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12 Goals for the New Year

My 22 Goals for 2019 – Week 24 of 52

By Mavis Butterfield on - 23 Comments

My 22 Goals for 2019


Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love

It was a good week!

The weather here has been really nice lately, not at all like last summer. But then again, it’s only June and maybe things don’y really heat up {and the humidity kicks in} until later in the season. All I know is this, the lazy days of summer, they’re here, and nobody knows that better than Miss Lucy. Such a little snuggle bug that one.

I haven’t had to water the garden once, just the pots on the back porch. Some days it almost feels tropical with a little rain in the afternoon. I love it here. Wild animals and all. Have I told you that yet? 😉

Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden

I took your advice and sprinkled the pole beans with cayenne pepper and so far so good. No sign of bunnies. Last year they wiped out my entire crop of dried bean plants so this year I decided to fight back. We’ll see if it works.

Goal #3 — Plant an Orchard

Our apples are now the size of my thumb. This is a good sign!!!  Maybe I won’t need to plant a new batch of apple trees after all. 🙂

Goal #4 — Gussy Up the Potting Shed Done!

Goal #5 — Grow Enough Extra Vegetables, Eggs and Flowers to Earn $1500 at my little roadside vegetable stand.

The biggest money maker…. the pumpkins and sunflowers will have to be replanted. Luckily though Botanical Interests was having a 40% off sale so I was able to score my replacement seeds at a discount. This happened last year too, the birds pulled up {or ate?} nearly all of my seedlings and so I had to replant almost everything along the back wall. Mid to late June seems terribly late to to plant those sorts of things, but maybe that’s just normal for this area though.

Hopefully this time around, because it’s later in the season, the creatures will leave my “wall” of mini pumpkins and gourds alone.

Goal #6 — Finish Every Single Unfinished Rug Hooking Project in My Pattern Bin + 10 Things from back Issues of Magazines/Books I’ve Been Meaning to Make. 

I finished 0 rugs from my pattern bin this past week. 😉 I did complete a special order pillow though and and now working on a bundle of large flowers. It is going to take some serious will power to empty that bin!

I started the year off with:

  • 73 rugs in my pattern bin {now down to 48}
  • 183 hooked flowers {finished 108, now down to 75}
  • 10 “things” from back issues of magazines {finished 0}

Goal #7 — Create 12 New Rug Hooking Patterns {with at least half of them being large ones}

11 patterns down, 1 to go! So far this year I’ve added 13 beginner rug hooking kits to my Etsy shop and 11 new rug hooking patterns. My goal for the rest of the year is to work on creating a few larger hooked rug patterns {mostly seasonal ones} and then to get those up and in the shop before October.

I am suppose to have a giant turkey rug hooking pattern ready to share on my next Etsy update on June 28th, but it’s been a little slow going. I’m having a hard time figuring out what the background color should be. 🙁

New rug hooking patterns I’ve created and added to My Etsy Shop this year:

Rug Hooking Kits

Goal #8 — Split and Stack 2 Cords of Wood for Next Winter 

The side yard and wooded areas have fill in {with ticks and snakes and poison ivy and other creepy crawlies} and so any thought of chopping down trees for firewood has been put on the back burner until fall. We only have about 3 1/2 cords of dry firewood stored for winter so we’ll have to figure something out. And quick.

Goal #9 — Do Something with the 5,002 Photos on My Phone

I’ve still got 6 1/2 months to go. I have no idea where this was taken. Somewhere near Spokane maybe? Anyone know?

Goal #10 –Lose the Muffin Top

No comment.

Goal #11 — Run, Walk or Crawl a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon

Wanna hear something funny? The HH and I were talking the day after the he had mowed the lawn {it took him 3+ hours} and I told him he could totally do a half marathon {walking of course} in that amount of time and that I think he should do one with me. Here’s the funny part…. He actually said HE MIGHT DO ONE WITH ME!

Now that would be a first!

Goal #12 — Read or Listen to 26 New Books {14 down, 12 to go}

I started Where the Crawdads Sing on audiobook last week and had to hit the delete button because after about 30 minutes or so, I couldn’t take the voice of the narrator any longer. This books comes so highly rated by so many of you though, I think I am going to see if I can get a paperback copy from the library instead.

Also, I received a subscription to Early American Life Magazine in the mail. But from WHO? 🙂 🙂 🙂 If it was you, fess up so I can thank you properly.

I am waiting my turn on the library wait list for the following audio books:

Books I’ve Read or Listened to So Far This Year:

Goal #13 — Try 52 New Recipes.

15 down, 37 recipes to go.

I tried a new strawberry ice cream recipe this past week. Stay tuned!

Goal #14 — Clean Up 52 Old Recipes on the Blog

8 down, 45 to go. {Totally slacking on this goal}

Goal #15 — Fill 100 Canning Jars 34 down, 66 to go.

Everything seems to ripen so much later here in New England and so I feel like canning season really doesn’t start until the middle of July. I suppose I should get a batch of strawberry jam on the shelf, but it seems like such a plain thing to make doesn’t it?

So far this year I’ve I canned:

Goal #16 — Finish Furnishing Our House

I emailed a lady about a chair she had for sale {twice} but apparently my offer was too low because she didn’t even bother to reply. Everybody has their price, and that’s okay, but still.

In other news, I found a few more wooden mashers and some vintage oil cans and even an old graniteware funnel for $5 in a little shop in town. I already have plans for it, but I did spot a similar graniteware funnel on on Esty for $42 this morning! Who knew?

Furniture pieces I’m still on the hunt for:

  • Coffee table for the family room
  • Console, cupboard or sideboard for the one and only tv in our house which is in the family room. I could totally live without a television, but my husband says the tv stays.
  • Long rectangular table for the craft room.
  • Table for the formal dining room.
  • 2 wing back chairs for the family room.
  • I’d also like to decorate the mantel in the keeping room as well as put up some sort of decoration above the other 3 2 fireplaces in the house. I’m not one for a lot of things on the walls, but it would be nice to throw up a little pilgrim bling on the plaster.

Goal #17 – 52 Dates with the HH {20 down, 32 to go}

We were planning on going to the Sarah Orne Jewett House in South Berwick, Maine this past week but the night before decided we weren’t up for another all day adventure just quite yet {I had a bakery and a lunch spot + another museum on the list} and decided to go to the Portsmouth Farmer’s Market instead.

Some of my tomatoes were looking a little iffy, so I decided to buy some healthier ones for the veg patch. Gardening is kind of funny, some years the garden totally rocks, and well, other years it needs a little outside help. 😉

Goal #18 — Take One Adult Education Class Done {I’ve taken 2!}

  1. I’m keeping the first class I took with my neighbor top secret for now {because it is directly related to my one of my secret holiday projects}
  2. Spoon Carving Class with Heather.

Last week I found out one of my favorite potters, Sue Tirrell will be teaching a 4 day workshop in Connecticut and I have been debating ever since if I should take the class. Sue is an absolute PRO when it comes to sgraffito, and I think learning a craft from someone you admire would probably be the most ideal way to jump into something.

The only thing is, the class is too far for me to commute back and forth so I’d have to stay in the area if I was going to attend the workshop. There’s that, and the fact that the workshop is 4 days. 4 days!!! I can do like 4-6 hours in a social environment, but 4 days. Oh that would be hard.

But I SO WANT to take the class. Because HELLO… I could use a few {hundred} pointers.

Goal #19 — Secret {for now} Holiday Project – Keeping mum about it until early September

Goal #20 — Create 12 Wowie Zowie Party Platters

4 down, 8 to go. Seriously slacking in this department. Maybe once berry season hits…

Goal #21 — Visit 12 General Stores

5 down 7 to go.

So far this year we’ve visited:

Goal #22 — Compete with Carole….. Get on My Front Door Game On

We were driving through town the other day when I noticed several people had American flags on their doors with a big tin star in the center of it {kind of in a swooping swag position} and it looked really cool and patriotic. I was planning on gussying up the front door yesterday but couldn’t find our bunting so that’s high on my list for today.

Front Door Bling I’ve Made So Far This Year to Compete with Carole:

  • Late January : Valentine Heart
  • Late February : Shamrock
  • Late March : Giant Carrot
  • May: White wave petunia hanging basket

**************

How about YOU? What are your goals for 2019? If you told us about them HERE, check in! We want to know how you are doing. Because seriously, it’s so much easier to get those goals checked off your list when you have people rooting for you! 🙂

♥ Mavis

You can read more about my 22 goals for 2019 HERE.

Have a Great Sunday!

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Comments

  2. Mel says

    I switched to mini goals because our house was in rough shape after a very crazy year. This past week, my mini goals are to:
    1) Defrost and Clean freezers (Not yet–maybe today.)
    2) Organize my work stuff (Nearly done!)
    3) Finish the first aid kits (Done! We have human, chicken, dog, and cat first aid kits now. I used the extra materials from ours to make a kit for my office and a mini one for my purse as well.)
    4) Organize the downstairs bathroom (Done–also did one of the upstairs bathrooms.)
    5) Declutter the sewing room (Started!)
    6) Start cleaning out the basement store room (Not really started yet, but I did get the bins ready.)
    7) Continue with the treadmill (Done!)

    This week’s mini goals are as follows:
    1) Finish organizing work stuff and decluttering the sewing room (carryovers from last week)
    2) Defrost and clean the freezers (again from last week)
    3) Increase time on treadmill
    4) Clean out the basement store room
    5) Put the finished part of the basement back in order

    If I get all that done this week, I’ll really just have the living room, the porch, and a few stray cabinets left to clean and organize, and the whole house will be done!

    Reply

      • Mel says

        Yes, and they’ve come in so handy already. My husband has needed the splinter removers and sting swabs recently, and it was nice to have everything ready and accessible. We haven’t needed the animal kits yet, but our dog’s emergency surgery this spring convinced me of their necessity and gave me some ideas for what to include.

        Reply

  3. Sandi Nokes says

    The photo is Duncan Gardens in Manito Park in Spokane. My husband, a Master Gardener has given many tours of Duncan Gardens. This garden is most spectacular in the late summer. Manito Park is FREE and the history is unique! I have never left a comment before so I hope you receive it. Your Blog is so much fun to read!

    Reply

  4. Sdsb says

    I just thought where the Crawdad Sings was ok – not bad but I agree about the readers – I just found myself annoyed. To each his own .

    Reply

  5. Beth Linquist says

    From someone who lives in Spokane, Yes! The garden you pictured is Duncan Garden in Manito Park in Spokane, Washington. You must have stopped by on one of your many trips to and from the east coast! It looks like all the annuals have been planted so probably in May or June. As you know, it is a lovely place to meander.
    If you readers are ever in the area, Manito Park is a beautiful stop. It has a variety of gardens including Rose Hill, an amazing Japanese garden, a perennial garden, a lilac garden (we are the Lilac City), a conservatory and more.

    Reply

  6. Loriann says

    About the birds eating your seedlings, we have that same problem here in AZ where the quail dust themselves in the garden boxes and spread my seeds around too! hubby made little square cages out of chicken wire for me to place over my seedlings until the plants are big enough that the birds leave them alone, apparently they just like the seedlings to a certain size. The cage are 12-15″ square and about 8″ tall. When the plants get so big they start growing thru the wire then I take the cages off. The lizards here like my garden too, and often go theu the wire to nibble leaves. Chipmunks can get they the wire, however, and I’ve found one sitting safe in the cage eating my peppers while a hawk flew overhead!

    Reply

  7. Mary3M says

    Just enjoy the magazine! Sometimes surprises are the best and sometimes just because! Seems that someone thought you would enjoy it. You ought to try carving a rolling pin to compliment your spoon.

    Reply

  9. Jamie says

    I agree with everyone above about Manito Park. I think it was from Mrs. HB’s work trip you invited yourself to.

    Reply

  11. E in Upstate NY says

    Wing chairs, they’re my issue too. See many that I visually like, but haven’t asked about them because until I SIT in them, I won’t commit. And most that I find are in your neck of the woods, not mine. So actually sitting in them won’t happen until I go back to Maine for another visit. That said, next one is scheduled the July 4th week.

    Reply

  12. Julia Park Tracey says

    I finally made some progress on my goal of visiting wineries this year. My BIL came into town for Father’s Day and we went to lunch and then to two local wineries. It was fun! I haven’t felt like going alone and my husband hasn’t been well enough. But add in his brother and he was up to a short visit to two places. We bought some wine at each — rose is the thing to be drinking, even if we’re all about the pinot here.

    I have been jogging and working on my muffin top and am going to run my first race next Saturday — a 3K (the options were 3 or 10, and I’m not ready for 10K yet). I had started running early this year (I’m 56) but we had awful flooding in March-April, and husband’s surgery in May, and it took a very long time for our road to dry enough to go out again in anything but the car. Glad to be out there almost every day. I’ve lost about 10 pounds since I started and have definitely lost some muffin top. Feeling good!

    I put aside the writing goals I had for now — going to take summer to regroup and get my mojo back. 2019 has been a hard year with the loss of our son, but I’m grateful you give us a place to check in each Sunday, Mavis. Thank you!

    Reply

  13. Cass says

    Bird netting would solve your problem with seedlings getting eaten. Cover them until they are big enough to fight for themselves.

    Reply

  14. Kristen says

    Mavis,

    Please take the pottery class! Put your big girl pants on and push yourself out of your comfort zone!

    Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, be ready with strategies to combat the bad parts of this opportunity: go on walks during lunch breaks to get away!, pack your own food so you can hermit-up in your hotel room after a long day of chatting about the weather, choose your seat strategically-close to teacher but far away from those trickling in, have meals prepped for your return because you’ll be exhausted from so much extraverting, watch the class and sit next to the one person that seemed like a good person to neighbor up to on day 2-4.

    You’ve got this. That bunny cup is rad and this is too cool to wimp out on.

    Reply

  15. Christa H. says

    You should take the class!! Sounds like a blast.

    I am behind on my goals. School is finally out for me to get caught up but I am taking care of a family member who is sick.

    These were left over from my house build and they would be great to stick in the ground over your seedlings in a shape like a rainbow and then put bird netting on top so the netting won’t crush the seedlings. I kept a stack to do this in my gardens if needed. They are very sturdy but the picture looks flimsy.
    https://www.lowes.com/pd/steel-remesh-sheet-common-0-667-ft-x-10-ft-actual-0-576-ft-x-9-94-ft/3010028?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lbm-_-google-_-lia-_-210-_-masonrybaggedgoodsrepair-_-3010028-_-0&kpid&store_code=547&k_clickID=go_1793587572_69721651179_346854093542_pla-355250339892_c_9009754&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIweGK_LHw4gIVEIvICh1MWAjSEAYYAiABEgIB1PD_BwE

    Reply

  16. Ronda says

    I came to say take the class! Even though I know others have said it above. I know one of my favorite craft classes was a silver jewelry making one from an artist I admired and then they stopped offering the classes the year after because of going into retirement and I was so happy that I was able to learn from someone’s work I loved.

    Reply

  17. Carrie the Naturalist says

    I listen to 75% of the books I read but I did actually read Where the Crawdads Sing and I loved it. I hate that a narrator ruined the book for you. If you like natural history, a love story and a murder twist it’s for you. 😉 I am listening to Watch Me Disappear and at first I was thinking it was the same story as Where’d You Go Bernadette just told from a different perspective but it has turned into its own story. Are mothers disappearing really a big thing these days? lol

    Reply

  18. Torry says

    My goals:
    1. Sew- I got 8 lounging pants serged and sewn. One more pair, I cut out, serged and sewed. I feel like I’m getting me back. (This was a slow recovery from surgery!)
    2. I used up some of my stash to get the pants done.
    3. I didn’t look for half done projects.
    4. Walk each day. Nope, will be getting a shot in my knee this Friday and hopefully will be able to walk after that.
    5. Didn’t use any new recipes, but I’ve been going through old magazines and cookbooks and getting recipes for “I need to try to make that” file.
    6. I cleaned out our daughter’s closet of some of her things and while I’m not sure how happy she was about my stance of “take it or it goes out, ” I want/need the space.
    7. My husband and I went out for our date this week.
    8. I’ve been reading up a storm.
    9. Retire. I sent in the paper work. Done.

    Reply

    • Debi says

      I retired ay the end of April, but was asked to work a few days a week. I am doing that since I have worked in an office environment since 16, almost 65. So I am weaning myself away. I also am the only female so I get spoiled with the guys making sure my car works fine if I mention something. If they can fix it, I just pick up the part and they repair. If they can’t, they tell me where to take the car. In fact, one of the guys had extra wood and made me a new fireplace mantel. My old one was warping and had a formica top. This one is beautifully handmade and given to me at no cost.

      Slowly doing projects around the house. It’s hard as my mother who has start of dementia lives with me.

      I garden and have been trying to stay on top of weeds and making sure all my herbs, fruits and vegetables are growing.

      Reply

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