January Cure 2025 - Tasks & Discussion

My win today is that Task 2 is the gift that keeps on giving. On Day 2 I made a customized checklist for every day to-dos plus one or two weekly to dos and one or two monthly to-dos. This has been incredibly motivating and rewarding. Here's why: it flexes to my energy levels and schedule.

So today I just looked over the checklist and picked two things I wanted to do: clean the guest bathroom and do the baseboards. Easy, looks great, done. And this fits with the flexing of the plan because:

On days when I cook (three days a week) I do the daily stuff and maybe on weekly or one monthly task, and I check them off on the list and give myself props. On days when my partner cooks (three days a week) or when we go out/order in (one day a week), I have time and energy to do more and check off a couple of weeklies or monthly tasks as well. This feels GREAT. And he is doing his half now, too, precisely because it is all so clear on the checklist, whether something is done, who did it, and when. The checklist from Day 2 is genius, and our house—-a pretty medium or not-big house at 2000 sq ft—-is already looking SO much better even after this relatively short time. THANK YOU, January Cure!

For my project, I decided to paint the door from the kitchen into the garage. We had the door replaced a couple of months ago and I still haven't painted it, mostly because it will have to stay ajar while it dries and we have an indoor - only cat. But she will be spending the day at the vet on the 29th to get spayed, so that's the day my door gets painted!

recovering the seats of our dining room chairs. Well, I did one and cut the foam/fabric for the others. And I have the workspace set up with the tools to get it done over the next week. Treat was an evening with some friends. 😊

It looks like I was last here and ready to post at the 2 minute day. But i I didn't. I had a two minute task and enlisted the help of a neighbor. Which has kept me busy in the evenings unpacking more boxes.

audit day - install bollards in driveway, repair soffits, paint entire interior, drain and refill hot tub, build catio, build cat litter station, recode locks.

toolkit day - that was part of my move, ensuring I had the Allen keys, screwdrivers, levels and wrenches needed. I am still looking for the right cutting tool for the cat litter project.

starting project - all of my projects are either out doors or need ventilation. With temperatures below freezing both day and night, this is not the time.

this brings me to today. I had already installed all I could in entry. Mat, shoe horn hook, umbrella drip area, welcome mat outside.

For my weekend project, I went over all the clothes in my armoire, put some in the outbox, and reorganized all the rest so it looks neat when I open the doors. I refolded them in a new way (rolled up and on end, a la Marie Kondo) so that I hope I'll be able to see everything and can pick out one shirt or whatever without knocking over all the others. We shall see! I've been intending to do this for a long while, so am thrilled it's finally done! For my treat: dinner and movie with a friend (it was also a birthday celebration).

Other projects in the offing: clean and repair the tub. Buy lampshade holders and use them on a vintage lamp I found and husband has been refurbishing, adding some vintage glass shades I found in the street. Take a beautiful old photo of my grandmother as a teen to a framer and have it framed.

Holy cow! Elephant and mermaid murals? That sounds like fun! I like your froggy bathroom too.

Not sure how large or heavy your round textile is, but pinning it to a backing and then hanging is not supposed to be good for the textile, as its weight pulls down on the pins, the holes enlarge, and it gets bent out of shape. I do not speak from experience here, and it may not matter so much, but I pass it on for what it's worth. Maybe use lots of pins to take the weight off any one place? I love that you're using a homemade textile as art! And I really don't know how else to hang something round. Maybe baste it to a backing, and then hang the backing?

I have a beautiful embroidered linen tablecloth I have never used which is full of stains! I have no idea what or why. Tried hand washing in the sink, but the stains are still there — brownish, looks like it got wet at some point. So now I'm not sure what to do with the tablecloth. Any ideas for removing stains from old linen?

Daniela, your cluster's composition is amazing: are you an artist or designer? Because look how the visual line from the top picture at left, over to the pics and hang-up gear on the other wall, is a gentle downward diagonal, which echoes the strong downward diagonal visual line of the bright-coral inner arch; and the plant gracefully echoes your pic-to-pic-to-hangings line as well! WOW. Impressive composition. Thanks for sharing that. It's giving me some ideas. (uh oh, dangerous)

The heaviest part of that is the cardboard it is wrapped in. The pins would be simply to secure it in place until I can place it under glass. I am pretty sure it is crochet with a small hook and embroidery cotton. The frogs I have been collecting since the late 80's.

However I do the cleaning it will be laying flat for the whole process.

I got my chosen project done today. I painted the door from the kitchen into the garage while my cat was at the vet getting spayed. She's a strictly - indoor cat and I had to keep the door propped open for a few hours, so the timing was right. And she came through her surgery just fine!

Yesterday I went out and bought frames for my "grouping", and framed a couple of things. I haven't hung them yet but I'll post a picture when I do. I also bought a small shelf that I'm going to use to help organize my landing strip. I'm going to paint it before I put it up. I already have an old mirror that I think will look good above it.

It feels good to have my project finished!

@DanielaAraya Thanks for the washing instructions for linens! I'll try them.

Sometimes, the most challenging part of any task is just getting started. We have been having a lot of below-normal temperatures and haven't been able to get out of the house. I got so bored that I started decluttering and organizing my craft area in the den. I found treasures and grouped like items together. I also gathered the projects I wanted to do first in a more accessible location.

I knew I needed something else for my couch! Exploring the house today for best accent pillow options!! May need to create/buy something with more color/texture.