I am finishing up the last few Valentine’s pieces and then I’ll be starting my Easter tulips and chicken rugs I have all drawn out and ready to go.
Goal #9 – Make a Set of Dolls
Although not high on my priorities right now, I am hoping to make a set later this year.
Goal #10 – Make a Sampler, Frame it and Hang it on the Wall
Hey now, it may not look like much, but it’s progress! I finally caved in and took everyone’s advice and ordered a Hands-Free Magnifier {it should be here tomorrow}. Hopefully the magnifier will help me to see the teeny tiny holes better and I can get this sampler finished asap. MY EYES though…. I don’t know if I want a hobby that requires magnification to be able to do it. 😉
Goal #11 – Visit 22 Bakeries
The struggle is real people. I’m planning on knocking a few out these out on our road trip.
Goal #12 – Start a Collection
I still haven’t made my way to an antique store to look for wooden butter molds or spoons yet.
Goal #13 – Read {or listen to} 26 Books
Thanks to a reader’s suggestion I put Standard Deviation on hold at the library. I’m third in line but I’m hopeful I’ll get to read it soon.
Goal #14 – Try 12 New Canning Recipes
Not this week, but I am hoping to make something special in February.
Goal #15 – Secret {for now} Holiday Project
I’ve been wanting to do this for YEARS…. and this year, I’m going for it. 😉 The planning stages for this project has begun and around this time next month I should be ready to place an order for supplies. Yee-Haw! So many things happening at once. It’s EXCITING!
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2018? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2018 Goals HERE.
Sue R. says
A sampler is still a sampler even if it done on larger Aida cloth 🙂 You might not need a magnifying glass for that!
Jill says
The sampler is very small! I think it would be hard for most people to see.
I started one like that once, and realized half way through that I was supposed to stitch it over 4 squares instead on one. My design was 1/4 the size it should have been. It was a funny (not at the time) learning moment.
Pauline in Upstate NY says
I’m getting so excited for you, Mavis! And I am very impressed that you can pack and keep up this blog at the same time… A couple of thoughts for you on gardening in the NE. First, there’s a huge difference between having your weather buffered by the Pacific Ocean and having your weather buffered by Canada! Actually NE weather can come from multiple directions — the Arctic Clippers from Canada, the stuff that comes sweeping across the Plains, and the stuff that starts down in the Gulf of Mexico and comes up. (The really fun weather can come from the intersections of any of those!) That said, it also makes a difference how close you are to the Atlantic Ocean; though the weather rarely comes from that direction, it will moderate the temps on the coastal areas much of the time. The bottom line is talk to the people who have lived in your new town for many years — they will know the real scoop on the planting seaon, last frost, etc for your particular town. And another word — fences… if you are not going to be living in a suburban area, critters will be all too ready to come to the buffet!
Kathy G says
I too was going to mention fences. We have raised beds surround by an electric fence. Chipmunks can still come to call but it is effective against the deer, groundhogs, and occasional bear that wanders by. Your dream esthetic is beautiful but the reality, at least in NJ is fence or be heart broken when everything is mowed to the ground. Good Luck, we’ll be cheering you on!
Donna Rutledge-Goulden says
Peat pellets can be purchased on EBay usually cheaper
Mel says
We often live off freezer meals for months at time, but I’ve also done the one day a week prep. When I do, I find it useful to do the same categories of things. So, on the prep day, always make one soup, one casserole, one crockpot meal, one thing served over rice (stir fry or something like red beans and rice, one pizza or nacho night, etc. Those things tend to use different parts of the kitchen to prep (stove, oven, mixer, etc.), so it’s easier to multitask and knock them out in a day.
And if you are able to double all those things one week (or just make a large enough batch you won’t eat the whole thing), you can then freeze so you have a another whole week of meals ready to go.
Nancy D says
Mel….what great ideas! After years of making freezer meals…it proves you can ALWAYS learn something new! LOVE the idea of cooking dishes that use different parts of the kitchen on prep day to streamline things. Thanks for sharing,..I’m anxious to try it out!
Mel says
I hope it helps! I started doing it just to ensure some variety in the types of meals, but I realized it also let me prep multiple things at once without as much of a pile-up.
Tammy says
My grandma picked up counted cross stich when I was about 11. As she got older, she got smaller count aida cloth (I think that’s how it is done, so many squares per inch?). So anyhow, you might want to consider bigger squares. It’s not cheating. 😀
Peg says
This is only an observation BUT maybe it would help your sanity/frustration level to scale the garden back this first year. Unless I missed it (which is possible), I don’t think you’ve mentioned when you’re actually heading out. Believe me, we made a big move a few years ago (only a thousand miles), and I was totally consumed for weeks by everything I had to take care of once we reached our new home.
And this isn’t any of my business, but are either of your children moving with you?
Melissa says
I’ve been wondering about the kids, too. I’m guessing that The Girl is moving while Monkey Boy is staying put.
Julie K Whitmore says
What about deer and groundhogs? Have you planned for a fence at the new place?
I live in northern Maryland and have had to resort to a 7 foot mesh fence (deer) with a wire fence skirted that (groundhogs) and a plastic mesh fence skirting that (rabbits) Even so, I can’t plant strawberries because of chipmunks and squirrels. Sigh…
Beth Rankin says
I’m sure I’m singing to the choir, as you probably have research them already, but my farmer friends in West Virginia and New England extend their growing season amazingly in both directions with high tunnels. There are frames and cloths that can withstand snow dump, so figure accordingly. Have fun figuring out your new gardening normal!
Earlene says
Our growing season in Wisconsin is different because there’s a huge difference from the northern part of the state where I live and the southern part of our big state. We probably have a window of 9 weeks of growing, maybe 10, but it depends how the late the frost goes out of the ground to plant ground vegetables like potatoes, carrot and the like. Tomatoes are tricky too if we get an early frost, like Sept 3. I would certainly invest in a greenhouse if you move there permanently. We planted our garden 3 times one year because there was a killing frost June 11, and June 22. We covered stuff too.
Loretta says
Oh, so pleased you took my book suggestion!
I love the plans for your new vege garden. Have you seen the book Gardening with Chickens by Lisa Steele? She has a blog too. Fabulous ideas about how to incorporate chickens into a beautiful and productive garden. I have 4 Barnevelders, which is just the loveliest breed and can’t wait to make their environment prettier (too hot to garden in Australia at the moment!)
Brenda says
Did I miss something where the heck are you moving to? I am a West MA transplant in NC and very confused about where you are moving to.
Linda says
Lol! I thought I was the only one who had missed something! Unless I’ve missed it, I don’t think Mavis has posted the last installment in her home series.
Katie P NC says
I was wondering the same thing! I’m in awe of the thought of starting the garden on the West Coast then packing it up to go to the East Coast. Mavis help us! Are you in the HOA house still?
Mavis Butterfield says
No, you didn’t miss anything, I have not posted it yet. 😉 There are still a few steps to take first. 🙂 All of which I’ll be talking about soon.
Sondra says
Some New England planting advice: look at the days to maturity and buy quick to mature seeds for fruiting veggies like tomatoes and squash. Daylight hours affect fall grown veggies so add a few weeks into the growing season on that (meaning start seeds earlier a few weeks). And lastly, blight- especially tomato is heartbreaking so buy types that are blight resistance. Good luck!
Elise says
I LOVE this series. Seriously. It’s my favorite email of the week 🙂 I wish you luck on your drive and journey “home”. I also LOVE the garden images. I love the lawn paths too.
Tracy says
I live in the NE and start almost everything from seed undear grow lights, then pot them on into larger pots before planting in the ground. Timing for where you’re going Mavis is frost free date won’t be until the end of May. I start some things in late March and most in early April. I have three huge grow light set ups of three tiers each to hold a total of 45 large trays of seedlings. Come May I’m doing that awful dance of setting things outside, still in trays or slightly larger pots, and having to bring them inside the garage at night. Even with cold frames, you’re pushing it before the end of May in New Hampshire. Best advice? Don’t start your seeds —even your brassicas— until the very end of March! Get ready for a significant white tail deer problem, and a rabbit problem. Chipmunks will also dessimate your strawberry crop in an hour unless they’re solidly protected. Summers get blisteringly hot toward the end of July, with temps in the 90’s on and off through mid September. Winters can hit zero degrees for several days at a time, so stay within your zone of 4 or 5, depending on where you are. All this aside, sq ft of mixed borders. You’ll love New England once you let go of the spoiling you’ve had being in the temperate northwest!
Ilene says
The old Yiddish expression applies strongly to us New England gardeners, “We make plans, God laughs.”
I’ve planted as early as late April here in SW CT, but Mothers Day is a better target, but sometimes early June.
Nicola says
I wonder if, in order to write like no one is watching, truly as yourself, you will need to step out from behind Mavis Butterfield?
Alice says
Agreed
Lace Faerie says
So glad you are giving counted cross stitch a try. I did it extensively in the mid 80’s. Something that I found helpful, especially on projects with lots of color changes in relatively small areas is to thread a needle with each color to have at the ready. I have a long pincushion with plastic on one side where I could record the color number of the thread in the corresponding needle. I made sure that I ended each stitching session with my needles full and ready to go. Never end a session if stitches are needing to be unstitched. It will dampen your enthusiasm to jump back in when you next have a moment to take a few stitches. Good light is essential! My favorite tool is my giant magnifying lamp that has a circle of lights around the lens. I use it for smocking and even quilting when I need to do some frogging. Frogging, you know, when you have to rip-it rip-it! Hahaha
Gina says
Hello!
Just wanted to share MY favorite seed starting tip. http://www.wintersown.org. It is so amazing and it works! I live in Missouri (5a) and was completely thrilled with the results of using this system. Not overly pretty because of the gallon plastic jugs sitting outside but lots of people have organized their jugs to help with the aesthetics.
Check out the reveals on You Tube also-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pog6iDQZD7k&t=174s
I love the “chunks” of seedlings for planting. I have successfully grown tomatoes, squash, zucchini, impatients, petunias, marigolds, coleus, carrots, beets. My plants might have been a little smaller at transplant but they were much healthier and grew faster than those I started inside or purchased at a big box store.
Thanks for great posts! Always inspiring.
Sara says
Hello! Been reading your blog from KS; I love reading when people have a clear gift for writing! (Probably because I love to read what real people say!)
The Guernsey Literary andPotatoe Peel Pie Society has been one of my favorite books of all time. Historical fiction about a book club that started with unlikely friends eating a pig during Nazi occupation of Denmark. So CLEVER! It’s written like letters, and it inspired me to write to a friend who I think is the most clever person I know. Writing letters and emailing solidified our friendship, even though we’ve only been in the same town one school year out of nine years! Also, my grandma recommended it to me, and you can’t go wrong with gma advice!
The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society-read it!
Mavis Butterfield says
So many people have recommend that book! I am going to have to try it. Thanks for the reminder Sara.
Carrie says
I read that book years ago. It took a while for me to get into but by the end I loved it.
Lisa says
Cross stitch is my craft of choice. I always start in the middle. I’m also near-sighted, so I always take my glasses off to do it, or wear glasses that I can see under if I want to do while I watch TV. My current glasses are to large to see around, so I keep my last pair in my cross stitch stuff.
Michele says
Hey! Maybe instead of doing all that digging you can do the ‘smother’ method used by Permaculturists. Basically, you cover the area you’re going to use and let nature take care of the killing of the grass and whatever else is underneath. 🙂
Cassie says
As a fellow NE gardener, your season will depend on where in NE you are… NH is different from CT. But I completely agree with the others on fences… maybe not in rural NH, but if you’re in any sort of suburbia (even in towns with 3+acre lots), you’ll likely need fences. We have 8′ deer fencing, with smaller rabbit proof fencing for the bottom 3′ of that, dug in another 6 inches down and out to prevent the digging critters… then there’s electric wire at the top, to stop the racoons who were climbing in. Netting over the blueberries and we still deal with voles, who get in at the gate, eating our strawberries.
Hazel says
I can’t give any help with gardening in your new region but I would say I think 4 x 15 is plenty big enough for a bed- much wider than 4′ and you won’t be able to reach the middle and any longer than 15′ and you’ll get fed up of walking round and be tempted to walk across.
I’d also recommend no-dig as someone else suggested, where you cover/lasagne mulch the beds instead of digging. You can plant into the top layer of compost so you would still be able to grow this year. He’s in the UK but watch some of Charles Dowding’s videos on Youtube for inspiration.