Fledglings are Marching into March (and tentatively inching closer to freedom): The March Flylady Thread

[StillUpholding]

Welcome fledglings old and new, to March’s Flylady thread!

For any newbies who have stumbled across us, we are following Flylady’s housework system which is based around routines and short bursts of activity to try to keep our houses and lives in order. (Sometimes we follow it more loosely than others). Feel free to join us, the more the merrier! We post our ‘ta da’ lists for motivation (no matter how long or short), and enjoy some random chatter along the way.

The link to Flylady’s ‘flying lessons’ is here . Have a read, and if you have any questions, just ask. You can sign up for emails but be warned there are lots so most of us rapidly unsubscribed.

I’ll be posting links daily to keep us all on track. Jump in wherever you are, remember you are never behind.

This is a long running thread and we’ve developed some lingo along the way:
LOL = load of laundry
S&S = swish and swipe, a quick daily clean of the toilet and sink
PO3 = power of 3. When motivation is on the low side or you’re overwhelmed just pick 3 things at a time and do them
DNLMS = did not lose my shit
Ned = our mythical mate who helps with the laundry (hasn’t paid a visit to me for a while)
Pointy stick —-> = for when a fledgling needs a motivational prod (we can be gentle if required)
The naughty corner = a relaxing haven where we hang out when motivation is low, we are on strike, or we need a rest and some TLC

I’ve just realised that it’ll be around a year since our lovely SC came up with the idea of the Keep Calm Corner (KCC) to keep us going in these strange times. I’ll try and keep the tradition going with little snippets of happy stories, memes, questions and distractions. Any contributions welcome as we enter what could be the final stretch to some sort of normality.

Thanks to ED for being a lovely thread leader for February and keeping us (mostly) on the straight and narrow, despite being very busy herself.

Right, quiet at the back there, have we got everyone? Let’s head into March...

Thanks Up. I think I need to track Ned down.

I have been AWOL. Slinking back in.

Thank you for the new thread Up thank you for the last threads ED

Hope it's ok if I join in again? I have been lurking in the naughty corner last month. Found it really tough recently to keep on top of not only house stuff but just anything really. Before xmas I felt like I was spinning plates, January the plates were wobbling and February found me on the floor surrounded by broken plates.

However I had a week's annual leave last week so we got through the school work in some sort of normal schedule and I sorted the house out yesterday. This week is going to be a bit manic but I'm hoping I can stay on top of everything. Actually reading the opening post of this thread reminded me of PO3 and they may be my friend this week.

Ta-da so far today
⭐️ LOL and put a few bits from the dryer on the line because they weren't quite dry
⭐️ washed dishes from breakfast (not dried yet but technically that is a job for one of the DC)
⭐️ sweep and mop downstairs

I have ironing to do and then will have a look at this weeks missions etc but they may not get done until the weekend if at all.

🍒 👋 everyone

Double - lovely to have you back. Well done for picking yourself up and starting again, you are never behind.

Nice to have you back Double

Signing in thanks up!

Great to see you double sorry about the plate spinning/crashing. Oddly I feel like sometimes the crash is necessary to move forward IYSWIM?

Hills best of luck with the studying.

I’ve had quite a productive day so far. Popped outside very briefly for Pokémon but decided not to wear myself out with a proper walk now - I’m actually feeling in the right headspace for housework and studying so that feels like a more sensible use of energy today. I’m making sure to air the house out though while it’s so sunny.

Off to put all the clean laundry away. A lot of it is towels and bedding so shouldn’t take a vast amount of time.

DD1 insisting she needs a break from schoolwork all weekend whatever. It’ll still be there on Monday.

Thanks for new thread up and holding us together at the edges thru march ed
Double we all bend/break etc and come back when we are ready/ablere,always welcome back here lovely!

Well today's been "trying"
Dd2 thinks she's being So Hard Done By..why you ask?.because she helped carry some shopping this morning and expected lay in bed scrolling a day
A kind lady at our local nature reserve painted stonesfor kids to find and she did a robin D's hoped to get his clutches on.he didn't and she then offered paint,for small fee to cover costs stones and acrylic paints,any for those who wanted one.shes done a robin for him,with his name on the back❤️DD refused come and collect it,until I asked D's and lil zoo as we could bypass doctors and pop prescription into letterbox as in same area.then I was Evil for leaving by herself so she had to come under duress and moan extensively
I added enroute we were sorting front garden pmas it's a litter Strewn tip(stuff blown out if recycle bin +as a corner House people seem to think us ok lob stuff into garden/plus wind blows some in)
That was met with fury I was encroaching on HER TIME..we can ignore fact has not done any a level catch up stuff in days,nor even written up Fridays lesson claiming too anxious
We have had 5 meltdowns so far today..there will be another shortly I feel when I round then up to make a start
Oh well im portrayed as evil,shall I be??

On tada front
3 lol
Shop done,wipe and put away
Drop script in
Pick up stone
Lower floors swept
Pile wash up done
Rest laundry mountains sorted into piles

To do
Sort garden(I'm on hoe duty at the side whilst they tackle the mess with litterpickers on the slate chips at the front

Put cat baskets back on cat tree now dry

Make sure everyone's fed and watered

Bite tongue in two re dd2 and her attitude.oddly,I've noticed she's bolshy mid cycle far more than PMS ever is.is that actually a thing?

Yes zoo I suspect it is. I get cramps far worst mid cycle than I do during my period. before anyone freaks out I have had this checked

The buggers have changed how they mark the practise tests. You don't get to see what you got right or wrong. Just if you hit the pass mark or not. Dang it.

dancing a Keurig is a coffee maker, individual cups, I'll post a pic of mine later.
hills sorry to hear about your testing issues and worries. Them not putting what you did good/ bad on is less than helpful, especially as practise tests.
ED thank you for leading Feb thread, you did a great job
Up thank you for starting the March thread

Woohoo! Our beside tables just arrived!! Now I can get rid of the ugly ones I've had since before I even met DH (probably over 20 years!) I've never liked them.
Be back on later. 🍒👋

hazel it's funny how a simple but if furniture can make such a difference!
Hills thought I was going crazyI'm sorry the exam stress is so much

Well I asked dd2 check neighbours bin who lets us add our excessand we would start.i check on her 10 mins after walk in saying it's half full and was scrolling AGAIN.i LMS and storm around gathering rubbish and recycling,put all into relevant bins/neighbours bin.rage litter pick up 2/3 of rubbish(11/2 BINBAGS) then ran out room in neighbours bin...yucky water went on my new jumper dd1 got me for xmas.smelt so grim I couldn't bear to wash it.dd2 appeared as I was near done and said oh,did you want any help?I had to say go away or there may have been bloodshed...this added to my rage along pain back/shoulders from lifting stuff into bins...I rage cleaned stairs,and then D's room
After which I was still very angry and in lot pain,so rather than go face first into chocolate/sweet /junk for first time in my life iran a hot shower and washed my hair,washed my face and then stretched back best I could...I'm as ready now as I ever going to be to"play nice"
Did I mention I've turned off WiFi,?(cackles) if they cannot help when asked,the privelage of WiFi outside school hours largely limited.as of now 830-5.want more.earn the f**r!no one's dared complain...yet!

That seemed to restore my karma.

Dinners on,pasta,veg and cheese as I CBA with the girls(not mad at D's,he tries bless him.but it's one instruction at a time.execute.repeat or gets muddled still gets muddled trying sometimes -- )

Right best go dish up
I having big tray roast veg,which go bung in my mini oven shortly.then I may crack out a face mask sheet

Good for you Zoo. We found restricting the use of the phone( house before mobile) and internet was the way to pull DD into line. I never remember being that selfish I didn’t dare.
Mum and I had been through a lot together before my sisters came along. Dad was away a lot and my baby sister died ( I was 3) just after birth so there were no more until I was 7,9 1/2 and 12 1/2. I had lived in four countries by the time I was 6. Some of them more than once.😳

Welcome back Doublechins sorry you have been having a difficult time I have just been muddling through and if a couple of rooms are on track I consider that a win.

Sorry thank you for taking on the March thread Up I was distracted by David Attenboborough.

Thanks again to ed for 🥰 Feb thread and now to up for doing March. I don't know how I'm going to survive this month - too much going on. But I'll preserve regardless

Persevere not jam 🍯

Heya everyone sorry I wasn’t on yesterday we had a lovely day went for a long walk and then had a picnic in my bubbles garden. DD got quite poorly on the evening though so spent most of the night up with her she was being sick bless her she’s okay now just a bit sore. I’m feeling a bit better too not sure how we’ve caught this bug but it isn’t the nicest. I stayed at my bubbles house all weekend which was nice just to get a bit of a break from being an adult for a bit😂. I got home not long ago but have left all flying until tomorrow morning so I don’t have anything to report. It’s been lovely weather here it feels like spring now everything just seems so much nicer when the weathers nice. I need to start thinking about what to do for DS’s birthday in June I know it’s quite far away but it’ll come around quick and I want to be prepared. I’m hoping that by the time his birthday comes around we’ll be able to meet up with more people so I might look into throwing a birthday party or something. It was really foggy here this morning it was quite cosy though.

Thank you for the new thread up and thanks for the last one ED you were a brilliant leader for my first step into flying😊

hills thanks for the reassurance I won’t be kicked off the thread for my terrible lack of flying😂 I have a feeling I’ll be a very frequent member of the naughty corner😊

Thank you waders I’m hoping to get back on track tomorrow. Feeling a lot better now😊 operation Lego looks very satisfying.

Thank you dancing❤️ it was lovely staying at my bubbles. They cooked and cleaned which was a very nice break. Hopefully DD will be a bit more herself tomorrow. She’s in bed with me at the minute but hasn’t been sick since this morning so hopefully she’s on the mend. Glad to hear you got your vaccine and it sounds like it was very well run which is brilliant.

Well done on completing your unit sing🎉 and glad to hear you also got the vaccine. Oh no about the freezer! But at least it meant it got a big clean out.

Thank you up I’m feeling a bit better today😊

ED you’ve been a great thread leader and I find the links you post really helpful💖

I hope you feel better soon red💐 beautiful pictures😊

hills good luck with the exam stuff things sound a bit more positive now and as you’ve said there’s always resits if the need be💖

Hi mc hope you and McTiny are doing okay❤️

Hi double😊

Sorry to hear about your day zoo I definitely think no wifi outside of school hours is a great idea. As you’ve said they should earn it. I hope you’re okay now❤️

Hope she's feeling better naptune. You too red

We’ll be here to drag you through Hope. Or pamper you in the naughty corner if March gets too much.

Welcome back Double. Sorry about the smashing plates but it sounds like you’ve got quite a few mended already. Power of 3 always makes things a bit less overwhelming I find.

Ooh you evil woman Zoo, expecting teens to help with menial tasks. They didn’t ask to be born you know . Will remember the earning the WiFi tip! Glad your karma is restored.

Waders you have definitely earned that wine! Loved the meme you posted on the other thread.

It’s amazing how long we put up with furniture we don’t like isn’t it Hazel. We have an ancient battered old chest of drawers in the boudoir. The drawers are really stiff and don’t really close properly, and it’s scratched to bits, but somehow we’ve never replaced them. Perhaps we will in our new bedroom after our building work or perhaps not as we’ll be skint hope you are pleased with your new tables.

Hope studying progress has been made Hills

Waves to ED, Red, Sing and Mc. Hope Merry, MrsTidy, Foxes, Dancing, That and Naptune join us soon. Waves to SC and Chic if you’re lurking.

Will be back with links shortly but just going to dump my ta das then have the fish cakes and salad DH is doing (was stuffed from a delivered Sunday lunch complete with sticky toffee pudding)

✔️ big supermarket shop
✔️ fridge cleaned and reorganised
✔️ larder reorganised
✔️ freezer reorganised (inspired by Sing) and inventory updated
✔️ upstairs hoovered and dusted
✔️ ironing for the week
✔️ Bags packed
✔️ meal plan done, breakfasts and lunches prepped for next couple of days
✔️ bedding washed and line dried

Ok, food scoffed Hope you’ve all managed to find some time to yourselves today. I renewed my spirit watching DD splash in the sea, and having 20 minutes in a hot bath with my book. Feel motivated to knuckle down in March now I give it a week

So it seems that the habit for the month of March is getting dressed to shoes. It’s slippers chez Up but having them on or off doesn’t make a massive difference to me (other than cold tootsies in the kitchen). I’ve noticed that it’s doing my hair that makes the biggest impact on how ready I feel, and it’s the bit I often don’t bother with until it’s time to go somewhere, so I think I’ll make an effort with my barnet this month.

Monday focus is home bleurgh. But not for me coz I’m at work

We seem to be in Zone 5 tomorrow and then switching to Zone 1 from Tuesday. The mission tomorrow is to put out any hotspots in the living room.

Here’s the launchpad in case I’m wrong.

Managed a reasonable amount more housework today. Freezer totally sorted and used up more stuff for dinner. Cagletini enjoyed the biscuit making/icing with the defrosted dough.

Pretty achy/tired and getting chills a lot though. So didn’t get any proper start on the last assignment and have had to turn down the request for another stranger things episode with DD1. But quite pleased with the achievements of the day. Had a nice bedtime with Cagletini if rather late, and it took several million books, obv.

And to top off the day I was just looking out of the back door and saw a shooting star 😱 I have never seen one before so that was awesome!

Waders and Naptune baby and I are surviving, thank you! He is mostly over his crankiness, pretty much back to his normal self.
I started doing enhanced gesture training with him, and I find it a lot of fun, as well as being curious whether it will actually work.

I would love a glass of wine (or two. Large ones). I am not drinking whilst breastfeeding as I tend to metabolise alcohol slowly and mctiny feeds often in the day (and just the thought of needing to take an integral just to work out amount/timing of a drink in relation to breastfeeding is enough to put me off. Easier just not to drink whilst he is EBF). I love the taste of red wine, Rioja especially. I will probably get trolleyed on one glass when I go back to drinking it again 😂

Hope all of you who are under the weather recover soon 💐

Ta das over this weekend:
💥All 3 aquariums sorted
💥Whole house hoovered
💥All rubbish, including recycling, taken outside
💥Kitchen blitzed, cupboard fronts and all
💥Bathroom blitzed
💥Mirrors cleaned

Rest of the home bleurgh is for tomorrow. Right, I better get to sleep.
🍒👋

up I think parts of the website don't cohere. Flylady has this as the month's zones elsewhere. Zone 1 starts on Monday 1st. She's a bit out of sync.

'These are the zones for the month; mark your calendars!

Zone 1: Entrance, Front Porch & Dining Room (1-2)

Zone 2: Kitchen, Pantry (3-9)

Zone 3: The Main Bathroom and One Extra Room (10-16)

Zone 4: The Master Bedroom, Bath, Closet (17-23)

Zone 5: The Living Room, Den, Family Room (24-31)'

up thanks for the support. Ruddy work review on zoom tomorrow. Will have to get up early to prepare. Oohh sing - a shooting star!!! 🌠