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.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I need to get rid of clutter too, sigh. In an effort to keep on top of the cleaning and breathing in less chemicals I have invested in some e-cloths. These cloths are brilliant and I wish I had found them years ago.
I hope you fell better soon. I remember the end of summer terms as one long blur of activity. It will soon be the holidays when you can relax and breathe :-)
Posted by: Sue M | June 30, 2015 at 08:36 PM
De cluttering is v cleansing & makes way for new things to enter your life - shout if you need help we can barter something x
Posted by: Sheila mcfee | June 30, 2015 at 08:29 PM
I wonder if you read all these comments? You certainly could not reply to them all. I think what I enjoy about your blog is that it takes me back to family life with three young people in our family. Hectic indeed!
Nowadays I'm busy with my B&B, lots of keeping spic and span there, which I call my dolls house. Not so keen on my own housework though. I'm making some solid granny square cushions at present for the plain blue sofas our guests have. My crochet therapy. So good for the soul, especially the gorgeous colours. Busy outside too with my smallholding and ponies, we've just started on the hay, a very hard job.
One of my twin daughters died of cancer last year so our perfect family was shattered.You never expect these things to affect your own. Grab every day and enjoy life.Thank you for keeping me inspired.
Posted by: Gillian Booth | June 30, 2015 at 08:26 PM
I hope you get to feeling better soon with as much as you have to do you need to feel good! I'm glad our school for our grandsons was over before June.. we have a nice long summer of having fun. You're inspiring me to go tidy something.. I hope that passes.. LOL! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | June 30, 2015 at 08:23 PM
Yay.... It's Never gun but it's good when it's done....
Are You allowed to write Blue Arsed Fly on a blog? 😂 😂 😂 😂 kidding!!!
Cracked me up...
Love the peony, glorious colour.. mine are still buds,,, newly transplanted.. Maybe not opening this time...
Posted by: Heather | June 30, 2015 at 08:08 PM
My son breaks up tomorrow! One the one hand, great as he (and I are shattered) on the other, where did that school year go?!
Hope you are feeling better soon. x
Posted by: Sara Jenkins | June 30, 2015 at 08:02 PM
Fabulous! May the motivation stay with you! LOVE the pink frilly peony!!! Feel better soon.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | June 30, 2015 at 07:57 PM
It never ceases to amaze me how much I enjoy cleaning our holiday cottages whilst I can hardly summon the enthusiasm to flick a duster round our own house. It's a losing battle.
Lovely post! Xx
Posted by: I Was Swallowed by a Hippo | June 30, 2015 at 07:56 PM
Ah, Lucy, it looks fabulous! You are doing great. We are in a massive Reorganization, Decluttter and Clean phase here. FlyLady can be so helpful in breaking those ominous jobs into do-able bits. Love your gorgeous flowers. Your blog is so inspiring. I look forward to each and every post!
Posted by: Susan | June 30, 2015 at 07:53 PM
hope you haven't got the lurgy me and hubby had it 2 weeks ago it was horrid,thought it was a cold at first but it was worse then that couldn't stop coughing and sneezing, found paracetimol at regular intervals, plenty of drinks including home made honey and lemon hot toddys for hubby in the evenings and vicks smeared on the chest at night worked wonders or olbas oil sprinkled on your night wear is just as good, hope you feel better soon xxx
Posted by: ann clements | June 30, 2015 at 07:51 PM
Getting rid of clutter seems to be a never ending task for me. Today I am pushing the vaccum, washing floors and tackleing the clutter again. I wish I was "Miss Neatness" but when I get a ball of yarn in my hands all else is forgotten. Yesterday we picked 16 qts. of strawberries which are big and sweet here in Wisconsin USA. Thank goodness the only plan was to freeze them for shortcake. I remember I am not as young as I thought I was yesterday morning. All of my unused body is crying today. Now back to my craft room and my ball of yarn. I'm attempting my first pair of socks and trying to keep my cool studying this pattern.
Posted by: ann zahorik | June 30, 2015 at 07:50 PM
Thank you for the de-cluttering inspiration, working on some of that endless task myself. I have to admit to loving the swish and swipe bathroom method because then it's always clean for ME! I've also just started the cosy blanket kit received at the end of May -- the color choices you've made are striking and pleasing to the eye, and it's tempting to sit on my behind and crochet another two rows when I should be scrubbing the kitchen floor!
Posted by: Jean | June 30, 2015 at 07:46 PM
I think it's been asked but where did you get your stickers from. I admired them on your previous post and could only see the links for the pens.
Just to say also that I enjoy reading your blog, so pleased I found it.
Many thanks.
Leigh
Posted by: Leigh Edgeler | June 30, 2015 at 07:45 PM
Sounds very busy and exhausting, hope you are feeling better soon, that peony is just stunning they are on the list to plant in the Summerhouse garden, I just love them. Looking forward to hearing about the fab planner book.
Clare x
Posted by: Clare | June 30, 2015 at 07:36 PM
I Love my planner! Where did you get your stickers? X
Posted by: Laura-Jane | June 30, 2015 at 07:35 PM
That is a beautiful chest top-positively Spartan! Well done. I REALLY want to see the before shot though, so I can enjoy vicarious satisfaction!
Posted by: Jen | June 30, 2015 at 07:34 PM
Looking forward to the planner post! Have ordered my own from personal planner and can't wait to start on it! Sadly I will probably spend more time planning and sticking in bits than doing any work!
Posted by: Louise Bissett | June 30, 2015 at 07:33 PM
Yay well done you, a childs room is always soooo hard to tidy(how much leggo?) Bath room looks very spick and span (my Mum). The end of things is quite emotional even when they are ready to move one, I was a mess for both of mine. Hear Hear to the end of term, I think we are all on our knees, long may the weather last and see us through the 7 weeks hols. And breath. xx
Posted by: Sara | June 30, 2015 at 07:29 PM
Love the sparkling clean mirrors! And looking forward to hearing more about your planning in your ECP, mine should arrive any day now and it will be great to see how others plan their days, weeks and months. Lovely to see your summary pics too it brightens up the gloom of our winter here in NZ :) Wishing you loads of energy and wellness to get you through the next few busy weeks until the holidays :)
Posted by: Angela | June 30, 2015 at 07:28 PM
I'm very impressed with the de-cluttering - I wish I could catch that bug!
Posted by: Sandra | June 30, 2015 at 07:28 PM