+++ Whoops! Here comes the cheese! +++

greenbee

KajiKita said:

greenbee said:

Grey and miserable here. Also have garden waste bins to fill - not quite sure how with puppy in tow at the moment!

Oooh, puppy has arrived 😊❤️

KK

He's clearly learning from the cats. He sat on my feet while I was deadheading. It's going to be a challenge getting the garden waste bins filled, but not as bad as I thought. As long as I can keep him out of the bed that is currently used as a cat loo... (which I do need to weed...)

redofromstart

Thanks @astrocytic_kitten - milk bottles so that sounds good to me, will have a look - it was the thinning for us both that really bumps the price up.
@greenbee I think the kitten was part of the reason I got so far behind, she gets lonely etc.  Currently sat on the paperwork next to my keyboard supervising, in between chewing bits of important paper or my hand for ignoring her.
@KajiKita I don't think Greenbee has added any pictures on her diary but very cute indeed - apart from the farting apparently.

Original documents sent to PB via the post office this morning, and more lovely sprouts bought from the co-op.

I then managed to get the drive side elderly lavender trimmed and back to shape.  A lovely smelling job at least.  More of the wisteria and camelia into the second green waste bin - there is at least another two (squashed) worth on the front lawn, but I wanted to save a little space for the stuff from the back. Three of the neighbours stopped to see how I am which was nice of them - positive reasons for slow progress.

This afternoons work has been put off till Monday so I am going to drink my tea and head into the back garden and see what I can get done to shut the garden down for winter.  My bulbs have arrived too hurrah. 

I also had a quick look at Terrys for made to measure curtains (thanks to a Watty and Kajikita discussion, but also because I am sure @juliejim recommended them years ago).  Mr Redo was brilliant with a sewing machine as he did a lot of leather work and outdoor stuff, so we had made a few sets of curtains but I think it'll be less stressful just to get some made at the moment.  I do want to find a day course on how to use a sewing machine though - seeing as we own a domestic, industrial and an overlocker!

Just remembered I put some chickpeas in to soak as well.  Staple diet for the one who doesn't eat so I need to get those on so that they are cold by this evening.

Shopping - lots of offers around at the moment.
MrT - had a trial 'clubcard challenge' thing running and I managed to accrue over £28 of points buying things on offer that we buy anyway.  I bet it will never be that generous again - it was the same when the MrM one started.
MrM - spend £100 a week for 4 weeks to get £38 of points for me.  No chance frankly.  The only time I spend £100 in there is when the wine offer is on and I am not buying wine at the moment. I did buy the boys enough £1.25 pringles to max out their points collector though.
MrS - there is an 8% cashback offer via my bank - but again on an £80 spend
MrW - again a cashback offer via my bank - which would just about bring their pricing into line with the other places I shop
Central co-op - £2 off a £20 voucher, and the dividend is due shortly.  Hard to spend £20 in our co-op unless you buy alcohol or flowers though so I am safe on that one.

Very easy to get seduced into spending and filling the freezer but I am resisting.    

WelshmansDaughter

My local library (both in Dublin and the UK) have access to sewing machines, classes and groups. Might be worth a look in your local area?

greenbee

Send me your window sizes and I'll let you know whether any of my vast collection of blinds and curtains will fit. And then let you know what the fabric is. Or you can have a look at my FBMP listings that I'm going to take down as soon as I manage to get the stuff packed up. You and another friend have first option on them before they are off to the CS - the wardrobe I was storing them in (and therefore they weren't annoying me) has now been dismantled and removed (in exchange for the labour glazing the sides of the porch) so I need them out of the house. 

Puppy is adorable. Apart from the farting (he actually doesn't smell as bad now, so either the smell of his outdoor living has worn off and he's farting less or I'm used to it and it's blending with the cat farts). He is very good at telling me when he needs to go out (although not always in a hurry to perform, so I brought him in after a non-event just now, started my lunch, and he then removed his bed from the crate... I got the message, took him out and he did an enormous wee).  I'll be taking him round to the neighbours (who apparently belong to a religious sect that doesn't approve of dogs), as I need to let them know I'll be upgrading the fence at the back to stop him escaping - 3ft of wire mesh won't stop a labrador, so i'll be putting in 6ft of deer fencing as soon as I can!

CCW007

redofromstart said:

Mind you many years ago I was bought a book on time management and procrastination, and have never got round to reading that either. 

That made me chuckle. I have a book on changing mindset and haven't convinced myself to read that either...

redofromstart

That made me laugh @CCW007
thanks @WelshmansDaughter - I've spotted a day course in one of the town libraries in the new year, might even feel like doing it by then
thanks greenbee

Yesterday ending up being quite productive. It had started to rain after my last post so I did some bedroom and clothes sorting instead. Six hours later...

Along the way I went through all of my clothes - and vacuum packed away the better quality smaller size clothes and a few 'event' dresses which feed up a lot of wardrobe space. I'll do the same for my work jumpers as well - keeps them safe from moths etc. more of mr redos clothes sorted. Three more big charity shop bags between us. The main bedroom feels a lot better for some space. 

The barrier to getting on is what to do with the things that need to exit. I wanted to order another big bin from the council but it'd be bad timing with the building works space wise, but it occurred to me that the garage is a lot emptier without the motorcycles and I can just fill that space with rubbish bags and donate bags for a few weeks. Equally the mountain of outdoor stuff that I want his sons to have their pick of can go in the huge see through stacking plastic crates and into the garage.

I read the decluttering book last night, it made a lot of sense and I can see the concept working for me. Started rereading her cleaning one too at insomnia o clock. 

Hoping to get some garden time this morning if it isn't raining, and then crack on with more decluttering in the afternoon. 

greenbee

Can I have some of your energy please?

So far I've done puppy garden visit for the loo at 6.30. Snuck in a quick coffee. Got dressed in stinky puppy-smelling clothes, been for a VERY SLOW walk round the wood, fed the cats and the puppy, hung the washing out, found some towels I hate, and sat down on the sofa as instructed by the bossy fat cat. But need to get up and get on with giving the puppy a bath as he's itchy and scabby round his neck. 

LadyWithAPlan

i did a lovely sewing class in January for a term, it was so relaxing as you really focus on the minutiae of the needle, the material and the world does tend to slip away and lovely people too - so I think it’d be a great idea for you - i am looking for another class now 
The overlocker rattles at speed - a bit scary at first ! 

@greenbee the puppy sounds so cute - we had a lab as kids .. he used to carry the newspaper home safely from the shop 

redofromstart

It has occurred to me that once I clear his study then I could have a craft room so space to sew becomes less of an issue.  I like my tiny downstairs study for computer work as I can hear doorbells and am within vision of the animals etc. Cheap to heat as well.

All of my energy used, tea and a snack before I start again.  

I have stripped my bed, washed my favourite sheets and the fleeces.  Must re-make it next or I will be regret it later.  Cleaned the empty clothes drawers in the main bedroom, open and airing before I fill them with the newly sorted stuff.  Washed two mucky rugs - hard to dry anything but they are filthy and people will be in the house tomorrow.

Outside, cleared the polytunnel of chickweed and the worst of the stuff off the veg plot, no room at all in the green bins now. 
Cleaned out the bird feeders and re-filled. I ordered another 15kg of sunflower hearts for £19 delivered as I am using at least a litre jug per day - lots of finches and small birds and movement in both gardens which is lovely to see.  Still have plenty of mealworms etc. Mr Redo used to fill the (many) feeders every day and it took a while to build the visitors up so I don't want to lose that.  
Mixed up a batch of compost with horticultural compost and grit, and filled lots of terracotta pots so I have indoor forcing bulbs (now in the garage) and lots of outside pots.  I invested some of my gifted treat money on these bulbs and it was cold work today but I have lots of cheerful moveable pots of colour to look forward to in spring - tiny cream crocus, hoop petticoat daffodils, indoor daffodils and hyacinth, and lots of tulips.

KajiKita

Could you hang the rugs up in the polytunnel somehow, so they could at least drip dry dry out of any rain or drizzle and maybe get some benefit of the warmth in there? 

I got the last of my spring bulbs planted out today 😊 <Note to self: Do NOT buy any more bulbs this year! 😂 >

KK