Fledglings prepare to fly their lockdown nests and jump into July - join us for the July FlyLady thread

[KTCluck]

Welcome all fledglings, newbies and lurkers to the July 2020 flylady thread, where we try and follow flylady’s system to keep our homes in order and our lives organised. We are a friendly bunch and like a bit of a natter, amongst posting our ‘To Do’ lists for accountability and celebrating our ‘Ta Da’ lists no matter how long or short. No fledgling is left behind, just jump in and join us wherever you are at - whether you are a lazy slattern living in chaos or a fully certified domestic goddess wanting to keep up the motivation. Most of us flit between the two depending on the day. The threads tends to be a supportive corner of MN, and we readily provide listening ears for woes and rants when needed.

Flylady is a system based around morning and evening routines, with babysteps to get you started and a daily focus, such as planning and family fun day. There’s a weekly home blessing (or ‘bleurgh’ as we prefer) which is a basic clean to keep the house ticking over, with short bursts of decluttering or deeper cleaning in weekly zones once you are ready. Flylady also suggests short missions each day. Feel free to adapt the system to make it fit in with your life.

Link to the launchpad is here (I hope) and the baby steps are here. From the launchpad I like the ‘flight plan’ for a reminder of the routines, and ‘sneak peek of the week’ for a list of the week‘a missions. You can sign up for emails, but be warned, you will need to regularly declutter your inbox!

As thread leader for July I have taken possession of the thread pointy stick —> for anyone in need of a sharp prod of motivation, but I’ve also set up a chilled quiet naughty corner, complete with comfortable day beds, a gentle sea breeze, and unlimited fruit platters, ice creams and cocktails to any fledgling who is in need of rest and recuperation or is just on strike. No partners or children allowed.

I’ll also try and keep the ‘keep calm corner’ (KCC) going. Originally introduced by our lovely SC, it’s a little daily dose of respite we’ve been using to help us get through these strange times.

I’ll do my best to keep us all motivated and flying throughout July. On work days I may appear with the larks, or not crawl in until the end of the day so apologies in advance if I’m late with links.

We start tomorrow in zone 1 (hall, porch, dining room). Here’s the missions. Habit of the month is ‘swish and swipe’ which is a daily 2 minute wipe of our toilets and sinks. Tomorrow is anti-procrastination day where we tackle those tasks we’ve been putting off.

Anyway, enough waffle, July we are coming for you! shortly, I’m just checking the naughty corner is ready

Ty for the threads meg and kt i am trying to catch up on this one now but dont think i should go back to June. Time is not my friend right now!

Welcome to new posters

I fancy a name change. Hmmmm.

hazel glad its not just me falling off the thread

sc i think i need a secret box of stationary, i keep buying things and they seem to evaporate. Even when i sharpie my name on them

Bloody "school" is currently taking over my kitchen/dining room. I need to catch up and keep on top of uploading to google classroom and then putting work in files.

Aww I love otters! 🦦🦦🦦

SC I got the Miranda book on audible which is amazon’s audiobook company, there’s an app for it, and I subscribe.

However I just went on the iTunes Store and it’s on there too. It would need to be on whatever iTunes account is used on the phone, I’m assuming she has her own one. Do you or DH have any apple products? If so you can go on the item from your own device, hit the share button (in red on the pic) and one of the options is “gift”. I think you then put her email address (whichever one is used for iTunes), you pay on your own iTunes account. It then sends her an email to download it on hers, but I’m not entirely sure as I’ve never tried it myself.

I think you can do the gifting thing via audible too, but that would be a faff if you aren’t already using it I think.

Love the repurposing of the dish drainer mummy!

Wine mine are 13 (just!) and almost 11, both have SN. They have done their own laundry for a few years (started by getting them putting it away, and built up to being completely self sufficient with it). Other than that it was basically just helping with the odd thing when they asked (and putting bins out/in), until lockdown when we started a chore chart. It was basic at first, then we have increased stuff. I’ll attach the initial one and the one we are now using (ignoring the overcomplicated one we tried in the middle, which went wrong as DD1 was allowed back into school so wasn’t able to do the morning stuff, DS returned to various clubs on zoom too). I’m rather proud of it 😳😂. We hope to keep the current one until proper school settles back in September and we know where we are with homework, clubs etc.

We totally aren’t perfect with it (and that’s down to us not reminding them, rather than any refusal or grumpiness on their part) but basically they do get on with what they’re asked to do. The long lists on Tuesdays and Saturdays aren’t as bad as they look, and it’s with us helping eg bathroom means we help/supervise them giving the sink and mirror a quick spray, kitchen is a quick wipe of the counters and sweeping the floor. In a way it’s also to remind us to do these things ourselves too 😳

I see it as helping them too as they have so many issues that mean living independently might be a struggle, so this way at least they are learning what needs to be done, even if they’re not doing it that well yet - it’s more sort of symbolic I guess. DH and I are not organised tidy people and both of us have a lot of health issues now, so the house is a mess still. I used to think we had to wait until we’d got the house tidy and decluttered before asking them to help but then I realised we can help them see how to pitch in and it would still help keep on top of things a bit.

Right I’d best go, I forgot to make the algebra thingies so I’d best get printing and then get the laminator out yay 😍😂

Why why why did I stay up until 4am watching teen mom (don't judge it's my guilty pleasure 😂)

I've only just woken up so going to make porridge (from sachets because I can't be bothered with cleaning a porridge pan) and strawberries for DC breakfast and make myself a huge strong coffee then we'd best start on schoolwork.

Hope zoo is ok haven't seen a post from her in a while unless I've missed it.

Thank you very much for the explanations Lane! And for the image I recognise as a screen shot (which, whoo hoo, incidentally I learned how to do and anotate only last week when transmitting details of a hoof supplement to someone else! ) All the info is much appreciated! DH and I have much cheaper phones than DD (!) not App!e either sadly! But I have been meaning to subscribe to Audible for a while anyway, so I might try and do that first and proceed from there ... . Thanks again!

Happy laminating!

Mummy forgot to say earlier, well done re: cupboard reorganisation!

Really beautiful day today. Sunny and windy. Am itching to get out of doors ... .

AWOL we all need to escape reality for a bit ... especially ATM! ☕

Thinking about it, Zoo is sometimes absent for first few days of a new thread, so hopefully she is just taking an Internet break. Hope you are all ok though Zoo if lurking 🍇

No judging here, also I def stay up too late sometimes as it’s the only chance of actual peace and quiet with nobody bugging me! I always regret it in the morning but I know sometimes I just need the silence/MY choice of telly.

No worries sc! :) audible is linked to each person’s amazon account so again if she’s got her own amazon account on her phone you’d need to do the gifting thing.

My turn to be a Luddite, I only just figured out how to make a playlist on YouTube! 😳

Very close to LMS with the toddler who just wouldn’t leave me the fuck alone for two minutes!!! Or that’s what it felt like anyway, she’s not actually been too bad, I just reached my threshold. I am now hiding in the kitchen with food and caffeine, about to write notes for a check in with DD1’s paediatrician (she’s still on the books because she has been on melatonin since her autism diagnosis, DS was discharged after his) - am relinquishing control and “allowing” (how very generous of me, right?) DH to take the call. But I am writing a couple of things that must be discussed (I would be writing them for myself if I were on the call BTW!).

Just catching up on the children and chores discussion and wanted to empathise with meg re the rearranging of bedrooms - what IS that about?! DD1 drives me mad with it but I let her crack on as at some point she will have to share with the little one and won’t have as much space. Also, impressed with hazel re the Adding of Chores until DD got the point - jeez I really wish DD1 would understand that when it came to homework. I honestly don’t know how many times lately I’ve said “the longer you spend whinging about it the longer it is before you can do what you want” and “you realise you could have done half/x questions/the whole thing by now if you weren’t sulking instead” 🙄🙄🙄

Right, better actually make those notes now

Hi,

Been trying to catch up and almost have now.

Thank for the excellent thread leading Meg despite the difficulties and to Lisette for helping out.
Thank you KTC for leading July.

Good to see you back Thatwe missed you. It must be really difficult juggling everything as well as looking after baby.

Welcome to the newbies.

I love the hen story and if you carry on with links there is one about a hen travelling around the world. It is hilarious watching her so do try. A lot of people don’t realise how intelligent hens are. Did you know they can recognise their owner both visually and aurally within a few weeks. My girls run to the fence when they here me. Cupboard 💕 love.

The bathroom saga goes on. We have no tiled floor as there was no ? To lay it with in the builder’s merchants anywhere in the city. He did come and grout the outside loo tiles though and as DS1 & DS2 came for DS2 birthday meal we discovered he used to play football with DS1 for several years. So they had a bit of a chat. He is returning on Saturday with ordered stuff. My memory fails me... adhesive yeah!

I am on with painting the little pieces of the door and glad we are not paying someone to paint it as it is taking a while. Gloss on two sides today. It has had two lots of undercoat and you need to dry between sides. The glass has arrived so that is good. I would like my summer house back but it will be a while as joiner still off work.

Considering emptying very large oak bedding chest today as DH is out walking. I don’t want him to see what is in there. It is ages since we opened it. I know there are large amounts of material bought at local mills. You had to buy by the bag to get one piece sometimes so might be able to declutter some. The rest can stay for my retirement or DD can have it when she returns. Haven’t heard from her for a fortnight.🤔

DH and I sorted through bathroom baskets. We have a lot of soap. Nearly through all the gifted shower gel/bath. So top basket holding “use me” stuff. All ready to go back in bathroom when it is finally finished. We could have had a new suite at this rate!

Getting through some of the chores. Kitchen is lovely and tidy. Hot spot table is clear. More gardening achieved. Tackling a new area where coal bunker was. Getting a new combo. So I thought there might be room for a planter or two😁 builder is going to bring stone cutter on Sat.😄he’s a good lad. He has an eye for these things ...DH doesn’t.

Cherry🍒waves🍒 to everyone, will be back later.

I stayed up too late.🙄 annoyed with self now.

Ta-da's alongside schoolwork
⭐️ tidied all rubbish and dirty laundry out of living room and removed stuff that didn't belong to the correct room
⭐️ same with H/S/L
⭐️ cleaned windows in LR and glass in front door
⭐️ hoovered LR
⭐️S&S (long overdue)
⭐️LOL
⭐️ phone call with a tutor I'm getting to help DS3 with phonics as he is really behind. Scheduled his first 1-2-1 for next Tuesday so will have to make sure LR is clean and we are presentable too.
⭐️ started ironing

Going to make the DC a chicken sandwich and yogurt for lunch and have a think what else I can get done this afternoon.

I can't do much out of the room or they won't get on with their work so may not be much.

Realised I forgot to post my list yesterday! I’ve not even written one today yet

ta da from Wednesday
🤞sorted some recycling
🤞did a tiny bit of decluttering in zone 1 - have a couple of BRCs there so I got DS to rehome a few bits from them too
🤞put a wash on of various backpacks - we had emptied them all near the start of lockdown but DD1 has used a couple since and there were chocolate crumbs in one so I decided to wash a few.
🤞home ed... slowly
🤞grabbed a few books to get rid of from the Kallaxes - I’m still not planning a full declutter of them until we have gathered EVERYTHING in Kondo style, but there were some I knew we didn’t need
🤞made some skittles for Cagletini, airing out the last two bottles before filling those
🤞hung out clean bags
🤞attempted shower but gave up as no hot water
🤞maths with DD1
🤞ate far too many mini gingerbread men
🤞reading
🤞got DS through his tae kwon do lesson on zoom (tired/unmotivated)

⭐️ more schoolwork after lunch then DS2&4 have gone to my DGM for a sleepover. She's been a new woman the past few days since she's been seeing them properly again (and she's booked in for her haircut not sure which perked her up more 🤣)
⭐️ finished ironing
⭐️ washes dishes
⭐️ hoovered kitchen
⭐️ had a bath and defrosted legs. (Haven't cleaned the bath out yet though 🙈)

Just going to make sausage and mash for dinner now and DC have requested ice cream float again for pudding.

So looking forward to not having to sleep with DS4 tonight and actually getting a proper nights sleep in my own bed. Bet now I've said that DS3 ends up in there 🙄

Does anyone know when libraries reopen?

Our libraries have been sort of open at times just for returns (they’re still renewing everyone’s regardless but I guess it’s so people can get them out of their hair, and also it’s better for the staff as they can shelve gradually instead of getting a massive flood of books 😂

They’re also offering a service of free requests and you can have mystery boxes too where the staff pick up to five from a particular genre and we can pick up or request a delivery, so they are sort of open but not!

I’m so tempted to request some (especially if it means I might see one of my old colleagues for a chat) but I really shouldn’t as I have plenty to read as it is 😳😳😳

Tap class done. I’m so glad Cagletini only had toys in simple categories out as it was super quick to just put the animals/duplo/puzzle pieces in their boxes. It’s really inspiring me to simplify what she’s got. There are a few random bits and pieces that she does like but I realised I could put those in with the tuff tray supplies :)

Just remembered I meant to discuss this sc from further up the thread.
the trick is NOT to wait until you feel you have the energy (because it rarely comes) the trick is to force yourself to do five mins even though it is the last thing you feel like doing
This is SO TRUE. Not just for decluttering but everything, I feel 😂 my therapist is very keen on “what I can I achieve RIGHT NOW, with these feelings” and I’m using it a lot. It’s very helpful for me to learn not to wait for some mythical time that I’m ready to do something. It’s meant even on bad days I’ve generally got at least a tiny bit done and it fits in with the flylady idea of doing something imperfectly rather than not at all. Stuff like deleting a few emails or just choosing one thing to get rid of or cleaning one random bit of skirting board. I’m sure this isn’t a big deal to many but it’s totally life changing for me! I’ve only managed to learn this since being on my ADHD meds but it’s becoming a habit so well that I’ve actually managed to still maintain it a bit despite being 5 days into a temporary meds break 😱😱😱

In the middle of sorting the stacks of sewing equipment and materials in boudoir!!!
Have done a full 90 mins without stopping!!
Yay!

As there was quite a lot of admin to do this morning, it meant that the usual Thursday Big Veggie Chop has been sacrificed but stuff it, we are having frozen veggie pizza tonight instead. No one will die.

Very satisfying actually DOING things one has been wittering on about doing for aeons and not quite getting to them ... .

Also have had mahoosive family discussion wrt contentious subject of dd's bedroom. After months/years of wittering about and dithering, it has finally become clear what needs done, as different priorities evolve . And she deserves to have one nice renovated part of house that she can finally call her own with full electric lighting, without crumbling cornices, esp as it is likely she will be staying in town for first two years of uni (if she gets a place where she wants to go). Budget will be tight and it will means lots of upcycling and clearing and cleaning ourselves (which needs to be done anyway) and it will probably mean other renovation work suspended for a year elsewhere but everyone will feel happier and house will be in more rentable/sellable state for the future so win-win (hopefully).

Onwards and upwards and all of that!

Thank u KTC that actually helps a lot. I still want a relationship wiv her but I just need 2 understand it ent gonna be the 1 I want.

Welcome cornish!

Thank u sc :)

Thanks lane I was very chuffed wiv myself 4 thinking it lol. Sorry the toddlers giving u grief I no how it feels lol!

AWOL I luv teen mom too, do u watch the uk 1? Not sure about libraries ours isn’t open yet :(

Today has been gud. Miserable weather but I’m feeling more productive. On Monday I finally get 2 c my family again!. Me and my mum and step dad are getting into a bubble and I’m so excited. I’ve missed seeing ppl!. The boys have been quite naughty 2day, my eldest has just constantly been testing me terrible 2s r deffo kicking in lol!. Sully has just been cranky and crying all day. But I’ve took us to the park to get out and have a run around. I have a doctors appointment soon 4 Sully he’s on asthma medication but obvs won’t diagnose until 2 but they can give him sum more when he turns 6 months so got to have a appointment about that which I’m looking forward 2 will mean I worry much less. I also need 2 get an official diagnosis 4 Logan we were going 2 but then lockdown happened :(. Will get them sorted soon. I’m hoping the weather gets sunny again, feels vry autumnal. Also now schools r opening has any1 heard anything about play groups and things like that?

Ta Da:
❤️Got dresses and did makeup 2day!
🧡Got boys dressed
💛Made beds
💚Did breakfast
💙Washed up from breakfast
💜LOL
❤️Made lunch and washed up
🧡Made dinner
💛Tidied up shoes by the door
💚Cleaned out grubby buggy

TaDa
S&S x2
did rest of ironing (except towels which were NOT DRY dammit)
took ironed stuff upstairs, put ours away
made bed
made shopping list
sort of made meal plan
emptied compost bucket
emptied bins
stretched legs on stairs for 5 minutes
made lunch (didn't throw anything on floor)
went to Tesco
made fish pie
took S2 to socially-distanced birthday get-together

ToDo
do something with at least one email
fetch S2

Tomorrow
sweep and clean floors in porch and dining room
take stuff up to loft
iron towels and do some more washing
clean shower

I watch them all mummy I love them.

I have never known anyone to iron towels merry that's dedication!

My house is clean my house is clean my house is clean
⭐️ tidied up
⭐️put ironing away
⭐️ done all windows and mirrors
⭐️ changed beds
⭐️ cleaned bath
⭐️ polished everywhere
⭐️ hoovered everywhere
⭐️ mopped everywhere
⭐️ emptied bins
⭐️ dishes
⭐️ LOL
⭐️ cleaned tables

Just need to do the ironing and order a new printer then I'm done. I'm so happy it's all done hopefully I'll stay on top of it now. Still have a mountain of washing to get through though.

Thank you so much for all the lovely welcomes! I've been reading the last few pages of June and now July, and so many busy people and loads of Ta-Das.

Clicked on the launchpad link, and felt tired just reading it. But it's exactly what I need. Atm, the vestibule is full of hedge clippings that I've only just remembered about. Hedge was cut ten days ago. The front door is blocked on the inside by a large playtent full of ball pool balls, and a fortnight's worth of post is jammed behind it. Adult DS's extra-warm winter socks - about eighty unpaired - have been on radiator drying racks since March. Two halves of an Ikea table top are waiting at the bottom of the stairs to be carried upstairs by someone stronger than me. Ditto two dining-chairs.

DS and I did manage to cut back a laurel tree in the back garden. The path and the kitchen windows are a lot lighter now. He's also started online tesco deliveries for me which will help when the new term starts.

Now writing tomorrow's To-Do list. I can at least get these socks upstairs.

Oh, nearly forgot to say, I was on FlyLady about twenty years ago, when it was all black-and-white text only, and apps didn't exist. It's a bit rubbish, actually, taking twenty years to not tidy the house.

ta da
🦦home ed - all done by 2pm today 😇
🦦prepped first paediatrician phone call including informing them of our actual phone number because they had our old landline 😳 DH did the actual call
🦦made DS’ algebra y/-y tokens - went for minecraft blocks instead. I’m so chuffed with it, it’s working really well!
🦦did gluing for the first time with Cagletini, she loved it! Still got plenty of magazine pics left. AND I remembered to clean up the gluey pots and brushes quickly after
🦦got DS to tap with some speedy tidying
🦦emailed principal to apologise for DS dropping out before the end as the iPad charger evidently doesn’t work 🤦‍♀️
🦦wiped and antibacced tuff tray after DS did his tap class on it 😂
🦦bit of maths with DD1
🦦set up a wash for tomorrow morning - not being virtuous with future friending, but simply that I’d left it too late to put it on this evening as the spin is so loud now 🙈
🦦read an obscene amount

So glad tomorrow is Friday!

I need to stop holding on for lockdown to be “over” I think. In some ways not much more will change but I found out today that one of the main things I’ve been desperate to return to is unlikely to happen maybe even until next year. Beyond gutted but in a way it’s better that I know now and I can just try and adjust. Sigh!!!

Night fledglings xx

🌟 gold star awarded Lane!

Merry 👏🏼andAWOL massive lists👏🏼

SC sounds like a good plan for DD.it is comforting when the come home from Uni to know their room is there.

mummy I am sorry things are difficult with your mum. Perhaps a gentle reminder to say you’re a mum now. Ask her advice now and then and bite your tongue if it isn’t good advice. It might help her to see if you are having adult discussions with her. It is hard when your kids are growing into adults with minds of their own. As someone else said Don’t expect too much.🤭

I was out in the garden for a bit today. I agree about starting something for 5 mins Lane I really didn’t want to paint the door today but after picking some sweet peas I went into the summer house with them and put the radio on. After an hour and a bit I had all the pieces painted. So third side tomorrow and in two more days they should be done.

Ta da
Bed made
S&S
Sweat peas tied up
Chickens fed
Door pieces painted
Emptied bedding box sorted and bedding box upstairs. Some taken down stairs and put in . I was pleased I got this done when DH had gone out. In it is curtains. Spare fabric for furnishings. Found a tapestry to do. SC you would like it. It is two horses pulling a Plough I think. I think I found it in a charity shop. I have some threads somewhere. I wish I had found it at the beginning.

Ironing.
Made DH a cup of tea and cake when he came in.
Made dinner. Salad, steak and potatoes and mushrooms. Meringue, cream and raspberries. We were given the steak by DS2 I think they had to defrost the freezers at work or something. It was defrosted anyway so had to be cooked today.Loaded dishwasher.
Sorted some paperwork.
Brought basket up to put away.
The farmers worked until midnight the other night.
Watered all the plants.

Bloody restless legs again.

Still haven’t read some of the thread.

Ooh don’t know why those beige squares appeared🤷🏼‍♀️

I've just reread my post from last night. Want to make it clear that the last sentence is about me being rubbish at FLYing, absolutely not a suggestion that Flylady is rubbish.

I recognised my messie tendencies when I first came across the concept, and already knew my homemaking/housekeeping skills were very poor. It was really weird to realise I was not the only person in the world like this, to not be ashamed.