Lots of stuff going on the last four weeks! I feel like I am making good progress on my goals, although the big stuff is going a little slow.
Home repairs professionally done – New kitchen countertops, rip out over-the-oven microwave and replace with new exhaust hood, trim all fruit trees and cut down all sumac in the hedgerow.
I am putting all of these repairs and projects on hold for now because we need to concentrate on getting the credit cards paid off. Some of these we will work on ourselves when we have time.
Home projects done by us – Paint all trim in kitchen, re-paint upper kitchen cabinets, paint ceiling and walls in hallway, finish painting and put up picket pallet fencing, finish painting master bedroom and hang mantle over bed, front porch stained or painted, new brick patio in the backyard.
I have been getting more info about how to install a small brick patio myself because I feel we can tackle that without professional help. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but I do want it to last. My husband and I have a difference in opinion on how to do it. We’ll see which opinion wins out.
We got over 400 bricks for free last year from a woman right in our town that just wanted to get rid of them. It took us two nights and two trailer loads but free is free, right?
Last Friday, I had our plow guy rototill the spot where we want to install the new patio, so hopefully, it will motivate us to get it finished.
Home projects done so far: Hang mantle over bed
Sewing projects – Finish Joyce’s Rose, New curtains for kitchen window, new seat cover for kitchen chair, new curtain over cat’s window seat, Christmas tree skirt, finish winter and summer season x-stitch projects
I purchased the new patterns for both the seat cover for my kitchen chair and the curtain over the cat’s window seat. I also have made good progress on the Summer House in the series I started years ago from Brooke’s Publishing. I have already completed the Spring and Autumn houses, so this will be my third in this series.
Read 30 books (It’s my goal every year)
I finished reading two books in the last 4 weeks.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, by Agatha Christie. It’s her first novel in the Poirot series, and I really enjoyed it. I have shied away from reading Christie in the past because I was overwhelmed by the number of her characters, but I did well reading this work of hers.
I read this Agatha Christie book because it was included in the quarterly subscription box I get from the Literary Book Club.
This book subscription helps you read the classics and makes it enjoyable.
Every three months, subscribers receive a box with the classic book and wrapped goodies to be opened at designated pages. It’s a lot of fun! Here is the link to the subscription: https://www.theliterarybookclub.com/
I also finished reading “Witch is When Stuff Got Serious”, by Adele Abbott. I needed a palate cleanser after the Agatha Christie novel.
Books read so far in 2024:
1. “Not Quite Prince Charming” by Liz Talley
2. “Buttercups in the Basement” by Jane Harvey
3. “Searching for Sandra” by Jane Harvey
4. “Christmas at Hummingbird House” by Jane Harvey
5. “Perfectly Charming” by Liz Talley
6. “Home for Christmas” by Lloyd C. Douglas
7. “Witch Is When I Said Goodbye” by Adele Abbott
8. “The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur”
9. “God Never Blinks by Regina Brett”
10. “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”, by Agatha Christie
11. “Witch is When Stuff Got Serious”, by Adele Abbott
That’s 11 books read. 19 to go.
Take at least 2 mini vacations and see my step-daughter’s new house in NC.
Nada on this.
Garden goals – raise 500 lbs of produce, new kitchen garden in front and new fruit garden in back, compost all dug and reset, raised bed garden re-imagined.
I have gotten quite a bit done on this goal! I picked a small amount of asparagus this morning as well as our first go at the rhubarb.
I replanted over 50 seedlings into their second home.
I planted peas and they are up, garlic is looking great.
I got the two new raised beds set in my new kitchen garden I just need to fill them and stone them in. I also want to brick in a raised bed up against the pallet fencing.
Exercise somehow every single day concentrating most on core and pelvic floor and mobility.
I have been really bad at this of course. I did exercise this morning but I have been getting most of my exercise done in the garden.
Get all of my Etsy listings listed by March 31st so I can enjoy my garden in the Spring and summer months.
I got 31 listings up in my Etsy shop in the last 4 weeks. One Saturday I spent four hours just photographing and all the rest of the weekend listing it all. I hope to have another weekend like that next weekend.
Explore the Western NY Antique Trail (Yes, there is such a thing).
Nothing more on this one.
Explore at least 3 local walking/biking trails.
After Little League is done and I have my husband back I will work on this goal.
Sell 300 listings on Etsy this year.
I sold 17 listings in the past few weeks! 96 down, 204 to go!
Church goals – Six thrift sales this year, Work on baptism records and historical info, work on getting our church info out there for weddings, one historical themed event/fundraiser this year.
Our next thrift sale is June 8th!
Pay off one of the two credit cards.
There’s nothing new on this.
Welp, that’s it for now. I wish I could accomplish more but hey, what I have done so far is pretty great! Do you have a yearly goal list? Any major projects in the works for you this year? Do tell! -MM
P.s. if you would like to check out my Etsy shop here is the link https://redmillvintageandnew.etsy.com
The Professional Domestic 