My Big List of Things I’m Going to Do in 2021 – Week 42 of 52

My Big List of Things I’m Going to Do in 2021 – Week 42 of 52

Stay Healthy! 

I went on what was supposed to be a half mile hike {that ended up being more like 3 miles} so I think that totally counts as exercising for the whole week. Hiking is totally different from walking, that’s for sure. 😉

Weigh What I Weighed When We Got Married  {128 pounds}

Weigh-ins are the first Sunday of each month.

  • My October 3rd weigh in was 131.5
  • My September 5th weigh in was 131.4
  • My August 1st weight in was 131.4
  • My July 4th weigh in was 129.0
  • My June 6th weigh in was 129.6
  • My May 2nd weigh in was 131.0
  • My April 18th weigh in was 129.9 {after 18 days of being on the low iodine diet}
  • My April 4th weigh in was 133.4 
  • My March 7th weigh in was 135.6
  • My February 7th weigh in was 137.3
  • My January 3rd weigh in was 140.7

Keep My Husband Busy 

This past week the HH reseeded the area where he removed 2 trees and cleared a large section of brush along the side of the kitchen garden and house. Next year the plan is to mulch the area heavily and plant sunflowers for the bees.

We never really figure out what the previous owners had planted in that spot {alongside the house}, but we know we don’t want it growing there again so I’m glad the HH removed it. 

The HH’s Honey Do List {so far} for 2021 

All that’s left on the HH’s original honey do list of the year are all things I don’t think he’s going to get to this year {except maybe the birdhouses}. Not because he doesn’t have the time, but because he was so busy with other projects this year that just seemed to pop up and were more of a priority for us this year. 

Some years are like that. Ad you just have to go with the flow. 

  • Build a new set of stairs down to the water. The old set… it’s not exactly useable.
  • Build a firepit near the edge of the property. {DONE!}
  • Build a picnic table near the birch trees for summer lunches {Done!}
  • Build 4 or 6 garden boxes for his little lady {we did raised beds this year instead}}
  • Build a boatload of birdhouses for the {soon to be} bird sanctuary 
  • Create a garden path/walkway for the front garden {DONE!}
  • Remodel the bathroom in the hallway {DONE!}
  • Install some sort of driveway border
  • Install a workspace for me in the basement for dying wool
  • Install a fence in the front for Lucy {DONE!}
  • Build a set of 3 bookshelves in the dining room for me {DONE!}
  • Install a trailer hitch on the car {DONE!}

 

Things We’d Like to Buy

We stopped by Home Depot to look at washer and dryers again, but didn’t see anything spectacular. I need to find a place that sells Speed Queen washer and dryers so we can go in and take a look at them.

  • A dinghy 
  • Clothesline
  • Archery Set {every camp should have archery!}
  • Kitchen table and chairs 
  • Sideboard 
  • Bench for the entryway 
  • A full size washer and dryer set {the house came with a small stackable w/d set} 
  • Deck chairs and a patio table set {Going the picnic table route instead}
  • A set of 4 Adirondack chairs for the fire pit area  {I LOVE these chairs!}
  • BBQ {He bought a Blackstone Griddle instead!}
  • 2 More Kayaks

Unplug As Much As Possible {but still keep the blog, FB and Instagram}

Unplugging is cool…. 

I spent more time working in the garden or rug hooking this week that I did looking at a screen. It was pretty rad. And I highly recommend it. So what if it takes me a little longer to reply to emails. Remember when we didn’t even have emails, or texting? It makes me wonder how much more productive {and happier} we probably were. 

  • Goodbye Facebook {Done!}
  • Goodbye Amazon Prime {Done!} $119 a year
  • Goodbye Hulu {Done!} $54.99 a month *
  • Goodbye Netflix {Done!} $7.99 a month
  • Goodbye PicMonkey {Done!} $50 a year
  • Goodbye keeping my cell phone in my back pocket and checking it constantly {so far so good}
  • Limit time online to 3 hours a day {for writing, working, and Etsy} 

* Hulu is actually now $64.99 a month for the live tv version {live sports, live news}. You can get it for $5.99 a month but all that does is play tv shows and old movies {with ads}.

Try 24 New Recipes {and remember to link them here} DONE!

This week I posted a recipe for baked potato casserole with bacon and chives. Make it as a side dish or the main meal. Just make it! 

I have shared 29 new recipes this year! Wahoo. 

New recipes I’ve made this year:

Read {or Listen to} 12 New Books about Maine {or written by Maine Authors}

I had my driver take me to a garage sale on Saturday and found 4 new hardcover books {$1 each!} for my winter reading:

Books about Maine {or written by Maine authors} I’ve read this year:

  1. Christina Olson Her World Beyond the Canvas
  2. Andrew Wyeth: A Secret Life
  3. Finding Freedom
  4. Maine’s Favorite Birds
  5. At First Light: Two Centuries of Maine Artists, Their Homes and Studios
  6. Bernard Langlais at the Colby College Museum of Art
  7. The 3,000 Mile Garden
  8. Becoming Teddy Roosevelt 
  9. Here On The Island
  10. The Lobster Coast 
  11. A Small Farm in Maine

Audiobooks I’ve listened to {or attempted to listen to} this year: 

Get 24 Stories Off My Phone and onto the Blog  ** SEE NEW GOAL BELOW **

Try Everything That Head Tide Oven Offers This Summer

Head Tide Oven is closed for the season but my adventures there were fun while they lasted. 

Items I’ve Tried From Head Tide Oven in Damariscotta, Maine this summer:

Breads

  • Dark Rye Sourdough Bread
  • Light Rye Sourdough Bread
  • Sourdough Kalamata Olive Bread
  • Sourdough Green Olive Bread
  • Sourdough Bread 
  • Flat Sourdough Bread
  • Baguette 
  • Walnut Raisin Sourdough Bread
  • Vollkornbrot Sourdough Bread

Cookies/Bars

  • Raspberry Jam Bar
  • Ginger Cookie x2
  • Swedish Cookie
  • Almond Bar 
  • Anise Sesame Biscotti
  • Pan Forte x2

Pies and Cakes

  • Chocolate Cake with a chocolate ganache 
  • Peach Pie
  • Lemon Thyme Pie x2
  • Blueberry Pie
  • Cherry Pie
  • Cherry Rhubarb Pie
  • Blueberry Hand Pie
  • Lemon Hand Pie

Get the Photos on My Phone Down to Less Than 1,000 {started the year with 2863 photos}

At the yard sale I also picked up a {not so} chocolate bunny, and 2 party trays all for $2 each and a little bag of eggs for $1. 

A nice gathering basket for $5.

And a wire wall hanging basket for $3 {which will be lovely in the garden with flowers overflowing from it next summer}.

*I currently have 1282 photos on my phone. 

Clean Out My Closet

The LL Bean catalog came in the mail last week and I thought this navy puffer vest was pretty cute and kind of retro. I’m not sure if I’m a vest person though. I don’t think I’ve over owned one as an adult. Wouldn’t my arms get cold? Would the heat from my core keep the rest of me warm enough? 

Where would I even where a vest? I hardly ever even leave the house. Being a semi hermit has it’s perks. And having to buy less clothes is one of them. 

My House Projects For This Year

 

My main project for the year {the garden} is nearly wrapped up. So now I guess it’s time to hone in on the plans for the kitchen remodel and figure out the window treatment situation. 

  • Figure out new window treatments for the back of the house
  • Come up with a game plan for the kitchen remodel {for 2022} {working on it!}
  • Paint the family room walls and trim {DONE!}
  • Paint the entryway trim and doors {DONE!}
  • Paint the dining room walls and trim {DONE!}
  • Paint the master bedroom walls and trim {DONE!}
  • Paint the barn and add a new fixture 
  • Paint the hallway bathroom {DONE!}

My List of Garden Projects For This Year I want to Accomplish

The garlic has been planted, {most of} the brush has been cleared and so now I just have to wait for my bulb order to arrive and to pick the last 2 butternuts in the garden. 

I think Tuesday might be picking day because according to the forecast, Tuesday night the temps are supposed to dip down to 37 degrees. 

Still left on the list:

  • Install a simple flower bed border in front of the house {Done}
  • Start a lasagna garden
  • Install a boatload of birdhouses/feeders in the side yard {re-thinking this one}
  • Transplant evergreen saplings to the side of property for a privacy border {Done}
  • Clean up and prune the area that faces the road {working on it}
  • Install a vegetable garden {Done}
  • Install a sunflower patch {decided for a row along the side of the barn instead}
  • Plant 2,500 flower bulbs in the fall

Reach 10,000 Sales on Etsy {as of this morning I’ve made 8591 sales on Etsy}. Only 1409 to go.

That means I’ll have to sell 18.54 items a day until the end of the year to hit my goal.  I believe in miracles. 🙂 Later today I’ll be listing some wool bundles, and in a day or two, releasing a new pattern. Wahoo! 

Create 12 New Rug Hooking Patterns or Kits {11 down 1 to go}

Last week I released 3 new rug hooking patterns {and rug hooking kits} on Etsy.

I am so excited about these latest designs as I have recently teamed up with Vermont Folk Artist Doreen Frost and will be bringing her beautiful artwork to life in a new series of finished rugs, patterns and rug hooking kits this winter.

New Rug Hooking Kits or Patterns I’ve Created This Year:

Create 12 New Ornaments for 2021 Done!

The ornament section of my Etsy shop is fully stocked and ready for the holiday rush. 

2021 Ornaments I’ve Made So Far

2021 Garlands I’ve Made So Far

Discover 12 Made in Maine Products and Share Them on the Blog

I have discovered several more Maine products this year but since I plan on doing a few “Maine” giveaways later this year I don’t want to spoil the surprise so I’ll wait and share them then.

Made in Maine Products I’ve Discovered in 2021:

Visit 6 Lighthouses in Maine

4 down, 2 to go! 

Lighthouses We’ve Visited So Far This Year:

Lighthouses I’ve Been to in Maine Before 2021:

Other places in Maine We’ve Been to This Year Are:

So that’s it. That’s my progress report for this past week. How about YOU? Did you make any goals for 2021? Have you checked any of them off your list yet? 

Have a great one, 

~Mavis

OTHER

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