Spit and polish

First of all, I fixed the dumb cable. I don’t usually knit during the day, for some reason, but I granted myself special dispensation yesterday and ripped 12 rows, fixed the cable, and knit ’em back up again. Having pulled the sleeve off the needles, I was able to “try it on.” I became a bit concerned about the width of the finished sleeve; specifically, about bulk under the arm if all the increases were made as written. My sleeve seemed to “fit” okay, and I still have 6 increases to go on each side. I thought Katy‘s mom had knit this sweater, so posted my concern on the St. Brigid KAL board; turns out that Katy and her sister only wished that their mother had knit this sweater! Katy suggested that I email Wendy since she had knit SB once. Wendy kindly replied that, though she hasn’t worn the sweater in a while, she likes it and doesn’t recall any bothersome bulkiness; she is pretty sure that she knit it as written. She would have pulled it off the shelf if she wasn’t hindered by that swollen ankle. (Wishes for speedy recovery.)

Since I was awaiting word about St. Brigid’s arm, I pulled out Cromarty for the evening knitting. Woo-hoo, I am so close to finishing the first body piece. It’s been a while since I had this in my lap, but we were easily reacquainted.

Very, very interesting… reading all your comments about cleaning and involving the kids and such. I think my method is most like Kim‘s (clean when you can’t take it anymore), Rachael‘s (whenever, wherever), and Melanie‘s (piecemeal). For me, this method is often manic, inspired by hormone fluctuations or moon phases or the impending arrival of company.

Essentials are covered daily, similar to Yvette and Janet, though I don’t have a checklist. The kids do help with these, but the definition of “essential” is often open to interpretation. Part of my problem with the kids is looking the other way when the standard is not quite met, and then I decide that it’s just easier to do it myself. Janet seems to have mastered this. Ohm.

From time to time, I have employed the timer method that Christine uses, especially when the kids were little. Her kids fight over who gets to use the Swiffer first. My mother loved her Swiffer so much that she bought one for each of us. I made the delivery to one of my sisters; she put it together promptly and then she disappeared — she was in Swiffer Heaven for a good half-hour.

Katy’s daughter has been doing laundry since she was 6 (go, Gracie)! Occasionally, I just ignore the laundry, but it’s really one of my favorite housekeeping tasks (as long as ironing isn’t involved). I especially love hanging clothes on the line. I did show Mdd how to do it not long ago, and last night she asked me to make a chart because “then I’d do it a helluva lot more often.” (Yeah, she’s 13.) Striking while the iron was hot, I got right on that!

For a while, before my teen-age years and again when they were drawing to a close, my mother employed a cleaning lady who would come either weekly or bi-weekly. I always argued about having to make my bed on the day the cleaning lady came — wasn’t that her job? (I must have been nearing 13.) I, too, employed a cleaning lady (bi-weekly) for a short time when I worked full-time while my kids were very young. Having the entire house clean in one day, like Cindy and Melanie’s mom is my unrealized ideal. I have pile problems and clutter chaos and a packrat gene complicated by sentimental tendencies and a HUGE, dusty, old house. Dealing with that stuff doesn’t seem like cleaning, to me, but it most certainly is the biggest obstacle. I’ve been much more aware of the need to pare down, purge, and organize, but it’s apparent that there is lots of room for improvement. Breaking things down into more manageable tasks is a great tip, and really getting the kids involved has to be a priority. Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts!

To counter the mundane talk of housework, allow me to share the blooming Obedience Plant (I think) transplanted from my moving-to-Indiana friend’s garden earlier this summer. Isn’t it beautiful?

Lastly, Stephanie is going to teach me (and a few others) how to make Thrummed Mittens!