Weekly Cleaning Schedule

Monday: Kitchen

• clean work tops and sink
• wipe down cooker and appliances
• empty bin
• wash bin
• wash floor

Tuesday: Bedroom

• change bed linens
• sweep floor
• put away clothing
• straighten beside tables
• dust bookcase, bedside tables, blanket box, chest of drawers and mirror
• wipe window ledges
• empty bin

Wednesday: Bathroom, Shower Room and Loo

• clean sinks and surrounds
• clean bath
• wipe window ledge
• put out fresh hand towels
• vacuum carpet
• clean shower clean loo
• wash floors
• empty bin

Thursday: Dining Room and Hall

• dust piano and shelves
• wipe table
• sweep floors
• straighten shoes

Friday: Sitting Room

• remove clutter
• straighten sofas and chairs
• vacuum floor
• dust sideboard, coffee table, and bookcases
• empty bin

Thinking of Christmas

Last Christmas we tried "Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read." and a Christmas stocking. It worked out really rather well for us. The Beloved, The Offsprings and I each had the same amount of money spent on Christmas gifts. If it wasn't all spent on these four gifts a cheque was included in the stocking.

Various gifts have been bought. Some have arrived. Now I need to get on and make gift bags, and a Christmas tree skirt. I also want to make a Christmas tree wall hanging, some quilted trees and a few Jul Tomtar. 

Wot? No Posts?

This year has been the year of my blog. I've been averaging about a post a day, and I've been rather happy with the content I've been creating. It doesn't matter to me that I'm pretty much the only person who reads it. It's the stuff I've been doing, and want to have a record of, a public diary/book.

And then, this month, it comes to a grinding stop. Some days I have been busy, making birthday presents, decluttering, cooking for guests etc. Other days, I've been doing stuff I've done lots of times before, and don't really have anything much to say about. And then, there's illness. I've spent the last two days in bed with coughs, sneezes and a brain that's too hot to think. 

A few rows of knitting have been done, but not a great deal. I'm starting to feel a little better, and very much hope that tomorrow I'll be able to do some sewing.

Week 45: Emergency Preparedness

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #45: Emergency Preparedness

Tuesday: Gather food and drink emergency supplies for 72 hour kit

Wednesday: Gather other emergency supplies into kit and store

Thursday: Create car emergency supplies and first aid kit

Friday: Create an evacuation plan and fire escape

Saturday: Place fire extinguishers as needed throughout house

Sunday: Make sure home adequately child proofed

Living where I do, the risks are very low. We very rarely get extremes of weather, although it can get a bit blowy. Storm Ophelia visited in October, and brought down a number of trees and took off some roofs. There was also some concern at high tide with the wind whipping up the waves. The Island's emergency services swing into action and restore order as soon as possible.

The other risk is a domestic fire. I think it would be sensible for us to scan in birth and marriage certificates, and store them on-line, along with information regarding insurance etc.

I have checked the first aid kit in the house and also the car. Both have been replenished and decluttered.

Our house doesn't need to be childproofed as we are all adults, but we do need to look at dog safety.

Magic Happened!

A birthday present was made yesterday (and it's killing me not to put up a photographs here and on Facebook!). I realised whilst I was decluttering my study that one of the reasons I took over the dining room was because the sewing surface in my study is a little computer desk, and it just doesn't offer the same area as the dining room table.

Whilst sewing I used the dining room table, (and here's where the magic happened), after I had finished sewing I put it all away again. the dining room is a dining room again! This is revolutionary stuff - putting things away after use. 

A few crafty things now have a home in the dining room, the sewing machine, iron and ironing board. I suspect the cutting mat will join them. Once a couple of boxes have been moved, I'll find a proper home for the iron and sewing machine.

Rainbows for a Refugee

Yarn: Absolutely no idea! It's a sock yarn though.

Pattern: Socks for a Youth

Size: Youth
Needles: 2.5mm

Amount used:  34g

Started:  17th October 2017

Finished: 1st November 2017

These socks started out life as a pair of long wrist warmers. However, they were too baggy around the wrists and were not worn. I frogged them back to a suitable place for heels and re-knitted them as socks.

Then there was a slight problem. One sock was 5 rounds longer than the other. This has now been rectified! And they are finished at last!

October Craftings

Baby Hat
Started: 1st October 2017
Finished: 1st October 2017
Status: Finished

Baby Hat
Started: 1st October 2017
Finished: 1st October 2017
Status: Finished

Baby Rainbow Hat
Started: 2nd October 2017
Finished: 2nd October 2017
Status: Finished

Baby Rainbow Hat
Started: 2nd October 2017
Finished: 4th October 2017
Status: Finished

Hatathon Hats
Started: 15th September 2017
Finished: 9th October 2017
Status: Finished

Child's Socks
Started: 7th October 2017
Finished: 9th October 2017
Status: Finished

Birthday Cake
Started: 13th October 2017
Finished: 13th October 2017
Status: Eaten!

Youth's Socks
Started: 10th October 2017
Finished: 17th October 2017
Status: Finished

Youth's Socks
Started: 17th October 2017
Status: WIP


Autumnal Candles
Started: 18th October 2017
Finished: 18th October 2017
Status: Finished

Works in Progress
Chequered Baby Blanket
Started: 8th September 2017
Status: WIP

Muppet Quilt
Started: 2nd September 2017
Status: WIP

Week 44: Books

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #44: Books

Tuesday: Declutter, donate or sell books, and create space for their storage

Wednesday: Declutter bookshelves

Thursday: Declutter kids' books

Friday: Create area for library book storage

Saturday: Declutter and organize ebooks and Kindle books

Sunday: Declutter Halloween decorations and candy

This week's tasks were carried out whilst decluttering the kitchen, bedroom and my study. We still have some books, but a huge number have been donated. 

I'll be looking at the books and magazines in my study again. I suspect there are many I no longer want nor need.  

Goals

It's now 5 months since I stopped working outside of the house. A whole heap of decluttering has been done during these months, and I have been a great deal happier and healthier. However, I have come to realise, I need goals. I need to reach, to stretch, to achieve.

Next month is the Elder Offspring's Boyfriend's birthday. We have a family tradition of the guys being given white, formal shirt, but the arms removed and replaced by a much more interesting fabric. I have the shirts, I have the fabric, I spy a goal coming up! 

The Younger Offspring also has a birthday coming up, and I have a little crafty something planned. That will be the next crafty project. And then after that, there's the Muppet baby quilt to finish, a Christmas tree decorative quilt to make, and a set of patchwork Christmas trees. 

On the exercise front, my goal is to walk 50 miles during November. 

The Christmas Tree is UP!

That's the Christmas tree up, and a brand new star for the top. 

We were in B&Q buying paint and saw a rather nice artificial tree. We normally put up a tree on the last weekend before Christmas, and the choice of trees is very slim by that point. The tree we have chosen is about three times what we normally spend, but as we are expecting it to last for more than 3 years it should be a medium term saving.

...And the tree's down again. Bye bye until Christmas. Oops, not quite. It's poofed up a little, and it doesn't want to go back in its box. The Beloved is speaking it gently and persuading it back into the box.

The box the tree is in is currently in the dining room. I need to get into the understairs cupboard and declutter. It's been done already this year, but another round of decluttering is in order. 

A Packing Box Emptied!

I've done it, I've done it! One of the packing boxes that has been in the dining room for 10 years has been emptied! Only two more to go.  Tens years - that's ... um.. good going. The remains ones will be done by next Saturday, before the next guests arrive. 

The Lonely Heart Attack Club

I am thoroughly enjoying The Lonely Heart Attack Club. It's written by local author, J C Williams. It's a story of love, of romance, OAP Mario cart, and an elderly stalker being hit in the back of the head with a fish.

The start of the book was a bit slow, and I found Jack to be rather cringe worthy. He felt grey and lifeless in the UK, but arriving back in the Isle of Man he blossomed and became real (rather like The Wizard of Oz - everything was in black and white until Dorothy arrived in Oz). 

Jack is a bit of a habit of getting into scrapes from time to time (cf the elderly stalker being hit by a fish). However, he dreams big, and works to make life better for many people.  It just doesn't quite go smoothly. 

The only problem is the story is on my Kindle, and it's currently out of power! I wanna find out what happens!

-----

I've just realised I'm reading the second one first! That might explain why it took a little while to get into it. The book I'm reading is The Lonely Heart Attack Club: Wrinkly Olympics. I've had to pause the Kindle as I was having problems breathing, and my ribs were aching from laughter. There are some people who have a knack of doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, but with the best of intentions - that's Jack. 

Week 43: Crafts

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #43: Crafts

Tuesday: Declutter unfinished craft projects

Wednesday: Declutter hobby/craft supplies and equipment

Thursday: Declutter kids' hobby/craft/art supplies and equipment

Friday: Declutter craft room or area

Saturday: Declutter and organize kids' artwork

Sunday: Declutter paint and decorating supplies

My first pass at decluttering my study/craft room took up most of September. The room is capable of being used for crafting purposes again! Yarn and fabric have been sorted into boxes. The number of unfinished projects has reduced drastically. Quite a number of knitted ones were frogged and re-knitted into baby hats. Last week, a pair of barely worn long wrist warmers were partially frogged and re-knitted into socks for refugees.

I'm still in the situation where I am only buying yarn and fabric to complete projects. I've been through my stashes, and the materials there are supplies I want to use. It will take time - there's rather a lot of it! But it is significantly less than this time last year. I want to say 'Half', although, I'm not sure. 'Significantly' will do for now.

Purple Jacket

Company:  Debbie Bliss

Yarn: Maya

Composition: 100% wool

Colour:  Purple (35012)

Pattern: Make-it-up

Size: Maghouin Beg sized
Needles: 5.5mm

Amount used:  

Started:  19th October 2017

Finished: 

I decided it was time to make something for myself, after all of the hats, socks and things. And so proceeded to make another pair of socks, and another one.

This is a 'make it up as you go' along jacket. 

Week 42: Photography

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #42: Photographs

Tuesday: Gather loose photos and negatives into central location

Wednesday: Sort and organize photos into photo safe containers for proper storage

Thursday: Continue to sort and organize photos

Friday: Declutter digital photos and organize/back up rest

Saturday: Declutter/organize memory cards, flash drives, computer CDs and discs

Sunday: Declutter camera and video equipment

Photography isn't my thing. When I want things photographed I ask The Beloved or the Younger Offspring. A copy if kept on my computer (Desktop>Images) and also on-line. 

The boxes in the dining room are almost guaranteed to contain photographs and negatives. These will be handed over to The Beloved for archive. However, I will be on the look out for interesting images. I'd love to have a photograph gallery of the people I love on the piano. This Christmas, I'm asking people to consider buying me a plain-ish silver coloured photograph frame. This will make a great display.

Week 41: Dining Room and Entertaining

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #41: Dining Room & Entertaining

Tuesday: Clear off dining room table

Wednesday: Declutter table linens, napkins and place mats

Thursday: Declutter or properly store china and silver

Friday: Declutter china cabinet, side boards

Saturday: Declutter candles

Sunday: Declutter pool supplies, pool toys, swimsuits, etc.

Argh! This set to tasks were for last week. Many of them were completed the week before in anticipation of the arrival of our guests. The room was decluttered, apart from three boxes. The bureau will be disappearing tomorrow afternoon, and the PA equipment will be moved into its place. Currently the PA stuff is the first thing you see as you enter the room. I'd rather people see musical instruments.

I took the chance to go through our plates, bowls, and mugs. Any that had chips were ditched. The only thing we needed to replace were pasta bowls, and I had been on the look out for a new set since January! 

Candles have been corralled in the laundry room. Over the next month I shall be melting them and making new candles for the sitting room and dining room.

The only pool equipment we have are swimming suits, and we have just the right number. I have one swimming costume.

Clutterbug's Declutterings

The October Challenge continues:

15. closet

16. shoes

17. purses, bags and totes

18. memorabilia

19. children's toys

20. children's clothes 

I'm claiming that all of these are done. The reality is that once I have posted this, I shall be nipping off upstairs to check my wardrobe. I think it's calm and decluttered, but I can't say for absolute definite. However, if it isn't, it will be. 

My shoes and footware is a very minimal area. There's a pair of shoes that's almost ready to be retired, but I am still wearing them. Perhaps by the end of the month they will have left the building for the last time.

I'm not big bag person - maybe four handbag, and a couple of shopping bags. There are a couple of bags in my wardrobe I haven't used in at least a year, but I still like them. My every day hand bag is probably too 'office' for my current life, and I need to switch things around.

Memorabilia is not something I really hang onto. There's a couple of soft toys that belonged to my children, a TARDIS lunch box, and a piece of paper that says 'SOUP' (there's a story behind that). Each of these things makes me smile.

Apart from a couple of soft toys that belonged to the children and a few baby clothes, it's totally up to them whether they keep their old toys and clothes. My rule is that I don't declutter other people's belongings. It's their stuff, they have the right to keep it or let it go.

Tasks I haven't yet done are 'freezer' and 'junk drawer'. These will get done before the end of the month.

Autumn Has Arrived!

Monday's storm (Ophelia) has shaken a huge amount of leaves loose.  I decided to do a little bit of autumnal decorating. My candles had burned down a bit; the wax needed to be trimmed. Perhaps a little bit of zhuzhing was was required? 

Leaves of a suitable size were collected. Masking tape was placed on the work surface, sticky side up, and leaves arranged on top. Where the tape was visible from the top I trimmed it back. I would have preferred to have used fine garden twine, but string was all we had. The string was cut a bit longer than needed, and then split into three. The leaves were held in place, the string tied around and then trimmed.

I rather like it. It's a nice little change from pure white candles.

The Beloved's sister and her husband were over visiting last week. They brought back pine cones from a walk. The Younger Offspring and I added to them, tossed in a few decorative balls, some sticks of cinnamon, and a few chocolate oranges. The arrangement definitely needs more chocolate oranges!

The bowl is from Traidcraft  is made from recycled keys. They come in bronze or silver, and in a range of shapes and sizes.

Gosh, it's windy!

It's blowing a hoolie out there! Hurricane Ophelia has come for a visit, and is getting a tad bolshie with the trees. My Facebook feed keeps bleeping with notifications from the Police with news that a new tree has been blown down, and roads closed. 

What's under your bed?

Clutterbug's October Decluttering challenge is to declutter under the bed. This is an area I have already done, and maintain.

Under my bed are suitcases and a box of charity knits I have finished, but haven't yet donated. Once a week, when I sweep the bedroom, I shove the brush under and get out as much hair, dust and fluff as I can. Then at the start of each month, everything is moved and the area under the bed given a deep clean. This was delayed by a week this month so it would be done just before our guests arrived.

Due to having guests, there were a few tasks I hadn't completed (freezer, junk drawer and medicines/toiletries). Today, I sorted through the first aid kit and toiletries. That area is looking good. I should say though, that these guests have been fantastic - they fitted into family life so well. It was an absolute pleasure to have them.

13. dresser drawers

14. under bed

My clothes drawers are were done recently, and I've adopted the habit of tidying them as I put clothes away. It's part of the new mentality of  'little and often' and 'make it a bit better than before'.