“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
When I meet new people and they ask where we’re from and I tell them just south of Seattle…. The first thing they ask is does it rain a lot there? Bahahahaaaaa! Ummm yes. I know a bunch of you think I am a totally crazy pants for moving to the land of cold winters…. But sunshine, even when you’re wearing a big puffy coat, is kind of cool.
Goal #3 – Shop Small
Other than shampoo and conditioner… We didn’t buy anything this past week.
Goal # 4 – Have a Designated Meal Prep Day
Nope.
Goal #5 – Install a Vegetable Garden Done!
I think this week I’ll prune the ornamental cherry tree and get the beds next to the potting shed cleaned up at bit before the snow falls again and it sticks around until Spring. It’s one less thing to do come April, right? 😉 Also, I need to rake up some leaves and stuff them in the chicken run as the chickens have totally shredded the last batch we put in there a few months ago.
Goal #6 – Clear Land for a Chicken Coop and Future Raised Garden Bed Area Done!
Black Fatty and her watchful eye.
Goal #7 – Grow 500 Pounds of Vegetables Done!
The only thing we’re harvesting these days are eggs! The final tally for the year came in at 521 pounds for our first year here, I’m pretty happy with that. We arrived just before the start of the growing season, and with no garden beds in place and a house to unpack and vegetable plot to dig and up and plant, I think we did okay in the poundage department. Next year though…. I’m aiming higher.
Goal #8 – Hook 100 Rugs
I just finished up rugs #110 & #111 for the year and I plan to include it in my Etsy shop update on January 4th. It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve added any new hooked pieces to my Etsy shop and I’m pretty excited about this next batch and getting back to a once a month listing schedule again.
Goal #9 – Make a Set of Dolls
The girls have hair! And faces only a Mama could love. 🙂 Now I just need to make them a set of clothes and an accessory or two before the end of the year. Hey wait. That’s like in a week. Eeek!
Goal #10 – Make a Sampler, Frame it and Hang it on the Wall Done!
Goal #11 – Visit 22 Bakeries
No new shops to report this week.
Goal #12 – Start a Collection
The pickings were slim at the recycle center this week but I did snag a couple of bins to put in the garage for recycling. I should do a round up post of all the things I collected for free this year. Would any of you want to see that?
Goal #13 – Read {or listen to} 26 Books
On the end table this week… Colonial {my third time borrowing this book!} Basketry, and a back issue of Early American Life {Thanks Peg!}. I really should order a subscription to Early American Life Magazine for the HH for Christmas because every time he sees an issue he reads it front to back and then talks about how we need to take a road trip and visit whatever he just read about in the magazine.
Goal #14 – Try 12 New Canning Recipes
All the boxes of jam I sent to peeps {WA, CA, MT, TX, VA, PA} arrived safely and were well received. Now all that’s left to do is deliver a few jars of the Christmas Jam I made last month to a few neighbors.
12 of the 13 recipes I canned this year:
- Red Onion Marmalade
- Cranberry Apple Jam with a Hint of Orange {A must for leftover turkey sandwiches}
- Spiced Christmas Jam
- Apple Cider Butter
- Tomato Sauce
- Carrot Cake Jam
- Cucumber Relish
- 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 Holiday Project
I’m so glad I decided to try my hand at pottery this year and for all the ornaments people purchased in my Etsy shop. I had a blast making them and I’m already looking forward to my secret holiday project for next year {It’s a fun one!!}.
Setting goals and checking them off your list as the year progresses… IS SO MUCH FUN and I highly encourage you to think about the things you want to accomplish in 2019. It’s so much easier to get things done when you write them down and hold yourself accountable.
2019 is only a week away, can you believe it?
Have a great Sunday everyone,
~Mavis
Read About My 2018 Goals HERE.
Lillian says
Yes on the items from the recycling center. I asked our center if we could start an area or items to share and they did not agree.
Did I miss dec 22 posting. I did not see one?????
Mavis Butterfield says
I slept in. 🙂 A rare luxury. Sorry.
Emily E. says
Hi Mavis, just wanted to say I love, love the fish ornaments you did!!! They are beautiful! I think the coloring you did is spot on! One of my favorite things to do after Christmas is to go through my “annual to do list” and look at all the things we’ve accomplished. It’s very satisfying. And then I make a new list for the upcoming year. It’s turned into a new year’s tradition for me! Merry Christmas Mavis!
Rebecca in MD says
Snow in the forecast for Christmas Eve – – – how wonderful.
Would love to see a recap of all your free treasures from the community recycle shop.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Deborah says
Love the dolls! They are so cute! I love your weekly recaps. But then again, I love all of your posts.
Merry Christmas, Mavis and Family.
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, you do not prune any type of cherry in the spring, fall, or winter. IT makes them highly susceptible to certain fungal diseases. The only time to prune cherries, pluots, and apricots is the summer.
Mrs. C. says
I double checked, and you can prune ornamental cherries like the one you have in the winter and early spring, so prune away!
https://www.ehow.co.uk/way_5577094_prune-cherry-trees.html
Laura T. says
I would love a recap of freebies! I always look forward to what you’ve found. That was my favorite thing from last year, your free or homemade gifts. I’m signed up at a lot of places that give coupons & freebies during your birthday month. It’s fun to cash them all in! The dolls are simply adorable! I just love their sweet little heart mouths! I can’t believe its almost time to start over with the goals!!! This year flew by for me! Merry Christmas to you & your family!
Mel says
As I posted previously, I achieved my goal of sewing reusable fabric bags, which involved using up all the holiday fabric I bought for that purpose. I was cleaning my sewing room this morning, as it looked like a thread bomb went off in there, and I made the mistake of opening a drawer. What did I find? Oh, just 4 flipping yards of candy cane stripe fabric. So, what did I do? Well, the answer was clear. I shut the drawer as quick as I could and kept cleaning. That will be a problem for next year Mel. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Mavis Butterfield says
You are funny!!! Your bags rock Mel.
Mary3M says
I love recycling my magazines to people who enjoy them! Once I am finished with an issue I plan on recycling it to you. So if you get the HH his own subscription it’s up to you. (And I will give you notice if I plan on stopping recycling ok.) Merry Christmas!!! and I can’t wait to see your sunny disposition at the end of February after the cold and snow. Did ‘Monkey Boy’ come home for Christmas? Enjoy and Happy Healthy 2019! And any consideration of personalizing ornaments for next year?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes on the personalized ornaments for next year. And thank you for passing the magazines along, we love them! Monkey Boy will be hanging out with my parents. 🙂
Heidi Barrett says
It is a myth that it rains a lot in Western Washington. Case in point annual rainfall for Seattle is 37.49 and for Boston is 43.76. Most major cities in the USA get more rain including Atlanta at 51 inches. Just because the clouds are grey does not mean it is raining.
Mavis Butterfield says
While it may rain less in Seattle, the way it rains is totally different here. It’s less drawn out. Grey skies do not linger for days or what seems like weeks at a time. It might pour buckets for an hour or two like it did the other day, and then the sun will come out and all with well with the universe again.
Holley says
Guess what I got for my birthday gift today????!!!!! A MAVIS BUTTERFIELD gingerbread ornament!!!!!!!!! I’m so happy! My sweet daughter surprised me with it!!! I’m especially thankful for your secret project this year! Can’t wait to see your new goals and start guessing on your secret project for next year!!! Merry Christmas Mavis!
Ellen in Clackamas says
Would love to see what all you got from the recycle center. Wish we had some place that let us do that. I am retiring next week and one of my goals is to make goals for 2019. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Hope you get snow for Christmas. We in. PNW will be getting rain!
Brenda says
Merry Christmas everyone!
Catherine says
Mavis,
What is your process for picking your goals each year? How do you decide how many goals? Do you have any advice for readers who are thinking about setting goals or making resolutions for 2019?
Thank you.
Catherine
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Catherine,
The short answer is …. I just make a list of all the things I want to accomplish in the coming year.
I went into more depth about it in this post a few years ago though… https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/how-to-keep-your-new-years-resolutions/
Pj says
I would love to see a feature on the recycle center and how it works. This could be used is many communities. Secret holiday project for 2019? Oh noooooo! Don’t torture us like in 2018! I could guess the project, but love what you’re doing with it! Merry Christmas!
Linda Hart says
Dear Mavis would love to see your FREEBIES NOTHING like free. Others should try that approach. Wishing you a WHITE CHRISTMAS. SInce you have a kiln now you should try China painting. Find you a good teacher. I know you would be a superior student. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY!! Love from Georgia
Kara says
Yes to the recap on your freebies and please keep posting about your finds in 2019! I look forward to that the most (and your thrift store treasures). Merry Christmas Mavis!
Linda says
Merry Christmas, Mavis and everyone. You’ve been a daily companion, thank you.
Julie P says
Merry Christmas and a wish for a healthy happy New Year with lots of new and wonderful memories made Mavis to you and yours and to all your lovely followers, I have really enjoyed this year of reading yours and their antics and comments! Roll on 2019! Goals list being made as we speak. Achieved the main one last year of getting rid of the “muffin” and some serious decluttering was achieved but that is going back on the list for 2019!
Alli Aplet says
Merry Christmas Mavis and family! My sweet husband purchased one of your ornaments for me as soon as you put them out and I can’t wait to see what it is on Christmas! Thank you for sharing your life with all of us readers, yours is the only blog I read everyday!