Life here at home right now is busy busy busy. With less then three weeks left until the end of the school year we have entered the annual Blue-Arsed-Fly phase of frenzied, school related activity. A hot, sweaty Sports day and exciting school trips, a very important Leaver's Assembly coming up (with many associated dramas, of which I am struggling to keep up with) and various end-of year transition days, teacher meetings, report days, open-days, celebrations and farewells. It's an emotional time (Little Lady moves on to secondary school in September) and to be frank we are all completely knackered. Roll on the Summer holidays.
I'm struggling with feeling exhausted and full of a chesty type of cold just at a time when I really could do with feeling aMAzing and full of beans. I am struggling not to moan about the fact that I feel like pants, when I am so very, very acutely aware that I only have a trifling cold, and that it could be oh so very much worse.
The weather has all of a sudden perked up and we are experiencing heat and summer sunshine and it is wonderful. My cut-price geraniums are waiting patiently to be potted into bigger pots, but I need a big bag of compost and that means getting J to purchase and transport so it hasn't happened yet. Maybe Saturday? Just maybe.
Thrilling Frilly news on the home front - we have some flouncy, frothy peony action at last!! Oh happy day!!! These flowers have been excruciatingly slow to unfurl but oh my goodness, soooo worth waiting for....
.....absolutely stunningly beautiful, they make me gasp with pleasure multiple times each day.
During the last few weeks I have been taking care of my housekeeping tasks in a surprisingly efficient and dedicated manner, which has made me feel bloody marvellous and accomplished when usually I feel like a complete failure. I totally blitzed the bathroom from top to bottom (be gone cobwebs!), then on a roll of productivity I moved straight along to Little B's room and gave it the same ruthless going over. But more than that, I have been doing a little bit each day to keep it all ticking over (I want to say "ship shape and Bristol fashion" here, but that makes me sound like my Mum). Anyhow, these little daily routines are making me happy I have to say, a little bit of swishing and swiping and I am happy. Who would have thought it?
Last week I managed a little bit of daily de-cluttering and tidying in my bedroom (Zone 4), and made it around about one third of the room. The top of the chest of drawers was hilarious of course, I am too ashamed to show you the "before" picture, but here is a rather gratifying "after" picture, with the 200+ stray objects evicted. It's the Living room this week, are you impressed by my dedication? I'll keep you posted.
I have been planning and writing lists and trying my hardest to keep on top of home, work and family life. All those dates and to-do's and reminders, crikey, no wonder I am under the weather. I've got a story to tell you about my newly discovered love of Planning Activity, I'll share that with you a little later in the week.....I'm ridiculously excited to do this actually (!)
And in amongst all the hectic activity and lengthy to-do lists and busy schedules I have been reminding myself to slow down every so often. To breathe in the gloriousness of summer and remember to walk around with eyes wide open and appreciate the here and now. Life is good. I need to slow down and remember that.
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With the heat this week, NO cleaning what so ever has been done in my house.........and I giggled at your chest of drawers de-cluttering! Oh my word, mine is so bad, I knocked something this morning on my dressing table and it was like a HUGE domino's show! Eeeek, I need to sort that out. Oh yes, the last few weeks of school are manic aren't they? It's like a game to see just how much they can pack in. A couple of years ago I had the three bears in three different schools, and it was a total nightmare trying to keep up with letters and functions. Thankfully two are together again so it's a little easier.
Sorry you are feeling a bit pants health wise. Heat is draining too. I need to take on your cleaning tips and feel a bit more like a domestic goddess instead of a complete domestic failure!
As always, such a beautiful post Lucy. Enjoy the weather.....and your peonies! xxxx
Posted by: vanessa | July 01, 2015 at 09:27 AM
I hope you are feeling better Lucy but, I have to say, the Pommie expression "I feel like pants" intrigues me. I know it means "unwell" but how do pants feel unwell?
Posted by: Rose | July 01, 2015 at 09:03 AM
Hope you are well soon. Nothing worse that feeling awful in the weather we are having. Loved your article in Simply Crochet which I only bought because you were in it!!
Posted by: Carol | July 01, 2015 at 08:08 AM
Good luck! We have just a couple of days left of the end-of-year activities of school, and of course the sports and music clubs of the kids have their own activities as well. My son also said farewell to his primary school, with all the attached meetings and goodbyes. I know what you mean by feeling exhausted, probably like me both physically and mentally.
I hope you will be able to enjoy the activities nontheless!
Keep kalm and crochet on (on those short moments that you get the chance....)!
Posted by: Christa Rusbach | July 01, 2015 at 07:47 AM
Hope you feel better soon young lady!
I too picked up on your notebook cover and thought, "what a clever idea!"
That decluttering is my job every Monday morning ...and there are only people in this house, me being one of them!...but there's always loads to put away!
In the same boat ...the narrow boat ....I wish!
Inspirational as always!
Posted by: Corinne | July 01, 2015 at 06:43 AM
Look at you Domestic Goddess!!!!! That chest of drawers top deserves a HUGE piece of cake in my opinion!! xxx
Posted by: Laura | July 01, 2015 at 06:30 AM
Hoping you get better soon. I too am trying to de clutter. Not easy, when you share your home with daughter, SIL and new Grandson A. My first Grandchild, love him to bits. Once again thanks for sharing your week.
Posted by: Jackie | July 01, 2015 at 01:13 AM
Oh the soft beautiful color of your peony is stunning. Just looking at them would take my breath as well. You definately are a busy bee... working hard and making everything sparkle and shine. I am proud of you girlie! I love your bathroom. Everything in that room screams your name not to mention the living room as well. Slow down a bit and relax. Take care of yourself so your immune system will get stronger. I hope you feel better soon. I posted on your facebook page this morning. I am not sure if you have seen it or not. I am sure as close as the creative crocheting community is that you probably have heard that sad news that Wink (Marinke Slump)lost her fight with depression. She took her life last Friday. It is so hard to believe. Her younger sister wrote a post on Wink's blog with information etc. http://www.acreativebeing.com/2015/06/29/goodbye-not-farewell/
Lots of love and hugs sent your way Lucy. xoxoxo
Robin over in the state of Virginia
Posted by: Robin Summers | June 30, 2015 at 11:41 PM
Looking forward to hearing what you think of your Erin Cornden planner:)
Posted by: Ingrid | June 30, 2015 at 11:37 PM
I had a similar cleaning routine but sadly it slipped a bit. Now very hot in the south of France and hoping that when we get home(airtraffic control strike not withstanding) my lovely peonies will still be in bloom. Hope the cold has gone and you can enjoy the good weather
Posted by: Bernie Birkett | June 30, 2015 at 11:35 PM
Really?! 3 weeks till end of school year? up here the kids have been on holiday for 3 weeks already and they will be until the last week of august. and that was changed only recently, they used to have vacation from the middle of may until the middle of september. seems to me english children don´t have a lot of free time on their hands. as always your blog is a constant source of interesting info about life in your neck of the woods, and of colour and joy.
best wishes from Iceland
Frida
Posted by: Fríða | June 30, 2015 at 11:34 PM
Hope you´re feeling better now. Your housekeeping tasks and the final result are such an inspiration, and I thank you for that. Love the boat photograph, I love those boats, so colourfull.
Posted by: Delfina | June 30, 2015 at 11:13 PM
Your bathroom looks fantastic, Lucy!! You are doing a wonderful job with the tidying up bit! Bravissimo!! Hugs!!
Posted by: Sheryl from MS, USA | June 30, 2015 at 10:40 PM
Hi
Lucy, hope you feel better soon. Your blog is a ray of sunshine to me. The photo of the peony is so beautiful. Looking forward to your next blog.
Posted by: Margaret Simpson | June 30, 2015 at 10:27 PM
Hi Lucy!
I love your blog as always. I know that 'blue-arsed fly' feeling well...I work as a TA in Year 6 and am responsible for the organising of all those end of Primary School related events including making 32 costumes for the Year 6 production, making all the scenery and props, producing a 44 page Leavers' Book, making a film for the Leavers' Service (that make the hardest of mums sob!) and going on our three day residential trip to Bewl Water. PHEW! And just to make it all a little harder this year, I am still recovering from a two week stay in intensive care, in March, after I had an infection in my hip and then almost died from septic shock. Thank god for crochet!! Also, thank you because you keep me going and keep me smiling. Your blog inspires me and I think you are wonderful for taking the time to share it with us all.
Marcelle xxx
Posted by: Marcelle kemp | June 30, 2015 at 10:26 PM
Do I spy a DIY-ed "grannysquarified" notebook cover? It looks like a printout of your cushion cover, is that right? I LOVE the idea! Enjoy the upcoming summer holiday!
Posted by: Marie | June 30, 2015 at 10:21 PM
I know just how you feel with the busy-ness of the last few weeks. That was me in May because we finish our school year then. I'm glad the cleaning ritual is working for you; it really feels great when you have a good routine and everything is tidy. Take care and hold on for the last few weeks.
Posted by: Thistle | June 30, 2015 at 10:12 PM
Are you a fly baby by any chance? I've been lurking on the fringes of her world for a couple of weeks now.
Love the peonys.
Posted by: Katie Garner | June 30, 2015 at 10:10 PM
love the spiral notebook--is that amazon??
before you know it the littles ones will be back in school
enjoy them oxoxoxoxox crafty mema
and feel better
Posted by: crafty mema | June 30, 2015 at 09:33 PM
Hang in there Lucy, that end of year, end of school time can be an emotional roller-coaster.I often reflect how sensible it is in the northern hemisphere that it all happens in the middle of the year...down here in New Zealand we need to add the countdown to Christmas and the end of the year to that list as well. Very easy to get overwhelmed by it all - glad you are remembering to stop & breathe. Take care
Posted by: Therese | June 30, 2015 at 09:31 PM
Nothing is more important than enjoying your children while they are young. So be pleased over what you have cleared up and don't press yourself about the rest!
Posted by: Veronica | June 30, 2015 at 09:31 PM
The Blue-Arsed-Fly phase. Love it! Got a bit of that going on here too, although sadly with not quite so much decluttering and cleaning to match. Ah well - six weeks of holidays coming up with nothing to do except clean and declutter - as if! ;-) xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | June 30, 2015 at 09:29 PM
I had to scrub my bath this morning before I could bring myself to get in, what do men do ,it had several tide marks round it from different water levels!!!! YUK
Loved the photos my daughter is in America for a year so has prompted me to take loads more photos to email her, I realised how few I had been taking, although the flower ones are a Lucy inspired thing ,Thank you
Posted by: heidijo | June 30, 2015 at 09:18 PM
You are absolutely right! The here and now are so important. Right now we are in the same boat as you and every other family with children/school/bonkers stuff on. It is all too much in this heat! I don't know how we cope with it all! The little people just let it all wash over them and perhaps we should too. Your house looks wonderful. It is such a nice feeling to have order in your home... something I am still planning on working on soon! Lovely blog, thank you for sharing xx Sarah
Posted by: Hula Loop | June 30, 2015 at 08:39 PM
Dear Lucy. I love your blog. It is such an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your lovely work and your art. I really want to upcycle & craft the wonderful notebook. Love from México.
Posted by: Lucrecia | June 30, 2015 at 08:37 PM