On Our Little Homestead

Before I begin - Many thanks to all who sent me birthday wishes, cards or little gifts.  You helped to make my day shine!  Including the wonderful phone call from my 2 grandchildren, Jarryn & Jacey!

As another week begins here for us on our small homestead, which by the way sits on just over the quarter acre, my mind focuses on the subject of Preparedness.  This is a subject that has been close to my heart for many, many years.  How prepared one might be depends on not just the person, but the character of the person & their mindset. Since we've now been here 7 weeks & the initial busyness of unpacking & such has diminished (though we still have plenty of boxes needing to be unpacked - once the kids are able to move their gear into their own place), This morning was the time to get onto making up a rough weekly time management plan.  Of course once I'm working part time at the hospital that will have to be incorporated into the plan as well - hence making an "adjustable plan" tends to work best.  My work days are never set in concrete, & the homestead and having us prepared is a big priority.  Who out there does not get prepared in some small way?  It might just be buying the bread to make the lunches the next day, or it may be having your lunches already sorted & menu planned for the next month.  The more you learn to extend the way you prepare for yourself & your family, the easier things will become - with time management & in times of need (loosing a job; a sick child or spouse; an economy downturn, flood, sudden increase in cost of food or fuel ....... the list goes on)   -( Deanna, over at Ourplainandsimplelife recently discussed this subject under the heading of "Gods forgotten people those who can't prep?' in response to people who mentioned they were unable to undertake preparations due to their circumstances. )
So being one who just can't seem to sit still, I decided the best way of attacking my new weekly time management plan was to undertake some other prep while contemplating what to do when - so out came the hexi template  to cut up ready for  One Flower Wednesday  and now I have a sheet of hexies already cut out + my time management plan for the week - which includes things like cleaning; spring cleaning of each of the rooms throughout the week; snail mail; groceries; craftwork; Ironing, gardening & such.  It's a rough plan with what needs to be fitted in each day & flexible enough that if I'm at work at the hospital for an 8 hr shift the days can be interchanged if its a "big day", or the majority fitted in.  For example: Mondays are a general clean up after the weekend & since I've decided that Tuesdays are my best day for heading to town for groceries & errands , then Monday is the perfect day to clean out the kitchen (yes, fridge & pantry check) so that anything old is removed & stock taken of what is there.  Monday is also the best day to work out the menu plan for the coming week (eventually that will be done on a monthly basis - which it used to be when our children were young & saves lots of money - if you can stay away from the supermarkets you'll save money!) A menu also includes morning teas & lunches so you know what baking you'll be doing & check you have all the ingredients on hand.  Since Tuesday will be my errand day, then last minute snail mail should also be attended to on Mondays, making a nice way to spend time in the afternoon with a cuppa after getting the kitchen spring cleaned & sorted during the morning :)   And if Monday is to be focused on the kitchen - then crafts to do with the kitchen can be worked on in the evening. 
Tues - Groceries, errands, bills, paperwork , deep clean of dining & lounge (where I do the paperwork) & the ironing - including iroining my fabrics to be used the next day for Flower making.
Wed - One Flower Wednesday ; Garden work, Deep clean of wet areas (bathroom, toilet, laundry)
Thurs - Is a Homesteading day working on th verandahs, craft room & tending to the needs of the homestead which might include making a batch of soap, jam, garden work etc etc
Fri - Good houseclean (which will not be too hard given the deep cleans going on during the week :) ); Deep clean to main b/r & other b/r;  craftwork is based on gift giving or bedroom needs
Sat - Washing/ gardening/ Dogs washed
Sunday - Sabbath/ Family & Friend orientated
Of course normal things getting done everyday includes the extra load of washing; my floors get done daily due to having inside dogs; general tidy up etc etc.    Still this may help some of you who have been asking for a bit of help in getting a routine initiated , which in turn will lead you into preparedness on many levels.