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12 Goals for the New Year

My 22 Goals for 2019 – Week 32 of 52

By Mavis Butterfield on - 34 Comments

My 22 Goals for 2019


Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love

The sky is falling!!!!! Just look at all those beautiful acorns. Doesn’t it put a big smile on your face? Fall is JUST AROUND the corner. Yes, we still have about 6 weeks or so to get through, but FALL, and flannel shirts, and chilly mornings and going on long walks without the worry of being carried off by skeeters…. it all seems within reach.

Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden

The garden is totally weeded and everything from vegetables to herbs to flowers is in full bloom and I’ve loving it! I think I’ll plant another round a basil, parsley, cilantro and beets this week though to squeeze an extra harvest before the freezing temps arrive. Maybe even another round of zucchini. We’ll see.

Goal #3 — Plant an Orchard {Calling it Quits on this one for this year.}

Hey! I discovered a 3rd apple tree in the yard this week. It’s over by the chicken coop. How cool is that? In other news, Miss Lemon and all her babies are looking fit as a fiddle. I need to do a head count.

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.

Everything looks so good on the vine right now, I don’t want to pick anything. I counted 23 mini pumpkins growing along the back of the house {and snaking around the patio… and it looks so cool}. I think I’m going to hold out as long as I can before I pick them.

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 2 patterns from my pattern bin this past week {a star and a smaller pumpkin rug} but didn’t list any new pieces {except a few bundles of wool} in my Etsy shop. I had hoped to have time to hook up a few more fall pieces this past week but I just couldn’t make the time. I do have a stack of patterns to get through though, so hopefully things will be a bit calmer this week and I can make a dent.

I started the year off with:

  • 73 rugs in my pattern bin {now down to 37}
  • 183 hooked flowers {finished 133, now down to 51}
  • 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} DONE!

So far this year I’ve added 12 new rug hooking patterns and 13 beginner rug hooking kits to my Etsy shop.

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 

So far we have 3 1/2 cords for this winter. I say we need more. The HH disagrees. But what do I know.

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

Down to 2943 photos. And man, I miss the snow!!! And hot cocoa and the excuse to bake chocolate chip cookies and to walk around in a puffy coat. Miss Puffy…. I’m waiting for you, it won’t be long. I promise.

Goal #10 –Lose the Muffin Top

Let’s talk muffin tops, shall we. If you buy a better fitting pair of jeans and the muffin isn’t spilling over, is that the same as loosing the muffin top? After all, as we age, our bodies change and the weight is re-distributed. Am I right? Or am I right?  Or are these just things we tell ourselves because we can’t seem to loose those last 5 pounds?

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

We are at day 53 on the turtle baby watch. According to the Google, hatching could occur anytime between 45-90 days. Any day now people, ANY DAY NOW. Side note: I wonder if the babies can hear me when I sing them a little tune every morning. Plus, everyone knows, 5k’s and half marathons in the fall are way better than summer ones.

Goal #12 — Read or Listen to 26 New Books {16 down, 10 to go}

I went to the library yesterday and requested An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew and Mr. Sunday’s Soups {because HELLO, fall and flannels and is right around the corner and I can’t wait to hole up inside!}.

I am waiting my turn on the library wait list for the following audio book{s}:

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

Goal #13 — Try 52 New Recipes.

21 down, 31 recipes to go. This past week I tried an Easy Greek Green Bean Salad. And it was delicious!

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

9 down, 44 to go. I’ll get crackin’ once fall {and cooler temps} come around. But please enjoy this picture of Miss Lucy who refused to look at the camera even after I said a few *magic* words like bunny, treat, goldfish and squirrel.

Goal #15 — Fill 100 Canning Jars 48 down, 52 to go.

I made 7 jars of peach jam this past week! I’ll post the recipe on Tuesday or Wednesday {or basically when I get my act together}.

So far this year I’ve I canned:

Goal #16 — Finish Furnishing Our House

I didn’t come across any new furniture this week but I did score a nice wooden bowl {for all those acorns!} and 2 books Beatrix Potter’s Art and Designs on the Heart, The Homemade Art of Grandma Moses at our local recycle center. Side note: Those old wooden bowls…. They go for a small fortune on Etsy. 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 1 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 {25 down, 27 to go}

I had big plans but someone decided to cut their own hair at the last minute {and I think we all know who that was} and took to long getting ready and so we couldn’t make the stop on our way to a family gathering for a mini date.

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

With so many pumpkins growing in the garden this year, I’ve been feeling the urge to sign up for some sort of baking class. Pies and sweets are kind of my thing, and even though I already know how to make a pie, I still think there would be a lot to learn from taking a class.

Then again, a course on bread baking might be pretty cool too.

Goal #19 — Secret {for now} Holiday Project

The big reveal… Friday, September 13th, 2019.

Goal #20 — Create 12 Wowie Zowie Party Platters

4 down, 8 to go. {I’ve decided to wait and work on this goal during the fall/winter months}

Goal #21 — Visit 12 General Stores

8 down 4 to go.

So far this year we’ve visited:

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

I need to get something made for the front door for fall. Do you have any ideas? A giant pumpkin? {Doesn’t it seem kind of early?} I just don’t know what to put up there that would be simple enough to see from the road. Help!

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
  • June/July: Tin Star and Flag Bunting

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

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

  1. Christa H. says

    Beautiful acorns!
    What is that plant in your second picture? I love it!

    Week 32 of 52:
    I’m still feeling very behind due to unexpected things over the past couple months and have not had much time to do items this summer as planned.
    1. Establish our farm- Mulch was delivered and was spread in the front of the house. We still need to finish the back of the house. Bought a zero-turn mower for the yard. Numerous subcontractors have come and almost all the little issues with the house are fixed. Just a couple more to go. All closets and cabinets are organized.
    2. Decide upon side hustles for farm money- Honey. Will bottle what I have soon and make some labels. My fellow teachers want to buy it.
    3. Build a chicken coop- Cancelled and hopefully moved to next year. HOA amendments were filed incorrectly so no one can have farm animals except horses right now. They will refile in the future, so this is on hold for now.
    4. Establish my bee/butterfly garden- Still trying to find someone to put in the fence posts for me. Planning to use brown metal edging to make long 4-foot wide beds for the flowers and fill with compost to mix with the dirt already there. Walkways will be crush and run that will match the long driveway. The hive that swarmed did raise a new queen for the bees that stayed behind.
    5. Plan the fruit/vegetable/herb garden- Bought a weed dragon torch to burn weeds. Will spray and not burn the poison ivy along the garden edges.
    6. Grow broomcorn and mammoth sunflowers- FAIL- bought seeds but will have to plant next year
    7. Create a bee lawn on the west side of the house- bought seeds. Planning to sow in the fall.
    8. Start a fruit orchard- need to go back to the state farmers market. I want to order some interesting bushes and trees to put in this fall.
    9. Create a sitting area near the beaver dam- have a bench but will not go near there until it freezes here due to ticks.
    10. Begin a wish/prayer tree on the path to the beaver dam- decided on the tree. Waiting for a hard freeze to kill the ticks.
    11. Water bath can at least 10 items
    12. Learn to use the pressure canner
    13. Ferment at least 10 items- I want to make kimchi
    14. Try at least 10 new recipes- 5 of 10 done. Made your meatloaf recipe and it was the best I ever had! Also made fresh salsa and jalapeno ranch dip similar to Chuy’s restaurant and smacked cucumber salad with sumac onion and radishes, and some homemade sauces. All are keepers.
    15. Find and make a good Vietnamese beef pho recipe
    16. Get new pantry very organized- DONE. I do want to label some items with new stickers since I noticed some are yellowing from age.
    17. Organize art supplies/paint glass jar lids- DONE. I worked really hard on this. The art room is organized, furniture was around to make it more spacious, canvases are organized, the art closet has over 50 clear storage containers with all supplies organized by categories. I had the shelving custom built to fit the containers.
    18. Hang art on the walls- 4 items are up. Bought Command velcro strips for some wall hangings.
    19. Inventory all my cookbooks so I know what I have- Working on it. I am using the app Libib.
    20. Make Christmas ornaments and garland- Working on it. I bought two vintage ornaments at an antique store to alter. Found all of my Christmas craft items from the move. Have dried items for the garland.
    21. Make potpourri from foraged and garden items
    22. Finish at least 2 embroidery projects- One is half way finished. The other I have hooped and have decided on the colors. I need glasses and have made an eye apt for next week so I can see what I am stitching. In the meantime I bought some cheap reader glasses, but they make me a little dizzy.
    23. Make at least three paintings- bought canvases; organized paints. We visited Boston and went to their art museum which was very inspiring!
    24. Find furniture for the screened porch- DONE- bought the set we wanted when it went on sale. It was delivered and is perfect
    25. Get my Instagram up and running again

    Reply

    • Revonda B Brumfield says

      I believe the second picture is a serum. I’m guessing it’s one called Autumn Joy. When the flowers bloom later in the fall it is beautiful light trust, corally color. I have multiples in my gardens. It is easy to grow and separate to share with others or to add additional plants throughout your own garden.

      Reply

  3. lynne says

    Oh Miss Lucy…your side profile is quite sweet! My dogs can be in the cutest pose…as soon as I grab the phone camera, they are up and moving – never fails!
    Just to say again, I love your blog posts, and look forward to them every morning with a cuppa joe. Thank you for sharing your life! LynneinMN

    Reply

  4. Mel says

    For the front door, maybe a wooden cutout of a sunflower, an ear of flint corn, or an apple?

    For me, better fitting clothes always win. I’ve definitely had weight redistribute such that losing or gaining weight didn’t make clothes fit again and I had to switch to different cuts and brands instead. At the same time, I’m also almost always in between sizes, so it’s better to just stick with something that fits when I can find it since losing or gaining even very small amounts of weight can completely change my clothes size.

    Now that I’ve wrapped up all my summer goals (organizing, cleaning, freezer cooking, running, etc.), I’m considering working on a sewing project for back to school or cleaning all my jewelry this week (I don’t wear it much, but it was looking a little tarnished the other day). We’ll see.

    Reply

  7. Emily E. says

    Hi Mavis,
    Love those acorns and that wooden bowl! What a great find! Yes, it’s way to early to put fall décor up. I vote for a bittersweet wreath! Can’t wait to see what you decide on!

    Reply

  8. Sue says

    A natural vine wreath and use one of your clay ornaments.
    I have one made with kudzu vine, small bird and bird nest.
    I have used grape vines in the past and they really sell when I had my booth.
    These are easy to shape when they are green and just cut.

    Reply

  10. Linda says

    Mavis your acorns could have little worms (weevils) inside and should be heated to kill them. If you look on line, you’ll find directions on how long to do that.
    I love the idea of a natural wreath decorated with some of your gourds, acorns and perhaps a sunflower pottery piece you make.

    Reply

  11. Margery says

    September decor apple theme, October pumpkin, November turkey. I put out my Fall colors on Labor day weekend even though it’s still in the 90’s here in the Midwest. But I do switch out the decor just a bit every month.

    Reply

  12. Christine Hagen says

    What about replicating one of your primitive rug designs with paint on a piece of plywood? Kind of like the painted barn quilt squares.

    Reply

  13. Revonda B Brumfield says

    Mavis,

    Thank you for the suggestion of Marilla of Green Gables. That was a fabulous book. Need of my favorite this year as well. Have you read the Nancy Moser series, the Fashion Designer, Pattern Artist and her latest one the Shop Keepers? I’ve just begun the Shop Keepers. So far it hasn’t drawn me in as much as the first two. I was attracted to them for the subject because I was a fashion design major blue eons ago. It picks up a bit on the Downton Abbey era theme.

    A question about the Writing Book. Is this the by Stephen King? It goes seem to come in audio…wondering if it’s the correct link.

    Thanks for your columns. I really enjoy them and I’m envious of your life and location! I often share portions of your writing, recipes, etc with my husband.

    Thanks again, Revonda

    Reply

  14. Lace Faerie says

    How about sunflowers for your front door? My favorite flower arrangement for late summer are sunflowers and new cattails. I also love flowering artichoke and the smaller purple bull thistle flowers, chicory stems make a nice filler, as their color kinda bridge the colors of the thistle blooms. They are tricky to harvest and arrange but I do love them as they are an unusual arrangement.

    Reply

  15. NCJill says

    Not sure how old you are, Mavis, but if you’re in the Menopause years like me (pre, peri or post menopause) it’s a given that you’d have the muffin top. So common.

    For wonderful advice on this “change” try YouTube’s Menopause Barbie Taylor, a retired Ob/Gyn. Her factual, non biased information is fantastic!

    Reply

  16. AmyWW says

    I think for late summer and early fall a big painted wooden or metal sunflower would look great on your front door.

    Reply

  17. Joely says

    Mavis, how do you grow broccoli without the cabbage moths decimating your plants? The green little worms all over my brassicas has deterred me from planting any this year!

    Reply

    • Mavis Butterfield says

      I bought some super thin white fabric row cover material in the early spring and it seems to be working. I didn’t cover the spot where I planted cabbage and the bugs got to them. 🙁

      Reply

  18. Candice says

    Hi Mavis,

    I have a funny story for you about acorns. I have several large oak trees behind my house. Two years ago I decided to collect them as vase filler for a candle. Pottery barn had them in their catalog and I loved the way it looked. I thought to myself, Self, you can collect acorns from your back yard and get that look for FREE! So I collected dozens of the best ones. They were so pretty with their caps and all! I cleaned them all carefully and then laid them out on a piece of card board and sprayed them with some spray clear finish. They were all shiny and beautiful. I arranged them in a large glass candle holder with a fat white candle. Fast forward a few weeks and I noticed some things moving around in the candle holder so I dumped out the acorns and there were tiny white worms all over the bottom. They had even bored into the candle! It was dusgusting! So brainy here looked it up on the internet and who would have known that you are supposed to bake them at 175 degrees to kill any insects hiding inside the acorns to presserve them! You should also exam them for any holes since that is a sign there are insects inside. Who knew? Anyway, lesson learned here! Love your blog and you always make me smile! Keep on keepin’ on!

    Reply

  20. Laura says

    Hi Mavis,

    A question about the fit of the Duckfeet boots…..do they run true to size or a bit small or large? They look very comfy and that’s what I’m looking for.

    Reply

    • Mavis Butterfield says

      True to size. The shoes only come in whole sizes. I normally wear an 8 but have bought an 8.5 in running shoes because of the extra moving about. While they do take a few wearings to break in {I used shoe trees because I didn’t want to wait} the leather shoes fit beautifully. I’m a customer for life now, I love them so much.

      Reply

  21. Mary Lou says

    Is your lemon tree in a pot? I have a 6 year old lemon that has not given me any fruit. Tried indoor, outdoor, lots of light, less light, etc. Live in Central Pennsylvania.

    Reply

    • Mavis Butterfield says

      Yes! Currently Miss Lemon is outside and will stay out until evening temps dip below 50 degrees, then I’ll bring her inside to hang out in the sun room.

      Reply

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