My 22 Goals for 2019 – Week 42 of 52

My 22 Goals for 2019

Goal #1 — Spend More Time Doing What I Love

I spotted this sign in a local shop the other day and it warmed my heart. Remember when you were a kid and always coming up with  ways to earn an extra buck? I especially liked how the push pin matched the lettering on their sign and how they don’t work on weekends. And how their hours are limited, because you know, priorities. 😉

Goal #2 — Garden, Garden, Garden

Yesterday we were supposed to be cleaning a path along the back of the property for a fence but as we were about to begin we noticed a ton of leaves on the ground and started to rake them up instead. And, then just as we were finishing that up, the guy next door offered to let the HH use his aerator so he could aerate the lawn and before you know it, it was time to come inside and eat dinner.

We live on a tree lined street, so I have a feeling we’ll be raking leaves once or twice a week until they’ve all fallen. The ultimate plan is to have the back of the lot built up {layered with leaves, compost and a huge dirt pile we still have to move} before the ground freezes in a few weeks. And the hopefully, next spring the area will be ready to plant with a few shade loving plants. That’s the goal anyway. 😉

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

Miss Lemon! Yes, she has lost about half of her leaves, BUT two of her babies are nearly ready… how cool is that?

Goal #4 — Gussy Up the Potting Shed Done!

There really isn’t a good area for a potting shed here, but I would love to have another potting bench or party lights or something set up in the back to hold my collection of watering cans. We’ll see.

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.

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. 

Well, I didn’t get any new hooked pieces 100% finished this week, but I did get all my ornaments for 2019 photographed and uploaded to my Etsy shop so that’s good. I was also able to get a few things hooked {but not finished} and plan to get those listed next Friday. I’ve been struggling a bit with being able to prioritize my time since moving, but things are getting better.

I’m a little disappointed I won’t be able to offer custom ornaments this year because my kiln hasn’t been set up yet, but really it’s probably for the best right now. Hopefully, I have enough of an assortment for people to choose from.

• 73 rugs in my pattern bin {now down to 29}
• 183 hooked flowers {finished 135, now down to 49}
• 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:

• 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

I spent about an hour last night going through photos and deleting them, but still, there are still a few thousand pictures on my phone. It would be so much easier to put them in a “cloud” but something in me just can’t do it. Because you know, space junk.

Goal #10 –Lose the Muffin Top

Doing well! Strangely enough I feel like I am in better shape since we’ve moved.

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

The planning for the inaugural Bakery and Tea Half Marathon is underway. But first… we have a fence to build. Hopefully we can get started next weekend {we decided on white picket. The exact same one as the blue house above but with a gate of pointy pickets instead.  I told the HH that if the three of us worked all weekend on it, we could probably bust the thing out in 2 days.

He just laughed at me. HEY! If you’re going to aim for something… why not aim high? 😉

Goal #12 — Read or Listen to 26 New Books {19 down, 7 to go}

I’ve been listing to Drama John Lithgow this week. I’m only about 1/3 of the way in but wow, what an interesting life so far.

Currently on the request list:

• 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
• Mr. Churchill’s Secretary
• Born to Run
• 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.

29 down, 23 recipes to go. Last week I shared a recipe for bacon wrapped meatloaf and this past week the HH tried out a recipe for mashed potatoes and I whipped up a new chicken slow cooker recipe.  I am 100% confident that we’ll be able to check this goal off by the end of the year.

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

9 down, 44 to go. Once the ground freezes… I’ll do this. Even if I have to stay in my pj’s for a week to get it done.

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

I was planning on making a batch of applesauce with the bag of ginger gold apples I picked up last week but didn’t get to it. Maybe today? Also, I think I am going to make Spiced Christmas Jam to pass out to the neighbors this year. It was such a hit last year in our old neighborhood, I want to do it again.

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

We are making progress! For October the goal was to get the bathrooms done and now all that’s left to do is make a roman shade for the 2nd bathroom this week. Then, it’s on to the family room. The family room is really kind of divided up into two sections; the main area, and then the “sun room” area.

I’ve already painted the walls, ceiling and one of the window frames in the main room. But there are two more windows and 2 radiators to paint as well as making 3 roman shades, the art for the walls, buying a rug and finding a proper sized coffee table for the space.

The sun room area should be relatively easy {in theory} to complete. Fresh paint, roman shades, and oodles of plants.  Doing this at a rate of one area a month, and with the goal of getting the entire interior of the house finished by the end of April {the beginning of gardening season} is helpful. It keeps us focused and there is a sense of accomplishment in seeing a space totally transformed and completed and it keeps the momentum going. Otherwise, if we didn’t set a goal, we might never finish.

Goal #17 – 52 Dates with the HH {34 down, 18 to go}

2 dates last week. Sea shells and driftwood for one and a new Mexican restaurant for the other.

Goal #18 — Take One Adult Education Class Done {I’ve taken 3!}

1. I’m keeping the first class I took with my neighbor top secret for now {Mel know’s what it is though} 😉
2. Spoon Carving Class with Heather.
3. 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

6 down, 6 to go. I need to get my game on.

Goal #21 — Visit 12 General Stores

9 down 3 to go.

I have another one to share with you.

• 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 ordered a little bling to hang in the tiny front porch alcove area for Halloween and The Girl put it up yesterday. Also, I need a few more pumpkins up there in that little spot above the porch, don’t you think? The HH said I only needed one, but I think 5 would look best. What do you think?

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
• October: Pumpkins and spinner do hickeys

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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! 🙂

Have a great day everyone,

♥ Mavis

You can read more about my 22 goals for 2019 HERE.

Have a Great Day!