My 22 Goals for 2019
Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love
Nailed it.
Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden
My seed order from Botanical Interests arrived the other day and so now all I’ve got to do is figure out where to plant everything. I suppose I should have done that BEFORE I ordered my seeds because now the idea of growing 4 packets of spinner gourds {to make a garland for the mantel} along the back of the house {on a trellis system that would need to be built} doesn’t seem like such a bright idea anymore.
What seems clever at 11 pm when you are placing your order is so totally different then when reality sets in. Funny how that happens.
Goal #3 — Plant an Orchard
Maybe in April?
Anyone out there grow Nova raspberries? I’d like to order raspberry canes without thorns if possible. Any ideas? I am hoping to plant 100 canes when the ground thaws.
Goal #4 — Gussy Up the Potting Shed
It was too cold to work outside again last week so Lucy and I stayed in and cut wool instead. I did walk by the potting shed and found the perfect spot to hang a “Potting Shed” sign though, that counts, right?
Goal #5 — Grow Enough Extra Vegetables, Eggs and Flowers to Earn $1500 at my little roadside vegetable stand.
See goal #2.
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.
This past week I finished 18 hooked flowers and one small chicken rug. At this rate I’m only going to have a handful of things to offer at my nest Etsy Shop update on February 1st. Eeek! I better get crackin’.
I started the year off with:
- 73 rugs {now down to 71}
- 183 hooked flowers {finished 18, now down to 147}
- 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}
I listed a new pattern “Old Fashioned Tall Tulip” on Etsy earlier this month and yesterday I finished drawing out pattern #2 {but it’s a top secret design so I don’t want to show you until I’ve got it hooked up}. It’s a pretty good sized rug, but hopefully I can get it finished before the outdoor gardening season begins.
Goal #8 — Split and Stack 2 Cords of Wood for Next Winter
I’m thinking late April might be a good month for this.
Goal #9 — Do Something with the 5,002 Photos on My Phone
Started with 5,002 photos, now down to 3,478 , 3516 , 3532. Clearly, I need to be hitting the delete button more than I am hitting the take a photo button. In other news, with a snowstorm on the horizon, the HH and I decided to pop by our little library and check out a few books yesterday. Okay so really, I did all the checking out. After all, a girl has to be prepared for a pajama day, right? {I’m thinking Monday might be a good day to stay in bed all day to read and map out next year’s garden.}
Needful things I picked up at the library:
- Miss Potter {I felt like I was waiting forever for Netflix or Amazon Prime to offer this so when I spotted it at the library, I was pretty excited. Also, I can’t believe the movie is 12 years old!}
- The New Boston Globe Cookbook
- Gardening for the Birds
- The Potting Shed
- Early American Life Magazine {Thanks Peg for sending it to me.}
Goal #10 –Lose the Muffin Top
It’s still there. I’ll do a photo update the first weekend in February.
Goal #11 — Run, Walk or Crawl a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon
One race down, four to go.
What I said last week: I’m not into apps {I have like 2 that are not factory programmed on my phone} or the idea of carrying my phone with me every second of the day or having some sort of device strapped on my wrist to track my steps. I don’t mind my little clip on pedometer though, even if it’s totally old school. Next week, my goal is to get up to 10,000 steps every day!
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Guess who took 68,178 steps this past week? I didn’t have a single day under 8,000 steps, which was an improvement from last week. It did take some effort {like making the HH or The Girl go on a walk with me} but I did it. I ended up AVERAGING 9739 steps a day so not the 10,000 I was aiming for, but close. Hopefully my average will be over 10,000 next week.
Goal #12 — Read or Listen to 26 New Books
Currently listening to : Delicious!
Finished: Following Atticus
Up Next: Free Food for Millionaires
Only lasted 7 minutes before I had to hit delete: Alaskan Holiday
Books I’ve Read or Listened to So Far This Year:
Goal #13 — Try 52 New Recipes.
The HH made an incredible turkey soup recipe this past week {but I’ll probably wait until later in the year to share because I have like 10 other recipes I want to tell you about first.} 2 down, 50 recipes to go!
Goal #14 — Clean Up 52 Old Recipes.
Yesterday I made a blueberry buckle and took some new photos. Four recipes down, 48 to go!
Goal #15 — Fill 100 Canning Jars
Not yet.
Goal #16 — Finish Furnishing Our House
No furniture this week but I did pick up 5 canning jars {perfect for flower bouquets} a wooden masher {which I’ll use for a craft project} a nice soup bowl and salad plate at the recycle center. Oh, and a slate that I’ll be able to hang in the garden once I repaint it. Hey…. wait a second here. I’m suppose to be finishing the projects I already have…. not bringing more home to work on. 😉
Furniture pieces I’d like to acquire this year:
- 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 that nobody will ever sit in.
- A wing back chair 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 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 {3 down, 49 to go}
I love it when date days involve treats, especially when they come from Holy Donuts.
Goal #18 — Take One Adult Education Class
Not yet.
Goal #19 — Secret {for now} Holiday Project
Waiting for delivery of the main components.
Goal #20 — Create 12 Wowie Zowie Party Platters
Since the only thing we are buying at the grocery store in January is milk, this goal will have to wait until next month.
Goal #21 — Visit 12 General Stores
Maybe next week?
Goal #22 — Compete with Carole….. Get on My Front Door Game On
Let’s just say, I am the first one on my street with any sort of Valentine’s decoration on the front door {I checked}. That Carole, she’s still got her white berry wreath up. I beat her to the Valentine’s Day decorations! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Bahahahaaaa. And YES, in case you were wondering if you can see the heart from the road, yes, yes you can! {I bet a certain someone can see it from her inside her house too!}. 😉
Front Door Bling I’ve Made So Far This Year to Compete with Carole:
Late January : Valentine Heart ♥
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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.
lynne says
Oh Sweet Lucy!!! She so makes my day :-)! It cracked me up to see your pedometer pics, and her crashed out in the background like SHE just ran a marathon LOL!!!!
Thank you for your inspiration…and for the Lucy pics.
LynneinMN
Cass says
Slow down here, girlfriend. Under no circumstances should you plant 100 raspberry canes. They are invasive. AND not all raspberries taste alike. You may not like the ones you choose first.
My son was trying to kill the raspberries in his teeny tiny condo back yard. So I grabbed one and pulled. Literally pulled a string of 6 of them out of the ground and took them home, planted them in a raised bed (cuz I know how they are) and waited. Only 3 of the original 6 survived the first winter. By the end of that first spring I had 20. By the second year a 4’x10′ foot bed was 3/4 full. AND some had escaped the bottomless bed into the surrounding area. (I mowed them down)
Save yourself a LOT of money and buy 10, maybe 25 new plants. Be patient. By the end of the third season you will be cursing and wondering why you thought putting raspberries “there” was a good idea. BUT, on the brighter side, you can dig out the plants that have come up where you don’t want them and sell them in groups of 5 in your veggie stand, thereby recovering your initial investment.
Jennifer says
I agree, they spread very fast! We have what is quickly turning into a Black Raspberry forest – all thanks to deer droppings a few years ago. We love the free food, however we are having trouble controlling the patch. It gets out of hand quickly.
Marti Clark says
I originally planted a dozen raspberry canes about 15 years ago. For the past 10 years I usually pick from mid August to the first killing frost–I have ever bearers, but trim so they only bear once. During the peak of the season I can pick about 5 ice cream buckets every other day. I have about 20 people on my list that I call to come out and pick FREE raspberries….but they have to pick them. I do freeze lots for myself first and make lots of jams and jellies to give away. During the winter we enjoy many raspberry pies, cakes, and coffee cakes. Please don’t order 100 plants unless you are supply for the entire state.
E in Upstate NY says
Besides not getting so many canes, contact you county extension office before ordering. They KNOW what grows there and what doesn’t. Take their recommendation[s].
A few years ago my son purchased black and red raspberry twigs from the local extension office for me. Even with major confinement tactics, they both have taken over the back yard. To be honest, I’m part of the problem as the past two years haven’t been able to garden AT ALL. But this summer…
Amanda says
I love raspberries, but yes they do spread! The variety that I grow in Wales is polka. It’s an autumn fruiting raspberry, but gives crops from end of July! Also easier to prune than summer fruiting varieties.
Mel says
I’m having the worst time finding materials for my goals, which are a few sewing projects I need to finish up. I’m still waiting on certain fabrics to come back in stock or having difficulty finding places to buy others. I haven’t been able to go to a fabric store, so I’m limited to online. So, I may eventually find what I need, but I may need to find some other goals just to pass the time until I can work on my original ones.
Tracy says
I’m in your old neck of the woods and have had a bed of primal cane raspberries for more than 12 years. They do not spread like the ones with thorns it took 8 years before I had to thin.
I wish I knew the name but everyone’s favorite are the golden raspberries. They are extra sweet and mine develop a salmon colored blush. There are probably not that many choices of primal cane goldens.
Lolly says
I did good the past week….I said I wanted to sew and work on projects in the late afternoon, vs piddling and wasting time online….and I DID! I had to force myself some days, and I am glad I did, cause I enjoyed it! Last week Sat till this past Thurs, I sewed 4 valentine cloth napkins (2 sided), I finished my 2 Xmas dish towels, 2 more dish towels (valentines, and one in greys with paper airplanes in the fabric), and then I came up with new appliques, and appliqued 4 hearts onto a white flour sack dish towel, and two with retro looking rv trailers. They turned out cute. (We don’t use paper towels except for camping and for cleaning up gross things….so we use 1-3 dish towels a day for drying hands and dishes. We also don’t use paper napkins….only cloth ones….so I like to add to the bunch….plus, cuuuute fabrics always jump into my cart for me to make stuff with….idk why they do this….)
I made a list this week of projects I want to work on, too, in case I forgot, lol! In the past two weeks I’ve bought fabric to make several family members cloth napkins for the major holidays …and this will be their xmas present next yr. I have fabric for easter, the 4th, halloween, thanksgiving, and Christmas. I have a wee bit for valentine’s day….idk if it is enough for everyone or not…. Also I have enough fabric to make my cousin 4-6 cloth napkins, 4 dish towels, and possibly two potholders as a wedding present, in the colors she is using for her kitchen. My goal is to make xmas presents yr round, vs so much crazy in Dec, lol!
I set aside $ and saved what I had planned to for Jan, and even a wee bit more!
I didn’t add walking to the mix yet. We’re barely making it right now with the kids back to school (we homeschool), church activities, volunteering, the kids’ homeschool co-op, meeting with friends, and normal life! Lol! The past two weeks we jumped in head first, and by the end of this week, we ALL FELT IT, lol! It’s something I need to choose to do, though.
Karen says
Lolly, would you be kind enough to let us know how you make your 2 sided napkins and where and hat type of fabric you use? I just have a very basic old sewing machine and cannot do any fancy stitching but would like to make napkins. I like the fabric with nice designs but then there is a blank or faded side if I just hem the napkins and they do not look very nice. Thank you
Lolly says
Lol, ya’ll made me smile! I use cotton fabrics….from walmart or joanns or hobby lobby or wherever. I will say….alot of joanns and HL fabrics are rough when you put them to your face/lips….and I DO test for that before buying. They aren’t as soft as quilt cotton (though they are priced as though they are the same quality, ahem!!)
I buy alot of fabric, so rarely do I just buy the 1/4 yd needed from two fabrics…. I wash, dry, and iron my fabric. You need 1/4 yd of two different (or the same) fabrics. I like to coordinate or contrast the colors….whichever makes me happy. I will say that I have learned to NOT use mostly white background fabrics, cause of messy mouths!
For four napkins, get 1/4 yd of fabric (can use fat quarters!) times 2, washed/dried/ironed. I cut my fabrics 8.5″ high and somewhere between 10″-10.5″ wide (most fabrics are 40″-42″ from selvedge to selvedge…I measure the fabric width and divide by 4). Put right sides together and sew 1/4″ seams around the fabric, leaving 3-4″ to turn the napkins. Clip corners. Flip the napkins and poke out the corners. Press, and pin the opening shut. Topstitch at about 1/8″ all the way around. Press and fold in half…it’ll be about 8″h x 5″w when folded. And if you use pretty fabrics on each side, it can be reversible! I don’t use any fancy stitches….and I line up the napkin with the edge of my presser foot….moving the needle where it needs to be for 1/4″ or 1/8″, so that my sewing is pretty straight.
I make my dish towels similarly….only I usually make them pretty on one side and use cheap white cotton for the backing. I measure them at 15″x21″ when I cut them. Sewing them up is the same. And I can use any pretty cotton that I like! I usually buy my seasonal fabrics when they go on clearance, afted the holidays!
I’ve made my own napkins and dish towels for years and years now. My very first ones are starting to show their age….and they are like 8-10 yrs old! We use them daily….and my kids were little when we started using those (so messy mouths and hands!) Some people like bigger napkins, and like to fold them a bunch, and there are tutorials for bigger ones on pinterest…..but I like just folding the napkins in half, lol! I got rid of all my old, large cloth napkins when I started making these….because I was weary of folding them so many times….I had wee little kids then, and it was a waste of my time, lol! 😉
ann in E. oregon says
I, too, would be interested! Thanks! 🙂
Diane says
Me too! I was wondering if you just use the cotton you can buy at Walmart or Joann’s, or do you need to buy something much thicker.
Mel says
Also interested! I sewed a set of double-sided “paper” towels that work great, but I think they might be just a bit thick for napkins, so I’ve held off trying those.
Michele says
An aside, Mavis. I just read an article on all the small (and not so small) seed companies Monsanto has bought out, and want to commend you for doing business with Botanical Interests who HASN’T sold out to that monstrous company! And may they never do it, but stay independent!
Katherine says
I agree.
I also like Renee’s Garden Seeds (a small company run by gardeners for gardeners), Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (family owned) and Seed Savers Exchange.
Susan says
Ooh, I’m curious what you thought of Holy Donut. I’d heard the hype and in my opinion, it was 100% earned! The flavors and texture were incredible! I’m ho hum about donuts, but thought Holy Donuts were the best I’ve had and well worth a drive to Maine !
Mavis Butterfield says
I think they are the best donuts I’ve ever had and I think the potato dough makes all the difference. That being said, Lil’s Cafe in Kittery makes the best crueler.
Diane says
Mavis, that looks like a lot of seeds! Don’t you save seeds from year to year? Or do you actually plant the entire package each year? Just wondering. I’m saving my milk jugs to do some winter sowing this year! Veggies & some flowers too!
Mavis Butterfield says
I do save some seeds but I didn’t save many last year. I need to make a garden map.
Crystal says
Good morning Mavis! I love your Sunday morning goal updates. I’m wondering if I missed the recipe for your husband’s meatballs. I’ve been looking forward to making them. I know you had said the recipe was coming….did I miss it somewhere? Thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
I will be posting the meatball recipe on Tuesday. 🙂 Yum Yum.
Torry says
1. Sew each week. 3/3! I have finished 40 Barbie gowns.
2. Am using up stash to do the Barbie gowns.
3.Barbie gowns are a part of finishing half done projects, because I remembered setting aside a lot of stuff for making more.
4. I’m failing at walking every day, but did walk a few days.
5. No new recipes made this week.
6.Clean more often. Yep, did this this week.
7. Husband and I did get out together this week
8. Read more. I finished several books this week, several magazines and a blog or two!
9.Consider retiring. I’ve thought about it and think I’ll work one more year. I only have to commit to 2 days a month, as a substitute. So no retiring yet.
Christa Hayden says
Week 3 of 52- Jan 20th
1. Establish our farm- concrete fireplace finished, kitchen cabinets going in, lights getting installed, waiting to hear if they can find the quartz I had on hold and someone released by mistake, concrete patios, sidewalk and driveway stub poured, yard getting graded
2. Decide upon side hustles for farm money- went see the Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit at the art museum and it got me inspired to paint and sell
3. Build a chicken coop- unsure if we will have enough money once house is done
4. Establish my bee/butterfly garden- might not be able to get fences put up until fall
5. Plan the fruit/vegetable/herb garden- received more catalogs in the mail to go through
6. Grow broomcorn and mammoth sunflowers- bought and need fencing from the deer
7. Create a bee lawn on the west side of the house- planned for spring, area is now graded and straw put down for erosion
8. Start a fruit orchard- want to visit a local pawpaw farm that sells trees
9. Create a sitting area near the beaver dam- after we move
10. Begin a wish/prayer tree on the path to the beaver dam- after we move
11. Water bath can at least 10 items- after we move
12. Learn to use the pressure canner- after we move
13. Ferment at least 10 items- after we move
14. Try at least 10 new recipes- made 1 new item so far
15. Find and make a good Vietnamese beef pho recipe- chose recipe and will make after we move
16. Get new pantry very organized – after we move
17. Organize art supplies/paint glass jar lids- finished organizing into plastic storage containers but need to add labels
18. Hang art on the walls- decided where most will go in the house once we move
19. Inventory all my cookbooks so I know what I have- looks overwhelming, probably will do during the summer when it is too hot to garden
20. Make Christmas ornaments and garland- bought some paper clay for a fox ornament, bought a 40’s vintage German glass and twisted wire ornament that I want to add a snowman something to for the snowman tree
21. Make potpourri from foraged and garden items- dried some items for this
22. Finish at least 2 embroidery projects- looked at it again but no time as we are switching school semesters Tuesday and I’ll have new students so I’m swamped with prep work
23. Make at least three paintings- planning some flower paintings
24. Find furniture for the screened porch- bought two 6’x9’ plain outdoor rugs in black and grey at Costco for only $19.99 each!
25. Get my Instagram up and running again- will post once we move
Christa Hayden says
I planted 4 spinning gourd seeds a few years ago and got around 90 of them! They love compost.
They dried easily on the vine and then I scrubbed off the mold with a green scrubbie and water. Some we painted for Christmas ornaments. I also bought a wood burner with some fine tips to decorate them but haven’t done that yet. Would live to grow more.
Denise says
Just FYI on the Hubbard squash-squash bugs love them! They are a great trap crop to help keep those nasties away from other squash. Something to keep in mind when making your garden plans.
Melissa says
Canby is a variety of red thornless raspberry. I am trying them this year myself. There is also a purple variety called Glencoe.
Marcia HEIN says
Mavis, could you post some tutorials for simple rug making? I live in the UK. There are very few opportunities to learn. Love your blog! Many thanks for the work you share!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, a blog post is in the works.