Time for spring cleaning (5/10/04)

I’ve heard it said that pride goeth before a fall. I should have remembered that maxim before I bragged that I actually fixed our chipper-shredder, that marvelous machine that turns yard waste into mulch. It was the first time in my life that I have ever fixed anything besides a vacuum cleaner. I was extremely proud of my accomplishment.

The machine started and worked wonderfully the evening after I reattached the loose wire in its motor. The day was as sunny as my mood, and I was making real headway into the mess in the backyard. I went to get a shovel from the garage when I foolishly shut off the contraption. It hasn’t started since. So much for my mechanical abilities!

I was hoping to get the yard cleaned up because my family is coming this weekend. I want to show off the flowers to my mother. They don’t visit very often as we live so far away. It is a special treat when they do plan a trip to see us. I wanted everything to be as perfect as it can be.

The shredder is apparently on vacation again so I suppose I’ll have to concentrate on getting the inside of the house presentable. I don’t want them to realize how much of a slob I really am.

It’s funny how we tend to build nests around ourselves. The area beside the couch currently contains several books, lots of finished and unfinished sewing projects, notebooks and journals, magazines, a ruler, a pair of pliers and who knows what else.

There are probably a few pieces of broken glass in the mess also. Gracie, the calico cat, outdid herself last week. It was way too early to get up when she did her crazy cat exercise routine. She bounced off my husband with all her claws extended, sailed over me then circled the lamp before it toppled over, shattering the light bulb and then vanished before we could catch her. This entire episode took less than a minute. When she did reappear I grabbed her and examined her feet to make sure she hadn’t gotten cut. She protested and whined the whole time. She was unscathed.

As often as she has included that lamp in her racetrack throughout the house, this is the first time she has ever broken anything. It had to happen sooner or later. The good thing is that light bulbs are replaceable and nobody was hurt by flying glass. We did manage to get up earlier than we had planned.

In addition to relocating the assorted craft projects and putting away the books, I need to clear a path through the jungle of plants that live indoors during the winter. I had planned to move most of them to their summer homes on the patio but as chilly as it is I’m not sure that is a good idea just yet. Some of the hardier ones are outside anyway. I keep them close to the house for a week or so until I am sure the nights are going to stay above freezing.

The house always looks so naked the first few days after the plants leave. I find spaces I didn’t know I had. It seems like the place doubles in size. It looks so airy and open. It doesn’t take long before it’s as cluttered as ever.

Having the family visit is a great excuse to get everything put away and spruced up. Unfortunately, cleaning is something that never lasts. A house is determined to be in a constant state of messiness. Just like nature abhors a vacuum, so a house detests neatness.

It never fails that as soon as I run the sweeper the plants will feel compelled to strew their leaves over the freshly cleaned carpet. As soon as the dishes are put away another one will materialize in the sink.

I wonder what kind of bribery it will take to get the place to remain presentable until they get here. Maybe if I promise not to try to repair anything, the house will behave long enough for my family to think I’m a decent housekeeper. If not, there’s always next time. I am disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to get the yard cleaned up but the shredder has other plans.

My own plans are to enjoy the time with my family and to quit worrying about the mess.[[In-content Ad]]