September 2012 Week Six

So today I'm reporting in for week 5, master bathroom (also the main house bathroom - there is another small bathroom, which will get attention at "catch up" time).  It took all week, with various distractions going on.  But I'm fairly well pleased with what I got done.  The entire ceiling & molding area got cleaned.  I mopped the tub surround (only way I could reach, but worked well).  I took down the curtain & washed it (it's waiting to be ironed and rehung), took down the blinds and cleaned them the best I could in a tub of hot water; and I thoroughly cleaned the window and frame area and shutters (on lower half of window) before putting the blinds back up.  I cleaned all the porcelain, then took everything off the floor, wiped it all down good, and mopped the floor.  There are a few little detail things still to do: I need to wipe down the top of the clock, the wall heater, and the switch plates.  Also the exhaust vent needs to be vacuumed out.  Plus, I still have to clean the other vanity counter and mirror; but none of that is going to take long, and it will be done!

This week is "kid's room".  Since I don't have one of those (kids or their room! LOL!), I'm designating it for my sewing and computer room. I've gotten a start on it, so hopefully by next Sunday I can report good progress in here as well.

For the tasks this past week, I've really not been able to do much.  I have the labels for my Christmas cards all printed, and I just received the cards I ordered yesterday.  This week I will get started signing the cards and putting in envelopes.  I'm going to wait for Christmas stamps (Oct. 12th) before stamping them, since there aren't all that many to send.  The other things on the task list are dealing with working on handmade things (and I have to get work done on my sewing machine), and making holiday goodies, which I have not started yeet.  I have several vendor events coming up, and a big family function this month.  That's in addition to keeping 2 BGS after school, and all of DH's appointments.  Busy, busy!!

This week I will add my few Halloween decorations to the fall things already out.

September 2012 Week Five

This past week, #4, turned out better than I expected.  It was Master Bedroom week.  I thought I wouldn't get much done since that is mainly DH's domain.  But I was able to make a few changes that made it feel a little bit more open.  I also bought new curtains to make the room darker for DH.  I got it all fairly well dusted (even the windows) and vacuumed.  Considering several doctor appointments, including one that was from 6:40 in the morning to 10:00 at night, I'm really quite happy with the progress.
As far as the tasks go, I was not as successful.  There are a lot of things on the list that either don't apply at all, or just won't work for me to do this far ahead.  The task I can and should work on is sewing ... and that keeps giving me problems. I have some family things coming up, and that will take some extra time in addition to trying to keep up with HGP.  But hopefully after "the main event" (in October), I'll be a little ahead of the game and can put extra time into sewing.

September 2012, Week Four

I think I'm confusing myself with the way I'm labeling these blog posts!  So, today starts Week Four.  But what I'm reporting is the past week.  
Week 3 was entry week; but I actually don't have an entry.  The main door we use opens directly into the dining room.  When we first moved to this house, we only used the door to the back hall - because that was the only key the landlord had! LOL!  Since the front of the house had been converted (a porch enclosed), there is a "front" door but it's never used.  There's no sidewalk to it, and very awkward little steps.  Anyway, I had a new  door knob/lock put on the dining room door so that became our main entrance.  I also had a porch built (needed a ramp, so included a small porch area) that also only goes to the dining room entrance.  Because DH uses a walker, this is the most practical way.  And, all of that to say, since the main door opens into the dining room, that is the room I did this week.  
Any room can always use "a bit more" than it gets.  But each time I do a round of HGP, it gets better.  The dining room got a very good dusting/wiping down all the way around.  I cleaned the chandelier; but I've bought new bulbs, and today I will replace the ones up there with a set that all match!  They should also give a softer light.  In front of the one big window I have 2 trunks and my indoor plants.  The trunks are covered with plastic and then a cover (but I think water still gets under ... I'd love to find someone who could repair and refinish the trunks).  Because of a new-to-me chair purchase, I rearranged the window area.  Yes, that sounds silly!  But I had 2 smallish end tables I didn't have a place for ... but they work perfectly as part of the "plant stand" (see video on a previous blog post).  Behind the entrance door is a "bookshelf".  Actually, it's an old bookcase type headboard, but it fits there.  Someday, as I gradually let go of books I can't see, I will get rid of it and have nothing behind the door!  The floor underneath that unit had some old children's toys and puzzles.  I pulled all of that out, and sorted it.  The puzzles are all for very young kids, so I will donate them.  The rest I sorted and organized.  Then I traded places with those items and some plastic boxes of DH's old magazines (that he refuses to get rid of).  Now the toys (as well as some lincoln logs and legoes that I already had) are living in the bottom of a large shelf unit in the den.  Next month I'll start keeping  9 and 10 y/o "bonus" grands after school for a few months; plus they stay with us occasionally.  So this is nice and handy for them.  The shelves on that unit have an assortment of books.  A lot of them are children's books, so at some point I still will go through those as well.  For now, they're neat, and the shelves all dusted.
The tasks for this week included things like working on Christmas cards (they are ordered, and have not come yet ... but the address labels are all printed and ready); Christmas shopping (I do that all year when I find something "special" - and now I have a wonderful large 31 tote to store them in) ... I have some of it planned out, but it's really too early to do most.; and food planning and shopping.  I also have no idea who will be here for Thanksgiving or Christmas, so I really can't plan those meals.    Other tasks include organizing and working on crafts - which I am doing, but very slowly due to poor vision; and setting up a wrapping station - which will be the folding table that is currently my organizing area.  One thing I have been able to do was start a box of non perishable food items for local food drives around the holidays.
I think that's it for this week. :)  As mentioned above, I took some brief videos in the house (and of the cats).  There's also some pictures of the doll house (which I've not done anything with yet - big house first, then little one! LOL!)

Maggie

Butter

Fall Table

Dining room video

Views of dining room starting at living room and moving left around the room.  

Living room video

Video of my living room, starting at "entrance" from dining room, moving around to right.  Probably should have had more light. :)

September 2012, Week Three

I never seem to quite get all the way through a list.  But each year I follow the plan, I get a little closer.  This past week was living room, which should have been a fairly easy week.  I sort of forgot I needed to change out seasonal stuff! LOL!
So, for this week I took off the blue & white (summer "theme") pillow covers and sofa cover, washed them, then packed in a box and put upstairs.  There are a few more spring/summer flowers on the landing to take upstairs and add to the box.I also vacuumed the sofa and chairs really well, under the cushions and down in the cracks and all.  The mantle is cleaned and decorated with fall leaves and colorful candles.
I dusted all along the ceiling, corners, tops of doors and windows.
I still have "ordinary" dusting and vacuuming to do, but that's a matter of routine maintenance.  I also need to wipe down all of the pictures.  There are no electronics in the living room, so that makes that room easier.  It's actually used more as a "pass through" than anything.  The bathroom opens off the living room (direct line of sight from the main outside door.  Charming! LOL!), and the hall to the bedroom is next to the bathroom.  Also, the guest room and my computer/sewing room open off the living room.  And, the stairs go up 3 steps, a small landing, then on up.  So basically, the living room is mostly a smallish area with a sofa and 2 chairs near the fireplace, but "off center"; 2 sides of the furniture arrangement is basically hall way.
(in case you're wondering why this odd arrangement ... and you know you are ... the "original" house was 5 rooms: a central room with the front door; a room off each of the other 3 sides.  Two were bedrooms, with a fireplace at each end; the 3rd room, we think, was the kitchen, with a back door.  The 5th would be the one upstairs room.  Several renovations were done over the years.  A bathroom was added;  later the front porch was converted to a large "front room", and the bathroom was probably remodeled and enlarged at the same time.  At another time - don't know if before or after the front room - a "wing" was added off the back.  In the corner between the old kitchen and one of the bedroom wings, a large area was added with the new kitchen, den, and back hall containing a full bathroom and a laundry room.  The story I'm told is the the "front room" was added when the owner's teen daughters began dating - they needed a courtin' place.  While the parents sat in the living room (which by then had a gas fireplace, which I have now).  Cozy, huh?)

OK, let me check my list to see how I'm doing with this week's tasks.  I did not check the smoke detectors yet - will do that this week.  It used to be when the time changed, but since that now doesn't evenly divide the year, something else has to be the "trigger".
Christmas cards can't be dealt with until the ones I ordered come.  But I have started working on entering addresses on Christmas mailing labels.  I have more labels on my shopping list.  I will also make my own return address lebels.  That way I will save my handwriting (which I do less and less of as my hands get achy) for signing cards.
I don't really do much shopping this early, unless I know something very specific someone wants.  The funds are budgeted at least.  Throughout the year, if I come across something really special I'll get it.  This year I (finally) have a place for keeping those things (at least the smaller items).  Oh, but not telling ... never know who's reading! LOL!
There's an item on the task list that sort of confuses me.  "Set up a holiday housework plan" ... I thought that's what my notebook was! LOL!  But as far as printing it for other family members .. yeah, right.  DH ignores the giant white board on the kitchen door.  I am the only one accountable for designated tasks.

Tabletop is next.  Umm .. yeah, I'm good.  I have FOUR sets of Christmas dishes.  One set is service for 8 and includes glassware and lots of serving pieces.  I have many holiday linens, serving pieces, etc.  And in the summer I bought new flatware .. fairly inexpensive ... enough for 16! :)
 Good health habits seems a bit of an odd thing here ... shouldn't that be all year?  But anyway, that is being covered by HalthGrandPlan (thanks Bonnie!!)

There are things on this week's task list that either don't apply, or to me don't make sense.  Like, in September I'm not scheduling haircuts or nail care.  Gift ideas has already been discussed.  And why would I make my way down the list to order cards when an item above is to start addressing them!

I'm not aware of any friends with "other" observances.  I sort of wish I did know of some - it would be interesting to learn about other people's customs.

To buy this week: begin shopping, 1/5th of my list.  Well, I guess if I knew 100% what to get at this point I could do that.  But I don't.  And holiday clothing?  If we needed anything - which we don't - where would I find holiday clothes in September?  I understand the concept of doing things way in advance; but sometimes it just doesn't make sense!

So, that's it.  Off now to work on finishing the living room, and get started in the dining room. :)

Doll House

Please note, these are "before" pictures!  I've put main furniture pieces in rooms - not necessarily where they will end up - and just laid out the accessory pieces to see what's there.  All the rooms need work - good thing I watch so much HGTV! LOL!  Eventually I hope to add "electricity"; and also find a permanent home where I can maybe even put it on a turntable.  Until then, though, I'm looking forward to decorating it for Christmas!!

Fall Decorating

Every time I changed decorations, I just love what I've newly put out.  But fall is my favorite time of year.  I love that now my house is cozy and colorful!  I'm going to enjoy this for a few months.  In October I will add some pumpkins; and closer to Halloween I'll add a few fun touches, that will disappear again in November.  Then it will be time to start the change over to .... TA DA ... Christmas!!!

The tablecloth and dishes on the table were fabulous flea market finds!

The tree stays up all year.  I love the fall touches now.  It doesn't show well in the picture, but there are bunches of leaves that are glittery .. I love bling! :)

Mantle doesn't show as well as I'd like.  It would also have been better to move the vacuum out of the way! LOL

Note the cat in the window.  Definitely part of the decorations!

September 2012 Week Two

My major accomplishment for last week was dealing with the fluid bags. I did finally get all of them drained, bagged, and taken to the dump. Yya! Then I came up with a system for dealing with them. I got a cheap sytro cooler, punched some holes in the bottom, and set it up on a couple of wood blocks. Now I take the bags out the back door, hold them over the cooler and ship some drain slits in the bags and then just drop them down. On trash day I take a bag out and put ever how many are in the cooler into the trash bag - done! The only problem so far is that we had a storm the afternoon I had taken trash ... so I had to chase down the fly-away cooler! LOL!

I went around the porch, looking for the small bits and pieces that had accumulated, and got all of that out of the way. It's been extremely hot and humid here, so any thing else on the porch (or yard) will have to wait at least another month.

For the list part, I did well. I settled on what plan I will use (Holiday Grand Plan), and combined things until I have 2 notebooks. One is the "main" Christmas Planning book. But I'm keeping a second one only to track the cleaning.
I have most of the lists done, and have gotten many things plugged into my calendar. I have 3 "main" calendars. One I created in "Print Artist", and have already reprinted several times as I add in things. One is a "planner calendar" - 2 page spread per month - where I initially jot down things. Then part of each week's plan (Sunday morning) is to enter the week's events/appointments/plans into my Google calendar, so that I get reminders.

We are now moving on to Week Two. This is "question" week (which for me means I have an extra week to work on lists), and "Living Room" week. Over the last session of "The Plan" I cleaned out the book cases, the built in desk, and a big cedar trunk. There is no TV or any other electronic equipment, so this should be an easy room. The main focus will be getting some "deep" cleaning done ... such as, get the pictures off the walls, clean them all, wipe down the walls, moldings, baseboards, etc. My calendar looks full ... but actually, there's only one half day appointment and one all day one. And there's a half day of errands, that might be combined with the half day appointment.

I started making some Christmas quilted table runners last year, and never finished. I have added working on those to my calendar as well. I'm hoping that at least the reminders will keep me on track. I need to try to complete one a week this month and next. I have other projects to do too, so I had to remember to add those in to the schedule. And I had to at least preliminarily(my computer says that isn't a word - it is now! LOL!) block in baking days.

And because I *needed* another project, I bought something just for fun that I've wanted for many many years. I bought a doll house! It's a big wood one, 3 stories, and has a lot of furniture and things. First thing I had to do was find a place for it to live! I ended up clearing everything off a dresser in the guest room and putting it there. That may not end up being it's permanent home, but it'll do for now. I'm taking my time going through the little things with it. Then I need to get to the barn (that will have to wait for cooler weather!) to find the small stash of miniatures I have tucked away. It needs some serious cleaning and decorating, but I can tackle that one room at a time.

I think today will probably be a bit on the lazy side - considering it's already after 1:00! LOL! I have gotten a few things done; but I think I pulled a muscle in my back yesterday getting a big chair (recliner) in here, and it's uncomfortable today. I have runners to pin, lists to make, books to read ... lots to do today. :)

I would love feedback / comments on how y'all are doing! :)