First Week of September 2013

The official "Holiday Grand Plan" (see Yahoo groups if interested) starts today.  My personal Plan also starts today.  Having been on HGP (and GP the rest of the year) for many years, I have learned an enormous amount about organizing and scheduling.  While there is always room for improvement, I've come a long way.  Even though I no longer belong to the group (my failing vision made keeping up with the emails to hard), I am forever grateful for what I learned; and I do miss the people.  (I've kept up on line friendships with a few.  I wish there were more, but people all have such busy lives these days - little time for friendships even with those close, much less on liners).

I satrted my plan "unofficially" in August with prep work for my Christmas sewing project.  I got behind, but in the end I actually did finish everything I put on the chart I made for myself.  The plan was to have all the fabric pieces cut out, ready to be pinned together and then sewn.  I did finish cutting.  I hope everything fits together properly - with such bad vision, I'm not sure I cut as precisely as I would have wished.  
According to my plan, I am to stitch together all pieces for 2 holidays this week.  The actual sewing time is minimal  I didn't account for the time involving in pinning; but that is something I can easily do while sitting and watching TV.  The big roadblock for me is going to be getting a bunch of bobbins wound.  The thread has to go through a tiny hold in clear plastic to be wound - and it is near impossible for me to see that.  Once I get the bobbins done, the machine won't be quite as hard.  It has a threader, but I can't make it work.  I can, however, use a regular needle threader - that has worked for me in the past.  

The cleaning project for this week is the bedroom.  I start there simply because other rooms fit into my schedule, and my anticipated weather, better - leaving the bedroom by default.  There's actually little I can do there since that is my husband's domain as well as his "sick room".  There is much medical equipment that has to be there.  I have over the summer moved as much "extra" stuff as I can out - leaving room for moving around, getting him in and out of his wheelchair, nurse and aides, as well as a place for visitors that come when he isn't up.  
So, I plan to tackle one wall at a time (Monday through Thursday, and the floor Friday).  I will wipe down woodwork, pictures, wash windows, etc.  I want to take down and wash the curtains too.  In the process, if I come across more stuff that can be eliminated, it will go; but he doesn't like to let go of anything, so I doubt there will be much removed.  I hope to be able to find homes elsewhere in the house for at least a few things.

I may not post daily on my progress, but will try to update during the week.  At the very least I will post each Sunday with my progress.

I have tried to invite followers and readers, but haven't been very successful.  For those of you who do read - I welcome comments and/or emails (olgramy@hotmail.com ) .  I'd love to hear if you're following a plan how you're doing on it too.

In November, I plan to have a drawing.  I will draw out one name at random (using a computer program) from all who commented or emailed to receive one set of the holiday pillow covers I'm making.