Tom panicked when he saw the title of this post saying to me "Oh, great, how are you ripping me on the blog now? Not fair! I've just learned over the years there are certain chores that only I tackle. No one else is going to do them in my family of five. So if I don't do them, they don't get done. And to be just, there are certain jobs that Tom does that I won't touch with a ten foot pole. (Cat litter box...putting gas in the car....lifting heavy ceramic pots...dealing with worms...not I). But the division of labor has allowed us to have such a splendid garden and to continue to plow away at the yard, although our neighbors probably beg to differ! It makes me wonder what your November garden chore list looks like because this is what we've been up to. Want to compare notes? What are "your" outdoor jobs this time of year? Here's the thing that baffles me most about chores and gender.
The chore that I can't wait to do is the one that Tom either intensely dislikes or avoids like the plague. Vice versa holds true as well.
Case in point?....I actually find doing the laundry an invigorating experience. There's serious satisfaction in waking up at 7 a.m., popping in a large load, putting it in the dryer and by the time the kids are on the bus, I'm ready to fold! Same with bed making. Nothing perks me up like peeking into my room to see the bed made to perfection. Sloppy bed? No can do.
There are jobs that don't bother Tom one way or the other. As long as the laundry fairy does her magic and his clothes are back in the drawer when he needs them, he's not going to fuss.
The recycling is a different matter. I'm certain Tom has had murderous thoughts about me due to my poor habit of dumping all the recycling out the garage door and letting him deal with it. But he is so happy when it's time to recycle the water bottles for cash. I'd never do that task, like ever. They can sit in the garage till kingdom come.
Case in point?....I actually find doing the laundry an invigorating experience. There's serious satisfaction in waking up at 7 a.m., popping in a large load, putting it in the dryer and by the time the kids are on the bus, I'm ready to fold! Same with bed making. Nothing perks me up like peeking into my room to see the bed made to perfection. Sloppy bed? No can do.
There are jobs that don't bother Tom one way or the other. As long as the laundry fairy does her magic and his clothes are back in the drawer when he needs them, he's not going to fuss.
The recycling is a different matter. I'm certain Tom has had murderous thoughts about me due to my poor habit of dumping all the recycling out the garage door and letting him deal with it. But he is so happy when it's time to recycle the water bottles for cash. I'd never do that task, like ever. They can sit in the garage till kingdom come.
His and her division of labor....seasonal style!
Some chores I relish somewhat because they give me satisfaction to see completed like the laundry and the making of the beds.
But I am thrilled that other chores are seasonal so only have to get done once or even a couple of times of year. It spices up life a bit and makes you more appreciative when you don't have to do that task for up to a whole year again. Yay!
But I am thrilled that other chores are seasonal so only have to get done once or even a couple of times of year. It spices up life a bit and makes you more appreciative when you don't have to do that task for up to a whole year again. Yay!
His list...
- Plant the rest of the garlic
- Burn the rest of the weeds in the garden with torch
- Bring in the solar lights and garden decor that doesn't stay out all winter
- Haul remaining pumpkins to back yard for the deer to eat
- Put away tomato cages for next year
- Haul heavy ceramic pots in the garage
- Deal with hammock, find a storage spot for it so the mice don't chomp at it
- Blow out water from drip irrigation
- Clean chimney so we can burn wood
- Hang turkey decor and turkey lighting (this totally should be me but whatever) and take down when appropriate to store
- Blow out hoses
- Get on roof to clean chimney
- Mow the lawn and weedwack the yard for the last time this year
- Chuck pallets that never got used in DIY projects (someone will pick them up for sure!)
- Put away trampoline before inclement weather destroys it
- Blow leaves and compost
- Add a compost layer to the raised beds
- Stack wood outside and in the garage on the wood rack.
- Clean cars inside and out before the snow comes. Make sure windows are clean for increased safety.
- Recycle all bottles
Her list...
- Harvest the very last of the crops
- Dry herbs
- Decide what annuals to attempt to overwinter and which ones the frost can have its way with
- Bring in gourds from front porch and decide which ones will be used as table centerpiece and in home decor (okay, that sounded pretty lame.)
- Sweep front porch and driveway. Put away all clutter that has collected on front porch like tools, shoes, garden gloves and trowels. Store small garden away until next year
- Bring in potted plants like all the hibiscus plants and those lemon trees and finally those houseplants which got to enjoy the great outdoors for a bit.
- Pick apples and pears off trees for pies and applesauce
- Yard cleanup, twigs, branches, leaves....
- Decide which pumpkins will be used in Thanksgiving decor and which rotted
- Store seeds in a dark, dry place
- Sort kids clothes putting the seasonal spring and summer clothes away and finding fall and winter clothing.
- Put away garden boots, flip flops and other seasonal apparel until next year and find those dang winter boots in storage!
- Cut up the 10 mammoth squash I bought at a roadside stand
- Pull the last of the prickly weeds from perennial beds
- Plant bulbs
- Inspect for curb appeal - what's making our house look like the messy people on the block and what can I proactively do to change that today? Especially before the snow flies...
The family list...
There are a few chores that aren't designated to one person or the other and we just try to tackle as a family including:
- Roast pumpkin seeds
- The washing of the windows, especially the outside to make viewing easier. Clean windows make me happy and content.
- Decide what items should go to the Salvation Army and actually drop them off
- Clean up dog poop by scooping into double black-bagged garage bag (My 5-year-olds hawks eyes can always spot those poopsicles....kind of like an Easter egg hunt for her!)
- Sweep garage. Get rid of plastic toys no longer getting used. Organize. Organize. Organize.
The list no one did at the date of this post....oops!
- Make tomato sauce out of the excess tomatoes (we didn't have any)
- Fix our curb appeal by the side of the garage
- Plant last summer/fall crops like lettuce & peas
- Add a raised bed for just herbs
- Sweep all the wood bark and chips so bunnies and rats don't nest in them
- Do one last round of weeding around the perimeter of the yard
- Make applesauce (the apples were too wormy)
- Mow the lawn one last time
