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!

Neptune how old is your little girl?

I saw some bulbs ed that made me smile yesterday, I know bugger all about plants but it is surely a good sign!

I haven’t done a control journal. I also haven’t been keeping up with my trackers - I’ve still done stuff but I was just keeping a note on my phone. However I am thinking as you said hills that some things were just becoming a chore in themselves instead of making life easier, and I’m feeling somewhat wobbly already on the meds so I’ve dropped that for now. Just trying to build one habit at a time.

Ed- I have notices signs of spring as the daylight seems abit brighter in the morning and its definately lighter more into the evening. Looking forward to the time we are allowed to see family.

That- wonderful you have had a scan and its a boy! Have you decided on a double pushchair?

Sing- sending you a huge hug!

Tidy- sending you chocolate! You are on a roll. Sorry you were so upset. Glad you calles Sams, there are amazing people working there.

I am dreading the kids going back to school. I hate the school drop off.

Not looking forward to Monday and back to home lessons...because my 6 yr old might be reluctant.

Yestadas.
🌱 park
🌱quick bread and cake shop
🌱fed kids and into devices
🌱upstairs hallway turned into bookcase, mini kitchen with pots and pans. And a mini shop with plastic fruit. Dressing up clothes.
🌱vacuumed upstairs hallway
🌱bedtime- kids were thrilled at thier playarea hallway. It was worth every minute now we dont have to trip over!
🌱AF has arrived and makes sense of the the cleaning I have been focused on.

Todo
🌱sort ds room so we can see the carpet.
🌱dejunk around my dressing table so I can actually reach my dressing table which is covered in dust.
🌱 try get into old car and get out charity clothes bag...sort and take old clothes and plastic rocking horse to the tip.

Anyone had experience of leaving a car on the driveway for 7 months and seen what happens to it inside? I am scared. 😱

Inside is usually ok, but you may have a tyre problem and a flat battery. You are most likely to have a flat battery. If you have a cat you should avoid jump starting where possible as it damages the cat.

Oh fuck. yeah when I sat cat I mean catalytic converter. not cat as in the furry overlord variety

🤣

Although it probably won't do a furry overlord any favours to be jump started tbh so probably best to avoid doing that too.

Suddenly I’m thinking of those weird viral videos about putting a cucumber next to cat so it jumps 😬😳

I was most confused by the relevance of the cat Hills, thought you must have meant check the cat hadn’t settled underneath the car or something. It now makes much more sense.

Tidy I’m glad chatting to someone helped . You seem to be making so much progress every day, you’re doing great!

Sing I also lose the ability to do anything when waiting on phonecalls etc. In my mind it’s never worth starting something when I might be pulled away from it minutes later. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Maybe we should consider it as grabbing time to rest and not be hard on ourselves about it.

Sorry things are a bit tough Hope

Red I agree with ED. I’ve worked throughout and also feel I’ve achieved nothing in the last last year. The big project I started at the beginning of last year had to be pretty much shelved due to Covid, I’m heavier than I was a year ago when I was determined to get to back to my happy weight, house badly needs sprucing up. I’m classing 2020 as a rest year and pinning hopes on sorting myself out this year.

Glad all is healthy with your lovely baby boy That. Sorry that homeschooling has returned so quickly for everyone.

Naptune I started a control journal in a notebook with dividers. I’ve barely used it to be honest and instead have just shown DH where it is and told him it’s the manual he should refer to if I ever get hit by a bus or run off with a younger model

KCC- it is now almost light when I leave for work, and I can hear the birds tweeting. The air feels a bit spring-like and I’ve been eating creme eggs

YesTaDas:
✔️ dusted downstairs
✔️ cleaned DW filter, the arms that spray the water, gave the seals a wipe and set it on a wash cycle
✔️ made use of some manky bananas and made a banana loaf with DD

Today:
✔️ made beds
✔️ s&s x 2
✔️ LOL
✔️ Did a big cooked breakfast for us all

We were planning a long walk along the river today but it’s grey, miserable and meh, and there are lots of people milling about. Will see how we feel later this afternoon. I have a boozy video chat planned with friends tonight and it is much needed!

told him it’s the manual he should refer to if I ever get hit by a bus or run off with a younger model

that glad to hear everything is good with baby boy 👶
tidy sorry to hear you've had such a rough time. I'm glad talking to someone helped. It sounds like you've accomplished a lot to make your lives easier too.
dancing where I am mice would have taken over 🤢 but I wouldn't think you would have that trouble unless you're surrounded by fields. You would smell them too, just walking past the vehicle if that was the case. Dead mouse smell is very distinct.
Up a boozy evening with friends sounds like a great plan

I struggled to get on mn this morning, had to verify I wasn't a robot and took several tries before it would let me in! But, obviously I'm here.

Ta Das so far:
🎈 Roast in slow cooker with chopped onions, butter & seasonings
🎈 Kitchen blackboard updated with "happy birthday"
🎈 1st cup of coffee drank

That's it really.
To do:
🎁 Quick clean throughout the house
🎁 Bake blondies
🎁 Decorate with balloons (with help from MIL)
🎁 Finish SIL present
🎁 LOLs
🎁 Rotate DW
🎁 Wash hand wash dishes
🎁 Do something with the pills of empty boxes we have floating around in the house need to fill them up can't be bothered right now as I seem to be the only one who can actually pack anything up

I'm feeling much better today, hopefully flushed out whatever it was causing the sore throat pain.
1st though, I'm going to have a 2nd cup of coffee!

Saw this and thought of you all

hills sorry hospital and adulting sucks
Hope just because they're estranged family it still can hurt.swndung hugs lovely.you have done so well,and it will be ok.remember you are stronger than you think and braver than you know (on dd2 necklace I have her for valentine's and one my fave phrases at mo)

There were other comments,my brains fuzzed over
Oh,the crocus are out and tips of hyacinth and daff shoots are prepping thru.it was pleasant in the sun(which only appeared 2hours then scarpered and wind got up)

Did shop dd2(co op)
Took lil zoo Waitrose hunting nush cream cheese/foods she will eat(bloods went ok thanks to those that asked)
All wiped and put away
Fed everyone else
Walk dd2 to meet friend for a walk
Late lunch for me
Talk dd1 who was drop off wellies

I thought mn ate my post! It's being ridiculous today 🙄 I meant to say piles of boxes, not pills! Makes me sound like a drug dealer or addict or something 🤣

I do actually have more of a ta da list now:
🍪 Bleached bathroom & managed to spill bleach water on my slipper, floor mat & floor
🍪 Put said slippers & for mat into the washer, along with dog bed & blanket
🍪 Cleaned glass throughout house
🍪 Baked blondies
🍪 Dusted
🍪 Treated wood throughout the house with oil
🍪 DH & DD bathed the dog
🍪 DH & DS vacuumed thoroughly, including moving furniture
🍪 DS just got done mopping the whole house too

House feels so fresh, windows open to air it out. It took us about 3 hours, but it's all done! Goes so much faster with all hands on deck.

zoo sounds like you really enjoyed your chat with DD1

Forgot to say, tulips are starting to poke their heads out of the ground and it's staying light till about 6:40pm now. It's still really cold out there today but the sun is shining.
DH & DD also took the boxes, empty & packed ones, out to the garage.

That so pleased scan went well and your baby boy is well 🥰
Hazel oooh, blondies! Could you share a recipe please? I am looking for a good one, was planning to make a batch tomorrow.
Tidy sometimes the world can get on top of us, and current upside down world is not helping one bit. Glad you spoke to Sams and it helped. Sending strength and hugs your way 😘

Not really flying today, just rotated the DW and sort of keeping on top of the kitchen.

Settling down with a homemade milkshake to watch the voice. Never watched it before this year so the battle bit is hard to get my head around 😂

I haven’t done anything in the house but I did manage a long walk in the park. Because pokemon. 😳 Still, it’s fresh air so all good.

Thanks everyone, especially sing, MC and Zoo. I haven't seen them since apocalyptic behaviour in 2016 after which I asked them to get counselling. There's been the odd abusive letter since. My father has announced on social media (our village Facebook page) to a friend that they won't be returning to Ireland ever again, having travelled back to say a final farewell to all friends and relatives in 2019. I wasn't contacted (live in UK). So I think that's it then. They've always been very troubled and I think I'm the scapegoat in the family, unfortunately. But I've a happy family and seem to get on with people. Sorry, it helps to get it off my chest. Everyone has something.

Saw meme ED 😆 cracking up. Totally true. Hello naptune welcome.

hope 💖💐

Nothing to report here. Sleep time! Possibly the earliest in a few weeks 😳

mc here's the recipe. It was easier for me to just take a picture of it, sorry. It is in cups & Fahrenheit, but there are conversion charts online if you'd be weighing.
Here's some pictures of the birthday dessert and decorations as well 🥰

hope that's really shitty of your dad to say that publicly, puts the nail in the coffin. They do sound toxic though, so best to keep them out of your life at that point. No need to apologise!
Right I best be off to work on dinner.

Tbf I would convert cups to ml rather than weight. It works better in my experience.
Good luck with sorting tea.

I decided to paint my nails so just waiting for the polish to dry. Because of course paintiing your nails at nearly midnight is always going to be a good idea

Hi guys I was going to come on earlier but mumsnet has been playing up all day not sure if it has for you lot too. Thank you for the advice about the journals I’ve ordered a planner and hopefully that will come tomorrow so I can sort it out for the week and then stay on top of it. I’ve spent the day organising my wardrobe and doing some online shopping because I’ve got rid of a lot of stuff.

I’m also a bit nervous about the announcement on Monday I’m lucky to have a bubble but I really hope we can see more family soon.

mc happy to hear your little one is back to his normal self😊

hazel I hope you feel better soon💖

How exciting about your little boy that, congratulations!💙

hills thank you that definitely makes sense😊 I’ll just go slow with it for now and try and stick to a daily plan. DD turned 2 in December😊

I hope it got a bit less grey for your walk up🌞

I’m sorry to hear about everything with your dad hope💐

I hear you about the emotions tidy I hope you’re feeling better after your chat💖

We haven’t left our flat today I had planned on going but DD was definitely not up for it so a lazy day was all we had. I’m holding out for some sort of change on Monday I’m running out of things to do with the babies

Try taking some pictures of things around the house that you can go hunting for. Start simple like things in the lounge. It can be fun to play hide and seek with a toy. Also at 2 I started ds cooking. he used to sit in his high chair with a mushroom and his baby knife "helping" to cut it up. Egg free biscuit making is good too. I posted a custard cream recipe a while back that I can hunt out again which is totally harmless for eating raw but can be used to "help" make biscuits. Something we also did with ds was rich tea biscuits with some run out icing and a few bits to decorate. Non food stuffs ds was also into finding the same so we got some floor dominos with pictures. 2 is a really good age as they are really getting personality but also ability to do and interact so much more. but nope don't miss the terrible twos etc

I think you have to think of it as 5 min max adventures and have lots of little things that you can stop and start a lot. But it does get easier as they get older and more capable and less frustrated. But you can still have lots of fun. And it is not essential to do allll the things. My child was an unusual child with an unusual development pattern. I know that his 'friends' at the same age were very different and did different things. You know your child and will be best judge. trust your instinct.

Oh and p.s. you don't have to be super mom. It's ok to just be ok. iyswim