I designed the above for a post just before whispers of COVID-19 were heard, when
times were different, much different!
Having just completed the master bedroom makeover - waved goodbye to painter,
floorers, electrician, furniture delivery truck and so forth. . . . . . . . I was already
thinking about what to do next to spruce up the cottage.
Of course that bubble burst, things crashed, and fixing up, changing decor,
hiring help, and shopping for anything even slightly related to home renovation,
other than filling the toilet roll holders - if one was lucky enough to find any - came
to screeching halt!
Yesterday I packed away the flannel sheets and changed the bedding
to summertime sheets of cool linen.
Dusted the furniture and passed the mop over the floor.
Nobody comes to visit anymore - and I wonder if they ever will - suddenly
things don't need to be perfect and I'm taking a rest from trying to be
a perfectionist!
In all honesty, housework is stagnating somewhat around here.
Outdoors is getting more attention, although this week with so much rain
not a lot can be done. Fortunately Bob mowed the grass which now is lush and
so green. Last night's really heavy downpours crushed the
lovely pots of petunias to soggy messes, even deadheading is hard to do
and will have to wait. Best to view are the hydrangeas, now fabulous huge
blooms of many shades of blue as they guzzle gallons of rain water.
Meanwhile, my pretties collect dust on their shelves. . . . . .
. . . . . but being old, some antique, they seem softened even more and I am
just enjoying them as is in the present time at home.
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Hoping our rains go away soon. I think it is suppose to be nice here this weekend. I will be dead heading roses that were so beautiful a couple of weeks ago and now area soggy mess.
ReplyDeleteBad storms here - a small tree fell on neighbor's roof and overhead wires I guess, and everyone with AT&T is without Internet (we have Google and are OK) which is frustrating for those working from home! More coming later today and tomorrow . . . .but looking forward to next week which will be great improvement. We are so in need of something good and bright now!!!
DeleteDear Mary,
ReplyDeleteI could have written your second paragraph. Things don't have to be perfect. I surprise myself when I actually fill the flower vases and dust the furniture. Only my life has been like this long before the Corona Virus hit.
Yes, I know how it must be for your dearest Gina. The brightest things around these days seem to be flowers. . . . .how uplifting and cheering they are. The world is not a happy place at present that's for sure!!!
DeleteI rarely dust anymore, but just look the other way. I have done the floors a few times and always pick up for my own sanity. With the garden full of flowers now there are bouquets in several places in the house. Thankful for the flowers and sunshine. I do think I am going to go online in the next few days and look for new thermal panels for my dining room and living room. The one we have are showing much wear.
ReplyDeleteKitchen floor day here - tracking stuff in from the soggy garden makes a mess!
DeleteHope you find your panels - I just bought a table for porch online - pleased with it and we managed to put it together yesterday!!!
Everybody's plans and ideas were and still are influenced by the current situation, aren't they. You and your beautiful cottage and garden are doing so well! I love pictures of your rooms and your garden.
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind Meike dear - I like to potter about, while I still can, in both house and garden, but the cleaning is no longer fun, haha! Bob helps of course, pushing the Hoover etc., and offers to hire a cleaning person, BUT I'm not ready for that quite yet! At least we're 'all picked up' and neat most of the time as we can't stand untidyness!
Delete"Home, Sweet Home" is a song from the opera Clari,
ReplyDeleteor the Maid of Milan which was first performed at
Covent Garden, London in 1823...
The lyrics were written by American actor and
playwright John Howard Payne (1791-1852)...
AND..Did you know..
A small house is better than "pleasures and palaces,"
If the small house is also a home...
This is the message of John Howard Payne's "Home, Sweet Home."
The size of the house is incidental...!
Home Defined By Charles Swain
“Home's not merely four square walls,
Though with pictures hung and gilded:
Home is where affection calls,
Filled with shrines the heart hath builded!
Home! go watch the faithful dove,
Sailing 'neath the heaven above us;
Home is where there's one to love!
Home is where there's one to love us!
Home's not merely roof and room,
It needs something to endear it;
Home is where the heart can bloom,
Where there's some kind lip to cheer it!
What is home with none to meet,
None to welcome, none to greet us?
Home is sweet, -and only sweet-
When there's one we love to meet us!”
💨💦 💨💦 💨💦💨💦 💨💦 💨💦
Willie thank you for sharing such lovely words about home. . . . .Charles Swain's poem is really beautiful. I love the line "Home is where the heart can bloom" as I feel that way myself whilst being here during these difficult days.
DeleteYou are doing the right thing Mary. Since the beginning of lockdown we have had the most glorious weather here in the U.K. so, what’s the point of being indoors ? We have also spent most of our time in the garden & cleaning is so boring ! I shall save cleaning, decorating and sorting wardrobes for when the rain comes ! ( or, maybe not 😂🤣😂 ) Your home is really beautiful Mary and so welcoming... from what I have seen of it, it looks perfect.
ReplyDeleteLook after yourselves. XXXX