Scheduling My Cleaning Routine

kat's Studio

I qualified due to my age and physical condition to having an aide come in to clean for three hours a week. As soon as I knew this I applied immediately! Several of my neighbors in my building have them and I see the aides coming and going to their apartments. Thinking it would be great! My friend who lives in the country has one too. She comes in and just goes to work and cleans his home whether he is there or not. He does not have to tell her what to do and she even organized his pantry (which was badly in need of that). It did not work that well with me. I was not comfortable with someone else doing my cleaning. Not that I am overly picky, but after she left I still had to clean what she cleaned. Let's just leave it at that. There were other issues too.

Weekly & monthly chores.

My apartment is very small, a small space needs constant attention or it will get out of control very fast. I knew that the key to keeping up with it is to develop a cleaning routine. One that you do on certain days and times. There are some jobs that need to be done daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. If you let things go, over time it will become a big job. When you have physical disabilities you need to do it while it is easy. I find that I do my best work in the mornings, always have. So I start my day tackling those chores. I strive to be finished with them by noon. Noon is when I start preparing my breakfast and so after I eat and clean up I done till supper.

Keeping my chore list in sight!

One job I struggled with was vacuuming the floor. I recently replaced the old used vacuum I had been given when I moved in with a new one. What a difference it made! The first time it was used (by the aide) she had to empty it twice! It was like this apartment had never been vacuumed. I suppose it hadn't since I had to monkey around with it every time I used it. Plus it was a very heavy cleaner. Probably better quality than the new one which is very light. They are both the same brand though, Bissell. I realize it is not usually my fault I can't do something. Sometimes it is the quality of the equipment or the product I am using. My advice is to experiment with changing products or equipment and see if it works better. Or is easier to use.

Small kitchen floor.

Mopping the floor is not a job I can't do. I can do it. I think I put it off longer than I should. Now that I have a scheduled routine, I promise myself I will stick to it. I love cleaning an area and then looking at it later and thinking how great it looks. I am keeping that thought in my head so I don't skip it. The kitchen and bathroom floors are small and only take ten minutes at the most to mop. When I lived in the house I had before moving here, I had no floors that I could clean. They were dusty from firewood, carrying in water and dirt being tracked in constantly. There was no way anyone could have kept up with it. Sweeping was a constant job. This apartment is so easy after that!

A stool nearby is essential for me.

If you have limitations like I do, you have to figure out other methods to do what needs to be done. It is not impossible for me. Depends on what is wrong with you.. Standing for long periods of time is something I cannot do. I have learned to sit down before it hurts. Stand at the counter or sink doing whatever and then sit down. Then stand back up and continue. You won't get done fast, but if you stick with it the job will be done. I use a rolling walker for carrying things in and out of my apartment. I keep a tray on it when I am using it this way. I can take my garbage out or do my laundry with it making these chores easier. There is always a way but sometimes you need to think outside of the box. 

Copyright © 2020 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2020  Kathleen G. Lupole

Updated 2021

Planning Or Scheduling Daily Life

I was wondering the past few days, if other people when retired, disabled or at home for some reason, do they follow a daily routine? A structured plan for their day? Things they have to do every day on a schedule like you do at a job? I have always kept a journal and maybe don't write in it every single day, but try to write at least something every week in it. I am also a list maker. Lists surround me! I might not do every single thing on my list. But I have an idea of things I need to do. It is rare that I can check off more than 2 or 3 items on the list. One of the perks of living alone (well, except for Rabbit, but he has his own list) is that if I don't do one single chore all day, nobody is going to care. Rabbit doesn't care as long as I remember to feed him....but of course, that is not on my list!

Birds follow their own schedule!

Some people might think if you don't follow a structured plan for every day, that means that day was a wasted one. Are they? Living close to a world of wild life for almost 20 years made me see close up the structured plan the critters have. Yes, especially the birds! In spring, they are very busy. Building nests and filling their bellies with all the nutrition they need for their upcoming family life. From the first note sung at 5:00 AM to the last one at dusk, they are busy following their plan. Sometimes they fight with each other, but they still get their work done.

My computer

For me personally, not having each day planned out is what I like to do. No need to live like you are in basic training. I understand if you live with others or a family you might need to do that. At this time in my life though, I do not have to. I can do what I want, when I want. I still manage to keep my apartment clean, my laundry washed, my meals cooked and Rabbit cared for. I am not one to watch television all day. Now I'd say my vice is the computer, where I like to spend the majority of my time. I am alone a lot, even though I live in an apartment building full of people. It does not bother me or depress me being alone. I always have things to do. My son is the same way. He has turned into an introvert also.

Rabbit

I keep a constant running list. Keep adding to it as I need to. It is a great feeling when I can cross one or more off. The most important thing for me is to not be rushed to finish something. Some people need to do something or have a schedule to do certain things. If you are one of those people, then make your schedule so it is automatic. Do things at a certain time every day. Soon it will be a habit. What is so nice about my life is that I have made it my own. My own schedules, my own routines.........yes, it is all about me and Rabbit. I believe it is about time after a whole life of putting others first.

Copyright © 2020 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2020  Kathleen G. Lupole

Updated 2021

Spring Time Brings Hope

Horses have been chewing this stump to get the sap.

Today my mind keeps wandering. I think it is because I have spring fever. The sun is out and the snow is melting and the birds are in the woods and singing on and off. Not as much as usual. Our horses have been stripping the bark off the maple tree stump left in front of the paddock. Surprising how far they can stretch their necks to reach it. Even the stumps have the sap running and they love that sweet stuff. I remember my dad tapping the trees when we lived in Harpursville, NY, and going with him to empty the cans. He did not make it into syrup but kept it in the refrigerator in a glass jar and we drank it. It was good. I didn't know for a long time about making it into syrup. It still brings back good memories for me.

Winter means work!

It seems everything stops when winter arrives. At least here it does. Winter means work and lots of chores. Life around here then is not very pleasant. Nothing I can do to help because of my health. Makes me feel like a burden, but it is what is. Can't do anything about it during the winter. All the changes I can make have to take place the rest of the time, spring, summer and fall. That is my time. Working on a lot of plans or goals I have made and now with the promise of warm weather.

Dark Shadow & Patches

I can only say to do the best you can with what you have. No one can ask for any more than that. If you can't do the heavy chores any longer or have lost interest in raising animals and gardening, then just make changes to the kind of life you want. Not what someone else wants. Think of yourself for a change. It is not selfish, it is lifesaving!

Copyright © 2018 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2018 Kathleen G. Lupole

February At Peaceful Forest Homestead

I have been trying to write a blog post daily. I did well in January. February has been a very hard month for us. So instead of giving you a half hearted post, I am posting a picture of our horse this morning. It is very windy, cold and snowy here right now. Though that is not so unusual for NY state. It is harder for us this year, since my husband had an accident, and fell off the roof of our barn three weeks ago. He is working hurt and I am not much good at many of his chores since my legs are so bad.

Today I am worried about a friend and just cannot write a happy post to my readers. I am sorry, but will try to do better tomorrow. Hope things are better in your life than mine are today. Blessings to all my readers.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2011  Kathleen G. Lupole

Colder Days Coming At Peaceful Forest

Snow Days

First of December and we are having a little bit of snow this morning. Just a gentle snowfall. It means our ground will be freezing and our horses will be very happy about that. Up till now, they have been walking in deep mud in their paddock. Once their ground freezes up and they smooth it out they will be set for the winter. Winter is their favorite time. They run around like fillies once it snows and the paddock is covered. Funny how animals can enjoy the simple things in life. Of course, we have to constantly be doing chores in snow or driving in it or keeping warm in it, etc.. Completely different for us as for them.

What pleases me about the freezing of the ground is that I will be able to store more food in my pantry due to the colder temperatures. Living without refrigeration makes me have to rely on either buying ice or using cold water from our well to keep foods cold. Usually we buy meat and eat it pretty fast like in one day or I can it. In the winter, I can store food for unlimited time periods. My pantry has a door going right down to my cellar and at the moment it is still open due to the work being done on it. It has kept my pantry colder than usual, but more like refrigerator temps.

We have decided to buy a crosscut saw for getting firewood. Buying gas and having the fumes in your face when using it is two things we really need to eliminate. We have been so happy with the purchase of our Neuton electric lawn mower and garden cart that anything we can do to rid ourselves of the need for gasoline is well worth it. As for me, I cannot cut a tree down, but I can cut small ones with a hand saw. So I am thinking of getting a couple of other types of hand saws that I can use easily.

We have never owned or used a rototiller for our garden. In 2002 when my husband was in a bad work related accident and could not plow up our garden, a coworker brought his rototiller over to plow it for us. Nice gesture. But taught me one thing.....I did not want to use one for my garden. You get all those fumes in your face when you are using it. Not what I had in my mind when putting in a garden. Now we only use our raised beds and no plowing needed.

In our kitchen most of our tools are the manual type. You will not find a microwave or an electric can opener here. I love my toaster that is just placed over the burner on the stove for toasting bread. Works quickly and is very dependable if you keep an eye on it. I think the way I do things would not appeal to most people as it is too slow or too much effort. Our society is based on people who are in a hurry.............for what I do not know. I like to enjoy what I am doing while I am doing it. It makes the process relaxing and satisfying. Maybe that is why I do not resent the work we have to do around here. It doesn't seem to be that much work unless someone else is here helping us and they say how hard it is. Then we say, "oh yeah, right. It is harder than using a machine."

I look forward to the day that all those jobs are easier, but that is not to say I am in a hurry to get things done. I have always enjoyed the time my husband spent out in the woods getting firewood. He would cut the tree down and cut the wood and I would transport it to the house. If it needed splitting, I would only take it as far as the wood pile. We have a routine we follow and that seems to make the jobs so much easier. Sometime daily, I have to get outside or to the barn for a breath of air so spending time out in the woods is the most relaxing thing for me to do. It is soothing to me.

When our house is finished it will be set up for easy living for us and that is what our aim is as we get older. Raised beds for food, easy access to the root cellar from outside or the pantry, easy to maintain the energy system and as our system increases we will barely have to run the electric start generator. Our biggest job will be caring for our horses and shoveling snow.

Have a wonderful December day and I will be back tomorrow.

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2009  Kathleen G. Lupole

Updated 2020