Get Back To The Basics + Learning to Unplug
And just like that, it’s summer. Everything in the garden is green and growing like mad and I couldn’t be happier. Staying unplugged and being outside is the best!
Remember those free trellises I found alongside the road a few weeks ago?
They were the perfect size for my snow peas {which only grow to about 28” tall}. These are going to look fantastic in another week or two as those tendrils reach the top of the trellis.
In The Kitchen
A kitchen? What’s a kitchen?
Yesterday we went out for smoothies and donuts and let’s just say I think I’ve had my fill of sugar for the week. 😉
Maybe someday I’ll want to do more than peel an avocado. Or eat beans. But maybe not. It’s hard to tell at this point.
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 {working on it}
Rug Hooking
My drawer runneth over. But my giant rug is almost done, so that’s good.
I had hoped to have it finished by the end of May, but I’ve been hanging out in the garden a lot lately and haven’t had a lot of extra time to hook.
The new goal is to have it done by Flag day.
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
I’ve been walking, but not enough. Lots of rain the past few days.
Also, Jen texted to tell me that if we get selected for the Grand Canyon trip there will be donkeys to carry our tents and stuff but we’ll still need to be able to carry 15-20 pounds on our back {down the canyon and back up again}.
Basically our water, snacks, toiletries and clothing. I told her I’m going to wear one set of clothes the entire trip and only pack a toothbrush.
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 {Girls getaway}
Walk And Stretch More
Look what I picked up for FREE on my walk yesterday! And it wasn’t even trash day.
Freebie season has begun I tell you. This is my second find in 3 weeks. The roadside treasures should really start to ramp up now that the weather is starting to warm up.
The HH isn’t as enthusiastic about the freebies so I need to take the bucket bike out more often and see what else I can find.
I’m really hoping to find a stash of terra cotta pots this summer. Or a firepit or more garden stuff.
Walking/Stretching Goals For This Year
- Get into some sort of stretching routine
- Fast walk a 5K, 10K, and
Half Marathon
Garden
The hydroseed is coming in! It’s still a bit patchy in spots but we just re-seeded again so it won’t be long now before we’ve got grass growing in all the right spots.
The tomato and pepper plants I started from seed survived the 30-40 MPH winds on Saturday. I was worried I’d lose a few but they seem to be doing okay. The leeks, radish, beets, carrots and turnips also seem to be doing well.
I ended up planting 32 tomato plants and 22 pepper plants. I’m working with new garden soil this year so we’ll see what happens. Once the fence gets installed up front I’ll be able to plant my chive and rhubarb borders.
Garden Goals For This Year
- Rework the driveway and garden areas {in progress}
- Go crazy and plant a ridiculous amount of flowers {working on it}
- Step out of my comfort zone and plant some flowers I’ve never planted before
Paint
I finally finished painting the front room. Hooray!
That means the next big project is to sand the oak floors. Which of course, isn’t the funnest thing to do but luckily the HH has sanded floors once before so hopefully everything will go okay.
Some areas of the floor were covered with carpet, some were not. I suppose it doesn’t matter though since the entire floor will have to get sanded. Fingers crossed that by this time next week we’ll be ready to apply the finish.
How about YOU? How are YOUR goals coming along?
~Mavis
Painting Goals For This Year
- The Van Gogh wall
- The gallery wall down stairs
- The captains wall in the hall
- Trim and walls







Paula says
We lost our sweet Beagle in February. One of our goals was to find a new member of the family. We adopted Muckity Muck, an adorable 2-3 year beagle girl. She was rescued by a rescue in NC when a family was going to shoot her for being sick. She was heart worm positive and had zero medical care her entire life. They spent 3 months getting her treated, shots, and spayed. We brought her home on Saturday. She goes to our vet for a double check today. Welcome home Muckity Muck!!
maureen detmer says
congratulations!, muckity muck has a good home, we used to have a hanky pank, gotta love them
Jessica says
Was Muckity Muck from Triangle Beagle Rescue? I love that rescue and beagles! I was going to rescue one from them but ended up rescuing my Sadie Lady from someone in Florida after my beagle boys passed. Beagles are just so darn cute!
suzanne says
Congratulations on the new family member.
Honeybee says
Muckity Muck is such a lucky girl! What a wonderful addition to your family.
Pam says
When we lived in SC, I was told that they don’t treat their dogs when they get sick, they just shoot them and get another one. I was told this by a dog lover and she seemed to have no issue with that attitude. I was horrified. Thank you for saving Mukity Mucks life.
Lana says
Ha! Friends came to visit and their teenaged boy had a toothbrush and a pair of underwear in his pocket for a three day visit.
Margo says
My garden is thriving and I’ve already picked and frozen plenty of green beans. I’ve started some dilly beans and some refrigerator pickles. Love the fresh produce! Can’t remember when the garden was so early in produce. Had a few tomatoes ripen as well. San Diego has turned back into “May Gray” now, so I expect a slow down, but it’s not over yet. Other goals are…..getting there but the gardening goal is right on target.
Susan Williams says
If you get permits for the Grand Canyon, I suggest finding a stair climber that you step on for hours at a time to train!! And being that you’re likely at sea level (as am I in the PNW), the South Rim is at about 7000 ft above sea level and the Phantom Ranch is still at about 2500 ft above sea level.
We did the South Rim last year with our hiking group (and I was training for hiking the Dolomites) and both days we were there, we only did about a 1.5 miles down and back up and IT WAS HARD!!!! It’s not only steep, but the elevation makes it 10x harder. You can absolutely do it, but just know it is nothing like Zion level of hard, its much harder!!
That said, what an incredible trip if you can get the permits!!!!
Sue S. says
I ask you…who puts carpet over beautiful oak floors? Good luck with that project and they’re going to be brautiful!! Garden sounds like it’s going great guns.