Snowdrop Saturday

[L.Ann]

Morning all! Enjoy your day with the boys, FFB. If your DH’s retirement bid is accepted when would the actual retirement start, kittykatt? I think more help would be great, Trissie. I am working with DD33 to change eating and exercise to help her be healthy. In my experience the problem with instituting changes that will ultimately be good/ helpful is that they involve a lot of my time and energy to make sure the new routines stay in place in the beginning.

Bama, we have a lot of different birds…at least at certain times of year. In the spring I usually hear 10-20 different ones when I walk. You might like Merlin bird I’d app from Cornell University. It will identify the birds you are hearing or you can take pictures to identify them ( that works better for me at the beach).

1-dress and pick up bedroom
2- meds for DD32
3- move car up and pick up yard

4-open bird feeder and figure out what app I need to download

Menus
Saturday-Thai sweet chili glazed salmon
Sunday-rest of enchiladas


Events
Saturday-movies, Little Bit’s family coming over to put up bird house
Sunday

Weekly House Blessing-mop dining room, kitchen and bathroom, dust, vacuum
Extra stuff-
January paperwork-my bedroom-file boxes, Little Bit’s art work—spare room- DM’s papers, organize shred box——-cabinet in living room- binders… order fire proof box-ordered
Electronic paperwork- delete email boxes, put photos on Shutterfly and delete, delete apps on my phone and DD33’s
Death book-updates, call lawyer for appointment to review will and DD33’s POAs, check POD on one account

Accomplishments
-stretching and knee exercises
-breakfast for dog and coffee for me

[Lauralind]

Morning all. Snow in Europe? England and France? I'm sure you get some sometimes. And trissie wanted snow so they can ski.

I am amazed by all that Declutter and clean kittykat. In my mind your house seems like it would already look really nice with all your daily stuff that some of it i might get to monthly.

Trissie I hope you can sort out the getting everyone else to help keep house. Your job is demanding and most of the kids are teens now. Dishes. Laundry. Keeping their own spaces. Kids used to do a few things here. Ds 16 does firewood in the house most nights and he helps cook. Not as often as he used to but he still does. I can get him to clean up his mess in the kitchen if I tell him professional cooks can't leave a mess lol.


All this talk is leaving me feeling guilty though. I know how to get help and such but goodness there are a lot of stash spots in this house. And my cats are making me severely frustrated because it's winter. They don't take off galavanting as much. More squabbling and seemingly stressed marking. Winter is bad for that so my house just doesn't feel clean. It is pretty good now that's the advantage of having people here. Floors are clean. Island is easy Declutter again. Tables are still decorated. Looks nice so I think I will leave it till the table cloths need washing.. but the corners. Closet.. counter in laundry room.. my shelving is all stash spots.

But honestly I have a day off today. I don't need anything that I know of in town. No music prep. Just catch up clean up. Music just cause. Crochet. And whatever I choose. I desperately need to declutter the hall closet before I put the Christmas decor away. Tree down? And then maybe use what I am calling my Christmas present... a new combo floor shampooer. My old one was just a spot clean. And somehow it has holes in the water canister now? Dh thinks bite marks? I don't know how that is possible this one has an attachment for furniture and stairs.

So day off and choose what I am up to doing sounds good by me. I do have to go see mom sometime. That is about it.

Priority list


Basic routines
Kitchen clean
Laundry
See mom
Some detail cleaning shelves
Declutter closet
Put tree away
Shampoo rug

Or not??? Oh I will do something

Today's tada list

Finish qt
Soak in tub instead of shower
S& s both baths and reboot laundry
Tidy laundry room and master bedroom some

Empty and reload dw
Finish tidying kitchen all the way

[L.Ann]

Little Bit’s family decided to come tomorrow which works since I need to charge the camera.

1-declutter 2-3 binders
2-walk outside
3-dust

Menus
Saturday-Thai sweet chili glazed salmon
Sunday-rest of enchiladas

Events
Saturday-movies
Sunday-Little Bit’s family coming to put up bird feeder

Weekly House Blessing-mop dining room, kitchen and bathroom, dust, vacuum
Extra stuff-
January paperwork-my bedroom-file boxes, Little Bit’s art work—spare room- DM’s papers, organize shred box——-cabinet in living room- binders… order fire proof box-ordered
Electronic paperwork- delete email boxes, put photos on Shutterfly and delete, delete apps on my phone and DD33’s
Death book-updates, call lawyer for appointment to review will and DD33’s POAs, check POD on one account

Accomplishments
-stretching and knee exercises
-breakfast for dog and coffee for me
-dress and pick up bedroom
-meds for DD33
-move car up and pick up yard
-open bird feeder and figure out what app I need to download

[helia]

Enjoy the lovely snow, trissie! And with others, I agree. You have so much on your plate with your job and 4 children and extended family that sounds like it is more stressful at the moment - oh, and one can't forget keeping up with a house and your tremendous cooking and baking (which I'm sure no one wants to cut short), that getting more help would be good for you -- and what is good for you is going to be good for your entire. family.
I'm so curious about your bird feeder and camera app, L Ann. How do you like it? I've heard of Cornell's Merlin app.
It sounds likely that DH's retirement application will be accepted, Kitty! It will be interesting to see you both transition to this new phase of life. Did you give your neglected cat the attention she needed?
SO happy to hear you have a day off and no music prep today, Lauralind.
Did you get the toilet unclogged, FFB? And did you venture outside in the cold with the boys? A cold outing can always be followed by hot chocolate drinks.

I was insanely tired yesterday; I'm not sure what I posted when. LOL! Once home, Dh and I did completely unpack the suitcases; I have some travel toiletries still to put away. We went out for dinner. I got wood for a fire and then proceeded to fall asleep in front of it once dh got it going. We went to bed around 10, and I slept for 10 hours. I had not slept very well since RH arrived 12/19 and the busy festivities of the holiday season commenced.

I'm deeply thankful to be through the holiday season now. My holiday gift to myself will now begin - a session off classroom payroll - with no travel. (I'll still do my admin tasks, but that won't be many hours over 5 weeks.) My introversion needs recharging, so I'm hoping for a lot of alone time the next few days.

Today, dh and I do need to get the tree down and the decorations put away. We will put it by the curb for collection by one of the HS sports teams first thing tomorrow morning. Dinner will be a lo-cal meal from our freezer. Our laundry hamper is overflowing after our travel, so laundry will be on the docket and perhaps a run to Kroger as well -- and a real run would be good too, perhaps at the gym. I need to get back into regular cardio exercise. I need to order a few odds and ends, like water shoes to wear at the pool if I want to do a little swimming exercise. Fun things - I'm going to get my new puzzle set up and work on my new knitting project and perhaps read for fun as well.

I do need to get a package of Christmas gifts in the mail to the Ks, perhaps today.

Next:
- some qt
- back exercises
- s2s and self care

Later:
- tidy the kitchen
- make the bed
- lol 1 w d f pa
- lol 2 w d f pa
- clean sheets on bed
- sheets w d f pa
- Walgreens: script pick up
- Ks' gifts in the mail?
- Kroger?
- clear off puzzle table
- put away old magic puzzle
- set up new magic puzzle
- progress knitting - will I start over? (I've already made a couple mistakes, including dropping a stitch - only on row 2.
- read for fun
- exercise: outside? Or gym?
- dinner: seafood paella + salad
- after dinner clean up
- duolingo
- update health apps -- get back to this
- work on some lists and goals for my session off payroll
- other things?

TaDas!
- up; weighed self - 1.2 pounds up, less than I had anticipated; perhaps more is to come
- coffee
- email deletions + weather website

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Sat
Sun 10 - Church/ Host Dinner for 8?

Mon Groceries
Tue KS2J get together
Wed
Thu 2-3 work out with AS
Fri dinner date with dh
Sat 5:30 - ? CG1
Sun 10 - church/ 3:30 - 6 CG2 - we host/ 6 - ? host Sunday dinner

January Brain Dumps
This Week - House
- can I scrub the tile in our shower?
- clean sheets on bed

This Week - Deskwork
- make appointment with optometrist and foot doctor
- schedule mammogram
- reach out to JK?

This Week - Errands
- get Mom's bags of stuff to the charity
- C and E's gifts in the mail

General Brain Dump
- progress decluttering clothes - wip
- new phone eventually

Mom
- go through bag of Mom's knick knacks

[Doggedly]

Thank you for starting us off, Kittykatt. I might actually be able to meet the poinsettia's requirements without effort, because my curtains are often opened close to noon, so there's the sun blocked off for hours per day, LOL. In fact, this plant might be my soul mate.
I hope that the sun comes out for you and that you can get your walk.
I always enjoy it when my db's cat joins the chat in our phone visit. I hope that your dh feels the same about Matilda!

FrenchFly, I hope that the chemicals work on the upstairs toilet. A clogged toilet is so much worse than a clogged sink!

Snowed in at the cottage sounds like a perfect post-Christmas vacation, trissie.

I'm up to the end of Page 1. Time to get up and do things!

Saturday
Checked emails. Out of curiosity, checked delivery updates for purchase due Monday Jan. 5. It was changed to “Delivered Dec.31” Needless to say, I have not received it.
Pretend-dressed
Gave Germane treat
Went to lobby and mail room: no parcel
Went on to Best Buy’s web site to check my order status
Sent message to the vender through Best Buy’s web site
Put on a pot of coffee
Put away dry laundry

[helia]

Coming back through - and not much done. I did wipe off the dining room table. I'm not sure M, RH, and KE wiped it off while we were away? Reviewed the bnb in WA and made an order - pool side shoes + odds and ends.

[Doggedly]

Have fun with your birdfeeder, L.Ann. That was a good idea, suggesting a bird ID'ing app for Bama. It may turn out that she has more feathered visitors than she realized.

Lauralind, I hope that it is your old floor cleaner that has the holes in the tank, not your new one. That would be really disappointing.

helia, I hope that you get the chance to recharge your batteries.

Saturday
Checked emails. Out of curiosity, checked delivery updates for purchase due Monday Jan. 5. It was changed to “Delivered Dec.31” Needless to say, I have not received it.
Pretend-dressed
Gave Germane treat
Went to lobby and mail room: no parcel
Went on to Best Buy’s web site to check my order status
Sent message to the vender through Best Buy’s web site
Put on a pot of coffee
Put away dry laundry
Loaded the dw to run later
Gave Germane her breakfast, which was the same dog food as the rejected dog food on her plate. Somehow, making a show of dumping the rejected glob and putting a new one on, made it delicious.
Gave Germane her Benedryl
Wiped down rice cooker and put it away
Wiped down accessible surfaces
Breakfast. Germane is very interested in receiving carrot slices from my rice bowl, so sharing with her.

[Lauralind]

Two hours later... finally made it through that. Although more details. I actually cleared the window and mirrors and some water spots on the walls. Kitchen is clean minus all the snacks and such still on the counter. I think I will make fresh coffee and break for a bit.

Then I got a rearrange idea. For after break. Moving tables and chairs around again.

First I need coffee and fight this neck headache off again.

Priority list


Basic routines
Kitchen clean
Laundry
See mom
Some detail cleaning shelves
Declutter closet
Put tree away
Shampoo rug

Or not??? Oh I will do something

Today's tada list


Coffee and food
Crochet for a bit
Switch laundry
Sweep everywhere
Take those curtains off for a delicate load
See what comes of the rearrange idea

Finish qt
Soak in tub instead of shower
S& s both baths and reboot laundry
Tidy laundry room and master bedroom some

Empty and reload dw
Finish tidying kitchen all the way
[/quote]

[FrenchFlybebe]

trissie, crosscountry skiing can be so much fun ! I hope you got to properly enjoy the last day at the cottage.

L.Ann good luck with routine changes. I suppose it's normal that they are hard to maintain in the beginning.

laura enjoy the free day. You make me want to crochet something, not sure what. I need to find a small scale project.

helia we did get out and then had chocolate drinks ! Well DS7 decided to try a cup of tea - but didn't drink much of it. How nice to be able to fall asleep in front of the fire. Oh, and I envy your time off payroll, what a great gift to yourself !

Doggedly the toilet isn't entirely unclogged. DS10 is the only one using the upstairs toilet. I hope he won't clog the downstairs toilet now. I'll buy more chemical stuff Monday. How is you space reorganisation project going ? I need to cuop.

MrNG is back, I gave my ok to switch on the console just before 6pm, now some groceries to put away and a spinach-tuna pie to prepare, .... And this post stayed here and was not sent.
Now dinner is in the oven and we're trying to decide Which Mulan to watch.

TADAs
eat a bit more
unclog upstairs toilet - tbc
handwash beige woollen sweater
lol in
fill bird feeder
leftover braisé cabbage for lunch
lol out on indoors drying rack
get the three of us outside ! table tennis
some cleaning and organizing

TODOs
family movie night : Mulan ?
spinach tuna pie and a store-bought pizza
get kids to sleep early

tomorrow :
recycle glass bottles and jars ?
lol of delicates

[Doggedly]

I'll have a cup of coffee with you, Lauralind. I could do with a sit down after running back and forth to the laundry room.
WTG on the kitchen cleaning.

I'm glad that you have a working toilet, FrenchFly. Hopefully the downstairs toilet will keep functioning.
My reorganization has halted for the moment. I did cleaning yesterday, and there's clutter I have to get out of the way of the entertainment centre, then clutter on top of the entertainment centre, before I can move the standing desk over to it and off of my computer desk. We'll get there.
Saturday
Checked emails. Out of curiosity, checked delivery updates for purchase due Monday Jan. 5. It was changed to “Delivered Dec.31” Needless to say, I have not received it.
Pretend-dressed
Gave Germane treat
Went to lobby and mail room: no parcel
Went on to Best Buy’s web site to check my order status
Sent message to the vender through Best Buy’s web site
Put on a pot of coffee
Put away dry laundry
Loaded the dw to run later
Gave Germane her breakfast, which was the same dog food as the rejected dog food on her plate. Somehow, making a show of dumping the rejected glob and putting a new one on, made it delicious.
Gave Germane her Benedryl
Wiped down rice cooker and put it away
Wiped down accessible surfaces
Breakfast. Germane is very interested in receiving carrot slices from my rice bowl, so sharing with her.
Changed out kitchen garbage
Tried to take it to the chute: there is tape across the door
Checked laundry room, all machines are free
Tried to load laundry card: website not working.
Tried in another browser
Brought laundry cart to laundry room
Loaded two washers, as my notes say that I have enough on my card to do two washer loads and one dryer load even if I can’t load my card
Started first one: there is only 50 cents left on the card now. Can’t start the second washer
Tried to transfer money to card from a third browser: can’t log into the site now
Need to go to basement and pay right at the machine. I hate doing this as it is a security risk.
Tried to look up my card’s pin number: password manager won’t let me log in. It is not sending the email with the code.
Started one load of laundry
Tried from another browser
Went downstairs and loaded card
Started second load of wash
Treat for dog
Cleaned up after dog
Flipped first load
Treat for dog. Had to open new can. Hooray! She likes it.
Cleaned up after dog
Flipped second load
Started dryer
Treat for dog