Are you ready for August?

[sweetpumkinpye]

Good morning and welcome to August. August has been traditionally my slowest month but this year I am to be busy.
We will be entering the last month of Winter here and I am doing well on my Winter to do list. Just a few more things to go. While the weather is cool I have decided to start HGP in early August. The forecast is calling for another hot, hot Summer and I would like to be as prepared as I can be so will start deep cleaning now and will maintain as the weather allows.

August goals:
*Start HGP ( ) Verandah (X) Sunroom ( ) start early to beat the heat and maintain.
*Progress in the garden ( )
*Back to our Friday road trips ( ) Not sure about this with the price of petrol going up.
*Trip to Canberra 12th ( )
*Lunch with friends 14th ( )
*Celebrate Rudy Day 25th ( )
*Celebrate me day 30th ( )
*Work on my Winter plans ( )
*Work on wrapping party dates (X)


Daily:
Make bed
General tidy up
Water throughout day
Clean kitchen, dishwasher on before bed
Moisturise, brush teeth, lip balm, hand cream
Read and sleep at reasonable time/schedule no tech nights

Weekly/Fortnightly:
*Clean bathrooms ( )( )
*Clean fridge/freezers (X)
*Change bed ( )
*Reset kitchen (X)
*General tidy up/household maintenance ( )
*Meal planning (X) include lunches
*Rotate food items ( ) use them up!
*Shopping list and grocery shopping (X)...remember to take water (X)
*Tidy pantry/stockpile (X)
*Vacuum floors ( )
*Washing /fold washing (X)( )
*Try for a no tech night ( )

Fun/Christmas prep:
*Continue looking for stocking fillers, gifts (X) and menu items (X) Thinking of some different ideas for stocking fillers
*Craft. I need to continue this in 2026 (X) Enjoying crochet and knitting, donating to the library.
*Do something that is just for me ( ) catching up on Gold Hunters and Sweet Magnolias
*Read. The goal this year is 10 books ( ) Have read 6
*Tidy/rearrange/add to gift closet (X)
*Update planner (X)

This week:
WINTER!!!!
*Connect with family/friends via phone, email or text (X)
*HGP Verandah 2 days (X)
*Knit and Natter Tuesday (X)
*Doctors appointment Wednesday (X)
*Groceries Thursday (X)
*Start sorting family history ( ) I am also gathering all the family nick nacks and labelling them (X)


5 small chores:
*Tidy password book (X)
*Ring for air conditioner service ( )
*Clean and refill bird bath (X)
*Label jewelry ( )
*Defrost and arrange outside freezer (X) Use things up!

Word of the year 2026: Comfortable

 

[jampss]

LOL ... I am not ready for August!

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

@jampss. Oh no! What are we going to do? Shall we just pretend and go back to July? We can if you want to!

 

[jampss]

I fell off the cleaning/decluttering/tyding wagon! LOL

Well, new month and new week ... so here I go!


DAILY:

• Have devotional time: The Bible Recap on The Bible app and YouTube; write in prayer journal (XX)
• Drink my bullet coffee (XX)
• Read over MHH (XX)
• Crochet for Fun, Gifts, or Ministry (X)
• Calendar Review of Appointments / Email (X)
• Watch News (X)
• Water the garden (X)
• Dinner Prep (X)
• Exercise of some sort & Drink water (X)
• Clean my phone (X)
• Make daily 2,026 steps goal ()
• Listen to audio book (X)

WEEKLY:

• Water Christmas Cactus & porch plants (X)
• Listen to Unashamed Podcast with Hillsdale Bible Class ()
• Sort Out Vitamins/Supplements (X)
• Clean Bathroom / Dust / Vacuum / Mop / Laundry ()
• Jumpstart January Cleaning Plan ()
• Change out kitchen towels / restock coffee pods ()
• Plan the Weekly Menu / Buy Groceries ()
• Pay the bills ()
• Check the Birthday/Holiday card list ()
• Errands with friends / To Do List w/DH ()
• Clean the cat's water fountain ()

MONTHLY: AUGUST

• Do the House Cleaning Job x2: DS and I ()
• Do the Office Cleaning Job x2: me ()
• Check Pantry / Freezer / Refrigerator stock ()
• Check Subscriptions Tracker Sheet / Supplements ()
• Pour vinegar down AC pipe ()
• Do my weight check ()
• Observe MHH 'Celebrate Me Day' on the 19th ()
• Observe MHH 'Rudy Day' on the 25th ()
• Check Prepper Pantry Exp Dates and Rotate ()
• De-clutter Areas & Donate ()
• Fill out new calendar month on frig ()

JUN JUL AUG - SUMMER 2026

• Check Hurricane food and water prep (X)
• Mail CIJ ornaments (X)
• Participte in MHH Christmas in July event (X)
• Plan DS's Birthday celebration (X)
• Keep garden weeded/pull out spent plants ()
• Add MHH Wrapping Party Dates to Calendar (X)
• Do Garden Prep for Fall in August ()

---

SEPT OCT NOV - AUTUMN 2025
Decorate for Fall (X)
Sign Up for MHH Christmas Card Exchange (X)
Clean House Windows and Screens (X)
Check Points on Apps for Rewards/Gift Cards (X)
Meal Plan for Thanksgiving/Baking (X)
Fish and Plant Sitting for friend at wedding (X)
Cat Sitting over Thanksgiving for 2 friends (X)
Address MHH Christmas Cards (X)
Renew insurance plan ()
Decorate for Christmas Friday after Thanksgiving ()

DEC JAN FEB - WINTER 2025 ---'26
Decorate for Christmas Friday after Thanksgiving (X)
Meal Plan for New Year's vacay with Grandparents (X)
Address MHH Christmas Cards (X)
Mail MHH Christmas Cards (X)
Mail Family & Friends Christmas Cards (X)
Mulch Over the Garden (X)
Meal Plan for Christmas / NYE / Baking (X)
Word of the Year (X)
De-decorate Christmas (X)
Plan for DD32 to come visit in March!! (X)
Do some gardening prep (X)
Prep for March's Rudy Day post (X)
Think of CIJ ornaments (X)

MAR APR MAY - SPRING 2025
Prep Garden for Spring (X)
Meal Plan for Easter (X)
Decorate for Spring (X)
Mail DD33 Birthday card/box (X)
Mail DNiece Birthday card (X)
Pull out Frig and Sweep behind (X)
Sweep under Stove (X)
Check Smoke Detector Battery / Test Carbon Monoxide Alarm (X)
Mail DStepma Birthday card (X)
Prep for DH Birthday (X)
Prep for cat sitting for the month of May at my DSis (X)

 

[Kate1964]

You two are so organized!! I try using a planner but I never keep it up. It's like work is full of have to's and deadlines and so home has to be relaxed and free of that.
July was tough and full of strange bug bites and water in the lower level so that took up my energy. But I took advantage of the disarray and started culling the herd so to speak. I've gotten rid of a good bit of unneeded stuff. I want to continue that this month, but I also have some fun things planned.
I'm going camping with my dbro this coming weekend, the next weekend is a flea market, then the next weekend is a minor league ballgame with sibs.

I may be looking at finding a smaller property next year, or at least seeing what the options are, so I need to spend the next 6 months or so decluttering and cleaning up. If I decide not to move, I have to find ways to make this place less work. At this point I'm exploring options.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I may be looking at finding a smaller property next year, or at least seeing what the options are, so I need to spend the next 6 months or so decluttering and cleaning up. If I decide not to move, I have to find ways to make this place less work. At this point I'm exploring options.

Welcome Kate, glad to see you here.
I completely understand the need to declutter and cleanup. DH and I moved from a 4 bedroom home with a family room and study to a 2 bedroom cottage. Luckily we knew we were moving and we had time to do it. Being here just over a year now and I am still getting the balance right and making this house work for us. I still think we have a bit too much and am always aware of things creeping back in.
We have a lot of land and I am 'concerned' about how to maintain it when we get older so would be interested in hearing what you decide.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

I may be looking at finding a smaller property next year, or at least seeing what the options are, so I need to spend the next 6 months or so decluttering and cleaning up. If I decide not to move, I have to find ways to make this place less work. At this point I'm exploring options.

My parents did this as they thought about selling their place this time last year. They watched YouTube videos from realtors on selling a house. They put a lot of time and effort on getting the house ready. I spent a few days there to help in July, but by that point, they were really close to being done.

Saturday was a walk through for realtor feedback. "Meticulous" and "This will sell fast" were quoted. The house becomes available to the public on Wednesday.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

I use to enjoy August when it was actually a month of summer vacation and school began after Labor Day. Now, it is a sad month for me... I am not a fan of starting back to school in August. I think I am not of fan of ending a nice long break. LOL!

This week I have a number of videos to watch in preparation for a virtual conference that runs from Thursday through Sunday. I will alternate between the videos and the housework this week.

Weekly:

• Menu Planning for this week
• Dust/Vacuum/Mop
• Bills
• Laundry
• Groceries

Monthly: Kitchen

• Dust the top of the fan.
• Clean the oven.
• Clean the microwave.
• Clean out the refrigerator.
• Wipe down cabinets and appliances.
• Wash the floor.
• Clean Windows.
• Wipe down the trash can.
• Wipe down the wall and door jambs.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Mary, I understand your feelings about going back after a long break.
I have always struggled when things I love have finished….one of my anxieties I guess.
I hope that the year ahead is one of stability, happiness and joy and that you fall back into your routine easily

 

[jampss]

Thanks @Kate1964 ... but LOL it's not so much that I am organized ... it's more like I like to make lists! Now actually sticking to and doing the stuff on the lists is a WHOLE other thing.

My friend is also down sizing and moving. She did a great job of decluttering and fixing up her house to sell. It should sell fast. It's a cute lakeside house in a little town east of me. She is moving and following her son up to the TN/VA area as her father and brother/sil are there and they are older. She's older than me and I'm 63! Her son is my DS's best bud since they were 5 or so and this friend went to every appointment and eventually to surgery day when DS had brain surgery in 2023. We hated to see him move, but understand why ... and these days ... online gaming is such a thing that the boys are in contact everyday.

 

[Kate1964]

Welcome Kate, glad to see you here.
I completely understand the need to declutter and cleanup. DH and I moved from a 4 bedroom home with a family room and study to a 2 bedroom cottage. Luckily we knew we were moving and we had time to do it. Being here just over a year now and I am still getting the balance right and making this house work for us. I still think we have a bit too much and am always aware of things creeping back in.
We have a lot of land and I am 'concerned' about how to maintain it when we get older so would be interested in hearing what you decide.

Luckily there are two of you, and a hubby's muscles certainly help! This is potentially my first move alone. Totally different experience. I'll keep you posted as I figure this out.

 

[Myron's Mom]

We have 5 acres here. After husbands multitude of health issues last year we had the discussion about moving. Neither of us want to move. We plan to stay here as long as we can. I told husband when he felt it was too much to let me know. Maybe if it comes to that we will both be ready.
Kate, I’ve moved as a single person, as a married couple doing it solo(ex was in the military) and as couple with 2 different spouses. It’s easier doing it alone for me. That being said I’ve not moved from a home that was created with a spouse that I lost.

 

[Kate1964]

We have 5 acres here. After husbands multitude of health issues last year we had the discussion about moving. Neither of us want to move. We plan to stay here as long as we can. I told husband when he felt it was too much to let me know. Maybe if it comes to that we will both be ready.
Kate, I’ve moved as a single person, as a married couple doing it solo(ex was in the military) and as couple with 2 different spouses. It’s easier doing it alone for me. That being said I’ve not moved from a home that was created with a spouse that I lost.

Good for you, and I hope you two can maintain your home for many years.
I have the same acreage. I've never thought of leaving before, and I'm as yet undecided, but I have to follow my gut. The good Lord will lead me.
I've been here alone for 11 years now. I'm no sissy, Lol, just getting tired.

 

[Myron's Mom]

Good for you, and I hope you two can maintain your home for many years.
I have the same acreage. I've never thought of leaving before, and I'm as yet undecided, but I have to follow my gut. The good Lord will lead me.
Oh, and I was widowed young. I actually had this house built on my own. It was the only way I could afford a house with room for my horse. At that time my mom was having trouble with her landlord, so I asked her to live with me. I was the only single one. So I didn't really feel I moved alone then. But I've been here alone for 11 years now, but I've been caretaker for 20 years without much help. I'm no sissy, Lol, just getting tired.

I’m sure you will get it all sorted out. I get the getting tired.