Daily Project round 7

[WinterFrogs]

Here we go again. Chit chat and small daily projects. Celebrate the wins!

I've just finished cleaning the deck, taking down the pink and white lights I had up for spring and put up red and white lights and a banner for Canada Day (July 1st). It's my inaugural attempt at decorating for July 1st and I was pretty excited about the red and white globe lights I ordered. 😂
My neighbour was out walking her dog and hollered over "Good job" so I think it looks okay from the sidewalk. 😉 Didn't seem to bat an eye that it was midnight and I was up on a ladder in my pyjamas...😝

Lobelia, it has taken a lot of persistence to get the kids to wear sunglasses, too! (And broken and lost pairs)😄

Interesting about the roses. I wonder if the pot is draining better lifted?
(I better get to bed before I start Googling that! 😂)

Loving your flags @Mumtobabyhavoc !

Pot feet bought. Now to put in situ. Yes, I agree with you that it is most likely a drainage issue. I've neglected the roses a bit tbh. Just watering and ignoring (my default setting in some ways) so hopefully this will help.

I have a neighbour who has a small garden but it is incredibly beautiful. She does it all herself and she has things like banana trees (in England!!) and a mix of cottage garden and topiary like things plus the most incredible garden statues. She just has the most talented aesthetic eye. Life goals......

You folks are such an inspiration! @Mumtobabyhavoc you get so much done- you just never seem to stop! It would never occur to me to do things at midnight...but why not? And @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia I love your tenacity in getting little things done, which add up. I do like those wheeled things. Very clever.
I'm feeling very bleugh 😔 Bit burnt out I think. Lots has been going on, and I'm not great at switching off. Not in my brain, anyway.
Can't decide whether to rest and do nothing, or spend the morning setting things straight, so I can properly relax.

TBH I am a bit bleugh also. DH is still asleep as well! (Although tbf he has awful insomnia and was up in the night).

After buying my pot feet I slumped. Trying to persuade DCs to do something also. Housework seems a bit beyond me this morning!

Hello all.

Your lights and flags look great @Mumtobabyhavoc.

I was inspired by you the other day and decided to steam clean our sofas. Pulled every out. Took all the cushions off and pulled the sofa out and moved side tables and lamps etc. Tried vacuuming with the hand held Dyson but it ran out of battery. Got the main vacuum out and the bag was full so it needed a new bag and filter. Took me about five minutes to find them. Did that and got all sorted with steam cleaner only to discover it is broken! So I may need to invest in a new one. It’s quite old.

I had friends over last night so spent yesterday tidying the patio and power washing chairs etc as we were going to be outside. We ended up inside as everyone felt cold. Still it was a nice evening. Spent this morning tidying up after it all. Then nipped to the supermarket to get some things for tomorrow as we are having our neighbours in for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Leg of lamb, roast potatoes and some salads. Followed by Eton Mess as have lots of berries to use up.

I have stripped my bed today as my extra task. Need to remember to make it up again before tonight! Other plan today is to plant some plants into new pots.

I could do with those wheeled thingies @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia. We have some pot feet under our biggest pots but definitely need something under the others. I bought some saucers to go under some during the week so need to get them under some pots at some stage.

Have a great weekend all. Hope you are all doing ok.

I've realised I'm a real 'not' doer 😞 I'm not sure if I'm lazy but I do get overwhelmed.
I suspect it might be the touch of burnout talking. I have a seriously ill sibling, and I've taken over my mother's role and feel like I'm mothering everybody.
Old habits die hard! I am currently soothing my soul by re-learning to touch type! That was caused by aimlessly scrolling on here, and spotting a thread by a poster of similar age to me. I've come over all lightheaded, and realised I was holding my breath whilst doing my jjj kkk jdjk etc.
Does anyone here use MN on laptop/pc, or just their phone? I'm quick typing on my phone.

I'm going off piste once more. That ramble was about what you achieved @Peridot1 ! Great stuff - and evidently way more social than me! DH is a proper hermit, and just meets his few friends to watch sport on Saturdays. I'm better at it, but lately I have fallen by the wayside and I think my friends might be wondering where I've got to, as I'm normally quite proactive.

Oh I get overwhelmed too @WinterFrogs. So I did one sofa the other day! Well I vacuumed it and swapped cushions around and cleaned behind. Still have the other one to do. I find it better to just do bits. I don’t know if it’s an age thing, a menopause thing or an ADD thing but I just don’t have the attention span to do things any other way now. And the procrastination is real!

Sorry you are feeling overwhelmed with everything. Having an ill sibling is hard. Especially if you then have to step up in other places as well as worrying about them.

I use a laptop @WinterFrogs . I can't really work out how to work my phone. It's an iphone 8. DS1 has all my passcodes and sorts stuff for me. (He's brilliant at that sort of thing. Once when he was about 7 he figured out how to hack into my amazon account and order stuff. I was baffled by all the fidget spinners that kept turning up).

I'm not a doer either. You said back in the thread about the different types of people that your mum had identified- I can't quite recall the details- but some are doers straight away and others have to think about things for a bit. I'm the latter. I need alot of rest.

I am so sorry about your ill sibling. . I can well imagine you as a natural nurturer. ❤

@Peridot1 I am also awed by your social endeavours! Lamb and potatos and salads- that is probably my idea Sunday lunch. The wheelie pot things are great. They are galvanised something or other so they don't rust. They are very attractive and sturdy. I have to buy more. I like the idea of wheeling DH's potted apple trees (that he grew from seed!) around the patio.

This afternoon- the main plan is to take the Dcs for icecream. Our little village is absolutely heaving! I am tempted by a wine spritzer as well....

to you all. xx

Thank you @Peridot1 💕 Yes re the procrastinating I feel we're quite similar and often nod along to your posts.

I think we all find these threads so useful as getting even one thing done has a knock on effect.
There is solace in knowing that none of us are alone in our quests to keep on top of things.
Big hugs to you all ❤️

And +1 to your post too @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia! I laughed at DS ordering fidget spinners! Fortunately Amazon hadn't been invented when my children were small. I can identify with using them as tech support though.

Online shopping is dangerously easy isn't it? My weakness is books really, and I've signed up for the odd course on impulse as well. I have concluded that it's safer to stick to free ones now.

I rarely buy clothes as I'm terrible at returning things, and often things don't fit. Also I loathe actual shopping ( basically if I can't get it online I don't want it) And so, I have a somewhat -ahem- limited wardrobe. So, 'uniform' it is! If I like something and it fits, I'll buy several, wear them to death them wake up one morning and realise it's shopping time again. See also: hair cuts.

It's so cool that Mr Lobelia grew apple trees from pips.

One of DH's apple trees. I have mentioned he has hoarding tendencies. That extends to not wanting to throw the pips away from fruit. Last year we got only one proper sized apple from each tree- this year they are fruiting up nicely.

Lobelia, my neighbour's gardens are sooo much nicer than mine. Lush and flourishing. Mine, struggling, fighting to grow to potential, wondering where I am likely. 😂 How long ago were the apple seeds planted? That's absolutely amazing your dh has grown a tree!

I do think it's time for a new phone! I've got the 16, but the 16 is the current one. They will transfer everything for you there. And Yes to dc online shopping. Mi e ordered landscaping lights and a knife sharpener a couple months ago. Luckily I saw my banking alert and was able to cancel just in time. 😅 Kids are TOO SMART.
Winter, I absolutely agree with you about clothes and haircuts. 💯. I'm really sorry to hear about your sibling. That's very stressful and can make one hyperactive puttering etc or the opposite, can't it? I tend to go from one to the other: hiding or feeling an urgent drive to do things. Sending love. 🩷

Peridot, the great thing about the battery on the wand vacuum is the time limit! I look at it as what can get cleaned in the 8-ish minutes. 💡 I'm making lamb chops for dinner today. Come by. 😊

Baby just dumped part of breakfast onto the couch. 😟Choc chip pancake, strawberries and banana. 🤦‍♀️ Then started saying, "Clean up. Clean up" in a sort of sing song way they've learned at school. 🤷‍♀️😂
(Cleannnn up, cleannn up. Everybody, everywhere. Cleannn up. Cleannn up. Everybody do your share.)

🦻🪱😂

Just posting quickly before the bedtime routine.
I think DH started growing the trees circa 12-ish years ago. ** What he does (and this might not be an approved method) is he dries out the pips and leaves them for many months. Then sows them into soil with some sort of growing powder. Then they stay on the window sill in summer or the airing cupboard in winter and are usually forgotten about again. If they shoot a bit then he puts them into yoghurt pots again on the window and then increases pot size before planting out.

** I just asked him how old the tree in the photo is and he says perhaps 6 years. It's in a regular terracotta pot and is about 8 ft tall. But spindly.

At the moment in our airing cupboard we have some baby seville oranges and a citron. He's never managed to germinate a citron seed yet, but this one is showing hopeful signs. I am only linking because personally I had never heard of a citron until DH got a few seeds from a Greek neighbour.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citron

Thinking about it- the tree cannot possibly be only 6 years. I think my original idea of 12-ish years is more likely. Frankly- not sure!!

Been a bit AWOL from the thread for the past few days as I’ve been very busy - yesterday DH and I were in a concert so it was rehearsals all day and then the performance in an incredibly hot concert hall. I think it got to 30C here yesterday and is due to be about the same today. My ironing pile is enormous but I just can’t face it when it’s so hot - may have to do some strategic folding and smoothing with the essential items.
Sorry so much is on your plate at the moment @WinterFrogs my sandwich sister. That sounds tough with with your sibling, are things likely to improve with them? What did you decide to do in the end yesterday morning, set things straight or relax? I find I can’t relax if things aren’t straight and rather sadly I find it quite soothing to potter and do jobs. In answer to your other question I MN on my phone but usually post from my iPad unless it’s a very short post.
That’s amazing to have grown an apple tree from seed @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia ! I don’t know whether I could cope with seeds in the airing cupboard though.
Your flags and declarations look fab @Mumtobabyhavoc . Happy Canada Day for 1st! Do you do anything special? I’m also thinking about a new phone as mine is 5 years old and the battery seems to be running out more quickly. DH is of the opinion that phones should last much longer than 5 years and is a bit resistant to the idea of me upgrading.
The leg of lamb sounds lovely @Peridot1 but I think I’d melt if I had to cook a roast in this heat. We’re having a bbq later for DD’s birthday which is tomorrow- she will be at uni all day tomorrow and by the time she gets back DH will be out at one of his music groups and DS will have driven back to work for his office days this week. As per her request we did a M and S shop for lots of nice food yesterday so I’ve only got a couple of salads to throw together and then the plan is to be sitting in the shade with a glass or two of something lovely.
Not sure what my extra job will be today as we’re out at another music thing (watching not playing this time) so I’m going to be short on time.
Have a lovely Sunday everyone!

Morning all.

Thanks for the ear worm @Mumtobabyhavoc!

Impressive apple tree @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia. We have some fruit trees too but the were definitely not grown from seed! Neither of us have the patience. My sister has grown peppers from seeds though.

@petalpower - I am rethinking the leg of lamb situation! DS made brownies yesterday evening and DH did some pork belly and the kitchen was like an oven. DH is not keen on doing the lamb on the bbq though. Might have to use my powers of persuasion. Although I’m doing roast potatoes so the oven will need to be on regardless…..

Not much planned here today other than getting sorted for this afternoon. I have a bit of tidying up to do. Not sure whether to try to eat outside. It was actually too hot to do that yesterday. Other than that I have potatoes to peel and three salads to make. And I need to water some plants and herbs outside that keep getting forgotten as they are around a corner.

Have a lovely pre birthday afternoon for DD @petalpower.

Petal, we don't usually do too much on Canada Day, but there are a lot of things happening. I took to dc downtown last year for the party at Canada Place (concert stage) and there were tonnes of people. I'm considering taking them to another big celebration, but it will involve a lot of planning...

Morning - all my plants in the garden come fully fledged from the garden centre 😄
Busy work day today, but have been to refpilates this morning - last one for Mondays as the lovely instructor is moving. SpiritDoggo had a groom on Friday, looked (and smelt) lovely and then spent the weekend in and out of the river on a long walK, got covered in sludge from a lake, and then had a wild old time running through grass so I am back to pulling grass seeds out every time she sits next to me.😀

• took a duvet to be dry cleaned yesterday via John Lewis I am fully expecting a call today saying they can't do it (wool)
• spend 30 mins learning some Spanish. GNiece tried to teach me some yesterday - I was rubbish but early days!
• we have family round this coming weekend so we need to do a list to get the house ready - mainly the garden, bathroom and kitchen, which are us clean, but not visitor clean 😄
• Done GHIC card application
• just spotted the coffee table is full of sand, so clearing that off will be next job.
• find a sunhat that will fit and I will allow to stay on my fussy head.

Off to sit on a team meeting for 2 hours, but can get other stuff done, have a good one, SoE

Hi, I've been on this board before but then life got in the way and I disappeared. Life is heavy right now and I really need to be getting myself into a bit of a routine and I think doing one thing every day would be the perfect way to achieve tiny things. I'm currently off work as DH is in hospital really quite unwell. I've been spending most of my days with him and then coming home and just staring into space and creating a real mess in the house. I have made a list of daily chores I'd like to do (make bed, tidy up etc) and then I'll add one extra thing each day. Today's extra job is to clean the bathroom. I'll come back later to update.

@autumnangel sorry to hear your husband is unwell x

Hi all.

A bit quiet around these parts. Hope everyone is ok.

@autumnangel - sorry your DH is unwell. I hope he is on the mend soon. A small daily task is ideal when you feel overwhelmed. They quickly make a difference.

I have been pottering last few days. Was too hot here to do much on Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday I started a clean and sort out of the kitchen. We always end up with so much clutter on the countertops. And I’m as guilty as anyone. So a bit of a sort out and a clean of windowsills etc and it all looks a lot better already. I need to clear out my messy drawer and use it for vitamins etc as they are taking up space on the countertops and look messy.

Extra task today was a quick clean of the downstairs cloakroom.

Yesterday I helped DH in the garden and then I planted out five plants into pots. Have two large rhododendrons to repot which we said we would attempt today but DH seems to be otherwise occupied watching the cricket.

Good to see you @autumnangel . Hope so much your DH is better soon. xx

Last week of school for us and it's lately been just a whirl of speech night, school play, Duke of Ed wrap up night, school concert, info evening for the next year's year levels, sports day, community service day (which required provision of gardening implements) and enrichment day where they went to the beach.

I'm exhausted.

Early finish tomorrow of 2 pm. I can't wait.

Hope everyone is well. xx

Oh, @autumnangel I'm sorry. That's sounds very worrying. It's so hard to cope when our loved ones aren't well. I really am hoping for a good outcome for your husband. 💛
It does help to find something to occupy yourself with even if for a short time. I hope you've got some support as well to help you cope. 💛
Sending you strength.

Bathroom needs cleaning. Floors need vacuuming. Kitchen floor needs washing as well (again). Mum needs to go for a haircut (badly).
I'm a bit end of my rope lately. Very shouty and irrational. Need to sort that.

Baby is so pleased that saying, Mummy, results in me saying, Yes? 🩷
Must get a bunch of tasks done that I've ignored to feel lighter.