On the first day of October, I reviewed how I did on my September goals and wrote out my October goals. I am determined to do better, this month.
I was expecting a visit from one of my aunts and a cousin, on Wednesday morning. They were coming to breakfast and I wanted the house to look a little more presentable.
The living room was not bad - I had recently dusted the coffee table and bookcase, so, all I had to do was dust the piano and vacuum. The dining table was full of my sewing-related items - sewing machine, cutting mat, the basket of sewing supplies, fabric, etc. I put it all away, dusted the table, spread the lace table cover, and put away the ironing board and iron.
The family room and the kitchen were the rooms in need of most attention. I changed the sofa dust covers and did a load of laundry. Then, I started tidying and putting away stuff. I had at least a dozen empty jars sitting on the kitchen counter - don't ask me why! I wash out empty jars and keep them to reuse for storing various things, but, there isn't a set place to store them, so they end up sitting on the counter. I separated the glass ones from the plastic ones, put the glass ones in a box and stored them in the spare bedroom for the time being (no, I don't want it to become The Dump, again!). The plastic jars are in a bag - I am trying to convince myself to recycle them! Just how many jars does one person need? Then, I wiped down the kitchen counters and stove top, did the dishes, and cleaned the inside of the microwave.
Finally, I vacuumed the family room, dining area, kitchen, and the hallway. The house is looking much better!
I had to take short breaks in between, during which I had lunch (spaghetti), tea and muffins, brought the trash cans in, went through the mail, watched news, and played one or two computer games.
Aunt C called me around 9:30 p.m. to let me know that she and my cousin are unable to come to breakfast, tomorrow, after all! They are having some plumbing problems and have to wait for the plumber. Well, I'm disappointed that they are unable to visit, but, I am glad that their promised visit motivated me to start cleaning! Not to mention, I don't have to try and wake up early to make breakfast! They will let me know when they can visit, next, and they are always welcome, any time. I do hope it will be before Halloween, so I can give my cousin the gifts I made for her.
I am hoping I'll be able to keep the momentum going and finish cleaning the house, tomorrow (bedrooms need to be vacuumed). At least, the house will be nice and tidy for when my daughter comes to visit, tomorrow night!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Another sunny day
- What I was able to accomplish in terms of housework
- Working appliances
- Fresh fruits
- Being able to video chat with my daughter
Today's joyful activity was restoring some order to my home!
Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the empty trash cans in- DONE
- Pay the other bills
- Tidy the house - STARTED
- Vacuum - STARTED
- Change the sofa dust sheets - DONE
- Do a load of laundry - DONE
- Do some grocery shopping
Wednesday's To Do List:
- Pay the other bills (utilities and gas)
- Dust and vacuum the bedrooms
- Put new sheets on daughter's bed
- Do some grocery shopping
- Pick up daughter from the airport
How was your Tuesday? What motivates you to clean?
At least you can enjoy all your hard work. I love that feeling I get when I sit down in a sparkling room that I have spent hours cleaning 😊
ReplyDeleteBe brave and send some of the empty jars to recycling. Ask yourself how often you run out of jars to reuse for storage and see if you need to keep any of them. You may surprise yourself, and you will always get new jars in the future to replace them if you do find you need them. Also, maybe think about making a space for them in a cupboard and only keep the number of jars that will fill that space and any extras go straight to recycling. Sorry if it sounds like I'm nagging you xx
Yes, I am enjoying knowing the house is tidy, again. It really wasn't too bad, but, it feels more spacious now that the horizontal surfaces are cleared! Now, if I can only maintain it, I won't have to do too much to prepare for the prayer gathering!
DeleteNo, you are not nagging; you are very gently nudging and reassuring me that it is OK to let go of the excess. It's not like I have a need for all these jars! I do have a space for them in a cupboard - but, that space is already full of, guess what? More jars! :p
You are so good with planning your tidying, I should do some, tidying too!☺
ReplyDeleteHa, ha, yes, I am good with the planning! It is the actual doing of it that I am not so good with! I'd much rather sit and knit or read than clean! :)
DeleteNothing like having people over to get the house clean, is there? I know what you mean about jars. How I've handled it that I have one place for them and when that gets full, they get recycled. I come by wanting to save them all naturally. You should have seen my parents attic. It was full of jars of all kinds.
ReplyDeleteHaving people over is the best motivation for cleaning! Or, at least, tidying! I should just have people over more often!
DeleteThe space I do have in one of the kitchen cupboards for jars is already full, that's why these newer jars were just sitting out on the counter! I am a packrat when it comes to containers!
You sound so busy and productive. Mess motivates me to clean. I am going through paperwork. I am no longer going to use the kitchen table to store mail. It will be strictly for eating.
ReplyDeleteWell, I was productive, yesterday. I have a very high level of tolerance to mess! That can be a problem! I try to store mail on my desk, but, invariably, it ends up on the coffee table or the dining table! I hope you are able to keep the kitchen table cleared for eating. :)
DeleteOh, sorry you won't get your visit! I hate cancellations! But yes it was a productive cleaning day for you. You are a model homemaker! Andrea
ReplyDeleteOh, Andrea, I am laughing so hard! I am the furthest thing from being a model homemaker! :D But, I am trying!
DeleteYes. I am sorry aunt and cousin weren't able to visit, but, hopefully, they'll be able to make it another time. :)
Oh no! Sorry about the visit, but at least you got the house tidied up. Your counter sounds like my dining room table - things just seem to collect on it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm disappointed they couldn't visit, but, at least, the house got tidied and I didn't have to get up early and cook! My kitchen counters are like magnets! Things get drawn to it and they stick! :D
DeleteYou did a good job tidying and cleaning. I hope your aunt and cousin manage to resolve their plumbing issues satisfactorily. We take plumbing for granted and when it fails us, it is tough!
ReplyDeleteDH and I took a long trip to visit his periodontist and I managed to find a leather watch strap in a very expensive jewellery store which could only be accessed by pressing a bell to be let in through two separate secure doors! I didn't buy any of their high priced baubles. $169 for a tiny drop on a chain is an invitation to financial frustration as I tend to lose things quite easily.
Thank you, Bushlady; I was motivated to clean! I do hope they get the plumbing fixed. We do take indoor plumbing and hot and cold water on tap for granted, don't we?
DeleteHope your DH's visit to the periodontist went well. Glad you were able to find a watch strap. I no longer wear a wrist watch (haven't for many years, actually, but, at one time I was never without one! For days, weeks, after I took it off, I kept looking at my wrist to check the time, just out of habit! :D I, too, tend to lose jewelry! Mostly rings, but, I've lost other items, as well.