Monday - Erasing the Evidence

I had the day off from work, today.  So, I was able to sleep for a full 8 hours after falling asleep at 3:00 a.m.  (On days I go to the office, I set my alarm for 8:00 a.m., even when I fall asleep at 3:00 a.m.)

After a cup of coffee, I set about erasing the evidence of Saturday's prayer gathering!  That's what they used to call it when I was a member of an organizing forum.  After making a sandwich, put away the bread, the butter or mayo, the cold cuts, etc., and wipe the crumbs off the counters to erase the evidence of your sandwich making; after doing a load of laundry, fold and put away the laundry as soon as the items are dried to erase the evidence of doing laundry; after holding a prayer and dinner gathering at your home, put everything away and straighten up the house to erase the evidence of the event! 

First, I got dressed, including shoes and lipstick!  Shoes because I had a pain in the sole of my heel from being on my feet wearing the flat shoes I wore during the prayer gathering and wearing my old pair of walking shoes helped.  I wore them all day, yesterday (I normally don't wear shoes inside the house) and the pain was gone by night.  This morning, there was no pain, but I wore the shoes as a preventive measure.  Lipstick because, well, I felt like it!  LOL.

Then, I put in a load of laundry to wash.  While it was washing, I put away the laundry from yesterday.  Then, I put all the dining chairs back (they had been moved to the living room to provide extra seating) and straightened up the living room.  I returned the statue of Our Lady to the other altar where it is kept, usually, and returned the anniversary clock to the mantel.  But first, I replaced the batteries in the clock, washed the glass dome, and wiped the mantel.  Then, I wiped the coffee table, put the Halloween table runner out, and straightened up the cushions on the chairs - the decorative, accent cushions or pillows. 

I forgot to take pictures until I started to write this post, so here's how the rooms look in the evening:

Living Room from Front Door

From Another Angle

In between, I hung up the load of laundry to dry.

Next, I tidied up the dining area.  All the dishes that were washed had been set out on towels on the big dining table to dry.  I put them all away and took the opportunity to check what disposable items I will need for the almsgiving I will hold in December.  I use my good china for the meal I serve the monks, but use paper plates and bowls, etc., for the people who participate, in order to cut down on all the washing up, afterwards.  I removed the table cloths I used for the dinner and put them to launder, later.  Wiped the table, set a small square table cloth in the middle and the fruit bowl.

Dining Table

By this time, I was hungry, so I had a late lunch.  Then, I did the rest of the dishes that needed to be washed (forgot the roasting pan, though, which was hiding in the oven!).  One of the plates I was washing slipped out of my hand and broke.  We'll count that as my decluttering for the day, along with a small empty bottle of perfume I had kept in my dresser drawer to scent my clothes (the bottle  no longer had any scent left).  Later, I emptied all the waste baskets and took the trash and recycling cans to the curb.

It was 102F today and it is going to be even hotter, tomorrow.  The garden needed to be watered, so I hand-wanted the front garden and turned on the sprinklers at the back.  I watered the indoor plants, as well.   

Later in the evening, I called my cousin P and friend R who had come and helped me and thanked them again and we discussed the prayer gathering, again. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Having the day off from work
- Being able to sleep in
- My foot is OK and there were no more cramps
- A lovely warm day.
- I was able to get most of my to do list done


Monday's To Do List:
- Put away the dried laundry - DONE
- Do another load of laundry - DONE
- Put away the washed dishes - DONE
- Check what needs to be replenished and make a shopping list (I know we ran short of the quart sized baggies, yesterday!) - DONE
- Put away the bottles of drinks, etc. - DONE
- Photograph the wine bottle labels so I know what to buy, next time (two of my cousins brought wine because I told them I don't know what to buy for them, as I don't drink alcohol)
- Put back the chairs and tidy up a bit - DONE
- Take the trash cans to the curb - DONE
- Wash the rice cookers (DONE) and roasting pan
- Put away the big rice cooker until needed for the almsgiving
- Water the indoor plants - DONE
- Water the front garden - DONE
- Water the back garden - DONE
- Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
- Return or renew library magazines - DONE (Renewed)

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Bring in trash cans
- Wash the roasting pan
- Put away the big rice cooker
- Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
- Put away the dried laundry
- Do another load of laundry

How was your Monday?  Did you have a good day?