My home is a mess

LannieDuck

Hi everyone *waves*

I've been looking for a thread to post on sporadically as I (very, very slowly) bring the house under control. I wonder if I might have found it...

I have two small children and work 4 days a week, so time is very scarce. The house is a mess following a house move last year, and I need to slowly declutter and find spaces for things. We might need to put up more shelves etc for it, so it's a slow process.

I Kon Marie'd my clothes a few months ago, and I'm enjoying buying the extra things that I need to make sure I have clothes that fit properly (following two pregnancies). My lovely, tidy clothes drawers have now inspired me to do the rest of the house.

This bank holiday, I tackled the miscellaneous shelves in the kitchen. They had stuff that we'd put there when we moved and which really needed to be sorted through, plus a conglomeration of random stuff that has ended up there over the last year. It took me an entire day, but I'm so proud of the result

I'm looking forward to doing the next area, but goodness knows when I'll find time...! The next bank holiday's in August, right? :P

pollypenny

Ive been in the garden, too. Weeding just a single bed and planting some bedding plants.

I then swept and washed the passage between house and garage, including back porch. Too much bending in both cases, dirt seems to sneak into corners.

Should have put the blackout linings in the curtains on little bedroom window, but too tired. Feeling grumpy as well. Need a glass of wine, but on a fast day of 5:2 diet. Never mind.

mothernerd

I've been painting today. I did the anti damp paint - stops damp bleeding through my new paint. It's caused by next door's chimney and his landlord won't do anything. I have the roof man coming (when he gets round to me) to do as much as he can to protect my property and to direct the damp to next door.

I know why I have been avoiding the painting - the paint manages to simultaneously run everywhere whilst having the consistency of pva glue when you are trying to spread it out. Managed to wreck two small rollers (only cheap ones) and the first brush I tried is outside wrapped in rags.

Took 2 lots of soap, hot water and scrubbing (nail) brush and 4 lots of white spirit to get it off my hands, followed by a bath and still have some speckles. Very glad I bought a cheap shower cap to save my hair.

At least it makes the other jobs seem easier.

On Saturday I made the kitchen much messier. I wasn't planning on doing any painting yet, it is just that there are gaps in between various workmen coming to do their bits and as all the furniture is piled up and under wraps, I might as well crack on.

However when I started to prepare for the work, the big box of paint brushes/ rollers/ sandpaper etc was the first to go away and as lots more has followed it since, the box was trapped at the very bottom of 'under the stairs', in an spare kitchen unit with the edge of another large unit jamming it in.

I was just going to buy another set of cheap paint brushes but then as I started to think what else I might need (and already had) I went back to do battle. I had to move two heavy tool boxes (full of hammers, screwdrivers etc) and several boxed power tools into whatever spaces I could find. Then when the weight was removed I could jiggle the unit a few centimeters until there was space to get the box out. managed to knock over a box of screws and similar as I was turning the corner to come out into the kitchen.

It's so horrible that I have left it until I am feeling stronger.

Emm-in-a-pickle

Hi Lannieduck, and welcome! Well done on the shelf clearing, I think `miscellaneous` stuff is the hardest to tackle. (Too many potential distractions when you find a wide variety of random stuff, I reckon).
I used to be like you, trying to make the most of a bit of extra time off, but since I semi-retired last year I find the more time I have the more I procrastinate.

Mothernerd, I salute you once again, the mould-cleaning and the anti-damp painting sound like anything after that would be a doddle! A few loose screws on the floor is nothing compared to what you`ve achieved.

Chez-Emm -
Since my last post OH and I have a new dressing gown each, I`ve also sewed up one pair of pyjamas and a little sun dress for next door`s 2 yr old, and made 4 new cushions. Plans for next sewing bash include sewing 2nd cut out jamies and a dressing gown for eldest DGS, and ...another trip to Abakhan maybe next week with DD! (Oh come on, as if I needed an excuse!!)

Yesterday I did 12 hours on the ward, a lovely shift - for once we weren`t short-staffed and it`s such a luxury to give each patient a bit more time and a bit of pampering, it does so much for our morale and theirs.
Today, just one wash load and a bit of shopping and tidying, especially DGD`s room where I`ve been sewing.
I`m driving over to Stoke in the morning to bring her here till the weekend, really looking forward to having her around for a while.
The hedge is still monstrous, gradually making the path narrower. I`m trying to convince myself that I should at least do SOME of it, at least make a start, today - if I do, it`ll be Mothernerd`s philosophy that`s inspired me.

12_month_challenge

mothernerd wrote: »

"Just because you can't do all of it, doesn't mean you can't do anything"..

I may have to steal this quote also I love it


I stumbled across this thread and its so what I need to help me get my mojo back. I have let my housework routine go and am starting to notice that I am being a little lazy and slapdash around the house. I cant seem to motivate myself


I need to set myself extra tasks and tackle them daily, however small. Then I hope to get back on top of things.


I hope you all don't mind me barging in on your thread

Emm-in-a-pickle

Making a start, even just seeing what you can do in half an hour, does have a great effect on motivation.

Yesterday, while the spuds were in the steamer for 30 minutes for tea, I tackled my hedge monster!! (Thankyou, Mothernerd)
I only managed to do the vertical part, as the top needs cutting and levelling with a stepladder, and frequent repositioning of ladder, but at least now the front path is wider! I scooped the cuttings away to beside the coal bunker (where the path widens) and will get the whole lot together after I cut the top part.
Maybe this afternoon when we get back with DGD if the weather holds.... but I am glad I`ve at least done some of it.

Emm-in-a-pickle

I am taking the `do a bit` idea a step further today.

It`s too nice a day to spend indoorsing, and outside there are 2 priorities - the `Mohican` hedge monster, and the grass in the back garden. I say grass, not lawn, because it`s almost waist-high in parts and I need access to washing line today, so having left it beyond what I could do with the strimmer I have started attacking it with shears.

I know from previous experience that the bending needed will cause aches, and the hedge cutting left to do is all stretching, arms up holding the hedgecutter... also ache-inducing.

So, I`m going to alternate the 2 jobs in bits, even if neither gets completed today. I may not ache as much and at least part of both jobs will get done.

Emm-in-a-pickle

Update-
I now have a `half-Mohican` hedge, (the last bit on top needs to be cut from next door side, their son will be doing that when he comes back from spending half-term at his dad`s)

I also have a clear couple of feet either side of washing line, and around the path to the decking, and I`ve reclaimed a small raised bed and put in 3 sunflower plants, also cut the undergrowth around the raised bed with the lavender. I have a very full green wheelie bin, plus what looks a bit like a haystack in the back garden.
I`ve been at it since my last post, alternating bendy tasks and stretchy tasks, and I don`t have a twinge apart from my hands are sore now!

I`ve roasted a huge pan of veg for a spag bol tonight, just need to blitz it and cook the mince to add in. I can`t believe I got that much done and it`s only 3pm. I feel like cutting more grass but my hands are complaining and I know I`d better heed that - but I will potter outside a bit more and enjoy the sunshine.

candygirl

That quote has really spurred my on, for the past few days.I have severe OA in my knees n shins, so struggle to walk far, or stand for long, but have been doing more bits in the house n garden, b y doing a bit at a time.:j
The ex hubs does the mowing, but i still sit on my bench, pot stuff up, make my hanging baskets and boss him about :rotfl:

pollypenny

Ive done very little today but read. I sat in the garden for a couple of hours, but my penance will be lugging the watering can when the sun goes.

I've been up since 5am. Woke at 4.30 and could not get back to sleep, so thought reading a couple of chapters would do the trick. Nope!