One Hundred Dollars a Month

“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.