My 22 Goals for 2019
Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love
I spent a ridiculous amount of time on the internet this past week searching for things I’ll never buy, catching up on current events, learning about a cow tail amputation, listening to podcasts {I love the podcast How I Built This and the Boom Chick a Pop podcast was so good!} and for the most part, getting absolutely NOTHING done.
My eyes hurt so much when I woke up on Saturday morning from staring at a screen all week, I couldn’t drag myself out of bed to do the weekly highlights. So, I apologize for being a no show. Life, it happens. š
Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden
What I’d like to know is WHO has been eating my strawberries all summer? I suspect it was our resident bunny, but with all the wildlife around here, I can’t tell for sure. Other than a little thieving, the garden is doing well these days.
Goal #3 — Plant an Orchard {Calling it Quits on this one for this year.}
We have 3 apple trees on the property and now that one of trees with fruit on it has a bit of color to it, I think it’s safe to say it’s an Empire apple tree! š It’s a popular apple around here. Now I just have to figure out what the other two are.
Goal #4 — Gussy Up the Potting Shed Done!
Those sunflowers! I wonder how tall they’ll get. Just when I think they are ready to bloom, they get a little taller. I need to go out and measure them.
Goal #5 — Grow Enough Extra Vegetables, Eggs and Flowers to Earn $1500 at my little roadside vegetable stand.
I sold $24 worth of jam at the veggie stand this week {I guess nobody wanted the mini pumpkins, zucchini, flowers or eggs}. Oh well, I’ll set up shop again next week and see if I get any takers.
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.Ā
I finished absolutely nothing to add to my Etsy shop this week. What can I say. Some weeks you just feel like you’re on autopilot.
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}
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:
- Tullia and Thomas Turkey
- Double Nantucket Whale Runner
- Miss Henny and Penny
- Miss Penny
- Simple Kitty
- Primitive Flowers
- 2 Fat Cats
- Annabell’s Big Day
- Old Fashioned Double Tulip
- Fat Brown Hen
- Busy Little Bee
- Queen Bee
Rug Hooking Kits
- Busy Little Bee {in 2 different colors}
- Folk Art Heart
- Small Nantucket Whale
- Primitive Crow
- Miss Robin {in 2 different colors}
- Simple Kitty
- Primitive Flowers
- Sunflowers
- A Basket of Spring Posies
- Fat Brown Hen
- Chicky’s Garden
Goal #8 — Split and Stack 2 Cords of Wood for Next WinterĀ
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 2942 photos. This is a photo of the “complimentary breakfast” from our hotel The Girl and I enjoyed one morning while staying in Vancouver B.C. I can’t believe I have had this photo on my phone for over 2 years now. If this was 1990 and I had to pay to print out my photo, I would have been like…. why on earth did I take a picture of that for?Ā
Goal #10 –Lose the Muffin Top
Blah Blah Blah.
Goal #11 — Run, Walk or Crawl a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon
We are at day 60 on the turtle baby watch. According to the Google, hatching could occur anytime between 45-90 days. I wonder how many will hatch?
Goal #12 — Read or Listen to 26 New Books {16 down, 10 to go}
I picked up An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew from the library yesterday but haven’t had time to crack open the pages yet.Ā
Current Books I am on the Wait list for:
- Mr. Sundayās Soups
- On Writing {I’ve already listened to this 2 times but it’s sooo good, even if the only writing I do is an online journal.
- Mistress of the Ritz
Books I’ve Read or Listened to So Far This Year:
- Marilla of Green Gables #1 Still my favorite
- The Great Alone #2
- The Aviator’s Wife #3
- Before We Were Yours #4
- Secrets of a Charmed Life #5
- Where’d You Go, Bernadette #6
- Carnegieās Maid #7
- The Gown #8
- The Alice Network #9
- The Shape of Mercy #10
- Will’s Red Coat #11
- Big Little Lies #12
- Bunny MellonĀ {Doesn’t count because it was my second time}
- Walden
- Finder’s Keepers
- Delicious!
- Following Atticus
Goal #13 — Try 52 New Recipes.
22 down, 30 recipes to go. This past week I shared a recipe for Old Fashioned Peach Preserves.
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.
Goal #15 — Fill 100 Canning Jars 48 down, 52 to go.
As soon as the John Boy peaches are available at our local fruit stand, I plan on making another batch of jam!
So far this year I’ve I canned:
- 7 jars Peach Jam
- 7 jars of Strawberry Jam
- 15 jars of Carrot Cake Jam
- 15 jars of Spiced Pear JamĀ
- 4 jars of Almond Pears.
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 roomConsole, 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 roomas well as put up some sort of decoration above the other321 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 {26 down, 28 to go}
For date day this week the HH and I went o Winter Harbor, Maine. Have you been there before? After reading about the coastal Maine hideaway in The Aviatorās Wife and the Bunny Mellon book, I just had to see for myself if it was as beautiful as I had imagined it to be. And it was all that and more. I don’t know about you, but I just love a rocky coastline.
Goal #18 — Take One Adult Education Class Done {I’ve taken 2!}
- Iām keeping the first class I took with my neighbor top secret for now
- Spoon Carving ClassĀ with Heather.
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. We didn’t make it to a general store this week, but we did stop at a cool eatery with a nice selection of everything you could possibly need to a pickety bit extravaganza. I’ll tell you all about it next week.
So far this year we’ve visited:
- Chase’s Daily {I think it should count}
- Squam Lake Marketplace
- Harrisville General Store
- Dodge’s Store in New Boston, New Hampshire
- Zeb’s General Store in North Conway, New Hampshire
- Dan and Whit’s in Norwich, Vermont
- Hussey’s General Store in Windsor, Maine
Goal #22 — Compete with Carole….. Get on My Front Door Game On
I’ve decided on a big sunflower cutout for the front door. Now I just need to go out the barn and get a piece of wood and have the HH cut it out for me. š
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
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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! š
♥ Mavis
You can read more about my 22 goals for 2019 HERE.
Carolina Cooper says
You mentioned that you sold $24 worth of jam, but your photo shows $27 at least. Also, did you find those adorable squirrel mugs at the recycle center? What else did you sell at your farm stand last week and where did you find those adorable mugs> Curious minds want to know!
Mavis Butterfield says
I always add a little “seed money” to the jar in case someone needs to make change.
Carolina Cooper says
And the squirrel mugs?
Mavis Butterfield says
No, I WISH I found it at the recycle center. I spotted it at a local shop and snapped a picture. I meant to write about that.
Peggy says
I got my middle daughter off to college yesterday, and would you believe that someone at the soccer picnic brought Carol’s Creamy Grape Salad?!? My husband told me about it and I went and found it and loaded up my plate with it!!! My daughter found it hilarious thatI both he and I were both so name specific on it’s name…not just ‘grape salad’, but ‘Carol’s Grape Salad ‘…we laughed!I don’t know why I didn’t think to bring it, but I forgot the chocolate chip cookies and fruit I was bringing anaway…luckily an apple orchard was nearby. Anyway, It’s nice to know another mom follows your blog too.
Mavis Butterfield says
Hilarious!!!
Mel says
My mini goal for last week was to sew some school/work supplies, so I designed and sewed a pocket that attaches to a spiral notebook with elastic. My phone and pens fit in it, so I can easily carry everything to meetings.
I might sew a reusable sandwich wrap next or organize my jewelry. I’m also a little off my cleaning schedule due to some day trips, so I might work on getting that squared again.
Alice says
When I saw the picture of the wooden bowl you picked up FOR FREE, I was blown away. I looked for years and still paid through the nose for mine.
Jennifer Bouknight says
I collect wooden bowls and dough bowls. I have 8 right now and love them, if only for the rustic look. Don’t sorry about yesterday’s post. It’s the
only day I don’t look at since I look every other day.
Ann says
Your sunflowers look great! Of course we know that sunflowers follow the sun, but did you know that when it’s cloudy and grey they face each other and share their energy. Imagine if people did that!
Cindy Howard says
I love that!
Rita says
I have a problem with slugs eating my strawberries. Do you have slugs or snails there?
Mavis Butterfield says
Nope. Not a single slug here. It’s so weird. I used to use Sluggo in the garden in Washington though, have you tried that?
Rita says
Haven’t tried it. Thanks for the tip!
Marie says
I use coarsely crushed eggshells around my strawberries to deter slugs/snails.
Margery says
Well I just finished working on my new goals for the year and wrapping up my thoughts on last years goals. My goals go usually from Mid August or September to the start of the new school year the following August, because I work for a school district and when the kids were younger it was always the start of a new school year that brought new plans. ideas,and therefore goals.
New Goals for a New School Year
1) Take a college class – thinking this will be a spring semester goal
2) Walk one mile per day on purpose for 26 connective days. – Was thinking of doing this in September but with the pain my knee is giving me I may need to postpone this one, but I think I will at least still try.
3) Menu plan every two weeks- I have learned that if I sit down and menu plan I am more likely to actually feed the family.
4) Paint a picture- I am not a creative type person as far as painting but it is something I want to try this year so once again I see you tube videos in my future.
5)Complete at least 75 percent of weekly to do list- I like lists and each Sunday spend some time making them but they don’t always get done. This year I wanted a goal to help me focus on completing more of the weekly to do list.
6) Do a 5k walk- This is going to be late Fall or Early spring
7) Monthly organizing project- See below
8) Make Dinner 5 out of 7 days a week.- Friday’s my 12 year old makes pizza and Sunday’s is leftovers.
9) Family Game time at least 1x a week- I am going to aim that every Friday we play a game since we have no outside commitments usually that day. I will also aim to try to play a game with Aidan on Sunday afternoons.
10) Family dinner at the table with no devices at least 3x a week- We are a busy family and as much as I would like to eat together at the table every night as we did when the kids were younger that is just not happening. But I think we should be able to do it 3x a week if I write it on the family calendar, and most importantly no devices.
11) Take one picture every day and write about it. This is one goal that I think I will enjoy the most, and hope to print out at the end of year into a photo book.
Break down of the Monthly Organizing Goal so far
September- My side of the Garage
October- Yard
November- The back of the garage
December- Under the stairs, the Christmas stuff
January- Filing cabinets
February- All the bookshelves in the house
March- Closets
April- August still to be decided.
And finally a wrap up of last years goals-
1. Read one non-fiction book per month :
I tried but I guess my real love is fiction and cookbooks.
2. Monthly date with the husband :
With him working shift work, and me also working monthly dates didn’t always happen this year. But I think we have done well in making time for us when we can, lately we have been binge watching Friends at night. We also have a just the two of us dinner out planned for later this month.
3. Weekly Game Night :
It hasn’t happened every week but we have some new favorites like Code Words and after a visit with a friend Labyrinth.
4. Try a new recipe each week – We ate a lot of old favorites this summer.
5. Fall-Spring Garden-
Oh my how the summer garden grew, well at least the tomatoes. Have been giving away tomatoes for at least a month. The cucumbers never set, and only a few zucchini. The greens did well and the rabbit has been very well fed this summer on kale, lettuce and more.
6. De-clutter-
Have a new plan for this year
7. Loose some weight-
Yep didn’t happen, so changed this goal up for next year.
8. Learn a new skill –
I made soap, this year and it was fun. I look forward to making some more this winter and really sometimes you just need to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.
9. Reduce trash-
Bit by Bit
10. A Financial goal-
I think I met my goal this year.
I hope that everyone is doing well in meeting their goals.
E in Upstate NY says
Mavis, re your wing back chair need, go to FaceBook Marketplace. Wing back chairs are currently out of fashion and people are almost giving them away! Have seen $30 for one and $50 for two! And don’t get me going on dining room table sets! Just saw a solid mahogany table, 2 leaves, 6 chairs and a buffet go from $100 to free within 24 h ours.
Gwen says
This is probably a dumb question…but are your ābooks readā in order of having read them or in order of liking them? Iāve enjoyed many of your recommendations through the years. Thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
Book #1 is my favorite. š
Diane says
Do Mammoth sunflowers need to be staked so they wonāt flop or break in the Strongās wind or storms?
Mavis Butterfield says
I have had good luck with not staking them. But if the sunflowers were out in the open {as opposed to being planted up next to a wall or some other structure} you might want to stake them.