“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
My goals for 2018
Goal #1 – Write Like No One is Reading.
“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.” ~ Barbara Kingsolver
Goal #2 – Slow Down
I am really liking the late winter pace of New England. Chilly mornings mean slow starts to the day and catching up on indoor tasks, while afternoons are spent outside. I only left the house twice last week. Once to get a library card and the other to run small errands. I am LOVING it here.
Goal #3 – Shop Small
Bought 3 cords of wood from a guy who lives two streets over from us. Cord wood and snow plowing is how he supports his family. He’s a one man show {although he does get some help from his kids}. I LOVE that.
Goal # 4 – Have a Designated Meal Prep Day
Yes! I finally did this. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.
Goal #5 – Install a Vegetable Garden
Well I did it. I finally got this year’s vegetable garden bed tilled up and boy am I glad that part is over. This week I plan on going over the bed {several times} with a landscape rake to get as many rocks out of the growing area as possible. I haven’t given much thought as to how I’m going to lay out the bed at this point, but I’ll have to sit down and figure it out soon because I’ll want to get my sugar snap peas in the ground asap.
Goal #6 – Clear Land for a Chicken Coop and Future Raised Garden Bed Area
Future sight of the chicken coop area. Lucy’s babies arrive this week and although we plan on keeping them indoors until the temps warm up in {I’m guessing} late May, the chicken coop plot is my next area to tidy up. Also, I’m thinking that old trellis might be the perfect support system to grow my bird house gourds on.
Goal #7 – Grow 500 Pounds of Vegetables
One of the vegetables I’m most looking forward to growing this year is dried beans for winter soups, and of course, Saturday night beans. Tongue of Fire, Vermont Dried Cranberry and Kenearly Dried Beans are what I plan to grow this year. I’ve dabbled in growing dried beans before but never really for long term storage. I think it will be interesting to see how many pounds of dried beans we’ll be able to harvest.
Goal #8 – Hook 100 Rugs
38 down, 62 to go. This past week I mostly worked on drawing out rug patterns I want to hook this year and working a little here and there on my giant chicken rug.
Goal #9 – Make a Set of Dolls
I plan to make a set {or two} of primitive dolls later this year after the garden has been put to bed.
Goal #10 – Make a Sampler, Frame it and Hang it on the Wall
1 down, 1 more to go. I’ll probably work on the second one this fall and then get the samplers hung on the wall.
Goal #11 – Visit 22 Bakeries
Forget breakfast in bed this morning, we are headed to Lil’s Cafe for crullers.
Goal #12 – Start a Collection
I supposed starting a collection could only happen if I left the house and went looking, right? I did stop at a yard sale while I was out running errands and bought a tiny jarred candle for $0.25 though. 😉 I do plan on checking out a few thrift stores next week though so maybe I’ll get lucky.
Goal #13 – Read {or listen to} 26 Books
I picked up Colonial: Design in the New World at the local library the other day and might actually buy this book used when I am finished with it. Learning about old New England homes and their contents is pretty fascinating stuff. Who knew?
Books I’ve read or listened to so far this year:
- A Secret Gift
- Colonial: Designs in the New World
- Bad Days in History
- New England Farmgirl
- Founding Gardeners
- The Bookshop Around the Corner
- The Bassoon King
Goal #14 – Try 12 New Canning Recipes
Last week Kate left a comment on my goal post about the picture of canning jars: “Hi Mavis! I have some of those vintage jars too, but I’m having trouble finding the right kinds of rubber seals for them. Do you have recommendations? Thanks!!”
Yes! Lehman’s carries them and you can find them HERE. Both wide mouth and regular rubber seals are available. We were left with a bunch of these old jars and I plan to store our dried beans in them, so your question came at the perfect time!
Goal #15 – Secret {for now} Holiday Project
I ordered my “big ticket” item for my holiday project and it should arrive in about 2 months. The goal is to practice over the summer months and then start working on my big holiday project this fall. 🙂 I am SO EXCITED about this secret project! I’d like to tell you what it is… But then it wouldn’t be a secret now would it. Sometimes waiting… is half the fun. 😉
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2018? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2018 Goals HERE.
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Susan says
Mavis!
Been following you for years, so exciting to see you live the life you wanted! I’m exhausted just reading your to do list, clearly you are enjoying it. I do have a question, did your husband quit his job or transfer or is he looking?
Cecile H says
Hi Mavis,
I love reading about the new house adventure, why? Well, we will be doing just that in one year’s time! So with that in mind I set a couple goals for myself at the New Year to hopefully help in getting us to where we need to be in a year. I decided since we were drastically downsizing anyway to make it part of my goal. One item for every day of the month to be re-homed. Either donating it or giving it to someone who can use it. So far I am ahead of the game. I keep a cardboard box at the ready and every time I find something I put it in. I’ve been documenting what goes just to see how much we an live without. The other goal was to donate at least 10 clothing items a month, I haven’t stayed on top of this one only because we have had a Ground Hog Day type of winter/spring so far this year. When you think winter is over it pops back in for a few days. Hopefully by May 24th (our official welcome to spring holiday) I will have 50 items ready to hit the road!
Something else I’ve been working on is to make all the grandchildren (not mine-my Mom’s) their gifts this year! I have my own store worth of craft supplies in my craft/sewing room so this shouldn’t be a challenge. What is the challenge is picking out what specifically I am going to make. When you’ve been saving resources for 30 plus years in the same house, you find that you can practically shop in your own home!
I am also making gifts for my two kids and one partner this year. My daughter and her partner have been easy, my son that lives at home, he has been the challenge…it may end up being a week’s worth of pajama pants with the amount of flannel I’ve found!
Have a great week and give Miss Lucy a snuggle!
Mavis Butterfield says
I LOVE the 1 item a day thing you’ve got going on. Keep us posted on your progress!
Lauren says
I did a declutter challenge with some friends last year that lasted a month. Each day you had to remove the amount of items that the date was. So on the 1st it was one item the 2nd was 2 items and so on. It started off really easily but by the 31st it was definitely getting tricky. It ended up being 496 items! I’ll have to do it again soon.
Nora says
Hi Mavis!
Just a quick hint you might like because it involves getting garden stuff for free: the Zoo of Detroit plans to hand out free dung from it’s animals to the visitors.
Maybe you would like to look it up. Quite interesting!
Carolina says
Oh, yes, Lil’s Cafe! You wrote about it when you were here on a visit, and I went to check it out last Fall. So fun that from all the way over in Washington State you recommended a neat place that is right in my own bailiwick!!! Enjoy your crullers!!!
Another place you might want to try, though it is not a pastry type of place is “When Pigs Fly” bakery and restaurant—great bread from the bakery and pizzeria/restaurant in the same place.
Mel says
I’m jealous of the pea planting. We’re switching out our raised beds, and I don’t think they’ll be ready in time. We’ve had a slow start to spring for our area, so I’m thinking the temperatures won’t be right even if I could get them planted soon–I expect to go straight from freezing to sweltering. So, I think I might focus on more squash and summer crops this year. We normally have a huge problem with squash pests, but the new beds will let me use greenhouse covers to keep the pests off (evil laugh).
That’s the nice thing about vegetable gardens though–miss the boat for one thing and just hop on the next one.
Pj says
OMG, you’re buying a loom! I don’t know why I’m so fascinated with the secret holiday project, but I keep guessing! Haha
I hope you do well with your dried beans. My husband’s family in Appalachia grew beans to dry. You’d walk in the house in the fall and every window had beans strung on thread with a knot under each to keep them separated. Think 1960’s hippie beads, but made of bean pods.
Deb says
Cecile, I made flannel pillowcases for all the young’uns for Christmas this year, along with a book…the moms said it was the best present, and it may become a yearly gift!
UpstateNYer says
Love this idea!
UpstateNYer says
You could also find new/used books at your local library book sales. The funds support library sponsored programs and new book purchases.
Cecile H says
I was thinking of that idea too, a pillowcase and pj pants, the two wee’s are getting I Spy bags I think! Thanks for the reminder on the pillowcases! I pinned the idea before Easter and forgot about it!
UpstateNYer says
My library card allows me to log in online to order books, dvd and other media. They are either picked from my library or sent from other locations in the district to my library free for me to pick up. I am alerted by email (or phone- if you choose) when it is available for pick up. I have made a spreadsheet at home of movies I’d like to view. I find classics, documentaries and recent oscar hits and tv shows to see on DVD for free. I can check them out for week- 2 weeks at a time.
Katherine says
Our county library system is the same and I love it! It even has the capability to create multiple wish lists which is perfect for keeping a list of DVDs, CDs or books I want to read.
L. bryant says
Hi Mavis.
I have a suggestion since as you said you just left suburbia. No matter where you locate your chickens plan to bury chicken wire ATTACHED TO AND below your fencing. Raccoons WILL FIND YOUR BIRDS AND KILL THEM IN A SINGLE NIGHT. They can find any opening under or above the fencing. If you put them in a coop each night be certain to put wire over window screens. We lost 5 birds in one night after 10 years without incident. They must have been looking for the right time and there was a crack in some wire we did not see. It was small less that 5″.
We set out live traps and caught a female and 2 of her offspring. We relocated them to a 700 acre parcel of land.
Good luck!!!!
Cecile H says
My Dad use to staple the chicken wire fencing which laid under the sod (dug it up and relaid it over the fencing) under and to the outside of wooden side supports that went along the coop edge. He built the coop frame like a shed bringing the fencing walls down over the bottom wooden side support then using the fence that came under the topsoil, staple it over top but folded the two pieces in a french seam fashion, he did the same where the chicken wire overlapped on the verticals but instead of stapling he ran a whip stitch of wire through the folded fencing. If you use too fine of a chicken mesh raccoons can and will chew through the fencing. After doing this and adding 5 guard geese to the mix we never had an issue with animal or human intruders-geese work better than guard dogs!
Tamara says
Raccoons AND Weasels…We lost our last hens to a possum and two trips from a raccoon. My husband fortified our coop, we thought. One night he had to force our remaining five into the coop, they were so uncooperative. The next morning all that was left were bodies – no heads. My husband felt terrible! Here they were afraid and trying to tell him and we just didn’t know about weasels.
Sharon@MLT says
Jacobs Cattle is a traditional New England drying bean and very pretty. You might check it out.
Are you planning a deer fence? I well remember seeing hungry deer gazing longingly at my auntie’s garden. A tall fence is the only way to keep them out. There is the unfortunate garden/jail look but it can be softened with vining plants
Kim says
What are the dimensions of your garden? Will you increase it a bit each year?
Mavis Butterfield says
It was supposed to be 45′ x 15 but I’m not sure what it is now, I’ll have to measure once I am finished and ready to map it out.
Lace Faerie says
Mike McGrath (Organic Gardening editor in the early 90’s) has a podcast, You Bet Your Garden. He is based east coast so his info might be of interest to you. I enjoy then Q&A, even tho’ I live in Whatcom County, WA state!
He suggests motion activated sprinkler (turned up full blast) to defend gardens from marauders. He says there are several brands but his was called ScareCrow. I’m thinking about doing this. He told the story of a lady that used one to catch the neighbor who shopped her garden under cover of darkness. Hilarious! And effective!
Rita says
Did you buy the wood already split? Can’t wait to see what your chicken coop looks like! You are already doing so much!! Love it!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! Wanted to make sure we’d have a head start for next winter.
Toni says
It’s so wonderful to see that your dreams and plans are coming true! Good for you!
I do a lot of knitting and crocheting – but would love to try primitive rug hooking sometime. I have some old woolen clothing from thrift stores and some monks cloth and burlap……..but getting started is a bit daunting. I found a great Youtube re; Doris Eaton. have you heard of the “Eaton edge?” I think it would be best for on-the-floor rugs, but I have yet to hook even one loop 🙂
Here is the Eaton link if you have not seen it and have interest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR-ebWIJd_Y
Did you have any spring bulbs come up in your new yard?
Thanks so much for all the inspiration!
Best wishes –
Toni
Linda says
Your goals are inspiring. I need to set some, with chronic fibro it is hard but it would help. An author I’ve enjoyed is Kiera Cass –
I love your blog and pictures of your new place. Enjoy Linda in Indiana
Leslie says
Not sure if you’re familiar with HenCam.com. West of Boston, MA. Not sure how their location compares to yours, but it’s a fun little webcam idea. You can switch cameras between the outdoor run and inside where they roost.
RE beans, I wonder if you will weigh them before or after drying. Just curious!
chickengrandma says
Five years ago we downsized into a smaller house. At that time I got rid of thousands of things. Now 5 years later, I am going thru the house and garage and finding things I have not used since that move. So now I have many things to sell or give away.
Cecil B I also have a craft room that has more 12X12 paper for scrapbooking than my local store ! I also will be making gifts from some of that paper. One grandson went to Europe with his class and I will be making a scrapbook of that trip. And fabric-I have fabric from my grandmother and my own stash over the last 40 years. But when I go to the fabric stores, I can’t believe the prices. I bought patterns for .99, now they are $16 ??!! And quilting cottons are $10. a yard ? Really, my cottons were bought for $2 a yard. Since I have been involuntarily retired, I will need be creative with my gift giving.
Mavis, I have a suggestion on stacking all that wood. I”ve been doing it for 30 years and love doing it. First you need sturdy end pieces. Either pound in some metal or wood posts on each end. Or you can make end posts with the cut wood. Take about 3 pieces using the biggest you have and lay them in one direction- say north and south. Then the next layer, lay east to west. Keep doing this until the end is 4-5 ft high. Now you can start stacking the wood, bark side up, cut side down. Place all in one direction. This way you will find the wood will “fit together”. And, by having them snuggly fit together, when the wood dries and shrinks a bit, it won’t all fall over.
Christine says
I was so excited when I saw the link to Lehman’s Hardware. It is the amusement park of the Amish, homesteaders and folks like me who love things the way they used to be. We live 750 miles away from Kidron, Ohio, but we will go hours out of our way on a trip just to visit Lehmans. They have everything you could ever need and some things I didn’t even know existed. It is definitely worth a look.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ve always wanted to go to the store. I remember getting the catalog like 20 years ago. I loved pouring over the pages.
Andrea says
A few things. First, unless the rocks are really big (baseball size or larger), just leave them. More will come up to the surface, it’s just the way things are and the rocks are a big help with drainage. My uncle used to rent gardening plots on his property and a person he rented to spent days digging up the rocks to get ready to plant, the next year, there were as many rocks as the previous year when he went to plant his garden. Second, either bury your chicken fencing at least 6 inches deep or make the floor of the coop wire. My mobile chicken coop is wrapped on all six sides, no problems with anything getting in (or out).
Pat says
Mavis, I keep seeing comments that you need tall deer fence. Here in WV we have many white tail deer. I actually have a herd that comes to my back yard to be fed twice a day. One will actually sniff my hand but that doesn’t mean they won’t eat my garden! Everyone around here has a couple strands of electric fence, one low for small critters and one higher for deer. Another temporary tip… beat up an egg, mix it with water and put it in a spray bottle. Keep it in a shed or at least away from the house. it gets really stinky! Spray it on anything the deer will munch on but if it rains you have to repeat. You can smell it as you spray it but afterwards the smell goes away. Deer won’t eat anything it’s on. I actually got this tip from an Amish book that I got at Lehman’s hardware. I love that place!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks for the clever tip!
Kate says
OMG I’m famous!! Thanks Mavis! I can’t wait to get some. I’m excited to see what else Lehman’s carries 😀
Torry says
One of my goals for this year is to sew every week. I have been doing really well on this. Every year I make lounging pants (PJ pants, if I call them lounging pants, no one expects tops) for the members of my family. I usually make 7-10 pair for our granddaughter. I have 5 pair done for her. I have 3 pair done for her mother.
I have a friend, she is the school librarian at our neighborhood school, who lets me use the island in her office to cut out sewing projects. So, this week, I made lounging pants for her two little ones. She very sweetly told me that her children were thrilled.
Next week I’m starting the quilt for our granddaughter’s graduation gift. I’m making it for her dorm room. So extra-long twin size.
I am still writing my plans and my “completes” on a calendar, which I hope to save as a record of my year in sewing. I love reading about your goals, too.