Get Back To The Basics + Learning to Unplug
Last week I was barely on my computer. I popped on to share what I was up to on my trip and check emails but that was basically it.
It was awesome! I guess all that walking around NYC took up most of my time.
I spotted this cool phone at the museum of modern art and was tempted to buy it. But ultimately I brought home some freshly baked cookies instead.
Priorities. It’s all about priorities. 😉
In The Kitchen
One of my goals this year is to use up two bins of dried beans. So the plan for this week is to make a pot of split pea soup and a lentil salad. I already have a really good split pea soup recipe but I’ll be testing out a new lentil salad recipe.
I’ll let you know if it’s a winner. Stay tuned.
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
With all my wool dyeing done for the foreseeable future, now I have time to work on a few projects before gardening takes over every waking minute.
The past few days I’ve been working on a custom table runner. After that’s finished, I’ll start working on the large whale rug {and new pattern}I’ve been wanting to make for a while now.
Rug Hooking Goals For This Year
Finish drawing out all my patterns, making kits, dyeing wool by March 31st.- Release 10 new rug hooking patterns/kits. {3 down 7 to go}
- Hook 27 of the patterns from the “someday I’ll hook these” bin. {4 down 23 to go}
Go New Places – See New Things
Our trip to NYC was a big success. We had a blast!
We walked 100 miles {well, it felt like it anyway} saw a broadway show, went on a tour, enjoyed afternoon tea at The Plaza, visited a couple of museums, and ate some really good food.
What more could you ask for?
I have no idea when or where my next adventure will be.
But Jen did inform me that we are still on the wait list {rolled over from last year} for The Grand Canyon. I totally forgot about that! Maybe we’ll get in, maybe we won’t. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
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.
Places I’ve Been So Far This Year
- Boston {Birthday getaway}
- NYC
Walk And Stretch More
I think I nailed the walking goal last week.
Walking/Stretching Goals For This Year
- Get into some sort of stretching routine
- Fast walk a 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon {signed up for a half marathon}
Garden
The great garden clean up has begun. Yesterday was so nice and sunny, I cleaned up and weeded both the front and back beds and pruned the hydrangea plants.
The next big garden project {for the HH} is to dethatch the lawn. He bought a special rake to do this a few years ago and it goes pretty quick.
We noticed some crocus in a neighbors lawn yesterday while we were out for a walk and we’re thinking about planting some this fall. Have you ever planted crocus bulbs? Are they pretty easy to grow?
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
No painting this past week but the driveway is coming along. Just a few more rows to go and then the grading will begin on the front garden. Yee-Haw. It’s getting there! 🙂
We’re supposed to have a high of 58 degrees here in southern Maine today {holy cow!}.
Have a good one,
~Mavis
Painting Goals For This Year
- The Van Gogh wall
- The gallery wall down stairs
- The captains wall in the hall
- Trim and walls
Nancy Settel says
Good morning Mavis first off yes I have done crocous and they are so easy to grow and it just makes you smile everytime you look out your window and see them standing there blooming lway with no color hardly at all around they are great. The lentil salad is something I have been seeing all around and they are now using lentils everywhere. They are having a moment. I think I would love the salad. Also saw them used in tacos instead of ground meat. Of course right now I have a gazillion bags of beans but not one lentil. You sound so refreshed and ready to go after your fun get away.
Christie says
Awww, Lucy is the cutest!!
Christie says
Awww, Lucy is the cutest wrapped in her blanket!! My Lucy was sunbathing on the deck yesterday here in PA. She is so over winter and ready for the warm weather.
Deb from Ohio says
Welcome home, I’ll bet Lucy was overjoyed to see you! I enjoyed seeing all your trip photos. I can’t believe how much you walked. Def interested in the lentil salad recipe, if you like it
maureen detmer says
the puggels, catching some rays
Lesley says
Is the custom table runner for you, or do you do custom orders for clients? Cannot wait to see that driveway.
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s a custom table runner {huge!} for someone else. I am very selective about special orders and will typically only take them on if I have the time, have hooked the design before and enjoyed hooking the piece. 😉
Sam says
I’m itching to get out and rake but think we’ve got another week or so before it’s consistently warm enough to disrupt the winter sleep. I too need to get out and weed where I can like the hista bed and dead head the dry from last tears hydrangeas, crossing my fingers they grow back.
Jeanine says
Looks to me that Lucy has an electric blanket to keep her cozy. Just wondering…are old is Lucy now?
Mavis Butterfield says
There was a nip in the air… but she likes to be outside so we brought out her electric blanket. 13 1/2 years old!
Nancy D says
Gosh! 13 years! Time flies! I remember when you were anxious about being a new puppy mama! she was so adorable! (I think I recall an egg shaped bed?)
Toni Wood says
Crocus are a breeze to plant but sadly the squirrels think they have been planted for them. We finally had to give up.
Mavis Butterfield says
I was wondering about the squirrels. We don’t {knock on wood} seem to have a problem with them here.
Laura A says
There’s a waitlist for the Grand Canyon? Is that just in the summer or year round?
Ashley B says
What list are you on for the grand canyon? Is it for a certain tour company?
There’s a special all inclusive package in Vegas at Luxor and Excalibur right now. Could be fun! I’m eyeing it!
SueD says
Crocus are easy to plant, and are one of the first flowers in spring. Squirrels do like to dig them up, sometimes replanting them elsewhere in your lawn or flowerbed.
Judi Y. says
I LOVE that Lucy has an electric blanket! She is such a sweetheart!
Julie says
I LOVE crocus! We don’t have squirrels, so they mostly stay where we plant them, and delight us every February or so…even in zone 5!!! The deep purple are my favorite! Some say to plant them in your lawn, and while that is beautiful, you shouldn’t mow until the crocus greens die all the way back…and our lawn needs mowing long before they die and turn brown!!
Gigi says
I planted crocuses in the lawn. Just make sure the area has good drainage. If he also aerates, the resulting holes are about the size of a crocus bulb.
Kathy says
Crocus are so easy to grow, I forget I have them every year until I see them pop up in what feels like the dead of winter. Then I smile for days every time I see them. Its a reminder that nicer days are coming soon.
Stacey says
We planted crocus bulbs one year when we were still in Vermont, but only got to enjoy a few of the flowers the next spring. Apparently chipmunks love to eat the bulbs.