Cleaning Can Be Dangerous!

Writing came to a halt a couple of days ago as life intervened. The house was filthy, the refrigerator bare, the laundry baskets overflowed, and my brain was tired anyway. The weather still  had frigid nights and snow was whispered to be lurking about. Even today while the air is warmer, the skies look like an angry sea with frothy white caps on gray waves. Although the winter feels long since snow started in December, it is still only January, much too soon for pinks and yellows to appear even inside the house.

So I decided I could at least dust, rearrange stuffed shelves, straighten the hutch. Just wiping things down in the dining room would be exercise, physical work to offset the mind, and would surely pick us up to see  shiny things again somewhere. While DH slept, I sorted laundry and turned on the oven. I stirred up a batch of corn muffins from the white corn meal we picked up at Metamora, Indiana last October. It would be a nice little recalling of the trip. Then I set to unloading the hutch, dusting shelves, washing glasses. All went well until I started putting things back on the very top. About half done, I wanted to step down and did, forgetting I was on the top step of the ladder stool. I realized too late that the floor was nonexistent where I expected it, fell backward, hit a sideboard on the way down taking a few dishes and pictures from the wall with me. Once I hit the floor, things were still falling because they were hitting me. Ah, DH had his wake up call that day!

It was amazing that only china broke; I still had moving parts on my body. Oh, but did I hurt! The day was a long one as things had to be cleaned up. I guess this is one prescription for  spring cleaning: Just throw dishes on ceramic tile floor and sweep away!

This morning I don't feel great but could be a lot worse! I made us a full breakfast with bacon, eggs, and hot tea. Then DH helped me shake some rugs, picked up his own mess, and helped put away yesterday's laundry. I am quite tired and think I will just read for fun this afternoon. I am reading Grandmother and the Priests by Taylor Caldwell for my book classic for my book club. Slipping into the Scottish Highlands sounds like a good escape for the day!

It will soon be the last week in January...the year moves forward. I think surely some daffodils and forsythia might be in our future one day! Until then, I suggest avoiding spring cleaning!