Somebody Stop Me!

I woke up this morning with an irresistible urge to clean. This urge complemented the state of my house nicely, to say the least, particularly the office/craft room/study, whatever-you-want-to-call-it-room (Jackson likes to call it the "awfee").

Office certainly fits the bill, since we have two desks, a couple of laptops and a printer in the room. But we also have my entire yarn stash, my craft cupboard, my sewing machine, my paper cutter...you get the idea. The room turned into a craft room over the holidays for sure but since the new year arrived, we haven't been able to find the floor.

No more! I attacked it with a vengeance this morning and even found my "just throw it out!" mode without too much difficulty. Cross-stitch went back into the cupboard (nope, that didn't last long again...), knitting patterns found their way back to their binders (yes, I'm that organized), the sewing machine went back on its shelf where it belongs (we're not friends), shelves were dusted, wrapping paper was put back into the basement, and the floor was even vacuumed.

After cleaning off my desk thoroughly and giving myself a new "in-box," (which is really an "in-bowl" that my friend Cookie made for me and I adore!), I was finally able to find all of the holiday receipts, bills and paperwork of life that I knew was there but couldn't handle in small pieces. Maybe it was the smell of the cleaning supplies going to my head*, but I just went nuts on everything. Every receipt entered on the computer. Every bill paid. Every letter owed to friends ready for post tomorrow. Every loose paper regarding meeting dates that have passed or good ideas that have lost their favor was recycled. Every stray photograph found a home (including all of the wonderful holiday photos that we received...yes, we actually have a family photo album where we keep each and every photo!). I even updated Jackson's baby book (when did he grow up?!).

Whew!

But it didn't stop there! I felted two of the first hats that I knit years ago that were way too big but I held on to for some reason (they're awesome now). I washed and folded diapers. I did dishes. I roasted a butternut squash and turned it into a soup with apples, carrots, and parsnips. I sorted my knitting projects and realized that they're NOT that overwhelming after all (surprise). I put the rest of the Christmas and Halloween (how did that happen?) decorations away for good. I even learned a trick or two on my new digital camera.

At 4:00, Dan and Jackson were headed to the Co-op for the regular food run, so I decided that it was time to get cleaned up myself (you can't do all of these chores unless you're in your PJs). With the boys gone, I decided, why rush? I spread on my green tea & clay face mask (love it!), soaked in the tub for a good long while with some awesome bath oils, then showered and washed my hair. Given that it was 5:00 on a Sunday, I allowed myself to put fresh PJs back on and went downstairs to finish making dinner.

With dinner complete, dishes done (a la Dan), and everything else in our house under control (at least for tonight), I'm beyond pooped. But I think I have just enough energy to hit the couch and watch another episode of Inspector Lynley on DVD (thanks, Rebecca!) while I knit on my new sock. Just a boring regular sock for me, but just what I need right now. I'll finish Badcaul eventually. And the organic alpaca cardi too - it IS just two sleeve rows away from being finished before seaming after all...

Tonight I leave you with this: Bandanna Jack. He wanted to wear a bandanna today too, since he saw me wear one while starting my mask. I can't get over how cute this new look is!
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*Dan swears that my burst of energy was pregnancy-induced. I did do something similar when I was five-months pregnant with Jackson, so maybe. I hope it comes again, in any case, because I love the feeling of getting so much done!