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!

Welcome Dancing! Lovely to have new people!

Lisette I don’t know if I was the one who brought them to the thread (I have a feeling Chic loves them too?) but I adore strange planet! He’s so clever and just completely nails mundane everyday stuff and makes it funny somehow.

I’ve watched over an hour of the ALW concert and have sorted through some BRCs. Have a bag for rubbish, another for recycling, and lots of little piles of things to put away. Only a small amount in one bag got the “aaargh I don’t know” response so that’s quite good - and it’s my sign I need to stop for a bit! My knees ache from sitting still anyway and I’m hungry yet again, so I’m taking a break and will bring more bags up later hopefully.

Welcome dancing! How old are your fraggles?

Awww thank you for your kind welcomes!

There are 3 reasons I need to declutter and find a home for things.

1. People want to Zoom and facetime. My Auntie wanted to see my fraggles (kids), her first words were 'Why haven't you tidied up?' Erm, I have tidied up so many times I have lost the will to live now.
2. I decided to do a online pilates class (a very rare occurance) Fraggle one had a meltdown over lego so I had to find the only space I had to carry on my workout. It was the in hallway upstairs. During the cool down I found myself getting up close and personal with my washing baskets filled with clean clothes and another filled with junk.
3. Yesterday I nearly fell down the stairs trying to get away from a tiny moth. My washing baskets full of stuff were just hanging around. (Phew...near miss...ok I must sort out the landing.)

Yep. I need to declutter.

Jigolo I realised I didn't miss you in my first post I just refer to you by two names 😳

Lisette I even eat horseradish with chips 🙈

I sometimes make a second tray of Yorkshire puddings and the DC have them with jam or with syrup and ice cream.

Welcome dancing 👋 my house is definitely lived in rather than show home SM type. My DC all seem rather feral compared to all the SM children too 😂😂

More ta-da's
✔️ cleaned windows in H/S/L
✔️ managed to get rid of pen from windows with nail varnish remover
✔️ polished chest of drawers that lives on the landing. Realised that now we have no cot it could go back in our room but that requires more effort than I can be bothered with for now
✔️ polished skirting board H/S/L and sitting room
✔️ sorted the cupboard under the stairs
✔️ hoovered and mopped H/S/L
✔️ scrubbed pen off carpet with washing powder. It worked but now I have patches of cleaner carpet and the rest is minging 🤷‍♀️
✔️ Dusted sitting room
✔️ cleaned windows sitting room
✔️ straightened the cabinet, polished it and cleaned the glass doors
✔️ sorted toy box, binned a couple and took a heap back upstairs.
✔️ scrubbed dining table and chairs and polished
✔️ scrubbed little DC's table and chairs
Febreezed sofa

Now stopped for a coffee break and waiting for DC to have their lunch (crackers with jam, chocolate spread, Lemon Curd and peanut butter. Not the healthiest but required no effort and they'll be done quickly so I can carry on) then im going to pull the furniture out and give the sitting room a proper hoover.

Dancing can you put a background on zoom to blur out what's behind you. We have it on MS Teams for work - you could have a space landscape or a cartoon lunar pod interior etc. Blurs out background ironing etc

ta da!: Change your Zoom background on the desktop app
In the Zoom app, click your profile in the top right corner, and click Settings.
On the menu to the left, click Virtual Background.
You'll see a few default background options provided by Zoom, including an outer space scene or blades of grass.

You can tell Auntie that you don't know how to switch it off!

Hi Dancing, lovely to have you on board! I find the thread really motivating too. I want to go and do something as soon as I’ve posted. Well done on your progress

Lisette I can’t believe you have not yet discovered the joy of a Yorkshire pudding with a roast . I would struggle to choose between beef, pork and lamb but as long as there’s a a good yorkie p, plenty of thick gravy and creamy mash then I’m good. Ours is nearly ready. For pudding anything with custard. Although I have rice pudding for this afternoon.

We3 impressive work for a Sunday. I just stretch with the long bit of the hoover to do our high bit. I’ll come a cropper one day I’m sure.

Lane good luck picking up the beads. I’m still finding little googly eyes 2 weeks after opening the pack for DD.

Thank you Jig, lane, that, we3 amazing your ta-das so far, lissette, KTcluck.
I am going to try out zoom with a background...thank you!

Lisette We’ve hardly been in it actually. The weather here has been fantastic so we’ve been working in the garden nearly every day for the past three weeks. Not much left to do now. DH is doing the last bit of weeding. So the garden is looking great.

Back later I have a cat playing noses.

KT I know - they are on my bucket list.
dancing glad to help!

Hello and welcome to dancing and mrshardy

Great work on your ta das we3

I've been a bit weepy this morning. Watched our church service on Facebook and just felt homesick for everyone. I want to just go to church and belt out the songs in a crowd, and watch the children dance in the aisles. I want to have ten hugs, and hold hands with a good friend after the service as we pray. I want to watch DD waddle out of the service with pockets full of sweets given to her by Pat and Maureen. I want to hear everyone's news and I really want to just wrap my arms around the ones who have been bereaved. I don't know why but it really hit me this morning and I cried into the washing up afterwards.

And then I did a little gardening and it kind of helped, although I still feel that tears are close to the surface still. I think I'm just going to accept that I'm feeling sad today and tomorrow will probably feel better. This thread also helps me feel better, you lot are lovely

Ta das:
⭐ lol
⭐ made a full English breakfast for family
⭐ tidied toys away
⭐ washed up
⭐ planted nasturtiums
⭐ moved some plants around
⭐ skyped MIL

Favourite sunday roast: pub carvery where you get three roasts in one and lashings of gravy. With hot chocolate fudge cake served with ice cream afterwards.

Thank you!. I’ve got a 3 month old DD (and 2 bigger ones) and my house has just been an absolute bomb site since she was born. DH is now working from home and the kids aren’t going to nursery so all of us being in the house has just made it even worse tbh. And I want to gain some control over my house!.

lisette I’m sorry if you’ve already said, but are we in zone 2 for the whole week?. I know zone 1 was for a couple of days. I don’t want to rush to get it all done if we have time.

Also to answer the question, my favourite roast is the one from my local carvery. They have 3 different meats but I usually just have gammon, then loads of veg and gravy. It’s amazing!. And then they do HUUUUGE cakes for after. I have the caramel cheesecake. I’m missing it more than I miss my family😂

Oh, fluffiest I'm so sorry you feel sad today. You are probably right, it is best to accept today as a down day, but please come to the KCC as well, where there are squashy cushions, rugs and hugs and and I have just put a tray of fresh sticky ginger cake. 🍰☕

Just lost a post. Here. Here's my garden Bower so much potential

Zone two until next Sunday the realmrshardy - no rushing. You do a really quick clean of the bathrooms as part of the weekly home blessing hour or home bleurgh as it's known here.

Thank you lisette, that’s more doable. I’ll keep it written down because I do forget😂.

I’m sorry I haven’t replied to everyone but I just want to say fluff I’m sorry you’re not having a good day❤️. Your mentality is great as it does seem like everyday changes from one to the next. I hope tomorrow’s better for you x

Sorry your feeling sad fluffiest

Final ta-da's
✔️ hoovered, mopped and moved furniture back in sitting room
✔️ lit a scented candle as I've been a bit happy with the bleach today and it smells like a swimming baths
✔️ S&S
✔️ LOL
✔️ ironing
✔️ had a quick bath and changed out of the pj's I put on Friday evening 🙈
✔️ hoovered everywhere
✔️ polished everywhere
✔️ mopped kitchen
✔️ did windows, mirrors, shower glass
✔️ benches etc in kitchen done
✔️ changed beds
✔️ emptied bins

DH did dishes

DC have had some chocolate and now the sitting room needs hoovered again. I have no idea how they can make a mess with chocolate but they have. I've put the hoover in the middle of the floor as a hint while I have a coffee. So far nobody has taken the hint. I will bet next months wage i end up doing it myself 🙄

Taking a breather and reading a few more posts. I am absolutely shattered which isn’t good so early in the afternoon - too many demands on my time/attention today and some things were not working properly and it’s making me grumpy and tired! I’ve helped DD1 with various things. DH taking on most of Project Pink Hair shortly though, just waiting for her to get out of the shower with shampooed/rinsed hair.

I would very much like to eat an entire house worth of simple carbohydrates right now. Especially those containing chocolate. Medicinal at this time of the month, right? I definitely wish McDonalds was already open though. I could eat that too :o

I need to continue decluttering or I will end up stuck in the “everything out on the bed” purgatory. (I’m sure we could come up with an acronym/clever phrase for that, as it’s such a common phenomenon?)

Lisette I love a particular bit of one of Mahler’s symphonies, can’t remember what number/movement though! Interesting tip about the vitamin D too thanks!

Not fully caught up yet but just noticed your post fluff I’m sorry. I wish virtual hugs could be as good as real ones, but I know they are not, especially right now :( I hope the tears help xxx

Hmm, favourite roast - lamb I think, especially with rosemary. As many trimmings as possible, I’m not one to fuss about yorkies not going with chicken or whatever. And my mum’s onion sauce too. :)

Dessert - we have Eton mess a lot as DH is coeliac so we don’t really do puddings in the cake, pie type sense. But hey I’ll eat anything really. Especially involving chocolate sponge and a huge amount of fresh whipped cream. And preferably some kind of fruit.

Thank you for the kind words, everyone, I'm bucking up a bit now. DH took DD to the park and I retreated to the keep calm corner with a book and blanket.

lisette your garden does look like it has a lot of potential. I love the seating area. Does it get a lot of sun?

Welcome mrshardy and dancing

lisette and meddigo I didn't realise it was in zone 1 I'll have to take another look!

I finally got to try my lemon and blueberry bread this morning and oh wow it's delicious and filling! I'll have to take a picture later post it on here. I was thinking about sharing it with the ILs (taking some to their house Tuesday when I go there for lunch) but I don't know if I want to share it now! Bad enough DH likes it too 🤬

Only ta das so far today is coffee, lemon and blueberry bread eaten and shower! I have sorted out the laundry though and will get a load on once DD is out of the shower.

My plan for today is to get 1 or 2 LOL done and put gel on my toes and finger nails! Oh and Skype my mum of course.

zoo I hope you're able to get more sleep soon.

Oops I spelt your name wrong, I meant meggido of course!

meg (it's probably best I shorten your name further!) How old is DS2? I'm sure you've said but I can't remember. Regardless, if he's old enough to cook and make a mess in the kitchen, he's old enough to clean up after himself. That would piss me off no end!

zoo I'm so sorry to hear DD is having an awful time with her so called "friend" teens can be very awful. Maybe it's best she's blocked especially since she's moved away. I agree with whoever said it says more about the "friend" than your DD how she's being so awful on SM.

lane good luck with those beads, hopefully cagletini hasn't made too much of a mess with them. Come join us on the decluttering thread. I haven't posted in a while (can't take anything anywhere so have a couple boxes taking up space, ready to go) but I do still follow along.

My favourite Sunday roast is with lamb, but I also love pork with crispy crackling and apple sauce, beef with horseradish and chicken (not too picky actually!) We would always have it with yorkshire puddings, cabbage, carrots, roast potatoes, parsnips, mashed potatoes and gravy. Since moving to the states 14 years ago I didn't carry on the tradition. Although my whole family does love a roast, especially my INs, including SIL (that was her request for her birthday dinner).

I love crumble, any variety although I do miss my mums red currant crumble. And rhubarb crumble with custard, yum! I also loved it when my dad made golden syrup tart, very rich but oh so good with custard (or by itself!). I did make a keto friendly blueberry crumble yesterday that I have yet to try, hopefully that'll be good.