The Homemaker Plans Her Week: Busy to Busy

We had a busy week and then a hectic family-filled weekend.  Now we head into another busy week.  It's spring and the weeds are growing. Pollen is dusting everything.  It's time for me to get outdoors and get the spring work started.  

Based on pre-forecasts, it looks like we're done with frosts this year.  Nights will continue to be cool all month long but no more frost.  That's good news! 

Work: 

Zone 1  The Entrance, Front Porch, Dining Room, and in my house, Living Room. 

Add in the usual housework, meals, errands, etc...That's enough work, but I'll add in spending time weeding the flower beds and pots every day.  A little bit every day should help. Then I can do the next thing.  One step at a time.

I have to get my prayer for the wedding completed this week.  I've got two or three prayers semi-written, but this week I must finish.  I've looked online at samples to see the average length, and I'm right in that area.  I think I've got some good things on paper, I just need to make a good final edit.

I'll do a bit more work on the guest/playroom.  I want to retrieve the headboard from the shed, set it up with the bed in the guest room, and hang the pictures I'd pulled from the shed.  For now, I've decided to use what I have and paint the frames black.  It's what I have and so it's what I shall use.   Then I'll move the chair from our bathroom into the bedroom.  JD took home the library chair which I'd hoped he'd do.  

 Work on April's goals.

Work on April's wardrobe.

Kitchen:

I need to make bagels again.  I want to get some muffins made and in the freezer for easy breakfasts.  I do not need to make anything sweet. I have a lemon meringue pie to wrap and freeze left from the weekend, and there's a smaller banana poundcake already in the freezer since my recipe makes two loaf cakes.

We had a few leftovers from our meals on Saturday.  There's more than enough taco meat to put some in the freezer for more than one meal.  John asked me to turn some of it into chili.  I plan to do that.   I will use the leftover black beans and serve over the leftover yellow rice.   I made Mexican Pizzas on Sunday with some of the leftover items for lunch before my oldest and his three children hit the road to go home.

I will go through the big freezer and try to pull more of the older items to use in this week's meals.  There will not be a menu attached to this post this week.  I'll make a separate menu post once I have that formulated.

Personal/Leisure:

One thing I have sorely missed this year is the amount of time I spent outdoors with Caleb.  I realized this last week when Caleb was here I was sort of forced outdoors.  At first, he wouldn't go outdoors unless I was with him.  And later, towards the end of his stay here, while he did happily play outside on his own, he liked it best when I'd come to sit on the porch or in the yard and just watch him play for a while, so I tried to do that.

That time was more than beneficial to me as well.  For one thing, little odd jobs got done in short spurts and I soaked up daylight.  I slept better most nights, falling asleep more easily and waking earlier.  My energy levels were higher.  Granted I was working less than I am now but I cannot deny that I felt better overall.  

The mornings are cool but I will try to go out each morning and have my Bible study outdoors instead of what my habits have been of late.  I need that peaceful start to the day.

In past winters I've made time to go outdoors most days to sit in the sun...I need Vitamin D.  I can tell mine is lower than it was and while I take a supplement I'd rather do it differently.  I need natural vitamin D.  And yes, pollen counts are still high.  The pecan trees are just beginning to put on leaves which means they will bloom soon, as will privet and heaven knows what else.  I'll need a dose of allergy meds to get outdoors.  

I also want to change a few other things. I want to rise a little earlier.  

I've been reading over the principles of intermittent fasting.  It's recommended that for the first ninety minutes after rising, you drink only water with lemon, then have the first cup of coffee for the day.  I don't know if I can wait that long for my coffee, but I will try it.  

I want to study the intermittent fasting patterns.  My doctor recommended  I do it only two or three days a week for 12 hours. 

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