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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Stream of Consciousness Cleaning....

 OK.  I got a lot done this morning...Not enough, but a lot.

I am trying to get ready for Wednesday...  Walter cleaned off most of the back porch the other day and left me with the table and the swing to do... I put a new cover on the cushion and cleaned off the table where I re pot plants, among other things...Like spray painting and other stuff that I can't do in the house... I still have to take a couple of spots of red mahogany stain off of the glass table top....It will come off.
As I was walking back and forth to the trash bin, I noticed this.  The crazy cacti and succulents seem to think that, since there was a three day freeze and now it's over, it is spring.

Only in Arizona...  It's 52 right now and I am hoping for higher.
After I got most of the clean up done, Tessie showed up, with her usual, "What'cha doin'?".  She has been watching from behind the curtain most of the time I have been out here.

When we got new tables for the living room a few weeks ago, I put the old end tables out on the porch for plants.  The tables are quite rustic and do just fine outside.  The plants are happier and so am I. 

Last night, it was close to freezing.  It only took me a couple of minutes to throw sheets over them all.  It used to be a matter of making sure that the sheets wrapped around a lot of different height plant stands.  Now most of them are on one level.  It's great.

Tessie found one other plant that thinks it's spring.  My French lavender is blooming all over the place.
After I went inside, I decided that the spice rack needed cleaning.....Mind you, some of the spices that were in there had been there for years, unused.  I dumped them all.  Starting over is a good thing.

One of the square jars on the bottom shelf contains home made taco seasoning that I just made.  Kind of like having the real thing, instead of the stuff out of a foil packet.  If you are interested in making your own, I got the recipe here.  http://centercutcook.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/
I took most of the new spices out of this drawer and transferred them to the old bottles, in the cabinet.  I even made new labels.  Very fancy.

As you can see, I still have some that have to stay in the drawer, but now the drawer is clean and tidy...

The silverware to the left is my grandmother's.  I use it for special occasions.  Like Christmas.

Tessie found a demitasse spoon and seems to think that it would be good for her....She grabbed it and told me, "If I use this, I can eat my whole dinner out of one spoon full."  I can see it now and I am NOT cleaning up after she gets done.

Anyway, I think it's time to get serious now... The sink is full of dirty dishes...I know. They should have been done first.  I took a leaf out of Tessie's book of rules.  Do the fun stuff first.  The stuff that is a drag, second.  Anything else that you don't really want to do....Leave until another day.

See you tomorrow.

4 comments:

Véronique said...

How did you know I was looking for that seasoning mix??? I'm on a diet (yes, wrong time of the year to start with a diet!). Spice are good, ready made packets are bad!
Love the broom in your kitchen!! And your silverware. Precious! As for the plants... there are some odd things happening here too... just harvested some summer salad...

You are starting the new year all organized and clean! It's gone viral because you have infected me :-)
Have a wonderful Christmas and the happiest New Year. Yes Tessie, you too! ( and all the other terribles...)
Hugs,
Veronique

Natalia's Fine Needlework said...

It looks like it is still warm and shiny up there in your kingdom, Casey! It is nice to know the sun is still shinning in some parts of the country! We have had a lot of snow for last 3 days and today went to snowshoe (:))) even... Happy Merry Christmas to you, Casey, and your family! Mini hugs, Natalia
...and, by the way, thanks a lot for all little tips and hints in your previous post. It is a nice reminder to be more observatory (hmm... why can't I say "observative"?) have a great Christmas!

carmen said...

feliz navidad!

Marisa said...

Im going to print this out and post it on my fridge for inspiration

"Do the fun stuff first. The stuff that is a drag, second. Anything else that you don't really want to do....Leave until another day."

:)
Merry Christmas
Marisa