Get Back To The Basics + Learning to Unplug
Last week was a bit of a doozy for us. The story deserves its own post so I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow, BUT we did get some to unplug, that’s for sure. 😉
In other news, Lucy is feeling a little bit better. Her back legs still are not 100% {and I doubt they ever will be again} but she was able to go on two super short walks last week, so that’s something.
She is so stinkin’ cute! She has taken over the HH’s chair and loves laying on her heated blanket all day. 🙂
In The Kitchen
No pear frangipane tart, no canning and I didn’t use any of our beans this past week but I did make an apple galette yesterday with some of the apple pie filling I canned last fall.
Kitchen Goals For This Year
- Master the pear frangipane tart from Standard Baking Company.
- Put my Weck jars to use.
- Use two bins of beans {working on it}
Rug Hooking
It was a fantastic week in the rug hooking department! I sold a large rug, listed some new bundles of wool, and made some serious progress on two rugs.
Right now I’ve got a giant whale rug on a rug hooking frame which I’m trying to work on for an hour each day and a flower basket rug on my hoop which I’ve been working on at night. Both will become new patterns/kits when I’m done.
With any luck I should have both pieces done in about 2 weeks.
Rug Hooking Goals For This Year
Finish drawing out all my patterns, making kits, dyeing wool by March 31st.- Release 10 new rug hooking patterns/kits. {3 down 7 to go}
- Hook 27 of the patterns from the “someday I’ll hook these” bin. {4 down 23 to go}
Go New Places – See New Things
The only exciting place I went this past week was to the garden center to search for the perfect hanging baskets for The Lobster House.
Part of me thinks the hanging basket flowers need to be red to match the lobsters, but I’m not a huge fan of red in the garden {unless we’re talking about tomatoes}.
I’m more of a pinks, purples and whites sort of girl but I don’t want my flowers to clash!!! Last year the hanging baskets were red, deep purple and white and I regretted buying them. ALL. SUMMER. LONG.
Maybe I should just paint the lobsters pink? Hmmm.
Travel Goals For This Year
- Travel someplace {internationally} that I’ve never been before.
- Travel somewhere in Maine {overnight} that I haven’t been before.
Places I’ve Been So Far This Year
- Boston {Birthday getaway}
- NYC
Walk And Stretch More
Well, I did the half marathon. Or rather, I survived the half marathon. I told the HH to NEVER let me do one again.
I have zero problem walking 18 – 20 miles around a city in a day, but my days of fast walking/jogging are over.
I am still hobbling around like a 99 year old and it feels like all my toes are broken. I have no idea how all the 70+ year old ladies who beat me did it.
And you know, I don’t need to know their secret either. I’d rather hike the Grand Canyon than participate in another half marathon or marathon again. And now I know that. 🙂
Walking/Stretching Goals For This Year
- Get into some sort of stretching routine
- Fast walk a 5K, 10K, and
Half Marathon
Garden
The tulips out front are beginning to bloom! I picked my first bouquet {from along the size of the house} yesterday and it’s so nice to have tulips in the house again.
I keep checking the Van Engelen website to see if ordering is open yet but it’s not. It should be soon!
We had the front and back garden areas Hydroseeded 11 days ago and we are just now starting to see the grass come up.
We were so worried it wasn’t going to work, or that we weren’t keeping it {the pulp} moist enough so it’s nice to see little blades of grass.
According to a neighbor that just had theirs done, in about another week it will really start to look like a lawn. I don’t know though, to me it looks like we are going to have to re-seed.
I guess only time will tell.
Garden Goals For This Year
- Rework the driveway and garden areas {in progress}
- Go crazy and plant a ridiculous amount of flowers {working on it}
- Step out of my comfort zone and plant some flowers I’ve never planted before
Paint
I finally painted all the trim in the entry! Next up, the front room. We decided to go with a light blue {Benjamin Moore Fountain Spout}.
I’m hoping to get walls painted this week.
Once I get the walls and the window areas painted, then it will be time for the HH to sand the floors. The floor trim will be painted after he sands and stains the floor.
Things are moving along. A little slower than I anticipated but hey… We’re getting there. One day at a time, right? How are YOU coming along on YOUR goals? Curious minds want to know.
Peace Out.
~Mavis
Painting Goals For This Year
- The Van Gogh wall
- The gallery wall down stairs
- The captains wall in the hall
- Trim and walls
Tamara says
Pink flowers go beautifully with red lobsters. You should know this. Plant/purchase what you like.
Nancy Settel says
Mavis I don’t think the pink flowers will clash with the red lobsters at all. I am a huge fan of pink flowers especially in a huge hanging basket always so pretty. I am not a fan of red flowers they always seem to harsh for me. I say go for your first instint. So glad the puppy is doing better she looks like a little queen sitting on her chair and thrown. Have a great day.
Mrs. C. says
Mavis,
I suggest looking into vets that do laser/heat therapy on animals. One of my dogs also started to have walking issues as he got older, and the laser/heat therapy really helped!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Mrs. C I am going to look into the vest. Lucy loves her tight fleece sweater so I know she doesn’t mind wearing a “hug” around her.
Sandy says
There is something called an assisi loop that you can buy on Chewy. My vet had me use it for my cat when her spondylosis started to affect her back legs. It seemed to help her feel better. You might want to discuss it with your vet.
From their website: It hurts you to see your animal friend in pain, so thank goodness the Assisi Animal Health 2.0 Manual Dog Loop is here to help! It utilizes Loop technology, which quickly and effectively delivers signals to target the body’s anti-inflammatory process. By enhancing nitric oxide production, the healing process is quickened for tissues, including skin, tendons, ligaments, bones, and organs. This manual version shuts off automatically after every fifteen minute treatment for your convenience through wraps, dressings, and casts. Plus, you can purchase the size that best fits your animal’s treatment needs.
Kath says
I’m so glad Lucy is feeling better!
heatherruark says
Perhaps navy blue for the lobsters? Then all colors of flowers would work?
Lesley says
I agree with the sentiment that pink flowers and red lobsters will go beautifully. I love red and pink together! I am dying for pictures of the driveway.
Meg C says
We have friends with the same breed as Lucy, and their dogs also have issues walking. Both their dogs participate in hydro-therapy. Maybe Lucy could do that, too?
Peg says
All the recommendations for Lucy are spot on but I have one you may want to check on. Red light therapy! It has many benefits including use on animals. I don’t have one (too tight to spend the money), but I’ve read many good things. It is important to buy a good quality one, and they are not inexpensive. Just a thought.
maureen detmer says
the patootie=cuteness overload
J in OH-IO says
WhooHoo!!! On your half marathon- very impressive to start off with that big goal and already have it completed! Way to go! You should be so proud of yourself!
Hope both you and Lucy feel better and more like yourselves soon!
J in OH-IO says
I too vote pink flowers with the red lobsters! A pop of pink will catch the eye to a passersby and totally goes the red lobsters! Pink is just a lighter variation of red and in the same color family! Get the flowers you want that will make you happy when you see them!
KC says
If leopard print is a neutral, I’m sure lobsters are a neutral as well. 😉
(seriously, though, most of the house is white and I don’t think the lobsters would clash with the flowers)
Vy in Seattle says
I’d paint the lobsters black, then they’ll be a cool graphic look and go with anything in the garden.
So sorry to hear about Lucy, she’s so obviously loved. We’re going through the same with my cat, he’s got degenerative arthritis in his hips. The vet started talking about “quality of life” and I almost yelled, “I WILL CARRY HIM UNTIL THE END IF I HAVE TO” but of course she was just doing her job. But still!
Judy says
I agree! I carried, then diapered one of our pups. She was happy and had a great appetite right until 2 days before she passed. Peacefully at home being cuddled, she was 17.
Judi Y. says
That picture of Lucy is so, soooooo adorable! You HAVE to frame it! I’m so glad she’s feeling better!
Congratulations on your half marathon!
Charlotte says
I worked in a flower shop for 20 years. Almost all of our Valentines arrangements were pinks and reds together. We always sold out!!! I think red lobsters and pink flowers would be perfect!
Nancy D says
Congratulations on the half marathon! You always amaze me! On a side note: after perusing your link for the Vego garden beds we purchased 6 to replace our rotting wooden beds. We bought 4 at 26” tall and 2 at 17” tall. (I have bad knees and was having troubles tending the 10” beds). I’m so excited and once again thankful for you helpful links and ideas!
Cecile says
Your lobsters are red, house is white, how about blue flowers for your red white and blue nod to the 4th of July?
Wendy Steele says
How about white flowers?