Flapping calmly through lockdown: Fledglings April 2020. Welcome to the Keep Calm Corner!

[LaneBoy]

Hello all!

Thank you for joining us, please note if we seem cliquey it’s only because it’s a long running thread - everyone really is welcome!

Welcome to (probably) the most bizarre Flylady thread yet... in which we are attempting to impose/maintain some kind of order in our homes, while also many of us are adjusting to working from home and homeschooling the kids for the first time too! Not to mention the anxiety around health and accessing food!

Of course, normally the opening post would talk about banishing CHAOS - Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome - but now we aren’t allowed anyone over anyway :o so, let’s just try and make our homes nicer FOR US. We are spending more time than ever in them, so let’s make them really wonderful places to be, our own safe little nests for our families.

Flylady routines might just help us get through this crazy time, by giving us a little structure to work from when all else is unpredictable - but as usual there is no right or wrong here. All of us follow it only to the extent it helps us - we can take ideas and make them work for us. And the key principle is, YOU ARE NEVER BEHIND. I feel like that is even more evident now, with so many of these outside pressures and commitments suddenly gone, and frankly the days rolling into one!

This is potentially a great time to declutter. Of course, Flylady suggests 15 minutes a day - but perhaps in these unprecedented times we will all do more! But we are all busy getting into our own routines now that school is out, and work too for many, and we’ve lost a lot of the outside structure to our lives. There’s no right or wrong here, we just have to try and adapt.

Links wise, I’ll just post the launch pad, and will add reminders about zones too. If anyone has Flying questions, please ask!

The Keep Calm Corner
The lovely SC came up with the brilliant idea of the Keep Calm Corner last month - this is a daily post with things to make us happy! I figured each monthly host can make this their own, and I’m a little worried my taste in art and music would not be calming to most :o so for this month, the KCC will consist of:
Some memes - either funny (we all need a laugh! Warning though - some will likely be unsavoury :o) or thought provoking/relaxation based. Do PM me (here or FB) if you have any you want to add!
A daily “ice breaker” type question - obviously answering these is entirely optional, and don’t say anything that will out you, but if you want to join in and create some extra conversations on the thread then treatment, we can all get to know each other better! Again, if you think of any questions please PM!

Thank you for settling in, and of course thank you to SC for making March such a lovely thread. And lastly, a huge thank you also to our key worker Fledglings, who are doing an incredible job of keeping things running!

lane i might be wrong but feel ive seen you mention getting fsm and healthy start vouchers before, can i ask are you on UC or TC?

Oh yeah. :) We moved onto universal credit a few months ago (DH stopped work at the start of 2019 but they kept him on sick pay for a long time. Once they finally officially let him go, the change triggered a move to UC) and now get healthy start vouchers. We did get the vouchers when DS was little though, during the time DH was waiting for back surgery. It was something to do with whether you had working tax credit I think

We get TC including WTC
The dc get fsm i thought under ever6 rule but someone on the money section says not
I was just wondering if any point trying for healthy start as DP is self employed and not entitled to the goverment thing

Hello! Lots to catch up on 😀
Cineraria and Bowerbird I knit socks because I cannot sit and do nothing in the evening; it’s pretty automatic now. I use a 60 or 80 cm circular needle and the magic loop method. I couldn’t get on with four straight double-ended needles, got me very bad tempered! The ones with a heel flap like in the photo are top down but I also do toe up which don’t have a heel flap and gusset.

I’m embarrassed to confess I have never made a song list (and actually have absolutely no idea how to 🙄), my limit is Radio 3 or 4 I’m afraid! I do have many cds, mostly classical, and musicians —from a long time ago!— Until very recently I hadn’t even used earplugs to listen to podcasts etc on my phone (old one was too slow) or iPad, so a long way behind you all!
I find listening through them quite sort of disorientating so clearly need to get used to them - my dcs consider me a dinosaur 🦕 I suspect, I often get kindly quizzical eye rolls from them 😄. I do have hearing loss which probably doesn’t help.
DH has been emptying and tidying the garden shed, mahoosive arachnids will ensure that I avoid entering. It doesn’t , from a distance, look much emptier 😳.

At least three loads of washing have dried, the house is tidy and I have prepped supper (salad, new potatoes and chicken).

DD’s been sending videos of her puppy, how I wish I was seeing her and DS, DDIL and the docs. Unfortunately I’m on week 3 of lockdown, so no chance before mid or end June 😢. Oddly enough I don’t crave going out; having the garden is an enormous bonus, although it’s small. And my new greenhouse arrives this week, there won’t be much housework going on once that’s up!

strawberry A new greenhouse! That's exciting. What are planning to grow?

I have no idea where this afternoon has gone. I did no cleaning except for minimum laundry (which is still in the basket, not put away) and washed the dishes after lunch.

But I have been entertaining DD so my ta-da list is
❤ treasure hunt in the garden which ended in shouting and tears because I put a treasure on top of a bucket instead of inside it. The game was apparatus irredeemable after that so we came inside
💛 made lunch
🧡 took DD for a bike ride in the park with DH
💚 Made chocolate lollies with a set that my friend kindly posted to us
💙 Made sausage casserole for tea
💜 Facetimed my parents - who are fine, but I miss them. We normally see them throughout the week and only live ten minutes away.
🖤 Bedtime routine with DD. Still waiting for her to fall asleep now.

Tomorrow is going to be odd because I'm actually got work to do. Been 'working from home' for two weeks with no actual work to do but a job has finally come through. So DH is going to do his work early morning and in the evening, so I can have the computer during the day and he can do childcare. So realistically, probably not going to do a lot of cleaning tomorrow either- is this when I can go chill in the naughty corner for a bit?

Also I'm very glad to hear that Boris is doing ok in hospital. I'm hoping he makes a good recovery soon.

Strawberry I’m gutted I can’t wear knitted socks - love them but sensory issues (I’m autistic) mean I am super fussy about fabrics especially on my feet! Great to have the greenhouse to keep you busy, I’d love one if we had space. My lovely “second mum” (mentioned up thread as I used to play on her piano) is a keen gardener and that’s really helping make sure she gets loads of fresh air and is keeping busy.

She sent some Easter money actually, going to give the Caglets a tenner each to save/spend, what should I get Cagletini for that? Something super versatile 🤔 she’s got oodles of books and I’m going to make lots of paper/card based activities (and we have basics like paint) so something different I think.

I’ve still done nothing. I love the daily walk but I still get tired after! Worth it though and I’m still worrying we will soon be banned from that too so determined to make the most of it :(.

That I think it’d be worth phoning up, if he’s lost income? It’s something to do with income amount as well as whether or not you get WTC I think. They don’t really advertise it much I find, it was only because I knew about it that we got it. You’d get double as well until baby turns 1 I think!

My mum has been thinking about her funeral just lately, was even asking whether she should be buried or cremated. I think with her being in lockdown her mind is going. After my dad passed away 2 years ago almost (next Friday) she has been busy with luncheon clubs etc. Now everything is shut down she occupies herself unless my brother goes over there (he's her carer).

I am feeling better about it, especially when she tells me she has another 40 years left anyway! (She's almost 74!), but I really wish she would change her mind as to which brother she has put on the will to be in charge as I don't trust him, she only has him because he is the oldest!

bower it sounds like your cat is on the mend, hope she makes a speedy recovery.

Not much flying today as I'm at work, although I have sanitized a lot of surfaces here in the office.

I've caught up with the thread in bits and bobs today and totally forgotten any replies so just 👋 to everyone.

Had a productive day today and the DC have spent all day in the garden and now we're camping out so my house is actually clean 🎉

Ta-da's
✔️ windows done
✔️ polished
✔️ hoovered
✔️ mopped
✔️ S&S
✔️ironing
✔️ cleaned kitchen
✔️ 3 x LOL. Probably would have gotten a few more done but had to take it In off the line because we had a bbq.

That doesn't sound like I've done a lot but it was exactly what was needed to get on top of it.

We've actually had a really nice day and now I've just had a bath and we're all tucked up in the tent for the night so I'm going to read for a bit.

Attached a photo of our home for the night 🏕

Ooh have fun we3!

I vegetated further and then spent a while calming DD1 down after someone forwarded one of those bullshit voice messages about how many children would die of CV next week and other such scaremongering “facts” 🙄🤬 she’s mostly ok but still worried about the idea of even leaving the house to exercise being disallowed, which of course I can’t promise won’t happen.

Been trying to gather some ideas for sporty stuff to do in the garden - football drills that don’t risk kicking a ball over the fence, anyone? We have cones for dribbling exercises but want to keep it varied so any ideas would be welcome!

Anyway DH and DD1 are now watching yet another wizardy thing so I’m hiding upstairs with the laminator making some matching games for the toddler. Boy do I know how to live!

WE3 brilliant
Strawberry I haven’t made one either!
Helped DH finish the

Not much flying either. We spent a lot of time in the garden. Buddleia pruned. Most of the pots weeded we have a delivery of beaker
I
Ta da
S&S
Washedwit
Ladd on too
Made delicious lunch ...salad.
*

I hope you are feeling a bit better today, zoo. It does feel unsettling seeing very powerful people affected so much. Your dinner sounded amazing. I don't like meat or veggie fake meat mince but I love mushrooms and the sauce sounds good from a taste and nutritional view. Actually, I want to make lots of your dishes. When are you writing your cookbook (Feeding Time at the Zoo, maybe) or should I perhaps wait for the television series?

Do you find the Scottish family history interesting, Willow or is it very much just work?

What music do I listen to often? Well my Spotify playlists are all for the children, really, so I have one of all the songs from the four Frozen films, plus the albums from the Trolls and Sing films, another playlist of their Just Dance favourites (they memorize the dances!), others for Peppa Pig, Bounce Patrol, Toddler Fun Learning, Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins and Hey Duggee. Sorry! You did ask!

The mushroom kits were from Suttons, SC. They were a bit more expensive than other places but were 3 for 2 so it worked out a little bit cheaper that way. We just got button and chestnut ones but they have fancier types too. I do hope they grow. Good luck with Jerusalem.

Magic loop always looks so efficient when someone else does it, strawberry but I don't find I get on with it myself as well as with four dpns. I do like my circular needle for straight knitting though, which seems a bit contrary but I just find the shorter needles and flexible cords more comfortable to work with, especially as I used to knit a lot on the train to work.

How exciting to be in the tent, We3 Is the whole family in it? It looks a really nice big one.

Today was a bit rubbish really. Both boys woke up in the night and then woke up early so we were all tired and grumpy for most of today. Then, I ended up with three back to back on-screen sessions for them to attend in the morning. I had booked to do the local library's song session as they haven't been to it for ages because it clashes with DS1's school times, then I unexpectedly got a cancelled place on a similar session organised by DH's work place and DS1's school scheduled one late last night for this morning. That combination didn't go well and DS2's nap didn't go well either, so both were in a delicate mood until bedtime. Every time I turned my back they were fighting over something. I got some ironing done while DS2 napped and the dishwasher and meals but not much else.

Tomorrow should be better. Just DS2's virtual playgroup in the morning, which is easygoing and then might try the preschooler ballet class from the teacher Chic mentioned (thank you!) as DS1 has been asking for a ballet class since the last one we tried but I think that one was really for slightly older children.

I didn't get enough exercise today so I can't sleep! Also, my mind is racing. And there are quite a few sirens tonight I think many of them are police though, not ambulances. So I thought I would take you up on your challenge Lane which is a lovely diversion...

Can't link on this tablet thing for some reason but the following can be easily Googled and are all roughly £10:

1. Orchard Toys big red bus Jigsaw puzzle
2. John Lewis housekeeping set (mop, bucket, brush) I know, I know , not the most liberated of presents, but it is sturdily made for the price and a boy toddler of my acquaintance loves it!
3. Duplo do nice animal sets (there is a farm one definitely, and a zoo one I think for 2-5 yr olds) which are well made .
4. A collection of seeds such as sunflowers, radishes, marigolds, that toddlers might find fun to grow?

Btw, the Orchard Toy website is worth checking out as they have some fantastic craft and activity ideas for children for Easter that are free to print iirc.

Sorry you had a tough day Cineraria hope tomorrow is better! Ta v much for mushroom set details! Will investigate!

That's an impressive tent We3kings! Hope you are having a comfy night!

Is your greenhouse going to be on earth or concrete if you don't mind me asking Strawberry? I am wrestling with this dilemma ATM! (Haven't chosen the actual greenhouse yet either!). What breed is your dd's puppy? Quite a good time in a way (if household fairly calm) to introduce a new dog in to the family, especially if you have a garden.

Good luck with working today Fluffiest, hope it goes well

Fluffiest and Hazel family members being separated from one another is one of the hardest bits of all of this I think. I am worried if any of my family in UK become ill and I won't be able to travel to them.

Hazel this must be very hard for your mum being so recently widowed . Brother situation sounds worrying.

Expletive we were intending to hold out for another week (very frugally) shopping-wise but I stupidly forgot to factor in Easter Sunday! Fortunately by chance I have a frozen leg of lamb in the freezer and peas and we have mint in the garden, and some potatoes ..also have some cous cous and jarred peppers & olives and some courgettes if we want to go Moroccan-style route, but we don't have any chocolate for dd. All the lovely artisanal hand-made chocolate shops are open here (had to laugh that they were classified as essential!) but as all the individual chocs are "open" to air and handled a lot, dh has decreed that we won't be buying them this year! Think I might make a coffee cake for dd (which is one of her favourites) instead. I think I may have chocolate chips for baking too.

That's crap your dd1was upset in that way Lane I hope she is ok. Dd1 was asking us tonight about arrangements if we both died. We reassured her of course about how unlikely that was, but only by constructing a document for her on-line, listing contact numbers, addresses, some financial (basic) stuff. I think she has been on-line a bit too much today too!

Ta da:
extended morning routine inc s&s, cleaned kitchen bin and sink, DW, 2 X wm, one load hung up, scrubbed dog bowls,
cleaned fruit bowls.
about 4.5 hours "work" work
Leslie Samsome video
40 mins hacking at brambles in overgrown bit of garden
2x 15 mins "puppy" training ; she's so incredibly bright it's quite challenging to put it mildly but huge fun!
Made a blended carrot soup , incorporating celery leaves that would often be thrown away in normal times, managed to spray it across kitchen tiles so ...
Cleaned kitchen tiles
Cleaned out veg drawer in fridge
A paltry 15 mins in boudoir which is starting to go backwards again, NO!!!![despair]
Dd and me did a bit more of jigsaw in sun on terrace
Dd and me watched another episode of our Netflix series
Made a tomato/ veggie sauce for pasta supper
And we discovered today that the Post Office here has started a personal photo-postcard service thing (like the Apple app) which can all be done on-line, so dd and I each put some Easter photo cards together for friends and family.

Going to try and sleep now! . Have to get up in three hours!
Hope everyone has a good day tomorrow/today!

Expletive could I please trouble you for flatbread recipe again? Sorry to be a pain but I searched and couldn't find it!

Mahoosive waves to all!

Bloomin 'eck. Sorry, that was an essay

Meant chocs were handled a lot during their manufacture btw (being hand-made) didn't mean servers handled them unnecessarily! But even so ...not worth the risk this year.

This malarkey of working less to avoid contamination in the office is making me so tired on the days I work! I am off tomorrow though so should be able to get more done.

DH just found out his aunt passed away today in a car accident. We haven't had any contact with that side of the family for at least 5 years. It's sad, but she wasn't the lady we knew a long time ago. He doesn't seem too bothered by it, and I really didn't know her that well. Still a shock though.

I don't remember who asked about activities, but can you make a small makeshift assault course using household items? Like army crawling under a blanket that's up off the ground somehow, to shooting a nerf gun or water gun at a target, then doing 5 jumping jacks in another spot, followed by kicking a ball into a goal? I'm trying to remember what things you were hoping for, but if nothing else might give you an idea (or anyone else for that matter).

SC - I'll post the recipe later, I think I messaged it to Willow previously rather than on here. Talking of bread, I have ventured into making a sourdough starter, day 5 today. It's something I have always fancied trying. Been chatting away happily on the Be-Ro book thread too.

Strawberry I have a half shed/half greenhouse. It's a shed with one half glazed, best of both worlds. However in stormy weather in winter the roof vents leak a bit which is annoying as it has a wooden floor, I have to put a row of seed trays down the middle of the floor to catch drips. Don't go in there much in winter though, I just open the door on dry days to keep it from getting damp. It's lovely to sit or work in at this time of year.

It's a beautiful morning here, now there is so little traffic the birdsong sounds amazing. I do a thing where you take little everyday video clips and merge them into a monthly video diary. Previously I have had to mute the sound on most of them due to background noise but I am noticing that the only sound in recent clips is birdsong.

Enough rambling. Must get up and do stuff. Work videocon at 9 to get ready for.

Fluffiest you’re welcome in the naughty corner whenever, although if you’re working from home you get a pass and don’t have to be relegated there for lack of cleaning. On my work days I’m happy with a S&S, LOL, and the sink shiny before bed.

Absolutely gorgeous morning here. Hoping it’s as warm as it looks so we can spend the day in the garden. DH is going to cut the grass apparently.

Hazel might do an obstacle course in the garden, thanks for that.

We3 love the camping idea. Like a mini holiday. Hope you weren’t all too cold and the DC weren’t to excited to sleep.

Hope anxious teenagers are feeling a bit better today.

Waves to Lane, That, (I also need aaaallll the details, makes me feel less anxious) Bower, Zoo, Expletive, SC, Cineraria, Lisette, Chic, Foxes, Willow and Giveme

Ta Da:
Erm... nothing

To Do:
LOL
Upstairs home bleurgh
Something in zone 2
Gardening
Exercise (did none yesterday)

Oh Strawberry seem to have lost my line to you. A new greenhouse will be a great way to keep you occupied on lockdown! Sorry you’re missing your DC. I’m missing my family obviously, but must be hard to have grown up DC away from you.

Morning.i took time out yesterday,did 5loads washing and attempt stem ants entering via front and back doors

This morning I see on BBC news cats need keeping indoors so don't spread or poss pick it up.marvellous!scoutcat will not tolerate this idea,so he's now banned from coming in as cossie cat has probs her nose as leftover from cat flu as a kitten and regularly struggles breathe thru it

Feeding time at the zoo that made me laugh.thank you

Lanepainting fence with water and brushes
Throw rolled up socks into baskets
Assault courses made of whatever you can find(chalk /newspaper line to run along,hop from X to X etc)
Hopscotch if you can mark one out of fashion one from cardboard/tape lines
Order a swing ball
Port and starboard game?(if you never played Google it,might be an old duffers thing)
Steps game(fairy steps,giant steps,crab steps(side to side)someone shout out and everyone else complies
Exercise bike in the garden

Hope there's something useful there

SC I have loads orchard you games I cannot bare to part with hopes for grandzoolets to play them with one day

I did read all messages but brains fuddled and can't remember anything else.big waves to everyone

Word of the day absconce to hide to conceal
Bees knees we all know as something exceptional,but bee knee is something insignificant or undersized

Morning all

Ta Da

💜 dressed to shoes
💛 dryer on

Thanks for ideas lovelies! I remember the port and starboard game! In fact I distinctly remember playing it at the auditions for the phantom tollbooth play I think I mentioned upthread 😂 we had to do some of the running bits and then go in the middle and perform lines.

Been up since 7 but DS came down and asked to play a card game so we tried that (slowly, as first time playing, it’ll be better with more players too. It’s called Llamas Unleashed).

Also Cagletini tried out one of the matching games I made last night/this morning. I photographed phrases and pictures from the book and laminated them, then I was reading out the phrases and she was putting them on the right picture :) think I’ll have a look through her other books and see if I can make other similar games. Maybe with the very hungry caterpillar she could put them in order or something

We have loads of laminator sheets - before lockdown (I keep calling it that even though technically it isn’t really?!) when everyone else was panic buying loo roll, I asked DH for laminator pockets and he found 3 packs of 25 for about £2 total 😅😅😅

Right I just realised I’m mega hungry so I’ll have breakfast and be back with the links/TKCC 😳

Lane Forgot garden game suggestion: tug of war?

Thanks Expletive I would also love to know how to do the sour bread starter too if you have the time! That's so true about bid song. I have been noticing it of late.

Dd seems less anxious this morning thank heavens. She is busy rearranging furniture in her room. I am audio-typing with a small dog curled up at my feet having sprayed the shower doors with vinegar, to rinse and polish later.

Wow that laminated game is amazing Lane! Cagletini looks very absorbed by it!

Launch pad

Today’s focus is anti procrastination. Do stuff you’ve been putting off. Yeah. We have no excuses now really do we... dammit 😳😳😳

Just putting the zone links in again as we are halfway through the week:

Missions

Detail cleaning