Basement Room - Part 1

Well, the craziness has begun.  My dear hubby has started his first set of night shifts and starts off with five in a row.  Normally he would work 3 days, 3 off, 3 nights, 3 off, etc. but start up always requires a few extra. 

With this change to our schedule, it has sent my thoughts back to the reason of being a "keeper of the home" which is to respect and honor your husband.  Honestly, sometimes keeping the house is much, much easier.  I have been noticing however, that when I change my focus from "my home" to "honor and respect" that is changes some of my priorities throughout the day.

On that thought, my goal over this week and next is to make a spot where hubby can go when he is transitioning onto night shifts.  That way he won't have to worry about disturbing the rest of the family who are trying to sleep and it will be more comfortable for him.  It will also serve as a temporary family room for us until we complete the main family room.  So, not only will it benefit dear hubby, it will benefit the whole family as well.

I got a really good start on the room today.  I was very surprised how much I was able to accomplish in such a short time.  The room was being used as a storage room so I had to shift some things around.  Thankfully dear hubby and I got the garage cleaned out this summer so some of the storage items can now go out there. So, here's what the room looked like before I began.

 

After about a half hour of work you can definately see some progress.

I definately made progress as I continued to work although it's not as noticeable in the pictures.

 

 

I also got part of the closet cleaned out and hope to finish the rest of the closet area tomorrow.  Once that is done alot of the books, etc will be put into the drawers.  There is really not a lot left to get put away.

 

Along the way I have also been decluttering.  I have two big bags full of give away items.  One of those bags is mostly winter items and it's a perfect time a year to donate those items to charity.  I did run into a bit of a problem along the way though.  I came across 3 old, very old, gaming systems that I figured we could just give away.  However, I thought I had better check with hubby and son first.  Well, they think that we definately need to keep them.  Out of the box I packed up with the hopes of giving it all away, they only figured two items out of the box could be given away.  Why we can't give it all away since we have two brand new gaming systems is beyond me but I agreed to put the box in the closet and we would discuss it again at a later date.  I really was hoping I could have eliminated one more box of items.



(What I was hoping to give away)

(What I actually get to give away)

After working in the basement I headed outside to cover my tomato and pepper plants because of a risk of frost tonight and I couldn't resist taking a few evening pictures of our vine growing along the garage.

It is getting late so I will be heading down to do a bit of x-stitching and have a cup of tea before I call it a night.

"No matter what you've done for yourself or humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?"

(Elbert Hubbard)

Scheduling

Scheduling.  I love to schedule.  Give me a cup of tea, a pen and an empty planner and I am in a state of pure delight.  For me, planning and scheduling is total relaxation.   However, life doesn't always cooperate with my detailed scheduling and once my schedule gets derailed then, most times, so do I.

"Plan the work and work the plan."

I am not sure who said that but I am great with the first, not so great with the second. 

It is time once again to redo my master schedule as dear hubby will be starting shifts next week.  With his rotating shifts each week is always different.  The past few weeks I have been using a format that is less detailed and it has been working for me but with the upcoming changes I think I will benefit from the more structured approach for the next little while.

So, this is roughly what my schedule will look like for the week.

7:00 am  AM Routine (laundry, make coffee, dressed, devotions, etc)

8:00 am  Make breakfast

8:30 am  Breakfast

9:00 am  Walk dog

10:00 am  Clean kitchen / Make soup or bread as needed

10:30 am  Shower

11:00 am  School time

12:00 pm  Lunch

1:30 pm  School time

2:30 pm  Clean bathroom, Empty garbages, General clean-up around house

3:00 pm  School time (if needed) / Break

4:00 pm  Floors

4:30 pm  Supper prep / Bake

5:00 pm  Fold and put away laundry  

5:30 pm  Finish supper prep

6:00 pm  Supper / Clean up

7:00 pm  Extra household cleaning

9:30 pm  Tea Time

10:00 pm  PM Routine

10:30 pm  Lights out

Like, I mentioned, this is a general outline but it should give me a good framework to plan each day around.

While the sun was shining yesterday I went out and took a few fall pictures around the yard as we have rain in the forescast for the next 4-5 days.

I am thrilled this year with the vine as normally it gets eaten up by the aphids.  It is so beautiful in the fall.

Today was errand day but yesterday, as part of trying to make my evenings more productive, I baked a cake.  I let it cool overnight and iced it this morning.  Supper went in the crockpot and the breadmaker was set.  It was so wonderful to come home after a long, cool, wet day of errands and shopping to a hot, home-cooked meal, fresh bread and of course, delicious cake for dessert.

 

Well, it is time to start winding the day down.  I will light some candles, make some hot chocolate for the family and sit down for some quiet time with my x-stitch, or maybe my planner.

A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time.
(Annie Dillard)

Holiday Monday Tidbits

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10a)

Holiday Monday, the last holiday before fall programming swings into high gear.  The sun shone today but the air held a nippy edge to it, making me want to grab my sweater whenever I headed out the door.  It was a nice day at home today.  Everyone slept in and we had a wonderful brunch together.  I think I finally had a hit on the brunch menu as everyone said it was awesome and we should do it again.  Although, next time I think I would definately add a small fruit platter and a fresh coffee cake.  I can't wait for the next holiday to give it a try!

My focus for the day was the holiday trailer.  Dear hubby has mentioned a few times to me that he would like to get everything finished up on the trailer as soon as possible so we can shut off the heat, get the lines drained, etc and give it time to sit before the weather turns bad.  That means I need to get the inside all emptied out and cleaned.  I did well and only have a little bit left to do which I'm hoping I can get done tomorrow.  I know he will be happy to have that taken care of.  While I was working in the trailer he was busy putting together and putting up my front gate.  I have waited quite awhile for it to be put together and am absolutely thrilled its done.  I can't wait until Christmas time so I can put greenery, lights and of course, a bow on it. 

The rest of the day was spent doing a quick "swish-n-swipe" around the house, which means the bathroom, vacuumed the main floor and just general pick up. After the busyness of the day it was Family Movie Night with pizza and hot wings, something we try to do once a week as a family.

So, the last holiday of summer is coming to an end.  I pray that through this upcoming season I will have a joyous heart that is centered on my home, that I will be a faithful and diligent worker who will enthusiastically and continually makes 'home' happen.