Online Things
It was another great week in the online department.
#1 I wrote my second rug hooking tutorial of the year {and made a video} of how I bind my hooked rugs.
#2 I celebrated by going to my favorite bakery in all of Maine and loaded up on pastries!!
#3 I made some more progress on my latest whale pattern. I’m hoping to have it completed by the end of the month.
#4 I am now at 18,969 sales on Etsy. Only 1,031 more to go. If I can sell 4.56 items a day for the rest of the year and I’ll reach my goal.
I totally wasted a bunch of time going down rabbit holes on the internet but I’m hoping to do better this coming week. Overall I think I’m doing pretty good on not messing around online.
Online Goals for 2025
- Reach 20,000 sales in Etsy shop MavisButterfield {I’m currently at 18,969}
In Stock and Ready to Ship by March 31st{DONE!}- Create 4 new patterns/kits {2 completed so far; Great Black Whale Rug and Pod of Black Whales
- Take all new pictures + videos for Etsy shop {in progress}
Get as much as humanly possible done online January – March of this year.- Stop picking up my phone so much {Doing great with this!}
- Spend less than 3 hours a day online {Yep!}
- Tidy up the back end of the blog HA HA HA
House Things
I got absolutely ZERO painting done in the house but I did finish painting all the buoys for our next installation. There will be lots of red, white and blue this time.
We also placed our tile order and got on the schedule with the tile guy. It won’t happen until late summer, but still, at least we are on the list. So that’s something.
- Paint The Inside Of The House {including closets!}
- Paint The Interior Window Trim
- Remodel Bathroom #1
- Freshen up Bathroom #2 {Just need to install the facet and hang something on the wall}
- Put Stuff On The Walls
- Work on “new” Kitchen Game Plan
Garden Things
After we got the side yard planted with peonies I had a few extra so I decided to put $10 each on them and set them out front and see if I’d get any takers.
My flower cart looked a little boring with just the peonies on it so I added a few bouquets of flowers to the cart as well.
Every time I’d look out the window something else had sold. So I kept sticking more flowers out. And people kept on buying them. It was crazy.
Maybe my prices were too low?
Garden Goals
- Grow 365 pounds of food in my teeny tiny backyard.
- Install a side yard {flower} garden {DONE!}
Make a Potting Bench{decided I didn’t need one}MakeFIND a Garden Cart to sell flowers/veggies out front {DONE}
Kitchen Things
The oven is still broken {and I don’t care}. 😉 Sadly though I think the replacement part is supposed to arrive on Tuesday.
I really have no desire to cook these days… And I have no idea why.
- Try 12 new recipes {3 down, 9 to go}
- Fill the canning cupboard
New Recipes I’ve Shared This Year
- Double Chocolate Rye Cookies
- Velveeta Zesty Chili Dip
- Haddock and Corn Chowder
- The Best Way To Freeze Avocados
- Freezing Refried Beans
Travel Things
Have you been to Niagara Falls? I can’t seem to get it off my mind lately. I don’t know why, but I really think I need to go and check it out.
Who does that though? Who goes and stares at a giant waterfall and then goes home? I need to find more things to do in the area first if I’m going to drive that far. Have you been?
- Explore more of the great state of Maine
- Go on a painting holiday {currently working on WHERE to go}
- Québec City {Accommodations and 1 tour booked!}
- Travel Overseas {All accommodations and 2 events are booked!}
- Send the HH on a vacation {working on it!}
Marriage Things
Date days this past week consisted of a few walks and hanging out in the Dr.’s office. Nothing remotely exciting at all.
I will say this though, magazines aren’t what they used to be. Not only are they super thin, they are filled with ads {more than ever!}. Also, I have no idea who 80% of the people in the magazines are.
I must be getting old, or just out of touch because I haven’t watched tv in years. DVD’s yes, but tv. shows {other than Doc Martin} no.
- Keep my husband busy
- Date days
- Walk more
Secret Projects
I’ve begun working on both projects and so far so good. I have about 15 things I need to complete before goal #2 will be ready, but I’ll get there.
How about you? How are YOUR 2025 goals coming along?
~Mavis
- Secret Project #1 {Hoping to reveal by
AprilJuly 30th} - Secret Project #2 {Hoping to reveal towards the end of the year}
DebW says
Niagara is impressive. We stayed on the American side, got up very early and walked to the Canadian side. We had the place to ourselves! Apparently tourists don’t go out at 6am!
We also drove to a historical fort and the vineyard areas. It was just a few days and a very long drive from where we lived in New England, but it was a lovely quick getaway.
Mrs. C. says
Ditto!, except we stayed on the Canadian side. It was gorgeous, and we also went to a vineyard and had a wonderful time. There are cultural and historical sites on both sides of the border.
Meg C says
Been there many times – not a fan of the American side but love the Canadian side. We had a high tea experience at a cute “British” tea room once, that was fun. Lots of things to do, not just stare at the falls & gamble (casinos)
Sarah S says
Your not weird wanting to go to Niagara Falls. It is a wish of mine as well. Hopefully in 3 years when we retire
Christa H. says
LIke that you have a YouTube now! I think you’ll sell more flowers and have repeat customers if the price is lower.
My garden goals are coming along. I have added 7 truck loads of compost and 12 bags of leaf mulch I made to my back garden and mini orchard. I then put down farm fabric and burned holes for all my veg plants so I will have minimum weeding.
I planted over a hundred each of peppers, tomatoes, beans, kale, and swiss chard in different varieties, I also planted lots of varieties of summer and winter squash, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. I still have many more seeds to get in the ground.
My goumis, honeyberries, and strawberries are coming in hot this year. I’ll have gallons of goumis and need to juice them then make some jelly.
My chicks arrived this week and I am in heaven. I’m picking up 3 more tomorrow for a total of 21 in 19 varieties. They are the cutest. I am finishing up their coop and run over the next few weeks.
Jessica says
You have passports- go to the Canadian side! Check out the falls and start driving! The road to Niagara on the Lake is full of beautiful sights! The Butterfly Conservatory is lovely, the fields of vineyards are great to see.. stop and check out the different wineries and farmers markets! NOTL has so many great little shops to see!
Melissa says
Yes, to what DebW said. Plus, there are botanical gardens nearby (both in Buffalo and in Niagara Falls, Ontario). And you could do more than look at the falls like take the boat tour that takes you near the falls or hike around them.
Holley says
I like that YOUR goals are coming along! Thanks to your YouTube videos I now have bought one of your rug hooking kits! Way to go Mavis!
Lynn says
We took our kids to Niagara Falls Canada many summers ago. There are many things to do & the US side is easily accessible. We did the behind the falls boat tour and would have been soaked if not for the raincoats they give you. The falls are very impressive. We also drove about an hour north to Toronto and there was a lot to do there as well.
eliz says
Hanging out in the Dr.’s office is no fun.
Hope everything is okay health wise with you and your HH.
maureen detmer says
who dat cutie pie!
Rebekah U says
I’m a cut flower farmer. On your flowers – I think you underpriced your blooms! $2 per stem is a great price for your tulips. Peonies are $5-6 per bloom wholesale.
Marlene says
Unfortunately, where I live, you would never get that price for cut flowers. People do not appreciate their beauty. So, I guess it depends where you live. Best of luck, Mavis
Judy says
Believe it or not we just went to Niagara Falls today! We are on a Viking Cruise Ship on the Great Lakes and it did not disappoint!!!!
Marcia H. says
The Canadian side is prettier and cleaner. It’s worth a visit. Jamestown, about 70 miles south of Buffalo, has a Luci Desi Museum, if you are a fan of Lucille Ball. Also, consider visiting Chautauqua Institution for a concert or lecture. Take a cruise on the Chautauqua Belle paddleboat on Chautauqua Lake.
Kippy says
I finally went through the digital photos and decluttered them. No need to have 15 photos of my dog sleeping. Then I captioned the them but still at some point need to organize them into specific subjects. Friends and I were just discussing how none of us enjoy cooking any more, while we used to really enjoy it. Maybe it is because we have other interests like gardening, crafting and yes…..our dogs and cats etc.
Lori says
I’ve done the whole Niagara Falls thing. I stood there like Chevy Chase. Yup okay I’m done and we left. There are some great caves to explore, Howe caverns. We found some great farmers markets, craft fairs and antique shops. Not to mention all the bakeries we found. Holy Moly there was a lot!
Gigi says
If you need a foreign trip and waterfalls. Go visit Iguazu Falls. It’s on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Very beautiful.
Cecile Hoare says
As a Canadian I would definitely say come to our side if you want to see Niagara Falls. Wine tours, butterfly museum, botanical gardens, I think they still do tours of the turbines but you would have to look that up, tour under the falls, Maid of the Mist boat tours (not sure if they are still running or not), Brock Monument and Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston just up the road if you like history things. I would stay at Niagara on the Lake (beautiful place and less touristy) I haven’t been to the US side of the falls but I have been around the area and there isn’t alot to do specially when you aren’t a shopper.
Stacy B says
Yes, do go to Niagara. It’s amazing.
Patti says
Niagara Falls are beautiful in and of themselves. Just the sheer power of the water is amazing. I have been twice and both trips left an impression on me and made me wish my family could see them.
Laurie M says
Agree with above- Canadian side is better but US side is ok too. I’d do that for a day and then head up to the Finger Lakes area if it were me.
Katy @PracticalWalk says
As a newbie gardener I’m super excited to hear about your 365 pounds of food from your garden!!
I picked my first zucchini squash today!! It’s mind blowing what can come from a tiny seed!
My husband and I went to Niagara several years ago. We cmped on the Canada side, but visited both sides. Amazing place!