Week One, July 2009

My Christmas schedule begins this weekend. I am a member of AMaxersChristmasNotebook, and the plan starts in July. I haven't put my notebook together yet, so not quite sure where I'm supposed to be yet. But, there won't be a lot (hardly any!) of shopping for components for new decorating schemes. So, I will have to follow along the best I can; but will work on my own personal plan.
When making up my plan, I have to keep several things in mind:
1. I can't plan more than I can realistically accomplish in one weekend - preferably in one day (because by the second day I've always fizzled out; and still have to do ordinary things like laundry and grocery shopping).
2. I have to start with the cooler parts of the house, and work towards the areas less cool (like the back hall, and the porch) as the weather cools down. At least, I hope it will!
3. I need to be done (with the cleaning schedule) by the first of October. I have to have time for catching up, time for an extra weekend in case something unplanned comes up, time out for October birthdays, and time out for a planned weekend trip to the mountains. That also leaves me an October weekend (probably the first one) to get the outside decorating done before it gets too cold (made that mistake last year, won't do it again!)
4. I am taking the first week in November to decorate. That way I have all of November and December, and about half of January, to enjoy the decorating and all the other holiday related stuff. My ultimate goal is:
1. Outside decorating done (all except plugging in timers) before November
2. Inside decorating done by the weekend before Thanksgiving
3. All sewing projects completed by the end of November
4. All baking projects at least begun and in the freezer by the end of November
5. All other projects - cards, Advent letters, and a few other projects I have in mind - completed by the end of November.

This weekend is Week One. It's actually a 3 day weekend, so I have a lot on the schedule. I have reached the end stages with a changing rooms around project. This weekend was all about finishing finding places for all the things I dragged out of a room several months ago. There is still a lot to be sorted - but it's all in organized containers. There are still a few areas to be sorted (a lot of things to go upstairs), but the main areas are done. The new guest room (which will be next weekend) is organized and only needs tweaking (and a bed! LOL!). This room (computer/sewing room) will only need a bit of fine-tuning. The living room floor and sofas are cleared; the dining room table is cleared (except for the notebook project), and I even got the trunk area in front of the dining room window cleaned up. There are still odds and ends in corners and such, but I will deal with them as I get to them. For now, I am completely happy that I have accomplished the major part of my list.
I have 2 large boxes to take to the barn, but they are very heavy. Perhaps I can use the handtruck to take them out in the morning before it gets too hot.
To complete my plan for this weekend, I also have to work on some of my quilting projects. They've been on hold way too long. They're not actually for Christmas, but I put them on the schedule because they need to be completed.
I won't get much more done today. It's late afternoon, time to take a quick shower, so after dinner we can go into town to watch fireworks.
Tomorrow a shopping trip is planned for the afternoon, but will try in the morning to finish what's on my schedule for this weekend.