A beautiful mid-summer Friday!

[blessedw2]

today is normally fix it Friday and family room Friday. I had planned for this but our house needs a home blessing - without the cleaning ladies coming this week then I really need to do it.
I just have to continue the weekly routines during the week so that the house can be continually as functional as possible.

things that I am looking at as vast (which I know internally will take less time than I expect):

-dogs took wood out of fireplace and had a good chew last night - (1) put left over wood in garage - keep fireplace empty)
-sweep up all the wood pieces

-dog hair - I have to get control of this
how: brush dogs daily - they dislike it but I have to do it. our house is constantly full of hair right now.

- dog wet paw prints
how to take care of it: get the Orvis rugs for laundry room. keep dogs in laundry room until they are dry.
-me - my garden shoes
-take them off before entering the house no matter how many times you have to come in.

etc. etc.

It's time!!!
I have been up since 8 and have done nothing. Be kind to yourself for doing this.
focus: WORST OR MOST TEDIOUS JOBS FIRST.

WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL DAY!

[Twins' Mom]

Thanks for the encouragement, Dee and bw2, and it was so good to visit with M. I walked back down there with her to get an S hook to tie up our DR chandelier some and got to visit with her dRuby.

Crew is here now, and noisy, so I'm back upstairs. They're cutting out our pantry walls now. Just realized I never ate any breakfast.

[Lady Maverick]

Blessed - BWTG on seeking & creating possible solutions to problems/situations.

Break #3. Feet up, fan on, cool drink available.

Lunch is fried potatoes, onion, bell peppers, and ham. I like cooking this in a cast iron skillet so they are charred, crunchy, and full of flavor.

This week I have been taking pictures of food that I prepared for lunch and texting it to DH and DS13 so they know what is waiting for them. I never thought of doing this as a normal part of the daily routine, but I find that I am enjoying it. Plus, the guys seem to really appreciate it. The Way to a Man’s Heart is Through His Stomach The pro/con thought process of doing this simple picture/text message is overwhelmingly on the pro side.

Team cleaning is happening today, but all participants are doing it at different times. I'm letting DD11 slide a bit because of being in camp. Also, both kids have been notified it is time for the yearly emptying of their bedrooms. This is the best way I have found for them to be successful in decluttering. DD11 drew the short straw so she will be first to do this process. We plan to start on Monday.

[DeeClutter]

As I told dh a few days ago: "I often accomplish MORE when I'm in 'sick mode' than I do on lots of 'good' days". Such is the case today. I have been able to cross of lots of items that I can mostly do just sitting here. Now I'm going to go through a whole drawer full of old pens/markers. Betting I can toss almost 3/4 of them. Think I'll put each place I have pens/pencils/markers stored as one to go through.

[CathyS]

Cleaning lady has come and gone an the house is sparkly!

Now I'm off to stitching group. The woman that owns the store where we go to does cross stitching and embroidery as well as knitting, sewing and quilting. There is a huge area in the back with 4 tables that she has sewing machines on and quilting/cutting mats on top of. Because she doesn't put any of it away at the end of the day, she has moved our group into that room since Covid started.

Dh has 1 customer today, but the parts didn't show up until after 10, so he just sat at the patio table watching the birds. A neighbour came by for a visit on his golf cart.

[DeeClutter]

OKAY then! I sorted that whole drawer of pens, etc. I had 1 dozen pencils, 1 dozen markers, 3 whole pens and 3 mechanical pencils. This was a 6x6x4 drawer full. I simply threw away all those 'keep me's' from businesses, hotels, offices. Took me maybe 6 or 7 minutes. DONE! Maybe later this afternoon I'l tackle any other containers I have of same! Way more than we'll probably ever use up. Did sadden me to throw away one pen of dh's from his college alma mater. Think I have 4 other containers full of pens/markers/pencils in here. Will sort them all out TODAY!

[Harmony]

Great minds think alike! I sorted pens/pencils/markers today also. When I got up there was evidence of DH going through things all over the place looking for good pens with pocket clips on them. Dee, I hope you feel better today.

Good to see Cathy here today. And the rest of you. Hello, hello!

Blessed, those dogs really keep you hopping! Hopefully they will settle down as they get older.

Twins, we saw the other side of the stress a homeowner feels during a remodel project. Sometimes people would be so upset... and we couldn't help things, just had to keep going to get it finished. Some were very upset at the dust or simply having other people in their home. There was one nutty woman who had had an experience of locking herself in a closet with her little DSon because she had an abusive partner, and she was so anxious when WE were there. But sometimes people would be real friendly and want to watch us and little kids would want to help... so just try to focus on the end product and realize one day it will all be back to normal.

Happy report: our lawn tractor fix worked! All the extra noise is gone. It's sure noise enough without a gear going bad. There are 2 blades, so there is another of these parts...if this one goes bad at least we will know for sure what to do.

I have done all my usual stuff and I'm working on my master bedroom closet. It was getting to be quite the mess in there with projects started and not finished. I've stopped for a break and came here. Going to order a couple vitamins online since I got a discount coupon in the mail a few days ago. Need to do that because I'm running out. BBL

[Nancy]

Back from town, food shopped banks and got Rx in the same building!
Home by 9:30 glad because I almost wrote that I got up at the beginning of time today it felt like it!
Food is unloaded & put away I am getting good at using totes with out bags!
Found a pb & chocolate spread gotta try for my lows and applesauce.
My fav. gallon of ice cream three color pink white & brown cannot spell it.
Got lunch at the deli for my fun Fri. treat.

Tip of the day. 41% humidity & hot flash so I have on 3 fans upstairs might need to put em all in the same room!
The dog is laying on the floor as instructed enjoying the fan as well.
I have a meal ahead thawed out for dinner.

Might read a bit.

I need in put ideas suggestion welcome I have two 5 gallons of paint how do you shake and/or stir pour it to use these.
Tip & pour into a paint roller pan after shaking?
Harmony or others chime in please.

[Lady Maverick]

Lunch eaten and enjoyed. I'm having a cup of coffee while ordering items for sams curbside pickup @5pm.
repeating to self. 3 errands to do after camp....pickup sams order, take DD11 to pick out her school supplies (remember to take the list), and get Chinese take-out. Super simple.

DD11 is out of the shower and getting ready. We discussed the options, and she selected her preferred way to get back into school sleeping mode. We have a plan, and it is implemented (digital devices schedule created that will shut them off at set time).

I might have been too optimistic. I've been wearing new shoes this morning and they are starting to feel uncomfortable. Maybe they just need a break in time? I will be walking on concrete for many hours this afternoon & evening. I am not a fan of pain so I'm switching back to my old ratty comfortable shoes for the rest of the day.

[Twins' Mom]

Some were very upset at the dust or simply having other people in their home.

Yeah, it doesn't take much to upset the applecart sometimes. I know they are doing a great job - I've told them to help themself to cold bottled water in the garage refrigerator and yesterday brought back brownie muffins for them when I went to the store. It is just stressful for me having things messed up and people around. I bet you guys see everything Harmony. Sometimes it brings out the worse in people, too.

I took out lamb chops to thaw this morning. Will grill and try to bake a sweet potato in the toaster oven. It has oven features. I think it takes a little longer, tho.