Cleaning Day - Dread it or Joy?

Cleaning Day, it is such a joyous day for me.

Cleaning Day happens once a month with the help of a friend of mine who has a cleaning business.

My house is clean generally all the time.  I'm a drop it and leave the cluttered and littered mess kind of gal.  Since this day is once a month, the littering and clutter doesn't get too bad.  So the night or two before, I run around and put items back into their places.  Since I started a minimalism campaign about 18 months ago, most items have a place.  Of course one could wonder why I don't put it in its place when I have it in my hand?   Guess I got distracted!

Cleaning Day is a chance to get the big stuff completed and caught up without losing a step in my work schedule.

On the dawn of the Cleaning Day, I begin the wash, make a great cup of coffee and pick up the last few items.  Then Sabina arrives!  We go over any extra items that need to be done and then she wizzes away.  I get back to working on the day's tasks and responsibilities.

We stop for some lunch and catch up on each other lives, and then it's back to work for both of us. 

Then low and behold, she is done and viola it's like a magnificent hotel suite!  There is a fresh smell about, all the laundry is completed, bed changed and made, vacuuming done, trash out just to say a few.  There is an amazing relaxing feeling about my home.    I tiptoe about for several days to keep the feeling going.   

Over these last 18 months, I must say that my home stays picked up better because of Cleaning Day.  A recent article I read affirmed my thoughts that clearing the clutter is healthy to the mind and spirit.  While each of us is different, I do think that a "place for everything and everything in its place" keeps my life in order, saves so much time looking for those bits 'n pieces and keeping the sanity of day somewhat in line.

Hoping you find the joy in Cleaning Day, however you find it.

Living My 60th Year - Having Lunch and get a Bonus

Here's to a new year and remembering to eat lunch!

Yes, remembering to eat lunch.  I know that could sound strange.  

It's not the eating, I'm referring to.  I have my lunch, sometimes it is over the sink, grab a sandwich and run, or bring it back to my desk and consume it among the pile of paperwork.

I've been taking a full break for lunch lately and not at my desk.  Lunch is a pretty decent meal for me.  Many times it is left overs from the dinner before or a sandwich with fruit.  How much time?  About an hour, it's an hour I take time away from my work.

When I worked in a large office with lots of people around, this was what we did.  Somewhere around 10am we began discussing lunch.  Where to go, what we would like to have, who brought lunch and a host of questions.

Since I've worked for myself, that isn't the case.  I often talk to myself, though the subject matter isn't about lunch!  

What I have found, that by taking that break has allowed me to do a host of items that would had been regulated to some other part of the day.  I've done some fun reading; do part of the laundry;  or do some pick up around my non-working space.  Most of these types of tasks are 5 -10 minutes, though they feel like a received a bonus at the end of the day.  I find that I am a bit more focused during the balance of my day and accomplish work effectively.

Life is good, I get to have a better lunch,  a good break and am more productive for the balance of my day.  

What's your lunch break like?

Here's to a year of catching the dreams you chase,

doing what makes you smile,

and loving the life you live.

Living my 60th Year - little things

Little Things that give us pleasure.

Little things can give us so much satisfaction and pleasure.  I'm sure each of you have a host of items, no matter the size or frequency that really make your day.  This past week there was lots of little pleasures.

Cleaning pleasures -   First of all, the week had the big cleaning day I do once a month.  From one month to the next, my minimalist measures continue to make a difference in how my place feels around me.   A bit more accomplished, few more items disposed of by some manner, my space stays in better shape as I can keep it up to date  - everything in it's place or at least, has a place!

Teaching pleasures - My girlfriend's son, Ian, was over for a bit.  Great kid and he's learning about making choices, at ten years old.  He's getting to determine what he would want or like to do and the costs $$'s.  Beginning to get grounded in learning how his choice make consequences.  Love seeing the light go on, or  an aha look.

Working pleasures - Solid work time scheduled without any interruptions.  This is like heaven as I am so much more productive.  

Craft time pleasures - Whether it be making lace and crochet, or pinning pictures, a little bit of time everyday puts the beauty of creation higher on the conscious level.   Over the last few weeks, I've finished up a bunch of little projects.  I was able to give away a scarf I just finished to a friend of mine.  She was so excited as she is going to a patriotic event in a couple of weeks and will be wearing it.  That pleasure of making it was doubled when  I was able to give it to someone who would enjoy it.  

Garden time pleasures - Pull weeds and some more weeds and lots and lots of peas and squash!  It is so quiet at the garden, a peaceful place to get away from the rush of the day.

Volunteering pleasures - seeing work come together, working with other folks that truly share the same desires to more an organization forward.  TV gang is getting the files up that we serve to the town here.   I'm doing some website coding, kinda fun yet frustrating - a little learn as you go.  I do the simple stuff and the complicated stuff goes to the experts in the group.

What are your little things?  

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com

Here's to a year of catching the dreams you chase,

doing what makes you smile,

and loving the life you live.

Living My 60th Year --- What the past month meant to me

I've been away from writing for the last month, though I've been Living My 60th Year.  For this post --- I'll write about the life events that I've witnessed and enjoyed.

The last month has been hectic. The office buzzing with 12-14 hour days to meet the deadline of the "season".

One success during the 'season' is that my office has had the chance to be cleared of even more stuff!   For the first time in a very long time, my filing system worked the best and I could see my desk top many times throughout the working day.  

I enjoyed the lengthening of each day as the sun came up earlier and went down later in the day.  While we still change clocks - that is getting so old.  How about we split the difference and keep the clocks the same all year long?  Several states in the US don't ever change their clocks already!

Snow, Snow and more Snow.  My goodness, we, in New England got slammed especially near the Boston area.  Here was a mere 30"s or so - and it is almost gone.  Yes there are brown piles of ice still piled up in parking lots!

And while it snowed outside, I was creating crocheted snowflakes.  I set myself to make one a week and have kept up with that goal.  This past weekend I had some downtime while I helped out at the Connecticut Storytelling Festival.  I completed over a dozen tatted flowers - finished the spool of thread and ready to begin another one.  Then it was on to completing 22 ties that we use in the garden from some leftover yarn from the stash box.

I did some minimalizing  in my home - I'd sneak in few minutes in the morning and sometimes in the evening to eliminate  items that need to be donated or tossed!  The box is in the garage and is full - time to bring it to the donation center.

Spring, Spring and Spring -- hurry up already.  I was watching a squirrel this morning in the tree as he was eating the new buds appearing on the branches.  The bulbs of daffs and tulips are up and some open.  My lavender plant has survived the winter and is showing lots of green on it's branches.

We are set up for our farm plots - new pallets that were obtained over the winter that will help plant our herbs.  The reservations, this year three plots, have been made.  We have worked on the layout, especially with three plots!  Pam and I have made a date to work out the plans so that we are ready to go when they get the plots turned over.

This year our farm will be planted with seedlings that we have grown.  Thanks to Pam for sporting a new set up and we have lots of "kids" we have been taking care of.  She's been traveling lots, so I've been on watering duty.  

My guest room is back in season with a kick off of my nephew coming to stay with me two days after the 'season' was officially over.  We had a good time, learning more about him as he grows up.  He plans to come back after school lets out - we will have lots more adventures!

Later today a friend of mine is coming to stay for a week or so.  She used to live here and relocated to Georgia for lots of reasons.  So I've been picking up and moving more stuff around.  It's those pesky items that need to be taken care of and made done or gone!

One of the organizations that I volunteer with is not working for me any longer.  I do pride myself as someone that rolls up my sleeves and helps make a difference where I live.  It was a lesson my parents instilled in me at a very young age.  For me, now, it is time to move on.  There are plenty of ways to assist in their cause, I don't need to be part of a formal structure.  By the end of the week, all my i's are dotted and t's crossed so that I can turn it back.

I changed the line-up of items I do for myself at the end of the season and that made a difference.  This year - I made the housekeeper appointment for the day after the end of the season.  Between she and I, and help from her son (school vacation) we went through the whole place and it is now spic and span.  The personal appointments for doing my hair, nails, and massage were planned for a few days after.  So far I've really reaped the benefits.  So nice when the place is picked up and I can relax and appreciate it all :)

This past month has meant lots to me.  I've had time to reflect, to move away from certain items of the past, and reduce clutter and unneeded items in life.  I've spent time creating - always a good feeling.  I had the chance to visit with several individuals outside of my wonderful clients.  All in all - a good month.

Here's to a year of catching the dreams you chase,

doing what makes you smile,

and loving the life you live.

Living My 60th Year - Circles in Life

What a week - It was housekeeper week and that means things need to get back to their "place" .  I'll admit - I can litter about the place.  Then I pick up and especially during housekeeper week.  So it is getting back around to where it was last month... coming full circle.

Housekeeper week started several years ago.  Once a month, I have a friend of mine come in and clean - mostly big stuff.  She makes it feel great and I get to continue to work.  When she's done - it's like a awakening from a great dream.   Everything is done, kitchen, laundry, floors, carpeting, etc... even dusting!  Go ahead and laugh!  It is the greatest feeling and I can feel the effects well into the next week.   

This past Saturday was the century celebration of Pi -  π is a mathematical constant, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, commonly approximated as 3.14159. It has been represented by the Greek letter "π" since the mid-18th century, though it is also sometimes spelled out as "pi"  (wikipedia).

I bought these two tee shirts - kinda cute!  Sent one to my niece Jessica who is finishing up her student teaching of math!  She was excited when I told her - us math buddies gotta stick together.  

By the way it was Albert Einstein's birthday on March 14th ...  gotta love this guy!  

It is budget time in the Town - talk, talk, and talk.  We are faced with some difficult challenges.  The past and current Town Council/Board of Education/Town Manager have spent lots of time kicking the can down the road only to have it come back to hit time in the butt.  The Town folks are not happy and the public is beginning to roar.  The State is attempting to take away the powers of the TPZ of many of the Towns so it can make up a Transit Corridor.  With transit corridors - it also comes with housing, traffic, etc, all on the backs of individual towns and an additional strain on each of their budgets.  Elections could not come any sooner.  This November - we could see the end to a regime, and come back to basics of what our roots, our services, and how we wish to live in our Town, it's a circle too.

Ball of thread - in my snowflake challenge (SC) I've been finishing up balls of thread that had been in the open box located in the studio.  It was getting lots of unfinished balls and that wasn't working.  So with the SC, I decided that I'd use up all the white balls of #10 thread that I had on hand.  Oh my goodness - two balls done and now I couldn't find another ball?  No worry, it was in an unfinished project bag - the project has been eliminated (that feels great) and I've another ball of thread to put to work.

I opened a Port wine over last weekend that I purchased in Sydney Austrialia over two decades ago.  Opening an old bottle, there is a doubt that it was opened - it may have spoiled.  I had to find a pair to get the top off.  The first taste - it transported me back to old Sydney town.  When I was there, I had the chance to taste a 30 yr old of this same wine.  What memories came back!  

Circles of life are everywhere - from  the changing of the seasons to the simple everyday routines we carry out without a second thoughts.  IMHO - we all need to slow down a couple of degrees - look around and appreciate all that we have.  

I'm appreciating a clean home, I was alive for the celebration of Pi, speaking out with what we need vs. not need in budgets, a great tasting port wine and finding another ball of thread to complete more snowflakes.

Take a deep breath - breathe deeply several times and then look around - you will see your surroundings just a little bit different  - Happy Pi!

Here's to a year of catching the dreams you chase,

doing what makes you smile,

and loving the life you live.