My 22 Goals for 2019
Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love
I high of 68 is the forecast for today, can you believe it? And those evening temps, you just can’t beat that! This my friends, this is gardening weather. The bugs {that bite} have pretty much packed up {85% of them anyway} and pulling weeds and playing outside is fun again.
Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden
This week we harvested green beans, zucchini, patty pan squash, peppers, mini pumpkins, tomatoes, herbs and in another day or two we’ll get to pluck an eggplant or two. {This will be the second time in all the gardening I’ve done that I’ve been able to grow eggplant, so I’m pretty excited about that!}
Goal #3 — Plant an Orchard {Calling it Quits on this one for this year.}
We figured out that one of the trees in the yard is an empire apple. Does this apple look familiar to anyone? My knowledge of New England apple varieties is pretty slim.
Goal #4 — Gussy Up the Potting Shed Done!
The mammoth sunflowers are in bloom and the birds and the bees are thrilled!
Goal #5 — Grow Enough Extra Vegetables, Eggs and Flowers to Earn $1500 at my little roadside vegetable stand.
I sold $46 at the vegetable stand yesterday {selling out of eggs, veggies and jams} which brings my veggie stand total to $70 for the year. I’ve only really filled the stand on 3 occasions this year so hey, that’s pretty good if you ask me. Things have been a little on the busy side around here this summer {to put it mildly} and I haven’t been able to dedicate as much time to this goal as I would have liked but hey, that’s life. Some years unexpected things pop up like mad, and other years are a total walk in the park. 😉
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.Â
I have been working on this pumpkin runner on and off for three weeks now. If this was winter, and I was all bundled up inside watching movies and sipping tea in my pj’s, this would have taken me a day and a half to whip out. But you know…. summer. It’s got it’s challenges.
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 WinterÂ
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. {Didn’t make a dent this week}
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 67 on the turtle baby watch so I can’t leave the house or participate in a fun run. According to the Google, hatching could occur anytime between 45-90 days. ** My neighbor, the Artist said turtles hatch by the light of the full moon. The next full moon will supposedly be August 30th and again on September 28th, so we’ll see.
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 and haven’t even cracked it open yet! It’s been a busy week.
Current Books I am on the Wait list for:
- Mr. Sunday’s 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
- Carnegie’s Maid #7
- The Gown #8
- The Alice Network #9
- The Shape of Mercy #10
- Will’s Red Coat #11
- Big Little Lies #12
- Bunny Mellon {Doesn’t count because it was my second time}
- Walden
- Finder’s Keepers
- Delicious!
- Following Atticus
Goal #13 — Try 52 New Recipes.
23 down, 31 recipes to go. This past week I shared a recipe for Tomato, Avocado and Cucumber Salad.
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.
Someone mentioned I should try canning a basil jelly. Have you ever made basil jelly before? I think I might give it a go.
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 JamÂ
- 4 jars of Almond Pears.
Goal #16 — Finish Furnishing Our House
I wasn’t able to find anything good at the recycle center this week, and while I did check Craigslist for furniture items twice I didn’t see anything I wanted there either but check out this old washtub {for babies?} that my neighbor Carole had at her yard sale yesterday. I thought it was super cute but the HH said no.
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}
No dates this week, can you believe that? Our 25th wedding anniversary is coming up next week, fingers crossed we don’t end up at the Cracker Barrel. And if your’e new around here and thinking my husband is going to walk through the door with some big lavish gift or something to commemorate the fact that you know, 25 years is a long time and should be celebrated… Here are a few links to some of his previous gifts: 19th Anniversary 20th Anniversary 21st Anniversary
Goal #18 — Take One Adult Education Class Done {I’ve taken 3!}
- I’m keeping the first class I took with my neighbor top secret for now
- Spoon Carving Class with Heather.
- Mini pottery lesson {I loved it! and now I want to sign up for a full class!}
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} and honestly at this rate, it will be a party platter palooza this fall. I’m excited and I think a fondue party platter is going to be a must.
Goal #21 — Visit 12 General Stores
8 down 4 to go.
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
And last but not least, so many people suggested that I make a sunflower for the front door that I had the HH cut one out for me out of an old piece of plywood we had in the barn. I think it’s missing something though… seeds maybe? I don’t know. But as soon as I get it figured out I’ll have him drill a hole at the stop so I can hang it on the door. 🙂
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
- August : Sunflower
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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.
Christine says
If you ever want a really great place to go for a breakfast date head to Parker’s Maple Barn in Mason, NH. I haven’t been in a year and I am planning on going soon. I think you would really enjoy it (and MUCH better than Cracker Barrel haha).
MEM says
How about glueing black buttons onto your wooden sunflower? Surely you have a “button jar”. Or maybe neighbor Carol does!
Amy says
I think that’s a great idea MEM!
Tracey says
The door art is lovely, and to make it look like a sunflower, rather than a black eyed Susan, you’d need to make the brown circle larger.
Mel says
I’m very jealous of that weather forecast. So ready for fall!
I think the apple could be Jonagold, but they sometimes have more uniform color instead of streaks, and I don’t know if they’re regional.
The wash tub looks like it could be converted to a Lucy bed.
The sunflower might need seeds (just a black cross-hatch pattern over the brown) or lighter yellow streaks on the petals. It might also need a slightly larger center to really scream “sunflower.” On the other hand, I really like its simplicity and might just leave it like it is.
Judy says
I thought larger center too but cute as is like a brown eyed Susan. Looking forward to baby turtles, hope you get pics!
Leanna says
I think a bee would like nice on it.
Julia says
Or a green gingham bow?
Linda says
Mavis, several years ago you recommended the cookbook Simply in Season, and I purchased a copy. Have you ever made the zucchini garden chowder in the book? It is simply delicious and I recommend you give it a try now that weather has turned to soup weather.
Mavis Butterfield says
No, I haven’t tried it, I’ll have to look it up. Thanks Linda!
Lynne says
I’m certainly no artist, but I think what the sunflower is missing is texture, either faux painted or 3D. I like both the button idea and the bee idea, or how about some curly wood shavings for the seeds?
Stacie says
I think on your sunflower you should add an off center bow to the top. Also paint a light cross hatch texture to the center and add your family intial in the middle of the brown center.
Natalie says
Have you thought of trying to sell your rug hooking or other projects at your stand? I’m sure your neighbors would love those also!
Glenda says
Yes, you definitely need more wood. Four to Five cords per winter.
Kirsten G. says
My guess is a Cortland apple.
https://newenglandapples.org/
My to-do list has been quite long. We’re in back to school prep mode. Just a few odds and ends to finish up and we’re set. Our weather has been pretty close to yours. It’s been great not to have the a\c running. We’re inbetween Lake Erie and Lake Ontario so our summers can be extremely humid.
Debi says
Your apple looks like a Gala…. just a guess on my part! I was thinking you could glue sunflower seeds on your sunflower. Then thought maybe that wouldn’t be a good idea as you might have birds picking them off!
Mary Ann says
That apple definitely does not look like any Empire apple I’ve ever seen. Empire’s are a cross between MacIntosh and Red Delicious — they show a lot more red. Our absolute favorite apple!
We used to get them from a small farm in Massachusetts at the end of September (in Fitchburg) when they first started becoming available. Then when we moved back to California, we ordered them from a place in Vermont, but they were all bruised from shipping, so they were just pie apples. We found a lady at the base of the road that leads to Kings Canyon/Sequoia National park (in Squaw Valley) who had a few trees and we got them from her. Finally, the grocery store, Sprouts, started having a small quantity of them in Fall, so we thought we were all set. Now they haven’t had them for the last two seasons and we are heartbroken.
Susan H. says
I used sunflowers for a bulletin board and realized it needed a single leaf to make it stand out as a sunflower. I liked the suggestions for the seeds. Had my first hillybilly tomato today still warm from the sun and juicy. Oh my was it delish!!
C Cannon says
Ah, Miss Nit Picky here..hahaha. When you measure the sunflowers that grow in the ground you always start the measure device at the base of the stem. Ah hem. So, subtract the container it was grown in or put the measure stick at the base. Not meant to be a snarky remark, really.
Tracy says
Agree that it’s no fair to measure the beautiful sunflowers from anything other than the top of the soil they’re grown in. Agree with the HH about that baby washtub. Eek. Suggest you def add seeds to the middle of the sunflower and also a big green stem. Agree you need at least two more cords of wood. New England winters are unpredictable. Last year was mild, but many aren’t. A few years ago, we had snow on the ground from an October blizzard that didn’t melt for three months, and additional snow on top of that. Temps were brutal. I made two or three soups every week and once didn’t leave the property for 11 days. (It was heaven!). Better safe than sorry and be sure to cover it loosely on all sides, not just the top.
CA says
How about adding a green stem to finish it off? Maybe with some raffia tied at the top of the stem? Also, why not glue some actual sunflower seeds in the center? Won’t show up from the road but your friends (and you) who come to your door will.
Mimi says
That tub (not for babies) is much like the one we had at our Oregon beach cabin. The cabin was very rustic, wood stove for heat and cooking, no shower, but hey! – the Pacific ocean was right out the door. It only took a couple of tea kettles filled with boiling water + a couple more of cold water to fill the tub. We would set the tub next to the wood stove and it was so delightful to soak in after a day on the beach. If the neighbors weren’t around I’d take a bath outside on sunny days…behind the hedge for privacy.
kenny says
I think you need more wood. shouldn”t you have next years drying out?
Staci W. says
Hi Mavis,
I believe that tub is a “hip bath”. 🙂 Feet stay out, small handholds to help you balance as you sit your bottom into it.
I think the center of the sunflower should be bigger and I agree that either painting some seeds or adding black buttons would be great.
Love your updates and can’t wait to see what your secret class was!!