One evening we were playing a round of Family Feud and the category dealt us was, "Spring _________." We thought of "Spring has Sprung!," "Spring in your step," "Spring Training," "Spring Fling" to name a few. And lingering at the bottom of the list was the beloved term "Spring Cleaning."
Now I don't know how many of you are wall washers out there, but I married into a family of them. They are Picassos at the art of homemaking and I love them for it :) My sister-in-law Sarah did things like wipe out each cabinet and organize closets while she lived with us. And Jessica was actually by my side (of her own free will) a few years ago washing every wall in the house until they sparkled! I did enjoy the fresh feeling upon completion.
Last year I did it again- and I began to formulate an opinion. I hauled in John's muddy work ladder, turned on lots of TV for the kids, and got to work. This was over the course of at least a week. I think I found like 2 cobwebs in HIGH corners and my rags weren't really even all that dirty otherwise. In my husbands economic terms it would be something about low return for high amount of effort. I don't know what Martha says, probably don't want to know, but I know what I say. Spot clean regularly and do a full wall wash...oh I don't know, MAYBE every other.
So this year I will vaccuum behind my beds, dust a few light fixtures, do something about the windows (I'm not promising blinds), and various other needed tasks. But to the walls I say...
Quiet down cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby. (sitting mySELF down in the recliner also currently qualifies)
'Cause babies don't keep.
If anyone knows the author of this poem, please help me give them credit. As far as I know it's anonymous.
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12 comments:
As I was scrubbing the splattered Kool Aid off the door, wall and floor yesterday, I thought about you washing walls last year. For a brief moment I thought about doing it myself. Then I rethought and decided to wash only what I could SEE needed washing. I love that poem too. No, I don't know who wrote it.
Every other year in my book is pushing it. I've got much better things to do then wash my walls!!!
You're suppose to wash walls? :) kidding. Pregnancy gives you permission to take it easy this year.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger would approve of this.(Jen says)
Wow, I wish I could say I was that motivated. My walls could use a good scrub down. What do you use to clean them, just curious? If you have any magic tricks for cleaning blinds please pass them my way.
My mother-in-law gave me that poem when Beka was around two and very busy (I haven't always been the most organized and was beating myself up over it). I thought of it often and consequently I have rocked Emma to bed almost everynite. I love it. I looked in the book it was in and it is sigted as anonymous. Here's another funny poem I often think of along the same lines
Cleaning the house while the children are growing-
is like shoveling snow while it still snowing!
I totally agree!!!
I was thinking just the same things the other day. I have started my cleaning but of course it is slower than it used to be. You do such a good job at "rocking your babies" I wish I could have more of a balance with the mary and martha qualities but that will come in time I guess. You are amazing. I am glad you belong to us.
Debbie,
My expert panel says ammonia water.
Blinds- I've tried in the tub, on the lawn, and on the fence with the hose. I still prefer just leaving them hung and going ONE BY ONE. But do this BEFORE cleaning your windows. I learned that the hard way, stripes. My mom had a nifty tool that you were supposed to be able to stick in between the blinds to do lots at once but it didn't work too well.
I guess the best solution is to spend mega bucks on glass encased. Until then...don't look too close at mine!!
Jewels,
Thanks for the tips! I usually use ammonia water on the baseboards so I guess I just need to expand my cleaning to the walls. I have found that cleaning my blinds one row at a time works well too, but it is a pain!!! I was hoping you would have a great trick. I've always wanted to try a steam cleaner, but I'm too cheap to buy a good one.
TO Debbie who ever that is.. This is Jessica Julia's sister in law. The way to clean blinds is the steamer... Its amazing how wonderful a tool that is for things like that, the seal around your sinks etc. I also love it for the counters, ovens, and all those gross hard to clean spaces. Good luck.
Babies Don't Keep
Mother, oh Mother,
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little
Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep'
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
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