Social distancing around the Maypole: Fledglings fly into Flylady thread May 2020.

[Lisette1940]

Welcome to the May Flylady thread Fledglings! We are finally coming to the end of Spring and, erm, what a Spring it has been. Keep safe everyone and a special shoutout to Fledglings who are in the frontline of the response to Covid 19.
Lane has been superlative with the keep calm corner and has had a truly magnificent engagement with fledglings all through April – well done Lane!!! I have totally abandoned my routines (and my clean eating) and have been flying perilously close to the ground but am ready for take off again. But we operate a no fledgling left behind policy and indeed Flylady herself stresses that you are never behind in the system – no need to deep clean the house first, just jump right in.
All are welcome here from longtimers to newbie and those lurking – we all follow this zone-based Flylady cleaning system:
There are five zones and at the beginning and the end of the month we usually straddle Zone 1 and zone 5.
(amend rooms to suit your house – I do the living and dining room together as it’s all one room in my house)
MAY
Zone 1 Hall, entrance/dining room (Fri 1 – Sat 2)
Zone 2 Kitchen (Sun 3- Sat 9)
Zone 3 Bathroom and another room (Sun 10- Sat 16)
Zone 4 Master bedroom/closet (Sun 17 – Sat 23)
Zone 5 Living room (Sun 24 – Sun 31)

Pop onto the Flylady website to have a closer look here but be aware that lots of emails arrive if you sign up.

Flylady has an introductory scheme called Babysteps which is a light 31 day introduction to the system – dressing to shoes, shining your sink etc here.

There is a morning routine and an evening routine to keep things ticking over and a weekly home cleaning hour to change bed sheets, mop, hoover, take out rubbish etc. Flylady doesn’t want us cleaning all day so she is very keen on using a timer. Clean then stop!
In addition each day has a purpose: see the daily focus here

Monday: Weekly home cleaning hour (can be split into ten minute sections and spread over week) here
Tuesday: Plan and play (Menu planning, family event planning)
Wednesday: Anti-procrastination day
Thursday: Errand day
Friday: Clear out bags, fill car with petrol, date night
Saturday: Family fun
Sunday: Lift your spirit

Launch pad for guidance every day! launch pad

Habit of the month of May is moving – whether that’s your daily get out of the house during lockdown or in house movement. – moving is not my strongest point apart from pottering around the house…
We also have a naughty corner as a restful break out space and a Keep Calm Corner (KCC). I suspect I’ll be better at the naughty corner rather than the latter but I’ll do my best! Not sure I can muster the memes but I’ll do my best to keep spirits up.
So welcome to the new thread (I hope I haven’t left anyone out): Lane, SC, zoo, Bower, KTCluck, Willow/Megiddo, foxes, That, averytiredMom, fluffliest, ED, Strawberry, Chic, Hazel, Happiness, Cineraria, We3, stressy, and give.

And breathe!

bowerrip henny penny.her Houdini adventures always made me smile.she had a good life with you

Good morning Hazel and everyone!

Hope you are feeling much better today Zoo please take it easy

We are up early this morning because dh has another Webinar and we need to finish one or two bits for it.

Oh Bower RIP Ziggy. That's so sad. The bit where you said she lifted her wing really got to me. What a character. You gave her a very happy life. ✝️

And gosh no, I didn't know that about hens and facial recognition.

Icy those boys are beautiful! Your amazing schedule has obviously done the trick!

Bravo Lane you managed a good list despite being in a daze!

And your list is mega too Megiddo! "Another domestic day" just about sums it up here too despite fewer people...ground hog and all of that!

Your list is excellent too Foxes! Tbh, looking back, however I sorted dd's toys - and I tried several methods too - they always ended up jumbled! The only thing that worked was having a good sort and throw out/donate session, once before Christmas and once before her birthday in July.

Expletive Glad you are feeling more settled. My fabric stash has come in useful for mask making too! I have s rather fetching Liberty number

I must admit I had a bit of a wobble last night listening to Newscast (which used to be Radio 5's Brexitcast) and they were debating about Chris Whitty when he said the chances of getting a vaccine or effective drug against C-19 "within a year" was very small, did he mean a year from March or a year from now? I must admit that did make my heart sink a little, even though I kind of knew it already, hearing that sd measures will have to continue, and restrictions may be imposed again then eased, then imposed again brought home the enormity of it all somehow.

Great lists also from KT and Fluffiest!

Well done fledglings you ate all doing brilliantly! I'm afraid my list atm reads "half finished this" and then "half finished that" . Anyhoo, had better get up and set my creaky knees in to motion!

Have a good one everybody x

Woukd go well with some of your blueberry cake Hazel!

Oh yes Zoo you mentioning Ziggy's Houdini escapades reminded me of the time she went to the pub.

Speaking of the pub Bowet are they having to give up and move on? Very sad for them if so. So many small businesses are feeling the strain.

SChalf done is better than not started

Tada
Wash on
Cats fed
Surface one cleared and cleaned
Cleaned hob

I am entering into the foray of flour free baking...currently have oat flour chocolate muffins trial in the oven.done before zoolets up so I can a) see if they work rather tempting smell of chocolate and nothing to show for it and b) if it does can hide fact I used ready break in them so whilst chocolate flavoured class as a healthy cake
Everything's crossed they work.smell is good,which is encouraging

Cleared up mess just made

To do
Other big surface
Laundry
Bins/littertray
Clean path out front
Sort a bookcase

So sorry bower what a character she was!

Zoo let us know how the muffins go!

Thanks for the replies re kids toys, I'm going to carry on decluttering in their rooms today hopefully. The problem is they've got so many random boxes for storage they forget where they've put things constantly.

My only advice is stuff with lots random small bits I stick higher up so need ask get it out foxes ,otherwise it's just weekly monthly drag it all out and redo it...

Foxes, if they keep losing stuff smaller boxes and big (pictorial) labels are definitely your friend! Even if they can both read, we found pictures quicker to match and process so you can see which box is cars, which is dinosaurs, which is railway track etc. Speaking of which, we found the big box of railway track and trains when we emptied the garage. I was debating getting rid, but both big boys (who are apparently Never Ever Having Kids) said they wanted them kept for their own children... 😁

Bower so sorry to hear of the demise of Henny Penny. She had a good life with you and was comfortable til the end. Glad you got the herb pots, but sorry to hear the pub is going. DH is going to use his newly uncovered potting bench in the garage today to repot the basil and I might pot up the tomatoes.

Hazel, hope you got your early night! I'm looking forward to baking your blueberry and lemon bread once I'm past these first few weeks.

Lane, I wonder if you will feel less foggy and overwhelmed once DD1 is back in school. It is really hard to manage competing academic needs and let one child be good at something another isn't (DS2 and DD with reading / english in this house) particularly when they're close in age and autism is a complicating factor. You are doing absolutely the best you can for them, but sometimes outside input is the only way to make it work. Sorry your course isn't starting til 1 June, but that's only 2.5 weeks away! My mental diary stopped in early March and now I have no idea where we are.

Icy, those boys of yours are far cuter than is allowable. Hope you found somewhere to sleep! Love your timetable, hope you can make it work.

SC, you need to channel Mary Poppins - "well begun is half done". Even starting something is good! Groundhog Domestic Day here again today:
🏝️ DW
🏝️ S&S
🏝️ LOL incl. the next lot of curtains and the blackout linings
🏝️ Defrost chicken for dinner (creamy chicken and sundried tomatoes with pasta / cabbage)
🏝️ Big Hoover inside
🏝️ Big Hoover of car at DH's request
🏝️ Finish my top
🏝️ Writing
🏝️ Get to post office with coat to send back as part of my walk
🏝️ Poke DS1 into airing room, changing bed, finding carpet!

🍒🙋 to Chic, Stressy, ED (turns out my sewing stash is also super-useful. I maintain a sewing/ knitting stash is not hoarding, it's Practical Housewifery 😂) KT (glad you fixed your childcare), Cin, zoo (really hope the Healthful Chocolate Baking worked out) and everyone else, all the other personals have fallen out of my head.

Right, must get on!

You gave her a wonderful life Bower RIP Jenny.

Today is errand day but I can't get the links up until I can get to a computer after 12.

KCC question comes courtesy of Google assistant this morning. In a paranormal petting zoo which would be your favourite creature? I'd quite like to see a mermaid!

Baby step today is about using the calendar here

Managed link - hurrah! We are still in the bathroom and one other room.

Henny not Jenny - apologies!!

Instant answer - Niffler from the Fantastic Beasts series :o I have a cuddly one.

Thanks meg :) I certainly do feel a lot more human today - often does happen after a bad couple of days, I wish I could be a bit more steady but as my therapist pointed out it wouldn’t do to be entirely flat. I just get frustrated sometimes that I cannot have more than a couple of good days in a row (even before lockdown - I think for me it’s mainly to do with sensory stuff and masking that makes me burn out quickly).

But yes - much as I feel awful for saying it, I do feel relieved that she’s there today. I don’t feel guilty for focusing on DS (he’s finished two ongoing bits of work already today), I’m much more likely to be able to get some me time during the day now because I won’t be leaving DH to balance all three kids (and vice versa) - so it’ll be easier to prevent burnout by the time DD1 gets home and does need help (as she will still need a lot of support to keep up - they only work in the mornings at school apparently, then watch films).

A bit anxious we are being stupid if we haven’t actually had the virus already like I think we have (I’m still paranoid every time I so much as get a tickly throat!). But strict hygiene is the way forward (I must admit we haven’t been scrubbing the door handle but I think I will now, when she gets in from school and I should really do it when we get in from shopping too). A friend pointed out she may well be safer at school than when she goes to help DH with the food shopping as shops are pretty busy and much more stuff to contaminate! Anyway, she went off very happily. Her best friend is one of the few children there (mum in NHS) and that is going to make a massive difference. She’s always been the most social of the lot of us - I am pretty social myself and really miss meeting friends but can get by more easily with phone/online chat. I’m going to put some effort into getting DS to FaceTime friends from now on though as I think he may be lonelier without his big sister.

I should try and get ready so I can go and get DH’s meds and get some fresh air. I haven’t left the house since last time, I think that was Saturday if not earlier . Need to put a wash on too.

Sorry for all the waffle, I’m in a chatty mood today apparently!

Chatting is good Lane, and I'm glad you're feeling better!

This is my Breakfast Break and I am pleased to report the following Ta Das:
♥️ Me up, washed, dressed, face cream, meds etc
🧡 DW rotated
💛 Big curtains from our room washed and dripping dry on the line
💚 Blackout linings from big curtains in the machine
💙 Dusted and polished the living room, HSL and our room with lovely rhubarb-scented cleaner
💜 Got all moveable stuff off floors in preparation for...
🖤 Big hoover of ground and first floors. I even did under our chest of drawers (which DH had An Opinion on, but not enough of one to actually get the hoover out). Only had to stop twice, once for open hoover surgery when it ate a bootlace with the boot still attached; and once to rescue the box of curtain hooks from the bowl of (thankfully dry) dogfood.
♥️ Empty kitchen bin, disinfect, put fresh bag in, wipe out bin cupboard
🧡 Bribe Megahound with peanut butter not to bark at the Openreach man up the telegraph pole over the road!

Now eating delicious cured meats and cheese for breakfast, prior to poking DS2 and getting on with some writing.

bower really sorry about your hen. She sounded like a sweetheart. On MK - I used her method to de clutter our books, DVDs, clothes and half the kitchen cupboards last year, but I gave up on the folding method, way too faffy me.

lane I hope DD has a good day.

I've spent the morning blogging and then had lunch. Feeling a bit cold today which means I want to retreat under a blanket but I'm going to get up and repot some baby cucumber plants. I don't foresee me getting a lot of ta das done today, but that's what the keep calm corner is for, right?

Mythical petting zoo- a Griffin would be pretty cool!

Fluffiest you are quite right! And a griffin sounds fun.

Be gentle with yourself Lane.

ooooh I've just discovered the tropical fruit platter - thanks SC!! I've already eaten a mango in real life today but the virtual pineapple is very welcome!

Achieved nothing much other than going to town and carrying back some heavy shopping! Expecting a nice phone call shortly.

That's not "nothing" Lane. We all have to start valuing ourselves and our contribution. Where would our families be without us? (Cold, dirty, hungry and unwashed, most likely! 🤣).

Ha! True. Yes I should reframe it really, thanks.

Just quickly catching up! Will properly do it later!.

So sorry bower

lane I’m glad to hear you’re feeling more positive about DD being at school. I hope she’s had a good day!

Thanks yes she had a great day, she’s asked if she can go in after her assessment tomorrow and I’ve said yes although not sure of timings. She only needs to speak to them briefly AFAIK (then it’s loads of questions for me... and then repeat with DS!)

Had a lovely phone call as planned, really cheered me and discussed some useful stuff - she’s keen on politics and was giving me some ideas for a little project to do with DS. I am absolutely clueless on it and it occurred to me the other day that even one history lesson at school where we went through terms like communism, fascism etc would have been incredibly useful just to put other things in context. So I’m going to do that with him.

Terms I have so far:
Fascism
Communism
Socialism
Left/right wing
Houses of Parliament/law making basics
Election process
Neo-liberalism (which I’d never heard of until today)
Capitalism
Nationalisation
Democracy
Dictator
Anarchy
Revolution
Monarchy (tbh he should know that one because horrible histories :o)
Propaganda/spin

Probably a few more but I left my notes upstairs :o but if anyone here has some ideas they’d be most welcome - would basically just be finding a simple definition of each really. But this is not my strong point so I’m clueless!

Got to log in to zoom for his tap class now!

Thank you all for your comments on the boys. They are quite cute, they look like their dads though, I didn’t get a look in in the gene department (I’ll try and pretend it doesn’t annoy me). I ended up getting into bed with them, they’ve been in with me most nights since lockdown, I think it gives them comfort. Bless them it must be hard not knowing what’s happening in the world.

It’s so hard isn’t it sc, I know social distancing needs to be done but I wish it didn’t. I miss my family.

zoo the baking sounds lovely!. My bungalow is council, and tbh it’s better than most but I wish I could do more to it. I currently have just magnolia everywhere because I can’t afford to decorate and then re do it if I change my mind, which I know I will!. But I still think it looks quite cosy.

I’m so glad DD had a good day lane, I’m glad your phone call went well too!.

I managed to follow the routine! We had a great day, lots of free day in the garden. We have also divided our garden as it is communial, so everyone has popped up fences. Feeling better about allowing the boys out there now. We already had them up on one side but not the other, so all sorted now!:

Ta Da’s:
General tidying
Homeschooling
Cooking
Did my makeup!
Hoovered
Gave kitchen good scrub

Glad dd had a good day lane and glad you had a good day with your boys icy my ds was in our bed last night too, he woke up 3 times and the third time we gave up and told him to come in with us, he tends to hit us in the face while he's asleep though so it's not ideal!

Consequently I'm feeling pretty tired and I'm pretty sure dh has fallen asleep upstairs whilst supervising bed time

Didn't manage everything on my to do list today, I actually had two (socially distanced) chats with people today which actually took quite a chunk of time but was very nice to speak to people! My parents dropped us some shopping because my mum managed to find flour, sugar , yeast etc at her local shop and I've not found any for weeks. So they chatted from a safe distance for quite a while. Then when out for a walk we bumped into (not literally) some friends so we had a long chat with them, on different sides of the road! It's a quiet road so it was fine but eventually our kids were all getting fed up and I was aware we were causing a bit of an obstruction on the pavement (only one person actually walked past but I felt very guilty!)

Strange times when two chats in one day seems so alien

Ta das
Two loads of washing done
Dishwasher on X 2
Worked AM
School work with dd, spellings, writing, maths
Cooked dinner - jacket potatoes
Quick tidy
Tidied table and kitchen after dinner
Decluttered in ds bedroom 15 minutes and have put a load of his toys in one big box without bothering to organise - it felt good!! I basically just followed advice and sorted into big toys and little toys. Little toys I've started to fill up a shoebox with for now!
Went to the park with the kids to kick a ball about as we are allowed to now - it was so liberating! (Again it's so surreal that I even just said that!)

Friday tomorrow hooray! Made even better by the fact that I don't work on Fridays!

Hi everyone
Lane glad day went well for DD
Yet again I've instantly forgotten what I've read so personals are be replaced with cherry waves to all!!

DS claim cakes were "worth washing hands for" but were but flat. very fudgy texture which zoolets liked.i think will need tinker it slightly but once I'm happy with it will share

Second day of heavy period flooding
So been a slow day.feeling washed out/tired now.must start add more iron rich foods along with the iron in multi vitamin..

Little ones fed

Big tray squash,mushrooms,asparagus,courgettes and peppers roasting with variety herbs

Off out to clap now,food be ready when come in!!

Lane DH recommends www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0312233817/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_JPAVEb93X4GV1

Andrew Heyward Key Concepts in Politics