The Need to Clean

There’s nothing like hanging wash to dry on the line to make a girl feel virtuous in the morning. Eco-minded and thrifty all at the same time just thrills me to my toes. We finally have part of the railing replaced (thanks, Dad!) on our back, upstairs porch. When we first toured the house, the Realtor referred to it as a "Romeo and Juliet" porch which, at the time, required a lot of imagination to envision the romantic pair canoodling on the mostly rotten porch. Juliet's foot probably would have gone straight through the floorboards, and she would have ruined any romantic notions with copious swearing and the need for a first aid kit. All the rotten stuff has been replaced thankfully. We need to scrub the old railing and give everything a fresh coat of paint, but the porch is usable, and now that it’s warming up I can hang clothes out on the line. It really is spring!

Our thoughts have turned to other household projects, and everywhere I look I find something that needs the attention of the vacuum or a dust rag, and I’ve been fantasizing about filling a truckload of stuff and hauling it to the thrift store. Have you ever noticed how fast things accumulate at the peripheries of life? I put something up so the baby can’t grab it, and the next thing I know, there are ten things there waiting for a home. And don’t get me started on all the baby stuff that finds its way into our house. (I have another fantasy of running a bulldozer through and just scooping out the house all at once.) The long and short of it is that I’m feeling the need for a thorough spring cleaning.

view from the back porch

I imagine the abundance of life flows much like a river does through my life. It brings me the things I need, but I can only accumulate so much. Just as objects come into my life, so must they leave. And it’s a wonderful feeling to let go, especially if I no longer have a use for it. There are some things that I hold on to for sentimental reasons, but I try to temper that by giving away things in good condition that can be used again by someone else. As I type this, I have a box full of CDs and DVDs and a bag full of cookbooks that are destined to the library and thrift store.

Freeing up the physical space imparts a feeling of lightness. Sometimes that open space is my favorite place in the house. I can’t help but feel it reflected in my creative work as well. Having cleanliness and order boosts my energy and the sheer enjoyment of being home. I’m going to capitalize on the influx of spring energy, as much as possible this week, to begin a serious cleaning/organizing campaign around here.

My mom blogged about spring cleaning and the good it does for you physically and mentally. She’s a therapist and life coach and much better at explaining these things, and you can read it here . I’m taking the advice to heart and am tackling one area at a time, since accomplishing anything relies on the naps and good nature of the Baby Bear.

I’m off to the pantry to clean out the unused winter stores. There’s a box of taco shells in there that’s at least seven months old. I just hope that’s the worst of it.

Baby Bear on the back porch. (yes, she's biting the railing.)

Comments

[Amy O]

I feel ya, Sister Sim! And I have to confess that Im tempted to peruse the Husbands office with a Hefty bag. ~Amy

[Rebecca]

Hi, Mols! The server gods are allowing me to read your blog. I'm reading fast...

This past week I had so much crap in the back of my car I literally couldn't see out. After a trip to the Menno shop, the Habitat for Humanity shop and the library, I'm free, free, free!