“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
I stayed in my pajamas ALL DAY on Friday. It was marvelous. It was so much fun, I might do it again today.
Goal #3 – Shop Small
On Saturday I dragged the HH to a local craft fair {to see if I’d want to be a vendor there next year} and I ended up buying The Girl a gorgeous tea cup from a local potter. My daughter adores tea {almost as much as I do} and has a growing handmade mug collection so I thought this mug would make a wonderful addition to her collection. Now I just have to hide it {and remember where I put it come late December}.
Goal # 4 – Have a Designated Meal Prep Day
Nope. But hey, I bought a pound of cinnamon sticks at a flea market for $3. What a deal!!!
Goal #5 – Install a Vegetable Garden Done!
I am looking at this picture and wondering if I am going to be this excited to garden come next March?
Those homegrown vegetables though, they keep me coming back year after year. 😉 Never before in my life have I ever wanted to slow down in the gardening department. But after a summer of bugs, extreme humidity and a few trips to Urgent care, at least I’ll know what I’m in for next year. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Goal #6 – Clear Land for a Chicken Coop and Future Raised Garden Bed Area
Egg production has slowed WAY DOWN and these slackers are now only giving up about 1 egg a day. TOTAL… between the 3 laying hens. And well, since I am a big fan of rest, I don’t think I’ll put a light in their coop to keep egg production in high gear this winter. But then again, I may change my mind. I’ll keep you posted.
Goal #7 – Grow 500 Pounds of Vegetables Done!
Wowie Zowie….. another goal checked off my list. In case you missed it, I shared the final garden tally HERE and man oh man, am I ready for a little R&R. I have absolutely no idea when I’m going to get started on planning next years garden, but you know, January is sounding pretty good right now. 🙂
To everything there is a season.
Goal #8 – Hook 100 Rugs
Only 3 rugs to go until the end of the year!! When I set my goal of hooking 100 rugs by the end of the year I seriously thought NO PROBLEM, I’ll totally be able to check this goal off my list by summer. Well! That sure didn’t happen now did it? But with only 3 more rugs to hook, I am hoping to knock this goal off my list by the end of next week.
A few months ago I was contacted by the creative director of a popular magazine who wanted to feature a particular {hooked rug} item of mine to be included on the cover of the winter issue of their magazine. And well, even though the magazine doesn’t come out until December 1st {I think, I hope, maybe it’s November 1st?}, I suppose I should probably have that particular item available in my Etsy Shop just in case someone wants to buy it. It’s a somewhat pricey item though so I’m not sure exactly how many I should have made up and available for sale. 3? 5? 10? I have no idea. But I do know it is a time consuming piece, so if I’m going to have any ready to sell, I better get crackin’.
Goal #9 – Make a Set of Dolls
I was going to make a boy and a girl doll, but now that I’m actually to the point of cutting out the fabric, I think I’m going to make two girl dolls. They’re more fun to make anyway with the dresses and things I stitch up for the dolls to hold in their hands. Back in the day, when I was making dolls to sell in shops and on Ebay, the thing that I loved most was that no matter how hard I tried, no two were ever alike. It will be fun to see how these turn out.
Goal #10 – Make a Sampler, Frame it and Hang it on the Wall Done!
I might still make another one by the end of the year!
Goal #11 – Visit 22 Bakeries
No bakeries this week but we are headed to Woodstock, Vermont in a few days and then New Haven, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island the week afterwards if any of you happen to know of a good bakery in those areas. The Girl and I visited Sift Bake Shop in Mystic last year and it was CRAZY good but you know me, I’m always on the hunt for a good bakery. 😉
Goal #12 – Start a Collection
I didn’t find any potato mashers or butter molds this past week but I did pick up a sugar and creamer set, a fall set of cookie cutters {I’ve been looking for a good acorn!} and 2 small canning jars.
Goal #13 – Read {or listen to} 26 Books Done!
This past week I picked up A Fine Romance by Susan Branch. “This charming book is part love story, part travel guide ~ a hand-written and watercolored diary/journal of Branch’s six-day transatlantic crossing on board the Queen Mary 2 and a two-month ramble through the backroads of rural England” I just started this last night, but so far so good. 🙂
Also currently on my night stand, Yankee Magazine’s Lost and Vintage Recipes.
Goal #14 – Try 12 New Canning Recipes
Only 8 so far, but no worries, I’m good under pressure. 😉
So far this year I’ve canned:
- Apple Cider Butter
- Tomato Sauce
- Carrot Cake Jam
- Spiced Peach {Crazy good!!!}
- Blueberry Jam {without the mint}
- Pickled Beets {without the funky spices}
- Cherry Almond Jam {freakin’ AWESOME}
- Susan’s Lilac Blossom Jelly
Goal #15 – Secret {for now} Holiday Project Done!
I must admit, I was getting a little worried this summer that I wouldn’t be able to show you what I’ve been working on so it was a big relief to check this goal off my list. On Friday I was able to restock my Etsy Shop with more candy canes {my favorite ornament I’ve made so far this year!} personalized dog bones, some new whale garden markers and a few Crazy Chicken Lady ornaments. The kiln is cooling down as I type this and I am looking forward to adding a handful of more ornaments this Friday and then probably one more round before I’m done making them for the year.
Thank you to everyone who placed an order this past week. 🙂
Have a wonderful day,
~Mavis
Read About My 2018 Goals HERE.
You can find my Etsy shop HERE
nancy grimsley says
Mavis….If you are interested in doing art or craft shows a good group to join on FB is Art Fair Reviews. That way before you do a show you can see if it is worth it. Also one of my fav. new/old books I have gotten and you will love it with all your garden produce is The Victory Garden Cookbook by Marian Morash. I remember when I was much younger loving that show and the segment cooking with Marian. But the book has so many really good looking recipes for what comes from the garden. I got it on Ebay and while it was used was in like new condition. Good luck with the kiln adventures. I am sure this long winter you will be making a million darling things. Happy fall!!!
Sue Renich says
I have a copy of “The Victory Garden Cookbook” too and really like it. Such good information about planting, harvesting, and using garden produce.
Mel says
I’m spending the weekend dealing with the several dozen lbs of tomatoes I froze this summer, and I’m also kind of wondering if I’ll be game for all the work (and bugs) in the spring. But, having a freezer full of heirloom tomato sauce (your recipe), pizza sauce (also yours), and ketchup is nice. I’m sure by January I’ll be game to try again.
We decided on a whim to get chickens for bug control and maybe a few eggs. The local farm we contacted ran out of chicks right before we called, so we’re waiting for spring now, but I at least convinced my husband to get an Eglu, so that’s ready to go when they are, and we don’t have to worry about building a coop this winter.
Sandy says
It might be a repeat bakery…but after reading your Sift bakery post, we were in the area earlier this year and it was great. The funny thing and repeat part was the next day we checked out Watch Hill TO and found their sister location. So, if you have not checked out Watch Hill, it’s a nice scenic area with water views, lighthouse you can walk to and another wonderful Sift Bakery. The Watch Hill location is seasonal and closes 11/1.
The chocolate croissants were spectacular.
Kimmy says
LOVE the crazy chicken lady ornament! Too funny!
Mavis Butterfield says
I was thinking of Mrs. HB when I made them. 😉
Libby says
You are heading south!!
New Haven – Wooster Street pizza places either Pepe’s or Sal’s. Called “tomato pie” in New Haven. FYI Connecticut has 9 of the top 100 pizza restaurants in the USA – including #1 which is Pepe’s.
New Haven is also where the hamburger was invented. Check out Louis’ Lunch.
Of course lots of free, excellent Yale museums.
Great bakeries between New Haven and Providence – all towns along i95:
Guilford, CT: Hen & Heifer, which is right off the town green. Guilford is #3 town in New England with the most historical homes. Oozing charm!
Guilford, CT: Four and Twenty Blackbirds. Located in a strip mall but delicious.
Old Saybrook, CT: Dagmar’s. Located right on Main Street. OS is where Katherine Hepburn spent her summers. Dagmar is from Austria
Waterford, CT: Cafe NV bakery. A little off the beaten path but FAB plus several Greek specialties. Owners are a group of sisters who are Greek.
Happy Trails!
Mavis Butterfield says
OH.MY.WORD. I feel like I hit the JACKPOT!!! Thanks Libby.
Libby says
The town next to Guilford is Madison, CT, another charming downtown with a good, independent coffee shop – Willoughbys (no bathroom though), a dedicated tea house – Savvy Tea, and well-respected bookstore – RJ Julia. Savvy Tea offers afternoon tea during the weekends and also tea tastings. The owner is a fount of knowledge. http://savvyteagourmet.com/
The best beach in CT is located in Madison – Hammonasset State Park – and dogs are allowed on the beach off season as long as they are on a lease! Park is also free off-season. Madison is currently decked out with unique scarecrows in front of several businesses.
Driving from New Haven towards RI, I suggest getting off in Branford and driving Route 146 from Stony Creek into the Guilford Green. It is an old, coastal route and BEAUTIFUL.
Stony Creek, CT (a village of Branford) is the source for the stone for the base of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Charming little village but not great food.
After crossing the CT River in Old Saybrook, I suggest getting off and driving through Old Lyme, CT. Yes Lyme disease is named for this town, but it has old roots and beautiful homes as well as the Florence Griswold Museum. Many impressionist-era painters stayed with Miss Florence so there is a long history of artists in town.
New London, CT has an edgy/gritty vibe but is one of the oldest towns in CT and where the Coast Guard Academy is located. A quick walk around Fort Trumbull and the piers is interesting. Across the harbor is where submarines are built for the US Navy. Nathan Hale’s schoolhouse is in downtown. He was captured as a Yankee spy against the British and said “I regret that I only have one life to give for my country.” The lighthouse guarding the harbor is really a house on an island. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_London_Ledge_Light
Mystic you know. BTW Mystic is a village partly in Groton and partly in Stonington, CT.
Stonington is another charmer with a lighthouse at the end of the point.
Watch Hill, RI is a village of Westerly, RI. Westerly also has a town green and old homes. My favorite beach in Watch Hill is “East Beach” a great place for boogie boarding – though not at this time of year 🙂 Watch Hill is pretty seasonal and most of the village will be closed up. Beautiful homes.
Route 1 from Westerly to Narragansett, RI is a pretty drive.
BTW “gunkholing” is the nautical term for going in and out of different coves and just exploring. I guess I’m suggesting you gunkhole the CT coast from New Haven to Westerly!
Lynn says
I just popped over to your Etsy sites (interested in a dog bone ornament) and your units are listed in British currency?
Lynn
Mavis Butterfield says
I am seeing them in USD. How weird.
Lindy says
I’m in Canada and see the prices in Canadian dollars.
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh, well that makes sense. Thanks for letting me know Lindy.
Julie says
me, too….I’m in VA
Cass says
(I didn’t read previous comments so disregard if this has already been said)
With that said, you need to decide NOW if you are going to supplement light for the winter to keep production up…otherwise it will take almost a month for them to start laying again, once you DO add a light. Depending on the breed (that is always true, just so you know) the may not lay again til March without light. At their young ages their bodies don’t need a break yet. Next year, after laying 3 – 6 eggs a week, sure…this year, not so much.
Since my birds are pets I don’t worry about them “burning out” when it comes to egg laying. They live here until their natural death regardless of how many eggs they lay. I get the feeling your chickens are thought of the same way, so add the light now and get those eggs and next spring consider adopting one of the many “FREE ROOSTERS” you will find online so you can hatch your own chicks. (SO MUCH FUN)
Ann says
For ongoing chemical-free mosquito control you need bat boxes . Individuals of some bat species can capture from 500 to 1,000 mosquitoes in a single hour and large colonies can consume tremendous quantities. For example, a Florida colony of 30,000 southeastern bats consumes 50 tons of insects annually, including over 15 tons of mosquitoes, and from 77.4% to 84.6% of little brown bats living in the northern U.S. and Canada eat mosquitoes.
Because mosquitoes do not take evasive action, and are exceptionally easy to capture, bats may prefer them over larger prey. Nursing mothers eat up to their body weight in insects nightly, and often can be attracted to live in bat houses. Plenty of info online and probably from your county extension agent.
Contrary to urban myth, bats have no interest in human hair (unless of course it is loaded with bugs! 😉
Mavis Butterfield says
There are a ton of bats flying around in the evening…. I told the HH he needs to build some bat boxes. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Pj says
If you’re near Tiverton, RI and love seafood, stop at Evelyn’s. We saw it on Drive-ins, Diners & Dives and made a New England vacation. Out of the need for seafood. We weren’t sorry we did!
DebbieB says
Visited Vermont last Fall and fell in love with Woodstock. To me it looked just like a small New England town would look like in a Hallmark movie. I bet it’s amazing decorated for Christmas. Didn’t visit any bakeries but I always look for a good coffee shop and loved the Mon Vert Cafe. Enjoy your visit!
Holly says
Mavis…you need to visit The Crust and Crumb. It’s on 126 North Main Street, Concord, NH. They offer both sweet and savory pies…..the best pies!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Holly!! We haven’t been to Concord yet, but it is on our list. 🙂
Lauralli says
When in Providence you need to go to The Duck & Bunny. It’s not just a bakery but I think you’d love it. I have a friend that lives there and says it’s excellent! Sadly, when I visited this summer I couldn’t squeeze it in. It’s on my return trip list, though!
Mavis Butterfield says
I just looked it up and I am giddy!!!! A proper tea. Thanks Lauralli.
Tracy says
Mavis, a word of caution! If you’re going to have one of your rugs featured on the cover of a nationally circulated magazine, please know you will have a crazy demand for that rug. And any like it. I worked in magazine publishing, and typically, anything we featured on the cover created such a demand it crashed the supplier’s website. Every single time. Get ready now! A big revenue opportunity for you. I hope you negotiated for your Etsy address to be included in the reference notes on the magazine.
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s a pillow, and although the pillow supposed to be somewhere on the cover {in a room setting I am assuming} they are mentioning my Etsy shop in the reference notes. Thanks for the heads up.
Mrs. Mills says
Hi Mavis, we decided not to use lights for our chickens so are without eggs for 4-5 months. We did it one winter but couldn’t get home due to a severe storm, -28 C . The power went out and we weren’t home to get the generator on. Almost all our chickens froze as they were not “hardened ” by getting used to the winter slowly. So no lights for us and we haven’t lost any more chickens since.
Cass says
Don’t use heat lamp bulbs. Use one or two 60 – 100 watt bulbs on a timer. I use ONE 100 watt bulb that I got at auto store….supposed to be hard to break. I get eggs all year….far less in the winter, but enough for my extended family’s needs (but not for holiday baking…family is on their own for those. LOL)
While the 100 watt bulb gave off a little heat, it didn’t warm the coop enough to notice. Now I have an LED bulb in the coop, which gives off minimal heat and much more light.
I have not found that one single bulb (non-heat type) makes any difference in the “hardening” off of my chickens for winter. I have never lost one to cold, but have lost a couple to excess heat.
Mrs. Mills says
We used 100 w bulbs for the light and to keep them warm. Yes we had eggs all year. But was it worth it? We couldn’t get home and lost most of our girls.
Angie says
I LOVE the Candy Cane ornament! It came in the mail this week and it was everything I hoped it would be!
Stephanie says
I had to go check out your post on the bakery in Mystic. That wasn’t there when I lived in the area- we lived in the next town over almost 20 years ago (goodness, that makes me sound old!!!)- but Mystic is such a charming town (and also expensive. Ahem). It looks like a gorgeous bakery, though. I’d love to make it back out that way. Did you make it out to Olde Mistick Village when you were there? That place would be right up your alley!
Nancy W says
I would agree with visiting Guilford, CT. It is a beautiful town (and my hometown), the bakeries mentioned are well worth the visit. Take the Cake is also in Guilford, wonderful bakery on the Post Rd. Woodstock, Vt is one of my favorite towns and we lived just one town over for over twenty years! The local coffee show Mont Vert usually has delicious baked goods and be sure to stop at Gillingham’s especially if you like country stores! It’s right in the center of town and has been in business for 130 years! You will love it! Both Woodstock and Guilford have own greens which is what makes them so beautiful!
bobbi says
I love the candy can and the Christmas tree ornament, thank you so much!!! That mug for your daughter! It is beautiful. 🙂 Thanks again.
Bobbi
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you Bobbi! I’m glad you liked the candy cane, they are so fun to make.
debbie in alaska says
Claire’s in New Haven. Try their Lithuanian cake with frosting. AMAZING. Also check out Bishop’s Orchard in Guilford. Everything is basically right on Route 1.
And I second the suggestions to be sure and check out Guilford, Madison, Clinton and Westbrook (all conveniently in a row). I lived on the shoreline for years and it’s the best part of CT in my opinion and I’ve lived all over CT. Litchfield county is great too. Especially this time of year.
Leann says
Old Lyme is so cute. They have a great ice cream shop (limited hours right now). Their beet orange ginger flavor is amazing. My daughter ordered it last time then I ate most of it. And we love the Florence Griswold museum. They have their wee faery garden exhibit right now until oct 28.
Coffees Country Market is in Old Lyme too. Great local joint for sandwiches, baked goods, and local products.
Further down in East Lyme, you’d love Scott’s Yankee Farmer. Local produce, cider donuts on the weekend, and you can get a heaping 1/2 bushel of “seconds” apples for a great price (or pick your own). They have a CSA program that is more of a prepaid store account. They keep track of your account on index cards. Small town life! We live right between their peach and apple orchards.
Leann says
If you haven’t been to the Mystic Seaport, I would highly recommend it. So much to see, lots of great demonstrations and knowledgeable volunteers. We have a membership and have been five times since August and still haven’t seen everything (granted I have young kids in tow so half our time is spent in the children’s museum)