Productive Days

 I certainly feel a bit more productive lately. The heat plods on but I'm trying not to let it stop me from getting things done. I overheat at some points (think heat and menopause lol) but I just sit for a while in front of the fan until things regulate again lol. The main rooms are coming along nicely. It's about time to tackle some of the knick-knacks that are displayed. I think I'm ready to let some go. I'm telling myself that it's better to pass them on to someone else who will enjoy them instead of them cluttering up my house and annoying me (which they are starting to do). I won't be getting rid of everything, but I will be thinning out. The memories aren't in objects. At least that's what I'm trying to remind myself. 

I don't think I mentioned this before, but the ceilings in my kitchen really needing cleaning. I don't cook with a lot of grease, but they still seem to get grease on them! I usually get up and down on the ladder, pull my back as I bend backwards to scrub and just end up making a horrible mess. I decided to see if there was a better way. I ended up ordering a thing on Amazon, sort of a mop for ceilings and walls. Very light and easy to use. It arrived on Sunday, and I gave it a go on Monday. I absolutely love it! I should have got one ages ago! It was less than $20 (I hesitated spending that much on something for the ceiling) but well worth every penny. It will make cleaning the kitchen ceiling and walls really easy and something that I won't hesitate to do on a more regular basis. 

I've got a list for tomorrow, one of the items is sorting out the large bookshelf by my chair. There is room on it, but the books are sitting rather haphazardly and need a bit of reorgnasing. Hopefully it will make things look a bit tidier! I want to get as much done as possible as Thursday is supposed to be (FINALLY!) a cool day so I want to use it to get up in the craft room, do a bit of sorting and (maybe) a bit of crafting!

Bit of colour this morning over Asylum Lake. 

Weekend

It wasn't a bad weekend. Quite productive. I did some walking, some relaxing and some sorting/cleaning. I did actually get up in the craft room (despite the heat) and although the worktable isn't all cleared off there is some space to work on. Hopefully I'll be able to get up there again this week. 

On Friday husband took the donation boxes to the charity shop. I have started to fill up another bag, but I don't want it sitting around too long so the plan is to fill it up and then drop it off. There is only a little bit more to sort in the living/dining room and then I will be (sort of) happy with the way things are. 

On Saturday, I went for my normal walk. It was quiet and peaceful. Today husband and I took a little visit to the beach and a walk along the lakeshore. It started to get a bit hot, so we didn't last too long lol. On our way back home I found a Sunday Farmer's Market and I really fancy some fresh tomatoes, so we stopped there and picked up a couple, some fresh eggs, a cucumber and some radishes. Not the cheapest, but both the eggs and the tomatoes were so good! The tomatoes actually had some flavour which I find the ones I find in the shops not to have. I really need to grow some next year!

This week - I have a list made for tomorrow. I do need to make a menu plan. It's on the list to do. I want to make sure to use some items from the freezer in the meal plan. I don't think there will be a lot of food I'll need to buy this week, but I'll make a list and go on Tuesday. 

A couple of phone photos from today

It was actually quite peaceful early in the morning, only a few people around. 

Are There Photos of New Buys?

The answer is no. Lol

I did manage a tiny walk this morning. I almost didn't. I got up and the weather did not look good. I almost stayed home. Then I looked out of the window and saw a tiny bit of blue. In a way I would have felt a little guilty if I didn't at least try so out I went. It spat for a bit, drizzled and light rain. I did a little bit of a walk and then headed back to the car. It was nice and quiet. Yes, I got a little wet but not drenched. 

The skies were rather pretty. 

I did find some pillows. I didn't find curtains. Sigh. Not pleased. I feel this is going to be something I'll have trouble finding. There was quite a bit of cleaning done today. So that was a plus. I also had a lovely video chat with Baby A this evening. 

Cleaning, Walking and Mumblings

It's almost the end of another week. I'm not quite sure where this one has gone either! I am pleased with all the house stuff I've been getting done. I haven't got a lot of sorting done, but I have been doing some extra cleaning and scrubbing. I really do need to make a cleaning master list so I can keep up with things. There are little details I seem to have missed. It's quite frustrating. I'm going to give myself tomorrow to do a bit more of the cleaning bits and then get back on the sorting. There are a couple of areas of the main floor that I need to take care of! Usually on the weekends I try not to give myself any house-y stuff but this weekend I'm going to make sure I get some done. 

I'm still plodding along with the walking. My ankle is still hurting me but I'm still going out each day. I've been trying to keep the brace on at home and that helps especially if I'm going up and down the stairs. The flies out yesterday were particularly bad. My friend and I walked along flapping our hands trying to keep them off us lol. I only got bit by something once and I don't think it was the bad ones as it didn't swell up. 

In the morning, I'll walk again if the weather cooperates. Right now, the forecast is for rains and storms first thing in the morning, but it might change before I get out of bed! I don't count on the forecast anymore. I'll wake up, take a look and then see whether I'll walk or not. Perhaps the rain will stay away for a while. I do have to go the post office to post a few things tomorrow and then to the shops. I have made a list of a few things I'd like for the house. I'll see what the prices are and decide what I'm going to end up getting. The curtains in the kitchen are looking a bit dingy. I did try washing them, but they don't look good so I think I might try replacing them if I can find anything I like. I should have looked at the charity shop while I was there as sometimes, they have some nice ones at good prices. I'm actually not even sure what kind I want in there. Currently we have a small window that has a curtain topper thingy (that's not the technical name lol) and then a long-ish window with some half-curtain thingys on it. That probably doesn't make a lot of sense. I like having light in the kitchen and it faces the back garden so no-one can peek inside. It's just a pain trying to find any that a) I like b) that fit C) that don't cost a fortune! 

Perhaps I'll take a photo of anything that I do find tomorrow. I don't want to spend a lot of money but would like to spruce things up a bit. 

Enough babbling. It's finally beginning to get dark, and I might toddle off to bed. Before writing this, I was almost dozing off sitting here watching Vera episodes (I've already watched them A LOT)

Photos today - some fungi in the woods. that first one is a tree trunk of (I think) Chicken of the Woods. Apparently, you can eat it. Sometimes you can see where people have come along and cut bits off. I'm not sure what it tastes like. I don't think I trust myself to know what's poisonous and what isn't!

Monday, Tuesday

The days seem to be flying by. I seem to run out of time no matter what I have planned. I have done my usual morning walk Monday and Tuesday. Monday was quite dark and drizzly though not cold at all. I was tempted to give up and go home. I didn't. My clothes got a bit damp, and my hair got really frizzy, but at least I walked for a little bit. This morning was better; it was milder this morning and quite pleasant until things warmed up at bit. I always feel better for a bit of a walk, but my bad ankle is playing up at the moment. It's been quite painful to walk on. I'm not sure if it's the heat or humidity aggravating it or I've done something to it. I am putting off going to see a doctor. Hopefully it will improve when things cool down a bit. 

On the home front there's not a lot happening. I'm still plodding along, moving bits around but not seeming to sort out a lot. I am writing lists and checking things off. I think I need to modify the lists though - perhaps a daily one and then things I'd like to get done in the week and also in the month and then add a daily or monthly to the lists as I write them. I'm thinking that might work for me and I'll end up getting more things done. I still end up procrastinating far too much! 

I think, back when the children were little, I used to have a list of things around the house that needed to be done daily, weekly, monthly, and every six months or so. Perhaps I need to create something like that again. Do you have a cleaning list like that? I like a routine. I have my dailies and my weeklies, but beyond that nothing planned which perhaps is the problem. I think if things get done on a regular basis it's a lot easier to clean/take care of things. 

That's enough thinking for now lol. On my walks, apart from the mugginess and heat, I have been enjoying the beauty of summer. We've had a bit of rain, so everything is so lush and green right now.

Weekend

It's been rather a relaxing weekend. Yesterday husband and I went to the flea market (a cross between a boot sale and market). It's been years since we've been. I thought it would be something different to do and have a little look around. We lasted about half of it before we both agreed it was too hot, and we left.  We'd like to go back perhaps when it's a little cooler. We wouldn't want to go there all the time, but we agreed it was rather fun to have a look around!

This morning we got up really early (I was up at 4.30am, husband even earlier) as we had decided to drive across the state to go to the National Wildlife Refuge drive and see what we could see. It was a fun day. We walked just a bit (still hot and humid) on the trails but had a good time seeing what we could see. The wildlife refuge is basically just an unspoiled green space that wildlife and birdlife tend to gather close to as there are a lot of waterways. We say loads and loads of egrets and herons, a couple of eagles and lots of other birds. We both had an enjoyable time. 

Later, when we were home, middle son and his girlfriend came over and ate with us. A nice ending to the long weekend. 

Some phone photos from today. 

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend and a good start to the week! What are your plans this week?

Decluttering Totals for June

 Better late than never, right? 

Time has got away from me again, but I think I'm back on track. I do have some blog catching up to do!

I wanted to get this one written as it's a bit of personal accountability. Overall, it wasn't a bad decluttering month. We were away for a week in June so definitely not as much decluttering done as I'd hoped. 

Craft Items - 30 

Magazines - 21

Books - 62

Misc. - 20

There were also a bunch of travel pamphlets that I let go of, the ones you collect (well, I do) when I visit places. 

Goals for July - to continue with the decluttering. To keep the main areas clear of clutter. I also want to work on the bedroom as it's suddenly become a place to dump stuff. Not really conducive with relaxing sleep! 

How is your decluttering coming? 

And because I can't write a post without including a photo - a picture from the walk this morning, another hot and sticky day

Weekend

I actually managed to get out for a walk both mornings. This morning though I was up later than usual (still early lol) as I had turned off the alarm. It was fairly nice out though, so I thought I'd get out and take a quick walk. It wasn't a long one. It started to warm up quite a bit and there were lots of bitey flies around. I got tired of walking along swinging my arms and hands about my head and body trying to keep them off me. I didn't succeed in stopping them from biting me. I had, however, found some After Bite cream the other day while sorting through the bathroom drawers, so I applied some of that when I got home and it seemed to work. The bites had been swelling up, but it stopped. Thankfully. I shall know to avoid that place for a while as there was just too many of them around!

Apart from the walks I haven't been anywhere else this weekend. I have got quite a bit done at home. The pile of magazines has been read through and parted with. There was, I think, one I kept to re-read something. It was a photography magazine. A pile of books also got sorted. I was debating on whether to try to sell or donate. I got tired of the pile sitting there and decided just to donate them. There is one pile left to deal with tomorrow. It's the last day of June so I have only the day to get it done! I'm not sure on how long the room will be pile free, but tomorrow it will be! 

There is a lot more to sort through, but I think, in future, I'm going to try not to have it all piled up. I have to make a plan for next month to at least get rid of some things and not pull a bunch of stuff out to have it sit in the living room!

This week I want to try to use up some food in the freezer and cupboards without turning on the oven too much. The heat is still persisting. I need to add up decluttering totals for last month and set goals for July.  I really think that keeping a tally of items I'm getting rid of is keeping me motivated. The pad I'm keeping track of the totals in is on the table right by my chair and when I sit down, I see the numbers, and it keeps me going! What tricks do you have to keep you motivated? 

A few of the things that made me smile today

I'm ready to tackle another week!

End of Week

I was going to post yesterday but the headache was lingering on and I just couldn't concentrate on a lot of anything. It was back again today. Sigh. 

I managed to get out for a walk today, went to the shops to pick up a few bits and then home. I had lots of washing to do as I've been putting it off. Other than that, I didn't get a lot of anything done. The headache was still pounding. We had another round of pop-up storms but not a lot of relief from the humidity and heat. I don't have a lot planned for the weekend, so I'm going to try to catch-up on things I should have got done in the week. 

The piles in the living room haven't gone down. Actually, I've added to it. Sigh. I thought I was done with the magazines, but while I was sorting through another storage area, I found a bunch more! I've started looking through them and will then pop in the recycle or donate. 

I'm still determined to get rid of the living room piles. Three days to go. 

This afternoon I messaged with sister. She has been having fun finding all the Hares on the Ipswich Art Trail this year. There are some really lovely ones. She sends me photos of the ones she's seen that she thinks I'll like. I'm hoping to see a few when I go visit next month. 

There is one called The Memory Hare. She had Mum's name put on it. Made me a little sad, a little happy. 

I hope everyone has a nice weekend. 

Midweek

Ugh. It's still hot. Cooler than it was but hot and humid all the same. Storms and rain came through and I've had a headache for two days now. The weather is zapping my energy and making me just a little bit grumpy. Husband would probably say it's making me more than a little grumpy lol. 

I went for a walk yesterday (a little one) and tried to go today, but as soon as I got down to Asylum Lake and halfway around the lake the rain came down. I got really wet. Sigh. I did, however, get an early start on some errands and managed to get the housey things done on my list. 

The decluttering seems to be coming along slowly this month. I'm trying to keep the end goal in month, but I'm still finding it quite difficult to let go of things. The main area of the house is looking a lot tidier, but I don't think I'll be treating myself to that craft room air conditioner this year. Sigh. Perhaps next year. I think my goal for the end of this month will be concentrating on getting some more books donated and getting the remaining piles (2) sorted in the living room. I have five days left.

Some good progress - the porch is a useable space (if it was cool enough to sit out there!) and my husband has taken the protective plastic from the screens. I am really pleased with this. It was a goal to have this area done so I am definitely marking this as progress! I'm hoping once things cool down a little, I'll be able to sit out there and enjoy it a bit. 

Photo for the day

I found it quite amusing when this heron landed on the railing right by these people who were busy looking out at the herons across the lake. It made me smile!