Fledglings summer holiday and fly their way through August into tidy organisation.

[HillsBesideTheSea]

Welcome to the August Thread for the Fledglings. This is a long running thread, some of us have been here from the start, we have had many posters come and go. We love when new people join us. We just request that you respect the thread community and understand that familiarity can make it seem clicky sometimes. There are inside jokes, there are phrases and terms we use specifically that others would not use in the same way. If we confuse you, ask. Someone will always explain - although these days the glichiness of the new platform means you may have to wait til someone wanders by as we are not quite as active as we used to be and the summer holiday always sees a quieter thread because people are quite rightly enjoying their selves instead of chores. --We encourage enjoying yourself, housework is not your life!

Now the formalities are done, lets me explain: we loosely follow the Flylady system. We DO NOT advocate signing up for the emails, experience tells us flylady is a little email happy and you will have more than you know what to do with.

If you are new to the system start with the baby steps. These are designed to get you into a routine so you know longer think about doing the chores they are just habit. Set time, set day - do the thing. We do recognise that this is not a good system for quick decluttering and many of us in the past have combined this system with other systems for getting the heavy duty sorting out and cleaning out done. We don't judge.

And lastly my favourite part of the threads - the naughty corner. This month the naughty corner is decked out with a pool, deck chairs sunshade and what ever cool drink and calorie free treat you need to survive the chaos. It is the perfect place to park if you need a chat and 5 mins from the kids, to restore your spirit on a Sunday or if you have been super active and need a break. You will notice we are a chatty bunch and don't stick to topic.

We start a new round of baby steps on the 1st August. If you join us mid way through the month you can jump in where we are, or start from the beginning as you chose. The babysteps repeat each month, and Flylady says that you are NEVER behind.

Afternoon all,

Well I've been away on a Monday to Friday jaunt. Back home, quick turnaround and then the same again next week. Next week is in a tent with the dc and the dog. So I shall try and fly in the tent instead. Its the first time camping with a dog and the tent is definitely going to have to be more organised or else he will eat everything 🙈.
For now though...its washing, drying, ironing and repacking!

It's late and I'm tired. Spent all day catching up on July's thread and this one.

Sorry you're having troubles with people Hills. I hope the a+e situation wasn't anything disastrous and also that you pass your exams ok.

Red that's shocking refugees are messing you around. They could just be difficult people but I'm also wondering if perhaps they don't realise you're not a government organisation paid to help them. In future maybe it would help to explain that you're not being paid for the work you do and everything you have has been donated by others who also weren't paid. I don't know, perhaps it's not appropriate to tell them this, but it might help with the being difficult. I definitely wouldn't be helping anyone again who's been difficult once. They can sort things out through official channels if your efforts aren't to their liking.

Doyathinkhesaurus unless you're stoney broke I'd donate it to a charity shop, get it out of the home and lose the guilt. I know the feeling of drowning in it all and wasting time constantly moving piles around and can vouch for the relief at losing them. If you must sell, try aiming to list one thing per week so it doesn't feel too daunting. It might feel pointless doing so little but the sooner you get started the sooner the pile will be gone.

Welcome to all the newbies and returners, there's so many of you! 🙂

I've been keeping up with my routines and decluttering too. Had the builders in so forced to do some extra cleaning. Tackled the kitchen cleaning cupboard. Have somehow amassed around 12 sprays, but only need 3! Also 6 rolls of black sacks 🤦, a pile of cloths I don't like or use (they can become dishcloths to use them up) and a pile of other impulse purchased things that looked good but I never used. So my new task is to look around every room and get using stuff up instead of only using the favourites then replacing them

Today is saturday and the focus is family fun. Personally i hate this focus of a day but some will enjoy spending time with their family doing fun things. Remember it is supposed to be fun, but don't judge or be mean to yourself if it just feels hard work. that is ok. Watch a film together, go for a walk together. etc etc...

babysteps The hot spots baby step. this one is really useful!
Launch pad
No missions because it is the weekend

I was an over tired toddler last night so went to bed early for me. Still tired and a smidge grumpy, but suspect the grumpy is because i simply can't keep up with the crazy in this house. I did family "fun" yesterday because i took a person to do shopping. One massive car argument and a slow protracted walk around the shop later...

I have a massive to do list so may well drop it as a ta da list later, I may need to see how productive i have been whilst taking a break from studies. I need a break from studies, i need to be productive around here actually i need a lottery win so i can move and the people can be a shared responsibility with siblings and not just mine 24hrs a day

Sorry for the lack of personals this week, every day has been punctuated with some sort of drama with the people. Will try to do a little better after the weekend, hope all the fledglings are doing well and managing to enjoy the summer.

Hello again. This morning I realised I haven’t even been on MN for almost a week 😱😱😱 so I’m signing back in. Thank you for the new thread hills and to willow for July!

Nothing interesting to report here, feel like I’ve wasted week 2 of the holidays TBH (other than a theatre trip) although resting has been valuable I guess.

Busy day today on not much sleep - DH is out working all day. There’s an open day at the fire station which I hope to take Cagletini and DS to and I’ll try and get a few jobs done in town while I’m there.

But first a power of three as I’ve been lazing around since I woke up.
po3.1
❗️second breakfast and meds, catch up with thread
❗️LOL
❗️DW

So mad yesterday. I had a long post including a long list from Thursday and Friday only to lose it as I added last sentence.

So basically lots of washing, vacuuming and sorting. Half dining room packed and delivered to pick up point. Vacuumed carpet.
Sitting room given a good clean.
Boudoir ( thread name) not finished yet but all right hand side of bed done except under little table as very awkward to get under.

Spent a lot of time washing, packing, labelling and sealing boxes this week.

Today
Need to get up as in market for 10. Swapping my day put me all wrong yesterday. I did have a little time to myself and used it to research curtain for door. Need to make a decision about whether to buy the one I want Morris Strawberry Thief or much cheaper Dunelm curtain.
Went to charity shop and bought about 10 of those tapestries.😊 Hit on idea of giving some to refugees to do. Originally I was going to do them and make some money for self and friend at craft fair. Thought refugees might like to do that instead. Give some a craft to learn/do and maybe some work for one that can sew. Could have a craft stall for C**
Need to smuggle them into house before DH sees them.
Dunelm have put recycling boxes into their shop/s for people to leave and take 1. Wool 2. Material 3. Any other bits. Great idea and I got a ball of red wool which might make a child’s hat.

Up that is a brilliant idea about the book whoever you pinched it off the main thing is you shared it. Goes to find DDs pictures.🤓

Need to get moving.

Got up early yesterday and shifted the bookcases and books. It took a good couple of hours and much measuring, but the end result is well worth it. The tall bookcase in the front room had been hiding a mess of scribbles so I got some of that off with a sponge.

Cleared off three shelves of magazines from the front room into the back. I can see all my reading material at a glance now. More shelf space in that room ever since I tackled the storage boxes and put contents where they actually belong.

Decided to clear off the rest of the front room shelves into the back room, and make the front room into a play space for the LOs. Finish doing that today, then set about moving settee and giant table.

Just getting up now. Really enjoying freedom from clocks and apps and, dare I say it, children and cartoons.

ps MN is really hard on my iphone battery. Is this normal?

Have you had your iPhone a while Weegie? The batteries do start draining really quickly after a few years. I think you can have them replaced though. You are definitely making good use of your freedom!

I’d buy the curtain you really want Red. You’ve been really busy too. I really recommend the taking photos thing, it lessens the guilt and frees up so much space. I do a photobook every season on the free photobooks app (1 20 page book a month free, although delivery is £6 and I usually add quite a few additional pages). It’s really easy and less work than photo albums, plus more compact. The last few pages are the artwork from those few months. It’s nice to see how her skills have progressed each time.

Welcome back Perry. It is nice to have a more relaxing week. Don’t feel like you’ve wasted it.

No worries on the personals Hills, you’ve got lots going on. I agree on the family fun thing. Saturday does tend to be our day of spending time together, but there’s a danger of feeling under pressure to have an amazing day when it’s designated ‘fun day’.

Well done on the decluttering Ditzy, and for keeping up with routines.

Enjoy your time away really.

DD1 was a bit of a nightmare this morning. A busy week has caught up with her and there was a tantrum over today’s outfit as nothing felt right. DH tends to take the girls out early on a Saturday while I do the homebleurgh, but it was after 10 before they left and I’d completely lost the will. I pulled my big girl pants up though and did it. So pleased I did as I feel much better for it and can now enjoy the rest of the day guilt free.

Busy day here at the Hazel household.
We are camping tonight. DH is currently at work so we're leaving as soon as he's home. Of course that means getting everything ready falls mostly to me 🤦‍♀️ There really isn't that much though, we're keeping food simple and we're staying at a campsite with full hookups so we don't have to fill the water tank or anything. Most things are already in the trailer, it's just food and clothes mainly!

To do:
☔️ wash towels for camper (they're also our swimming towels for the pool)
☔️ shower & get ready
☔️ chat with mum
☔️ grocery shopping for camping
☔️ make ranch for salad to take with us
☔️ pack clothes
☔️ take all clothes out to camper
☔️ take food out to camper
☔️ walk through camper to see if anything else is missing
☔️ get something ready for lunch
☔️ try not to cry because it's currently raining and I don't want to camp in a muddy mess! It's supposed to clear up this afternoon, and we are in a desert area so 🤞

Sorry for lack of personals. I have been reading along but not commented and now I don't remember who said what! I do know that you have all been busy and at least one of you newbies have accomplished more this week than I have in a month at home! Well done! Just don't get burned out, that's never fun

Ta Das, so far:
☕️ 2 cups of coffee
☕️ towels (& swimsuits) in the washer
☕️ list made of To Dos
☕️ airing out the house since the air is so fresh outside from the rain

About to get off the couch and get in the shower etc. It's currently 8:40am here and DS is still asleep, but time for me to get things done so we're not rushing around at 1:30!

Ta das today

• shopping for camping bits needed
• kitchen is cleaned for today - will just do last bits before bed and shine my sink 😁
• 3 wash loads done (tonight's job is to put into piles for said camping trip and put anything else away)

-lists written for camping trip - I love a good list!

Other bits left to do

• mop kitchen floor
• hoover storage bag to get rid of air and put that into storage - have been very organised... Inside it is a single Quilt, pillow, sheet Quilt cover and pillow case for when we have a guest so not in mad panic to find it as was this time.
• hoover and mop downstairs toilet
• love the hot spot - mine is definitely the dining room table - so will hot-spot that tonight as well.

Some more ta das:
⛅️ camper packed with everything we need
⛅️ 3 LOLs, including bedding
⛅️ Showered, defrosted, scrubbed and self tanner applied
⛅️ grocery shopping done for camping trip and loaded into the camper
⛅️ walked through house and camper to see if anything was missed. I didn't see anything so hopefully we got everything

Currently on our way! The rain stopped, the sun is trying to come out, it got hot and muggy outside.
ILs will be coming out for dinner tonight as well.
It'll be nice to relax with a drink, especially by the fire pit once we've got camp set up.

really you have been busy! I have a Hotspot I need to take care of too

Almost all the storage boxes are swapped between the front room and the back room. It all looks much better already. Much less obtrusive.

The boxes that I moved into the front room are the same colour as the paint on the walls, and I hadn't even noticed till today. Looks as though I planned it that way 😀

Moved the great big table against the wall, and the settee up to the window. It looks much better, more open.

Sat down to have a powernap, curled up and slept for nigh on three hours. Which is why I'm wide awake and posting in the middle of the night!

Plan for tomorrow is less strenuous. Clean kitchen, cook, watch tv, gentle tidy. This coming week will be busy getting ready for going back to school in ten days time.

Ooh a fire pit, how lovely. Enjoy your holiday Hazel. You too Really

Thanks Up. Glad you got the homebleurgh done in the end

That's good progress Weegie. Loving how you redecorated before by putting the bookshelf in front of the scribble. I currently have a poster hiding some dings in the wall where I couldn't be bothered to use filler and repaint

I read something about purchasing decisions Red. It said to have whatever you want but only if you have half as much as the price left over. So if you want something for £60 you'd need £90 in the savings pot for example. It means you don't deny yourself anything but always have some emergency savings left. I definitely feel less guilty about buying the things I like instead of the cheapest version since I started doing this

Hope you make it to the fire station event Perry

You tried to do something nice, Hills. All we can do is try. Sending you winning vibes for that lottery win!

Yesterday I was mainly gardening. Got loads done, it's looking a lot neater now. Very tired today so will do something basic and restful but have yet to decide what

Good afternoon.

Yesterday was a rather stressful day around here, so i was convinced to take a long walk last night. Ended up a rather late night as the stars were so pretty sat on the hill that i was reluctant to leave. But that was my renewal of spirit which is today's daily focus. Allowed myself a lie in before i dealt with whatever was throwing in my direction this morning.

Babysteps
Launch pad
Sneak peak for the week

Yesterday was a busy kitchen day.

ta da
deep clean and removed everything from one of the kitchen benches
batch prep 6 cottage pies - meat part only
batch prep 6 lasagnas and get into the freezer
Make bread for bread crumbs
batch prep 4 courgette bakes
unload, reload and run DW
2 loads through the washing machine
sort through a pile of paperwork to find a missing gift card so that expiration date could be checked
consider a pile of yarn left over from what was bought for a long ago made sweeter and how to use
started a grannie square shrug cardigian - get through a third of the yarn. - might need an extra ball or 2 (50g balls) to finish it.
walked 7k

Already hit the floor running so today's to do list is long and does involve convincing the people to sort the potato for the mash for the cottage pies so that i can get those into the freezer. And don't have to mess about with food grade gloves.

ta da for sunday
renewed my spirit and laid in (it was after midnight it counts)
sorted the giant pile of laundry from ds's room
1 load of washing on
turn the bread into bread crumbs
discuss plans and timings
suggest to the people they want to do the potato - this is the 1st of a few times i expect before it happens
deal with poor ds' cut toe - rather a lot of blood for first thing in the morning
sorted and completed internet order

Because i have been asked before what i use for batch cooking prep this is on my order. Expensive yep potentially but these are supposed to be really good and sturdy. And i am hoping will solve the issue of plastic tupperwear tubs which shatter in the freezer, and require a lot of space to store when not in use souper cubes They come in lots of sizes but i want this size for soup, spag bol toppings, chilli portions etc.

hope you are all enjoying your sunday's and manage to renew your spirits so you are ready to face whatever the new week throws at you.

Apparently i am not quite functioning yet - coffee might be needed.

Actual links!

launch pad
sneak peek for the missions we are in the kitchen
babysteps

Finished putting the Christmas tree and all decorations on the very top shelf of the back room. I hadn't expected to be able to use the huge ladder, but I gradually got my confidence and feel quite good about myself.

Didn't get much else done, so am pleased that this coming week's zone is the kitchen to keep me on track.

Well, we are back home from camping, short one night stay, not far from home.
I swept the camper multiple times, along with DH. I also cooked DH and DS breakfast this morning and cleaned up/ washed dishes while they went exploring to look for a fishing spot. They didn't find one where we could park the camper, so fishing for them would be another trip out.
We have unloaded the camper, put just about everything away and I started a LOL. We just spent time in the pool, I just took a shower, then it's movie time!

Weegie well done on the ladder success!

Good morning.

Ds helped in the kitchen yesterday so that was pretty productive. He has been promised doughnuts this morning. So i need to hustle butt and get the dough on to rise.

Babysteps morning and evening routines
Launch pad
Missions

Yeah got back on at last. Lost yesterday’s post. Trouble logging on then expired page then logged off Ggggggrrrrrrrr!

Ditsy- I have the money but it is £100 more than if I bought one from Dunelm. Not sure if I should because my old self would take the bargain but BF and I are fed up of having second ( third) best and at our time of life would like the things we would like instead of making do. I have loved the Strawberry Thief for years. BF picked up some curtains second hand and they look so good. I am now researching fabric outlets near me. Thinking if I could buy the fabric for £50 it wouldn’t be so bad. I might have just enough material left over to make lampshades as it is wider than the door size needed. I have made curtains before.
I like that idea of the £60/90 though I shall pass that on.

After a hiccup where the van broke down when it was supposed to arrive on Saturday it arrived late and all our boxes have gone bar a few open ones we are keeping for refugees here. Between 120-140 boxes 📦 we knew we had packed a lot. It took two hours to load! So it is on its way😃
We had a long table full of refugees at coffee after church. Worried about one family as mum says she is going home. So worried for the children. She has struggled besides lots of people helping her.

Hills I succumbed to buying 10. Hit on the idea of giving the refugees one and the charity shop gave me discount and are saving the box of wool for me for tomorrow. I hid them in the Summer house so can move some today as DH out walking. Put them somewhere🤷🏼‍♀️In the craft room. I also got a full stand for £4 bargain.

Right gorgeous day here. Only have my washing to do as all extra washing done and packed and on its way.
Some ironing to do later.
Home bleugh
Hour in boudoir
Kitchen is always pretty sorted but will do the missions and sort out the corner cupboard which I think could be more useful if rearranged.

Self care- salad lunch in the garden and one hour reading time.

Garden- cut back a few perennials, feed tomatoes, courgettes and hanging baskets because I forgot on Saturday. Plant lettuce.
Clean out hens.

Relax with G&T later, much later.

Hazel glad you enjoyed the weekend. Hope they helped load and unload etc

Weegie great achievement. Ladders are less inviting as you get older so I know where you are coming from.

🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋 to everyone for a happy day.

hit the ground running this morning.

Ta da
washed up the potato pots from yesterday
put slow cooker in to soak
discovered no tea towels clean so put that load on to wash
empty and reloaded dw so that is currently running
made filling for tea
Made the dough for wraps for tea
made mac and cheese for tea for the one who can't eat the other tea, with enough left over for the grumpy one for lunch pissed off with me over a conversation we had but they forgot
sorted breakfast for teen out
looked at the mince in fridge that was supposed to be burgers, decided was not happy with that mince for that purpose so turned it into meatballs for spag bal ease.
Check meatballs are cool enough and find the containers for shoving in meal size batches in the freezer
discover have to sandwich information for the people - the important to them part, the rest of the information, repeat the important to them part
Discuss the doughnut making plan with ds - we are waiting for the washing machine to finish washing the tea towels because the dryer takes the same amount of time to dry as the doughnut dough does to rise

to do
get dressed - I'm productive in my pjs sometimes
put t-shirts back on line to finish off in the drier weather today
foil the bean plant's attempts to take over the world.
make doughnuts!!
finish off tea
Escape into the hills and then
Study - lots and lots of study
Early night

Hello

Kitchen floor swept and mopped. Fourth load of laundry in. We went to visit my Dad at the weekend. Cat threw up on our duvet Starting to clear kitchen hotspots. Charity shop pile is growing.
Feel like I've achieved a bit today

Hello again. Feeling very unmotivated today, did finally sort our holiday out though which is good! I’d hoped once I got that out of the way I’d feel better but nope still lethargic and anxious.

Really need to get on with stuff. Essay due on Thursday so need to finish writing it, edit etc (have done a fair bit but it needs a lot of work). After that I need to get two application forms done. However we also have visitors tomorrow and the house is an absolute tip! Haven’t done any work with DD1 today yet either. Will wait till DH’s online meeting is finished and then decide the plan. I also realised I finished my meds today and was meant to collect the new ones. Oops.

Red yes, thankfully both DH and DS help to unload and unpack the camper. We have started to use a couple of empty laundry baskets (for clean clothes) to carry stuff out and in. It makes it so much quicker and easier! Especially for the food. No more putting in bags to take out and bring back in.
I do really think you should treat yourself to what you actually want, you shouldn't have to settle if you don't have to for financial reasons.

hills what a very productive day you've had already!
Perry well done for sorting out your holiday
Doya sounds like your cat didn't like you going away for the weekend and that was your punishment! Hope the kitty is okay. You've had a productive day too.

I'm at work today so not expecting to have ta das. I'm actually grumpy today, but think it's because my neck is hurting. I must have slept on it wrong.

Today was mostly catching up with various bits and pieces in the house that have recently been neglected.

Several Days of a mix of sun and rain have resulted in a garden once more full of triffids.

Got the rest of my list done, except the early to bed that was 11pm and i crashed hard as was tired. Slow to get up this morning as still very tired. But the new tea i threw at people last night is going on the rotation (although it has been requested as smaller portions as more filling than i anticipated but that is fine)

today's links
babystep
Launch pad
missions

As a number of the US states have gone back to school this month there is also a back to school section for those who might be interested/need it.

Hope you are all managing to enjoy yourself, keep just enough on top of the chaos as to keep you sane, and not be counting the days til the kids go back to school.