Now that we have moved into our new home I feel I must get control of things.  Currently I feel as if I’m drowning in house and outdoor work.  HL is away and it’s been over a year since this has happened.  I forgot how hard being a single parent, maid, gardener, farm, accountant, & slave actually is!  I also forgot how tired one person could be after trying to accomplish the work of 4 people in one day.  Not to mention while trying to get everything done it leaves little time for sleep.  After researching home organization and cleaning schedules I’ve finally come up with a plan.

It’s structured around my needs and my daily chores but I did take some help from the Flylady.  I did not adopt the 15 minute deal, the zone cleaning, or getting dressed with shoes (we absolutely do not wear shoes in this house!).  I don’t feel like I need to get a shower and get dressed first thing every morning to accomplish my goals.  It would certainly be silly to get up, shower, & get dressed to go outside and feed the chickens, goats, horses, & hoe the garden.  It’s already over 90 degrees here in North Louisiana.  I would just need another shower and that equals more freaking laundry.  No way.  I did however adopt a morning, afternoon, & before bed routine and a weekly schedule of cleaning duties.  I’ve also scheduled my 3 day a week treadmill climb and time to sew (hopefully).  I’m not 100% happy with the schedule I put together but it is promising.  I will try it for a week and sew how well I adapt.  Today I am already several hours behind.  One reason is I have my two nephew’s over (heaven help me) and two because I spent the morning putting the schedule together.  The good thing is I do have time to make things up the following day if need be.

As you can see in the photo I simply mark them off as they are accomplished.  You can also see what has me stumped, the laundry.  Needless to say it has piled up over the last few days but that is going to change, I hope.  Living on a farm=tons of laundry.  I also am not happy that I have scheduled myself to vacuum and mop the entire house 3 days a week.  I am a bit of a perfectionist but I HAVE to let that go.  I am working on it.  Is 3 times too many?  How many times do you vacuum and mop?  I didn’t want any big chores to be schedule during the weekend especially when HL is home.  I want to reserve Saturday for larger projects and yard work.  Oh and I also have to clean the Guinea pig cage out 3 times a week and that simply sucks.  Anyone want a male Guinea Pig?

I’ll keep this blog updated with my success (or failure for that matter) with the scheduling.  I hope I can follow it and let go of trying to clean the entire house in one day or trying to keep it spotless.  We live on a farm for heaven sakes!

Finally the last empty box has been tossed out the back door.  We are officially moved in.  Of course there are still tons of things to do like touch up painting.  I just may leave that for HL since he split for work and left me with 52 boxes to unpack and organize.

This is the family room in all it’s hard to clean glory.  It’s beautiful and I am in love with the black Pottery Barn cabinets but jeez it’s hard to keep clean.  I have to dust this room every day but it’s worth it.  I cannot wait to light the fire this winter.

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This is the kitchen.  It is party of the grand room including family room & dining area.  The kitchen is STILL missing the copper range hood.  It has not made it yet.  It is also missing the built in microwave that goes above the oven.  It too has not made it here yet.  Thankfully we do not use the microwave all that much.

Here is the master bath vanity.  I’m not happy with it.  I hope that with a new coat of paint (in a slightly darker shade) that it will grow on me.  I do however love my sinks.

The playroom my pride and joy.  I dreamed of this room.  I wanted Makinlee to have a special, fun place of her own.  Believe me it is not this clean today!

The sewing studio.  It’s green and I love it.   I still have yards and yards of fabric to fold.

The farmhouse feels like home now.  However without HL at home it’s way too quiet at night.  I’m not sure when and if I will get use to that.  4 more weeks to go until he comes home.  He is own his way to Korea as I write this and I am slightly jealous.  I know he will see a few of our friends we made there and I miss them greatly.  However now that I’m home I do not miss Korea.

I took the afternoon off from unpacking and organizing to spend a few hours outdoors with the animals and in the garden.

Dan posed for the camera.

Petunia was as gracious as ever.

Jack was, well, his usual self.

The new chicks could really care less about me except during feeding time.

(Barred Rocks & Buff Orpingtons)

The mystery ducks don’t care too much for me or any human for that matter.

The strawberries are divine fresh off the vine. HA!

The garlic is in full bloom.  I did manage to steal a few scapes, batter, & fry them up. Yummy!

This gorgeous lady begged me to pick her and bring her inside but I declined.

It was a beautiful day.

I thought I’d take a moment to come out from under the rubble to let you know that we are almost in the new house.  We WILL be in the house Tuesday night right along with the boxes of junk (I say that very lovingly).

We have had a lot to deal with over the last 6 weeks including the death of my father in law.  Slowly we are gathering our feet under us again and moving forward.  HL leaves on Friday for Singapore and Korea again for 5 weeks.  I hope that while he is away I came make our house a home.

I’m currently at my grandfather’s but after tonight I have no idea when I may be online again.  We have our order in for our internet to be moved but who knows when that will happen.  Hopefully soon but I’m not a betting gal.

Be back soon!

Since I do not have room to sew at my grandpa’s I’ve been doing a lot of embroidery and cross stitch.  This owl pattern is from Miss Woolly.

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Isn’t he cute?  I plan to frame him and add him to my collection for the sewing studio.

Remember how worried I was about Makinlee 4 months ago? It’s amazing what being surrounded by friends, family, & the country will do for a child. I have my daughter back and even though at times I wish she would stop the attitude I wouldn’t change her for anything. Look out world because this girl holds nothing back. She’s a fighter, this little flip of a thing. It’s a battle sometimes but I know that she will never let anything stop her.