Spring challenge

[hana]

Happy equinox, everyone. Time for spring cleaning, working on the garden, and pollenpocalypse.

Lost track of time lately, 2026 has been a decade of a year so far.

This list will increase as I think of things

March project 50% done
April project
May project
June project
Sort and put away winter stuff?
Pull out summer stuff?
Logistics on epic summer trip

Winter and summer gear tasks are questioned since I'm not sure if we will have warm enough weather to put away the winter stuff or be hot enough to pull out the summer gear. Living in the mid Atlantic means going through all four seasons in a day and needing several wardrobe changes to get through it. At least I'm sneezing non stop through the pollen.

[early morning]

If I get most of the branches, sticks, blown-in trash from neighbors, and misc. yard crap removed before we leave to go up East the third week of April, I'll be happy! Heck, if I get our Christmas tree unlit and down by then, I'll REALLY be happy, lol. At least THAT tree is inside and not subject to rain, sleet, snow, or winds that feel like they'll take you to Oz! (none of which explains why it's still up, actually... :|( :|()

[iris lilies]

we cleanedout the garage today. Swept the floor of all the leaves that had blown in. Got rid of one piece of furniture, various cabinet doors that DH was saving for reasons I cannot understand, and a big old victorian picture frame. I’ve been hauling around for decades. It has a provenance that is interesting, but I don’t do Victorian anymore since I no longer live in a Victorian house.

I got DH to take photos of two sets of French doors he says he’s going to sell on eBay. These of course, came from an alley in the city of St. Louis. They are lovely old doors, but we have no use for them.

I’m stuck with a set of bedroom furniture, an oak dresser, and a grandfather clock in the garage that I will never use at my house ever and DH refuses to get rid of them. ugh.

[nswef]

I have spent days this week trying to set up the laptop- it is a year old! I finally got serious and it has been a real challenge. My goal was to tidy up all my folders etc. before moving them over...a huge challenge in itself for me., so they are sort of tidy but installing them has been not very straightforward. I got my writng folders and documents onto the laptop and am currently loading up the pictures. But I forsee real frustration. Had to buy a hub for more usb ports and a stand because it was hurting my neck...haven't put that together yet. The dining room table needs clearing...And this should be on the rant page!!

[early morning]

So far, I've put in a couple hours on the yard the last few days, and I can see a bit of difference, even if no one else can. The weather's been great for me and yard work - in the low 60s, cloudy, not much wind. But things keep interrupting. And I get a lot of cat help, which significantly adds to the time it takes to accomplish things, lol.

nswef, kudos on tackling the laptop. that sort of stuff stresses me to the max!

[happystuff]

Good luck with the laptop! It'll come together... eventually. lol

[hana]

March project 50% done
April project mending and catch up
May project TBD
June project scrap quilt
Sort and put away winter stuff
Pull out summer stuff
Logistics on epic summer trip
Emptying of the storage unit



Remember a few years ago when the challenges were focused on storage unit cleaning due to future basement work? I asked about it at the annual meeting last October and everyone looked at me like I had three heads. I'm used to that look, and figured the storage unit needed cleaning anyways and made a nice pandemic project.

Turns out it's happening next week. Received the email Monday afternoon and hope to get more details at the monthly meeting tonight. We're supposed to get a schedule for the work and deadline to empty. Bright side is it's emptier and most of the winter stuff is still in the condo. Was hoping to put away the super hardcore winter stuff we actually used this weekend. The heavy winter coats are at the dry cleaner. Peak cherry blossom is expected any minute now, so the chances of a snowpocalypse is low. Now the plan is leave it all in the spare room and hope no one needs emergency crash space between now and when we get the all clear to use the storage unit again.

Epic summer trip is part vacation and part my birthday gift, we're going to a convention out West, and other surprises. I was told so I can request time off work. Finished the glove and started on the second one.


Looking

[rosarugosa]

I have so many to-do lists this spring, that I'm having a harder time than usual coming up with my spring list.
For example, I have a "Mom List," and a "People-y Things List," and then the more usual spring tasks. I have been getting things done though. From the Mom List, I arranged her furnace cleanout, I cancelled her Xfinity, hired a probate attorney, and had a preliminary meeting with a realtor. As you know, we have donated and given a lot of things away already.
People-y Things is a list of people with whom we've committed to get together, as well as a few of Mom's godchildren that we need to meet with to give them a piece of jewelry from Mom.
At our house, I've already started my seeds, and we've put up the hammock, wind chimes, and connected our hoses (DH did the hoses).
So I think I'll pick some top things from these lists, and incorporate it into my "Spring Challenge List."


Clean out Mom's house
Remove Mom's weathervane and have it put on our house (a nice copper codfish)
Cull Mom's files
Do at least four things from the People List
Wash windows, etc.
Clean closet
Garden cleanup
Plant outside containers
List at least 6 things on eBay
Get HVAC contractor in to give us a quote on A/C retrofit

[hana]

March project 50% done
April project mending and catch up done
May project viking knit necklace
June project scrap quilt
Sort and put away winter stuff 80% done
Pull out summer stuff
Logistics on epic summer trip
Emptying of the storage unit 90% done

The gloves are complete and their recipient loves them and asked about commissioning another pair. The uncertainties with the current political climate is affecting my work so I'm going to accept and focus more on the side business. That is the current priority, since projects that earn money have priority over hobbies. Darned a bunch of socks and fixed the edges of a quilt. May is focus on jewelry making, last year during my visit I wore a Viking knit necklace, and one of the nibilings like it. Going to make one for her for her birthday.

The storage unit is mostly empty. Sold some stuff, gave away stuff, and took a couple of boxes of more stuff to Goodwill last Saturday. Only thing left in the unit are two 5 foot shelving units, and we're debating to disassemble then bring up or just bring up. Meetings on the project were scheduled then cancelled, the board member who is the contact for the engineering firm doing the work had a family emergency and resigned then went incommunicado. I emailed the office manager last week asking for an update, and received an email from the property management company saying office manager has a family emergency and will be off site and will catch up on calls and emails.

Winter coats are in the closet and the hats, mittens, and scarves are washed and in their bin. Extra blankets are folded at the end of the bed, still gets down to the 30s at night on occasion. Waiting for the go ahead to put things back into the storage unit. Summer gear is still in the bin.

Have the time off for the summer trip, husband says he has a vague idea and we're winging parts of it. He will tell me what types of clothing to pack a couple of days before we leave.