Here’s my big list of things I want to accomplish in 2022:
Remodel The Kitchen
We are still on the hunt for just the right pantry solution for the side wall in the kitchen, but I think we’re getting closer. I like this one, but where the food processer is, there would be a microwave, and a spot for the HH’s coffee maker.
We’re nearly there though, so I’m excited about that.
I’ll try and take some kitchen pictures today so you can help me with some ideas. 🙂
Sell Enough Rugs to Buy an AGA Stove {$2,864.60 of $22,000 earned so far}
It was a VERY GOOD week for selling finished rugs {and pillows}. 🙂
I added over 20 new pieces to my Etsy shop on January 1st and that is why the sales amount is so high. I don’t normally sell $2,800 a week in rugs, but I do tend to sell a bunch the week when I post new pieces online.
As a way to motivate myself to come up with some new patterns {and re-hook some of my old designs} I am only counting new pieces {rugs, pillows, flowers etc.} that I list and sell this year in my Etsy shop to my AGA fund.
Anything I listed last year doesn’t count towards my goal because I’m weird and like that and I tend to thrive on a good, solid challenge.
Fill the Canning Cupboard {This is where the canning cupboard will go}
I got an email from the company we’re getting the canning cupboard from and now it’s now expected until the end of March or early April {I ordered it early last fall}. Good times.
But I did get around to masking the area off in blue tape so now at least I can visualize it there. 🙂
Jams I’ve made to fill my canning cupboard so far: Ginger Pear Jam and Spiced Christmas Jam.
Earn Enough Money Selling {?????} To Pay For Our 2022 Grocery Tab By The End Of The Year.
I haven’t actually listed them yet, but I plan on selling rocks, shells, driftwood and a few other found treasures to pay for my groceries this year.
My husband thinks I am absolutely insane and doesn’t think anyone would by that sort of stuff.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
I did a good job this week eating my fruits and veggies. 🙂
Keep The Crafts… In The Craft Room!
Not a craft in sight!!
Tap Our 2 Maple Trees and Make Maple Syrup
No tapping going on this month… be we did get snow.
Make a Quilt Top
I’ve decided to make a postage stamp quilt. But with 2″ squares {or rather 2 1/2″ squares but once quilted together they’ll be 2 inches}. Anything smaller and I think I’d go nuts.
The plan in to make a queen size quilt top for our bed and then ship it off to my friend Zoë so she can quilt it for me with her big fancy machine.
Blue and white is the theme {obviously} but I think I’ll need a little bit more of the whites before I can start piecing it together. I’ll order the quilting square this week and get started cutting as soon as it arrives.
Be More Intentional With My Time
I did a good job this week. I was focused and got everything done I planned to do. Now, if I could just get that amaryllis bulb to bloom!
1 Craft / Blog Free Day
The HH and I came up with a plan… Basically check out early on Saturdays and then take Sunday’s off {well, except for hopping on to write my goal post on Sunday mornings}.
Keep My Husband Busy
I kept the valet busy this week snowplowing, shoveling the walkways and hauling wood. 🙂 He also cooked ALL THE FOOD. I’d say we’re off to a good start for 2022.
The HH’s Honey Do List {so far} for 2022
- Take over cooking {I’ll still do the baking and canning}
- Cut down the cluster of trees in the backyard
- Build a new set of stairs down to the water.
- Fill the field {with soil}
- Remodel 1 bathroom
- Build window boxes for the front of the house
- Build an arbor for the wisteria
- Order 4 cords of firewood by the end of May and stack them in an artful way {like they did in the book Norwegian Wood}.
My House Projects For This Year {so far}
- Finish painting the outside of the house
- Finish painting the inside of the house
- Make something to hang above our new console table
- Make it look like people actually live here HA HA HA
- New window treatment for the kitchen window
Try 24 New Recipes
This past week I made ginger pear jam and it was fantastic.
Listen to 12 Audiobooks
I picked up 2 audiobooks from the library but haven’t listened to them yet.
Get a Fishing License and Catch a Fish
It’s a wee bit chilly for fishing just yet. Also, the HH needs to procure some poles and gear as well.
My List of Garden Projects For This Year I want to Accomplish
I placed my order for asparagus, raspberries and rhubarb plants. They won’t ship until sometime in April though, but at least I’ve gotten the ordering part out of the way.
- Map out this year’s garden by April 1st
- Plant apple or pear trees
- Plant raspberry and blueberry bushes
- Plant asparagus and rhubarb
- Grow 500 pounds of food
- Expand the lasagna garden
- Finish clearing the front of the property
- Get some garden pots for the front an back patio/porches
Create 12 New Rug Hooking Patterns and/or Kits
The plan is to create at least 1 new pattern each month. In January, I added 3 new patterns/kits to my Etsy shop:
Have All My 2022 Ornaments Finished by April 1st.
This week I worked on whales and bunnies.
52 Walks
The HH and I walked on the beach in Lincolnville {one of my favorite spots}.
Visit 12 Towns in Maine That I Haven’t Been to Before
We visited the town of Hope Maine and checked out the General Store there. 🙂
How about YOU? How did you do with working towards your goals for 2022?
~Mavis
Kim says
Will you use any “strip piecing “ method in your quilt? Or, will you cut each square individually?
Mavis Butterfield says
I will be cutting the squares individually.
Toni in Niagara says
You might find it easier to cut 2 1/2″ strips, then cut the squares off them.
Mel says
I hear you on the slow furniture delivery. My friend bought a house last spring and is still waiting on the furniture she ordered! I’m a little nervous about ordering nursery furniture for the same reason. Before I can add furniture, I need to paint, and we need to have our flooring replaced, but we don’t know when the flooring can happen (waiting for them to schedule), so I’m worried about delaying furniture purchases. On the other hand, if the furniture arrives early, I don’t really want to be tripping over it while trying to paint and get the flooring done. Never a dull moment!
Oddly, it’s also been REALLY hard to donate furniture lately. I would have thought second hand furniture would be in demand with all the shipping issues on new stuff, but we’ve had to take perfectly good furniture to the dump because none of the donation places around here will take it.
Stephanie Z says
I use the “Buy Nothing” facebook group for my small community and post items with photos I want to get rid of, via porch pick up.
Almost everything finds a home and I’ve come across a few handy items myself.
Mel says
We’re not on Facebook, so we don’t have access to groups like that. And a lot of it is way too big for us to easily leave out for pick up. We also have time pressure where we don’t have room to store the old stuff and new stuff while we wait for people to show an interest in the old stuff. To the extent possible, we’ve tried moving furniture into storage to wait to rehome it, but the storage isn’t climate controlled, so it may or may not be salvageable by the time that happens.
Lindsey says
Not sure where you live but here all you have to do it put it at the end of your driveway with a large sign saying, “FREE” and it will be gone within an hour.
Mel says
Oh, I wish it was that easy! We live in a very rural area, so not much traffic, and all our closest neighbors are retirees who are also trying to unload furniture. I have some friends who live in areas where people might be more likely to take stuff, but I’d have to drive it all up there (an hour away), and I’m not what to do if it’s then not picked up.
Terri Lindeke says
Buy Nothing is part of Next Door. It’s very popular where I live (Burien/Normandy Park area south of Seattle.) We do things for people in need too, like after surgery is some one needs a knee scooter and many other things. So look for Next Door in your area
Mel says
Thanks for the recommendation. I just checked, and it’s not something we have in this area.
Virginia says
You probably would have had better luck posting your furniture on Craigslist in the Free Stuff section. I listed something there once and it was picked up at the curb within a few hours.
Mel says
It’s unfortunately really too much stuff for me to manage that many listings. We’re replacing a lot of furniture, and some of it is massive and has to be entirely disassembled to get it out of the house, so we can’t easily leave it out for pickup.
Brianna says
We ran into the same problem. We had to downsize out furniture and exercise equipment for our cross country move. Did a yard sale and nothing sold despite low prices. Bundled it as a free ‘apartment package’ on Craigslist and nothing but no shows and people wanting delivery. Ended up taking it to the dump. Perfectly good Ashley stuff just 3 years old. For the dining table (round for 8) again no place wanted it as a donation as floor space is a premium. I let all of my friends, neighbors, and people at my kids school know. A large family from the school took it. It seems like so much effort to even give almost new furniture away. I tried to consign the exercise equipment as it was commercial high-end Nautilus equipment, but everybody is into spinning bikes now and not ellipticals, crossbody, or treadmills. I was able to donate it to a veteran group for rehab, but that had its own headaches and legal issues. The kids’ backyard trampoline went to my Realtor as nobody wanted it with just a safety net and no pad. Donating or even giving stuff away is such a pain nowadays, it is heartbreaking to take it to the dump, but it is practically the only option when time, energy, and social networking are not on your side.
Mel says
Yes, I think we might have a similar problem even if I could list everything. One of the things we needed to unload was a massive antique wood dining table that sat 10. Most houses around here don’t even have dining rooms for some reason, so not many people would need dining furniture to begin with, let alone a 10 seater. The table does convert to a 6 seater, but it’s still massive and heavy even converted, so I don’t know how many people would want it even as a kitchen table.
Kim says
Hi Mel,
I work in logisitics and EVERYTHING is hard these days – air, ocean, trucking. Nothing is working as it should and just when one problem is taken care of a whole new one crops up. There have been many times this last year where I’ve just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry! 🙂 And I’m trying to get things OUT of the country, not trying to bring them in. Anyways, one of my trade publications wrote about baby furniture last week and I thought you would be interested:
https://lgi.laufer.com/news/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-supply-chain-issues/?R6wF9AvbqY=08B1FCDAFDB11CC77DD995B096F3BE6B
Mel says
I saw that article! And I can’t imagine how difficult your job must be! I really appreciate all the people working in these jobs to continuously troubleshooting everything.
My plan for right now is to be flexible on what furniture we need to buy (e.g., choosing items that are available from a number of sources in slight variations). For the one or two items we have to have specific makes/models of (because they’re the only ones that will fit in our space), I might go ahead and order early and just try to figure out how to store it unassembled for now.
Melissa M says
See if freecycle.org has a group in your area. We were just able to give away an electric snow thrower that needed a little work but is still in good condition. We’ve been able to get a free things too. (40 cup coffee urn, 300+ bricks and styrofoam coolers)
And congratulations on the little one. ♡
Mel says
Thanks for the congrats and for the recommendation! I just checked, and it looks like we have a small Freecycle group, but it’s not really popular. It unfortunately doesn’t look like it would get enough traffic to justify listing everything.
Wendy says
Mavis,
For quilting you show the acrylic square tool, are you planning on cutting each square out with scissors or a rotary cutter? You can cut out more squares at once from each fabric if you use an acrylic ruler with a rotary cutter on a mat. Lots of tutorials online too.
Wendy
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, I’ll be using a 2 1/2″ x 18″ acrylic ruler and the little 2 1/2″ square thing.
Karen Rink says
And 2″ squares are SMALL, at least for me. I would do something larger, possibly 4″ squares.
Ranae Vakoch says
Where did you order your rhubarb and asparagus from?
Jam says
Yes I have the same question. Please share Mavis
Mavis Butterfield says
Johnnyseeds.com 🙂 I’ve ordered from them 3 times before and the plants have always been great.
Cindy Miller says
Whew! I am worn out just reading all you have done this week! 52 Walks? High five! I am looking forward to the plans for garden arbor! Have a great indoor Sunday. Off to make freezer dinners. 😉
Margery says
I have been doing really well so far on my goals, we managed a family game night, dinner each night but one, wrote some blog entries and a clean kitchen each night. Here is to hoping that next week goes just as well.
I think your plan for your grocery budget could work, just think about how many people do not live near the ocean but would love items to remind them of beachy days.
Elle says
I’m excited for your new bed quilt! I love that you’re doing small squares. There is so much more interest in small piecing. If those are FQs I count 29. You’ll need another 2.5 yards to get a 100 inch square quilt top as you’ll lose nearly 40% to seam allowance. And if the fabric was as warped on the bolt as my experiences, you’ll lose a fair amount just straightening it up so may not get 6 strips 🙁
I can’t wait to see the canning cupboard. Curious minds ya know 😉
Jody says
I have a friend who’s made at least 10 “Around the World” quilts with 2.5″ squares and she used the strip piece method. Less handling of each tiny square means less warping of fabric. Have fun with whatever method you choose!
Diana says
I think your idea of selling rocks and things will work as they are whimsical and cute. I do not like clutter or nick nacks, but I do have a heart shape rock on my table next to my chair in the living room. It makes me happy to see it each day!
Angela D. says
I agree! Anything (anything!!!) can and will sell nowadays….. with the internet, we can always find each other’s treasures– or junk!
Personally, I would consider Mavis’ idea: “found treasures!”
Jeanine says
Mavis….what will you use for the backing on your quilt. I just made a quilt top (twin size) and still deciding on the back. I have some nice muslin material, but also thinking using bigger blocks of colorful material. This is my first quilt and I want it to look nice on both sides.
LDA says
I know a few quilters who used flat sheets as quilt backing. They often get them at yard sales.
Mavis Butterfield says
Most likely giant strips or squares of the extra fabric… or a large cotton sheet. I’m not sure yet.
GrannyB says
It’s awesome to use a solid color on the back so that you can put that side up occasionally to show off the quilting. For example you can turn it solid color side up for Winter and then put some throw pillows on it that match that color.
Heidi P says
Happy Sunday Mavis,
One of the best decisions I ever made was to put our microwave into our pantry (we use it mainly for reheating not cooking) and I had an outlet put into our lower cabinetry along with roll out shelving for the toaster and blender. I don’t like the look of appliances on the counter and still wanted easy access for daily use.
Love the selling beach rocks, shells, etc. idea. I’ve been staring at our fields filled with unpicked pumpkins thinking I should bundle up and see if I can salvage and sell some stems.
I hope you will share your quilting process, tools, fabrics, etc. Making a quilt has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager and it’s about time to check it off my list so I’ll be reading with baited breath.
I love your Etsy items. I’ve bought many ornaments/garlands. Haven’t ventured into the rugs/pillows yet but I think this might be my year to grab one. I’m seriously in need of door draft guards for some french doors in our bedroom. When I saw the long heart runner at first I thought “there it is” but its probably to tall.
2022 has started off slowly due to my husband and I both getting Covid. Many goals will have to start this next week instead of on the 1st. Strangely for me its been a very peaceful experience. My husband got a bad case (very worrying) but lucky for me I was asymptomatic. I got a lot of time to think my own thoughts, watch what I wanted on TV (sports are usually on 24/7) and not have to manage the other family members plus I did small low stress projects that I never would have gotten to if I wasn’t in quarantine. Silver lining.
Happy 2022!
Angela D. says
Blessings to you and yours, Heidi— Silver Lining, indeed!
tia in boise says
Good luck on the found items! (I’m sure you will post pictures of them all here, right–I think everyone will want to be included on that journey!)
My goals (not all of them–just the ones I’ve been working on):
I have done morning stretches and core work every day–I am surprised that I rather enjoy it! Wakes me up and loosens all the old tight parts and puts me in a peppy mood. (We’ll see if it is easy to continue once school starts tomorrow.) The whole thing takes less than 15 minutes…
Run (and walk) 1,000 miles. I mathed it out, and it should take around 3 miles a day–which is easy for me–but again, will get tricky once school’s back in swing. My plan is to do 4 or 5 miles on weekend days to make up for less time/mileage M-F. I’ve been out for 3.2-4 miles every day–except that day I thought DH had forgotten the garbage and hustled home with only 2.8.
Floss nightly–well, this is sooooo not a habit, so will be tough….especially when I’m trying to get to bed earlier. BUT..I have flossed more than I haven’t this week–so there’s that.
Lose 15 pounds (5 is true weight loss–10 is what I gained during November and December–eeek!) Have lost 1!
Work at “keeping the fun”–met my sort-of teaching partner/friend to try out a “fancy” cinnamon roll shop I’ve been meaning to try out. YUMMMM! (Good thing the shop is FAR from my house, or that would cut into goal above.
“Delete It”–I haven’t gotten rid of any photos or junk around the house, but I have deleted about 100 old emails from 1 of 3 accounts.
Good luck everyone, with your plans for the year!
LaToya says
Tia – I’m in Meridian; what cinnamon roll shop?!
Elle says
LaToya, if you haven’t tried the cinnamon roll at Big City Coffee (Grove near 15th in Boise), you are missing out girl!
tia in boise says
1. Cinnaholic (there’s one in the Village)–they have tons of concoctions–and you can add or take-away ingredients or just make your own “flavor”. yummmm! (apparently, they are vegan–I’m not sure what that means–no butter?–not sure if eggs are usually used for rolls….no real cream cheese in frosting?? didn’t affect the taste at all!)
2. also–our principal ordered a couple dozen cinnamon rolls for our staff just before Christmas–from Kneaders on Eagle Road. Those were incredible, as well!
Mavis Butterfield says
I like the goal of morning stretches. I should do that.
Jennifer says
I predict the rocks, shells and other items will sell much better than the HH thinks. I hope you keep a running total for us.
Linda T says
I’m with you on the rocks and shells. People often buy things they remember and both have that kind of appeal. Good luck, Mavis
LaToya says
3 things:
1. I think you should be able to count money from all rugs sold towards the stove, because the goal says “sell enough ….” But I know how hardcore you are with your challenges, so, you go, girl!
2. You mentioned firewood and it reminded me –
I’ve been seeing this, and the price finally went down, so I ordered some for my HH. It’s going to be a hit or a fail … : https://www.walmart.com/ip/2021-KFC-11-Herbs-and-Spices-Firelog-by-Enviro-Log/574977294?athbdg=L1400 LOL!
3. I’d pay for some heart rocks.
Have a good day off, Miss Mavis!
Mavis Butterfield says
#2 HA HA HA! Please tell me how that works out. My Dad would love something like that.
#3 You continue to surprise me LaToya! First you say you have a blog, and then you say you’d pay for rocks. You crack me up.
Claudia says
Where did you get that awesome console table?
Mavis Butterfield says
Pottery Barn.
Sue says
I was hoping the new venture would be beachy combing stuff.
I have squirreled away a collection of heart rocks. One I have that was in one of your giveaways.
So count me in on this one. I can spend hours on the beach looking for treasures.
I’m proud to say I have done good on some of my goals.
Don’t use the dishwasher, clean and put up as I cook.
Clean out and declutter Christmas boxes, give some to the kids and donate.
Make one DIY, either painting or crocheting for gifts. This also includes making cards to give away, one or two weekly.
Watch my grocery spending, eat from the pantry and freezer.
This one will be testy because my husband has to have certain
things only bought at the grocery. Serious health issues.
Keep my freezer filled with soups that I can use for him.
Thanks Mavis for the recipes and containers you use.
Since I’m home mostly anyway being a care giver I use my down time trying to reach my goals.
I have a pantry full of jams, jellies and preserves make in 2021.
Freezer is full of veggies, tomatoes and tomatoes sauces done also last year.
Just made a big pot of Spaghetti sauce for the family today.
Used the sauces I had roasted in the oven and froze. Nothing
store bought in it except the meat.
Mavis Butterfield says
Freezer soups are the best thing ever when you don’t feel up to cooking. Such a time saver.
Sue says
Have you looked at Rayburn cookers also made by AGA?
Kim says
Heart rocks will definitely sell..I know I would buy them…and if there is sea glass for sale…I’m in!
Margo says
One of my main goals is to live more simply and declutter our cupboards and closets this year. My husband is loathe to dispose of anything, and I told him once that if something ever happened to both of us at the same time and the kids had to clean out the house, they’d dig us up just so they could kill us again! He finally agreed, and we have begun the great declutter of 2022. I hope to grow more food this year, hubby is making me another large raised bed, so that goal should be attainable. Other goals for Health, increase volunteer time at food pantry and library, and crafting for this year. Hoping it will be an awesome year and we can kick COVID to at least the curb!
Gigi says
We are planning our kitchen and there is this really neat idea of making a pantry out of the side panel (say on the side of a false panel for a fridge, 9” or even more.
Have you seen the pebble art? It may not be free for the mounting, but it’d be almost free. Roll those initial profits into material purchases for art mounting?