Fledglings are Flying into February

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Welcome to the February Fledglings thread. Before we get started we have some important notices?:

1. The Fledglings are a long running thread, some of us have known each other for several years but newcomers are always welcome.

1. We follow the Flylady way (somewhat flexibly) and we adapt it to suit our lives and needs. That also means we chat a lot too, it is a general thread about life, as well as Flylady.

So the fly lady system there are rules and we have adaptations.?

1. NO perfectionism - life’s too short.?
2. Something is better than nothing and sometimes good enough really is good enough.?
3. This is not about the housework, it is about having more time to do fun stuff. Don't ever feel guilty about doing stuff with the kids over doing the housework. The kids are more important.??And the practical adaptations.
4. For newbies to the Flylady site and system everything you need will be posted here in the form of links. The homes is divided into zones where we spend one week each on a monthly basis. Within the zones we do babysteps and decluttering - the babysteps are little daily habits to get into, decluttering speaks for itself. As we progress we start doing missions (a more in depth task in that weeks zone). We may even get to detailed cleaning once we have decluttered. There are also daily tasks, on a weekly basis.

WARNING: Unless you want a very cluttered inbox full of gushing quotes and testimonials DO NOT subscribe to the Flylady emails from the site.

So, welcome on board and lets get Flying in February!

Wingflaps to you all, warm welcome to hanbee
Out of interest Hanbee, is it your house or your parents? Or are you equal partners iykwim? I imagine it must be really hard to find a balance for you.

My DS is poorly again and on several inhalers, which he sees as a torture device. Lots of disturbed sleep here too.

However, ta da
Cats fed, litter boxes dealt with
DS medicated, fed, dressed
Two beds made
Washing on
Yesterday's washing folded and put away
Dishwasher loaded
Sold some of DSs outgrown stuff on FB group

To do
Hang up wash load when it finishes
Meal Plan
Online Shop
Probably not much else!

Back later

Just pausing to sling some beef broth down my neck (starting diet).

A very warm welcome to Hanbee!! Sounds like you have already made a really good start.

Sorry your ds is ill Greymalkin with resultant lack of sleep

And hope that you feel better soon Blue

It's called sod's law Linzer! Hope you were able to profit from your rare child-free time!

Um, the bit in your post about pancakes with jam being considered a full meal ... reckon that's where I've been going wrong !!

Good luck with the party Bitchy and hope you can have some good quality rest afterwards!!

Swan no, dd has in the past had phases of walking around with a bit of lace on her head clutching a candle (I really shouldn't have let her watch my ancient copy of The Song of Bernadette ) but I think in this instance she is linguistically confused ie waitress = serveuse in Fr. (To her mind server or "servant".) If it's any consolation, absolutely no evidence of confirmation training having penetrated consciousness here either!!!

Btw, I suspect that bright and breezy dc, combined with limp dishrag parents, is probably (sadly!) a sign of very good parenting!!! Congrats on clean boudoir (mine has slipped) and for washing entire household's worth of underwear!!!

Had better get back to it ... big waves to everyone!

PS Swan mis-read last bit of your post as "somehow tackle the longstanding problem of the sofa and the lightshades and the bed (not shed!!) at bottom of garden" thought you had some marvellously romantic outdoor room!

Engels your DS is gorgeous.

Well, I'm sick. Properly, shivery, on antibiotics, not eating, sick. Not impressed as I'm still in my probabtionary period at work so no clue how that'll go down.

House also looking like a bomb site so I'm at the lovely stage of feeling crap and then feeling grumpy because of the house.

Bleurgh. Just bleurgh!

Poor you Carpe and sod's law (again) that it happens during probationary work period. But you can't help being ill. Wrap up warm and get well soon!

Right just about to take the box and hide approach to ds' room before slinging around a hoover through the house. Then it will be time to rustle up pizza so it can be rested before needing to be cook and collect the party from school

Hello you lovely people.

Ok ok I cave. I need to be back on here!
Just need the motivation. I have a 9 week old who is sleeping well (not through, I think we are a long way off that) and is very happy to be in his chair and watch while I tidy and clean. I just need to find the motivation and stop using him as en excuse to not do house stuff!
Right I am off to sort some hot spots!

I've just done my bedroom. Well, not a thoroug hoovering, but it's all dusted and the main floor has been done, but I'm not up to doing unit moving.

Went in to have a lie down/read under the duvet to keep warm and then caved as I kept seeing things that needed done. So, it's done. And I decluttered my bedside drawers - got rid of a load of hair clips that I will never need again and makeup that is older than DS, but I was keeping for some weird reason.

Feel grotty now, but strangely better.

I probably ought to do the links early today, DH has finally tracked down his P60 and wants to use this computer tonight for his tax return, it's also the one where all the Flylady links are saved.

Carpe - you deserve Star of the Day for doing so much while ill, hope you feel better soon.

Bitchy - fingers crossed for a successful party.

Welcome back to catg83 and welcome (for the first time?) Hanbee.

I haven't done much flying today, but I have been on the radio. I was listening this morning and the subject was something that interests me so I zapped off a text, next thing I knew I had a researcher on the phone quizzing me and asking if I would be on the show. So that was nice!

Felt a bit weird after that, so I swept the snow off the drive and decided to walk to pilates class instead of driving (about 1/2 hour walk to a neighbouring village). We'd had snow overnight, so all very pretty and I came back the long way through the woods. Spent the afternoon on paperwork, then took DD to ballet, had a good natter with friends there, we've had slow-cooked gammon for tea which was nice. Tonight I must get on with my OU work.

So, links for tomorrow.

Babystep motivational post-it notes . I have never, and will never do this, but if it works for you!

Mission getting rid of fingerprints

Wednesday's daily focus Anti-procrastination day - do all those things you have been putting off, such as making appointments.

Had a shitty day. DS ill and clingy and whiny ( understandably, but I've had enough). Then to top it off he has thrown up all over me and the sofa, he then ran round the lounge whilst throwing up some more, then threw up some more on the way upstairs to the bath. DH not back yet so sick will not get cleaned up till DS is asleep. There is no way I will be able to clean it all up without him running through it again or worse trying to pick it up...Tempted to leave it for DH

Crisis clean achieved, enjoyed party, recovered and rescued my room/bed from under the shoved junk. Just to get a rather over excited ds to bed and I will pass out.

Oh, and forgot to add I was wearing my brand new Levi jeans at the time...

Greymalkin bicarb of soda will be your friend for getting rid of any lingering smell. Hope ds feels better soon and your dh works some mircales for you.

Oh no Grey I'd leave it for DH.

Evening, better day today.

The Art Village where I help out have just got keys to the new units so I'll be starting my Children's craft sessions soon. And there's the possibility of doing knitting/crotchet classes there too. I may even get paid!!!

Plus they love the amigurumi I made over the weekend, so I've now got stuff in 3 different local shops. Sales are slow but steady, and I've been offered a commission to paint a wall mural, but I'm not sure if I'm up to that yet.

And finally, because I've stopped snacking at night (no thanks to DH) I've lost 10lb since the beginning of January. (A lot of that was put on over Christmas)

I've also done some cleaning today

10 lb is a lot, well done! Good luck with the commissions and paid work Goth

Wow, is anyone feeling healthy at the moment? Sounds like everyone is under the weather.

Gray I have to say that I'm particularly horrified at your vomiting child scenario, particularly the thought of all that cleaning up. Referring back to your comment a few days ago about my DIY skills, I couldn't do anything really and then I went on a couple of short courses at my local college and got inspired. I did a DIY/joinery course then a one day course in plastering and another one day course on electrics, all with female tutors and they really made me believe that I could do it. I have to say that it took a lot of courage to do the first couple of electrical jobs though and I do switch off the power for the whole house, I'm not taking any chances!

Toffee I was very impressed/inspired by your HE blog. Also daunted by the amount of prep that it looks like you probably have to do. It is something that I am open to (even though of course it's very early days at the moment) having heard the experiences of a couple of friends. Also my DP was a hyperactive devil child that nearly broke his mother (an expert childminder, apparently all other kids were a doddle after him!) so I'm worried that I may get a very demanding child and his mum is no longer around to help me sadly. Alternatively if baby takes after me it will be wanting to go to school age 3, so we'll see what comes out. My money is on devil child I'm afraid!

Also Toffee I loved hearing your weeds through the floorboards story in response to my moss growing on my car story, I've never heard anything like that before. DP has been joking about the fact that normally I kill all plants, I can't grow herbs for the kitchen to save my life and yet I can grow moss on my car!

Whoknows I'm very jealous about your trip to go ape, I went quite a few years ago now with a group of adults and it was great fun, especially the zip lines.

Swan I like the image of your DD as a dancing tigress, I'm imagining facepaint/costume as well as actions, sounds like great fun.

Welcome Hanbee I'm a newbie too, I've only be here for a couple of weeks.

Goth I didn't know what amigurumi meant so I looked it up, they are so cute! Good luck with your business selling them, I'd love to see a picture of any that you've made. Congratulations also on the weight loss, that is very impressive in just a month, well done!

I have actually been busy today as well with flying, although I haven't been in the right room, I've been working in our bedroom, which is the attic. I have dusted and hoovered, moved furniture away from walls and used vanish foam to clean carpet edges.

Our carpet is cream and so sadly any dirt really shows, I think I'll have to apply more vanish tomorrow and maybe think about steam cleaning some bits, apparently our wall paper steamer has attachments that can be used to clean carpets.

Yes, I know a cream carpet sounds mad but we don't allow shoes or any food and drink up there apart from water so we don't have any problems at the moment. God only knows what will happen when baby arrives, we'll probably have to cover the whole carpet in plastic sheeting for the next ten years!

I've also done some de-cluttering and given away three bags of clothes to charity and threw away one bag full that was probably beyond charity. It doesn't sound like much written down but I've been hard at work all day and I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself, although I've still got loads more clothes that I should perhaps consider parting with but I just can't bear it at the moment. I figure that all progress is good progress, so 4 bags of clothes gone has to be good. I've also got a big bag of clothes hangers to recycle in my boot now, so I've cleared some space in my attic eaves now.

I've also done the washing up and swish and swipe.

Last night didn't go quite to plan. I got a phone call around 9 that my DF had been rushed into hospital with another stroke, so I had to jump in the car and go down there (about 45 mins drive away). Stayed till about midnight once he was up on the ward and assessed by the doctor there, then tried to come home only to find that the main trunk road through the county was closed for several miles for overnight roadworks, so I had to do a very lengthy detour round country lanes and got home about 1.30. Was very grateful that the snow had melted and that I had plenty of diesel in the car. So, I'm at work now, will be going back later. SC has kindly agreed to post links for me.

Morning fledglings!

Feeling quite chuffed with myself this morning ... quite unbelievably, there is life in the old dog yet!! (I've been so tired and unmotivated recently that I was beginning to doubt I had anything left so to speak!!)

Having had a dreadful start to the Flying week I have finally swung in to action today. Must be the fabulous fear factor (dd will have 10 friends here on Sat, some of whom are sleeping over).

And .. wait for it ... I am actually in the middle of cleaning my oven!!

[Waits poised with smelling salts in case any Fledglings faint.]

Have also spent 45 mins sorting out my laundry now that I can see the floor!! Still have loads of washing to do (yes, I did catch up after Christmas but people will insist on wearing more clothes).

Now off to tackle the first floor! Alternating 15 mins 'twixt boudoir and home office.

[Hands over large bottle of Dettol to *Greymalkin] Hope your ds is feeling better today!

Congratulations on the decluttering Dogsbumhair!! V. impressed by your DIY training!!

Congratulations on 10lb lost Goth that's amazingly good!!! And good luck with all your crafty ventures

Well done for surviving the party Bitchyglad it all went well!!! (Will be a lot of 'shove and hide' going on at ours this w/e too!!) Hope you can rest up a bit now!

Congrats on your radio "slot" *Whoknows" that's incredible!! Woo-hooo!!

Blimey Carpe you did well to Fly so well yesterday given that you are ailing!! Well done!!

Welcome back *Catg83!!!

Toffee Do please tell us more about the weeds growing through the floorboards!! (Our neighbours have a tree growing through their window.)

Cheery (for once!!) wing flaps to eveyrone else!

Btw, I think I have (sadly!) found the secret to my new found energy source. Yes there is the fear of visitors factor. But also I only had 3 hrs sleep last night. Forgot to do some rather vital special washing for dh for his work (having had weeks to prepare it ) and only remembered at last minute, so sat up half the night waiting for the ruddy wm to finish = gargantuan fail. However, however, I feel so much better when sleep deprived. Wierd eh?

x post Whoknows

No problem! Hope your father comfortable when you visit him tonight. And hope you are OK today too, as it sounds like a horribly stressful evening yesterday. Take care x

SC is it possible that it is quality of sleep that is the issue. Often when I got a good night's sleep in terms of length it was very bad quality, where as a short burst of utterly exhausted sleep was better quality and i felt better refreshed. Have you tried melatonin? It is supposed to improve sleep quality. Not sure if you can get it over the counter where you are. If you can I will be very . I am still with the short sleep plan.

Whoknows sorry you had such a trying night last night. Hope your dad is stable and recovering. Wishing you better driving conditions for your visit later.

Today is a rest day. Ds is off school ill. he is tucked up in bed with a computer watching youtube videos so not a peep from him.

I have been down to school to sort a few bits and bobs and cleared up some left over party food reheated it and ate it for breakfast Evening meeting has been cancelled. So anti procrastination day has become a do fuck all day here. It is needed.

Morning everyone,

Thank you SC for the dettol and Bitchy (I think) for the bicarbonate.

Sick gate was a whole night affair, I have four pillow to take to the cleaners this morning and all the bedding we own for DSs cot bed to wash. Plus several towels. Plus the carpet on the landing and DSs bedroom.

Thank fuck today is a day at home for me not work. DH is apparently "working from home" like hell, he'll be on the fecking play station all day

Sorry to hear about your DF WhoKnows, hope hd gets the help he needs.

And hope you DS gets better Bitchy and you get some rest too