Saturday 11 April 2020

Out with the old and in with the new . . .



These drier longer days, with no place to go are a great impetus towards getting the Spring Cleaning done. I think most people are of one mind in my neighborhood as I see buckets coming out and windows being washed with newspapers all up and down the street . . . or maybe it's just because the sunnier days show up the dirt on them so much so that it's hard to ignore???  Perhaps people are just bored with having to stay at home???  Probably a combination of the two!

An immaculate house is a wonder to behold . . . but can also seem cold and empty, especially when there are only two of you and a little Cocker Spaniel residing within it's walls.    Whenever Todd complains about a pile of books I have left here or there, I am quick to remind him . . . were it not for my occasional clutter, he would be all alone, and he will be missing me soon enough and wanting this little pile back to remind him I am here.



Spring cleaning and April generally go hand in hand don't you think?  Our hearts are cheered somewhat by the longer drier days and later nights.   The sun shows things up and we can no longer ignore that dust web up in the corner . . . or that dirt streaked glass.   Of course nowadays things don't get turned out like they would when I was a child.   My mother would take up the carpets and they would soon be out on the line taking a beating . . . this is mighty hard to do when one has wall to wall . . . you just can't rip it up and beat it to death on the line.  If one has the money there are carpet cleaners that you can rent . . . but alas, we don't have the money, so it's a spray can of carpet cleaner and a good hoovering.

Men normally disappear when Spring Cleaning starts . . . for fear most likely that they will get cornered and dragged into the fray!  I am lucky however . . . my man is not afraid of a little hard work . . . although Spring Cleaning to him usually means turning over the flower beds and cutting the grass.   But it is something . . . and I do not complain. 




My mother was an excellent housekeeper and Spring Cleaning was serious business.   Rugs were beaten, curtains were taken down and aired, floors were stripped, waxed and polished.  My mother hustled and bustled with the best of them, her hair tied up in a kerchief.   She never looked prettier to me than when she was waging this battle against the winter's dirt, and I suspect my father felt the same.

His job would be to remove the storm windows, clean them and then store them in loft in the garage . . . very carefully lest one should break.  Whilst my mother would be cleaning the windows on the inside of the house . . . he would be doing the outsides.    The window screens would have been taken down from the garage loft and carefully hoovered and then my father would place them onto the outside spaces, where the storm windows had been removed . . . and secure them into place.    I always loved to press my nose against the screens . . . they had a metallic smell, which I always associate with rain, to this day.   When it rained we were not allowed out to play, and I spent many a rainy summer's afternoon with my nose pressed up against the screen in longing . . . 




Spring Cleaning happened en-masse when I was a child.  As soon as nature began to cooperate, all along the street, banners of carpets and blankets were hung out on the lines.  Mattresses were turned out into the sun for airing.   Once the carpets, blankets and mattresses had been aired, wash lines up and down the street were heavily draped with chintz, damask, satin and lace curtains . . . flapping and snapping in the Spring breezes . . .they always smelled so good when they were brought back indoors.

The house smelled so fresh after having been shut up all Winter long . . . windows opened slightly to let in the breeze . . . airing the inside out as well.   Things were fluffed and dusted . . . books lifted from the book case, light fixtures washed with soapy water until they squeaked, radiators and heating vents washed clean as well . . . every inch of the house was cleaned until it fairly sparkled.  Our closets were gone into as well . . . and sorted.    Old toys that had seen better days were sent to the rubbish bin . . . but not without the odd tearful face and sniffle. 

   


Winter clothes were bundled up and stored for the summer months and replaced with spring and summer clothing . . . gone were the wool stockings . . . and undershirts.  It was knee sock season . . . and I can remember my  legs feeling cold for a few days before I got used to the stockings being gone, but it was a good kind of cold . . . quite refreshing really.   Oh how we longed for the day when all of the snow would be gone and we could replace our winter boots with rubber boots for wading. 

The result of the melting snows would be huge puddles laying all over the place.  Puddles which would be crusted over with thin layers of ice in the mornings . . . fun to crash the boots through on the morning walk to school.   By afternoon the warmer Spring sun would have warmed things up enough so that any ice would have long since melted and as the days grew longer still and warmer . . . the puddles would shrink, and shrink . . . and shrink.   Only the largest would remain . . . and I can remember watching water-bugs skimming across the surface of these . . . we would fall asleep nights listening to the peepers in the woods, their spring song echoing across the fields and in through our bedroom windows.  It was magic . . . pure magic . . .  



 Oh . . . but the mind is a beautiful thing. Mine is filled with all these lovely thoughts and memories, which cheer the heart to no end.  I had a charmed and happy childhood I think . . . 

We are truly having gorgeous weather this Easter Weekend.  I do hope that people pay attention to our Governments suggestions and stay put as they are supposed to do.  We are entering the  most dangerous phase of the Pandemic they say and people just really need to stay put, for the sake of themselves and for others, no matter the temptation to get out and about. 

Our Prime Minister is out of Intensive Care now apparently and on a Ward. Let us hope and pray that he continues to get better. This must be such a concern for his fiancee who is expecting their first child and for the rest of his family.  Many families are of course in the same situation at the moment.  We are all worried and fearful, but as Todd says, there is naught to do about it but get on with the business of living and making the most of the life we have at the moment.  This won't last forever.


A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *
Happiness keeps you sweet.
Trials keep you strong.
Sorry keeps you human.
Failure keeps you humble.
Courage keeps you going.
~Unknown •。★★ 。* 。 



The other day my next door neighbor sent over a bag of apples that she wasn't using.  I pooled them with some of my own and made two Oaty Apple Crumbles.  One for them and one for us.  Left hers on her doorstop, texted her it was there and then skedaddled.  (Social distancing)  Its not a traditional Easter dessert for sure, but its called making lemonade out of lemons.  Sometimes you just have to work with what you have.

Have a wonderful Saturday.  The sun is shining here again.  I have been listening to the Starlings Wolf Whistle all  morning!  It never gets old!  Don't forget! 



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And I do too!   
 




12 comments:

  1. You did have a happy childhood, Marie. I remember when my mom started to work. My brother and I were 8 and my sister was 11. When we were off school in the summer, my mom would leave a list of chores for us to do. Nothing too strenuous but we would leave them till it got close to mom coming home for lunch. We would race around like crazy to get them done before she came home. In the afternoon we could walk over to the pool (it cost 25 cents) or the library. I remember, a man would come twice a year to remove the wax from our hardwood floors, rewax them and polish them. He had a floor polisher he would use to buff them to a shine. It took him a few hours to do all the rooms and hall. They looked beautiful. Lots of spring cleaning going on while people are staying home. Time for breakfast - egg sald on a toasted Everything bagel. Yum. Enjoy your Saturday. Hugs and love, Elaine

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    1. I loved reading about your childhood Elaine! I think ours were very similar. My mother had a floor buffer. I can remember sitting in a high chair and eating cereal while I watched her strip, rewax and polish the floors of our home. She was such a hard worker. Love and hugs, xoxo

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  2. You had a lovely childhood..My mom was a Spring cleaner too..our home was impeccable:)
    Boris Johnson is out..impeccable care I am sure..
    He is having a sixth child? That I did not know..absolute worry for his partner..I truly don't know much about him except what I have seen on the news re the last election and now..
    Have a great Easter♥

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    1. Yes, his fiancee is expecting their first child together. Such a worrisome time for everyone Monique. Hope your Easter was a special one. Loved your daughter's photos on instagram of your boys. Sweet! xoxo

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  3. When the sun comes out it really makes a difference. You see all the dirt and dust that you couldn't see before. I have yet to start cleaning, but really need to do so. Just wish I could find some hidden energy. It needs to be done. We do have to get on with life, time stops for no one, ever though everything is so different, it is till Spring cleaning time !

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    1. It really does Pam! I also have a hard time finding th energy at times. I think this virus can be a real downer and make us feel lazy as well. You are right however, time stops for noone! xoxo

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  4. Most men I have known are whiny, complainy things...they seem happier having something to complain about. Even if it takes a magnifying glass to find it!! They need some good hobbies to help them have something to think about!! Todd should be so lucky...ONE PILE OF BOOKS??? Heh, I wish I ony had one stack...I am constantly rereading stuff these days...and so there are many stacks...I do clean some out for the thrift now and again...but you are a cook...and cooks especially are going to have cookbooks anyway. There is a price for having good meals!! Hang in there dearie!!
    Elizabeth xoxo

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    1. I lucked in this time Elizabeth. Todd is no whiner, but neither were my other two husbands. My, my that sounds bad. Twice divorced. Oh well, the third time was the charm! Love and hugs and stay safe! xoxo

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  5. Hi Marie~

    I loved hearing about your spring cleaning rituals as a child! I can remember cleaning with my mom and sisters, it seemed like was the only time I really enjoyed cleaning! I can remember going to help my grandmother clean her tiny house in the spring. She had dirt floors underneath cut linoleum, and I remember taking it up very carefully, bringing it outside and scrubbing it with brushes. While we were scrubbing the linoleum. my grandmother was busy sweeping and sprinkling lime on the dirt floor. The dirt was packed hard as concrete but it still needed cleaned and sanitized. We would let the linoleum set outside in the sun to dry, then bring it in and carefully put it back in place, being careful to tuck in the corners and edges so there were no gaps. I remember how excited my grandmother was when her kitchen was remodeled and she got a hardwood floor!

    I hope you have a wonderful Easter! Take care of each other, be safe and remember that you are loved! XOXO

    Hugs and Love,
    Barb

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    1. I have never known anyone who had dirt floors Barb, but I loved reading about the care for them. I am sure when your nan got her hardwood floor she was thrilled beyond measure. Love and hugs to you and Bob! Take care! xoxo

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  6. What a lovely post my sweet friend. You have such a skill of writing memories that often match my own. I too remember the spring cleaning days and yearn to be better at it. It's still might bet cold here but my husband has been working in the yard and we are playing catch up with some house cleaning. I have a ton of organizing to do and I want to do it now that we have no choice but stay in.
    Have a lovely Easter moment with your dear husband. We do have much to celebrate in just knowing we have a lovely Heavenly Father and Savior. I feel that our prayers have been answered and we will begin to see miracles.
    Sending Easter thoughts, love, hugs and prayers your way!

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    1. I think sometimes in our memories we have a tendancy to romanticise things and make them seem better LeAnn! I hope you and Roger had a very blessed Easter. Love and hugs, xoxo

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