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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. :)

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Sparklynewname · 15/05/2021 21:31

I have cleared out the cupboard under the stairs and rearranged things so there is floor space.
Piano has gone under the spare bed (it folds flat lol). Cubs stuff in hallway to hand over tomorrow to my replacement and then more clearing can be done in dining room.

Iceisnice · 15/05/2021 21:52

Helped DH organise some books he uses for reference to go into the loft.....I have never once know him to use these books but he been told that we must keep them. 2x big boxes to go into loft tomorrow. I also partly organised the cupboard under the kitchen sink with the boxes i covered yesterday. Most of my paint charts have been delivered and am hoping to devise plan for the colours I choose next week. Tomorrow's jobs will include grocery shopping for a few bits to tide us over until Wednesday and gathering stuff for a tip run - possibly on Monday.

mathanxiety · 15/05/2021 22:59

@Devlesko, have you looked at any Ted talks on overcoming procrastination? There are lots on YouTube.

2020nymph · 15/05/2021 23:14

9 plants have been potted and placed in their new homes.

Fnib · 16/05/2021 07:32

I just de-cobwebbed my kitchen. I've also looked at the cupboard under my sink. I really am going to have to do something about it today.
I'm also going to paint my toenails I think.

Fnib · 16/05/2021 07:34

I really enjoy reading this thread. It's lovely to have a little snapshot of the lives of others.
@BlueLobelia please start another thread when we've filled this one Flowers
Wishing you all a lovely Sunday BrewCake

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 16/05/2021 08:09

Morning! I am quite excited that this may well go to two threads. :)

I have been a bit hit or miss lately on my projects but will take inspiration from @Iceisnice as i have alot of text books from when I did a degree a few years back that are still in the dining room. I was reluctant to throw them, but really have no use for them, and they are out of date now so useless to sell. (I should chuck them, really). I will collect them together and take stock. They can go to the loft (the black hole) or something else.....

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Original poster
BlueLobelia · 16/05/2021 08:10

@Fnib

I really enjoy reading this thread. It's lovely to have a little snapshot of the lives of others. *@BlueLobelia* please start another thread when we've filled this one Flowers Wishing you all a lovely Sunday BrewCake
Wishing you a lovely Sunday also, @Fnib Thanks :)
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Original poster
BlueLobelia · 16/05/2021 08:12

@Fnib

I have made a big vat of vegetable soup so nothing has been wasted, and a chicken stew that means dinner is covered on my longer work days. Dining room window has been cleaned. I've had a lovely afternoon listening to an audio book and looking at the garden through my newly cleaned window. Happy days Smile
Oh! What book (if you are hapopy to hsrae!) I adore audio books.... I am thinking about subscribing to amazon audible (not least because it will make some of the dodgy offerings at my bookclub more palatable...) - that might be this week. I have been thinking about it for a while.
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Original poster
BlueLobelia · 16/05/2021 08:18

*happy to share that was. I got so excited my fingers typed too fast Hmm

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SpeckledyHen · 16/05/2021 08:21

I’m going to make some yogurt, enough to last the week.

Fnib · 16/05/2021 08:58

@BlueLobelia I use audible which gives me one credit each month. It feels worth it to me. I rarely buy more than one a month. My tastes are varied but I'm currently listening to The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
I prefer books that are read by the author if possible.

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 16/05/2021 09:11

[quote Fnib]@BlueLobelia I use audible which gives me one credit each month. It feels worth it to me. I rarely buy more than one a month. My tastes are varied but I'm currently listening to The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
I prefer books that are read by the author if possible.[/quote]
Thanks. :) I think you have helped me make my mind up. :) I have been dithering, but not entirely sure why. The Kite Runner is on our list for the bookclub this year! Currently we are on The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver and I am struggling with it, although generally I do enjoy Barbara Kingsolver.

Thanks
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SydneyCarton · 16/05/2021 09:20

No project yesterday as we went to see my parents for the first time in nine months, which was lovely. It did produce a project for Monday though, which is to go through and restock the bag of nappies, wipes, spare knickers, non-perishable snacks etc which is part and parcel of journeys with small children.

I ended up falling off the bathroom cleaning wagon a bit last week as I didn’t do the floor on Friday. It’s had a quick hoover and sweep but really needs a mop as well. That said, the sink, toilet, windowsills, bath and shower screen are all looking good, and I did declutter and tidy the box of spare toiletries on Friday, so overall I’m pretty pleased with the bathroom at the moment. Funnily enough I’m also looking for a new bath mat so I’m following Divineswirls quest with interest Grin

Just two mini projects today; have descaled the kettle with lemon juice, and have a couple of mugs and a handful of teaspoons soaking with a few denture tablets to get rid of the tea stains....

SydneyCarton · 16/05/2021 09:22

BlueLobelia If your library supports the Libby app you can borrow audiobooks and ebook on your library card. I love it.

Fnib · 16/05/2021 10:26

I read The Poisonwood Bible @BlueLobelia but nothing else of hers.
That sounds interesting @SydneyCarton. Worth looking into before splashing out.

Just a quick MN peep and now back to my cupboard!

Joonio · 16/05/2021 10:32

I aim to wash the floor and bathmats and clear a garden space for some extra plants.

AllotmentTime · 16/05/2021 11:36

I’ve been lurking on here but you lots are going to be on to a new thread without me ever joining in if I’m not careful....
Today’s project: take the coats that aren’t used off the coat hooks, so that were not playing Coat Jenga every time we try to hang/balance one on there!

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 16/05/2021 11:37

@AllotmentTime

I’ve been lurking on here but you lots are going to be on to a new thread without me ever joining in if I’m not careful.... Today’s project: take the coats that aren’t used off the coat hooks, so that were not playing Coat Jenga every time we try to hang/balance one on there!
Welcome. :)
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AllotmentTime · 16/05/2021 12:32

I’m also looking for a bath mat like that @Divineswirls! Will post on here if I see anything...

Fnib · 16/05/2021 13:00

My sink cupboard was not as bad as it could have been, given that the newspaper I lined the base with was dated July 2018! We've managed to acquire 4 bottles of washing up liquid and but other than that it seemed more crowded than it was because things had fallen over. So the cupboard and it's contents have had a wipe down and freshly laid newspaper. And I swept and mopped the floor.
We will need to do something about kitchen at some stage. We don't have the thousands to do a whole new kitchen but replacements of bits of it will be necessary. It was fairly cheaply put in as council house about 25 years ago.
Has anyone here done a kitchen refurb in fits and starts? Don't want to do it on finance, ideally.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 16/05/2021 13:17

Bookmarking because this is a bloody brilliant idea and I have a very long list of projects.

AlohaMolly · 16/05/2021 13:33

Please could I join? I’ve skim read the thread and it’s exactly what I need. I only work two days a week atm and DS is in school so I feel like I should be on top of everything, but I’m not! I’m also the heaviest I’ve ever been and completely lacking in confidence to do anything physical because my knee dislocated itself for no reason about six weeks ago. It’s healing fine but I’m really paranoid!

I’ve also taken an allotment on, supposedly with a friend but I have seen hide nor hair of her up there Grin which is fine by me as I’m loving it but it’s over 200 sq foot (metres?) so quite daunting!

I also need to get a new job. I taught primary before DS, and have been doing admin for three years and it’s finally doing my head in. I want to go back to term time only and earning more money (on circa £10k a year currently) and restart my pension. I rejoined the teaching regulatory body this weekend and it feels like a big step.

Today’s project is get on top of the laundry, including putting it in its rightful home instead of leaving the clean, folded stuff on an array of upstairs surfaces Blush also make some thank you cards with DS for last weeks’ birthday presents (his.)

AlohaMolly · 16/05/2021 13:35

Oh! Also, long term is get DS5 back to eating better/healthier. I kept him refined sugar free and loads of fruit and veg until he turned one and then at around 18 months when I started working, PIL got heavily invested in him eating any and all sweet treats they can rest their hands on and I’ve a) allowed it and b) followed suit Blush

Sparklynewname · 16/05/2021 13:56

I have got rid of all the Cubs stuff and been to the tip with a load of rubbish.
I finally got rid of the 3 smashed up recycling bins that have been cluttering up my front path for about 3 months!
I’m just having a coffee and then I am going to open up the outside lights that DH got for Christmas so I can try to visualise exactly how much there is. It has two strands so if we have 2 plugs etc with it then one set can go at the bottom of the garden in our new covered area when we eventually get it done- but nothing can happen there until our neighbour sorts out his trees which are destroying my wall 😬

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