NST JUST JUNE

mothernerd

Hugs f0xh0les. I am trying to get brave enough to go out and start on the shed. If I can use the old table frame with something on it, it will be easier - I hate the picking things up from the floor and then finding somewhere else (on the floor) to put them whilst I do my stuff. Maybe I should put something over the swing frame to cover things up. Then if I get too tired it can stay there overnight.

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 17

Cupboards all empty for gas man tomorrow. Don't want to tell you what a mess the house is in. Still, on the plus side, a very nice man phoned this afternoon and asked if a morning or afternoon appointment would suit me best. That was kind. On the other hand, Himself is waiting for a delivery that the company say they have tried to deliver twice already despite us being in both times. Third time today and it's already late.

I was thinking that since we have started to buy some of our heavier, bulkier items in multiple amounts I should really ring fence some money for the future purchases. We won't need to buy any of these items for about four months so I've opened a small regular saver account and will be transferring enough each month so that the money will be there when needed. Set up an account just for food as well which will make t it easier to keep track of now that I'm doing online orders. Think I'm really starting to get the hang of this budgeting thing (Been saving for Christmas, as well. That's a first).

Using the chicken that we should have had yesterday for dinner so better get on with it.

greent

Thankful today for gorgeous weather, for seeing tiny ducklings (must have been a late/ 2nd batch - all others are much, much bigger), for easy/ lazy food, for a small fbook sale (contactless collection) so another small bag of things have left the house, for line dried laundry (my fave - I dislike the feel and smell of tumble dried laundry), for lemon muffins  

mothernerd

The shed has been emptied. Food is piled up in the trolley (and some items underneath), old table base with the jigsaw board on top . Jigsaw board is a rectangular piece of the bathroom cladding. That's got the fan, old kettle (still works but mum's partner kept filling it to the brim and mum couldn't lift it so I bought her a new lightweight one) and the sewing machine (goodness only knows I spent a difficult afternoon trying to get it threaded up 5 or 6 years ago - stopped before it got thrown through the window), several packs of different wild bird feed (nuts, seeds, mixtures and of course mealworms for feeding the babies, a few stray tools, large terracotta pot (waiting to be covered in shells but think mum now has other plans) and all the remaining bits of bathroom cladding, a piece of carpet/ vinyl door join thing. Some stuff in the bin, some swept up and added to the bird table (spillages). Metal shelves are out, small filing cabinets still inside as I was worried it might rain and the insides of the drawers might get soggy. I have covered up as I've gone along with odd items as I found them (tarpaulin, strong plastic bags lining the shelves - luckily as there has been a paint spillage at some point).
So when my arm and shoulders told me they definitely didn't want to go back our after tea (mum volunteered to cook) I just locked the back door and came in to rest. There's a lot to do and I expect it to take all week so no point rushing into it and not being able to do anything.
Today I am grateful for simple but yummy food (finished off the prawns for lunch with a large salad), for having a plan of what I need to do (may include something I was leaving until autumn - might as well get it how I want it now then can do prep work for next year's garden in autumn), for my room looking a bit better (still too much stuff on the bed but at least I'm not sleeping with a crow bar), for making more space, for chocolate fudge cake (mum wasn't thrilled with it so I've had to eat most of it), for ibuprofen gel and hot showers.

ditty1234

Hi grateful for a sunny day with a run and a walk, two almost successful hair cuts, a nice dinner that used up a spice mix from the back of the fridge. It's count down to pay day so nothing exciting going on this week. 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a mellow day, for mostly making dd a dress, for dh doing a load of clearing out in readiness for the boilermen (things haven't actually left the house, or even been sorted, but they have been de-homed and will be triaged before being returned. I hope...!), for the neighbourhood kids just playing together so well, for the sprouties now definitely being planties.

Narola1976

Whilst I have been reading, I haven’t posted for a couple of days. I truly do enjoy your words of encouragement @mothernerd. I have been making bits of progress. I cleaned the lounge on Saturday and then the kitchen yesterday which is real progress for me. My next aim is the dining room. This is a challenge as it is also where I work so the table is never clear, which also means no one can use it to have a meal. I have nowhere else I could work save my bedroom and I would rather not do this as space is limited. So I have been thinking that the only way forward is to make sure I clear the table at the end of the day. To be fair, as I type this, the table is filled with stuff not work related so in reality it is not so much my work stuff taking up space, just general clutter. So I will try and get rid of this today. 

Gratitudes:

• Receiving a refund for shoes purchased during lockdown online and able to return in store. 
• For a clean lounge which early improves my state of mind.
• For a tidier kitchen.
• For the pet food arriving just in the nick of time as I have run out. 

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Morning everyone
Sorry for disappearing, no particular reason, work and life got very busy.  I have been tackling long standing jobs and finally got a plasterer in to patch up 2 ceilings.  Now i have to paint the ceilings - i started last night.  Bought paint from a local hardware store which seemed very expensive - £21 for a medium sized tin! Next i need to find someone to sort my dripping kitchen tap.  I want to take my bike in for service which means extricating it from the garage and woman-handling it into my car.... I can't remember how to take my front wheel off but g00gel will probably tell me.  I'm off today and was off yesterday but i don't feel like i've had a rest as i'm painting, shopping, etc.  I did treat DD2 to a drive through costalot.  It is DD1's birthday tomorrow so i have wrapped a few presents but waiting for a couple of things ordered online.  
gratitudes - happy daughters, getting jobs done, getting some of my self employment payment, my house which is always my sanctuary
Deni xx

mothernerd

June Challenge Day 23
I should have said welcome to summer yesterday.
More gratitudes for things we take for granted
9)   The laughter of your children and the chatter of your friends (sorry f0xh0les). Say hello to someone as it may be the only words they will hear today. Laughter and chatter are the connections of the world.
10)   The technology you have at your fingertips that helps you daily. Your computer, your phone, your ipad. You have an office in your pocket today.
11)   The power of electricity. Be grateful for the ability to switch lights on and off. To keep food cool and to heat it up. The ability to charge the devices that keep you connected. (this can be a double-edged sword, standards of 'housework' have risen as machines to 'simplify' tasks have been developed, being 'connected' can  mean being constantly at everyone's beck and call).
12)   The endless opportunities in the world today Be thankful for the opportunities that the modern world provides
13)   The sunshine Be thankful for the beautiful sunny day. Even if you have to hide behind dark glasses, factor 50 and stay indoors the sun provides benefits. Try to get outside for at least 20 minutes a day (Vitamin D boosts your immune system and your seratonin levels.
14)   Wonderful connections  Stay connected with family and friends, even when far away
15)   The beauty of time. Take time to enjoy the day and know how to embrace moments of the day

Housework and cleaning quotes
I just want my house to be clean enough so that if someone drops by unexpectedly it doesn't look like we're six days into battling a poltergeist
When it come to housework what no book of household management will ever tell you is how to begin. Or maybe I mean why.   (Katherine Whitehorn - who also used to invite people for Sunday dinner every week as it was the only way to motivate herself to clean up)
My housekeeping style is best described as "There appears to have been a struggle"

Many years ago I read 'Housework' by Anne Oakley (if you're interested it's listed as 'The Sociology of Housework). She interviewed many woman on the how, what, why of housework (apologies to abundant  and other male turtles but to this day studies show far more housework is done by women than men, even if both work full-time and when shared, the woman decides what needs doing, how and when). In the introduction she said that every woman  she interviewed, even those who's houses were immaculate, apologised for 'the state of the house' before they let her in. 

f0xh0les

I am back on an even keel mothernerd,  no urges to go squirrel-strangling or shouting abuse at passing sparrows.

I can take joy from my laughing children, although they seem mostly to find my ranting (at another brother) hilarious. 

So the sun is shining, the bird are twitting, the living room has been cleaned and tidied and all the board games and bits of half stuck plane models put away.  List made. Serenity returned.  No stress,  I know what I am making for lunch, and I am wearing a belt to stop my trousers from falling down. It is on the very last hole of the belt, but still, I fit the belt.  It is a win.

    to all the lovely turtles.           The nights are drawing in!  Hooray!