Rx for stress: Spring Cleaning and a little Earth, Wind and Fire

   
     The weather here has been magnificent lately. Warm. Sunny. It's Spring, and I'm into the spring cleaning thing in full blown overdrive. But not so much because of the incredible weather. I have come to know, first hand, that serious cleaning is a great stress reliever. I don't mean things like washing dishes. Oh no, all that does it make me think more about what ever is worrying me.
     And the past few weeks have been spent worrying and fretting, on the phone or at lawyers offices, figuring out a creative budget (or lack there of) and looking down a road that I don't really have a clue as to where it leads.
So.
Back to spring cleaning. Heavy duty cleaning. Clean a room and mean it cleaning. The crank-up-some-vintage-Earth, -Wind-and-Fire-and-break-a-sweat-moving-the-furniture-to- vacuum,-strip-the beds-and-scrub-the-bathtub kind of cleaning.
     I tackled all of the hardwood floors last night after work, and it was a long process. I got inspired by Amy a while back, to use her method. She got the idea from Cheryl Mendelson's Home Comforts book. It's a slow process, and my back aches, but...dang! The floors look good. Better than good. They look fabulous, in an understated kind of way. And my mood is much improved, thankyouverymuch.
     It's amazing to me- the satisfaction I can feel from doing a simple task like scrubbing my floors. I am so thankful and happy to have my beautiful hardwood floors.  They are one of my most favorite things in my cottage. While I was done there on all fours, I had time to ponder (while singing at the top of my lungs, "She's a brick house, she's mighty, mighty, just lettin' it all hang out...") just how very many blessings I have. Of course my kids, my parents, my friends...but even the small stuff..like the fact that I found this house, this wonderful cottage home that was clearly meant especially for me. (Why else would it have had a room behind the garage with a large sized doggie door, just the perfect size for the Junior bed Bear likes to sleep on when it's cold outside during the day? Hmm? )
     The fact that this perfect-for-me cottage home had a giant walk in closet for all those shoes, even though homes built in the 60's usually had no such thing...that's a blessing, a gift to me, plain and simple. Having an Earth, Wind and Fire CD to blast as I clean? Well...priceless.
    By the time I had finished cleaning the floors I was feeling so humble and happy and so...content. And, I will now leave the worrying to the big guy upstairs.

Comments

[Martha]

I LOVE cleaning to EW&F!! Especially the song "September" You are an inspiration to me and many other people. I hope you keep documenting your beautiful life :)

Martha

[Kathleen]

I know what you mean. It's such a great feeling having the baseboards and wood floors clean. My spring and summer stress reliever is working in the yard. I've transformed a barren little back yard into small park setting. Hmm must mean I'm a pretty stressed out person ha ha. My kids said they always knew when I was not too pleased with them I'd start vacuuming. My house was always clean..wonder what that says :)

By the way a question about your dining chairs did you use oil base paint or latex? Thanks!
Best,
Kathy

[Tracey]

I use Latex (water based) Behr Brand eggshell finish enamel on pretty much everything I paint. The glaze finish seals the chairs very nicely.

[Denise]

Tracey - I am trying to be a more effective cleaning person. I found first I had to declutter - and I am getting there, AND enjoying it. I would love to have more information on your method for the floors, but Amy's link did not work for me. It IS time to clean those floors . . . and I am going to have to dig out that Earth, Wind & Fire and at the top of my lungs, sing, "Sing a Song!" Sounds fun!

[Tracey]

I fixed the links, anyway i hope I did...sorry 'bout that. I posted how to's on my February 12th post for painting. Here is the link to my steps for painting and glazing: http://acottageindustry.typepad.com/a_cottage_industry/junkin/index.html I hope this helps answer your questions!! Have fun if you try it!
Tracey

[DivaDeb]

You GO girl! Personally, Bon Jovi does it for me - the louder, the better! Sometimes it's Rob Thomas's 'Smooth' with Santana. I just dance my way around the Cottage cleaning, singin', and shakin' it for all it's worth - Who needs aerobics?!

You ARE blessed, my friend...AND you are a blessing to others. Much love to you...

[Thimbleanna]

As usual, a very lovely post. Like you, when I'm cleaning, I like to think how fortunate I am -- that I have those wish-they-were-wood tile floors. And that I'm strong and healthy enough to be able to clean! And how talented you are -- to create such pleasurable reading!

[Cathy]

What a beautiful post! It's very inspiring how you can see your blessings despite everything. Not sure if it'll make me want to clean... :) but it definitely brightened up my day!

[Rosemary]

Good for you!! I love really clean floors, it's so great when it's done.
I always clean with my ipod shuffle on. It makes cleaning, way more fun.

[Conni]

Where are my buckets? Good advice. Did I mention how I used to put myself to sleep listening to books on tape when I was especially worried? Magic!

[Angie]

Oh yeah, nothing like some old Motown blasting while cleaning. Thanks for your kind comments on my blog and do thank your son for serving our country.

[Sheri]

perfect post! Love the buckets - and the book - good vibes lighten your load miss tracey!

[Gypsy Purple-Chamara]

What a precious post!!!!

[Kathleen]

Thanks so much for the paint info. It's been years since I painted with glaze and kind of forgot how to do it. I have a little chair calling my name. I have no excuses now! Again thanks!
Best