My 22 Goals for 2019
Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love
Just look at that forecast! Fall has finally arrived and before you know it I’ll be wearing my beloved puffy coat and snow will be on the way! I couldn’t be more excited. And those nighttime temps! I’ll need to bring Miss Lemon in.
Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden
The HH broke out Manny yesterday after he dug up a beautiful 18″ planting space for my baby gem boxwoods and muscari border. We added a few bags of compost to the spot to help the plants get established. We will probably need to expand the planting space in a few years once the boxwoods get a little bigger, for now, scale wise, everything looks as it should.
I’ll do a proper post later in the week and show you the new boxwood border.
If you haven’t ordered your spring bulbs yet, I ordered 400 tulip bulbs and 500 muscari bulbs from Van Engelen Wholesale Bulb Company and the bulbs were fantastic.
The bulbs arrived in about a week and were packaged very well. I highly recommend them.
Goal #3 — Plant an Orchard {Calling it Quits on this one.}
Lemon is about ready to have babies!!! Two of the Meyer lemons have gone from a dark green to a pale lime green color over the past few weeks and I don’t know for sure, but I think we have another week or two to go until it’s time to harvest our first two Meyer lemons of the year. HOW EXCITING!
It will have to be a home birth though {as opposed to an outdoor one} because temps are dropping below 50 tonight {and for 6 of the 7 days in the upcoming forecast} and the lady at the nursery told me when outdoor overnight temps are consistently below 50 degrees at night, that’s when you know it’s time to bring your citrus trees in for the winter.
Luckily we have the perfect sunny indoor spot plants, so all is well.
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.
It was totally my intention to grow a ton of fruits and vegetables to sell at the farm-stand when I made my list of goals for 2019 last winter, but then we moved. So, that whole goal was sort of a bust. The new peeps wanted the vegetable stand, and we were happy to leave it for them since it was made specifically to match the front of the house, so hopefully the tradition will continue.
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 was able to hook 3 small pieces last week {2 from my pattern stash} and once I get the backing on the make dos and finish the back of the rug I’ll add them to my Etsy shop {hopefully in the next two days}.
- 73 rugs in my pattern bin {now down to 32}
- 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 Winter
All that firewood! We sold it. 😉
Goal #9 — Do Something with the 5,002 Photos on My Phone
Current number of photos on phone is 11 million.
Goal #10 –Lose the Muffin Top
Actually doing well on this goal and fully expect to fit into my pants by the end of the year. Apparently living in the city and walking for pastries is an excellent workout regimen. Who knew?
Goal #11 — Run, Walk or Crawl a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon
I have signed up for both a half marathon and a 5k! 🙂 Looks like this baby will be checked off around Thanksgiving.
Goal #12 — Read or Listen to 26 New Books {17 down, 8 to go}
This past week I listened to I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron. It was okay. The first half was basically a {funny} list of complaints, but the second half was much better in my opinion. The audio version was short {around 3 hours I think} and so it passed the time as I painted a closet. If it was in paper form would I sit down and read it all the way through? Probably not. I did enjoy her book, I Remember Nothing much, much more.
Currently on Request:
- Mr. Churchill’s Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal
- The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
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
- Unbroken #9
- The Alice Network #10
- The Shape of Mercy #11
- Will’s Red Coat #12
- Big Little Lies #13
- I Feel Bad About My Neck
- Bunny Mellon {Doesn’t count because it was my second time}
- On Writing {Doesn’t count because it was my third time}
- Walden
- Finder’s Keepers
- Delicious!
- Following Atticus
Goal #13 — Try 52 New Recipes.
24 down, 30 recipes to go. OCTOBER. October is going to be my month for cooking!
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.
Anyone ever canned quince jam before? Using quince from an ornamental bush rather than a tree? Gaaaa. These suckers are ROCK hard and tiny {1″ – 2″} and I’m not even sure I’d have enough to make the effort worthwhile. {I’d need about 2 pounds of quince for a batch of jam}. I mean I like jam and all, but I’m not sure I want to go through all the trouble. Any advice would be AWESOME.
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 Jam
- 4 jars of Almond Pears.
Goal #16 — Finish Furnishing Our House
A couch and two chairs have been ordered! Once we get those in place I’ll order a rug {I’m not 100% sure on the size we need yet} and then I’ll paint the walls and create some artwork to hang up and we’ll be good to go. I am SO looking forward to getting the family room all done up in a beachy, nautical theme. Classic New England, that’s what I’ll be going for. Weeeeee.
Goal #17 – 52 Dates with the HH {29 down, 23 to go}
Bakery dates are the best!
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 {Mel know’s what it is though} 😉
- 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 will be on Friday, November 1st.
Goal #20 — Create 12 Wowie Zowie Party Platters
5 down, 7 to go. Cooler temps mean CHEESE. Right? 😉 I’m looking forward to making up another platter this week.
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
While I currently have a bundle of Indian corn hanging on the front door, once we get closer to Halloween I’ll hang Mrs. HB’s beautiful wreath she made me up on the door.
Have you ever seen the movie You’ve Got Mail? You know the part where Meg Ryan is walking through the downtown area in the fall with her pumpkin and just soaking up the city? Well that’s how I feel right now.
I still cannot believe we bought a home in a walking downtown area. I’ve think we’ve met at lest 75% of our immediate neighbors already.
The house is much smaller than we’re used to, the lot is small too, but I can walk to the bakery, to the farmer’s market to buy a pumpkin and get an entire garden section planted in a day. And you know what… I kind of like it. I don’t even mind all the people walking their dogs past my door {probably because there is no HOA}. Man oh man, what a difference that makes.
Change is good.
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
- September: Indian corn and pumpkins
**************
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! 🙂
Have a great day everyone,
♥ Mavis
You can read more about my 22 goals for 2019 HERE.
Nora says
As you das ist is an ornamental quincy. Leave it for the birds in winter, but don‘t try to eat any!
Nora says
Sorry for the typos…
Should read „As you sad – this is…
Brenda M says
Loving the furniture picks!
Jen says
Love Van Engelen! We planted 1000 Darwin tulips last year and over 500 crocus, peaked in last May early June in KPT. Just got 500 more tulips! Happy planting!
Cenith Murray says
I am so glad you love your new home! One question. Do you have air conditioning? Having lived on the east coast most of my life I know how heat and HUMIDITY can wear you down. I enjoy your blog so much. Follow you on Facebook and IG. keep living your best life.
Cathy says
Quince jam from a tree isn’t very tasty if your not use to it. I made some for older friends you missed it from childhood . They were over the moon. Rose hip jelly that too is an acquired taste.
Mary says
I just finished canning some quince preserves. You get a beautiful rose-colored product which you would never expect from the white-fleshed fruit. The flavor is complex, almost spicy. Definitely going to do another batch while the fruit is available.
Mama Cook says
I know other’s have said it, but what a joy to have “the old Mavis” back!!!! I never felt you were happy in the “forever” home. I kept thinking, “Where’s her spirit? Maybe she’s getting tired?” And now…there you are!!! Buying furniture and bulbs and planning art for walls!!! Your excitement is contagious!
I do have a question, maybe others could chime in, but don’t laugh!!!
I don’t listen to books often due to still having littles around. But, if I were to, how do you do it? Are you listening with it playing out loud in the room? Or are you listening through headphones? If headphones, do you keep your device in your pocket? How does that work while you’re doing physical stuff like gardening and painting?
Mavis Butterfield says
I play the audio book on my phone. So if i’m hooking or painting or gardening it’s within earshot.
Mel says
I work best with background noise, but I get a little distracted by new books because I have to focus more on them than on whatever task I’m doing. So, I listen to the same series of 6 or 7 books on my phone over and over. By the time I get to the end of them, the first book is “new” again, but I’m still familiar enough with it to sort of tune in and out and not lose my place. For noisier tasks like sewing or glass etching, it really helps to already be familiar with the book because then I don’t have to start and stop it or adjust the volume when what I’m doing drowns it out for a bit.
I mostly listen indoors and without headphones and just put my phone on a nearby surface, but I do have leggings and gardening overalls with phone pockets that I use when I need to move more. Even without headphones, my husband can listen to something different on the opposite side of our open-concept house without either one of us being able to hear the other’s book, but we both tend to prefer lower volumes.
Mama Cook says
Thanks! That answers that…I may need to wait until some little ears are more mature! ☺️
Crystal says
You can get a pair of over-the-ear style wireless headphone, so you don’t have to worry about headphone cords getting in the way while you work on stuff. I wear them at work when using machinery, because it helps protect my ears from the noise, and having no cord means nothing to get caught on.
Mrs. M says
I listen to audio books and podcasts while washing dishes. I use earphones and tuck my phone into my pocket. The earphones help me to hear the book/podcast over running water.
It was hard (impossible?) for me to listen when I had little ones, but we listened to age appropriate books on CD in the car on trips to town (several times weekly). One.of our favorites was Hank the Cowdog series. The author reads them and sings the little diddy’s.
We also rally liked the Chronicles of Narnia series and the Little House on the Prairie series.
Enjoy the time listening to your little ones voices while they’re small. You’ll have plenty of time to listen to audio books when you’re an empty nester!
Judy says
I have some quince too and am going to mix them with my pears to make a small batch of spiced jam. Plain pear to as a comparison! I’m hoping the quince adds another layer as pear can be rather dull. Let us know what you do and how it comes out!
Jennifer Bouknight says
I downloaded and read The War that saved My Life last week and really enjoyed it. Reading YA is a new interest of mine because outweigh a different perspective. The Education of Dixie Dupree nearly broke my heart because of how common the situation is.
Em says
You sold the firewood??
Maxine says
Went with the house sale
Mary3M says
I hope you are reading the Susan Elia MacNeal ‘Maggie Hope’ series in order. She is one of my favorite authors and her books build on previous books – both with character development and flashback references. And her plots reference things that actually happened. Another author (since you like SEMN) is Andrea Penrose. Love both of her series – Wrexford and Sloan and her original Lady Adriana series. Being able to walk to downtown is a great plus. and no HOA – Wahoo!!!!!
Taryn says
One of our friends gave us quince jam last year. It was very yummy! I had never even heard of it before and was excited to try something new.
Diana says
I love it that you moved to a walking downtown! I live in a small community and I can walk to my downtown as well. We’ve got a few stores there, not as many as they probably have by you, but it’s still nice. The yard for my house is very tiny and it lends itself to creativity on a manageable scale, especially when you’re single. Now that I own the large lot next door, I get overwhelmed at times. It may be time to let it go and enjoy the smaller size again.
Mama Cook nailed it with her comments – You’re back! Your hooking business seems to have really boomed and I wondered when you were going to find the time to do it all. You seemed kind of beaten down for a while there. Your excitement is contagious and helps those of us who need the inspiration. 🙂
Rock On!
Brianna says
I would love your weather right now! We got snow yesterday (Rocky Mountain front in Montana) and it is still snowing and expected to peak today. I had to run errands yesterday and something about seeing all of the slide offs and snow plows on the roads in September is just unnerving. I was physically ready for the snow and spent two full days last week doing the outside chores, but mentally I’m not there yet. My poor apple tree looks like a weeping willow and I bet I’m going to have some snapping branches. The deciduous trees didn’t even really get to turn or drop leaves and all of the snow is heavy and wet and sits on those leaves and pulls them down. I think Thursday we are suppose to get out of the freeze.
KC says
I’m not sure the ornamental quince will come out tasty – they’re supposed to be very very sour, so they’ll need a ton of sugar (but they have a ton of pectin in them, so there’s that, I guess?). You could add a small amount as an accent fruit to another type (like apple or pear) in somewhat the same way we use lemon juice to brighten things up, you could try bletting them, or… just leave them for the wildlife.
tia in boise says
I haven’t seen this question asked/answered: Did you say goodbye to your old neighbors/Carole–did you have a go-away party? Were they surprised you were leaving so soon?
Mel says
If you’re looking for more utilitarian rugs, I really like Ruggable, though I think they mostly run in smaller sizes. I thought it was kind of gimmicky at first, but we have pets and no mudroom or anything, so it’s really nice to be able to toss them in the wash. Ours are only a year or so old, but they’ve held up well so far.
Now that I’ve finally moved into my new office and knocked out all my cleaning mini goals for the summer, I’m trying to turn my attention back to my original sewing goals. One is definitely out because the fabric is unavailable, but I think I might try to knock out the Christmas quilt I started and/or the Christmas tree skirt.
Mavis Butterfield says
Congrats on getting settled into the new office space!!
Mel says
Thanks!
LaToya says
I don’t can – (it was a goal, wasn’t for me, then returned all the stuff) – but we make quince paste (we call it membrillo en espanol). It would be a great addition to a cheese – or wowie zowie – platter. And since you just make and pour in to a baking dish to get firm, I suspect it’s a little easier than canning.
https://www.daringgourmet.com/membrillo-quince-paste/
Joyce says
Mavis, mix your quince with apple…I truly think you are going to love it.
Life is better with a Mantis tiller.LOL
Joyce in Indiana
HollyG says
I don’t know ornamental vs. non-ornamental quince but I did quince jelly rather than jam – that way I didn’t have to peel and seed them. I just cooked them down in a slow cooker for about a day and a half with cardamom pods and star anise. Then I ran it through a jelly bag and added the sugar by volume of liquid along with a little lemon juice. It’s spectacular on roast ham and pork. Yum!
Lil says
I am confused. Been away for couple of weeks and when I checked your blog (which I love to follow) I read something about a new house?? Say what? You moved. Looks like I missed a lot.
Kim says
Mavis, you sound so HAPPY now! Can’t wait to hear more about………………EVERYTHING! I love your furniture choices. I think I pretty much have that same sofa!
I think we are returning to Maine next spring and hope to go up to Price Edward Island. So, I will be paying close attention to what you tell me about weather. Also, do you and HH plan to go see “green Gables?”
Glad you are back to your old self!
Lea says
I just noticed you have the same garden shoes that I do! Love those!
Looking forward to seeing how all those bulbs look this next spring – ours always get eaten by moles and the like so I live vicariously through others….
Lea
Mable says
As someone who has worked with severely traumatized kids, let me say that The War that Saved My Life is spot on about how injured children react to things. There is also a sequel. Not as great but still good. These are young adult books but a good read for adults, too. We gave The War that Saved My Life as gifts to every young teen we know.
lissa says
Did you announce where you are now? Or did I just skim too much? :). I’m assuming you’re still in Maine. Are their flies everywhere? Your enthusiasm made me go buy 200 daffodils 🙂
Love the new furniture.
Lissa says
Kind of bummed the bulb site has a $60 minimum. I loved the purple ones.
Judy says
Hi Mavis, a few yrs ago I ordered a cheesecake for dessert and it came with candied quince strips on top. So yummy and went so well with the cheese. That wouldn’t take too much work to try.
Julia Park Tracey says
Sounds like you’re getting settled. I don’t understand how you can run a half-marathon without already being a runner who regularly gets out there. Are you planning to walk it? I ran my first 3K this year and it about killed me. I have since stopped running and stick to walking.
How big of a town (“city” vs “hamlet”)? When you say you’re now a city girl, do you mean city or like small town? We just spent the last few days looking at houses in small towns and think we’re leaning toward the small town (11K) over the tiny town (3K). The home prices are much better there than down here in Wine Country.
It sounds as if you have no regrets, Mavis, and that is the key to happiness, I think.
Diane says
I absolutely love all the beautiful colors the tulips come in, but they don’t come back very well here in Georgia. I do have some differentvarieties of daffodils which come back every year but would love to have the pinks and reds and purples of the tulips!
Diana Ilie says
Quince jam is one of my favourite. The way is made in my homecountry requires a bit of work for preparation but is so worth it. In europe quice paste (looks like marmalade) is used as a companion for cheese.
E in Upstate NY says
We had a beautiful quince bush in the front of a previous house. Had to battle the kids from picking them so there would sufficient amount for jelly making. Most years, I lost the battle. My boys just couldn’t resist picking the very hard fruit to use with their hockey stick / baseball bat. They did develop into decent batters and the neighbors much appreciated having their houses pelted with broken quince bits instead of solid baseballs. Only one garage window needed to be replaced during our entire time of living on that street.
When I did gather enough quince, it was a very tart jelly, even with heavy volume of sugar. And yes, there was no need for pectin. Was told by old timers that the quince “juice” was often added to other jellies for that purpose, to gel the liquid.
Judy says
Mavis Congrats on the move! I’ve always thought that your’s and H.H. Forever Home Might have been too big and too much work to keep up with.. Not that it wasn’t a beautiful home and garden.
I don’t know about you but I’m about downsizing now that my kids have long moved out and had their own families.
I’m now about time for traveling and seeing the country now. I’ve already done the homesteading thing when my kids were growing. I’ve moved on to New adventures.
Just a question.. When will you post pictures of your new home?? Hope I didn’t miss it.
Have fun with your nautical decorating!! It’s going to be beautiful..I just know it!