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Original poster

'One project a day' thread

975 replies

BlueLobelia · 18/04/2021 12:51

... many years ago when i was first on MN I started (or maybe just actively participated in, cannot quite recall) a one (house) project a day. It made the most profound difference to my home. The project could be time consuming or not. It could take seconds, minutes or hours. I recall things like changing the lightbulb and lampshade in a hallway table lamp for example as a single day project. One day i also threw away holey and raggedy cushion covers and bought news ones. Little things, that really mattered.

If anyone is interested I wish to start another thread.

Today, as my one project a day, I cleared out my dehydrated and weed-ridden window boxes (2 of them). I put new compost in them and planted them with lobelia (obviously!); red geraniums and some dianthus. I am happy looking out (and in!) my front windows now. :)

OP posts:
HoxtonBonnet · 23/04/2021 07:51

This thread is such a great idea!

I have had quite a bad period of depression over the last few months. I kept on top more or less of basic cleaning but I feel like the house is beginning to fall apart - so many jobs have accumulated. I also have a massive list of admin tasks that need doing and feel a bit overwhelmed by it all.

Yesterday, I ended up accidentally clearing my bureau - I was trying to complete an admin task but couldn't find the documents I needed amongst the mess!

Today I am going to clean the glass in my kitchen door.

RunningKatie · 23/04/2021 07:53

Realised I tried to do too much yesterday. So two phone calls made but I didn't clear the dining table.
That is todays job now, and I still need to clean the lights in the hall and downstairs loo.

mogloveseggs · 23/04/2021 07:56

I didn't get yesterday's done but it's only a ten minute job so today I am going to shift the stains on the stairs then plant the violas I bought last week and give everything a good watering

Tyredofallthis1 · 23/04/2021 10:02

Thank you again for the thread. Today I'm continuing with the dining room. As that's a large project (for me), I'm also slipping in one smaller project, which is to find all the different seeds in the house with a view to getting them planted over the next week or two.

ImFree2doasiwant · 23/04/2021 11:43

I managed yesterday's one thing, to clear the kitchen side. I also gave away some stuff on Olio, collected today!

Today's 1 thing - sew the bit back on the cushion that has been needing doing for a year....

BeautifulandWilfulandDead · 23/04/2021 12:20

I won't be stripping wallpaper today as I've ended up with something to sort at work, but in the spirit of 'do one thing' I've filled a couple of holes that have been bothering me for a while.

farfromthenoise · 23/04/2021 15:56

Another busy day so I set only a small task-cleaned the back door (not a euphemism).

Catname · 23/04/2021 18:22

My projects today were in the garden. I repotted a new plant and split an old Iris into 8 new plants, plus I pulled up about 200 (conservatively) Sycamore seedlings. I don't know what has caused the explosion of Sycamore seedlings this year but I've spent several hours over the last few weeks pulling them up before they develop true leaves. Part of the reason for cutting the grass at a lower height is to cut them off but the ones in the border I've got to do myself.

2020nymph · 23/04/2021 18:29

I've cleaned out the junk drawer which took nearly an hour as during their rummaging the boys had upended the safety pins, normal pins, drawing pins and paperclips. Took so long to sort out as they were mixed together but it was worth it. Also I couldn't find paperclips a few weeks ago so they were on my list to buy so I can cross that off. Wink

I've emailed a drycleaners that does repairs to see how much it would be to clean my winter coat and fix the hem that's starting to unravel. Also emailed the pottery painting place we visited in October half term, due to lockdown we haven't been able to collect our pottery but they have a delivery service now for a fee so I've made enquires how to book it. You can click a ten minute slot for collection but it's not the easiest to get to and parking is a nightmare so trying to get there in that window would be so stressful.

Chunkymonkey123 · 23/04/2021 18:37

Well done everyone!
I did more painting today, it only took 20 minutes so I should do something else as well but drinking wine instead.

Sparklynewname · 23/04/2021 19:06

DH has just gone to screwfix to buy a new sink waste as the sink is leaking since it was put back together.
I need to do watering and really need to pot the plants!

babypinkelephant · 23/04/2021 19:08

My projects for today were

  1. Water wildflower garden
  2. Put up my bird feeders the cries knocked off
  3. Paint my toe nails (bit of self care project
Original poster
BlueLobelia · 23/04/2021 19:14

I have started planning a bug hotel. Near the formentioned compost heap (that the badgers have taken over) I was thinking of making a proper bug hotel and hedgehoggery. The space available has the footprint of a double sofa and can be about 4 feet high so I think there are great possibilities. I also want to put down some corregated iron as I would dearly love to encourage slow worms and grass snakes in the summer as well.

OP posts:
rosegoldwatcher · 23/04/2021 21:35

Sanded and primed the final 3 frames - there are no more pine picture/photo frames chez rosegold.

Ordered a set of mounts - found them and did it, rather than put them in my wish/watch list and think about buying them for a month! Seize The Day!

LlamaGiles · 23/04/2021 22:11

Looking after my toddler all day so very little time but managed to clean down two doors whilst she napped.

LlamaofDrama · 23/04/2021 22:21

Joining late, love this idea. I usually keep a "5-15" list of jobs that take 5 - 15 minutes, for when I have time and feel motivated, but I've not even been motivated to write the list!

Tomorrow I will take back to the shop the bras I bought DD that don't fit her. On Sunday I will plant my sweet pea seeds. On Monday I will buy bedding plants so I can plant the summer bulbs that will go in the tubs with bedding. And then work on the next list.

Divineswirls · 23/04/2021 23:44

I had such a productive day In the garden. I was swinging away in the swing seat looking at my forlorn and neglected patio. I started to remove a few weeds, then removed all the weeds. Also got rid of lots stuff that was lurking about in dark damp corners uncovering snails etc and removed many old 'just in case I need them' pots. Had to use dust pan brush to fill bin bags with all the dirt etc and sweep the patio. DD then joined in.

We then used all our excess compost to repot flowers in our favourite pots and sow some seeds. Took us about 4 hours. We cleared out and swept every inch. We are very proud of our joint effort.

Divineswirls · 23/04/2021 23:49

I know I wouldn't have tackled it so completely without this threads encouragement. So big thank you OP for getting me to move things that just disintegrated in my hands they'd been there so pointlessly long Shock

SwimmingOnEggshells · 23/04/2021 23:52

Ooo I like this.

Tomorrow I'm going to plant out the rest of my sweet pea. The day after I'm going to sow aubrieta seeds.

Allthefilmsarecrap · 23/04/2021 23:55

More chair painting done today. Just one more coat on this first one then three more to do.

We are getting our house ready to sell too so lots of little jobs needing done.

Tomorrow will be a Big Tidy Up day, another coat of paint on first chair and hopefully start painting my fence too.

DownUdderer · 24/04/2021 00:44

I put together my shoe rack, and put the shoes on it.

Next job will be to tidy the hallway.

Rainallnight · 24/04/2021 00:50

This is a great idea. I’m feeling overwhelmed

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 24/04/2021 06:28

@Divineswirls

I had such a productive day In the garden. I was swinging away in the swing seat looking at my forlorn and neglected patio. I started to remove a few weeds, then removed all the weeds. Also got rid of lots stuff that was lurking about in dark damp corners uncovering snails etc and removed many old 'just in case I need them' pots. Had to use dust pan brush to fill bin bags with all the dirt etc and sweep the patio. DD then joined in.

We then used all our excess compost to repot flowers in our favourite pots and sow some seeds. Took us about 4 hours. We cleared out and swept every inch. We are very proud of our joint effort.

Love this!
OP posts:
Original poster
BlueLobelia · 24/04/2021 06:30

@Divineswirls

I had such a productive day In the garden. I was swinging away in the swing seat looking at my forlorn and neglected patio. I started to remove a few weeds, then removed all the weeds. Also got rid of lots stuff that was lurking about in dark damp corners uncovering snails etc and removed many old 'just in case I need them' pots. Had to use dust pan brush to fill bin bags with all the dirt etc and sweep the patio. DD then joined in.

We then used all our excess compost to repot flowers in our favourite pots and sow some seeds. Took us about 4 hours. We cleared out and swept every inch. We are very proud of our joint effort.

I am so thrilled people are enjoying this idea. :)

DH brought home some marigolds he picked up at Aldi yesterday. I have 12. I have a few lurking pots and think I can pot them up and put them by the front door. I have never had alot of success with marigolds before, but we will see!

OP posts:
Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 24/04/2021 07:44

I did literally nothing yesterday. 🙁

Today I'm going to hand-shred all my old papers in my wfh area and give it a good tidy up, as I start a new job in May 🙂

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