Fledglings bolt into Spring! Fresh air, fresh flowers, fresh sheets – No fledgling left behind…

[BeanAnTae]

Thread starts on 1 February, but you are welcome to land and say hello until then
Thank you to Hills who has given us a tour-de-force thread for the deepest, darkest days of January when we were all flagging. We all know you are really busy and appreciate the time you took to go in depth with the baby steps.
Welcome to Flylady if you are a newbie or a regular fledgling– it is a zone based cleaning system, spread out over 4-6 weeks (depending on how the month falls.) The zones cover different areas of the home so we concentrate on a particular zone in a given week. But there is also a weekly hour of cleaning (can be split into 10 min segments) to make sure the bins are emptied, main areas hoovered, sheets changed – you get the drift…
And each day of the week has a focus – Thursday is errand day for example.

So , today is Tuesday 1 February – the first day of Spring if you are joining us in the North Hemisphere or Happy Autumn to those in the South. This thread brings you right up to Pancake Tuesday which is 1 March 2022.
Flylady site
This week we are in 2 Zones:
Zone 5: The Living Room
Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room
February Habit: Decluttering for 15 Minutes a Day

Monday – Weekly Home Blessing
Tuesday – Plan and Play
Wednesday – Anti-Procrastination Day
Thursday – Errand Day
Friday – Clean-out your Purse and Car Day
Saturday – Family Fun Day
Sunday – Renew your Spirit Day

It is plan and play day on Tuesdays – I usually plan menus and things to do on Tuesdays but the system is customisable to what works for you and your life.
Feel free to jump onto the thread and post your To Do list of household and family stuff achieved and, if you like, post your Ta Da list when you’ve got stuff done. We all encourage each other along and we all have different lives, pressures etc and we are not at all precious about the system – it can be used as you see fit. For example I don’t clean my dining room in zone 1 as it’s part of my living area so I do it in zone 5.
There is a general mantra of ‘No fledgling left behind’ which basically means you can’t fall behind in the system – you just start up again. So there’s no need for a massive Spring Clean – you just jump in.
Some jargon has evolved over the years, for example – cherry waves was an autocorrect of cheery waves, the pointy stick ---> is sometimes requested if you are having particular problems with procrastination and the naughty corner which is where we collapse to take a break.
As well as ‘To Do’, I’m going to try ‘To Be’ because I’m a Human Being not just a Human Doing. So my aim is to be more present (on the thread and in my head!) and more positive. I live far north in the UK so it is pretty dark here at the moment and I am SO looking forward to more daylight. And a shiny sink!

[Exit stage left pursued by a child]

zoo good to hear that your DC are all in school today. You said their dad is around today, does that mean he's actually been around more lately? Has he been helpful or a hindrance?

Sing have you been able to get out in the fresh air at all? It seems I remember that you said getting out of the house for a few minutes each day helped you last time when you felt blah (for lack of a better word) I could be remembering it very wrong though, my memory is terrible, so ignore if wrong.

Frankie abusive exes are never good, we're here for you 💐 that's great that you have found someone new who adores you and your DC

Ta Das so far today:
☕ one cup of coffee drank
That's it! 🤣 although I did offer to drive DS to school this morning, but he declined my offer and wanted to walk (it's still freezing here 🥶) right now it's -10°C, feels like -16°C and the high for today is -5°C

Anyway I have some to Dos:
🎼 wash bedding
🎼 take DS trombone over to get a deep clean, will take 1 1/2 weeks so he'll get a loaner in the meantime
🎼 put out valentine's Day decorations
🎼 put out hot spots, have piles of papers that needs dealt with
🎼 get DD & my UK passports, I still haven't done that as I procrastinate 🤦‍♀️
🎼 clean both bathrooms
🎼 do more LOLs
🎼 make some more truffles
🎼 meal prep for tonight and the rest of the week

But first, I need to get myself a 2nd cup of coffee and take my vitamins, I just don't want to adult today 😫

Frankie I'm so sorry to hear this about your ex. Tis a sign that he is losing power over you. It is not pleasant at all but keep firm in your goals and wishing you every happiness with new lovely partner.

Hills I've pm'd you with the details. Totally get you re celebrations of different days. Apparently St Brigid's day has been added to Irish Bank Holidays so that we have a female equivalent to St Patrick. Anyway she is the Goddess/Saint of hearth and home!

Went into work to discover a delivery is all wrong and has to go back

Back home to finish off more work but I am going to do a quick 15 minutes blitz to get house in order. This must include washing bed linen

Frankie 'Thanks for the Jan thread hills where I was lucky enough to find and join you all 🥰'

This brought a tear to my eye. We are very lucky to have you and any newbies too who may be lurking out there hiding behind their Vileda mops.

Hazel I had a vision of ds's trombone having a pampering session, up to its 'Bell' in soapy bubbles. I now know trombone parts - that's what I like about this thread. Every day's a school day.

I did maths lesson. I have now gone to bed having taken painkillers, I have water and biscuits and The Sinner on Netflix. About all I can manage.

Hazel you are right I need to figure out leaving the house more somehow. It feels insurmountable most days atm

Trying again to properly join you all!

Had parents here for a few days and concluded four adults works so much better for looking after children/running a house - lots of nice meals plus washing up getting done, time playing with DS and DD, and some niggly jobs ticked off (toilet roll holders, towel rails, pictures up etc)

Also got house to ok standard quicker than usual, which felt like a bit of an achievement, and was a bit more sorted with having bed made up the day before. I've been listening to a lot of A Slob Comes Clean podcasts (can I say that here?!) and it helps hearing from someone who felt so overwhelmed and struggled with visitors and is turning it round.

Hills on the last thread you mentioned something about change cycles, would be interested to know more as I've been having a bit of an emotional day around things changing (DDs first full day at nursery).

Hazel frequently don't want to adult! I usually wish someone else could just sort annoying things for me, make decisions etc

Frankie that sounds so tough, hope you've got the support you need around you.

A Slob Comes Clean podcasts (can I say that here?!) you can indeed!

Tomorrow is anti-procrastination day (today was plan and play)

Flight plan here

tonight the words "if you want to eat tea you need to bring your washing up down and wash yourself up a plate were yelled"

prettygirl if you can bare with til the weekend I will indeed explain. Life has got more hectic than I can keep up with atm. And ds is heading to his dad's tomo so he can help with some of the supporting for getting him settled into his new life normal. Which will grant me a little time just to breathe for a moment and find my safe place filed notes

Hello all. Sorry for not clicking on the link. I have a tendency to procrastinate so I don't want to end up down an internet rabbit hole. Is this an organizing your life thread? It sounds like it might be.

I'm already on the decluttering thread and organizing your home thread. Wondering if I should hang out here too. I want to be more productive.

Wild - you are more than welcome! Flylady is a zone cleaning system - we are in zone 5 the living room and zone 1 the hall and dining room this week. Each day has a focus too so tomorrow is anti-procrastination day.

My phone is acting up so can't post much more tonight. There is a home cleaning hour for a quick clean up too - can be spread out through the week. I didn't get to change the sheets today 🙄 so it will have to wait for anti procrastination day tomorrow.

Hello WildPoinsettia! We are about putting routines in place that make the house run more smoothly because you stop noticing you're doing them; and chatting as we go cos housework is pretty dull! Good to have you along. If you don't want to disappear down the Flylady wormhole, I'm sure between us we can talk you through the initial steps of making routines.

@prettygirlincrimsonrose you are never behind! I know what you mean about the advantage of spare pairs of hands.

Frankie sorry your ex is being a nightmare, you are always free to vent here if you want you. I'm pleased you've found someone much nicer.

Hills hope you get a couple of quiet days and don't LYS with the People, however Peopley they may be.

Hazel we will let you off adulting today!

Today has been quite full, but my original plan didn't materialise. WassailHound has been a yappy pillock all day and I spent a lot of the morning with him sitting on my knee. Then DM turned up on the way back from the dentist. Then we had more yapping. I finally got upstairs to work at 12.30!

Ta da:
❤️ Morning routine - windows open, bed pulled back, me washed etc, bathroom swished, windows closed, bed made, LOL on, DW rotated.
🧡 1hr making new email program do what I need. I hate it
💛 Sewing for lovely friend
💚 LOL into dryer
💙 1hr's work
💜 Healthful Walk of 2.3 miles - new personal best since I hurt my foot in 2020.
❤️ Stood my ground and did not buy things from door-to-door seller
🧡 Ordered "no dootstep sellers" sticker
💛 Walked the dog as DD was exhausted and peopled out
💚 Ran DW
💙 Emptied it again
💜 Cooked tea and reloaded it again again
❤️ Banking stuff
🧡 Helped DH find the Mystery Rattle his desk was making when he typed - don't balance your keys on the keyboard 🤦
💛 Made lunches for tomorrow

Have managed to retain quite a bit of energy, need to go and do more sewing now.

Apologies, I am short on personals. I've been chasing my tail all January, still catching up.

I am on top of my work to do list. I am on top of nursery/kid stuff. I am sort of on top of laundry. That's about it. I need to do a bit of zone declutter.

We mostly follow the fly lady system for getting house stuff sorted, but we have had a lot of other stuff that we looked at last month.

Feel free to pull up a chair in the naughty corner and figure out if it is for you @WildPoinsettia.

wassailing can you see into my house. LMS people be very peopley. Extra specially peopley.

Hi Wild. You’re more than welcome to hang out here. We try and motivate each other to be more productive and there’s a lot of general chat too. We are a friendly bunch . We have naughty corner too if needed and if you have a tendency to procrastinate you’ll fit in great

Sorry you’ve been having a tough time Frankie. Offload here whenever you need.

I keep meaning to give that podcast a try Pretty. Glad you reminded me.

Sorry you’re struggling at the minute Sing. You’ve got a lot on with the new job and course though so don’t be too hard on yourself.

Good to have you back Zoo. Missed your amazing lists!

DD sounds very motivated Hills. Long may it continue.

I didn’t get as much done as I’d hoped today as DD2 was quite clingy. There were some wins though:
🏆 LOL in then hung up, clean dry stuff away
🏆 calm school run having got most of the morning routine done before leaving and not even LMS once
🏆 did 5 minutes cleaning in zone 1 - wiped down inside of front door, hall switches and wiped some sticky fingerprints from the (quite newly painted ) hall way walls
🏆 a little bit more tidying of boudoir and DD’s room
🏆 dinner dishes are done and my sink is shiny.
🏆 did a 2 minute tidy in the dining room and living room before getting DC sorted for bed.

For all I’m just doing things in very short bursts it must be making a difference as my DM popped round with 10 minutes notice and I didn’t need to get up from the sofa and panic tidy. I need to work out how best to do the home bleurgh while I’m on mat leave. Not sure whether to continue to do it over 2 days (upstairs one day, down the other) like I did when working, or whether to split it over the whole week. I prefer to do it in a chunk to get that clean house feeling, and it’ll mean I’ll be in that routine when I go back to work, but spread out works better with my hungry baby. Or I could just not do it

Tada!

Milk in
Feed cats
Tablet/ointment/take photo of cat
Send photo to vet with updates on skin condition
De-poop litter trays
Breakfast
Re-arrange laundry on airer
Drop DD at station
Work
Sainsbos
Home
De-poop litter trays
Flatten boxes for recycling
Tidy kitchen surfaces
Unpack shopping
Tidy fridge (token effort)
Take laundry off airer and put away
Make plans to go to cinema tomorrow on whatsapp
Dinner cooked by DH
Packed lunch for tomorrow made.

LAst night before bedtime I had a proper tidy up of my dressing table which has been a tip for ages and gave it a dust/wipe. It only took 10 mins and made me feel very happy when I got up this morning and saw it like that, I should try and keep more on top of these hotspots.

Cross post Wassailing. Sounds productive even if it didn’t quite all go to plan. at DH’s keys.

And you too ED. That list is very ‘Zoo-esque’! Meant DS Hills. Must learn to proof read.

Oh MC you are doing really well. I'm not on top of work and have to steel myself for tomorrow.

Thanks for the welcome everyone. I'll try to keep up. I do all the basic cleaning but I don't do the extras where all the cobwebs live. Maybe this will help me focus.

I'm the same wild. I do the weekly home clean but neglect the zone cleaning. Just set your timer for 15 mins a few days per week in the zone. Well done on decluttering - keep on keeping on. I'm mostly here for the chat 😁 and lounging in the naughty corner waiting for my duster to recharge.

Hi wild welcome!

Up that’s a really good sign isn’t it, when someone visits and you don’t need to rush round. I feel like that with some people but only the ones I know have standards as low as mine 🤣 for a stranger I would definitely not feel comfortable yet.

ta da
💻shower
💻staff meeting (took minutes)
💻LOL
💻maths lesson and have enough resources for Thursday
💻paid for scout badge sewing

Evening was a bit better than the afternoon - picked at the Caglets’ leftovers as I hadn’t wanted my own dinner, then later on watched some really silly YouTube cartoons and laughed a lot with DS. Then did lots of cryptic crosswording with DH.

There seems to be not much rhyme or reason to my productive vs non productive days. I think I probably do need to fully automate Tuesdays though because I do seem to burn out from the regular meeting even though it’s lovely - it’s a lot of peopling.

So Tuesdays. Up, shower, LOL on. Staff meeting. Ready meal for lunch so I definitely eat. Next LOL. Maths lesson. Then plan for nothing else, except perhaps usually I’ll make that my putting laundry away day as it’s a nice mindless task and I can disappear upstairs watching Netflix while I fold stuff. Maybe if I can just make sure I do those it’ll be enough to stop me feeling that low? Something to think about anyway.

(Waves to everyone 👋)

Not done any tidying but I have been using the break from cleaning/dust to work on a project whilst my asthma settles down. And I did declutter my desk.

Welcome Wild. I'm the opposite to you and Bean as I prefer the zones as they don't disappear. I had to add the weekly tasks into the zones in the end. I love the app as you can configure it to fit into your own lifestyle/system.

Love this group. Nice to see so many people here again

Welcome wild
Frankiewe always here you need to offload
Wassailsorry about the yapping Pollock
MC you do great with work and mctiny
Hill thanks for update.hope D's settles well with his new life choice and pleased to hear no one burned down the thread!
Hazel congrats on DD graduating
Redhow are you doing now,feeling any better?
Thathope you still around❤️

Brains fuzzed up so sorry to all(and I know I've missed a fair few) other fledglings I've not added personals for.sending bit wingflaps

Busy day went ok yesterday
Had TAF meet and I got to chew out D's placement over lack looking for placements for post16 they had promised
Both girls continue to be well supported and lil zoo gut issues are being given lots consideration.school nurse been asked to refer to a team to help and she's dropping all subjects not doing for GCSE next year,free up time every day except Tuesday to be more at home allowing to eat/drink and use loo more easily.her chosen GCSE subjects come with guarantee s so she is doing art,history and ethics and philosophy and core subjects.french is being double checked as if lack of oral mark will produce a fail that will also be dropped too as no way will she speak it in front of others,exam or not!
Didn't get much more flying done,but I didn't kill kids dad (he was on good form for a change at helpful)and everyone got fed

Today I'm tired,back and hip hurt and CBA
Must find some motivation
Plus we have dentist at 4pm...

Morning. Yet again DD1 isn’t up. Bit of a hectic morning as DSD messaged, she can’t make it to the cinema tonight :( (new anime film) as she has her first migraine in several years, we have the same meds so DH is dropping some round to her before going to his GP appt on the other side of town.