The Shower Project

I'm hosting a bridal shower for my cousin tomorrow--the house was in need of some serious cleaning so I've been busy all week...these were in need of some serious dusting

So I dusted, dusted...
and dusted some more.

Cleaned out the fridge...

And decided it was about time I took down all of these and dusted the shelf...BEFORE

(For the record...it was still snowing in May)

AFTER

D says when storing holiday decorations (and snowmen)... Large plastic bins make ideal storage containers. They can either be placed on shelves or stacked on the floor. It is important, of course, to label the containers. You may prefer to use stickers, rather than writing on the bin, so the contents can be changed, if necessary, over the years without "messing up" the bin.

Cleaning "The Ledge"

This week we'll be using

THIS TOOL

BEFORE...

This is "the ledge" that has never not once been properly dusted--as you'll see below...

See those little finger prints?
The only way that could have happened is if a child stood on the back of the couch (standing on the furniture is strictly prohibited)...probably the 11 year old trying to retrieve one of his slime balls he likes to chuck up to the ceiling (throwing anything in the living room is strictly prohibited).

Those slime balls provide him with hours of entertainment.
Doesn't take much.


The rest of THE TOOLS


THE PROCEDURE
I sent the husband over to the parent's house to borrow my dad's very very tall ladder.
I vacuumed first.
Then noticed the top of this picture needed dusting so I took care of that.
Then I wiped the entire ledge down with a wet towel.



AFTER...

I'm not sure how a professional painter such as myself did such a crappy paint job...but it's clean and I may or may not paint it again. I mean, already I'm breaking one of my own rules,
"If you can't see it don't dust it."

D says I've found that the most beneficial act in putting a schedule into operation is to GET AN EARLY START.
Today I started my project at 7pm.
I'm having a hard time pulling out of "vacation mode".
It's an excellent idea to sleep no longer than necessary and then to arise as soon as you awake. An extra hour's work before breakfast time can set the day running so smoothly that nearly double the amount of work can be accomplished than if you start out behind. Remember: "An ounce of morning is worth a pound of afternoon," and as we read in Poor Richard's Almanac, "He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night".

So true.
I'll get back on track tomorrow.

Cleaning Behind the Piano

Best Father's Day ever!

The husband got a set of these from his mom...

My new favorite salt and pepper shakers and they are a great addition to my collection!

BEFORE...

THE TOOLS

THE PROCEDURE

Moved the piano...it's fairly light weight (for a piano) and on wheels.

Vacuumed and dusted the floor, baseboards and the back of the piano.

AFTER...

More on planning...

D says Don't become a slave to your home. Good housekeeping, like atomic energy, can be either edifying or destructive depending upon how it is used. Good housekeeping, efficiency, orderliness, and organization are all means to an end--they are not the end within themselves.

I've had several people ask me if I'm going to run out of projects before the end of the year...let me assure you, I will never run out...there is NO END in sight!

Cobwebs and Dust

BEFORE...

The walls and moulding in my bedroom has needed dusting for some time now.

It's about time I got around to it.

THE TOOL

THE PROCEDURE
Once I got started I ended up dusting the baseboards and picture frames as well.
It took about 5 minutes.


AFTER...

No one can see the tops of these mouldings but I feel better now that they're dust-free!

It's 4:00pm and already I've put in a 10 hour day...

D says "Nations, homes, and people progress only through hard work. As you observe around you, the men who put in only eight hours a day never really succeed financially and in serving their community; it is those who put in the extra hours who get ahead and achieve and contribute. A housewife who counts and limits her hours will never succeed, either.

Good to know, since I've got another 6 hours to go :)