When the Rain Falls

This morning the distant sound of thunder rolled through the mountains and lightning flashed across the lake. Inside some rather cramped quarters mouse snuggled against her Sir, smelling him. He's got the man smell thing that makes mouse swoon. Since the rains are expected to linger for the next several days, we found ourselves venturing into town for a coffee and the all important Internet connection.

Right now, mouse cannot decide which blog to post this in, but considering the last published post here was late May, well why not? Is it wrong to suggest the rains make things a bit dull? Sir did, just now, give mouse a small bit of 'mad money' to buy something frivolous. Now don't laugh but mouse will make her way to this fantastic soap shop in town and plunk down probably too much money on a bar of lavender soap that she will protect with her last breath!

It's a simple pleasure, like the smell of chicken roasting in the oven -- maybe its just mouse but it's one of those smells that seems to make her feel safe. Not sure why though, in fact mouse cannot recall anyone in her family roasting a whole chicken. It's not a thanksgiving turkey smell either -- chicken smells like love to mouse and the turkey reminds her of stress.

Ok, now mouse has gotten off the track, this is about rain. When it's rainy here, depending on how rainy maybe. Did you know there are degrees of raininess? Little rain, the kind that feels like mist on your skin that you might mistake for fog. Then there's the rain that comes on fast, departing just as quickly and leaving behind wonderful puddles to explore. Finally there's the kind of rain that falls loudly, with so much water you wonder where it all goes.

In case you're at all curious, we're in the midst of the last one. The longest time mouse spent outside was the amount of time it took to move the herb pots so they aren't drowned.

It's really the perfect day for exploring in town and sample some local flavors. There's a shop dedicated to all things puzzles here, so we know that's on the list. Sir already treated mouse to some lovely (unscented) candles and some coffee beans (tomorrow morning really can't come soon enough). It's just us here for now, so there's little point in spending the day cooking goodies we'll never finish and the house closest to us is still empty (tho we did notice the cleaning crew recently) so there's no one to share with.

Still the rains provide an odd sort of distraction for us. Finding a new kind of joy in everyday things. Added bonus, mouse gets to put off laundry another day, and if the rain continues long enough she'll be posting again sooner rather than later, as she watched the soothing tumble of clothing churning in the sudsy water.

 

Busy, Busy

Yesterday, Daddy printed out the file of things we brought to the lake last year. Really, it sounds terrible but mouse forgot all the stuff we brought just for the baby. Various toys now mostly forgotten, that just a year ago she couldn't live without. As we gear up for our return, canvassing the previous list there isn't a lot we seem to need. Most things we'll need are waiting for us there. We did need a new vacuum cleaner. Nothing fancy but something that easily switched from fbare floor to carpet. Since it will live there Daddy said something under a hundred dollars seemed reasonable to spend.

Thats a relief to mouse because aside from clothes and other stuff there isn't a lot to pack...except well food. At home we can buy food staples far less expensively than we can there. It makes sense since most people who do live there year around make a big trip to the discount stores.

Daddy's busy too, with many late nights stowed away in his study or at work. It's hard on mouse, because she wants to lessen his load -- but there's only so much she can do (aside from making sure everything is order). The best news is we have a housekeeper again! Best Mother's day gift ever!

Being Particular

As most who have read our main blog The Power Exchange are aware, Omega enjoys a tidy home -- not really immaculate, but clutter free. Most Fridays mouse cleans for Shabbat. Certain things must be done before sundown. When the days become shorter, the cleaning chores are spread out over two days. Omega now prepares the daily list of what's to be accomplished each day, so when he handed Friday's list over to mouse, there was an error.

It's ok you can gasp.

Omega likes his things neatly arranged, just so. Socks for example are arranged by style, then by color, light to dark. Gym and weekend socks are stored in a completely different drawer. Clothing is arranged the same way. Style and color. It's an easy system, once mouse became used to it.

For Shabbat, clothes must laundered, errands run, towels washed, table cloth changed and washed, bedding, sheets, pillow cases must be changed and laundered. That's just bedrooms. Bathrooms, kitchen must be cleaned, the home dusted....

Yes, mouse becomes exhausted thinking about it.

But...

It's also nice to have a clean home for the weekend.

Omega understands all too well, how difficult it can be to get everything accomplished with limited sunlight on Fridays. Candlelighting is in about an hour (don't worry mouse is finished). This all brings mouse to today's list and specifically what was missing from it.

Omega left no time for ironing!

See, while he's particular, so is mouse and hates wrinkled sheet cuffs.

Actually wrote a little about ironing here before.

It's the sheets that take a while for mouse to get just right, then they're folded and put away for the next week. Why didn't he know? How could he not know?

Well, it seems mouse didn't tell him.

We have two comforters for the bed. One is a Spring/Summer ensemble, with coordinating sheets and towels and the other is more for Fall/Winter. Here comes the quirkiness. When mouse pulled out the comforter in the Spring and packed away the Winter one, she noticed how shabby it had become. It was stained in one area (fruit juice thanks to the kids) and torn a little. The sheets too were looking faded and tired. It should be noted each bedding ensemble has two sets of sheets.

The intent wss to replace it. Just mouse never got around io it, as Springtime faded into Summer, the priory shifted. We went to the lake and mouse really forgot all about it. Since mouse usually makes the switch when the weather becomes cooler, in early October, Omega just said to forget it for now and we'll worry about next spring. The sheets were ironed in the beginning, but then mouse just didn't see the point. Omega didn't bother the housekeeper he hired to clean once a week while mouse was away to do it.

Next week, mouse will be switching the bedding, so this week became more about prep. The sheets that were on the bed weren't laundered, just switched with the clean spring set, and tossed out. But the other sheets that have been put away for half a year, must be cleaned, folded and ironed.

So what did leave off the list?

The ironing of the other sheets.

He had to fiddle and juggle mouse's schedule a little, because it takes time. But it's done and they look and smell great! Yes, today mouse is very tired but next week will be better! Having that part done also helps mouse to find the joy in next week!

 

Old Mother Hubbard...

While Daddy was away, mouse decided it was time to really go through the cabinets.  It was a nice, distracting process and kiddo assisted by standing on a chair and grabbing things mouse couldn't reach.  

Now, this was a process started before Passover, when it was necessary to rid out our home of any Chametz for the holiday.  Looking at the cupboards tho, mouse noticed there were other things, not forbidden that really needed to be gone through.  Unopened bottles of hot sauces, jars of something, canned goods no one eats...

So mouse began the process of removing the stuff, all the stuff, and checking "Best By" dates.  Shamefully 90% of the cabinet was junk.  Too old to even go to a food bank.  Deplorable!   The lower (snack) cabinets the kids have were no better in fact they were a good deal worse because mouse won't even begin to try to describe what she found lurking there.  

Now, our dietary needs have changed also since we've been together.  Daddy hates anything pretty much that comes in a package, so those packaged or convenience rice packages and couscous just languished on the shelves.   Rice, breads, starches and other grains have long since vanished from our diets because of the havoc they cause Daddy and his blood sugars.  He's really not afraid of a protein salad.  

When he returned home he found (shockingly) several cabinets completely empty of food.  He actually didn't like that but when mouse explained it to him, he said he understood.  No baby food either anymore...baby girl has been off that for a while, and she hates the other stuff like it for toddlers...she wants our food or nothing. 

Our refrigerator is full of food, we have a fruit bowl filled with fruit.  Lots of vegetables too..and cheese because Daddy can't live without cheese.   

There is one cabinet, that does contain bread, peanut butter, chips and crackers...But those are mostly for the kids to munch on.  Baby girl's favorite lunch is PB&J with half a banana and raisins.  We used to keep the dog treats in there...but we had move them -- sure you can guess why.  

Ironing

It's not something people like to do, and truthfully it's not something mouse ever enjoyed. Yet now, it's a metaphors for life, the act of smoothing the wrinkles. Making something look crisp or pretty. Now, before anyone emails Daddy suggesting mouse needs a serious intervention...Irs really not a Stepford Wife thing or why mouse finds enjoyable. It's more about clean corners and crisp lines that appeal so to mouse. And just so you know, not everything is ironed. Most things are hung up as soon as the dryer is finished or folded and put away. But there are some things that routinely no matter how quickly she pulls from the dryer they're already wrinkled. Sheets come to mind -- for some reason they always wrinkle at the cuffed part at the top. The sides and corners do as well, but mouse doesn't care much about that.

So mouse irons them. Not the whole sheet, just the cuff parts and pillowcases. Yes, it's cheating. But it requires mouse to remain mindful of her task. Maybe that's what's so appealing? The act of focus is practiced and observed in the task.

Regardless of why it's something mouse actually enjoys.

Laundry, overall, just isn't. Need to figure out a way to feel joyful while doing that...baby steps, mouse...baby steps.