Christmas 2011 pictures

OK, I totally blew it this year. The funny thing is, I was actually more organized than I have been in the past.
I got baking done, cards sent, house cleaned (with help), and decorating done (with help). Shopping was done mostly on line, but in plenty of time and wrapped before Christmas Eve! I didn't finish the sewing I wanted to do .. had several issues there ... but I have a great head start on next year! :)



blurry tree in sewing room.



Stair landing corner of living room.



living room tree and mantle.



Glimpse of white tree in bathroom.



multiple trees in guest room.



dining room.



star on chimney



lighted "gifts" on porch.

HGP Week 9

So OK, I'm really lousy at keeping up with a blog. And honestly? I'm not even sure anyone is reading it anyway. But, just to keep myself on track, I thought I'd update.
I'll review all the weeks up to now:
Week 1, Get organized & make lists. DONE
Week 2, Entry/foyer/porch. I only have porch. DONE
Week 3, Living room. DONE
Week 4, Master Bedroom. DONE
Week 5, Bathrooms. ONE DONE
Week 6, Kids Room (have none, did computer/sewing room). DONE
Week 7, Guest Room. DONE, BUT NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN
Week 8, Kitchen. DONE
Week 9, Pantry. THIS WAS DONE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, SO USING THIS TO GO BACK TO GUEST ROOM.

Now, let it be clear: "DONE" does not mean the room is spotless top to bottom. It means I have addressed issues in each room, decluttered, cleaned. There will always be more cleaning to do, but the rooms are presentable.

Another phase of the HGP is the Christmas prep. I'm only partly up on that; though a lot of the items on the lists won't apply. I am working on hand-made gifts, and have been doing fairly well at getting progress made instead of waiting until the last minute. I made Christmas cards this year, and have most of an address list in tact. I have "lost" my box of envelopes to fit the cards, but if I don't locate it soon I do have some others that will do. I even have plenty of "forever" stamps to mail the cards. One way or another, they will go in teh mail by Thanksgiving weekend.
Baking is an area I'm behind on, but that's partly because it's been too hot. I have a gas stove, and inadequat a/c in the kitchen-den area - so I don't bake when it's hot. I have a few pound cakes made and in the freezer, and hope to soon get more in there. I'm also thinking to use some of the huge surplus of tomatoes I have frozen to make some sauce; but will have to find a freezer- recipe, because I don't do canning.
I have my gift list mostly done, with budgeting in place. A lot of my shopping has already done (mostly on line). I need to get busy wrapping a few things soon. The hardest-to-buy-for gifts are the ones taken care of. Yay!

HGP Week 2

I'm not very good at keeping up with this, and I really don't know why. But, I will keep trying to do better. Of course, I'm not completely sure there's anyone out there reading it anyway! LOL!
So, Week One is done. I did reasonably well, considering it was a week for making lists, which is what I do best. I'm still struggling just a little to merge my physical notebook and my computerized one. I tend to keep reprinting updated pages rather than leaving handwritten ones in my notebook, which is a waste of paper.
Anyway, my lists are either done, or at least started.
This week is "question" week, and also porch/entry week. I don't have an entry, so concentrating on porch and yard. The porch itself - raised wood deck with ramp - is in fine shape, as it's new. I do have 2 flats of water I should bring in. My focus is to get the area behind the porch cleaned, and also the end of the porch where the lawnmower is stored.
On Thursday I worked on the back side part. I made a lot of progress - the area is now completely accessible, and the items that needed to stay are reasonably well stored on shelving. A bonus, the outlet is now easy to get to!
Friday I had a hair appointment, and did grocery shopping. Saturday was also very busy, with the load of gravel coming as well as the driving back and forth for dialysis. I fit in some shopping on Saturday.
Today my focus has been getting my fall decorations out. I'm still loving the summer look in the living room, so sort of blending the two for a few more weeks. Then I'll put the "winter rug" back, take the throw covers and blue pillow covers off and replace the pillow covers with fall ones.
Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be a lot cooler, so my goal is to finish the porch cleaning. It's mostly a matter of sweeping, and get trash bagged up, neaten up the rest of the area.
Today I'm going to review Week 2 tasks, and see what I need to work on there, as well as finish the fall decorating. Also I have gotten started with cutting fabric for several projects, so I need to finish that and then get the dining room table set for fall.
The shopping list for Week One was for stamps - which I have; and freezer containers - which I did get.
While my lists aren't all complete, they are started, and I'm doing well so far. But it's only been one week! LOL! Onward, now, to Week Two.

HGP Week 1

The first thing I know is that trying to blend 2 different systems just won't work. I have to have ONE plan and stick to it. So, I'm opting for the Holiday Grand Plan.
This year officially kicked off last Sunday, August 28th. The first week is for organizing my notebook, making lists, and generally getting ready and enthusiastic about starting. Next week is front porch, but it seems a lot of the ladies have already started that. For some reason my life has gotten complicated recently, so I'm not sure what I'll get done; but I know I'm sure going to give it my best effort.
Sunday I printed forms and assembled my notebook.
Monday I worked .. it was my last day of work, and I am now retired. I worked more on getting the notebook better organized.
Tuesday I took DH to dialysis, then had lunch with my sister, niece, and great-nephew. They then came to my (clean and decluttered!) house to visit. After they went home, I picked up DH, then we did a bit of shopping, and got some dinner. That evening I didn't get much done.
Today DH had an appointment in Durham. It wasn't at the regular clinic, but close to one of those huge new shopping centers on the far side (took an extra half hour to get there). The appointment didn't take long, so we checked out the Home Depot. I got a few items from my "Home Spruce Up" list. I also got a birthday gift for a step son that I've been searching for! We stopped at one more store and I got a watering system for my cat (moving waater). Now I just have to figure out where to put it so it can be plugged in!!
Today is the last day I can decide what email I need to keep from my old mail box. By tomorrow I have to cancel the service and the mailbox will no longer be accessible. So, that's a priority. I also hope to have time to start working on checking off some of the list making for HGP. There are many lists to be completed this week.
Tomorrow I have to go pick up a girlfriend, take DH to dialysis, take her to run an errand, then come back home to get some yard work done. What I'm hoping is that she will tackle the garden (try to "fix" some storm/wind damage), and I have a portion of my porch that needs attention. The "main" porch looks great. The hidden area behind it - had to leave open for water heater to be accessible - is way too full of junk. My ultimate plan for this week/next week is to finish getting that area completely cleaned out and organized, and also clean (again) the area on the far end of the porch, semi walled off, where lawnmower and other such stuff live. The yard is not officially on The Plan, but I hope in the Very Near future to get a lot of trash hauled away.
Friday I have a hair appointment. After that I will probably go get my girlfriend again, and we'll continue the garden/porch projects. Also on Friday, hopefully, some one is coming to install new equipment so we can have TV service back, having been without since last Saturday.
Saturday morning I'm getting a (2nd) truckload of a gravel mix for my driveway. In the 10 years here, most of the old gravel has vanished; and in quite a few places, the driveway itself has become overgrown with grass. I had the first load put down, but it wasn't dumped where I wanted it, so I wasn't able to cover all the worst areas. I'm really hoping this will finally finish .. I consider getting this done a big part of the "curb appeal" of the house! Also Saturday I'll be taking DH to dialysis and picking him up later. I think I'll be getting the girlfriend, and garden/porch/yard work to continue.
The second week officially starts Sunday, so Sunday and Monday I will continue with the porch. If/when I finish, I will keep up with ordinary housekeeping. Next week will be a busy week; but I will save that for next week's blog!

Starting Over for 2011

There has been a lot going on this year, but I'm working on getting back on track. The 2011 HGP starts August 28th. I'm also semi-following Christmas Clutter Countdown, which begins (I think) August 15th.
Over the past few months I have partially followed the Grand Plan, and also made some major changes to my house. I've had a porch built, and added several storage pieces to replace a mish mash of open shelving, and therefore hiding a large percentage of the clutter. I haven't done as well at getting rid of the clutter, but at least it' better contained! :)
I've planned in past years to keep up with thi blog and track my progresss. Once again, that is my plan, and I hope this is the year I succeed!

I have 8 days until CCC starts, and another 14 after that before HGP starts. I'm not quite sure yet how I will blend them, but I have time to work that out too. For now, all my major "projects" are done. I'm down to basic cleaning. There are some things to go to the barn that I'll need help with; and a large extremely heavy TV to take to the thrift shop, which I'll also need help with. I also have some small things ... pictures, shelves to hang, clean the porch, change out the red/white/blue decorations. I plan to get those small things done, and give the house a good all over cleaning by the time CCC starts.

When the plans start, I plan --HOPE-- to keep up with tracking how well I do. In years past I've only partly followed, so this year I plan to follow it all. Wish me luck! LOL!

Oops.

OK, I completely "blew it" for Christmas 2010. I didn't post regularly about progress ... and I didn't make good progress to post about.
I admit, also, to being a bit discouraged ... only one follower, and not more than a handful of people that even read it, so seems kind of pointless.
For Christmas 2011, here are my goals:
1. To have a more realistic schedule, and stick to it.
2. To not schedule outside stuff so late that weather could affect finishing.
3. To have all "projects" (painting, sewing, etc) done well before fall.
4. To make cards ahead of time and buy stamps - and actually mail them!
5. To set up a more "user-friendly" wrapping station, and wrap gifts as I buy them.
6. To plan and follow through with early season baking.
7. To stick to my year-long monthly purchase plan (4 stocking stuffers; one toy; canned goods).
8. To plan and follow through with an Open House.
9. To shop more on-line and second-hard stores.
10.To be DONE by Thanksgiving weekend, and help Andrea and Cindy get done (and anyone else who asks for help).