Preparing for Spring!!!

[Deleted User]

I know every day it gets a bit lighter so I'm pleased about that ,but beware of Februarys chills. Hopefully another 4 weeks will see us out of the bad weather and some warmer stuff will come in. A nice treat at this time of the year is to take yourself off to a garden centre for a wander around. Don't buy anything just have a look at what's available. I like doing this, as it not only cheers me up, but to see what's in the store gives me ideas for the coming spring.

I have a list of 'to-do' jobs as long as your arm which I will get done.My DD gave me a big pad that she had been sent at work which says 'JOBS TO BE DONE TODAY' across the top.I have it in my kitchen and as I do the jobs I just tick the box next to it.great way to get things done.When the pads finished I might make myself one up on my computer and print it off.Things that really must get done are

1. De-clutter my kitchen drawers I have three that are full of odds and ends that have been shoved in there for safe keeping.

2. Rub down and paint and old mirror that I have stuck in the spare room

3. Fill a couple of small cracks in the plaster in the porch and emulsion it a different colour (I'm fed up with neutral colours) I think I may try a nice light blue as I have some blue emulsion in the cupboard

4. Do all the insides of the windows of the conservatory.My window cleaner does the outsides and the sunlight shows up the insides dreadfully

5. Go around with the hoover extension and capture all the cobwebs I have very high ceilings in my house (about 9ft) so its a case of looking up and seeing are the bits I have missed.

6. Wash out the kitchen cupboards and re-do the lists on the inside of my store cupboards (update them)

That little list should keep me going for at least another week.
I'm not putting my winter stuff away yet though until the end of February ,just in case

becky_sleaf

I'm loving this thread!

I'm already busy preparing for spring as I'm due to give birth to our second baby in May :j

So my list so far includes:

- Finish clearing the garden. I made a start about a week ago & it really does look so much better already. Our neighbours both have huge trees that cover my garden in leaves. So far this week we have taken about 20 DIY bags full to the tip & there are still more to go! :eek: The garden is on 3 levels so I've just been clearing a level at a time so as not to over do it. I'm on the last stage of the clear out now but this is the monster!

- I need to get my OH or Dad to clear the dead ivy off the back of the house. It looks terrible!

- I'll then be off to the tip again to get rid of all the garden waste.

- As the grass at the bottom of the garden is less than impressed with all the leaves that have been left on it I've decided to give up with trying to save it again this year. So the plan is to turn that area into the play area. I purchased some huge play mats off Ebay last year. They are the ones you get for childrens parks. I'm going to get OH & Dad to lay them down there then the play house,trampoline, slide etc can all go down & the kids will have a fab play area.

- Order sand for laying the play mats on. Also buy slate for other areas of the garden.

- Plant spring flowers...I love this job! I've already got lots of bulbs which have started to come up!

- Putty & paint the outside windows. (Another job for OH & Dad) :rotfl:

- Oh and I also need Dad to come & paper & paint the nursery (Bless him)

- I also want to shampoo all the carpets but I'll wait until the weather warms up for that.

I've been working through the inside of the house. So far we have painted the kitchen & I have deep cleaned it.

Re papered the dining room & purchased new curtains for the lounge & dining room. Along with cushions & nic nacs.

Everywhere else is still looking good so no more decorating to be done (Well the nursery needs doing but that's not a huge job)

We also cleared out the garage last weekend a job that neither of us look forward to but it only took about an hour & you can now get in & out of there! :T

Roll on spring & the arrival of baby no 2! Good luck everyone.

frugalbrunette

I took down my door curtain! DH has draught excluded round the door and it's made a big difference, just a draught excluder to get for the bottom of the door. I think I'll have to crochet one when I get some darker wool as the price of draught excluders are stupid, are they a designer item?! It's nicer to see the white door with the light coming through the stained glass though. Beats a dark space covered with a manky, heavy, unwanted curtain there constantly!

jcr16

i must say as much as i love winter, rain, wind , snow, storms etc. i am very much looking forward to warmer weather, being able to be out in the garden with the kids and not freezing, going out without loads of layers. i can't wait for spring and summer. although i feel were not quite out of the woods yet with the wintery weather. give it a couple of weeks and were into feb , then hopefully spring will be just around the corner.

annie123

My neighbours have just thinned/lopped their tree which over hangs my garden and as it's 6' from the back of my windows, blocks out all the light too. I'm so pleased:j:j:j I should now get some morning sun in my garden this spring.

What's that got to do with the title of this thread?
Get any trees pruned or thinned before spring is here, otherwise you'll have to wait till autumn.

ginnyknit

Im really looking forwrd to spring as my son is moving into his new home with his girlfriend. I will finally, ay long long last have my craft room! All the stuff in the living room will be up there and I can get organised. Plus the rest of the house will be finally tidy so am going to blitz the place. :j:j

shegar

Weve had the grandson her this weekend so ive had him outside with me, first down the beach with dogs, definately wasnt spring !! down there.....in fact it was freezing...but then we are in the middle of winter.......

We came back and done several jobs outside like , feed the chickens, water , etc.....topped up bird feeders they cost more to feed than the 2 of us........notice some buds forming on bushes , I took some hawthorn cuttings back in November from the hedges in the roadside and dipped them in rooting compound they look as if they are turning red on the tips , so hopefully another wildlife hedge in the garden will grow........grandson love to watch gardens come to life .........:D

I turned my pond pump on today to give the water a bit of movement, cant wait for the frogspawn to appear , :DIm checking it every few days now.............

Went and got some half rotted branches of wood for our wildlife pond about 5 to 6 feet long to go around the pond..........

All we need now is some spring weather????:T

frugalbrunette

Looking for online merchants that sell blueberry bushes/thornless blackberries later today. Hardly old style though

I also need to replenish my peg stocks in prep for spring but this year going to get what I consider as OS the wooden dolly pegs. Fed up the the plastic snapping or the spring flinging out of position with the plastic ones.

archess200

Thanks all for brightening and lightening my load: thought I was the only one in a black bleak mood. Your phraseology is heartening, especially the cuddling cost hands on a hot coffee cup.

My S C is coming along, although down here in Devon we have had loads of good hot sunny days, albeit preceeding freezing nights with the wood burner on. Tip for bedtime heat: put a couple of huge rocks, granite if poss, on top of the wood burner to warm the feet in bed or cuddle under a snuggle on the sofa. Prolongs the heat.

Also S C my friends lavish lifestyle: blows my mind to find out how much they are not saving by swapping telephone contracts, utilities, and also how difficult it is to pursuade them it is safe to switch. Makes me feel even better than doing it for myself.

It all helps to save the planet.

NualaBuala

:j:j:j
Did you see this thread is OS thread of the week in Martin's email? :T