One project a day- 2nd thread!

[BlueLobelia]

Welcome to everyone, old hats, lurkers and newbies.

This is a thread where we try and achieve something, no matter how small, a day.

This was the preamble to the previous thread ;

''......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. :) ''

everyone welcome!

That sounds amazing @Fnib, far better for the planet.
I remember growing up loke this and going in the car with parents to get fresh veg and meat from Butchers.
All in paper bags

I've been to the chemist twice, good job it's near. They cocked my prescription up and I need it over the weekend, so had to go back again.
Had a walk round our park, chatted to a neighbour hadn't seen in a while.
Dd is on half term so will be doing something with her, I hope.
She doesn't have friends in our town as she boards at school and they come from all over the UK and abroad.

Have done the usual cleaning kitchen, loos, bathroom etc.
Plus two loads of washing.
Just got to make the bed, cook the tea, wash up after and we're done.
Happy weekend all. x

Thanks @Devlesko. It all feels like a big compromise, and everyone seems to have their own ideas on the best way forward. My way is 'less is best. I even reused my paper bags at the farm shop 😇
Also bought some tomato plants (Mr Fnib accompanied me so it finally got done - still no lobelia though!) but needed compost and that only comes in plastic.
Have a lovely half term!

Hello all! Happy Bank Holiday Weekend to those of us who have time off this weekend.
I have finished work for the next week 🎉🥳
This evening I have done lots of washing, folded 3 baskets and just waiting for towels to dry so I can put the next load in the dryer and maybe get another load on to wash tonight ready to dry tomorrow.
Made a phone call but it went to answerphone so I have left a message and will try again over the weekend. Also received an important email so am one step closer to sorting out accommodation for our group meetings.
Family are down for a weeks holiday so looking forward to a nice trip out tomorrow with little people, woofers and 🍦. Doggies haven’t had an ice cream yet this year so they will be delighted to have their first one and big dog will be delighted to see her little people 😊

Morning!

@Devlesko you must be so excited to see your DD. :)

@Sparklynewname have a wonderful time with your family!

@Fnib you have reminded me I have become too lazy with my shopping and so I am going to our local butcher today (and fishmonger!).

My weekend project is to sort out making bug houses. I have the perfect spot for them.

I also yesterday stood firm at work. I am on 4 days (but still seem to be doing the work of 5) as i needed more time at home to be with my DCs, especially as DS1 has struggled this year. I am being pushed and manipulated into returning to 5 and taking on extra projects which woul mean i am doing even more than 5 days realistically (my workplace says 'Oh you can go 4 days if you can complete your work, no problem, then gives me more work.....) and yesterday I had a meeting with my line manager where I very firmly and calmly laid out what was what and that I was not going to be pushed around.

I know it will not make a difference today or tomorrow but it was a shot across the bow and I am actually planning my exit strategy. DH and I have been talking every which way about it all and I am looking at a plan that slightly re-jigs my current career and qualifications and may well end up setting up on my own in a slightly different area.

I have a clearer focus and idea and think that by say August I may well be out of a job I dislike immensely and onto something different and better.

So I am feeling good. :)

And my beef steak tomato plants need bigger pots. :)

happy weekend everyone!

Morning all!
@BlueLobelia well done you! I am really impressed at your assertiveness. Very best wishes for future career plans
Bug houses sound great! I heard something on the radio yesterday about an app that's been set up so people can report squished bugs on their car number plates, and thus gain an idea of insect levels currently. I will go look it up, and report back, if there's any interest.

Part of my gardening dilemma is that I have what is effectively a wildlife haven in my garden (hedges, dilapidated wooden playhouse, piles of leaves) I do want to make it a nicer place for humans too, but I don't want to make anybody homeless. I'm thinking if I tackle it slowly like I did with house clutter, little beings might be able to move house rather than being left bereft (or trampled in the rush)
Here I am....a meat eater who hates to cause woodlice to have nowhere to go.
Apologies for using your thread as a therapy session blue
I tie myself in knots sometimes!

The App is called Bugs Matter. I've just installed it on my phone.

Meateater here also (DH is veg and he also points out to me that i am worried about bugs.... )

I heard about the bug squash app also on the radio- it sounded intriguing!

I have a soft spot for slow worms, and have not seen any for years. We do have loads of badgers though). But on FB I saw someone put down corrugated iron sheeting in a corner and they have - literally hundreds of slow worns now sleeping under there. So that is one aim, but am worried about the badgers.... not sure I want to create a badger buffet.

@BlueLobelia can recommend a book to you? Its called The Vegetarian Myth. Its written by an ex vegan who points out how some life form or other must die so you can put dinner on your plate. She asks whether the life of a cow is more or less important than that of a slug. She made me laugh (i saw myself) with her tale of tiptoeing out at midnight in her vegan trainers, to gather slugs off her lettuces so she could remove them in the woods, before realising that it would impact on the biodiversity of the woodland habitat and either they would die or something else would.
More seriously there was talk of how removing grazing animals to create space for grain crops ultimately destroys topsail and creates desert conditions, and irrigation causes rivers to run dry. It's fascinating and made me keener to source food more ethically and consume less of it (in progress)
Also DH perhaps needs reminding how important the insects are for pollination etc. We'd have no food without them.

I hear you about not wanting to inadvertently create a smorgasbord for the badger.

As humans we really do adversely affect the balance of nature and I always end up coming down to the notion that the planet will eventually render us extinct (hopefully without taking too many other species down with us) and then do just fine without us ruining it for everybody else.
Oops sorry not sorry for derail

Morning all. I keep thinking today is Sunday for some reason.

So jobs wise yesterday I changed a bed and washed the bedding. Also changes the mattress and pillow protectors so need to wash those today.

Sorted through most of my summer clothes and filled a bag. Also had a pile of clothes on a chair in the spare room so finally bagged them and now have three bags ready to go to a charity box. Am hoping to sort out a bag from DS’s room too today and will take that one.

I also sorted out toiletries and skincare bits to take to my Dad’s. Have a large stash of stuff to use including lots of sample/travel sizes from advent calendars and Gifts with Purchase etc so I was able to shop that.

Need to pack today and will need to do quite a bit of washing.

Still haven’t sorted my paperwork pile!

We moved to a new area at the end of last year - a small village - and our back garden looks on to a couple of fields. Found out last night that the fields have been planted with lupins. Will look beautiful I think.

I’m planning some bug hotels too. And letting a local bee keeper keep a couple of hives. Meant to sort for this year but left it too late but will for next year. We have lots of grass and are planning a lot of wild flower areas. We get deer in the garden sometimes. And we have a rabbit that goes between our garden and our neighbours.

Oh @Peridot1 your garden sounds absolutely glorious!

Thanks @Fnib! The front looks lovely until you look closely! House is two years old and was built in a sheep paddock. We have almost 1.5 acres. On one side of the drive is a big area with a huge old oak tree and a few other trees. In spring it was a stunning mass of crocuses and narcissi. Back garden is just grass at the moment. But we have plans!

Sounds very exciting @Peridot1
Today I've been for a long walk, done some baking and cleared out my bureau. Tonight it's jacket potatoes and cheese for tea plus salad so that's easy (particularly as DH is in charge)
Next project is to get my bike serviced. And sort out hot weather clothes.

We have practically got to the bottom of the laundry basket! Minor miracle.

Hope your day goes well. A bit sore from finally getting my first dose of covid vaccine but have pottered around with plants, done laundry and baked a cake. The cake was a new recipe and worked splendidly except it stuck to the tin. Note for next time - don’t follow the recommendation of olive oil to grease the tin just do butter

Tackling the bathroom storage cupboard today. Wish me luck!

Did some laundry yesterday because it was forecast rain today.

I want to get out and sweep up some petals this afternoon.

Morning!

Just some regular housekeeping type stuff today. And a date with an outdoor cafe for afternoon tea.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Update!! Some of my blue lobelia (and more of the white lobelia) have started flowering!

We went out for a sandwich at a local stately home and they were selling plants. I bought a mini patio orange rose and a mini patio deep rose coloured rose. These have now been potted up and put near the front door. Now I am sitting outside with a glass of elderflower cordial. Dinner will be outside ... salads, lemon roast chicken and jacket potatos.

Yesterday consisted of more wallpaper stripping.
Today I have washed the patio, finally planted up my bedding plants for the back garden and had 3 dianthus left over so they have been put into pots out the front where the snails have eaten my petunias. All snails found today were put into the green bin in the hopes that they will turn my garden waste into lovely compost. And eat each other.
We were in discussions about moving our bookcase to the other side of the chimney breast in the dining room as it blocks the light a little in a very dark room. DH didn’t want to put it there as it would require removing the skirting board from the side of the chimney breast and trimming the skirting that goes along the front. So today when we were scraping off the old caulk from the top of the boards and they fell off the wall, I took the chance to pop off the very small return and slide the bookcase into the space. It fits, it doesn’t impinge too much across the window between the two rooms and is now out of the eyeline thus making the room appear much larger. DH agrees that it can stay there and is now musing about removing the skirting from behind it to make it sit further back- I have no preference on this.
I also got the dining room curtain washed and it is drying over the bannisters.
We’re off out for the day tomorrow around a large lake nearby with the little people. The woofers so enjoyed seeing them yesterday as did we 😊
DS is currently applying for apprenticeships so I need to help him with his application which is frankly maddening.

Love reading about people’s day and projects (adds bathroom cabinets to the list). I sorted out some paperwork that needs done ahead of dental work. One project a day accomplished as I was avoiding doing that! Yay!

I’ve had a few days without specific projects as I’ve just been getting on with a lot of general sorting and decluttering.

Today though I definitely want to sort out the two extra kitchen drawers. I’ve been grumbling about the lack of storage in the kitchen without realising I could obviously just clear out all the crap from said drawers 🤦🏽‍♀️

DD1 emptied them into boxes for me last night (so I can sort them while sitting down, frequent dizziness ATM) and I cleaned them inside.

Maybe I’ll also do the actual cutlery drawer (full to bursting with other stuff) as well, and the utensil pots on the counter.

Excellent anti-procrastination there mama!

Morning all from a sunny Dublin!

I flew over from UK yesterday. After 17 months. Longest I’ve ever not been back. Got a bit teary when I arrived. Saw a big difference in my Dad who has cancer.

Am quarantined until I have a negative COVID test so am stuck in for a bit. Lots to be done here though! I cleared a drawer last night full of toiletries I’d left here last few times I’d been. Bathroom and kitchen need a deep clean. Need to book someone to come and clean the oven next week. Need to get his car going. And he hates not being able to do it himself and gets all anxious and agitated which doesn’t make things easy.

And I’m going to start clearing my emails. I have thousands. In two accounts.

And it’s nice and sunny here too. Would love a walk in the beach but can’t. Hopefully will get to sit outside in the sun for a bit later. It will be on a kitchen chair but better than nothing!

Ah @Peridot1, glad you’re home safe. I hope you manage to achieve everything you want and need to achieve.