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

[EventuallyDeleted]

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!

That's great sing
Loving the spring weather half!

Ta das this afternoon
Made dippy eggs for rd
Collected ds
Helped dd with phonics
Hoovered upstairs
Emptied bathroom bin
S&s bathroom and cleaned bath again
15 minutes master bedroom - moved furniture and Hoovered / cleaned skirting boards behind, fished out loads of kids stuff from behind things ,
Dishwasher on again
Sides wiped
Another LOL

Living room just needs a tidy now. And easy dinner of fish fingers!

foxes at least it's easy to clean in the path rather than on carpet
Scoutcat stress poos inappropriately when he feels other cats are usurping his territory.we currently are having a stand off with him living in upside down plastic box in the garden,rushing in for food couple times a day,and patroling and rub everything in site -stress spraying too--
Words fail me,except he chose us so must've known we were all barmy and would blend in!

Hills I too have a bossy sister NA.shes the eldest.at my dad's funeral she turned her back on me

*bath obvs,not path!
Forgot tada too

Had huge plans for today,then sun came out and dd2 had no lessons til 11 so we went walkabouts!left D's with lil zoo and took phone with me, we ventured down to disused railway line into countryside .glorious.in wellies paddled in shallow stream off big River,and just enjoyed warm sun on our faces(pity couldn't take other two but we're in live lessons)
3lol done
Lunch prep(made cannelini and beet dip for plain crisps to go with tuna salad rolls for lil zoo/D's and dd2 and I had vegan sausages,crinkle chips and roasted peppers and broccoli
Dd2 was up in night (130-4) with huge panic attack,bad enough to want mummy😞she's exhausted and strung out today,so after her only lesson today we had lunch and watched two episodes mcgyver to calm her down
My big list remains mostly not done
In past I'd have flown around trying fix it.today I've let it go,I can tack some tasks on other days
4pm is my time to read,do stretches and recharge my batteries and I'm learning that's more valuable than cleaning!

Oh no...lost my post

Heya it’s been quite a nice day here clear and sunny. I’ve had the windows open which is nice to get some fresh air into the flat. I’ve also been having a look for a table and chairs to fill the space in the living room. It won’t take up too much space so they can still have toys there but will be nice if people come over or we could do playdoh/painting on the table and when they’re older it’ll give them somewhere to do homework. So hopefully I will get that when I get a bit of money. I’m slowly getting there with the flat it’s taking its time but it’s starting to come together now and look like home. I’m really happy with it though I left with absolutely nothing other than a black bag of clothes so it’s come really far.

sing I hope you’re feeling okay it’s a big shock so no wonder you’re feeling quite out of sorts❤️ I’m glad the phone call about volunteering went well it sounds really exciting😊

mc I’m sure my living room will stay a playground no matter how hard I try😂 we could have a full soft play in our house and my daughter would still choose to play in the living room😂

hazel wow you got so much done well done😁 I’m glad you’re feeling better now❤️

Thanks dancing I don’t know if it will work but you can only hope😂🤞🏻well done to your DH on unclogging the sink

I’m sorry to hear about the eating troubles waders💐

up I’m glad you’re feeling more positive I agree a plan makes it a lot easier to deal with even if it doesn’t go completely to plan. Thank you for the love of the colours I was very pleased with it😁

ED I have just the one room and they share a bedroom so its good to have some space for their big toys but I doubt they’ll keep to the space😂.

foxes sorry about the cat poo 💩 at least it’s a bit easier to clean in the bath though

zoo your walk sounds really lovely but I’m sorry about your DD’s panic attack I hope she’s feeling a bit better today bless her💖

ta da
✨Made beds
✨Made breakfast
✨Washed and dressed kids
✨Washed and dressed myself
✨S&S
✨Washed up from breakfast
✨Went for a walk
✨Made lunch
✨Shopped for tables
✨Made tea
✨Bathed kids and put them to bed
✨Washed up from dinner
✨Shined sink
✨Bathed
✨Did my Nighttime skincare routine
✨Sorted through makeup/skincare
✨Tidied up toys
✨Put cushions and throws back in sofa
✨Now am up nursing a teething baby boy, I think it’ll be a very late night here

Well done naptune. This thread keeping falling off 'Im on' even while I post. Strange.

Sorry I didn’t get back. Things don’t always go to plan when you live with someone else. I am still getting used to him being here all the time.

So I made my bed and gathered the laundry to take down. DH has decided we should go shopping😳I had plans.
Never mind I fancied going out so I did get the banking sorted. We went to the town not the city so I moved some money and put some in my sisters account and some for DNiece’s wedding. Had to wait because they were busy and only two on. The town was busy on the high street well busier than we expected. Most people were wearing masks in the street and everyone bar one guy being considerate. Yep I do find them. I wanted to cross the road but he was queued up for baked 🥔 but was near the road just where I needed to cross despite seeing this he stayed there so I had to do a loop around him and across the road trying to watch traffic. If he had moved 2 m to the left no problem.
Then we went to the butchers but one allowing one in so I went as last time they didn’t have what we wanted. Today they had two or a big tray so i took the big tray for £12 and will take the boy/s some. Must remember to take some eggs too.
I CBA to go in the Rof D when I came back so I started the first scarf. I am going to try and make 12 for the homeless charities as their is a Facebook page for The Cumbria Way Scarf Challenge. They are going to try and have enough scarves to stretch the length of the Cumbria Way. We walked this the year I was fifty. They have added some patterns so I may improve my skills too.

I hope things improve for everyone struggling.
On a sad note I see a family has lost their 48 year old partner and dad and witnessed it too. Very distressing for the children.

I will read posts tomorrow. 🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋to everyone.

*morning all
Naptime you should be very proud of how much you have achieved!
Early start this morning as aunt Flo woke me with crippling pan 4am.cheers for that.havent been able get back to sleep/comfy so I may as well potter and get few bits done whilst it's quiet

Also any advice over mean cat?
No idea wtf it's coming from.huge tabby and at constant loggerheads scoutcat
Full on fisticuffs yesterday it has him by the head and they rolled over and over.scouycat refused back down,so I kept shouting til tabby let go.took ages get scoutcat in after and he was wheezing as I check him over.i told him he's an old got and shouldn't be get himself into scrapes like this(wouldn't look at my face)as I wipe blood off cut top head.has two other scratches not bleeding.hoping no more infections set in...
Soon cleaned up he wanted go out again.hes very destructive if we try contain him indoors.terrified he's go get killed
Suggestion

zoo poor scoutcat, I don't have any advice for you, I'm sorry. Hopefully someone else does. It sounds stressful.
Sing good to hear your call went well.
naptune I hope teething baby will settle for you soon so you can sleep. Shopping for tables and chairs sound fun, I love decorating!
Red that sounds like a great challenge. I hope you can do it as it would help a lot of people out by the sounds of it
hope that's strange! It seems mn has been having a few issues lately, was really glitchy Sunday
foxes at least in the bath the poo would have been easier to clean, still frustrating though

It was a full day of work today. I had to clean up dog pee and poop on my lunch though (MILs dog) so that was something. Other than cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, which was leftovers, and other every day stuff, they're wasn't any other flying done. I did give a big bin bag of almost new clothes away to a coworker, DD went through her clothes, and her DD is about the same size. I sorted out the mess that is the inside of my jeep on my break today, I have things to take to my ILs (& leave there, or give to my BIL) I also have a box and carrier bag of donations to take to the charity shop, so I'll try to get that done tomorrow on my break.

Anyway, it's bed time. 🍒👋 to everyone

Morning 😴 I woke up just before 8 as I’d need to get the shopping in but it seems to have arrived early as I could hear DH scanning it! I’ll just check he’s remembered to put the clothing bags outside too, they are being collected today. Gradually stuff is leaving the house! DH also sorted out the donating of a bag of baby sleeping bags and a snowsuit which is good.

Must get up. I’ll say bye to Cagletini and have breakfast before showering, need to wake the older two up as well.

Morning, thought I would share some signs of spring I saw yesterday, some lovely flowers at the park. It was joy to see new life, and spring.
My dd made a stained glass window out of sweet wrappers. She wanted a rainbow.

Catching up (again)

Zoo in answer to your question i have no idea what is going to go on with work. I can't work from home. Technically i could take unpaid leave or use holidays until i can start mat leave at 29 weeks but i don't really want to do that iyswim. If they kept me on furlough that would be great but i don't feel like i can ask So currently in limbo waiting to see what actually happens with schools (no info so far from either)

Waders glad its not just me keeps falling off the thread!

Are people putting washing on the line yet? I can't decide if its worth it? My neighbour is but she regularly pegs out in the rain so not much of a guide there!

Ta da
🐣 all up fed dressed
🐤 dryer on
🐥 half pots washed
🐣 dc set up for school
🐤 quick bath for me
🐥 fed self

Good news on the training sing but i do not fancy 3 hours on zoom!

Amazingly passed last OU assignment (seriously under word count and heavy on waffle, i must make more sense than i realise)

Hope your foot ok foxes

Red ty, we have one dd who will now have FIVE brothers

Yay huge well done that!

Yeah I’m pretty nervous about the 3hr sessions tbh. Apart from the counselling skills course assessment (which was useful experience to add on the application form!) I’ve never had a zoom meet longer than an hour, OR with more than one person! There will be 6 trainees, 2 trainers and 1 trainee trainer 😂 and coffee breaks and breakout rooms and such.

DS has lazed on the sofa so far. Cagletini got in a mega strop as she was tired and only agreed to have shoes and socks on after leaving the house 😂 DH has gone straight upstairs to get ready for his appt.

I can hear DD1 making a fruit salad for breakfast - she’s on something of a health kick now, which seems to be more about copying some Korean girl band members than any kind of weight loss, but I’m keeping an eye and making sure it stays focused on nutrition in a positive way. One good rule is that she wants to try not eating after 8pm and she’s already said that’s helping her sleep (as she’d normally go for something sugary). Also she’s started just doing chicken breast and salad/veg so she’s agreed that she can do that for herself in future if there’s a meal she doesn’t want - DS is more obviously fussy but DD1 can be really bloody awkward too, so this is a good alternative. TBF it’s healthier than the stuff she’s likely to refuse like a bung in the oven lasagne or pizza, but those are things we have when we have zero energy to sort an alternative, so if she does it herself, even better!

Sorry, having a bit or a morning with DS, he is studying a BTEC subject and the exam component was cancelled earlier in the week and has to submit some work which he wasn't happy with for evidence

Back with links later (or click on yesterday's and they should update)

that I'd ask, but I'm old and bolshy...

Dancing* cute.we did stained windows with sweet wrappers.until my gut returned to childhood refusal to accept milk I was a regular consumer of chocolate tubs/tins at Xmas and had plenty wrappers kept by for crafts!!(only eat dark chocolate or odd improving vegan chocolate and sweeties these days,so lack the colourful wrappers now)
Waders how's things today lovely?

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Let scoutcat back out to patrol
Make a start on deep cleaning corner by my sofa-prone to mould so needs me pull everything out at intervals and do a wipe over
Wake everyone(dd2 only been asleep couple hours,so let her have another hour)
Took D's out walkies as was stressed(hour traipsing nature reserve)
Breakfasts
Wash in drier
More in
Sweep lower floors
Empty all bins
Sort littertrays

Lil zoo appeared,p.e so can't join in jumping stuff and maths(heggarty) won't load that's later,other lessons are live.bored.asked go for walk.another trip nature reserve for hour
Wash in drier
More in
Very tired and havent done much flying...

My laptop keeps freezing and beeping at me. I had to force a reset earlier and the damned thing keeps threatening the black screen of death.

Anyone know how to block microsoft from updating drivers and screwing up things that work when they run their own drivers? It is driving me potty. And as for the black screen of death?! I love that microsoft get to decide when they force me to replace my laptop again the bastards. It is enough to push a girl to a linax operating system...

ta da
unload the dw
forget to give teen his meds -bollocks
swear a lot at technology.
Swear some more at technology
discover that apparently I am not a proper grown up and can not get dressed until I do laundry
prep soil for starting seeds.
deal with the hard reset, and uninstall/re-install issue

ta da so far
😴shower
😴read to DS
😴dug out some old reports in DS
😴70min video appt with camhs

Just finished as DH and Cagletini got in from nursery. Bloody hell. I’m wiped. That was intense. It went well, I think, she was very nice, and seemed to accept that a lot of his difficulties are due to attention struggles. But we also talked a lot about sensory issues etc. And about our lives as a whole which I’m slightly worried will work against us . Although having to talk about ourselves did mean she could see the clear family history :o. She does seem to take a very sensible holistic, let’s-talk-to-others-about-him view though. I now have to find some reports and contact info for her and we have another appt in April by which time hopefully she will have enough evidence to know what to do next. It’s tricky without school or a social worker overseeing things though, it seems. Still, it was good, and she seemed to “get” him without even meeting him.

However in other news, there is absolutely no record whatsoever of a referral for DD1. Fuck. Back to square -5, feels like.

IME teenagers are generally not tricky one way or another. May you find the easiest path though.

the ongoing saga of ds and school continues... be glad when he is physically back in school and I no longer be piggy in the middle.

ta da
put a load of washing on so i can get dressed in a bit.
start dealing with the email inbox

Coffee and restorative biscuit sounds a plan to be. But as I started a diet on monday and have eaten more crap food since than i did in most of lockdown I am not a shining example of best path chosen

Offs where is the edit feature. Take the not out of the first sentance of my last post.

Teenagers ARE tricky beasts one way or other.

hills that auto correct made me laugh, I did wonder!!
Thanks re the foot everyone - it's fine now, hasn't even bruised which is a bit disappointing I was hoping for something to show to the dc and say look what your mess did to me

Yes true about cat poo in the bath being easier to clean up, I am relieved it wasn't on the carpet! Still not the best way to start a day and I'm happy to report that it didn't happen today!

Been busy working today and trying to get dd caught up with school work. The dc have been pretty well behaved today so that's good. Dh came home late and tired so we've ordered a takeaway and he has done boiled eggs for the dc.

I'm just finishing off work and then need to tidy up a bit.

Not many flying ta das today
DS packed lunch, nursery run
Helped dd with maths, english, geography
Dishwasher on
1 x LOL (although still need to put clean stuff away)
Tidied kitchen, wiped sides
Cleaned out veg drawer ready to put veg box stuff away (which I still haven't done)
Took recycling out

I think that's all apart from work of course. I'm not sure where today has gone tbh!

sing sorry to hear about dd referral being lost

Ta foxes

Will think about that next week I guess. Need to regroup and think what to do. Will also need to dig out all the info for DS but tonight I’m in no fit state for it.

I managed a walk though. Further than normal. Glad it’s still allowed. I need to sort the DW (it’s my turn) and put washing in the dryer. Clean laundry is building up again