Summer Routines

Once upon a time, I lost my to-do list.

Thereafter ensued a rather lengthy discussion among friends about the use of to-do lists.

I had one friend even suggest that she didn't use one at all.

So I gave that a try.

Let's just say that the results were not encouraging.  lol

Back to the to-do list I went.  A few friends asked to see it so I took a picture but then a few wondered exactly what my to-do list day looked like so here we are :)

To begin, you must understand that I exist from routines.  My to-do list contains the things that won't get done with just my basic daily routine.  So I'll start there (If you've read my post about my winter routine some of this will be the same).

I get up around 6 a.m.  I get Lee up if it is a work/school day and then I go feed cows.  In my pajamas.  The cows don't care.
When I get back in I make coffee, start laundry, make sure Greg is up and do my Bible study.  I hang out the first load of laundry and start the 2nd load.  I check facebook.  I hang out the 2nd load.  Sometimes I do the dishes.  When the big boys leave for work/school I take a shower.

After my shower I consult my to-do list.  Sometimes I make a "master list" on Sunday, sometimes I make the list every morning.  The list is sometimes on an index card, scrap of paper, my day-planner calendar.....I just jot down when needs to be done that day.  Really, don't over think this.  If the kids spilled kool-aid on the kitchen floor, the add mop kitchen floor.  If someone wrote their name in the dust on the coffee table write dust living room.  If the dog knocked over the potted plants (again) then write down clean/sweep front porch.

Then do the things on the list.

I try to spend an hour on the list first thing in the morning.  In addition to whatever is on the list the following is to always be done, every day:  sweep downstairs, make my bed, straighten bathroom, laundry, cat litter box, dishes, meals.  I also am in charge of feeding the cows twice a day, at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Those are ball park times but I try to stay on schedule...remember that if you do everything at the same time everyday it is harder to forget to do it :)  Sometimes I also feed and water chickens and gather eggs.  Rarely I will check on pigs (usually only if Norman has worked more than a double shift in a week).  I also don't often put hay in the manger or straw in the cow stalls but I could.  Every day I check with Norman and one of us do these chores.  If I do them, I do it around 3, just before I feed cows the 2nd time.  Routine, routine, routine.

As long as I only do 2 loads of laundry, I bring the dry laundry in right after lunch.  Then I do any remaining chores from the list.  If we do school that day then there are more chores in the afternoon.  If we don't then I try to get everything done before lunch.

I got to thinking about my insistence on having my work done before supper.  I know a lot of moms that do housework all day, even into the evenings and if you are working then I imagine that you would have to do that to get everything done.  I find it very important to give myself a "stopping point".  So after 5 or 6 I am "off the clock".  That means that if it isn't done off the list by then, it moves to the next day.

Does that mean I'm watching TV all night?  Sometimes.  Sometimes I work in the garden when it is cooler, sit on the porch and read, knit or sew.  I think it is reasonable to have a stopping point in your day of work.  Now when the garden is in full swing I imagine that my days will stretch far into the evening as I preserve as much of God's bounty as possible.  But I try not to make that the "norm".

I hope that this helps some of you establish your daily routines and to-do lists.  Really, the routine is the most important thing.  If I can get the routine stuff done (basic housework and animal chores) then the day has gone well.