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!

See I’d say that sort of thing in a joking way anyway 😳

It’s been lovely reading about everyone’s families! I don’t really know what a sibling relationship is like (am I the only Only here? Although there are a few not joined us on this thread yet, No Fledgling Left Behind so hope they join us soon) - when I first met my stepchildren it all felt very new indeed! I am sorry to read of those who have lost siblings though 💕 and about feuds and family drama. DH has two younger sisters and although they can laugh and joke around sometimes he very much keeps them at arm’s length!

Give so glad you got your therapy session done! Excellent use of chocolate!

ta da
✅phoned GP, got call back, GP prescribed antibiotics for DS so DH will collect those later
✅reminded DD1 to sign in to the last few subjects for school - she will probably be quite behind now but it’ll give her something to do over Easter!
✅played piano. Badly.

✅looked out on the decking lots as we appear to have a little family of three mice?!

I’m insanely hungry today. Think I need that fridge sign myself! I’m back on my full dose of ADHD meds now (they’re the reason I’ve lost weight this year - I just don’t crave stuff) but they don’t seem to have as much effect when I’m bored at home! I think the fact I was often busy was helping too, as I had the courses and stuff to think about. I must try and have something sensible for lunch.

DD1 is in a bad way emotionally today. Just seems really low. She slept late which is not like her at all, and refused to go on a walk with the others. She’s getting on with her work now though.

Bower that blog has some great projects and they are very clearly explained, she has a big following. Great photos too.

SC most of my blankets are donated to the Woolly Hugs charity run by MNers. The two I have posted are for children from Chernobyl.

Lane - I got DH and DD with the leek under the sunk. DS didn't get it .

Aah that’s so lovely give!

I like the idea of sharing happy things daily too. Mine is that I’ve had lots of chat via text with the leader of one of the courses - so not someone I’d normally chat with outside of “work” parameters, but the rules seem somewhat relaxed at the moment :o

ta da
✅had a proper lunch (tuna wrap with loads of salad)
✅walked - went further again. Just round the duck pond at the park and back, was less than 20 mins but still it’s an improvement. Saw some pretty flowers (anyone know what they are? I’m soooo shit at flowers).

Now I need to brave the shower/hair wash but I’m a bit tired.

bowerabout your sister

Also intrigued by peeling soup

Tada
Put shop away(wiped with dettox,having looked up few articles.to point out if using wipes any kind be sure 99%effective against bacteria AND VIRUSES many only against bacteria ocd knowledge speaking)

Lunch
Phone call checks from outreach school and D's roll school
Crochet whilst D's and dd2 watch and critique film on 5

Need ring CAMHS before downing Street message.i prefer that to news as it's just fact based then I don't have to deal anything else that has capacity upset anxiety more,and I'm sure we behaving as expected by government and nothing in that line has changed

Remove spider from tiling above shower (before zoolets need washes as my non soap Dodger isn't keen sharing the shower /scared will abseil in with her...)

Still haven't sorted the mould.may do that tomorrow now.bit tired,so unless get second wind that can wait

DD is 12 btw. She was home educated for almost five years and then decided she was ready to try school again so she joined year 8 in December - she’s had a term of school and is taking the change on the chin but is still very sad about it and getting anxious.

lane number two is a primrose/polyanthus...not sure other two

Lane the purple one is lesser periwinkle (vinca minor) I'm pretty sure. Not sure about the white one.

Ooh thanks!

BTW glad at least some April Fool’s jokes went down well! I was so shocked by all the “pretend school is open again and film your upset child” trickery spreading on FB that I couldn’t think of anything else. Not that we mark the occasion anyway - a few years ago we tried the “freezing cereal in milk” trick (so it looks like a normal breakfast but then they can’t get the spoon out) and DS was absolutely howling tears totally misjudged that and it’s put us off!

Shower had, hair washed, clean clothes. About time self care goes out the window when I’m ill and when I don’t have to leave the house, so it’s not been the best combination! 😳😳😳

Errr just to clarify I have actually washed/changed in the time I’ve been ill 😂 just not as often.

Delurking to say just how much I enjoy reading this thread.
💐 to you all.
The pretty white flower is a Wood Anaemone, very delicate. We have lots in the woods behind us, along with dog violets and bluebells a bit later in the spring.

Such a busy thread already! Thanks so much for the March one SC. I loved all the cultural links and the children's crafts. I have bookmarked a few to do when they are in the mood. Right now they are affected by the clock change and are a bit tired and grumpy and wanting to do something but not having the energy or attention span.

I love the April Keep Calm Corner ideas Lane. It will be great to get to know everyone here. I have one brother almost six years younger. I asked for twin sisters from Father Christmas that year but we got him instead a couple of days before Christmas, so I thought he was my present. He lives in Madrid with his wife but no children yet. We are very fond of each other but are usually useless at keeping in touch. The current situation has made me want to keep in touch more and we are doing a video call each week. The boys are learning something to say to their aunt in Spanish each time; she isn't Spanish but from another Spanish speaking country. I'm sorry to hear some of you have sad stories of your siblings.

Today I have done:

• LOL nappies
• emptied dishwasher and refilled throughout the day

-Made all beds

• S&S
• sweep round downstairs
• meals prepared and cleared away
• emails and paperwork for DS1's preschool (anti procrastination task) as he had a nap.
• Folded other laundry and put away
• hosted a virtual playgroup for four of DS1's friends and their mums (chaos but fun)
• hung nappies in garden while starting and judging the boys' bicycle races then brought them (nappies and boys) in half an hour later due to a rain warning!
• sung the alphabet song and one to ten in Spanish about a hundred times!

Hello to all! Sorry it's one big hello rather than individually. I wanted to jump back on the thread but the boys want to jump on each other!

I love the crochet blankets. I have dug out my one (just three 10 inch squares so far) but don't have enough of the main yarn for the next square. If I can get some I will be joining in with you too.

I got a slight second wind

Swept kitchen and living room floors
Raised cupboards and cobbled together dinner zoolets agreed to eat-(canned) stew steak with (frozen) squash cubes in oven for a bit with onion powder.added thrifty Leslie dumplings( they use oil not suet as what I had to hand)and added generous amount paper and dry basil.readg shortly.smell indicates should get eaten(although lil zoo may pick out the squash depending on mood)
Wiped all surfaces over
Wiped dining table and little table dd2 like eat her food at

One thing I do is keep tables clean now!

So officially potato peel soup is an onion fried off with a bay leaf then add potato peelings, 1/2 ltr milk and 1/2 ltr stock & season. Cook until the peelings are soft then blitz. Ours had leek instead of onions because I didn't have any and I threw a sad looking carrot in. It needs loads of black pepper. Don't al expect a culinary masterpiece btw. It's ok but nothing special I just needed something for lunch before I went shopping.

Asda was ok. Had to line up for about 15 mins to get in. It was busier than I expected inside tbh. No restrictions on what I could buy. Only things I couldn't get were vanilla essence, icing sugar, broccoli and onion rings. They also had loads of yellow sticker stuff and I grabbed a toy story traybake which DS3 is chuffed to bits with. I'm absolutely exhausted now not used to having to leave the house 😂

Well I've spent most of today shuffling after DD and clutching a hot water bottle to my middle, so my good start soon fizzled out. Didn't wipe down the dining room or clean the patio but I did...

• organise a medicine basket
• plant seeds with DD
• family walk along the canal
• bring bins back in after collection
• made a cottage pie
• cleaned the table after DD had a massive play doh session
• put DD to bed

One lovely thing today was having a video call with my friend and her 1 month old baby. So much cuteness!

Now I'm off to read more of the links, and come up with a plan for tomorrow. Thanks for all your encouragement and help today. You're a very nice bunch of people.

Hello all, and you're welcome to chip in anytime Strawberry!

Icebreaker - I'm an only child, I have two step-siblings quite close in age to me. Luckily, I've known my step-siblings all my life as my mum remarried a family friend (bio dad left when I was 4).

DD still ploughing on with schoolwork and looking forward to the Easter break strangely DH not working for four weeks now, which will be the longest time he's ever had off work to my knowledge. We are all still speaking!

Still doing one or two loads of laundry a day, basket gone down a bit but that might be due to doing a load of bulky towels! Will wash more towels tomorrow!

Have cleaned up the kitchen after dinner already, DH on video call upstairs in worst room of house and might go out for a walk shortly. We did persuade DD to come with us last night, might not be so lucky this time!

fluffy that's a pretty good list from where I'm sitting not stuffing my face with crisps before dinner

Tada
Zoolets fed,surprisingly lil zoo ate squash as added garlic granules to hers after put into a bowl.this it seems us the elixir of get her eat stuff- chilli,garlic or ginger(doesn't work always but a win is a win)
Washed up the baking dishes before it welded itself on
My foods now in oven with dd2s
Wiped table down
Made D's bed(fresh wash sheets)
Folded rest dry laundry and our away

About give D's milk and his melatonin plus last banana choc chip coconut muffin
Then it's my tea and time watch TV and crochet ❤️

Ooh, hello Strawberrycreamsundae, are you going to join us? The more the merrier, and No Fledgling Left Behind!

Lovely flowers, Lane. I had a bit of time in the garden this afternoon, it was lovely if chilly.

Bower, for the loss of your sister; and for you, Hazel. I think it is more common than we realise, although none of the lost babies between me and my sister were ever born.

We avoided April Fools here - DD was going to pretend DS2 didn't exist, until she realised he wouldn't be concious until after midday! Then she was going to do it to DS3 but he is a very different character and would just be desperately upset by it, so I stopped her.

zoo, brilliant disinfecting, so sorry your DD1 had a horrid time at the supermarket. In some ways, this lock down is bringing out the worst in people.

Ta Das:
✔ S&S
✔ LOL
✔ online coffee with Mum and DSis and Dbro
✔ Built a compost heap and deadheaded the daffodils!
✔ Swept the kitchen floor
✔ DH cleared some shite from the garage into the big black bin
✔ Attended my first online funeral. It was very sad and very strange and I felt awful for my poor darling friend who had to say good bye to her Mum with only her Dad and sister with her. They really do mean "only immediate family", not even sons-in-law and grandchildren 😢
✔ almost finished my embroidery
✔ starting writing a shopping list for Friday, or Saturday if we can get that far
✔ fed everyone chili and wraps
✔ got DS3 bathed and into bed and talked him down from abject terror of Covid-19 and his humanities project. I wish he could meet up with a real friend.

Now I'm going to get in a restorative bath with my favourite bubbles in it, and raise a glass of to my lovely friend's DMum and the two other friends who have birthdays today. Night all!

Went for the walk earlier at 2pm about 2 miles today spoke to two people we know quite well. DH walked on and left me. Typical of him.
Admired garden and asked about first persons DD who is here from London with a new baby, she went to school with my sons. Other person joined us so we had a triangle across the road for the chat.

Tea and cake then watched plus 1 film what did they think of today’s film zoo?
Put most of the clothes away until no more room. I need to get rid of some. I keep them until they fall to bits. Relegate them to gardening clothes or big clean up clothes. Got the sock bag out to match up some pairs I know one was about the other day but can I find it now? Back in the bag till next time. A lot are DDs and I don’t know if she wants them or not. She wears a lot of odd ones anyway.

Salmon, new potatoes, carrots, broccoli and asparagus( twin pack) we had lamb rolls for lunch.
Not following fly lady at the moment because I want to finish the bedroom. Dining room is a mess as their are BRC that I didn’t get back to school.
Welcome Strawberry I lurked for while and found them such a lovely friendly, understanding group ( unlike some of the other areas of mumsnet) that I joined them and very glad I did. Been here about 1 1/2 years.

Flowers are correct 1. Woodland Anemone 2. Primula - primrose 3. Periwinkle - didn’t know it was lesser ED I have them in my garden. I have a big pot of the primroses and love to go down the Lakes at this time of year because they grow wild along the roadside and in the woods. Masses of them. It is illegal to dig them up.
I saw celandine today lots by the roadside with there sunny faces in the sun.

What pretty flowers Lane. I may be calling on the wisdom of the fledglings as I’m determined to do something in our garden this summer. Front is gravel and concrete and really needs some pots to brighten it up, but is north facing and very exposed on the coast. No idea what will work there. Back is full of gorgeous roses planted by the old lady who lived here previously. Miraculously they have survived 4 years but are becoming a bit unruly, plus I’d like to add some plants of my own choosing. I did buy a gardening for beginners book last year. Should probably read it!

Hi strawberry, come and join us and bring me your flower knowledge

Productive days for lots of you! Willow you got lots done despite the sadness, for you and your friend. It’ll have meant a lot to her knowing you were supporting from afar.

Giveme I’ve just ordered some new bits for DD. Was also in two minds but it’s her birthday soon and as it’s likely just to be the three of us in the house I wanted to make sure she still has some sparkly birthday clothes, plus she’s out growing a lot and will need some summery things soon even if not desperately now. Plus I do feel like we need to keep at least part of the economy going.

Ta Da:
✅ hall unit, shoe storage and coat rack decluttered and tidied. TEN jackets of DH’s carted upstairs
✅ Said hall furniture pulled out and floor cleaned underneath.
✅ front door given cursory wipe over
✅ Ironing (awarding myself a )
✅ clothes hung up. DD’s wardrobe assessed. Some outgrown stuff added to various keep / donate / sell piles.
✅ kitchen cleaned after dinner
✅ downstairs hoovered and mopped (roughly). I used to wonder why on Earth some posters on MN felt the need to clean floors daily. Then we stayed at home for 5 days in a row and I understand but still won’t be doing it
✅ playing, reading, drawing with DD. Worrying I’m not doing enough with her as she’s used to so much stimulation at nursery. She seems happy enough though.
✅ got to the end of another day still speaking to DH held back most of my rant about the ten jackets piled on to the coatstand

Ta didn’t:
✖️Meal plan
✖️Hoover under sofas
✖️Sort birthday present.

Watched a couple of episodes of sex education (on season 2, nearly finished) then gave myself a mini pedicure as I still had teeny bits of polish in my toes which I suspect are from Christmas

Should be flying to Portugal tomorrow. Will need to text my friend as it was supposed to be her hen do. Wedding is postponed also. I’m going to suggest we all have a glass of wine “together” on Houseparty.

Night night fledglings!

Bower - I'm not 100% on the greater or lesser periwinkle, but we get greater in the garden and its usually later in the year and the flowers are a bit more round I think. We have lots of primroses here too, quite a lot have self seeded into our garden, I've never planted them, this photo is one if my borders, there's that cat again. I make DH go round them carefully with the lawnmower. We get cowslips later, they are very pretty too. We have an amazing bluebell wood about a mile walk from the house, I'm hoping we can still walk for exercise in a few weeks when they will be out.

Lovely flowers 💐🌿👍🏊‍♀️🏊😘🥀🌹🌷🌼🌻 Have cleaned the kitchen bins and put out rubbish bin for collection. Kitchen is tidy. Will Hoover downstairs in daylight tomorrow. Night all.

Have no idea how random swimmers etc ended up in that post

Lovely photo ED you are lucky to have so many that have self seeded. Do you have a large garden? Our periwinkle has just come out. My dad loved them and always planted some in any gardens he had. Lupine were another and I have both in mine.

KT good list. Geraniums are bright and usually withstand coastal winds, maybe petunias. Look around you and pick out the best gardens then if people are out just ask their advice should be enough space and lots of people are gardening just now. There is a magazine out called Easy Gardening which is colourful and has lots of good advice. I think it only comes out every two months. I can’t advise on pruning because I let mine grow because I don’t know how to prune them properly. I was going to get someone in to do them. There is you tube videos and you need sharp secateurs and thick gloves.