My house looks like a wreck!

Normally I'm a pretty obsessive housekeeper, but spring comes and the interior goes to pot. Dirt tracked in, catalogs in piles, and plastic pots of caladiums and tuberous begonias in every window. My dining room can hardly be used for dining any more; it gets the best light, so you guessed it, it's full of trays of plastic pots! I find myself spending even more time in the garden to avoid looking at it. How do you guys contend with the spring rush?

LOL well isn't that normal. My wife is disabled and one of the DIL's came over to clean the kitchen yesterday and my wife said she just kelp saying there is no reason to make this kind of mess. I had used the kitchen sink and counter to water plants that I had received in the mail and then repot them. Looked like a good place to me.

Well, I don't keep house, it keeps me..lol..
Jim, the sink sounds perfect for repotting..I use it almost daily for some plant or something.. I thought everyone did..lol...Gemini, your spring sounds like year round here for me..

larkie

Oh Gemini, we could be twins! I thought you were talking about me and my house.

Me too! Me too!

But, I am a little better about it than I used to be since I got "caught" when it was truly a disaster zone. A couple of years ago the committee for one of the local charity garden tours asked to come view my garden for consideration for the next year's tour.

Uh.....sure that would be fine, when would you like to come? So, we set the date some two weeks hence and I worked like a mad fool night and day plucking stray leaves, trimming, primping.......my gosh I was a maniac. The only thing is when I get in that mode, any "hidden" space is fair game for "stuff". So the garage became the holder of all things unwanted and the house.......well let's just say we ate out a lot, I never did anything inside but sleep a few hours and run out at dawn again.

The problem came when the chair of the committee peeked in the slider to the kitchen and said, "Oh my, could we see inside....we choose one house on the tour each year to be a "complete" tour of house and garden.

I bit the bullet and said as long as they realized that I had been on a mission for two weeks and that the "cleaning lady" (ME!) had called in sick......one of the few times in my life that I have been truly embarassed!

It gets messy now and I still track dirt in and do that garden thing in the sink, but never ever again will I be a complete slob!

LOL Happenstance! I think life is too short to keep a spotless house. Plus, I love animals - and having 5 cats - well - hard to keep everything spotless. But they bring us lots of joy and we love them. Luckily or maybe not so luckily - DH isn't a neat freak either...so we pretty much have a "non-presentable" house all the time. We like to have company come once or twice a year to visit - then we get the house clean. Like I said - life is too short and beside I think a completely spotless house all the time is a sign of some kind of mental illness - HA HA! Just kidding!

Or better yet, not shed at all! LOL After 8 years with my indoor golden retriever I'm seriously considering a non-shedding dog for our next adoption! LOL. No spotless house here, but coincidentally, I'm in the midst of uncharacteristically HEAVY DUTY spring cleaning. I've gotten the entire house done except the kitchen. That will take 2-3 days to do a proper work over in there LOL. Luckily I gave the dog her spring hair cut 2 weeks ago so she's not doing any "damage" to the rooms I've already cleaned LOL And the kids are being phenomenal about keeping their rooms clean too....we'll see how long that lasts LOL

-Julie

LOL...I must say that I sometimes feel like your above statement! I do love a spotless house. I can keep it that way until everyone comes home. lol I am one of "those people" too who is annoyed when my couch cushions get messed up! WHAT is that all about?! I have to talk myself out of scrubbing daily now. I too have dirt tracked in dirt on the counters. Not to mention the coat of dirt that comes in on ME!

Live on a working farm, on a gravel road, then it rains. We give up washing cars & trucks years ago. House is another story, sweep that baby ouit every once & a while. My grandaugther even got a broom about time she started walking! LOL! Not to worry, guess where you go when it's all over? You're right back in the dirt!
Trying to keep the dirt down a little,
Bernie






P. S. Lots of kidding, my wife does a beautiful job of keeping the old homestead on the straight & narrow.

Me personally gave up the fight 6 years ago. I had to herniated 2 discs....at work not house cleaning. My house stayed decent not spotless. But after back surgery my back is worse not better. I would love it cleaner but have to look the other way. The maid called in sick along time ago and I am still waiting on her to get better. (me lol)

Now well, DH says something about all my pack ratting and there is no more room in the house. I just him if he could get to the kitchen, to the couch, to the bathroom and back. He just looked at me and I said then what is the problem? I was serious!!

Blessings, Sandy

Well I am just gonna settle right in here,you are MY kinda people! I get a "film" over my eyes when it comes to my house,during spring. I just don't see it. I announce to the family that they will have ingested at least a quart of potting soil apiece,within the next few months,as I'm SURE its in everything I cook! Well its in my hair,on my clothes..PERMANANTLY under my fingernails. Ahhhh,but the FLOWERS!!!

Well, I know i'm not keeping up with it, my daughter came home from school the other day and said What did you do all day mom, The nerve of that teenager anyways. Who does she think she is talking to her mom that way. LOL

*LOL* I'm a terrible house cleaner...I have to get emails from a cleaning site

http://www.flylady.com

To make myself get up and do anything! Kinda sad but...*sigh*

You guys make me laugh.. I am the same way.. we had three golden retrievers and all were shedding (one passed away a week ago).. I vacumn everyday. (except during springtime when they shed the most) lol... now we have a couple of cats that adopted us and they SHED too.. It is impossible here to keep the dust and dirt out, farmland all around for now, till they build more homes around here. Our windows are permanently stained with the sand or dirt, I can't tell what it is, but it won't come off.

araness, I was looking at that cleaning site once...

You have those dirt spots on your windows too? I've tried Windex, Orange Cleaner etc...nothing gets them off! If you figure it out let me know.

I've been a "flybaby" for about two years now and while my house isn't spotless it sure is a heck of a lot better than I use to keep it. I'm so ADD that cleaning for me is a major chore...*grin* I'd much rather play online, read or play with my dog.

Right now I've given up since we are having siding put on the outside of the house and the crew seems to think it's a great time saver to cut through the house, use my restroom etc. Those guys better be glad I like them or I'd make them mop and sweep my pergo floors!

Can I join the non-housekeepers anon? I swept the kitchen, dining room and laundry today. I had a pile of dog fur big enough to make another dog! And NOT a small one, either! Ok, so that got the dalmation evicted from his winter home on the back porch. The shortest haired dog is one of the worst shedders. Although, I have to admit, that pile of dog fur wouldn't have made a clean dog, there was a ton of dirt in it.

And if you progress into the rest of the house, you will see the continuation of the fur pile dog, behind the entertainment center, under the spiral stairs, all over the couch. Scattered amongst the fur you will see bits and pieces of the satin that I used to make bridesmaid dresses, white ribbon and tulle from the veil. Step carefully, or keep your shoes on, that shiny thing in the carpet is probably a straight pin.

Please ignore the fact that because the sewing machine didn't fit the cabinet, I have it set up on the roll top desk, which means that I worked off my laptop on the couch, with the printer sitting on the floor. The industry I work in singlehandedly keeps the forests depleted and the paper companies in business, so if you want to sit down, just shove the piles of paper off the loveseat. Oops. sorry about that dust storm, the kleenix are in the bathroom, oh wait, I better go bring you one. Believe me, you don't want to go there!

*Grin* At least you swept...I found this website and have parked my fanny in front of the computer for the day and nothing has been done. My husband (who also works for a company that "The industry I work in singlehandedly keeps the forests depleted and the paper companies in business," pssst he's on the paper company end..) Kind of figured he wasn't getting dinner and just sniffled and walked back up the stairs with a bag of chips knows once I find a site I'll live on it for ages. But tomorrow is another day and I promise the cleaning fairies that I'll at least pick up in the kitchen and unload the dishwasher.

Flylady seemed like a good idea, but it just annoyed me while I was trying to read gardening forums. LOL I am a fanatic cleaner tho, so I don't have to be pushed.

FYI, have you all tried the Mr. Clean Eraser? It's AWESOME!!! I have no idea how it works, but it's just a white sponge that you don't use with any cleaner. It took ink from my dh job off my kitchen floors, soda stains off the interior roof of my car (kids), what I thought was a scratch on my bathtub, it cleans the glass door in the shower and gets off the watermarks. Try them!!!

I've tried them and love them! Only thing I've found that takes those black scuff marks off the bottom of the doors. DH thinks he should "help" the door open with the toe of his boot.

You're supposed to unload the dishwasher?? Before you need the dishes? OMG, why?

I told DH one time that the house was a mess and it was all because of another man. Dave. For creating this place.

BTW, Welcome, araness! You're gonna fit right in here.

Welcome to our garden, araness, and thank you for that website! It made me smile so much on the home page that I'm going to visit again, and maybe even sign up... that gal has spunk! :)

I defrosted our old fridge today... Woo Hoo for me! Had to do it 'cause the son's frozen apple juice concentrate was more like slush and provided a foamy pitcher that could readily be served at an adult brunch on Sunday... lol

The kitchen and dining area still looks like potting paradise, though, but I hate to mop when I know I'll be tracking in shtuff from the garden again tomorrow morning... hey, at least all the laundry is done and the bathrooms are clean!

Donna

This thread is too funny! : )

I freely admit that I'm no housekeeper. OMG...if you could only see where I'm sitting right now...I'd go into the details but it's kinda scary! I was just recently diagnosed with ADD and one of the "goals" my therapist assigned to me is supposed to be to get my house organized. I think she's nuts if she thinks that'll ever happen! ; )

I'm tempted to paint a sign to hang on the front door that reads "A Gardener Lives Here...a Housekeeper Doesn't!"

Rhonda

I feel so much better now! And it's a good thing I've opted not to worry about it; I'm expecting 14 roses,10 clematis, and a box of over 100 perennials this week, so the house is going to have to stay on the back burner for a while longer. So when I need to look at something pretty and neat, I just look out the window!

My DH says - "A clean house is a sign of a broken computer"!! Or maybe a rainy day.

Emaewest give Flylady a try...everything is done in 15 min blocks (which is about the length of my attention span) So it really does help.

Azalea *LOL* I"ll have to tell my husband that, he'll get a kick out or that. I see so many people here that are close to "home" (Alabama) that I'm homesick.

I'm glad I found this site, I've never EVER grown anything at all so this year when I started a container garden on the back porch the hubby thought I had lost my mind...but so far I'm having a blast. But it so hard waiting! Maybe I can branch out to doing something in the yard. I'm a stay at home Mom (ok so the child is a dog but...) and not much to do in this little SE TX town so a new hobby would be great.

Oh what joy to find others I fit in with! Araness, I too work for a "paper company" - who does DH work for? Just curious.

I had such plans for yesterday - clean the kitchen, wash clothes.....but, alas - I came to my senses. I figured all the dust I'd stir up would worsen my cold which worsened on it's own anyway (at home today!). And - you know it just gets dirty again. My dear brother and his wife (who I've never met) are coming to visit April 28th for a couple of days - so I have a few days yet - LOL!

Terre "You're supposed to unload the dishwasher?? Before you need the dishes? OMG, why?"
You slay me! What are people thinking???? LOL

Oh - I think I'll just sit here in the dirt and play on the computer! HA!

mbock DH works for a company called Temple-Inland. Based out of TX in Austin. He's an env. eng (lol I know and we can't grow squat!) They have mills all over the country and maybe one day we can move to one in GA or KY.

I work for International Paper (home today with a cold!) - and we have mills/divisions/etc. all over too. I'm in information technology though - so I'm at the headquarters in Memphis.

Remember though - trees are a renewable resource.....so - that's something I guess.

m.

Cool IP I have a friend in Canada that the mill he works for IP owns. This is his first time working in the Pulp and Paper industry so it's been different. My DH is from Chile, so both his degrees are from outside the US. So several years ago when we married (he had just finished his Masters in England) and we made the choice to stay in the US he went looking for a job. The first one that came up was working with a consulting company that did work within the P&P field. It's all been a whirlwind, but so far he's enjoying it, although I know he misses developing software designs (he did that at his last job) he's a computer nut.

Marcia you said "I had such plans for yesterday - clean the kitchen, wash clothes.....but, alas - I came to my senses. I figured all the dust I'd stir up would worsen my cold which worsened on it's own anyway (at home today!). And - you know it just gets dirty again."

You must be my long lost twin. See I knew there was something about you.

When I was 19 in Pa, and living at home on our farm in a trailer was on a dirt road. The only space between us and the road was to park a car. Oh it stayed so dirty as we had no A/C, In the summer we had fans and opened the front door to a screen door.

Anywho, I swept the floor, As I sit there I looked at the pile of dirt I had swept up and thought if I opened the door and put it out on the road it would get tracked back in, And if I put it in the bag and Daddy burned it in a burn barrel, he would then haul the burn barrel and dump it on the hill and it would eventually make it back in. So why not just leave it where it was.

That was back when smoking was popular. And it was the roll your own kind. shhhhhhhh! don't tell anyone. LOL :o). Well I was just starting to date DH and had been in love with him in high school. I was so paranoid to tell him what I was thinking. He was in the other room with my DB and I was in the living room sitting with my best friend.

I finally told her and we laughed so hard. I finally shared it with him alot later. That was the last time I partook of that stuff and I still seem to feel the same about the dirt? He said he would have liked to have laughed with us.

After awhile (well I guess I should say now) I have a very huge mountain of dirt in here and I can just plant in the carpet. Could turn into a business of Interior Design. Martha Sterwart eat your heart out. Would not need to buy peat pots or rock wool. Sounds like a plan to me as long as DH walks between the flower beds. And not on the flowers or it will be a tent outside for him. LOL

Blessings,
Sandy ^8^

I am smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt. Boy, do I feel better now...my little bit of upset at myself for not being superwoman....ha! I am when I remember that the outside will look "super" by the time I'm done, and who hangs out inside in nice weather anyway??
A few years ago, I decided that with 11 fur pets, 2 kids, and a dh who doesn't know where he should leave his shoes, my house will forever look "lived in."
If my friends are coming to see my house and not to visit me, then they may as well stay home! LOL
Jackie

It is sooo nice to find that I am not the only person who finds there are other things to do that are much more important than house cleaning. The problem is partially that I don't even notice some of the things that need doing-the computer (DG of course) and the most recent book always come first. And, my wonderful DH doesn't say a word. He doesn't help clean, but he doesn't say anything about it not being clean other. Now, if only I could get him to put his things away........
LOL Dotti

Sisters UNITE! I LOVE this....and Darius - RIGHT ON! Like I said - DH and I like to have company once or twice a year just to get the house cleaned up. Other than that - we don't bother too much until we run out of spoons (can't eat cereal or ice cream) or we can't walk because of the papers on the floor.

Sandy, I feel we're kind of connected too. Just comes natural to some people. And you reminded me of something my Mom use to say..."You could plant corn on that piano!" - when the dark cherry wood piano was very dusty! But, Mom always thought that doing things for and with her family was more important than a spotless house - so I get it honestly you see.

I was flipping through the Casual Living catalog yesterday and saw this plaque that pretty much says it all I think:

"An unkept house is better than a life unlived!"

Think I might just order that!

M. (maybe soon to be known as BetsyBug)

I am not alone!!!!YAAAAY, LOL. I never was a housekeeper, I dont mind the clutter as long as I dont find chicken bones laying a few layers down, Im fine with that. The dog hair that collects in the corners Im sure is now inhabited by more than just the dust bunnies. Ive named my dustbunnies, theres also some dust elephants around here somewhere.
One thing that did get me to keep the dirty clothes pile down to below washer level was the fact that I can now hang the clothes outside again, they smell so much better than coming from the dryer, wich is also covered in several layers of dirt and tools and kids pocket finds(the money I keep).
Im still trying to figure out the concept of taking the dishes out of the dishwasher before you need them, sounds too complicated to me but it just might work, its a long shot but who knows.
I did actualy clean my tub out the other day and found out its actualy white, whoda thunk. But the bathroom sink is actualy that tan color and the nicks and scratches are permanent.
I think I will try that flylady thingy tho, imagine the look on DHs face when he walks into the house and the path widend, LOL and the dust bunny population being down to 10k I think would perk his spirits too. Those dust elephants are another story, hhmmmm, Ill have to check for dust mice.

*LOL* I'm so glad that I can see that I'm not the only one who doesn't put a high importance on a spotless house. I have company coming at the end of the month so I set myself on a shedule starting Monday. I'll clean one room a day. Since I really only need to dust and vacuum or mop, it shouldn't take more than 30 per room. Even lazy ol' me can take 30 min out of my day for that. :P~

I'm am ashamed to say this but I am a "clean freak" I clean everyday! 97% of the time you will find my house spotless.Not only do I like my house to be clean, I want my yard, shed and car the same way. I know I know I am freak...lol
Alot of people have hobbies such as knitting,reading etc...mine is cleaning. I can honestly say that i love to clean house, and decorating is the best. Everyone says i've got a knack for it. I guess you could say it is my therapy when I have had a bad day ( which is alot, hence the clean house ;)

I wish they had a cleaners anonymous cause i would be the first member to join...who would be the 2nd????hehehe

Char

Char, my best friend is a clean freak, and will even get out the dustbuster if some dust flies in through the porch screens while we are sitting out there.

I asked why my messy house didn't bother him and his reply was that he was only obsessive about his own house, not the houses of friends. (But he DID vacuum the fake grass outdoor carpeting by my summer pavillion once!)

My house gets spotless when Im so angry I cant think straight, hence the clean house. LOL. When I go on a house cleaning spree everyone stays outa my way. One time I was so mad I started scrubbing down the walls after I moved the furniture to vacuum under it. DH came in to ask me a question and I guess the tone I gave him in my answer had him running in the other direction. I think the room looked nice for about a week after that, then everyone figured I was done being mad and let loose again. heehee
Believe me I wish I had a little clean freak tendancies, that would help alot with the "mad dash and cram" when someone tells me at the last minute they are coming over to visit.