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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:
mamakoukla · 29/04/2021 21:30

Oh gosh.... mine today wasn’t what I had hoped to achieve so will defer that to tomorrow. But I did make chicken stock so there is a carcass-shaped void in my freezer now. Cool, refrigerate and will skim off the fat tomorrow once it has solidified. Soup to be prepped and more freezer space always a bonus

Lamentations · 29/04/2021 22:13

Thanks to this thread I've cleaned the plaster and paint off all my light switches, got the DC to write some horribly overdue thank you cards and started filling and sanding my woodwork ready for repainting. I also need to repot my first ever real Christmas tree into a large terracotta pot to go outside the front door. I wasn't sure it would survive in its little bucket as it wasn't sold with a rootball but it has so I'm going to give it a go and then hopefully I can put some outside lights in it this Christmas.

2020nymph · 29/04/2021 22:19

I cleared out another bag and a shelf.

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 30/04/2021 05:49

Thanks @17bluebirds

I am taking an annual leave day today and need to attack my serious ironing pile. Not a great way to spend an AL day, but needs must!

I plan to watch the Downton Abbey movie while doing so, but tbh the pile is so big I probably need the entire Downton abbey series!

OP posts:
DownUdderer · 30/04/2021 07:35

I looked at the curtain fabric I had wanted to look at. Tomorrow I think I'll go back and look again and really think about buying it. I'd better double check my measurements! I'm going to buy velvet and make a pair of curtains. The fabric today was much nicer than I'd anticipated, what a nice surprise.

ChaToilLeam · 30/04/2021 07:40

This thread is a great idea! I’ll join you!

Today I want to plant out a couple of herbs in pots that I bought, and find a place for some glasses we were given.

Tomorrow (gulp) I will clean the oven.

BeautifulandWilfulandDead · 30/04/2021 07:45

@BlueLobelia I don't iron anything - what on Earth is in your pile? Confused

Fnib · 30/04/2021 07:46

@BlueLobelia think very hard about what you actually need to iron. Or at least find something really good to watch or listen to!
I just cleared and cleaned my kitchen window sill. Ridiculously pleased with my head start on the day!

RunningKatie · 30/04/2021 09:13

I thought I'd done nothing yesterday and was feeling quite low. Then I realised - I had my smear test, I did a 15 min meditation, arranged another kitchen design appointment and helped with baking over zoom.
I didn't get my kitchen completely cleaned but I have another kitchen person coming at 4 so will get that done before then.
This morning I have already wiped a random mark off the wall, I only see it when going upstairs but it is done - hurrah!!!

cheeseychovolate · 30/04/2021 09:27

Today I'm going to B and Q to buy the paint and everything else needed to spruce up my front door.

Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 30/04/2021 09:35

Today I will take a bagful of old clothes to the clothes bank.

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 30/04/2021 09:50

[quote BeautifulandWilfulandDead]@BlueLobelia I don't iron anything - what on Earth is in your pile? Confused[/quote]
It's half ironing pile and half sorting out and putting away pile really.

Truth is I do not mind ironing. I find it a bit meditational. [needs a hobby fast] Grin

OP posts:
rosegoldwatcher · 30/04/2021 10:05

@DownUdderer

I looked at the curtain fabric I had wanted to look at. Tomorrow I think I'll go back and look again and really think about buying it. I'd better double check my measurements! I'm going to buy velvet and make a pair of curtains. The fabric today was much nicer than I'd anticipated, what a nice surprise.
I don't know how wide you want to make your curtain panels but, as velvet is so horrid to sew to itself, some fabric ranges make double width velvet, 300cm wide. I can recommend Designers Guild Trentino.

Their Velluto, also double width is sold at John Lewis in 50 colours.

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 30/04/2021 13:04

Thanks to another thread I have just bought an adult scooter! Both my boys love scooting and I just waddle along behind them in my slow way. So I can join in. :) The sccoter takes weights up to 100kg so I should be right, and with any sort of luck it might get me out and a bit more active!

OP posts:
Itsmemaggie · 30/04/2021 13:25

Cheekily book marking for Monday as this looks like just the kind of thing I need in my life at the moment.

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 30/04/2021 13:30

Welcome!

OP posts:
LlamaGiles · 30/04/2021 14:01

Exhausted by work + toddler so I've just purchased a bay tree online for the large pot in our garden and that's it for today!

2020nymph · 30/04/2021 14:14

@LlamaGiles

Exhausted by work + toddler so I've just purchased a bay tree online for the large pot in our garden and that's it for today!

Same. A bay tree sounds lovely.

Toddler and I have painted the last flower pot. Tomorrow's job is to varnish them.

We've also squashed down all the cardboard boxes and put them in the recycling bin.

drspouse · 30/04/2021 14:45

It's a bills and phone calls day, around exercise. Paid the CM and the cleaner, called someone about mental health help around my DS needs and am now holding on the phone to the GP.

TenCornMaidens · 30/04/2021 15:21

I spoke to the kitchen designer AND delivered some leaflets for a local political party. Having a cuppa as a reward. Will make up dd's bed after this and try to crack through a few emails (loathe).

TheHoneyBadger · 30/04/2021 16:06

Hectic day at work today so I feel like just giving myself a tick for that.

What I'd like to achieve tomorrow is properly tidying and cleaning my bedroom and putting a rocket up ds to do his too.

mathanxiety · 30/04/2021 16:28

Planting some seeds in a big pot on my sunny deck today, a bit late for it but heyho. Also repotting a straggly basil plant that I bought a few days ago and almost killed already (forgot to water it).

Lamentations · 30/04/2021 17:18

I've potted the Christmas tree!

Cooking. On. Gas.

17bluebirds · 30/04/2021 17:53

Mended some lose door hinges and scrubbed all the tea stains off the mugs. Both were jobs that I've been meaning to do for ages.
So I feel like I've achieved some good things today.

Sparklynewname · 30/04/2021 18:43

DH and I have finished in the downstairs loo for now. Unit is back, new toilet seat is on, blind is rehung and thankfully goes with the paint colour. We have properly cleaned the light that is in there too.