17 for 2017

Inspired by Wild Daffodil and others I decided that a list of intentions for this year would help accomplish them or at least order my thoughts.I am very optimistic about the coming year on a personal level – not letting the global perspective bring me down – as there are many options on the horizon. Most of the seeds were sown in previous years and just need some further nurturing to grow and some new ideas are looking to materialize. I tried to be realistic and not aim too low either. Interesting to see at the end of the year how much has been accomplished.

17. Sow and grow 17 different vegetables.   This one should be easy. I didn’t count what was grown last year, but it seems feasible.

16.Make 16 pots of jam or chutney. Most of these will be given away as presents.

15. Give away 15 home grown plants. Most likely these will be edible and will go to our local GIY group.

14. Have a stall at 14 markets. The Cottage Market in Headford will account for the bulk of this: Paddy’s Day and every First Saturday of the month there-after. The rest will be local craft-markets and seasonal market days.

13. Complete 13 basket orders. Before the summer starts I hope to have finished all the orders I have taken on so far.

12. Write at least one blog every month. Here’s the first one!

11. Bake 11 times. Cakes, breads, brownies, I like baking and sharing them.This accidentally landed at number 11, so here goes.

10. Enjoy 10 nights-out: concerts, plays, even dinner out counts. I have already enjoyed an information evening about Headford Lace and a celebration of ‘La Fheile Bhride’coming up. Need to get out more, but this one may be the easiest to fullfil.

9. Make 9 craftworks with non-willow materials: weaving with paper, crochet, knitting, anything goes.

8. Introduce the dog to 8 new experiences. The present dog is a rescue and afraid of anything new. I am guessing she had no socialisation when young. The car is scary, cows are scary, people are until you get to know them, etc. Short car-trips and visits nearby have already helped a bit. I intend to take her on walks a little further from home and maybe play in the water somewhere. Small steps.

7. Teach 7 workshops in Dunmore. These will be in Seomra Eile, on Saturdays and the schedule can be found elsewhere on this site. Very organised in this case!

6. Complete 6 items in a new ‘fashion range’: a combination of knitting and basketry, handbags with matching purses. To be ready for the christmas markets.

5. Complete 5 planned back-yard improvement projects. Put up a railing, add raised beds, replace the willow fence, improve chickencoop fence and move chickencoop door. There are ofcourse many more improvement ideas for front and back garden, but if these get done this year, there is some hope that the others will get done eventually too.

4. Find 4 new outlets: 2 new venues for  teaching workshops, and 2 more sales-outlets for baskets. Maybe this is a modest number?

3. Learn 3 new skills. Starting with a woodturning course….tomorrow! and maybe willow sculpture??? And what will the third one be??? Exciting!

2. Take two basketry courses. These are already booked: going to the ‘master’ Joe Hogan in March and my friend Amanda Rayner in Wales will teach how to make a coffin in November. Both are 4-day courses and feel like a treat to myself. I am tempted to extend the Wales trip by a few days…. we will see.

1. Make one big life change. Have I got your attention? This could be anything! But I am keeping this one under my hat for now. I can reveal more by the end of February, so that could be my next post!

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