Okay, so I cannot be thrilled to be confined to the house for another week, but it looks as if we are expecting another week of rain. Of course, being inside for a whole week gives me the opportunity to do some of that “deep” cleaning that I try to avoid most of the time. When the weather is sunny and warm like most of us I try to stay outside doing things that are more fun.
Sometimes I need to be reigned in. No pun intended. It is always easier… and more fun… to do things I like to do. Cleaning the house isn’t high on that list. But, sometimes we all have to do some things we don’t really enjoy.
The forecast for the upcoming week is rain, rain and more rain. Well, if the forecast is right… and we never know… it will take care of two things. First of all it will help us beat the rain deficit for the year. That’s one of the strangest statistics we have in this part of the country. For the past sixteen years… as long as I have lived here… we have had a rainfall deficit. The weatherman always talks about the average rainfall. Well, it seems to me that if the rainfall is always below the average, the average should be recalculated. It’s not like we can do anything to change the number. Really… it’s beyond our control, isn’t it?
Well, it doesn’t matter whether we are hitting the mark or as usual falling behind, we are expecting rain this week. And, I have lots of work to do. I’m trying a new cleaning method this week. I saw it on Oprah. The idea is to select a small area like one set of kitchen cabinets and remove everything that isn’t used… and to get rid of those things.
As I watched that method I thought how silly! Who keeps stuff they don’t need in the cabinets? Let’s face it, the space is limited. Anyway, I decided to try it after watching the program. I was so certain that my cabinets were filled with NO extras that I decided to use a grocery bag instead of a garbage bag. GEEZ.
I decided to take a tough stance on my cabinet contents. I picked out exactly what we used daily and decided to remove everything else. I’m still laughing at myself. I don’t even remember when I purchased some of the things in the cabinet. I’m sure there was a reason at the time. But, I found china that I have never used. And, what about those glasses? Why in the world would any family need forty glasses in one cabinet?
Okay, so I didn’t throw away all the extra glasses. But, I did take them out of the kitchen and took them down to the cabin. The kids can use them. Maybe, eventually I will have the courage to get rid of them… not the kids, but the glasses.
Anyway, the ten minute clean up is a wonderful idea. I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the cleaning activity. My one set of shelves is well organized, with only items that we use almost daily. And, nothing tries to jump off the shelf when I open the cabinet door.
The rains have begun so I guess I’m going to take ten minutes and a garbage bag to the kitchen. Ten minutes isn’t too long. And, no, I’m not going to start cleaning and keep cleaning until the kitchen is de-cluttered. I think I’ll spend ten minutes each hour cleaning. That cannot be too much to ask of myself.
I really don’t like cleaning. But, sometimes we have to do things we don’t enjoy. And, I must admit that given a sunny day I wouldn’t be doing it. Maybe this is Mother Nature’s way of telling me that I have too much stuff. I figure my kitchen will be clean and uncluttered if the weatherman is right for the week. So, this week I am thankful for the prospects of rain. And, if my kitchen isn’t spotless by next Saturday… well… it won’t be my fault. I’ll blame it on the weatherman.
