I don't just pootle - honest!

Sue over on Frugal in Suffolk often writes about what she has done that week. I find it very interesting getting a glimpse of other people's daily routines, so I thought I'd tell you what I do most weeks. It also seemed important that you don't think I spend my whole life pootling about baking cakes and reading articles!!

I start every day, once I'm washed and dressed, with cleaning out the chickens, having a little chat with them and a quick 'tour' of the garden to see what's coming into life. I then feed the cats before settling down to some breakfast for me - usually eggs and a second cup of tea (hubby brings me my first upstairs when he leaves for work at 7am. At some point in this routine, I have to check that the three school age children are up and getting ready - alarm clocks seem to be a foreign concept to them, although only a matter of  8 months ago, I would have left for work by half 7 and they managed then?!!!

Once they've all gone, I make all the beds, tidy up rooms, load the dishwasher, often put in a load of washing (about 8 to 10 washes a week whilst all six of us are at home!). I sweep the floors downstairs every day too as they are all hard floors. 

I tend to clean the house thoroughly once a week generally on a Monday. I also do several loads of washing and often the ironing on Monday too, so the rest of the week is more flexible. I do the food shop at the end of the week - Thursday or Friday and I try to visit my friend every Friday too for a cuppa and a catch up. 

In between whiles, I do some crafting, although less at the moment as I seem to have lost my mojo a bit....
Once a week I go out on my Homestart visit for a couple of hours too.

Depending on my eldest daughter's shift patterns, we might go out - yesterday we went to the local garden centre to get some more seeds and last week, to Wisley. If I'm on my own, I might go for a walk or take some time out to meditate. I presently have to phone the hospital/nursing home every day as my mother's health has taken a rapid and dramatic turn for the worse - there's going to be a huge amount to sort out there before long and I'm dreading it, but I keep telling myself that I'm better placed to deal with it now that I would have been before I gave up work!

The garden so far.....

I'm also gardening. Little by little, I am bringing 'project garden' to fruition. It might take me a while, but I can space it out over the next few months, so I don't want to rush at it, after all, it's supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable.

Of course, I also bake once a week and cook freshly prepared meals every evening. I read, both books and blogs and I love to listen to music of all kinds whilst I'm working.

My eldest daughter and I had spiralised courgette 'pasta' with a tomato sauce for lunch - delicious and super healthy! 

Now that's made me feel more productive!!  Many of you have husbands who are either working part time or retired now, so it's heartening to read about your shared tasks! It can seem quite daunting when it seems to be me doing the lions share of all the home chores, but when we enter the next stage of our life plan things will be different .... Well I truly hope so!!!