It's February - Fledglings are Flying (let's face it there's not much else to do).

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Here we are on the February 2021 Flylady thread - this time last year we were just starting to realise that the world was going to change in a big, big way. The Fledgling threads have pulled us all together and been a great source of comfort and distraction from it all.

This is a friendly housekeeping thread based (loosely... Extremely loosely sometimes 😂) on Flylady's housekeeping system . Welcome one and all, lurkers and long-time posters alike. Join in, hang out, but above all remember you are not behind, just jump in where you are.

The beauty of Flylady is that you don't have to flatten yourself trying to get your house clean to begin the routine upkeep; the first - and only - thing she asks you to do is to shine your kitchen sink. Routines - morning, afternoon and evening - are built gradually through her Baby Steps. To those, you add a Daily Focus and a weekly area to concentrate cleaning on. By the end of a month, your whole house will have had some attention. If you miss a bit, never mind, it'll come round next month!

For this month, I'll be posting daily links to the Launch Pad on the Flylady site so you can follow the daily focus and cleaning missions. You can sign up to receive emails from Flylady, but we suggest you don't - she sends masses, which will clog up your inbox and drive you insane into the bargain.

Because this thread has been running a while, there are some acronyms we use to make life easier
S&S - swish and swipe, round the bathroom to keep it acceptable daily
LOL - load of laundry. No, we don't find washing that funny!
Ned - born of a typo, a mythical being who assists with laundry mountains
The pointy stick ----> to motivate people
PO3 - Power of 3, if you can only face a few tasks. People often find groups of 3 tasks stack up over a day!
The Naughty Corner - where we head when it's all Too Much. Usually stocked with fresh coffee, fluffy throws, delicious snacks and the opportunity to sit quietly with friends or build a blanket fort and sulk in it if you need to.

During the Pandemic, we have also been using the KCC or Keep Calm Corner, invented by long-time poster / thread leader SC. This is a regular dose of memes, questions for discussion, random trivia etc to distract us from the rest of the world. All contributions welcome!

Remember - No Fledgling Left Behind!

Don't worry hills , I'm feeling grumpy too so I probably shouldn't have posted about the FB thing anyway. I do understand. I don't even know if we'll go anywhere anyway tbh. Like sing says it's all too complicated! I just wanted to give the dc something else to do because I've been pretty busy with work this week and I feel so bad about dd especially, she must be getting fed up now!

sorry everyone! Didn't mean to start something! It's hard for everyone

It's the situation offline that is hard here foxes. Nothing that you posted. Your post was the straw that broke the back following on from the doorbell situation that if it goes off on its oven every hour again tonight will die a death by hammer... A good night's sleep and the drive out tomo will help.

Go sledging by all means and have fun in what you can. I like the Mac D's idea. My biggest issue is the constant noise. I don't resent the exercising of children, just the constant noise. So little voices rather than screaming voices are always appreciated.

I like the MacDs idea too. Sadly we're 10 miles + from one and no justification for going that far really.

P.s. if you do go, can we have pictures of the snow pretty please....

Well, lots of little jobs done today. We are all finding we want our own space a bit in the evenings at the moment, so a couple of
months ago I jammed an armchair into the corner of the kitchen and brought my potting shed rocking chair into the house to go in the dining room by the fire where the armchair was before (rocking chair too big for kitchen). Today I decided to swap around the kitchen armchair and a little bookcase next to it which looks much better. Also went to Wickes and bought some draft excluding rubber for the back door which was draughty and some pipe lagging for the boiler downpipe, the old bit got taken off when we had the house repainted. Popped into Waitrose for a few bits and bumped into two different friends, couldn't talk for more than a moment but it was nice to see them.

Glad you got to have a quick chat ed - I am finding though that I almost dread seeing someone I know as I feel I’d have nothing to say anymore 😳 although I suppose interesting stuff is happening like the studying etc so maybe I’ve just forgotten how to People.

ta da continued
😷scrubbed all door and window handles upstairs
😷scrubbed all light switches in house
😷gathered any lurking dirty laundry in our basket and got Caglets to collect theirs (luckily we are fairly caught up as no time today)
😷scrubbed and later antibac sprayed upstairs bathroom sink
😷got everyone to take the tablet
😷got DS to strip bedding and vacuum his floor
😷antibac sprayed front of washing machine
😷DH stripped our bed, dettol wiped the handles etc I’d scrubbed and cleaned both loos
😷let Cagletini out in the snow for a bit (garden)
😷got DS to do maths (our only nod to the fact it was the last day of the half term)
😷phoned doctors to check DD1’s bloods (no longer anaemic yay!)
😷separated out everyone’s undies and put with today’s 90deg washing
😷trimmed my, Cagletini (when asleep) and DS’ nails
😷got DD1 to strip bedding and vacuum her floor
😷bathed Cagletini
😷showered/hair
😷more LOLs/drying (lost count)
😷gathered cuddlies
😷quick clean of kitchen counters while DH rotated dishwasher
😷put bedding back on with DH and gave out bedding to kids for their rooms plus new pillow protectors DH bought today

Absolutely shattered but pleased I got a decent amount done while also realising I’m more able to fit this stuff in than I thought (although I pretty much ignored all non housework tasks today...). Going to do my art as it takes such little time, then fall into bed. Tomorrow there is laundry (especially toys), and I want to clean the banisters and vacuum our floor and the landing/stairs.

We had already declared it a treat day as the start of a week off after such a difficult start to the year, DH is making milkshakes and we’ll have a Mariokart tournament or something. So other than the bare minimum (including measures to prevent reinfection obv - eg from now on showers first thing rather than before bed, although still need showers on getting home from outside because covid...) we will just relax as much as possible.

Right, 5 min sketch and then sleeeep. Also thank you for the sympathy/reassurance/advice today, not encountered this before so it really helped it not feel like such a big deal.
🍒👋

Not enough snow here for sledging but have seen BFs Dgrandchildren sledging and snow angels. They live about 8 miles from her but higher up and have had loads of snow. They live out of the village now so can just go in a field. The youngest is a very tiny two and was making a snow angel likes his brother’s it was so cute. It was good to see them smiling as they have had a sad few weeks. We’re included in the Facebook pictures now which is lovely of them. Three little girls in our village go in the field next to their house. No stock at the moment and quite a slope. Only three other girls go as not many children here now. Two next door but they don’t seem to go.
It would be a concern if lots going.
I don’t like the idea of McDonalds just because I don’t like them🤣

Although my trip to M&S was stressful we picked up a box of Chinese food. £10 and I am glad to say it was very good in fact much better than the last take away we had and cheaper. Plenty for two. We should have had it tomorrow but DH isn’t very good at checking dates and I don’t eat meat on Fridays so ate it today and going to have another stir fry tomorrow with prawns( special offer 3for£10) I thought M&S offers were looking a bit desperate.

Well I did another 20 minutes of sorting.
Had a late lunch and the relaxed and watched Channel 5 film.
Made tea.
Washed up.
Swept floor.
Tidied table.

Dropping off here so cherry 🍒 🌊 to everyone

hope that is fucking disgusting 🤮

Morning all
Foxes it was me ranting about teens in huge groups sledging at last snow.i love to see little ones excited and be pulled down our street on sledges.hope there's enough left.he just have little pockets in the shade of snow "dust"(no depth)
Ed I feel the naughty corner offers so much more than being stuck at home as there's no bloody arguing teens within earshot
Hills I didn't see the rant,but assume things are difficult your endhope you get a drive out in peace today
Sing curious why shower switch to morning?we just did quick "undercarriage clean" then left the nightly ritual in place as was easier continue the ongoing routine.i love this thread for reassurance and support when needed too

Lousy sleep.i was cold and so tightly folded up try warm up I had pain in hip/thigh from 230...

Tada
Cats fed
Harpic lav
Wash on
Attacked my little corner down side sofa where I sit-
Tidy my me time drawers in front room
Tidy little box
Wipe floor
Supervise lil zoo do Nelly's teeth- today I had no class in my knees and D's didn't get up to help.her fangs were wiped with brush both sides.her sister waits impatiently for the treats dispensed afterwards!
Finally got D's up
Woke dd2,who exhausted herself yesterday on long walk misjudged timing of sunset and rang me in a panic 30 minutes from home as was totally dark.we do obvs have street lights,but not nicest of neighbour hoods so I dash out (in joggers I sleep in) to meet her and escort home.she hadn't planned such long walk,and inappropriate dressed she was frozen solid.
She was asleep before midnight,so much easier to rouse and the smell toasted raisin and cinnamon loaf made it a less painful rip from comfort of the pit
Wash in drier
Sweep living room floor
Sweep kitchen floor

About to do my freshen up FridayD's helps so it only takes us about 15-20 minutes as we race to do as fast as we can!

Dd1 ment be having lil zoo/D's tonight.dd2 still refusing to go..

that I'm very sorry. I should have put a warning about the lavatory design post 😳 I hope it didn't ruin your (or anyone else's) breakfast.

I'm glad it's the end of the week.

Congrats on the dd 8 waders. I've no idea about such grading systems but 8 seems to be splendid by all accounts so I'm delighted it is a thing of great joy. Bad enough having to go through exam stress the first time around but then having it again via your kids...

Yes, Stonehenge was picked on on eBay from a seller in Wales. I bet it was collection only. Hope your paw is better for the rest waders

Hope Ah yes, the trusty "lay and display" loo. I did t know its true purpose though, I thought it was just a peculiarity of that specific design.
Hills 💐💐
Foxes oh, enjoy McD! It's my weak spot, love me some McD 😁 I hope you manage to find some snow for sledging.
Sing good luck with anti-worm measures.
Waders how frustrating re exams. I hope you hear from them soon. Thank you for the tip on the Stonehenge program! I will try to tune in as well.

Ta das from yesterday:
💥Bathroom blitzed
💥Living room hoovered
💥Yesterday's mission done
💥DH tidied the kitchen

I need another coffee. Happy Friday everyone!

Tada
Another load washing done
Freshen up Friday completed with D's
Help him change bedding
Wash in drier
Wash said bedding
S+s

Morning all. I got so much more sleep last night, think I was asleep by 1, woke at 7.30 for meds and then had another couple of hours. I don’t think the big two are up yet... when I walked past DD1’s room after midnight they were doing interpretive dance to her Spotify list and said “we are being musical poets mum”. Ok then. 🤔😂 But I’m happy they’re doing so much together at the moment - and it’s early days but I think the phone limits have made a big difference. Bedtime seems calmer, they’ve become more communicative again, and crucially DD1 is much less obsessive about particular issues that were worrying me (distinct lack of critical thinking/processing skills + Internet is not a good combination).

Anyway. Must get up and shower and then wake the Caglets for the same. Zoo I am just going off what I read on my Google search, TBH I’m hoping it’ll be a better habit for us (as long as we still have proper showers after school/shopping etc) and easier to transition into daytime, change undies etc as they need constant reminders about that stuff or it doesn’t happen. Bedtime routine has been even more of a mess since covid anyway so in a way it is a good thing to have the showers at another time. 😳

Really don’t want to get out of my nice clean covers! 😳 Glad I got loads done yesterday but definitely feeling it now 😂

Ooh, Stonehenge programme... that was on the list for place of the week this year (was meant to be around winter solstice but that was when we were all isolating and stressed). We’ve decided to alternate person and place now that he’s doing so much other work (well he was, before this term 😬 really hoping half term gives us the chance to reset and crack back on properly!)

Had to go back and see what Hope posted. I had read it just thought it was a bit perculiar

Warning
We used to worm all new horses and had a diary with worming routines in. Loved it when we were given a trial by the vet for Panicur ? It was a plastic injection type dose so you could mark it for age and rough weight of horse and shot it into mouth. Great for suspicious horses that wouldn’t eat it in feed. Though we used to put molasses in which meant we got to lick the molasses spoon 🥄.We were students for a Diploma so had to know all about horse worms and be able to identify one from the other. 🤮some gross photos in book.

If only Cagletini knew what she had started!

So today I have a little corner in kitchen where I have cake decorating box and a couple of other things. Would like to find home for these things. Won’t fit in cupboards as full of stuff. Then need to wash floor. DH did it on Wednesday but then walked mud, snow and bark bits in yesterday. I want to shout “Wipe your bloody feet.” He looked around and was annoyed with himself because he had washed floor I just muttered “ This is what I mean.” I mention it every now and then. I take my boots/ outdoor shoes off when I come in from the garden / wood shed. Hoping he might wash it.
Otherwise it is RofD for me oh and kitchen table needs runners take off and washed. Ironing pile needs done. Hope everyone finds energy for flying.

Sing massive list👍 And bet you are glad you have dishwasher now re 🙊

🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋 for everyone have a good day.

Morning all, just checking in, sorry, haven't done links as I'm working, but if you click on yesterday's flight plan it should update.

I was supposed to be going to work today but last minute change of plan and WFH again. It's a beautiful day but so cold.

Sing- weldone on cracking on with so much cleaning. Have you put anymore bikers in the wash?

Waders- aww housekeeping friends!

Hills- hope you are ok and I bet you wish you could post your young one somewhere....

Tmi alert....avoid if its breakfast time for you.

For the brave.....(its not really that bad tho...)

Hope- i had the pleasure of using one of those toilets in Germany (horrified 😳 wtf...cue panic.....)
Thank god I came to my senses and flushed.
At breakfast I gently asked this lovely German teacher lady....erm....the toilets are abit different to put it mildly....
She laughed kindly and said it all about gut health and being aware how your overall health is linked to eating well. Its normal and encouraged to eat healthy. I did a feeble attempt at a smile.
Breakfast, at my lovely kind German teacher friends house was, wholemeal bread with lots of sunflower seeds in it. A selection of cooked meats.

My friend and her son watched me bemused as i tried to smoother this healthy bread in butter and try and get some jam on it. They said its not what they would normally eat for breakfast and why wouldnt I eat the healthier option of the cooked meats?

I was very young, and I couldnt function without Tea and toast/jam in the morning. I was so focused on getting my wonderfully brave yr9 and yr10 students safely there, I never researched the food side- it was 20 years ago (and it was a normal state school I taught in.)
It was the truely wonderful German teachers organised it all! Without the European Union funding these kids would never have got to do this wonderful exchange. The german school kids I met where a absolute dream and honor to teach such dedicated students. They listened, and just got on with what was asked of them. I nearly fell over when I witnessed this! 😆

Sorry everyone for writing so much...

I will tell you what she said about swimming pools later....if you are interested.

😂 dancing

I had heard about those loos but didn’t realise it was to do with worms. Gross but better to catch it early I suppose

I certainly hope we have caught it early enough here anyway. Nobody else has had any symptoms, I guess the real danger would have been if Cagletini’s had gone unnoticed and then we’d caught them from her.

Waders sounds like burnout, there’s been such a lot going on. Please take care 💐

dancing tbh the teen is the least of my problems atm. The other people are bloody hard work.