Get Back To The Basics + Learning to Unplug
It was a great week to stay in, unplug and stay in my pj’s. We went to the library twice. Once to pick up a few movies and once to stock up on books and magazines ahead of the big storm.
Physical books are just cool. Making the effort to go get them, holding them, flipping through the pages, with all the online reading people do these days, it makes you wonder if libraries will still be around in 10 years.
I hope so.
As far as staying off the internet this past weekend, I think I only popped online twice. How cool is that!?
In The Kitchen
I am still enjoying my $100 a month for groceries challenge and have learned SO MUCH from it.
Like, if you run out of milk for your tea, plain yogurt IS NOT a good substitute. HA HA HA. I have no idea why I thought it might be, but rest assured, it’s not. 😉
I’m looking forward to having a little more money to spend on groceries and getting back to baking, that’s for sure.
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.
Rug Hooking
I’ve been keeping busy drawing patterns and making kits as well carving out time in the evenings to work on new rugs and pillows for my Etsy shop. I feel like I’ve finally working at a good pace {winter, and staying inside all the time helps} and I’m looking forward to being able to pack everything away at the end of March.
Hopefully I can keep up with the pace until all the dyeing, pattern and kit making is done for the year.
Rug Hooking Goals For This Year
- Finish drawing out all my patterns by January 31st.
- Finish making all my kits by February 28th.
- Finish dyeing wool by March 31st.
- Release 10 new rug hooking patterns/kits.
- Hook 27 of the patterns from the “someday I’ll hook these” bin.
Go New Places – See New Things
Sometimes it’s just nice to stay home. Especially when there’s a ton of snow in the forecast.
I haven’t been outside yet this morning, but the weather forecast for last night called for 18-24” of snow. I hope we got it!!
I must be getting used to living in Maine because even though I know the snow plows were out last night, I slept right through them.
I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but I am planning on a pajama day today!
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.
Walk And Stretch More
Absolutely no walking of any significance went on last week. Too much wind and ice on the road and sidewalks for it to be enjoyable.
I don’t mind walking around in my snowsuit… But it’s so much more enjoyable when the sun is out and you don’t have to watch your every step.
Walking/Stretching Goals For This Year
- Get into some sort of stretching routine
- Fast walk a 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon
Garden
I ordered all my seeds and they should arrive in the next few days. I’m excited to try a bunch of new tomato varieties this year.
I was going through my tin of seed packets and found a few that were meant for the 2021 growing season. I should probably toss them but I’ll give them a try anyway.
It’s hard to believe that in just 8 weeks we’ll be outside working in the yard again. Especially with how cold it’s been lately. But that’s one of the things I love about Maine.
Real seasons!
Garden Goals For This Year
- Rework the driveway and garden areas
- Go crazy and plant a ridiculous amount of flowers
- Step out of my comfort zone and plant some flowers I’ve never planted before.
Paint
I’m currently working on my last Van Gogh paint by numbers kit. Once it’s done I’ll be able to hang all the Van Goghs up on the wall together.
It’s kind of silly but who cares.
I suppose once that’s done I should probably get back to finish painting the walls and trim around here. But that seems kind of boring and I don’t want to think about that right now.
Well, I hope you are doing well on the goals you set for yourself this year. Remember, they don’t all have to be done all at once.
I hope you have a wonderful day!
~Mavis
Painting Goals For This Year
- The Van Gogh wall
- The gallery wall down stairs
- The captains wall in the hall
- Trim and walls
How are YOU doing on YOUR goals so far this year? Curious minds want to know.
Have a great Monday everyone,
~Mavis
Jeanine says
Will you be putting your paintings in frames? Also, I know you are making your meals at the studio, but are you eating them there or in your home? With all the snow and staying in your PJ’s….don’t think going back and forth would be safe. Or is hubby keeping the pathway clear for you? Glad you only have a week to go with your challenge, so you can have tea and a sweet roll.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m eating at the studio, it’s just eaiser that way. Luckily my snow plow guy is keeping the path clear… So walking next door is easy.
Wendy C says
I really enjoy your goals post each week. After church yesterday, I had a pj day. It was very cold and rainy here in AL. I started a new to me Agatha Christie and wrapped in my soft blanket, it was a delightful afternoon.
Christa H. says
I think all of your gallery walls will look fabulous! Love the Van Gogh you are working on now. I will also plant some old seeds as I have a ton of packets.
Our local libraries have a seed section table with hundreds of organized seed packets that are 1+ years old from local stores that didn’t sell before the year was over or from people donating. All are free and you can take as many as you want. They ask you to donate any seeds you collect too from plants you grew. I grabbed a few new to me varieties to try.
Your snow looks lovely. We barely got any, but did get a bit of ice.
My goal is to cook more soups today and some banana bread and finish organizing paperwork. I’m at the bottom of my basket. Yeah.
Mavis Butterfield says
Our library had a basket of free seeds last summer {I grabbed some zucchini and squash seeds}. Hopefully they’ll have some this year too.
Elizabeth M. says
Your snow pictures look beautiful. We had what was, for us, a major winter storm that shut everything down, but our 2 inches of snow seem paltry compared to what you got! We don’t have snowplows here, though.
I stayed in my pajamas over the weekend and spent time reading and catching up on my shows. I’m doing pretty well on some of my goals for this year, which include trying new recipes, taking more walks (not this week though), and rereading old books. Others, I haven’t really started on yet, but there’s plenty of time.
Susan says
I wouldn’t say I set goals for the year, but did decide to participate in the UFO (unfinished objects) challenge at the local quilt shop. I made a list of projects I wanted to finish this year and only 4 of them were things that had already been started.
So far, I have finished 4 of the 12 (17 with the 5 extra credit ones on the list). Have started a 5th and when I get back home from a little winter vacation of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, will continue to work through the list.
And I was inspired by your use of lard and rendered tallow using beef fat from sirloin and ground beef. I’m looking forward to making some soap with the tallow. (I made a post about it on my blog)
suzanne says
I’m in the middle of a whole house purge and finished the bathroom yesterday. I asked husband to go through his vanity drawers. He pulled out a rather large assortment of electric grooming devices, many broken or replaced with newer models. I needed to go back through the vanity and find the plugs to these devices. I’m not complaining as I can’t remember the last time I had to gas my car. My question is why would a sane man put a broken nose trimmer back in a cabinet and not in the trash can directly at his feet? I mean that doesn’t even involve opening a drawer.
Ashley B says
In the last few months I’ve cleaned out my bathroom closet and my junk drawer in the kitchen. The kitchen junk drawer was an exercise in….something. I found keys for a heay duty lock I was about to throw away, the keys to a bike lock that had been stuck on my son’s bike for years, and extra keys to my house!!! I also found extra batteries for my car remote, which I promptly changed. And my favorite flash light I never use becuase the batteries are weird, I’ve almost identified them to buy replacements. Deep cleaning is so strange and tedious. I should really reclean and throwout more stuff soon. (laughing at mysef)
maureen detmer says
wondering if you have that little heart rug in a kit… i did a quick check of your etsy shop but didn’t see it, i would love to get one, many thanks, maureen
Mavis Butterfield says
Once I get it finished, I’ll add it. Hopefully this coming weekend. 🙂
Mel says
I’m doing shockingly well on my goals for healthy eating, hydration, and cooking/baking more. I’ve even managed to get about 30 healthy freezer meals done, including some new ones.
I’m starting to think a bit about Easter for my goal of celebrating holidays more, and I also have a big Christmas project in the works.
Mavis Butterfield says
Well done Mel!!
Mel says
Thanks!
Sue S. says
We got about a foot here on the Cape. It wasn’t the lightest snow to have to dig out that’s for sure. Yesterday I made the pork chop/apple pie crockpot dinner. So, so easy! Thank you for the recipe. Today my crock pot is crushing some chili. Spring is just one day closer, and ????snowstorms closer. GO PAT’S.
Natasha says
As a librarian in a small town in Canada, we are busier than ever with people wanting physical books. And book sales are up this year too. I think physical things are going to be around for a long time.
Mavis Butterfield says
That is good to hear!!!
Elizabeth E says
I really enjoy your cooking ideas!! Even though I have many allergies, there are always ideas one can use! Thank you!! I use my bit-out-of-date yogurts to bake with, especially banana zucchini bread which has become a great family favorite this past year. I am still experimenting with the various glutenfree flours I must use…but all has been well received. Hubby eats Almond Milk yogurt as it is easier on him. So that is what I use to bake with…but I do not like the flavor of yogurt, except in baking. I wish we were younger and could do many of the things you and your Hubby do…good for you doing them while you can!! Old age catches us way sooner than expected we have found. (Well, covid was not nice and neither was what happened to Hubby when he took CIPRO either).
Julie says
I hope you got your 18-24”!! We were only supposed to get 2-4 and we barely got 1! 🙁 I love that you’re doing the whole less screen time thing/back to basics thing! It must be a “thing”! I just published my first book on Amazon- Living Life Softly – it’s along those same lines….just stepping back from this rat race. Even if it’s just a teensy step at a time!
Mavis Butterfield says
Congratulations Julie! I agree, one step at a time.
Kirsty says
Expected top today of 45 C ( 113F ) on bushfire alert, with no rain recently or expected
Please send your snow, all of it. We won’t mind