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!

Willow I was on my phone and managed to completely miss your photos! The flowers and the buns look great!

Thanks for posting hc bun recipe. I am going to give it a go today! I have made Dan Leopards recipe, and tried Nigellas, but both took ages and weren't fantastic tbh. Well not as good as I would expect them to be given the time taken. So really interested to try the BBC ones!

Foxes sorry about your dh having to go back to work. I would have mixed feelings too if dh couldn't work from home

Foxes Zoo Willow Bower and anyone else who bakes ...

What are your thoughts on home-made v bought hot cross buns? I gather Mary Berry was saying even she prefers the M&S variety and she has recipes for them in her books! I love the Waitrose & M&S ones but they give me indigestion... .

Home-made buns are nice but they take ages if they have a double rise - I may buy some later but DH is currently ripping up the kitchen flooring and there is dust everywhere, no baking here for the foreseeable!

Morning - haven't caught up with the thread yet.Front room has flooring in it, and any kitchen stuff I'm trying to keep away from the worst of the flooring removal dust. Lunch may be crunchy today!

Happy birthday bower 🧡💛💚💙💜

Morning all. Just about. 😳 Apologies for late links and such, I managed to keep dozing for a while in the end, I didn’t even go up to bed as I knew I’d wake up too much by walking up stairs! So I just stayed in the living room and ignored everyone 😅 I’m still tired and achy/dizzy and in a really crap mood TBH. The others have gone for their walk, DD1 was reluctant again and I was a lot less patient this time as she is perfectly healthy and needs to go. Trying to think of ways to make it more interesting for her, our FSW suggested photography challenges on her phone (really wish we had a camera! We probably do have an old digital one somewhere, might try and look later).

Will catch up in a bit.

Launchpad

Friday is “clear out your bags and cars” day so I’m ahead on that one having done some bags yesterday! Will do DS’ with him later though.

Hoo-hah! For the exercising Zoo! 💪💪💪🎖

Yes the double rise is a killer Chic. I guess it's a good idea to do DIY during lockdown but the dust and noise must be difficult when you are a at home!

Sorry you feel so crap Lane dizziness is the pits. Take it steady!

Oh yes Lane was it you asking about shower doors? (Although sounds as if you should rest today.)

I use a spray thing that you use for house plants. Half industrial clear vinegar, half water. Leave it on on for a bit. Then polish with old clean soft cotton or mf cloth.

[My cleaning lady favours a product called Antikal .]

A miracle has occurred here ...dd is spontaneously hoovering!

🦥🦔🐿 the keep calm corner 🦆🦩🦜

In today’s uploads we have:

• a lockdown-sanctioned birthday card for our lovely bower 😘 (((virtual hug)))
• an eye-rollingly terrible pun 😳🙄
• cute ducklings

As a bonus, here is a link to the radio interview my therapist did - it was at 11.44 so I think you just scroll back on the time bar, if you’d find it useful - she’s talking about anxiety, expectations and coping strategies, if that is useful to anyone. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_sussex

And on a related note, today’s question: What relaxes you? (Clean answers only! 😳🤣) Are there particular things you do to stay calm and “renew your spirit” a la Flylady? Are there any you could focus more on now while some of the outdoor ones aren’t possible?

For me it’s playing piano and drawing that I most benefit from but I find it difficult to carve out the time to do either even though they would be really helpful . Journaling is good for me too especially when stressful things happen as I process it much better when I write it out. I do turn to puzzles when I’m stressed too - Japanese logic ones like Hanjie, killer sudoku etc. But those are a bit of a double edged sword really as I get so focused on them that I shut everything else out! So I try and limit them. I also find yoga/swimming/gym really good for stress levels - sometimes when I get really moody I actually crave a (gentle) workout which I would have laughed at the idea of a year ago! :o I do miss that. I also miss being able to nip to the pub TBH - I don’t drink but just being able to sit on my own, sometimes have lunch without a toddler climbing on me, and reading a book in peace.

SC i only favour home made over shop bought if they are particular type i cannot buy,due to time taken Vs speed eaten
DS won't eat dry fruit so I used to make choc chip ones,or choc with white choc chips/fudge.shops now sell with fudge/choc chips
I LOVED the m+s ginger ones couple years ago.devastated isnt strong enough for the words of how I feel about them being discontinued and never sold again....

I've been thinking about making hot cross buns today too as I didn't get any yesterday. I'm running out of strong flour though, I was thinking about trying the Dan Lepard ones because they use plain flour.

Happy Birthday Bower!

Just had lunch, made some smoked mackerel pate to have in toast and a big bowl of salad. Done quite a bit of tidying this morning and now need to get baking.

Oh hope today brightens up 8you lane, it's hard when you are just so tired.

I'm very impressed with those of you who have baked hot cross buns, I've never even tried.

What relaxes me: Getting outside- either going for a walk or just sitting in the garden. Always does me good.
Also if I'm just watching telly or a film, or reading in the evening I find it more relaxing if I nest a bit first: grab a fluffy blanket, have biscuits on a plate, cosy lighting or candles. Just takes 5 minutes but helps me unwind and relax d

Hope you will have better luck with the Dan Lepard ones Expletive tbh I am confident with pastry, but less so with bread-making/doughs etc. Haven't had much practice and rely too much on the bread machine. Love the sound of your lunch!

Oh yes I remember the comment about the ginger ones Zoo (although I never tasted them)! I wonder why they were discontinued as people raved about them on here as I recall.

We've had yet more home-made soup for lunch (it's a bit hot for it though - 22°c!) and I've done some good cleaning and tidying downstairs (dd made it more fun by filming it on the Ipad app thing which speeds it all up - very funny to watch afterwards!)

Dh is working downstairs and dd is about to have an on-line maths tutoring session so I am going to hide myself away and do some patchwork, which is the thing I do to relax (sewing). I find it very calming and patchwork in particular is something that (usually) you are very much in control of ifyswim. Although I am only at the assembly stage of shapes atm. Haven't actually sewn anything together. Being with dhorse is wonderful too but I wouldn't call it exactly relaxing atm as he is going through his adolescent phase and I have to be two steps ahead.

Speaking of being two steps ahead, I have done two x 2 of "puppy" training. I am trying to teach her to pull a tissue out of a box and offer it to me when I pretend sneeze. We have to break the task down in to about 26 steps and she is only on step 2 atm.

Other news is that a chocolate shop here is making chocolate bunnies with masks, some of the profits going to the King Baudouin foundation Fighting Covid-19 Fund and also as a good present to give to an hcp you may know here.

Last but not least, Lane you are fantastic with the memes! Dh has been cackling all morning at Wurst Kase scenario and sends you a big thumbs up . I love the ducklings too!

x posts

Oh no your poor little lad Giveme sorry he is feeling so unwell. That's really grim for him (and you). And sorry about the financial worries too. Really really difficult times. Is there anyone you can contact about it? I know nothing about UK system but others were talking on another thread about this organisation step change here and there seems to be a lot of info on this page if you scroll down.

There's also been a debate on other threads about which is best: queueing for hours to go in to a big shop where there are quite a few people and doing a large enough shop for 7-10 days or so, or visiting little shops locally just for 5 mins at a time but going more frequently. It's certainly a difficult one.

I agree about bubble baths and being in the garden too!

Waves to Fluffiest and everyone else!

Well, the dough is having it's first rise in the greenhouse, where a certain girl is also helping with a the seed sowing.

call if I remember correctly for the first couple of days of the pox my DD felt a bit flu-like so it does sound like it might be the pox to me.

Also, it's this time of year that the Reception class normally goes down with it from memory as well!

Lane a few of my friends have been doing a quiz on Houseparty or other video calling apps. Each couple writes a few questions. That has worked well apparently.

I’m a bit weird and if I’m feeling a bit stressy then my ultimate relax is to sit and plan in my diary, work out finances and write to do lists . Also, sitting with a book in the garden, getting out for a walk, a long, hot, deep bath, or curling up with a blanket, cuppa / wine, and a candle lit with the living room tidy always relax me. I’ve recently re-discovered the joys of drawing and colouring in now DD is of that age.

Hope DS makes a quick recovery Giveme

for cleaning SC

I’ve never made hot cross buns, and always go for chocolate ones from the shop. Last year either the co-op or Tesco did amazing salted caramel and chocolate ones. This year I’ve got Morrison’s Belgian choc ones (good, but not the best I’ve had) and Apple and cinnamon ones that I haven’t sampled yet.

Ta Das:
✅ family walk
✅ bedding in dryer
✅ scoffed some Easter egg after DM dropped some on the doorstep (we normally wait until Easter Sunday but DD has already seen it and I wasn’t prepared to wait argue.

zoo we made chocolate cookies instead so hope they'll do for the naughty corner

Sc I have never made hot cross buns actually , I love the ones from m&s but won't be able to get any this year. Maybe I should try and make some 🤔

As for relaxation I would say my main things and simplest things are a nice cup of tea and cooking or baking. Making lists of things I want to cook also good!

KT you mentioning colouring reminds me that I did some with the dc yesterday and found it very relaxing..I never really got into the adult colouring books - turns out what I enjoy is colouring in my little pony pictures with felt tip pens!! I'm just not skilled enough for the adult ones 😂

Happy birthday bower 🎂🍰🎈🎁

willow those hot cross buns look amazing!

give sorry your little one is not feeling too well. I hope he's able to feel more comfortable soon.

All I have done so far today is make DH breakfast, S&S and make a grocery shopping list. I would normally have enough to get me through till the weekend, but I, like many others didn't think my last through very well and didn't plan enough meals. I keep wanting to try our local grocery pick up, but I'm impatient and want to be able to pick up within a couple of hours (I would have to pay for that!).

To Dos;

📌 LOL.
📌 Grocery shopping.

📌 Pulling weeds.

📌 Vacuum and mop.

📌 Meal prep.

I think there's more, but I can't think of anything else right now.

bower I'm glad to hear your cat is doing much better as well.

Sorry to get the song stuck in your heads as well everyone!

Oh lane to answer your question today, I really enjoy a nice hot bath to relax. I do enjoy relaxing on the couch as well, with a fluffy blanket. Sometimes I bake to relax, other times it stresses me out! I do love to go to our local hot springs, but obviously can't at the moment. We do like to camp, sit by the fire. We have a fire pit in our back yard so when it's a little nicer in the evenings we'll get that going and have a drink around the fire.

Happy birthday Bower! 🍧🍨🍰🎂🍻🍾🍷🍸🍹🍭💐🎉🎊🎁 Hope your DS got to wave over the wall at you and the weather is giving you a lovely day! Give, your poor boy. Hope he is not too itchy.

We have had a perfectly lovely family day here today, rescuing it after FIL rang at 8.40am to say that his computer was "broken" and could it be because he left the window in the dining room open overnight? Since the computer is upstairs, this seemed even more unlikely than you might think. However, since in the past he has ascribed a broadband outage to "next door coming home and running a bath", it's not so far off-beam for him. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing! Anyway, DH managed to fix it after an hour (FIL had accidentally turned off the home hub) and with only a little bit of shouting ("now close everything down... (Pause)... What did you do that for? 🤬😠 If I'd wanted you to launch Chrome I'd have said so!" )

I had a long WhatsApp chat with a writing friend this morning about what to do next, and then lunch in the garden with all the DCs. We're not going to get a holiday of any kind this year, so we talked about what people remembered of past holidays. It's amazing what DS3 has in his head! He clearly remembers a holiday when he was 2.75.

This afternoon DSs1 and 3 and DD have played football in the garden, DH has done a bit of pottering in the garden and I've done some embroidery and made a cottage pie from leftover beef.

It's just been lovely, and you'd hardly know there was a lockdown on. Oh, and DS1 is changing his degree course. Hope you have all been able to enjoy today.

giveme are the spots blister like? Do you have a close up photo?

Happy birthday bower 🥳