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!

Just popping in to say sorry to hear about your DF, WhoKnows; I hope he's doing as well as can be expected at this stage. What a worry for you.

Bitchy Get well soon to your DS.

Grey That sounds like a nightmare; poor you and poor DS, of course.

for SC (even if you do feel better for lack of sleep - I usually find it hits me at some point). And well done on getting back into the swing of things!

No Flying here; work is still ridiculously busy and but I don't have anything like enough time for it with the DC off this week.

Well I've already missed half the day today as I finally had a good nights sleep after two nights of sleeping propped up due to nausea (probably acid reflux according to my DP based on how I felt, not something I ever suffer from myself if I didn't have a monkey on board causing mayhem with my bodily functions). So basically I didn't really sleep much at all for two nights and so when I could finally lie flat last night and had no nausea I was out for the count. So all I have done is the washing up and had breakfast.

I'm seeing two friends for lunch tomorrow (that I met on the DIY course at college) and we all make a course each for the meal and rotate around each others houses (each time we have a meal that is, not between courses!) I'm making the starter and I'm making three pates (no meat as one of the group is a pescetarian) and some focaccia, so I'll probably be spending most of the day cooking, which I think will be quite nice as all the recipes and quite simple and straightforward but tasty, nothing that is too much hard work or stress.

Slingclutter thanks for the congrats on my de-clutter yesterday, still feeling pretty pleased with myself, must make sure that I keep it up for the month. Thanks also for being impressed at my DIY training, I started believing that I couldn't put up a shelf but I'm now up for giving most things a go (that doesn't mean I don't get stressed at times though!)

I felt a bit overwhelmed when I read that you've got 10 kids coming over and some are sleeping over, I think I initially read it that all ten were staying over and my jaw dropped. I don't know how old they are but it sounds pretty full on, I hope it isn't ten staying over, poor you!

Whoknows sorry to hear about your DF, I can't believe that you are in work after what sounds like a lot of stress, a lot of driving and very little sleep. I hope that you are ok (and your DF too of course).

Greymalkin sick gate continues to sound incredibly grim, in fact it sounds even worse on hearing about the amount of washing that needs to be done. I've just had a comforting hot chocolate and it sounds like you need something comforting, possibly a stiff gin in your case though after all that cleaning up! Good luck with it all you poor thing.

Anyway, I'm off to get showered and go and pick up the last few items for my pate recipes and to spend the day cooking. Must try and shoehorn 15 mins de-clutter in today too as I really want to try and make the most of de-clutter Feb as this is the thing that I find hardest to motivate myself to do.

Saymwa thinking of you and hoping that you are getting good news, or at least the best care possible. Fingers crossed.

Happy flying everyone!

How is is 12.45 already?
I have a 9 week old DS, never realised how much of a time sick babies were. An adorable snuggly time sick but still...
Managed to swish and swipe and get a load of washing on.
Hope everybody has a good day and virtual well wishes to those not feeling well and with family who are poorly.

time suck not sick!

Argh, have missed quite a lot as I just feel very unmotivated and lethargic. Have managed to make myself do a little bit towards my dissertation today for the first time this week - apart from that have largely been time-wasting and flopping about.

Greymalkin Sounds like my worst nightmare and I hope DS is lots better now.

Dogsbumhair The reflux sounds horrid. I hope it stays away now!

WhoKnows So sorry to hear about your DF. Sounds very stressful and upsetting.

Thanks Bless me too!

Ok fledglings

[Blows large bugle]

Ta-da-dah-ta-dah
sorted dh's work clothes
ironed dd's sport kit and school blouse
morning routine inc wm, dw, rabbits, s&s, dining room table hot spot
cleaned kitchen surfaces
clean paella pan from last night
cleaned baking tray
cleaned top of stove
cleaned oven!!!!!!!
prepped for fortnightly ironing lady who arrived (and has left four paniers of beautifully stacked ironing God Bless Her)
wrote a couple of e-mails
45 mins sorting/cleaning laundry room
carrying a load of things upstairs
carrying a load of things downstairs
2 x 15 mins boudoir
1 x 15 mins office
wrote a couple of e-mails
hung up coloured wash
re-booted wm/td
emptied dw
stacked dw with baking trays from oven drawer which were a bit dusty
school run (lunch time)
lunch hot dogs
dd hwk supervision (wip)

Waves to Bless! Hope mo-jo rtns soon!!

Catg83 don't be hard on yourself - I am impressed you are even thinking of Flying with a 9 wk old poorly baby in tow [pic please!!!]

Thanks for Linzer [passing one over in return!]

Glad you have caught up on sleep Dogsbum and yes, don't worry, only 2 or 3 out of 10 sleeping over!! Plus I will have lots of help on the day!! (Not relying on dh!!)

Saymwa ditto what Dogsbum said

Poor you Greymalkin vom-gate sounds grim

Bitchy sorry to hear your ds is ill. Could be quality of sleep as I often wake up at 4am nowadays if I go to bed early (tis my age!!). But Linzer was right. Felt fine all day and then tiredness hit me after lunch when I ate a white roll when I usually have just soup or salad. [Note to self to avoid carbs mid-day]

Slowing down now but hoping to carry on doing bits here and there ....

slingclutter Thanks. Not feeling too stressed, just always amazed when the day runs away with me. DS is currently fast asleep on me so just enjoying cuddles at the moment. Would like some lunch at some point soon though!

One handed looking through the fly lady site as I have forgotten big chunks of it. How far do you all take your FLYing? Do you shine your sinks? Do you have a purple obsession?

Ta da
First solo outing to frosty playground with baby and toddler. DS1 behaved! DS2 in sling!
Made marmalade gingerbread
Yesterday's wash away
2 loads of washing (2nd in td, 1st folded ready to go away)
Made puzzle with DS1
Hoovered downstairs

Had a great first day by myself with 2 children for the first time!

To do
washing up
2 loads of washing away
hoover upstairs
try and get timings right so I can put DS1 to bed tonight.

Ooh and...

ta da
put food out for birds
put bin out

Blimey, SC!

WhoKnows - sorry to hear that, hope you're OK today.

I'm feeling a bit better than yesterday but still getting very little done... Agh, school run time. Better dash.

Posted without catching up.

whoknows so sorry to hear about your DF

Thanks everyone, things here feel a bit calmer.

Some ta-da's (but no where near as impressive as SC 's )
Two loads of sicky bedding and clothes washed and hung up
Bedding for tonight in td
Beds made
Food shopping
Rip in DHs trousers mended
Rubbish bins emptied and out for collection

Sorry can't do personals atm, DS is clinging to me like a limpet...

Spent the afternoon in the new gallery starting to get it ready. You'd be proud of me, 1st thing I did was shine the sink.

Have spent a few hours trying to get acetate stickers off mirrors. It's going to be a long job, but worth it.

DD got woodcraft tonight, so not much flying at home apart from keeping the laundry going.

WhoKnows - hope your DF is ok - and you too. Such a horrible shock .

Grey - sorry for Sickgate and endless washing .

SC - not sure what else to tell you about the weeds through the floorboards. I lived with quite eccentric grandparents in a very old house, though it all seemed very normal at the time. It was the huge house spiders that really freaked me out in their house - practically the size of saucers, some of them .

dogsbum - thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate your concerns about home ed. To be honest, DS1 was such hard work as a young child that I was the only mother at the school gates NOT crying when I waved goodbye on his first school day . I really needed the break. However, school was a disaster for him and I ended up home educating him when he was nine. If you want to know more about home ed, I recommend you read some of the threads on the MN home ed board. They really helped me.

Home ed really went to pot today, as I'm still feeling under the weather and suffering tooth ache, ear ache and headache. Ended up watching educational videos with DS2 instead of doing any written work. Managed to get an appointment at the dentist this afternoon and it turns out I have a tooth infection. I'm quite relieved, as I'd been imagining all sorts of things. So now all I have to do is take antibiotics for a week and all should be fine.

In the meantime, I've delegated dinner to DH (not delighted, I can see by the look on his face ) and I'm taking myself back to bed to read my new book (unputdownable - it's the new Sarah Waters) and maybe doze. Though I think the book will win.

I have slept all day. I feel tired, cold and shakey so I think the plan is to sleep once tea has been eaten. Ds has improved but is still suffering a bit of the after effects not sure what the plan is about school tomo but will decide tomo.

DF is much improved today apparently, just setting off now, thank you for all the kind comments.

Good luck at the hospital Whoknows hope you find your df comfortable and as well as can be expected in the circumstances. Safe driving.

Sorry so many fledglings are feeling under the weather

[Fluffs up pillows in naughty corner for *Bitchy]

Toffee that tooth infection sounds nasty - make sure you rest up a bit with it - take it steady

If you see a children's book appear in the shop in a couple of year's time which feature an old couple with weeds going through the floorboards and spiders the size of saucers... you will know who the author is!! Sums up all sorts of magical possibilities through a child's eyes (apologies if it wasn't remotely like this in reality though)

Goth new gallery space sounds really exciting!!! And well done wrt to transferable Flying skills!

Hope you and ds have a better day tomorrow Greymalkin - your list is VERY impressive given the day you have had

And ditto to Blue and Carpe - hope you all feel better soon!

Wow! That list is amazing! Quite a feat when you are on your own with youngster and new born Engels!!

Catg83 no purple obsession here (detest all that barftastic language!!). Let's just say we Fly in our own style on this thread!! I find the daily routines very helpful and that keeps things ticking along. Even better if I can add a mission in here and there (and 15 mins decluttering). I don't stick to the zones as I should but they don't really suit my house. Suggest just adapting the system to suit yourself. We all have periods where we Fly quite high, and then rl intervenes and everything goes to pot. That's totally normal. The main focus is just to keep doing a tiny bit every day. Small steps, small steps and all of that.

Forgot to say, well done re dissertation Bless

Ta da cont'd/...
finished hwk supervision
cleaned bit I had missed under oven (it's on short legs)
emptied dishwasher of baking trays that live in oven drawer
dd bath supervision
put away some ironed washing
re-booted machine
folded dried semi-dried washing ready for ironing
another load on
and then hung up to dry
easy supper for dd and myself (dh sped off on another business trip this pm)
rabbits

about to watch Wolf Hall

Didn't get as much of 1st floor landing and boudoir/home office done as I would have liked but it is taking a lot longer than anticipated. Anyway that is my task for tomorrow. (No time on Fri because I swapped today's volunteering slot.)

Big encouraging wing flaps to eveyrone else and anyone I've inadvertently missed!

Back in a mo with links!

Evening all!

Whoknows has asked me to post links in her absence tonight. (Good practice for next month!)

Glad to hear your df is much improved today Whoknows

So, where are we?

Start of the month, so we must be in Zone 1 I think here

Babystep no 5, for Thurs 5th Feb is about maintaining previous steps and reversing the negative voices in your head and writing postive things down is she mad?

Tomorrow's mission is involves grabbing shoes, books and jackets that seem to pile up right by the front door and putting them away in 15 mins

Thursday's daily focus is errand day!

What else? Habit of the month is the highly recommended decluttering 15 mins a day!!

Wishing you fabulous Flying everyone!! And speedy recoveries to those of you who are ailing!!

*

Thanks for all the welcomes.
Grey my house is in shared ownership with my parents which complicates things. There are many pluses but sadly more negatives to sharing a house I've found. Hope your DS is better and you have a sick free night tonight.

Whoknows think I'm a newbie but I may have posted once and forgotten all about it, I blame age!

Slingclutter that's some Ta da list! My day has been a bit of a write off becaus DS1 had a hospital appointment, a 30 minute appointment according to the letter - it lasted 2.5 hours. So today I only managed to put some washing away and do 15 minutes de cluttering in the living room because I had both boys at home all morning.

DH managed to get heating oil on some of his clothes which he then thoughtlessly deposited into the wash basket. I now have a load of clothes that stink of oil, I've washed them 3 times with different powders, bicarb, vinegar. They still stink. Anyone have any ideas on what might sort them, other than making DH eat them for being such an eejit?!

Sling very impressive ta-dah list. Glad to hear that only 2 or 3 are sleeping over, that sounds a lot more manageable than 10!

Toffee I laughed out loud at you being relieved about DS starting school to get a break but I suspect it was the laugh of the damned, knowing that that will be me! I will definitely check out the HE pages, I might as well start lesson planning now!

Bitchy hope you are feeling better soon

Whoknows glad to hear that your DF is feeling better

Hanbee sorry I haven't got any suggestions about how to remove the smell of heating oil but I feel for you. Perhaps he could take you out for a meal to make it up to you

I seem to have been busy but not achieved much of a list:

Made 2 out of the 3 pates for tomorrow
started the focaccia to prove in the fridge over night.

supermarket shop
Bought printer ink and a storage box as part of my attic tidy up
Washing up
Bathroom swish and swipe

I've haven't done any de-cluttering and I want to bully myself into doing 15 mins just so that I do some every day this month, but I really I just want to watch Midsomer Murders/go to bed. Maybe I can de-clutter a bit of paperwork in front of the tv and hence cover both bases

Evening all, thank you for links SC

Well, got back from hospital about 9.15. DF is indeed much improved, last night he was not aware of me and DMum being there at all, alternating between sleepy and agitated. He had been sedated though. Today he was sat up, having been up and about, wondering what had happened and asking to go home. He's not 100%, but not too far off, we are very relieved.

Haven't read the full thread, but am too tired, will bid you goodnight.

WhoKnows - Am very glad to read that your DF is much better today. You must be exhausted. Hope you manage to get a good night's sleep.

Taking DS2 up to London tomorrow - another 'home ed trip'. MIL is coming over to keep an eye on DS1.

Night all.

Whoknows that's good news that your dad is doing much better.

Toffee a home ed trip to London sounds great, what are you going to see?

Well I've managed to do about an hour sorting paperwork in front of Midsomer Murders this evening so I'm going to count that as my de-cluttering for the day. Paperwork is from my study aka the black hole of Calcutta, so hopefully things will start to improve in there.

Good night and see you all tomorrow

Good morning fledglings!

Good that your father is well on his way to recovery Whoknows - happy to carry on with links if you are tied up at hospital in the evenings - no probs

Ta da:
spoke on phone to jittery dh in Luxembourg who has very big day in terms of his career ahead of him
profited from dh's absence with lovely bubble bath instead of usual 5 min morning shower
dd off to school
morning routine in dw, wm, dining room table hot spot, rabbits & s&s
sorted out Ipod touch thingy (finally) so I can listen to podcasts while I work
carried laundry upstairs

Now a bit rabbit in headlights because have so MUCH that I could do ... and so much I need to do, don't know where to start ....

Soup-making?
Boudoir tidying? (we are starting to have to jump across the flooragain instead of walk across it )
Yet more ironing?

Anyway, had better go and start somewhere. Perhaps if I allocate one hour to each of those than that would be a good start and then I might have time to escape the house for a bit as school day is longer today (hwk club). Boudoir and first floor landing need at least three hours to themselves though I reckon.

Hope you and ds2 have a good trip up to the smoke Toffee

Dogsbum our house also contains black hole of Calcutta, aka my home office Well done with paper decluttering. Like the sound of home made foccacia!!

Hanbee you did well to get anything done after that extended trip to hospital ! Sorry, no clue about oil smell removal. I've looked up 'how to remove motor oil' from various websites such as Good Housekeeping etc and they all suggest what you have already done. I don't suppose blowing them all on the line in all weathers would help and then re-washing again??

Have a good day eveyrone!