Just at the moment, my house is probably cleaner than it has ever been, and likely cleaner than it will be ever again.
Unfortunately, this "cleaness-level" will not last long, although it is pretty amazing at the moment.
My kids got here Tuesday afternoon, Christmas day, and still, even after weeks of housecleaning, I was throwing stuff into the closet at the last minute as fast as I could, just to get it out of the way. Out of sight, out of mind, you know.
I may deal with the closet debris later. LOL. Probably I won't. I'm pretty much done with housecleaning for the year, until - maybe - next Christmas.
We had a wonderful and magical visit, a wonderful time, and all-in-all just about the best Christmas ever. Very relaxing, and pretty much stress-free (once the housecleaning was out of the way!!)
I made one quick pumpkin pie, which mostly no one ate.
I did not bake any bread (just scored a large, unsliced, round loaf of sourdough from the grocery store, popped it in the oven just before dinner to brown it a tiny bit, and it was just as good as home made. I promise).
I did not make any cookies (did buy a couple of tins - one each for the kids - of those Danish butter cookies that are so very yummy).
I did not make any fudge, or candy, or anything other than the pumpkin pie (and dinner).
I didn't decorate much, either. Just put this years and last years (I save them) Christmas cards in the slats of my window blinds, put some candy canes out on the table, brought in the Christmas tree from out of the garage, and called it "DONE".
I have a small 4-foot artificial tree. It has the lights on it, all the decorations, and tinsel. I keep it in the garage covered by a bed sheet (to keep the dust off). I take it out of the garage, take off the sheet, plug in the lights, DONE.
For dinner, easy-peasy, pop nice beef cross-rib roast in the oven (and basically forget it until it is done), peel some potatoes, opened a couple cans of green beans, tossed some green salad.
After dinner, my son streamed several movies that he had on his computer to my TV. Ah, the wonders of the digital age.
Of course, I wept when they all left the next day. Copiously. Actually, pretty normal for me - I always weep when my kids leave. I really do miss them that much.
I walked out with them to their car, waved madly until their car turned the corner at the end of my street, then went back inside and stripped the beds, put the used towels in the washer, and put all of the Christmas decorations away.
Last thing I did was to throw the bed sheet back over the Christmas tree, and put the tree back out in the garage (really can't leave it up with my dog anyway - he is ball-obsessed, and tends to try to play with any ball-shaped object. Including glass Christmas tree balls).
Plus, looking at Christmas decorations after Christmas has passed, especially after everyone has gone, just makes me feel really sad.
Took me a few hours to de-Christmas-ize the house. Later today (Thursday) I will get the ladder out and take down the solar Christmas lights I put up on the outside of my house that I got from Amazon last year. Love those solar lights!! Very bright and colorful, have their own built-in solar panel and battery (don't need to be plugged into PG&E), they automatically come on at dusk and go off at dawn (or when the battery goes dead, whichever comes first - if it has been a sunny day, and the battery has got a good charge, they will last until morning).
So, here I sit, in a clean house, planning my next move.
Feeling pretty satisfied with myself, and, over-all, feeling pretty darn good.
Hope you and yours are all feeling the same.
My best wishes to everyone for happiness and new adventures in the coming year.
Seize the day!!
Anne
