Normally on Sundays I like to share how I’m doing on the list of goals I set for myself each New Year but this Sunday is a little different.
It’s different because the HH and The Girl are off on a research trip to {they touched down in Spain last night} and now I find myself in the unique situation of being home alone for an ENTIRE WEEK! {Hot dog! Can you believe it!?}
A whole week to do whatever I want. In my own space. With my own things. It’s going to be AWESOME.
I kept going back and forth on how I should spend this golden opportunity.
Should I use this time to do one big thing {like turn this ginormous 4×5 foot piece of linen into the rug I’ve been meaning to hook for over a year now}?
Should I buy some baby chicks and ducks and a coop and get the whole thing set up while he’s gone and be like… I don’t know what happened… someone just dropped them off, they just appeared one morning… It was the strangest thing.
Or, should I make a list of all the little things I need to get done and just go at it like a crazy person and GET IT ALL DONE. Which of course would probably be the most responsible/satisfying/smart thing to do.
Here’s what I have on my list so far. I wonder if I could get it all done before they got back?
Totally Clean Out Craft Room
- List the odds and ends in my Etsy shop
Finish Cleaning Out Basement
- Toss or donate everything we can’t use
Whip up some ornaments:
- 100 Bees
- 24 Whales
- 24 Chickens
Paint
- Bedroom door
- Craft room door
- Kitchen trim
- Hallway x 2
Repot Seedlings
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Herbs
Hook and Complete 3 Rugs
- Daisy
- Crow
- Flag
Clean Out The Refrigerator
Clean Out The Freezers
Order Items For Holiday Giveaways
Fix 30 Recipe Posts
That’s all I’ve come up with so far.
So, it begs the question… If you had an entire week to yourself {at home} to do whatever you wanted to do… What would YOU do? Forget about my ideas… I’m giving myself until noon today to figure it out. But what would YOU DO at home for an entire week by yourself?
Fact: I may steal one of your ideas. 🙂
Peace Out.
~Mavis
Jamie says
My partner travels for work, so I have one of these free weeks every other month or so. I always prioritize eating the food I love and partner dislikes (onion rings!) and taking myself out for a special baked good, coffee, or meal at a local place. I clean one thing a day (kitchen, bathtub, or a storage box all count as a single thing in my mind). I do one or two necessary or productive things (budgeting, paying bills, mowing the lawn). Finally, I prioritize one fun project I have put off because “there were more important things to do”. For example, during this last stint I built a seed starting station in my office for my garden. In the past I have started new garden areas, worked on perfecting my pizza dough recipe, and sewed a set of curtains for a room.
Diana near Atlanta says
Being single, that’s my life every week, lol.
If I had the money and the muscle help, tho, it’d be the ducks and chicks by a long shot. Or maybe you could go out and get the greenhouse you want and have it constructed. Could that be done in a week? Hmmm…
Kim says
I would finish my spring cleaning and my spring outdoor chores which include spray painting some iron furniture, etc.
Happy is the man whose works his play.
I’m such a nerd.
Ida says
I mean, clearly you are lonely and need to get some chicks to keep you and Lucy company.
As for the question, whenever my husband goes away I tackle those things he’s been “unsure” about (read, rather maintain the status quo because it’s easier). So I’ll be removing wallpaper or drop ceilings, painting trim or just settle on a new wall colour for a room. And I’ll blast ABBA on repeat while doing it!
Jennifer says
Read and eat the things I like.
Mel says
I don’t see why you can’t do ducklings/chicks and your list!
I can’t actually take a week to myself, but since we finally got our baby to a competent allergist (and learned he has FAR fewer food allergies than we were told, will likely outgrow most of them, and is already doing exposure therapy!), I am currently hatching a plan to take some time back to cook and clean. After 8 months of having to hold the baby for EVERY nap (for several reasons, that was the only option), last month I got him to take part of each nap in the crib. This week I am going for broke and trying to help him take whole naps in the crib so I can have 4-5 hours a day to get things done. I just completed phase 1 of this plan, which was to buy a baby monitor.
Lynn from NC Outer Banks says
Mel, glad you got some good and reassuring news re: your baby’s allergies. I hope he will have continued success in the crib and that you can finally have a “settled” baby.
Mel says
Thanks!
Melonie K. says
So glad you’ve got answers and he – and you – are getting some better rest now!
Mel says
Well, answers, yes. Not so much on rest. He’s still up every 30 minutes all night. I’m hoping if I can tackle naps, that will help nights. I think he needs to learn to crawl before he’ll nap well, but I’m going to try.
Sue S. says
I feel your “pain” and as I say to other much younger mothers that me, “just keep telling yourself this is the easy part”.
I vote for chicks, ducklings, and rug planning. I had a pj day today, took a nap and now making some tracks on dinner.
Mel says
It sounds painful, but mostly it’s more that I get the sense he’s ready (he outgrew my lap and prefers the crib). So, I’m eager to test that theory and see if I can get the house back in order in the process. I’m just not holding my breath since we have had an insane year with many non-baby setbacks.
Brianna says
I make sure to start a project he has been on the fence about and FINISH it all before he gets home. I want him to enjoy it and not have to see work to do when he gets home. In the past I remodeled an entire bathroom, landscaped a yard, fixed stuff, installed new light fixtures, painted rooms, cleaned and organized the garage, had a yard sale, going through all the loose ends and buttoning up stuff, etc. Without him to distract me, I am quite productive and still manage the kids. He does not leave as much anymore (different job), and now I get caught mid-project and he feels he needs to have his input and it drives me crazy.
If I had next week all to myself, I would remove all the stuff from the garage (we just moved in November and finished out the basement and have been storing it there). He has been meaning to sort through and sort through it (90% his hobby/man cave/ gear) and put it nicely and organized in his ‘man cave.’ It would free up enough space that I might be able to use part of the garage for myself and actually start to see a vision for the garage. Then the next time he leaves for a week, I would tackle the garage. One zone or room at a time is how I work.
Sarah says
Get the chickens and ducks!!!
Mark says
Take the dog to the boarder, turn the AC down as far as it’d go and just sleep. Oh how wonderful it would be.
Elle says
I would soooo be tackling the “do list” but add a few “wow that would be so fun” things as well. Day 1, work like a crazy person on the list. Day 2, AM is “do list”, PM is “fun”. Day 3 is “do list”. Day 4 is all “fun”. Day 5 is “do list”. Day 6 AM is “do list”, PM is get those ducks/chicks/coop! Day 7 is fair game for whatever mood strikes. I am a work/rewards kinda girl 🙂
I’ll be reading to see what each day brings 🙂
Peg says
I’d have a day of total leisure and then a day of productivity and alternate throughout the week. I would also personally skip getting ducklings and chicks until another time.
Janet says
I WOULD NOT cook anything I didn’t want to really, really eat. With three guys I don’t have much choice. I would eat what I want.
J in OH-IO says
Well, this is why Mavis and the rest of you are all go-getters, goal setters, and get so much done and it amazes me! I would be in my pjs by 7 pm and sleep, sleep, and sleep some more, take naps, eat foods that I like, soak my feet, catch up reading a Prevention magazine or dvd from the library that I’ve been meaning to see, and maybe call a friend or two to catch up over the phone. Haha!
Most days my goals are just getting what needs to be done as routine housework and I don’t have a lot of extra energy by the end of the day to be more industrious. More power to you – looking forward to hearing all about your week – love your blog and the community here. Wish I had your energy – Go get ‘em!
Dawn Marie says
I’m with you! I would sleep, then sleep some more and then sleep a bit more after that. Then I would eat something then I might read a book, or, I might just go back to sleep!
Jennifer says
Due to my husband’s work schedule I’ve had a lot of time to myself in the evenings on the weekend lately. Yesterday I had all day and I worked on a puzzle and I took a long walk. I also tackled the closet in my daughters room got a lot of that cleaned out so that we can paint. I also did some baking and laundry. so I did some fun things, caught up on a few things, and also got started on a bigger project that we’ve been delayibg. my suggestion is to do a little bit of everything.
Janet says
Goal of visiting an old friend: Getting chicks.
Is that coop big enough?
J in OH-IO says
Janet- like your thinking here!!!
Myself, I thought it was an old pair of jeans or clothing. I would like to revisit most of my wardrobe, but need to lose 20 pounds a very slow process.
Melonie K. says
I vote get the chicks and ducks, and in between gazing adoringly at them, tackle a few things on the list. I wouldn’t even attempt the whole list, because I personally would want evenings for being flopped in my favorite spot with the dog and some good books. 🙂
I hope they have an amazing trip!
Eileen says
It’s nice to have someone ask for my ideas–thank you!
I think I would……have a nice hot cup of tea(it’s cold & rainy here) while I wait for the hen house to be delivered(it was your arm in the photo with the nice looking coop, wasn’t it?);-). Then I think I’d paint it barn red. I don’t know if that color would match your home or other out buildings but something about a barn red chicken coop always makes me smile. You could have it set up, painted, and filled with lots of sweet baby chicks and ducklings in no time. Then they and Lucy could keep you company while you work on that do-to list thingy.
Whatever you decide to do, have fun!
Mel says
I like the idea of not only installing the coop but also painting. If she does it right, she could convince him it’s always been there in the yard and that he just forgot.
Eileen says
lol! Mel–I like how you think! And so glad to hear you got some answers to your little ones health issues. I think not knowing what’s wrong with our kids or how to help them is the worst. Wishing you some decent sleep…and soon!
Pj Truman says
I would work on the big rug you’ve been thinking about for a year.
Teri says
Yes, you need to get Lucy some chicks!
Rosemary says
If I was you, I would do as much on the list as possible. It would be wonderful to do things without having to work around anyone – just go and do whatever I felt like doing – not worrying about what time it is – just do whatever item on the list jumps out at me at whatever time I feel like doing it (no worries about waking anyone up). And I would probably eat my favorite foods – especially those that don’t require cooking. Might even stay in my pajamas . . .
Jam says
I would take a cooking or art class one night. Maybe two nights if there were two classes I was interested in that week. And it’s ok to go alone, I’ve done that several times. And I would stay up late watching tv shows I like, and then sleep in and then take a nap and then call my grandma and talk to her for a bit. But, I’m a mom of a baby and 2 young kids and sleep is scarce, as is staying up late or sleeping in or talking to people uninterrupted 🙂
I would go on some good walks in the evening or morning when the weather is nice. And I would go to a gardening store or a greenhouse and walk among the plants.
I love how excited you are about your week alone! What a gift.
Jen says
I am voting for chickens!
Nancy D says
Me too! Loved all your chicken adventures since Washington state!!!
Sheri says
I would spend 1/3 of my time tackling the to do list and the remaining 2/3’s doing the things I don’t often do when my husband is home. I love going into different cities/neighborhoods and walking around. It’s a nice change of scenery and I get to know new places and benefit from the exercise.
I would also start my days slower than usual and take naps. I love a good nap!
Cecile says
I’d say do everything that his input would cause a delay in completion! Hubs is going away for a golf weekend and I’ve already made a list of wood and hardware I need to build a pergola! I know what I want and if I waited for him to figure out what we need it will be October before it’s built! Definitely the chicks and ducklings, they are a must!
Mable says
Chickens and ducks need to be housed separately and ducks are incredibly messy. If you do have ducks, you can use a small pump to channel the poopy water to water your flower garden…We have had chickens, ducks and geese and the chickens were the least maintenance and the eggs were more useful in that some folks won’t eat duck or goose eggs and it can require reworking some recipes to switch them from chicken to duck eggs. But for just the entertainment value, I vote for geese every time. (And don’t believe the stuff about how chickens will help you weed. They will eat everything in the garden if let loose in it.) We also had turkeys and they were friendly and fun to watch…
Candy says
Mable, I agree about ducks. They spend all their time emptying their water and soaking their bedding. And they don’t lay eggs much beyond spring so they’re freeloaders most of the year.
Chickens don’t just eat everything in the garden, they scratch and pull all the small plants out. You’ll need a predator proof fence to keep the poultry and your garden safe.
Heidi N. says
I agree with many others here: get the baby chicks & ducks!!! Enjoy your week to yourself, Mavis!
If I had an entire week alone then I think I would only eat meals and foods that I truly love to eat. I would do some Spring cleaning. I would probably be able to catch up on laundry for the first time in years, yay! Also, I would read an entire book or two!
Janet says
Get the chickens and then work on cleaning out the craft area. I am slowly working on my spare room so I can feel accomplished, have my own space and take the time to create. Would love chickens, but can’t have them where I live. Three bee hives is pushing it. Lol
Tiffany F says
I vote for the list of ALL the things! I am doing the same thing this week, myself. This happens VERY rarely for me. My kids are still here though but I’m giving them the week off school, mostly, so that I can work on my list. In the past I have also done a large project which must be completed, as Brianna said, so that my husband doesn’t come in and try to help finish it. 🙂
Here’s my list for this week:
Print & send graduation invitations for oldest child (he’s in public school, other two are homeschooled).
Sew canopy for play set
Paint outdoor iron furniture
Paint trim in kitchen and a bathroom
Paint/touch up one wall in kitchen (chairs hit it all the time)
Paint behind a toilet, hubby replaced it, new toilet is not as wide, so you can see a white unpainted spot behind it now
Re-pot some house plants
Steam clean carpets
Clean out basement
Clean out my closet, which has ALL the boxes of pic’s
Frame, re-frame, re-arrange, re-hang family pics on two walls
Extra dance rehearsal & recital for daughter
Soccer practice and playoff game for middle son
I can’t wait to hear what you decide to do.
sandyf says
Your ideas are all pretty solid. My husband used to go on sailing adventures-and every time he would return to major home demo/reno/lg home purchases. Maybe that is why he rarely ventures out of town anymore. I loved it-cleaned closets, replaced countertops, bought new frig, ripped out trees…you name it-I did it. Such fun.
He knows better now and won’t leave. Damn, enjoyed it while I had it.
I would use the time to turn up the music or audiobook, put on the tea, fill a bowl with nuts and fruit, work all day on something that you love. With Lucy on your lap.
Patti Vanderbloemen says
How exciting for your husband and daughter!
I had years of being alone when my other half traveled all the time. Glad that is over with! I am content doing pretty much whatever I want these days…whether it’s house chores or hobbies. I learned years ago that I have to make equal time for both!
Enjoy your week!
Barbara Dougherty says
We all know you’re getting the chick’s and coop. Lol. Who are you kidding?
Patti says
I’d be all over getting chickens again. The rest of the time would be spent in the kitchen, garden, reading and crafting.
Mimi says
If I had a week to myself I would just let the days unfold, no to-do list, no agenda. Just let it play out day by day.
I’m envious! As a happy introvert, nothing energizes me more than alone time and it never, ever happens.
Marlene says
I would get the chickens and ducks, always loved having them, sadly I moved where everything wants to eat them. Transplant, I have learned not to wait on that! And cheat, don’t cook! Eat from your extensive collection in the freezer, yum! Then I would do all the projects, that bring me joy!
SueD says
I would spend the first couple of days tackling jobs that can’t get done due to the OH’s objections/feet dragging/questioning/2nd guessing my decisions, in the mornings. Afternoons, depending on how far I’ve gotten, either more of the same, or play in the gardens. Evenings, read, sew, or craftwork. Eat foods I love, but he doesn’t. After making sure all garbage out for collection, donations inventoried and bagged, I would take a day or so to just enjoy the peace and quiet.
Judy says
Chickens, ducks and a pet turkey. They are very affectionate. Do no cleaning until the day before they get home. Cook and bake new recipes. Eat and read. But that’s just me.
wendy j says
Im so jealous! My husband is “retired” and never ever leaves home. Luckily i go to work and every couple of months i spend a weekend dogsitting for my daughter and son in law. Once a year they also go away on a big trip for 2 weeks so i get some alone time at their house. Id definately get chickens or ducks if he was gone away lol
Lisa says
I’m so impressed you even are contemplating a to do list today. This rain has me all kinds of lazy. It’s a soup on the stove, fire in the woodstove, book in hand kind of day.
Katie says
You can not have a religiously sized vegetable bed and NOT have chickens. Just saying. Also: I REALLY WANT A BEE GARLAND. It’s for my mantle over the summer. I have a garland of your hearts and love it and now I want more 😉 The bees are so cute! I almost bought some bee ornaments to make my own but the hole is in the wrong spot. 🙁 Help a girl out, Mavis!
Also, I hope you have daffodils merrily naturalizing in your meadow. I love that and need to live vicariously.
Mavis Butterfield says
I will put it on my to do list Katie. 🙂
Jackie says
Chickens, Chickens, Chickens!!!
And a few things off your list;-)!
Heather in NV says
If I had a week I would setup my sewing machine in the living room and watch movies while I sew. I would hope I get enough notice that I could premake food so I wouldn’t have to cook. And if I had time I would reorganize the sewing room and pull out everything I don’t want anymore. Enjoy your week. I am currently jealous.
Cindy says
I am on team chickens. I can’t have them in my area, you know HOA issues.
andrea d says
I’m not sure I’d know where to start if I had the house to myself for an entire day let alone a week. I always joke with my kids that I need about two weeks in the house completely alone- 1 or 2 days to catch up on sleep and be completely lazy, then 3 or 4 days to deep clean every inch of the house, another day of sleep to recover, then a whole week where nothing gets messed up and I can enjoy the clean and organized house. And if I’m feeling ambitious, knock out a bunch of the sewing/crocheting/photo album projects I have on my to do list.
Emily says
Read a good book totally interrupted and have tea and snacks instead of meals. Have a lovely week!
Lori says
My vote is for Chickens! How can you resist those little puff balls? I have chicken and they are so entertaining! Plus they poop breakfast, and with the price of eggs lately. It’s a good investment!
Maria says
What do YOU WANT to do? Do that! I do think you need to share where you found the coop! This week my new greenhouse is going up with the help of 2 brother-in-laws!! Still hoping to get a coop built later this summer.
Don’t worry about “the half to” and enjoy the “want to”!
Hawaii Planner says
When my husband travels, here’s my typical list:
-More time with friends (hikes, or maybe meeting up for a glass of wine)
-I work a lot on the house, decluttering & the like
-I don’t make a single of “his” salads all week (I make one every night for dinner, for him, because he likes just olive oil & lemon on his). Instead, I use the wasteful bagged salad kind, & enjoy the toppings & dressing. Living on the edge, I tell you.
-I treat the kids to a few meals out (not something he particularly enjoys)
-I usually pop popcorn & we have a movie/treat night
Hope they have a great trip!
Joanna says
Do what YOU want!! I am however, team greenhouse! Have fun Mavis!