packing, cleaning and bins

Tags

bins, cleaning, clothes, Germany, packing, planning, travel

Most of today will be filled with packing, cleaning and bins, I just hope I don’t get them mixed up along the way and end up with old newspapers and plastic packaging in my suitcase.

Yesterday I spent most of the day working on a project and at a job interview so somehow I don’t feel ready to up my stales and head off for six weeks, but since the date on my ticket tells me a different story I better get ready.

The one thing I really hate about going away is packing, planning ahead for several weeks and having to make up your mind how much you want to bring always frustrates me. And for the last few days I’ve had the washing machine going at full speed trying to make sure I don’t leave any of my favourite items behind. I can’t help but wish for of those ladies maids that would wrap everything in silk-paper and make sure you were prepared for any occasion, all your belongings magically packed and unpacked without you having to lift a finger.

So as I stare into the sallow depths of my suitcase – why didn’t I buy a bigger one – I really long for a Mary Poppins style carpet bag, everything would fit in and I could even bring my own teapot!

 

to dust or not to dust

Tags

clean home, cleaning, dust, dusting, home, house, photo, quote

We’ve been having the most beautiful weather for the past week and with that my household duties have been more than just neglected – forgotten and ignored would be more apt. But since my mother will be visiting for a few nights and the sun is exposing all that the shadows normally hide I think it is time to whip out the duster and get to it.

The only problem is that I hate dusting – cleaning in general. After all it always feels somewhat pointless, as as soon as you put down the broom dust begins to accumulate again. And then of course there is the added issue of small urban dwellings, with dirt literally just outside your door and fumes in the air it is hard to keep those floors sparkling and shelves polished.

But since I do have a lot of knick-knacks, bric-a-brac or memories stored in items dotted around the place, dusting always turns into somewhat of a marathon. Maybe that is what so many chose to live with ‘clean lines’ and ‘white surfaces’  and avoid the more cluttered up look. However no matter how appealing that may seem when it comes to cleaning I love surrounding myself with bits and pieces of my life and don’t think I’ll ever change that.

And as much as I hate cleaning, I do love a clean and tidy house.  So with that in mind I’d better put on my bandana and dust the morning away. With the help of some loud sing-a-long music I’m sure I’ll have dusted away the cobwebs in no time – and who knows, maybe by doing so my mind will be free to allow an uncluttered path for my still absent muse.

The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.

Marie Kondo

getting ready to swing the mop

cleaning and The Breakfast Club

Tags

80s, cleaning, Don't You Forget About me, home, music, Simple Minds, The Breakfast Club

After a nice ling lie-in my Saturday will be filled with mops, brooms, cleaning products and a duster. My little home needs some TLC and the only way to achieve this is to roll up my sleeves and give it some elbow-grease.

And if I find a moment I would like to complete my window-sill project that I started yesterday. But of course I still have  to work on my book to do and as it is a sunny Saturday I would love to carve out an hour to sit on my bench and read.

However I may need to consider a disco nap as I am going to be out late tonight, not dancing but returning the 80s. A friend and I are going to a late night screening of The Breakfast Club, one of my favorite films.

I didn’t see it in the Cinema when it first came out, 29years ago, but saw it a few years latter when i was in my mid-teens. I fell in love with the rebels and nerds alike and just loved the music. There was (and possibly is) just no one better than John Hughes to capture teenage dreams and insecurities and capture the authentic spirit of an era.

So even if my day will be filled with unpleasant scrubbing, polishing and cleaning I do have a lovely night to look forward to. So maybe I should just turn up the stereo, play Simple Minds and boogie my way around the house to “Don’t You Forget About Me”

 

 

 

domestic diva

Tags

cleaning, domestic diva, gardening, home, home making

Well this weekend I seem to have morphed into a domestic diva … yesterday I spent all day mopping , dusting and scrubbing, gleaming up my house making it all sparkly and clean. I even changed the sheets!

And today I only took a tiny break to wanderer around an antiques fair and even though I came back empty handed I did enjoy my little trip. But since then I have been potting, planting and preparing my tiny yard and windowsills for the cold season. I have taken my herbs indoor in the hope they’ll survive and attached a rain-cover to my bike to protect the saddle. That way I’ll never get a wet bum.

And now I think I may even tackle the Kitchen. it needs some reorganizing and my herbs need a home so a little reshuffling is on the agenda. However as the light is fading and I still need to clean the mess I made outside those selves may need to wait until tomorrow.

I just hope my Domestic Diva has another day in her, after all she rarely comes out to play and she may just disappear behind that satisfied smile for a while. But if I’m lucky I can coax her out with some chocolate and red wine, a yummy, relaxing treat perfect for those Diva desires.

weekly photo challenge – inside

Tags

cleaning, home, inside, photography, photos, Weekly Photo Challenge, weekly photo challenge – inside

Well, I spent my day INSIDE cleaning my home!