I am beginning to think I could benefit from some sort of daily stretching exercises because just about every day when I get up, my muscles are all stiff and I feel like an old lady for a minute or two after getting out of bed.
You would think will all the antioxidants I’m getting from fruit pies and beans these days, I wouldn’t have this problem. But I do. Also, does anyone else see a smiley face in the pie photo above? Two eyes, with a crease above the eyebrows and a big open mouth…. Hello… please have another slice… fruit it good for you. 🙂
Weigh What I Weighed When We Got Married {128 pounds}
Weigh-ins are the first Sunday of each month.
- 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
Not a single project stands out for this past week but hey, when I look out the window the grass is cut and the feeders are full so life is good.
The HH’s Honey Do List {so far} for 2021
- 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
A dinghy- Archery Set {every camp should have archery!}
Kitchen table and chairsSideboardBench 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}
The only plugging in I did this week was to check in with you. 🙂 Oh, and I watched a movie or two.
Unplugging is cool….
- Goodbye Facebook
- 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} {18 down, 6 to go!}
Lately I’ve been dreaming about winter and the cooler temps and all the delicious warm comfort foods I’ll get to make like these creamy scalloped potatoes with ham.
New recipes I’ve made this year:
- Banoffee Pie
- Chicken Salad with Costco Canned Chicken
- Classic Strawberry Jam Recipe
- Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Rhubarb Pineapple Pie
- Creamy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
- Chicken and Green Bean Casserole
- Chocolate Chip Sea Salt Cookies
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Apples
- White Beans and Ham
- Colcannon
- Tuna Wiggle
- Grilled Steak Tips with Garlic Butter
- Seville Orange Marmalade
- Jalapeno Cheddar No Knead Dutch Oven Bread
- Hearty Cheeseburger Soup
- Meatballs and Brown Gravy
Read {or Listen to} 12 New Books about Maine {or written by Maine Authors}
I finished Here On The Island by Charles Pratt. Also, we went to the library a few days ago and I picked up The Lobster Coast by Collin Woodard {I haven’t started it yet}, The Lady in the Van {AWESOME} and Life of Pi. I have no idea what the Life of Pi is about but my friend JJ suggested I read it after I mentioned I still wanted to live on an island. I plan to listen to it this week while I’m hooking.
Books about Maine {or written by Maine authors} I’ve read this year:
- Christina Olson Her World Beyond the Canvas
- Andrew Wyeth: A Secret Life
- Finding Freedom
- Maine’s Favorite Birds
- At First Light: Two Centuries of Maine Artists, Their Homes and Studios
- Bernard Langlais at the Colby College Museum of Art
- The 3,000 Mile Garden
- Becoming Teddy Roosevelt
- Here On The Island
Audiobooks I’ve listened to {or attempted to listen to} this year:
- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah {I give it a 10/10}
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig {I’d give it a 7/10}
- Wintering by Katherine May {Hit the return button after 7 minutes}
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 located in the small town of Damariscotta, Maine and is only open a few months out of the year… so I will have to be super diligent if I’m going to try everything before the bakery closes shop at the end of summer.
We didn’t make it to the bakery this week, but we are looking forward to stopping by again in a few days.
Items I’ve Tried From Head Tide Oven in Damariscotta, Maine this summer:
- Dark Rye Sourdough Bread
- Light Rye Sourdough Bread
- Sourdough Kalamata Olive Bread
- Sourdough Bread
- Flat Sourdough Bread
- Baguette
- Ginger Cookie x2
- Swedish Cookie
- Almond Bar
- Anise Sesame Biscotti
- Pan Forte x2
- Chocolate Cake with a chocolate ganache
- Lemon Thyme Pie x2
- Blueberry Pie
- Cherry Pie
- Cherry Rhubarb Pie
Get the Photos on My Phone Down to Less Than 1,000 {started the year with 2863 photos}
Nothing to see here, just a few guys headed out to their lobster boat in the rain… no big deal. 🙂
Also, take a good look at the dinghy’s tied up at the dock. Notice anything similar about what’s inside them?
They all have an old cut up bleach or vinegar bottle. I thought that was both clever and funny. Clearly, they’re not worried about getting a little water in their boats.
*I deleted over 300 photos on my phone this past week and am down to 1577 photos! I don’t know if I’ve ever had that few on my phone before.
Clean Out My Closet
Working on it.
My House Projects For This Year
I wasn’t planning on painting the house this year, but hey, I’m about 45% done and am currently working on painting the trim around the garage doors. After that, move on to the back of the house.
- Figure out new window treatments for the back of the house
- Come up with a game plan for the kitchen remodel {for 2022}
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 barnand add a new fixturePaint the hallway bathroom{DONE!}
My List of Garden Projects For This Year I want to Accomplish
Current garden projects include building a lasagna garden, weeding, planting new seeds and ordering new squash varieties to grow for next year {which include the Long Island Cheese squash}.
Still left on the list:
Install a simple flower bed border in front of the house{Done}- Star 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 {fall project}
- 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 {Why 2,500? It seemed like a good number to start with}
Reach 10,000 Sales on Etsy {as of this morning I’ve made 7933 sales on Etsy}. Only 2067 to go!
Last night I listed a bunch of new wool bundles on Etsy and have been keeping busy drawing out patterns and putting kits together.
Create 12 New Rug Hooking Patterns or Kits {5 down 7 to go}
I’ve also been spending my evenings hooking again and nearly finished an entire turkey rug this week! It’s not one of my patterns, but one I wanted to include with my next finished rugs update that will be sometime in mid-august.
New Rug Hooking Kits I’ve Created This Year:
- Cape Cod 1829 New England Whale and Sailboat
- Nantucket Whale
- 1820 Flower Basket
- Bunny Love
- Old Mr. Squirrel
Create 12 New Ornaments for 2021
I didn’t add any new ornaments this week but I’ve been busy with trying to fill the kiln with hearts and whales so I can fire it up again.
2021 Ornaments I’ve Made So Far
- #1 Ladybug Heart
- #2 Strawberry
- #3 Mr. Turkey
- #4 Whale Tails
- #5 Bee Skep
- #6 Loon
- #7 Simple White Cross
- #8 Miniature Candy Canes
- #9 Miniature Red Mittens
- #10 Sgraffito Owl
- #11 Penguin
2021 Garlands I’ve Made So Far
Discover 12 Made in Maine Products and Share Them on the Blog
Part of me feels like I am slacking a little with this goal, but the other part of me knows I’m holding back a wee bit because I plan on doing a few “Maine” giveaways later this year and don’t want to spoil the surprise. 🙂
Made in Maine Products I’ve Discovered in 2021:
- Hearth and Harrow Tea Towels in Rockport, Maine
- Royal Rose Syrups in Newcastle, Maine
- Ash Cove Pottery in Harpswell, Maine
- Uncas Farms Pure Maple Syrup
2 down, 4 to go!
Lighthouse adventures have been put on hold until the fall {when tourist season is over} and that’s fine by me. 🙂
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:
- The Farnsworth Art Museum
- Owls Head General Store
- Hedgerow Market in Martinsville, Maine
- Longfellow’s Greenhouses and Nursery in Manchester, Maine
- Fresh Off The Farm in Rockport, Maine
- Wasses Hot Dogs in Rockland, Maine
- Langlais Sculpture Preserve – Cushing, Maine
- McLoons Lobster Shack
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
Mel says
I suddenly realized I needed to buy some summer work clothes, so I spent the past few days working on that. That’s been expensive and annoying, but I’ve worked from home the past two Augusts (one due to an office move and one due to the pandemic), so I really needed something besides running shorts for when I go back to work next week.
My goal for this week involves trapping one of two stray cats in our yard and getting her to the vet for vaccinations, etc. The vet is an hour away, and there’s only a half hour window to drop the cat off, so I’m not sure how that’s going to go (wish me luck!). If all goes well this week, we’ll do the same thing with the other stray next week.
In an odd coincidence, I’ve actually circled back to an early 2020 goal. I’ve been sewing pencil pouches to use for a giveaway for students at the school where I work this Fall. I had started that in early 2020 but had to switch gears in April of that year to start sewing face masks. I’ve made 86 pouches in the past few weeks, and I’m shooting for about 14 more before students return. I have the fabric cut, so I just need to assemble them.
Mavis Butterfield says
Love the pencil pouch giveaway idea! Good luck with the cat. 🙂
Diane says
Can you tell me the name of those shoes? I vaguely remember you talking about them a long time ago. Just recently I decided it was time to retire my favorites, which aren’t being made any more.
Much thanks and have a good week.
Mavis Butterfield says
Duckfeet. They typically have a 25% off sale around Thanksgiving.
Patty Mayyew says
Thank you, I hope they come in wide sizes. I have neuropathy and have been trying to come up with shoes I can wear outside that are comfortable on my feet.
ML says
I had shoes like that back in the 70’s. They were Earth shoes.
Rebecca in MD says
Your sore muscles are not old lady related. It is because you do more in a day than the rest of us can get done in a week!
My goals for this week are to make some pizza sauce to freeze from my garden tomatoes, can some bread and butter pickles, and start sowing my fall garden. The tomatoes and cucumbers are coming on strong now, but we desperately need some rain here, so I have to keep up with watering the vegetables.
Caitlin says
Oh I love long island cheese- I planted those last year and they did fantastic here in Idaho. Speckled Hound, Jarrahdale, White flat stackers, Marina Di Chioggiaj, Porcelain Doll, and Long Island Cheese are what I’ve planted this year. I’d really recommend the Jarrahdale for an unique pumpkin that is so gorgeous!
Wendy says
I agree with Rebecca in MD-you earned that soreness girl! Your energy is amazing.
Lisa says
I felt the same way a few years back when getting out of bed. A friend suggested the My Pillow mattress topper. My husband and I along with our three boys (26/24/20) all sleep on one and absolutely love them! I no longer get up in the morning stiff with sore hips walking like an old lady (I’m 54, active and healthy) 🙂
RobininSoCal says
Maybe consider getting some resistance bands to work in a stretching routine a few times a week. As we ladies get older we need to ensure we are doing some weight bearing exercise to keep our bones strong, regular stretching and epsom salts baths keep me from feeling sore. You live in an idyllic setting. It’s just spectacular.
Marcia says
Ok I know I am weird, but I love those brown shoes. Where are they from :)?
Mavis Butterfield says
Duckfeet. They typically have a 25% off sale around Thanksgiving.
ecoteri says
After you read (listen to) the Life of Pi, you might enjoy a book recommended by someone on a frugal things blog. It is hard to come by but my library had it in both ebook and print for loans, and I got the ebook and devoured it in one longish sitting (talk about aching bones!!!).
The elephants in my backyard : a memoir / Rajiv Surendra
Rajiv is a young actor (and many other things) based in Toronto, the memoir is his story of preparing to act in the movie “The life of Pi”. It is a enveloping read, well worth the time, if you can find it.
Kim says
I never would have dreamed you could stack items in your kiln. I suppose I thought they would stick together. Interesting…..
Mavis Butterfield says
The first firing is called a bisque firing and you can stack those. The second firing is a glaze firing and you cannot stack those or the pieces will stick together {and make a huge mess in the kiln}.
LaToya says
That pie is Deena from the Muppets!
https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Deena
Laura says
I too get stiff in the mornings so I try and do “Classical Stretch” with Miranda Esmond White. I have a couple of her dvds but she is on public television twice a day so I record them. Best stretching program ever! I just need to do it daily, which would be easy as it’s only 20 minutes or so.