Here’s my big list of things I want to accomplish in 2022:
Remodel The Kitchen
Things in the new kitchen are going great. I’ve been busy making a mess and baking up a storm. Just as it should be for this time of year. 🙂
Sell Enough Rugs to Buy an AGA Stove DONE!!!
I hit my goal of selling enough of my 2022 hooked rugs and pillows in my Etsy shop to pay for my new Duck Egg Blue AGA cooker. But since the stove was damaged… We have to wait until the end of May 2023 for the new one to arrive.
Fill the Canning Cupboard DONE
This past week I only opened 1 jar of ketchup from the canning cupboard but I have big plans next week to bust open a few more. The goal is to have the whole thing emptied out by the time the next canning season begins.
One thing I already know I want to add to my canning list for next year is cherry pie filling! A cherry pie in winter. Now that would be a treat.
So far this year I have canned:
- Apple Pie Filling
- Canned Carrots
- Green Tomato Piccalilli
- Sweet and Spicy Hot Sauce
- Costco Like Salsa
- Basil and Garlic Tomato Sauce
- Tomato Ketchup
- Tomato Bruchetta
- Raspberry Blueberry Jam
- Carrot Cake Jam
- Strawberry Lemon Jam
- Blueberry Lime Jam
- Strawberry Jam
- Cinnamon Rhubarb Jam
- Pickled Asparagus
- Ginger Pear Jam
- Spiced Christmas Jam
- Cranberry Sauce
- Split Pea and Ham Soup
- Beef Stew
- Zucchini Relish
- Heirloom Tomato Salsa
Not canned, but in jars:
Earn Enough Money Selling {?????} To Pay For Our 2022 Grocery Tab By The End Of The Year.
I’ve decided to move this goal to 2023.
I just didn’t have enough time to devote to this goal this year. I had planned on making a few spinner gourd garlands this year for fall, but there is just too much other stuff going on right now to make it a priority.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables.
I drank a lot of mint this past week. 😉
Keep The Crafts… In The Craft Room.
Yesterday I spent the morning getting 3 coats of glaze on a batch of bee ornaments {and a few others}. I had planned on sanding them too, but I got distracted and now I need to get that done this morning before I pop everything in the kiln for the second firing.
I guess I need a bigger craft room?
Tap Our 2 Maple Trees and Make Maple Syrup {DONE}
It was a good experience, and we’re going to do it again next year {although I would like to find a few more trees to tap so our yield is a bit higher}.
Make a Quilt Top
My cut quilt squares and quilting fabric for the background have been shipped off my friend Zoë. Her sewing calendar is pretty full right now, but she has me on her list for January.
1 Craft / Blog Free Day a Week {I’ve had 48 craft/blog free days this year so far.}
I took 3 days off from the internet last week thanks to a quick trip to see my parents. Fact: You can place a 15 minute call within the US for $0.50, and a 4 minute international call for $1.00. Interesting.
The last time I used a pay phone I think it was only a quarter. How about YOU?
Be More Intentional With My Time
Keeping warm. It’s kind of a big deal. It’s starting to get downright chilly here in Maine and I’m thankful we don’t live in a big old drafty house.
Keep My Husband Busy
I had a spillover in the kitchen at 5 am {cherry cobbler, the pan was too small. Whoops!} so I had to get the maintenance man in to clean up the mess.
The good news is that all the smoke detectors work and now I have a clean oven. Having someone on call 24/7 is pretty much the best thing ever. 🙂
Payback is coming though.
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 backyardDONE- Build a new set of stairs down to the water.
Fill the field {with soil}- Remodel 1 bathroom
Replace fireplace tile- Build window boxes for the front of the house
Build an arbor for the wisteria{We decided to move the wisteria to another location instead}Order 4 cords of firewood by the end of May and stack themDONESand the floors in the entire houseDONEInstall new garage door openersDONE {new addition}
My House Projects For This Year {so far}
I still have some trim and a door to paint and need to find something to hang over our console table but other than that, I’m nearly done with my house goals for this year.
On a side note, I found the best dip bowl on the planet earth at Crate and Barrel last week.
Things I need to get done this year:
- 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 {working on it!}
New window treatment for the kitchen window{Have it, just waiting for the HH to install it}
Try 24 New Recipes {23 down, 1 to go}
This past week I shared my recipe for Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Cranberries and Pecans. They were fantastic. You should give them a try.
So far this year I have shared the following recipes:
- Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Cranberries and Pecans
- Tomato Bruschetta
- Cranberry Coconut Bread
- Apple Pie Filling
- Canned Carrots
- Strawberry Lemon Jam
- Costco Salsa
- Raspberry Blueberry Jam
- Pickled Asparagus
- Split Pea Soup
- Beef Stew
- Pressure Canned Split Pea and Ham Soup
- Hash Brown Waffles with Bacon and Cheese
- Bacon Cheddar Jalapeno Biscuits
- Apple Cinnamon Granola
- Mrs. C’s Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Ginger Pear Jam
- Blueberry Lime Jam
- Lentils with Carrots and Thyme
- Dutch Oven Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Dutch Oven Olive and Rosemary Bread
- Air Fryer Bread
- Peach Lavender Jam
Listen to 12 Audiobooks {13/12 so far} DONE
I am currently listening to James Patterson by James Patterson: The Stories of My Life and liking it. I had never heard of James Patterson before this memoir popped up in my feed.
Audiobooks I’ve listened to this year:
- The Boys by Ron and Clint Howard 10/10
- Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree 9/10
- Seven at Sea by Erik and Emily Orton 9/10
- The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin 10/10
- Dolly Parton, Songteller by Dolly Parton 10/10
- Salt to the Sea by Ruth Sepetys 10/10
- No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox 10/10
- Night Road by Kristen Hannah on Audiobook. 9/10
- Mill Town by Kerri Arsenault. Interesting. 8/10
- The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan 10/10
- On Writing Stephen King 10/10
- Taste by Stanley Tucci 8/10
- Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper 10/10
Get a Fishing License and Catch a Fish
Still no fish.
My List of Garden Projects For This Year I want to Accomplish
My garden projects are pretty much wrapped up for the year {I just need to harvest my parsnips} but check this out. I spotted herbs growing inside the produce section at the QFC in Bellevue. It doesn’t get much fresher than that.
So far this year we’ve harvested: 849 pounds and 10 oz of fresh garden goodness.
- Cabbage 36 pounds 9 ounces
- Radishes 3 pounds 14 ounces
- Broccoli 3.5 ounces
- Lettuce 1 pound 4 ounces
- Chives 1 pound 2 ounces
- Tomatoes 453 pounds 12 ounces
- Blueberries .75 ounces
- Shelling Peas 7 pounds 4 ounces
- Green beans 25 pounds 11 ounces
- Zucchini 45 pounds 9 ounces
- Cucumbers 28 pounds 1 ounces
- Carrots 31 pounds 14 ounces
- Eggplant 4 pounds 2 ounces
- Cauliflower 2 pounds 13 ounces
- Peppers 17 pounds 4 ounces
- Garlic 9 ounces
- Onions 13 pounds 2 ounces
- Leeks 3 pounds 14 ounces
- Beets 24 pounds 1 ounces
- Potatoes 39 pounds 6 ounces
- Sweet Potatoes 1 pound 2 ounces
- Corn 32 ears
- Various Winter Squash {pumpkins, butternuts, delicata} 94 pounds 1 ounces
My garden projects for this year:
Map out this year’s garden by April 1st– DonePlant apple or pear trees– DonePlant raspberry and blueberry bushesDonePlant asparagus and rhubarb– DoneGrow 500 pounds of foodDoneExpand the lasagna gardenWe created a new garden plot instead DoneFinish clearing the front of the propertyDoneGet some garden pots for the front an back patio/porchesDone
Create 12 New Rug Hooking Patterns and/or Kits Done! {34 out of 12 finished so far}
Even though I’m done with this goal, I’m still hooking. 🙂 I just can’t stop. I’ve already started on a few pieces for Valentine’s Day.
New Rug Hooking Patterns/Kits For 2022
- Olde Father Christmas
- Be Merry
- Olde Tom’s Harvest
- Fat Cat with Christmas Tree
- Tom and Tilly Turkey
- Fraktur Turkey
- The Willard Inn Pumpkin Patch
- Olde Sturbridge Pumpkin
- Autumn in the Garden
- Olde Salem Cat # 2
- Fat Black Cat with Pumpkins
- Small American Flag
- Small Flower Basket
- Fat Black Cat
- Busy Little Bee – Brown
- Simple Red Heart
- Patriotic Tulips
- God Bless America
- American Chicken.
- American Kitty
- USA Flag
- Olde Blue
- Chicks and Flowers
- Scrappy Chicken
- Easter Egger Chicken
- Spring Arrives on Widsbee Farm
- Folk Art Chicken
- Valentine Kisses
- 1736 Tulips
- Large Valentine Heart Runner
- Antique Flower Basket
- Love Grows Fraktur Bird
Have All My 2022 Ornaments Finished by April 1st. Done!
All the ornaments I’ll be making for this year are done and listed in my Etsy shop.
52 Walks {We’ve gone on 49 of 52 so far}
The Girl and I went on a bunch of walks last week and even found Buddy in a Box. 🙂
Visit 12 Towns in Maine That I Haven’t Been to Before
So far we’ve visited:
How about YOU? How did you do with working towards your goals for 2022?
~Mavis
Cindy Miller says
The brussel sprouts look sooo good. Let us know how the ketchup is. 😉
Brianna says
Awe the pay phone brings back memories. Making collect calls or frantically looking for another quarter before time runs out. I went to a hands on interactive museum awhile ago with my kids and they had a pay phone for display/interaction. I was embarrassed they had no idea what it was or even how to put a big clunky receiver to their ear and mouth. I think phone books are obsolete too, I remember the phone book hanging off the bottom of those phones by a metal cord and the pages all in rough shape.
Jennifer says
I found it ironic you had never heard of James Patterson if only because he has written so many books and has had 67 NYT #1 bestsellers. Granted, his genre is susoense and thriller, with many of them in law enforcement, but I truly enjoy them. I feel comfortable saying I’ve probably read at least 100 of his novels over the years.
His new thing is pairing with other writers who may be in different genres and creating a book that has his touch. All of his book are easy and quick to read, which I really like. A few of his books have been made into movies.
Tanya says
I had a similar thought about James Patterson but I worked in receiving in a library for the last 4+ years. We would get 50+ titles a year with his name on them. He even has a book out with Dolly Parton.
Jennifer says
I have been copying a restaurant’s honey sriracha brussels sprouts recipe and we love it. Sweet and spicy! I roast the brussels sprouts with olive oil salt and pepper. Then mix up equal parts honey and sriracha. Coat the sprouts with it for the last 5 minutes of roasting. Delicious!
Lori SA says
Thanks for the recipe idea- I will try this.
C says
Mavis, is that the leg lamp??!! Fragi-lay!
Hawaii Planner says
I miss that Bellevue QFC! We used to live 5 minutes from there.
Rosemary Calhoun says
I remember when pay phones were a dime! When I was a teenager (back in the 60’s & 70’s), my mom always told me to take a dime with me in case I needed to make a phone call (such as the date going badly and I needed her to come and get me). Thankfully, I never needed to use it.
Teri says
Would the payback possibly involve a lamp?
Mary says
You found a pay phone?!? I haven’t seen one in years! Not even the convenience stores have them any more.
Annette says
Any oven cleaning hacks that don’t involve a chemical that makes you pass out?
Brianna says
I use a paste of baking soda and water and scrub away. I then add a bit of vinegar and it caused an oxidation reaction and continues to break down the bits. If it is greasy and sticky I use straight Dawn and work it into it. Not too smelly, but powerful enough to clean most of the stuff without hard chemicals. I have used a lemon half and salt in the past too, but it did not work as well. Smelled good though. Also the right scrub pad makes a difference too.
Annette says
Brianna, thanks!