Can I have a gold star?

I know I haven't finished the Room of Doom but I have done A Lot this week, so can I have a star, please?  Pretty please?

The Room of Doom started the week like this and finished like this.

The sofa went from this to this 

So can I have this as a special award to start my Sabbath?

And I'll do some more next week!

Slow but steady progress

I knew it wouldn't be a quick job.  And I really haven't been a good girl.  The trouble is, today was the loveliest day we've had for quite a while so I went out.  

But there has been progress.  Here's how the sofa was last night.

And here's tonight's view.

Not a lot of progress.  But I have found this.

Not a pretty sight!

I warned you that I would be back!  It is not a pretty sight but I have made some progress.

This morning I invited you to play spot the sofa.
.

Further clues are now available.  

But not a lot.

I'm back - and in the Room of Doom!

I got up this morning full of determination.  One look in The Room of Doom was almost enough to change that!  Oh dear!

But it was only almost enough to change it.  I sat down with a cup of coffee and my pooter and I looked at my posts on this blog since January.  I realised that although it is still an almighty mess, I have made some progress.  But it is still the Room of Doom.

A second cuppa made the world look a slightly better place.  A Plan formed.

And here is the result.

Impressive, huh?  Not perfect but I was able to vacuum the floor.

Don't be too impressed though.  This level of tidiness comes at a price.

Spot the sitting room sofa.

I shall report back later today

Spring Staycation

This is just a quick post to say that I have had a lovely staycation with my friends Amy.  Once again Louise came to help me “hotelify” my home so we could relax here at Frugal Follies. 

I collected Amy from Newark on Friday, Saturday we visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Sunday was church, lunch out and exploring Caistor and Monday we went to Lincoln Castle. 

I feel as though I have had a lovely holiday without the hassle of packing and I have decided to visit Amy in the autumn. She’ll be coming here next year again. 

One decision I have taken is that I want to explore the idea of special times in my own home even when I don't have a visitor to share them.  Watch this space!

Thirty on a Thursday

The wonderful Louise came yesterday so I've now got a bright clean, shining house.  Today I will set up the bed for Amy, and I'll just about be ready.

But thirty on a Thursday?  Well, getting ready for Amy has involved some decluttering and this morning I decided to try and make up the leaving-the-house box up to thirty.  These alliteration challenges work for me - so far.

Anyway, today's haul.

1 pack of pillow protectors
1 Purse
1 lightbulb (bought for a lamp which I no longer have)
1 tub body butter
2 craft CDs
2 DVDs
2  embroidery kits
and fifteen books

In addition to these I've found three PVC tablecloths for Brownies and a casserole and a stick blender for a friend along the road.

And there's still an AWFUL lot left

'Fessing up!

My friend Amy is coming again soon so once again I am preparing for a Staycation. Last time her visit went really well so I want to build on that success.

One problem I have is that I no longer have a guest room.  Until Amy came last November I had never needed one.  I have a dining-room-cum-sewing-room and that had to take on yet another function as a guest room.  I use it several days each week as a sewing room and several days a year as a dining room.

So inviting from the door!

You’ve guessed the problem – I have an awful lot of sewing stuff.  Quite apart from two sewing machines and an overlocker there are huge quantities of fabric and “stuff”.  Each time I need the room as a dinning room everything gets shoved every which place.  I really don't want to live like this and I would like to be able to do a neat conversion job each time I need the room for a different use.    It didn’t look QUITE as bad as this before I started sorting but I’ve had to abandon the Room of Doom for the moment.

Glorious which ever way you look!

So for those of you who thought I had only one Room of Doom – think again!