Day 263: Back At It

 

Today we're back to the grindstone of the whole house declutter/spring clean. Hell, we've even started a scrap bin for the family across the road because they have a pig and chickens... though mainly because that way the scraps didn't have to go in our bin.

Well anyway, it rained yesterday so I didn't do any washing... (just so you know babysitting turned out okay = the three kids were all well behaved... the dog on the other hand was a pain in the ass). Today we only have the dog, as Flit has gone to the craft market with his mum and nana.

I'm hoping today is better with the weather as I really want to finish the bedding. and possibly give Hurricane's and Graceful's lunchboxes a good scrub out so they can air out over the two-week break.

Hopefully we'll also come across the missing library book from school. Once we have everything sorted out. everyone will come to see that there is a place for everything, and everything needs to be put back into it place... just so it can be found when needed.

Wish us luck.

Day 262: Let the Fun Begin

 

Today I am on babysitting duty. I have Monsoon and Hurricane while my daughter takes Graceful to her eisteddfod. I also have Flit and Coco (the dog). while my niece and sister are at a craft show. Hurricane has ADHD, and Flit is on the autistic spectrum. Then there is Monsoon who is happy enough to copy whoever she is with. 

My day is going to be loud, because for a majority of it, they will have to be inside (too hot outside). There will be yelling and then there will be tears. because these three even though they love each other... they fight like you wouldn't believe.

Wish me luck... I think I will have to take my strong headache medication just to cope... LOL.

Day 261: Last Day of Term

 

As of after awards ceremony, Hurricane and Graceful will officially be on school holidays. Two weeks of having all three kids home 24/7... Hopefully, they can take that time to help clean up... No. I wouldn't wish that on myself, their helping is going behind us and pulling out everything we've just put away.

At least during these school holidays my niece's stuff will be going from our garage; then it's a matter of rearranging the shelves ang that will be another room done.

I need to write a smaller list of chores that have to be done before my daughter and the girls go for their weekend at the beach... Plus, Graceful also has an eisteddfod in the at some stage. Actually, I think that one is tomorrow.

The mozzies are bad again tonight. the kids were covered in red dots. At first, I had a mini panic attack that they had chicken pox or the measles... took me about ten minutes to realize they were mozzie bites. I felt like a right royal goober then.

Day 260: More Chores

Today the two older girls had speed soccer at school. Hurricane came home with a medal... their mum went to watch them. I had Monsoon and we built a big plastic storage tub (from Bunnings hardware) that the girls are going to use to store all of their outdoor toys in. Hopefully it will stop them from leaving them scattered all over the ground.

Still washing the household bedding, but with six people (six beds) that's a lot of doonas, sheets and pillowcases. Plus, all the knee rugs we had been using.

I've noticed there has been a shit-ton of mozzies in the house every night. Going to have to fix the holes in the screen doors.

I'm starting to feel worn out again. I still occasionally have my cough. It's annoying as hell, and my nose is still sore on the inside. My headache is a constant... I think I should just shut today down and go and read.

Day 259: Seasonal Swap

 

Today I sat back and advised while my daughter rearranged the girl's bedrooms. She's still trying to find the best set up for them. I did more washing... yes, I know it's all I seem to be doing. I swear to the be all and end all that I will get to the end of it all soon... Admittedly, right now I'm washing all our doonas and putting them away for the summer. Nothing better than a bed made up with nice fresh linen.

It'll soon be time to put all the winter clothing back into storage for another year... A good time to get rid of everything that we know for sure won't fit Hurricane and Monsoon. There is no use in keeping them. not when someone else can get use out of them.

I have to ask. why do we always end up with so many odd socks? Our pile at the moment is ridiculous... and by ours, I mean my daughters and the three girls. It's insane the amount we have piled on the kitchen table. I'm hoping by the time we get to the end of this declutter/spring clean that I'll find a heap of the missing matches.

Day 258: Chores & Random Thoughts

 

Really starting to heat up. You can tell Summer is heading our way. I can already tell that it's going to be a bloody scorcher.

Chores today were slow going. I had Monsoon helping because her mum was at work and then she had to take Graceful to dance and then Jui Jitsu. Monsoon talked all bloody day long... and if you didn't talk back to her, she'd grab you by the face and ask... "Are you listening to me?" I was hoping she would nap, but no such luck. At least when Hurricane got home from school she had someone else to focus on.

Monsoon and I washed... there was more bedding to get through and some more clothes for the op-shop. I still think they have way too many clothes. Possibly some can go to their dad's house.

Had to watch Megamind three times with Monsoon today... it could have been worse. It could have been Captain Underpants again

Day 257: I Feel Worn Out

I'm absolutely buggered today. my lower back is burning, and my upper back is aching from all the washing I've been hanging out and then folding up once it's dry.

Today I did even more washing, though I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have a couple of blankets and a coupled of sets of sheets, but they are actually off the beds,

I'll have a busy day tomorrow as I have to run the drop my daughter off at work... the girls off at school... then pick my daughter up again after her shift because her car has something wrong with it. I suppose I should get off of here and get some sleep. Morning is going to be here long before I want it to be.

 

Day 256: To Do List

 

For the next little bit, I have a specific to do list...

1) Swap out the drawer runners in Graceful's chest of drawers.

2) Fix board to top shelf of open wardrobe to sit trophies on.

3) Fix the rungs on the bunk beds.

4) Paint the toybox

5) Fix Graceful's bike (Front wheel and training wheels) how hard can it be?

6) Try and reattach the netting around the trampoline

8) Paint the cubbyhouse

9) Paint the outdoor/mud kitchen

10) clean out the BBQ cupboard.

If I can get all of this done by the end of October, I'll be happy. The girl's grandad is coming for Christmas, and I'd like to have everything done by then.

Day 255: Hurricane & Monsoon.

 

Tackling this room... mainly it's just toys, and three bits of furniture that has to be removed. For the size of the room, it just seems cluttered. though while cleaning, I notice we're going to have to fix the rungs on the ladder for the bunk beds. the paint has chipped off. and the bare metal is showing. I might have to buy some grey rust proofing paint and paint them. I also want to repaint the toybox as it's hideous. Mind you, we're only going to use the leftover paint from the uniform chest of drawers, pastels in green, purple, pink and blue.

I'm going to have to wash their bedding. It looks like all of the cats have been napping on them at some point in time. That and it's getting to the point where we're going to be swapping from winter to summer bedding.

Graceful had an eisteddfod this morning, and she had dance lesson in the arvo. I have a headache today. Mainly, I think it's because Monsoon and Hurricane have been singing to me all day long on the top of their lungs. I swear to God they don't know the meaning of inside voices.

Day 254: Dang It...

 

I tried to buy a staplegun today, but they were out of stock. They told me to come back next week and try again after they get new stock in. Looks like I will have to come back next week.

I got myself a little sketch book so I can sketch out ideas of thigs I want to do/build. Like I want to build a series of screens that I can hook together to stand in front of the plastic tubs in the garage so I'm not always looking at the storage tubs. I showed my eldest sister and now she is going to get her own book and do the same thing.

You guessed it, I'm still washing. I'm doing at least 4 loads a day to get it all done. we also dropped of seven bags into the op-shop donation bin, and got them out of the house.

Day 253: Graceful's Room

 

Today while I was washing. I decided to get some empty tubs and sort out the stuff in Graceful's room. Toys in one tub, clothes in another, and crap for her mum to go through in the last tub... then I turned the desk around because it overlapped the cupboard door by about 1cm. I figured either the desk, or the door was going to get damaged. At least the room is small, so it really didn't take that long. I also picked up the surplus toys off Monsoon and Hurricane's floor. I'll tackle the room on another day.

I'm now going to figure out a way to make the top of Graceful's open wardrobe sturdier, as she wants to display all her dance trophies on there. Hers is also the chest of drawers that I need to replace the runners on... How hard can it be? I'll google it and teach myself a new trade to get the job done.

Day 252: Big Day

 

Today is grocery day, and we also got a gurney and to massive plastic storage boxes that we're doing to use. One will be to store doons in, inside the house, and the other will live on the back patio and have all the kid's toys in it. For something so simple they were so freaking hard to put together. I wasn't strong enough to clip them into place.

The septic service was today. So grateful to the man across the road for getting the grass down around the septic tank to give the waste guys access to the tank. I didn't realize just how many downed limbs there are lying around the tank. We'll have to eventually get them moved.

Really overcast today. I hope the rain holds off until after the washing is dried. I hate leaving washing hanging in the rain.

Day 251: Wardrobe Day

All the wardrobes in this house are small like this. They have a shelf up the top, and a rail just underneath. and nothing else. You wouldn't think it would take me four hours to clean one out... and yet it did. I found yet more washing. not that it was dirty per say. More that it smelled musty for being crammed in there for so long. and just by looking at the clothes I know they had been in there for years as they were mostly baby clothes. I'm just going to freshen them up before I bag them up for donation. At least I only have two wardrobes to deal with. The other one I know is mostly filled with toys and an empty set of drawers. I think I might wash all the toys that we are going to keep as well. All the soft squishy ones at least. give them a new lease on life... I started washing right away just to get it done.

 

Day 250: Downpipe Getting Fixed.

This isn't our downpipe. Ours is actually busted on the bottom where it connects into the underground pipe system that runs into our tanks. The even better news is the maintenance man brought his whipper snipper for us to use on our little hill... so we can clear the outside edge of our fence line. Better than that, my neighbour across the road came over and whipper snipped around my septic tank to make it accessible for the guy to get to it.

I wrote out a shopping list. This fortnight we are going to have to stick to the list. As we bought one of those little pruning chainsaws to cut up all the downed limbs laying all over our paddock... the second tool off our to buy list. we already got the sander to do one of the chests of drawers we are using to hold all of the school uniforms in.

 

Day 249: Happy Father's Day

 

While my daughter took the girls to their dad's place for Father's Day lunch. I cleaned everything out of the big brown bookcase in our entry hall and wiped it all out. I got rid of all the rubbish and left only two baskets for my daughter to go through. I am determined to keep this neat and tidy as it is the first thing that people see when they come into our house.

I'm thinking if I move the bookcase down a couple of inches... I'll be able to slide mum's wheelchair in between it and the wall right at the front door... making it way easier to grab when we need to put it in the car.

I also cleaned out the too coolers and stored them in the bookcase until I can finish the garage and get them on the shelves out there. but at least in the bookcase they are clean and out of the way.

Day 248: Another Job Done

 

Our chest of drawers is a little wider and has black square knobs, and our drawers are painted green for Monsoon, purple for Hurricane, pink for Graceful, and blue for Graceful--dance OR blue for all the girls swimming stuff. we have this sitting in my end of the house where the girls will be able to gran their clothes easier each morning. we turned something ugly into something really nice and useful.

The girls had swimming lessons this morning and then Graceful had her solo dance lesson in the afternoon. Hurricane and Monsoon stayed with me and helped me wash and tidy the back patio.

Day 247: Breathing Easier

 

Okay, I'm less out of breath today. I'm going to get shit done before my energy gets zapped. Luckily, it's just general tidying. When I am better again, I'm really going to get stuck into finishing this house. I want to tackle the girl's rooms. I know we started them, but that kind of fizzled out when I got sick again.

They need to have all the crap out of their rooms. I can be sentimental at times when it comes to things, but I can also be ruthless and toss away everything just to make the room look less cluttered. Hopefully then the three little demons will be able to keep their rooms clean.

Pupil free day so all the kids are home today. Mostly they try and help, but they mostly just get in the way. All the while yelling at me to watch them do tricks on the trampoline... Gotta love them.

Day 246: Taking It Easy

 

It's going to be a slow day for me. I'm only setting myself one chore to get done besides making the beds, and that is to clean out under the laundry sink. I want to start using it for storage. I'm hoping my mop bucket fits under there.

I feel a little bit better, but I'm still tired as hell. I'm afraid if I don't push myself to get up and do something I'll just want to stay in bed, and that isn't going to be good.

Monsoon is with her favourite Aunty Yace... I folded up the doona and put it away. I also can't get over how sore my nose is, both inside and out. It's stinging like all get go. Probably why I have such a bad freaking headache.

Day 245: I Made it Out of Bed Today

 

I made it out of bed today. with the little bit of energy I had, I decided to get the washing done. who knows when this influenza A is going to knock me on my arse again.

I forced myself to eat because I know that by not eating, I would only stay sick for longer.

To relax today I found the headlice comb I use on the cats and started brushing out their winter coats for summer. get all the loose fur out before they start getting too hot... I find it a nice and relaxing job to do.

I swapped out my bedding because it smelled funky after being so ill and laying in bed for those few days.

Day 244: Really Crook Today

 

Another day where I'm spending most of it in bed. It hurts to even get up and walk to the loo. I attempted to clear off the kitchen bench but gave up and went back to bed. Someone else can handle that job for today.

Monsoon came and lay with me for a while. So, we watched Wednesday and Twirly Woos. they both did my head in, but it kept Monsoon entertained while her mum was at work. I'm not hungry at all but know I need to eat. So, I made potato and onion soup. easy made, easy eaten... not that I had a lot of it.

Day 243: Just Why?

 

Why is it when you have a cough your armpits hurt? Hell, even your butt hurts. I know it from clenching from trying not to cough and tightening everything up...but man am I sore.

I had a phone meeting today, that I couldn't even make it through. Thankfully the poor lady took pity on me and fixed my problem for me. I taste blood, but I'm not coughing up any. though I blew my nose and it was like I had a blood nose... TMI I know. It just weirds me the hell out. The doctor says it's just Influenza A making another go around. Yay me... I guess I'm lucky that way.

In good news, the real estate is coming out to fix our broken downpipe and our septic is going to be serviced over the next week. Means I'll have to try and get a bit more whipper snipping done. Unless I can get someone to do it for me. I really need to buy a brush cutter. My little whipper snipper just doesn't cut through the thicker strands of grass. Brilliant for everything else. But there is a lot of the thick stuff here.

Day 242: Home Corner

 

Moved the cubby and outdoor kitchen to the side of the yard. it gives the kids more room to play and opens up our patio area. Now that it's moved the cats all seem to love it. throughout the day I've caught them all over there sunning themselves on the huge old rug we have everything set up on.

We've decided we have four months left in the year, and my daughter is finally on board with doing things up right. out with the damaged and really old. and in with things to make our lives easier. Don't get me wrong if we can fix things we will. Cheaper to replace a drawer runner than buy a whole new chest of drawers. Cheaper to paint a chest of drawers than buy a new set as well and we'll be doing both of those things.

but there are things that need to be culled... Like the excessive amount of clothes they own, that never get worn. they seem to only wear the same things over and over... so why keep the rest to take up space. Donate them to the op-shop for other people who could get some use out of them.

I took a time out today to google some information on what kind of wheels I'll need to fix my BBQ.

Day 241: Still Resting

 

The kids are at swimming this morning, I decided to take it easy for another day. It's a tad windy here today... so, my ear is hurting like a bitch every time I walk outside. I just decided the best thing would be is if I stayed inside all day. The outside chores can wait for a whole other day.

trying to be productive I attempted to clean my room but got sidetracked by my kindle. When Monsoon got home, she decided to watch TV in my room until she got bored and went to play with Hurricane and Graceful in the trampoline.

Day 240: Rest Day

 

And I really do mean rest. I couldn't be stuffed doing anything. I coughed so much, I was even annoying myself. The only thing I did that was worthwhile was work on and update my lists.

The only chore I semi did, but I piked out halfway through was trying to find all the batteries for the tools so I could charge them up. I'll have to finish that task on a whole other day, because it isn't happening today.

Been reading some David Eddings. I love his Elenium and Tamuli series. I wish there had been more of them.

Day 239: Another Slow Day

 

Mum had to go for her dental appointment today. So, I killed two birds with one stone and made sure I dropped a load of stuff into the donation bins for the op-shop... 5 bags gone.

I came home and put on some pasta sauce. I made enough so we can freeze it in batches for future uses. Easier that way.

The pantry is annoying me, so I rearranged it again, and hopefully for the last time. I hate not being able to find things when I need them. I also hate it when people just shove things in and don't place them in their correct spots, and then they wonder why I get cranky at them.

I also managed to wash mum's bedding before I had to sit down and rest for the afternoon,

Day 238: Yep, Still Feeling Crappy.

 

I managed to get the groceries done but had to rest as soon as I got home. It wore me out. Is it my imagination or are we paying more for groceries and getting way less in our trolleys. It's going to get to the point where we're not going to be able to afford to feed ourselves. Maybe I'm just feeling grumpy because I'm a little under the weather. The worst part is my cough is coming back. my body just got over all the aches and soreness from the last bout of coughing and I can feel this time it's going to be just as bad.

I hope I'm the only one who gets sick if I do... it was hard when most of us in the house was down. at least I only have to worry about myself if it's just me. I'm dreading the whole being tired all the time, and out of breath whenever I have to do anything. Let's hope it doesn't last long.

Day 237: Little Things

 

I'm not feeling the best today... I have the shakes again and my head is fit to burst. I decided to really take it easy. I couldn't even read. I couldn't concentrate enough to do anything. I just can't seem to get comfortable in my own skin.

I mainly just made sure mum was okay and rested/napped. I didn't have enough energy to do anything else. Monsoon decided napping in bed with me and watching Wednesday and the Twirly Woos was a good thing for her to do as well... Oh to be three years old again.

Day 236: Slow Kind of Day

 

Started doing Graceful's bedroom. had to stop. made a quick trip to the cheap shop to buy organisational things like baskets etc to be able to put stuff in. She needs to have her life separated into four parts:

1) School

2) Dance

3) Jui Jitsu

4) Home

So, she needs to be able to access her uniforms for each with ease, and her normal clothes can't be mixed in. for a seven-year-old she is very pedantic. She likes things done a certain way. Poor kid gets it from me. It's only going to get worse with age...

Day 235: Massive Headache Today...But I...

 

We caught up on the washing today. That's the first thing that slides when you are sick all the time... and when there are three adults and three kids in the house. the washing builds up fast. Some of it was just washing stuff to be donated to the op-shop.

The guy across the road came and picked up the two not working washing machines... his dad scraps them. It saved us having to move them.

My daughter locked herself in her room and did her assignment to become a teacher's aide. I had all three girls. They were more a hinderance then a help. It seemed like every five minutes they were coming to me asking for something to eat because they were starving. Even the three cats seemed to follow me around all day and be underfoot whenever I tried to get anything done. If I sat down, I either had Monsoon or one of the cats on my lap.

I just had to suck it all up and try and get shit done.

Day 234: The Sun is Out

 

The sun is once more shining; the kids have all gone to swimming lessons. So, I'm getting more of the washing done. well as much as I can. ended up having visitors (the girl's dad and his partner). So, I had to gasbag to them for a bit until my daughter got home from the shops and I could get stuck back into doing the chores I had on my list for the day.

One week we're complaining that we don't have enough stuff towels, blankets and linens etc... I swear to God since I've been decluttering the house I have been finding them everywhere. The linen cupboard is full, and we are searching for new places to store them all. Might have to think about buying a big storage box or something similar.

We can't get rid of them as they come in real handy when any of the kids are sick and we have to swap out bedding in a hurry. last time that happened we were struggling to find anything. Who knew they were just hiding away in the kid's closets.

Day 233: Raining Today...

 

Seeing as it's wet, and I can only wash enough clothes that will fit on the airers in our patio area. I'm going to take the day off. I'm going to spend the day reading and just doing a general tidy up.

That's a big fat fib... we all know I had to go and do a bit more in the garage because it was driving me bonkers. I'll just keep rearranging it until I get it exactly how I want it to look. 

Day 232: Back in the Garage

 

While my daughter is at work... Monsoon and I decided to tackle the garage as best we could. we went through everything and bagged up the rubbish. Honestly, there wasn't as much as I thought. We added more to the pile for my niece to take, and we rearranged some of the bigger items giving us better access. I should add Monsoon piked out halfway through and went to watch Despicable Me 3. So, I had to try and finish it all on my own.

I found a notebook, and I started writing down ideas as I thought of them... or should I say reminders of things I could do to improve on what I've already done.

Once it's just our stuff in the garage, I'll have a better understanding on how to set everything out. Just so it looks neater. I know it probably doesn't bother anyone else... but it does me. I like a tidy house.

Day 231: New Hot Water System

 

Tonight, we are going to have hot water. I'm going to be able to wash up in hot water... though I did notice while the man was installing our system (this one isn't ours) That one of our downpipes is busted, there is water lying all over the ground. I will have to let the real estate know about that. Luckily for me I recently whipper snipped down that side of the house or I wouldn't have even known about it.

i cleaned out more of the garage... My daughter started helping me but she fizzled out on me... so I gave up until she isn't here and I can get in there on my own. I also stacked all the stuff for my niece just inside the roller door.

Experimented with a curry mince and pasta pie for lunch... I wouldn't recommend it. not nice at all

Day 230: It's On...

While my daughter took my Mum to the pediatrist. I stayed at home with Monsoon and waited for my washing machine to be delivered. as soon as it was hooked up and the delivery men had left. I started washing.

I also started rearranging the garage. I need to move all the crap from in front of our surplus pantry storage shelves. Really, it's just a small table and two chairs. But they are in the way and it's hard to try and get to things when we need them.

There was a chill factor to the air today. I hope it doesn't kick me in the guts and send me into another bout of illness.

 

Day 229: Betta Electrical

 

New washing machine is bought. they will deliver it and install it for me tomorrow. At least we didn't have to wait for any extended period of time. I need to get straight back into the washing. I'll probably have at least 10 loads by then.

While I still have no machine I finished off going through all the DVDs. I also made Hurricane's day because I found the Christmas music that I thought I'd accidentally thrown away.

My headache is coming back. and I have the shakes really bad... I wonder if this is what a recovering alcoholic feels like.  

Day 228: Other Jobs

 

With no washing being able to get done... I'm way too freaking old to be washing by hand. we decided to do other jobs... divide and conquer. My daughter decided to make a start on the old chest of drawers that I want painted up for the kids to put all their uniforms in so that they are easy to find each morning... there are eight drawers in the thing so they each get two each and the spare two will either be for swimming or for grace's dance stuff.

While she was doing that, I decided to tackle the huge job of going through all the DVD's and culling out all the ones we don't watch. I'm sending them over to my sister's house so that my niece can go through them and take them back out to her house and what she doesn't want can be donated to the op shop.

Day 227: You Are Not Going To Believe This...

 

I called it there was something wrong with my washing machine... there was a horrid smell of burning wires and it wouldn't drain. And seeing as washers are now classed as throw away items I have to wait until the shops open on Monday so I can go and buy a new washer. we can't do without a washing machine. I can't even go and use my sisters as she has bore water and it has a weird smell to it. 

I guess my brush cutter is on hold because I need a freaking new washing machine. It could only happen to us. what else can go wrong?

Day 226: More Washing

 

Just as I finally reach the end of the washing in the laundry. Monsoon in her oh so delicate way, up ended my full cup of coffee and her cup of drink into a basket of knee rungs and sheets that I had just finished folding up. Now they will all have to be washed again. She just looked at me with big sad eyes and went, "Sorry, Mar-Mar." now how could I get mad at that. I think I was more ticked off that I had only had one sip out of my coffee.

Day 225: New Oven

Our new oven turned up today. they couldn't get a replacement seal for the oven we had. So, they just replaced the whole thing. the new one looks something like this one. I'm just happy that it's functional and we're not wasting all that hot air each time we cook. I promised the girls we'd bake cookies during the school holidays now that we have a functional oven.

though the first thing we're cooking in it is a whole lot of chicken legs for their lunches. These kids love chicken legs. I've told my daughter. Seeing as the oven is new. if we wipe it out each time it gets used it will stay looking brand new.

 

Day 224: Not Feeling The Best

 

I woke up feeling under the weather again. My right ear is killing me. My nostrils are hurting. My feet are burning. One-minute I'm freezing cold and the next I feel like I'm burning up. my head feels like it wants to explode... And people are so freaking annoying today, and by people, I mean the family that I live with. because they're here and annoying the shit out of me.

I did a couple of loads of washing and even that annoyed the crap out of me for some reason. It's like the machine isn't working properly... taking longer than it should.

I went and did the groceries, and it was way to peopley for me today. I have to know... Why do people always insist on standing right in the centre of the aisle and have a good old chinwag... can't they see there are people there who are just trying to do their shopping and get the hell home?

Day 223: Missing Socks

I'm back to catching up on the washing. I'm really starting to believe the stuff magically breeds and multiplies at night while I'm sleeping. just when I think I'm done... BOOM! I walk into the laundry the next morning and it's filled up again. That, or we have someone I can't see living in the house with us. We don't have an attic or a basement, and I couldn't see then living in the ceiling crawl space... Beside they wouldn't fit into the kids or my daughter's clothes.

I'm on a mission though. with all the washing. I'm determined to find as many of the missing socks as I possibly can. I don't know how they can lose them all the freaking time. I'm hoping at least 2/3's of the one offs will be paired up by the time I hit the end of all the washing.

 

Day 222: EKKA Show Holiday

 

Meaning the kids all have the day off from school. Not that our kids are going to the show. everyone gets sick at the EKKA, and we have enough sickness in this house to last us a lifetime without bringing anything new in. But I bet we all come down with something anyway, I'm still coughing from the last lot.

I'm going to wrangle the kids into cleaning up the yard for me so it can be mowed. I hate running over things with the mower, Mind you, it will be my daughter out there mowing. I'm the one who usually mans the whipper snipper.

If I make a game out of it, they usually don't mind helping me get the job done, Maybe I'll just bribe them with an ice block if they help me.

Day 221: Productivity

 

Today while I had a bit of energy. I pulled out my ladder and scrubbed the tops of the kitchen cupboards. I pulled everything down as it looked way to cluttered and everything was covered in a layer of grease from cooking. It took me all morning. My daughter admitted she never looked up there before shoving all her crap up there. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned in at least 10 years, the grease was that thick. It took most of the day and a lot of elbow grease (pardon the pun), but I finally got it done.

Then just because I was feeling a little crazy, I helped my daughter saw off the crooked tops to some bookcases so that she could use them in her loungeroom. Neither of us knew what we were doing, but we got the job done. 

I even managed to fit in two loads of washing and one battery span (about 20 minutes) of whipper snipping in the top end of the paddock.

Day 220: I Need A Rest

Swimming lessons today. Graceful is sleeping over at dad's house. The other two are having a movie night with their mum. I think I'll watch Wednesday in peace and quiet while I have no kids to annoy me.

I did some more washing. I think I can finally see the light at the end of that tunnel. how long that's going to last will only tell. Soon I'm going to start tackling the kid's rooms, and God only knows what I'll find in there. I'm hoping not a lot... hence the reason I keep putting it off until I feel more alive and able to tackle it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; I've given us as a whole to get the completed by December 31st. I want to have all the rooms cleaned out by then. I think in all honesty we have gotten rid of at least 3 skip bins full. That's not including what the neighbour across the road took away for us... we still have to cook him that BBQ.

sitting here chatting is not getting my jobs done.

Day 219: Busy Day

 

Mum is back at the doctors for a check up on her leg. It seems to be healing fine. My daughter took her before she had to go to work. I had Monsoon until her dad came and picked her up.

I cleaned out the pantry, but it's still not working for me. I'm going to have to talk with my daughter and see if we can come up with a better solution. It's just that we have a small pantry. Well, there is two, but the second one has to be used as a linen cupboard... there is just not enough cupboard space in this house. we have turned our garage into a secondary butler's pantry (minus and sinks). We do have shelving... fridges... freezers... surplus storage boxes... the dryer... our tools... our outdoor gear... and it's where we keep the kitty litter box and the cat feeding station. the car didn't fit. So, we decided to use it for other things.

The good news is I found my asthma pump. I can finally stop looking for it. Now if we can only find where the hell, we put my daughter's smart watch and my black denim jacket I'd be happier than a pig in mud.

Day 218: Suck it Up Princess

 

Today I have to pull up mu big girl panties and get stuck back into the washing. Whenever I think I have finally caught up with it all. My daughter goes yeah about that. I just found all this that needs doing, and it's like another four loads.

My daughter is in her 30's and has ADHD... which makes it difficult to get her to stay on task when it comes to getting jobs done. Honestly, it's frustrating as hell. I feel like everything is basically left up to me to finish. I know she's trying, and I have to admit she is getting a hell of a lot better. Now I give her deadlines of when we have to get each task done by.

She was always complaining that her and the kids had no clothes. Now that I've found and washed nearly everything (including bedding and towels) she's realized just how much clothing they have between them all. Because I stopped folding it and just dumped it all on her lounge chair and bed. Though I am going to have to help her fold it or it will still be sitting there when 2027 rolls around.

Day 217: Still Tired

 

I've noticed as I get older, it takes a lot longer for me to get over being sick. Today I can hardly keep my eyes open... I just liked this picture; so, I thought I would share it with you all.

I think I have finally managed to teach everyone the correct use of our bins. what goes in each bin. recycle/rubbish. I wish we had one for green wastage. I'd be able to cut up all the downed tree limbs and get rid of them without making a special trip to the dump.

I think I need to get off of here and have a nana nap.

Day 216: Little to No Energy

 

 

Today I'm just going to fold the dry laundry and read. I don't have the energy to do much else. My lower back is really burning, and it feels like I have sciatica coming on, and It's only freaking Tuesday... I swear to God some of these clothes I'm just rewashing and folding... they never even got worn. I need to put a stop to that shit. that's just making too much work for me. That or the kids have duplicates of some outfits (which is possible).

I'm reading RJ Kane: Rise of the Queen in case you're interested, I really liked this series. there is some repetitiveness, but you're getting to see the same situations from different points of view, and I really like that. I can't wait for book 4 to come out.

Day 215: Is It Just me?

Is it just me or has the world gone crazy? I finally dared to venture out... One I needed medication, and two, I just wanted to see something other than our house and yard. So, I went down to Woolies, and it was absolutely packed with people. I was doing laps of the carpark just trying to find somewhere to park. It kind of reminded me when everyone went nuts during covid and started buying up like crazy. Honestly, I just got what I had to and went home. I obviously wasn't ready to be a people person... Definitely not enough coffee in the system to deal with that crap. So, I came home and cleaned something... I'm starting to thing I'm a little bit of a neat freak.

 

Day 214: Yard Work

 

Today I'm going to try and get out and do a bit in the yard... even if it's even to get the kids to help me clean up all their toys. I noticed when I hung out a load of washing yesterday, they had left everything lying around. If I'm up to it, I'll try and whipper snip around the edges of the yard. I like to be able to see the snakes coming out of the paddock.

I also have to get some more washing done. The bedding needs to be washed again. I'll be glad when we can get the doonas off the beds. I'll have to think about where we're going to store them.

So freaking tired all the time now.