Sunday PWYC

[Twins' Mom]

The book I liked most for cleaning was The Clean Team by Jeff Campbell. It explained how to "speed clean" i.e. set up an apron to wear with supplies, and what order to do things in, how to work around the room with the fewest steps. I don't think I still have it, but I just went on ebay and found a copy. The other book was Is there life after housework?

I just couldn't keep up with twins, working, social obligations, and house cleaning, tho, so I've had a cleaning lady most my adult life. I feel at peace when things are decluttered, at least on the surface.

A dfriend/neighbor keeps talking about how much her dd (maybe age 10 or less?) liked my Hanukkah card - I think I'm going to give them some of my paper/stamp sets/inks, etc. that I've decluttered and not yet dealt with. Starting the process of getting some of those out of my room up here.

[MysteryWoman]

Hello, all!

lucylee, our DC is one who has never wanted to grow up. We are still slowly dragging them kicking and screaming into adulthood. As much as I am bothered by the age difference between them and their girlfriend, I have to say that the girlfriend is equally pushing DC to grow up. DC is not at all fond of school -- they're very bright and know a lot, but their ADHD makes it very difficult to listen to lectures and demonstrate what they know. But L tells DC "society wants you to have the piece of paper."

I have mostly been lounging around since church. When I'm done here, I need to go and make myself useful and strip the bed. DH says he will help me make it when he gets back from Scouts. This is their last Klondike practice before the event itself, which is next weekend. I look forward to having DH home on the weekends.

And at some point soon, I should go back to work on that treadmill. When I tried to get it set up last night, the room was too dim to see things properly.

And my brain is too buzzy to reply, even though I've CUOPed. Maybe I will try again later.

[CathyS]

When we got home from grocery shopping this morning, the washing machine had "SE" on the screen. Thinking nothing of it, I did what I usually do. I shut off the machine and turned it on again, spun the dial to rinse and spin and turned it back on. I was nearby a while later and I heard it spinning, but I didn't see it spinning. I turned it off and goo gled sam sung front load se code. I read some of the answers. watched a you tube video on how to fix the problem. Checked the drain filter on the front of the machine. It was perfectly clear, even though I haven't cleaned it in a long time. I went a bit further. Why isn't it spinning.... answer came up with belt drive and a few other things. Well... I told dh we would have to throw some money at it and get the appliance repair person that did our dryer a couple of years ago. I have called and left a message. Now I wait. There was just a bed sheet in there. I have other sheets I can put on the bed. I also needed 4 towels to soak up the water that came out of the machine. I also moved the machine to make sure no lines were kinked at the back of the machine. Nothing was kinked, but they were certainly dusty. Dh also checked. We have also discussed the fact that we might have to replace the washer.

Thanks to the search feature on this site, I discovered that our "dryer" "repair" occurred in April of 2025! Awesome! I found the phone number on my phone! Woo hoo!!

Later... Found their number, called them, sent 2 pictures and the repair person is coming tomorrow with belts.

[Lady Maverick]

The door fella is here today. He looked at the projects and now DS17 and him are shopping for doors. They just video chat from the store in the city to show the storm doors they found and asked if they would be okay. I approved those 2 so now they are moving on to find the exterior doors and will video chat again before purchasing everything.

Yesterday DH didn't do dishes. That was a first. He has always been super on top of the dishes and do them as soon anything is dirty. I knew this change was coming but it doesn't make it any easier. ANYway, I am thinking through how I want to handle the dirty dishes since it appears that I will take over washing dishes. I prefer to hand wash dishes instead of using the dishwasher.

[Twins' Mom]

I spent time upstairs this afternoon straightening and organizing a bit. Dh and his drinking buddy did a round of sampling bourbons. I came down at one point and them insisted that I try a tablespoon or two of the best of the sampling. It was delicious! I came down for good when his wife came by to claim him - they are doing a family event tonight.

I walked the ddog (figure eight - a few more steps than doing a lap but less than two laps. I'm getting chili started. Need to empty the dishwasher too.

[CathyS]

Bed is made.

All 3 cats had their nip today.

We ended up with less than an inch of lightweight snow. I cleared a path from the house to the garage with a broom. I've also put a shovel near the back door. It was in the garage on the far side of the hoist. The snow blower is parked between the upright posts of the hoist.

Question for RRose and LadyM in the Husbands/health thread.

[Lady Maverick]

The worst of the exterior doors is currently being replaced. It’s one of the doors in the DS17 room. With the sun going down, I don’t know if he will even have time to install the storm door on that entrance. Hopefully he can finish these projects tomorrow and/or sometime this week. They have needed to be done for a loooong time but just haven't been a high enough priority to get accomplished.
The story of my life....endless things that are waiting to be done.

DH didn’t have the best day mentally—not terrible, just not at his sharpest. He couldn't figure out how to put the flag pole into the holder in the ground. That is 2 more daily tasks (putting flag out in AM and bringing it in at sunset) that I have moved to my doings.


On the bright side, I managed to complete 216 cards today and kept up with my hourly focus. It helps me to follow a plan and just kinda zone out while staying busy.

I just turned all the normal alarms back on. Christmas break is over which means public school and homeschool starts tomorrow. ****groan****

[Harriet]

Sermon notes have been gathered from 2025 and sorted and those I chose to store have been stored.
Also notes from conference calls regarding dear aunt's estate are organized.

Decluttering around sewing area and bedroom.
It's really the bedroom's "turn" at decluttering, but the sewing/office never ceases to require it!
Next week when decluttering turns to bathrooms, I should have a little more time to give back to bedroom, lol.

In the coming week, I have appts on Mon and Fri. HRH is talking about getting up early tomorrow.

Ds called and thought he might be able to come by this afternoon, but it didn't work out.

[lucylee]

I've had a pretty normal Sunday, but I'm counting my ta-das as I can.
* Helped Sunday School class take down decorations in the church
* Took garbage to the road
Also fed DGS two meals and took him home. I thought he was going to spend the night with me again, but he said his mommy said he should go home tonight. I suspect she was planning a movie night or something to end their school break. They go back to school Tuesday.

DGS helped with the church work, and he carried a pretty large Nativity scene up two flights of stairs. I was a little bit afraid he would drop it! It's some kind of metal -- he said he thought it was bronze, but I don't really know. I've never actually looked at it really close-up. But he said, "I was so happy when I got it up there!" He was afraid he'd drop it too! Or fall because he couldn't see the stairs very well.
Later, I told him, on the way home -- "Wait a minute! You WERE happy once today!" and reminded him of what he said.
He said, "I guess I was. Relieved would probably be the better word for it."

He laughs a lot. I guess I'll have to accept that passes for happiness, even If he can't put a name to it.

I told him this morning that I had heard a quote attributed to Mark Twain -- "You don't have to grow up; I never did." He smiled at that.
I also told him that if I had never said it before, I wanted him to know that he doesn't HAVE TO move to College Town when he graduates high school; that he can go to school anywhere he wants. (I should have told him he doesn't even have to go to college as far as I'm concerned, but he has been pretty consistent that he wants to be a school teacher.) He said he wasn't worried about that, but he has mentioned to DS that he might not want to go to College Town. There are two 4-year schools within driving distance of our Tiny Town, so he has plenty of options.

I've set up my planner for the week, but I'm following the Chat recommendation to count smaller successes, and I'm going to write them in my planner also. Trying to be more consistent with Gratitude and Accomplishments.
I've been watching Gunsmoke and I'm going to get off this couch and do some more with my tree.

[lucylee]

Harriet, I hope the appointments go well this week, and HRH gets to be home early as he hopes!

My zone for this week will be laundry/back entry and Christmas. Gotta focus on that till it's done! I didn't manage anything with the kitchen last week, but the laundry room opens into the kitchen, so * maybe * I can combine the two this week if all goes well.
No appointments this week except getting back into Chair Yoga on Wednesday. Dfriend and I may get together for lunch one day.

I hope all your repairs go well -- Cathy with the washing machine, LadyM with the doors.
I need to call the man re: leaking shower head.
Dmom needs dishwasher repair. Hers will not empty dirty water after cleaning cycle is finished.

LadyM, WTG on card completion and staying busy despite all the interruptions and extra tasks you're taking on. (((BIG HUGS))) for you and LordM.

Mystery, dgs has never been tested for ADHD but I wouldn't be surprised if he shows signs of that also. He is also a very good student, and he loved school when he was in K-5th grade, but I think he is easily bored now. OTOH, every time I have had to pick him up after school, he is always talking and laughing with classmates, so I guess I am just worrying needlessly.

Oh -- Cathy! I LOVE Peg Bracken!!! My dmom had the I Hate to Housekeep book and I have read it over and over! I have bought the others for myself.
I think I have read some of Jeff Campbell's books, Twins. Speed cleaning sounds familiar.
It's really embarrassing how many housekeeping and organizing books I have.

"The efficiently organized expert makes the mistake of assuming that you, too, want to be one."

LOL. I don't think I am especially organized, but compared to DS/ddil... and I have to admit I sometimes make the mistake of assuming that they want to be as organized as I am. I am getting better at keeping my mouth shut except to offer encouraging words, affirming how hard they work and how busy their lives are.

I'm so glad things went well last night, Twins.
I'm going to just stop here and give a good night wave to everyone. And I am sending lots of wishes that your first Monday of the new year will start out FANTABULOUS, as DGD would say!