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]

I hate that waking up in panic at the sound of the binmen feeling Hills. Been there many times. Do you think anyone ever feels like an actual adult? I have only once or twice in my life when I’ve done something like take out a mortgage, but the feeling never lasts very long.

Sorry the day/week went to shit Frankie. Difficult about the dog but impressed with your epilating. They terrify me and I’ve never braved it.

Hope you are feeling better today Sing, and hope DP is feeling ok/not requiring too much looking after Wild

Glad DD enjoyed her birthday Lady, hope your back is ok!

Baby Up is doing great thank you Red. She’s such a chilled, happy little thing. Good luck for the scan. Is it just at your local hospital or do you have to travel down/across?

We are surviving half term so far. We’ve had a couple of days out, but it’s just a quick trip to the park today, via the pharmacy. I’m just about keeping on top of the basics but it is impossible to keep the place tidy with a 4 year old rampaging round crafting and playing with everything at once. I’ve also just discovered Monday is a teaching training day too . Over the last few days I’ve managed some digital decluttering, come up with a solution to the hotspot that is the coffee table, cleared the dining table and implemented all meals at it again. So much I want to do decluttering wise but that’ll have to wait until DD1 is back at school.

Considering i am not even functioning well enough to eat or sleep atm yeah, i think some people can manage to function better than I.
And having clean clothes to get dressed into is always a pro adulting move -just unfortunately one i regularly fail at.

Hills any chance you can persuade ds to be the adult?

I have finally caught up with the thread!!! Thanks for all the well wishes. Slept fairly well, albeit with Netflix on quietly as I needed the distraction. Don’t feel sick now just achy and tired. DH is feeling similar now so maybe it was a bug after all and I caught it first somehow.

Sorry about DH’s covid wild hope he doesn’t get too bad with it and you don’t catch it! Healing vibes to everyone else with bad backs, post migraine ickiness etc 💐

Aw frankie I’m so sorry it’s not working out with the dog :( I know nothing about the dog world but do you think it may be better to get a puppy from a reputable breeder instead, or rehome a much younger one somehow? It’s amazing that you foster all the animals but it must be so much harder with the dog as they can’t be contained, it takes over everything if there is trauma/behaviour issues etc. Hope you can find a solution 💐

I also :o :o :o at epilated to dolphin standards

Hope DS can be persuaded to stay at his dad’s a bit longer hills you really need the break and his dad needs to step up.

I need more food. May even do a deliveroo order from Coop, it’s expensive but neither of us is up to walking to Tesco and DD1 is away.

I am currently alone in the house

Honestly i think it has been a response to the amount of stress i have been under. But it has been suggested that that is a requirement for him coming home earlier than intended.

ta da
breakfast - i made pizza yesterday 1 tray covers 2-3 meals, i made 2 trays because of base batch size and most of a packet of ham that needed eating up
bath and hair wash
speak to ds' dad about plans
contact GP about wrist issue
thank the gods for sending me a cancellation new appointment letter for the appointment i was playing hunt the paperwork for. Same day just slightly earlier so no complaints there either.
check 02 stats as breathing is HARD today. probably because this dumb ass hasn't taken their steroid inhaler in over a month
Take the morning batch of vits/meds
bring in the milk forgot that also
bring in the post and wonder wtaf i have done with the key for the post box.

I have lunch that is no effort and don't have to think about. Yes i know not healthy but food of any kind is a start. I am going to go grab an iron tablet as i do need to take this semi regularly and hopefully will help with the dizziness which is probably a product of stress, lack of sleep and not eating

Oh sing absolutely not fair and terrible timing when you need and deserve a good break on the dog front, I've never had a dog in the home with such intense prey drive so this is extremely stressful tbh and I'm struggling to cope, the last one was difficult due to his disability (should never have been placed with us!) and this one (from same rescue) again is proving very hard work just because of prey drive. So I'm feeling really down about things atm as so much wasted time that should be being spent listing things on eBay to make some money to fund dc activities 😰

Wild excellent suggestion, todays job is to use old washing line to tether terror dog. I was standing at the door with extending lead on but she refused to move so hopefully this will work 🙏

Bean so glad my epilator craziness has got a laugh from you anyway as that's the most it's done, still feeling 😞 today from cancelled date, was like this very frequently for first few months of relationship and had slipped into a weekly date for last month or so, seems like it's back to reality now though with many a wasted hour on date prep.

Up I feel your pain, even basics seem insurmountable with dc free ranging the house all day, hope you've had better weather for half term than I had!

Hills hope you can have some calm time and easy dinner sounds perfect!

So far today I've done
Community driver job
Attempted to grass seed but lots blew painfully into my eyes so aborted to try to rinse and avoid blindness
Terror dog walked
Stage 4 dog proof complete- pray for me and furries!!
Shopping
Dp key cut 🥰
Washer on
Dinner on

Had some good news - student loan has finally been approved. Nowt else for me to do either as it’s paid direct to the OU. Hurrah!

Ah Hills that awful missed the bin feeling . Hope you can manage to get your health back on track soon.

Glad you're feeling a little better Sing

Frankie if tethering works upgrade to a chain when you can. It's heavy so will stay on the floor. Rope etc can get wrapped round legs and cause injury. The rescue place don't seem all tha professional if they're not matching pets and homes well. If you've got small furries a dog with high prey drive isn't the best for your home either.

Thanks for DP well wishes, he's feeling better today. I'm fully vaccinated so hoping I won't catch it. I've borrowed the pointy stick to keep him as far away from me as possible. Promise I'll disinfect it afterwards.

Judging from the vibrations I think the builders next door are drilling down into the centre of the earth. I might have to go out for some peace. Waiting for laundry to finish first though.

That's good news sing

So i am currently trying to eat frogs.

Tax office stuff - done!

That is an intriguing post Hills

have you never heard of "frog" theory?

I remember mum reading a book about eating that frog :o

I have too many frogs currently and they’re all hopping about madly. I’ve shut the door on them today. Have done very little indeed and am definitely feeling better for it, but hopefully I’ll feel fully recovered tomorrow so I can get back to it.

Do the things you dislike first? Gotcha!

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-26/ no fledgling left behind

Zone 4 Master bedroom www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1

Morning all - croissants and coffee in the naughty corner. I am up and working at 'work at home' this morning as desperately finishing things off.

But I have a nice coffee and will be directing housekeeping operations where dh and ds will be taking the strain. I expect to be interrupted occasionally by a panicked male saying 'where's the ___(cleaning implement)? or 'this fell apart in my hands when I picked it up to clean it' etc

morning "bean" I strongly suspect that your assessment of the men folk will be correct. It is totally what would happen here.

it's getting quiet around here. Do we need to restock the naughty corner?

In theory i am heading out for a walk, in practice I am running later. But it seems my walking buddy is also running late so that is a thing.

I need to sort my room and office out. BUT i suspect that i will be too tired after walking because there are hiccups in my functioning. So i going to fetch everything i need out of my office and probably curl up with hot water bottle and bujo set up this afternoon.

I have found my "crisis" planning system for now so that also helps. It literally has frogs and owls on it, and limits the space for the to do list to help reduce overwhelm. So I am appreciating it atm. Now that doesn't mean i am getting the stuff i put in it done, but it does mean that i am still using a planning system. Which in itself helps to reduce the overwhelm. When i actually get around to doing everything on my to do list I'll let you know. In fact I will probably run around the thread shouting it because for me the holy grail is a realistic achievable daily to do list.

OK owls is a new one on me!

Off for a very gentle walk soon. Want to get some studying done later.

I hope you have recovered sing and that you are not feeling too tired. Fresh air is always good!

Only frogs around here are the two ( or more) in the garden. Not a notion.

I once caught the bin men. I leapt out of bed threw leggings and sweat shirt on and rushed outside in bare feet, grabbing a packet of club biscuits on the way past the table. Bins were on path so through the gate and waving clubs. They go past our house, next door and next then turn at pub and back up. I stood in middle of the road grinning 😁it is single track so they had to stop. They saw the funny side and emptied it. I have tried before but they refused. I think it was the chocolate biscuits that did it.
I did give some hot pancakes one very cold morning just off the hot plate with butter and homemade jam. I think that might have been begging or a thank you the week before so maybe twice in 34 years Hills!
I do cringe when I hear them as DH went through a stage of chucking stuff out last thing. Sometimes MY stuff.i haven’t recovered yet.

Up great to get an easy baby. DS1 was a nightmare and nearly put me off. Others were easier. Scan is local hospital. Yes you are right.

Frankie oh no. Agree doesn’t sound like a good match and scaling 6:5 fence is a nightmare. Can you trust with the children? Might be better to return and go elsewhere for a younger dog. More work initially but not so much baggage. Some refuges have pups too. I will have a look at ours.
Had to look up epilating ☺️
Bean don’t talk to me about chin hair. I hate the thicker ones that won’t pull out. I have handbag mirror and tweezers in bedside drawer to check.

Sing I always used to get sick in hols. I had a dizzy and🤢feeling yesterday so maybe a bug though I haven’t seen anyone since Sunday. You may have had bug too.

Wild hope you don’t catch it. I’m trying to get hold of friend I was to meet on 10 th. Haven’t caught them in so wondering if very poorly.

Lady hope your back is improving.

Well I whizzed around last night with vacuum as I thought niece was coming today and promised to dust and tidy this morning. She isn’t well so not coming and I haven’t done anything except rearrange one shelf in baking cupboard about 5 times.
1x LOL
Did ironing yesterday so need to put it away and going to dust boudoir. Decided to shove any not boudoir stuff in the Room of Doom and tackle it when I feel better or next week.
Boudoir is looking better... newbies this has taken months/ years. Small steps.
Most of it is decluttered now apart from the clothing which I plan to do in the summer.

Vacuumed stairs as well.
Wiped worktops decanted cake cases into glass jar on worktop thank you Pinterest!

Right better move then consider dinner. No idea what to have I fancy chicken but I would have to go out for one and I can’t be bothered.
I am in a very can’t be bothered mood. Is this depression or something else...lazitist.

It really has been quiet on here. I don't think I have heard the frog or owl references before!
I have had to chase bin men before. Luckily, they emptied the other side of the street first and then came back to our side. It's been a while now as it's a chore for DS to take it out the night before, and he's pretty good about doing it with a reminder.

Ta Das so far:
🍖 massive pork roast (was in freezer, is actually 2 roasts, as I thought) prepped for smoker
🍖 DH prepped smoker and put them both in to cook
🍖 bleached surfaces in kitchen, including sink
🍖 handwashed all the handwash dishes
🍖 everything dried and mostly put away (some things go downstairs and I'm just not motivated yet)
🍖 Swept kitchen, as seasonings went on the floor while prepping meat
🍖 just finished 2nd cup of coffee and took morning vitamin

I have to work today at my 2nd job, so need to start getting ready (dressed, hair & makeup). House is presentable if DH decides to invite his brother over this afternoon to play pool etc while he tends to the smoker.
Hopefully I'll be back on later. Has anyone heard from zoo at all? I'm worried about her.
🍒👋 to everyone

Waves to zoo who must be out there somewhere. I got plenty of work done and made a lovely stew. I'm about to have a lovely soak 🛀

Baby step 27 is about menu planning www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-27/

Zone 5/1 Living room / entrance this week www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1

Sounds like the house is ship shape Hazel. Gosh you must be busy with that other job.

The owl is just a picture in the planner, the frog is also a picture, he sits next to the top 3 important things for the day. I am just fond of owls plus it reminds me to beat the sodding duolingo owl. Sooo many streak freezes used this month it is unreal.

ta da
walk
some study
take the flat pack out of box and read instructions.