Clean Sweep

Well I wasn’t playing cards, that’s where one can make a clean sweep isn’t it? but the clean sweep had more to do with actually cleaning things up, down, and around. Started first thing upon getting into the bathroom, taking off the fuzz that grows on the back of my neck. Out came the trusty dog clippers and I did the deed. That was before I took a shower and scrubbed the bath tub and sink. I had to watch Hillary on the Stephanopolus hour (good excuse to rest) and then out came the vacuum and I buzzed around the furniture on all the floors.
Did the dishes after eating oatmeal, spices, and last years apricot sauce. Golly there is just no limit to what needs cleaning. The wind blew again last night and the yard is cluttered with cottonwood branches and spent blossoms from Wade’s Buckeye tree. The huge tree was pink a month ago with large bright flowers which since turned to grape shaped stuff that is all over my yard, roof and steps.
I did take time out to visit with Freethinkers at Hastings Book Store, and realized how badly my car needed a washing (I hadn’t seen the car for 24 hours). The near-rain over night left little polka dots in the dust that settled after the wind the day before. There has been 48 hours of lightning, low rumbling thunder but nothing sharp and ominous and certainly no rain. Back at my house I swept pine needles and Buckeye junk off the steps. I just didn’t quit.
That made lunch late and I wished for time out to play but instead took everything out of the refrigerator and wiped the inside down with soda. Wiped all the jars and put everything back except for the paper and cardboard that seems to hold an unhappy smell. Well the smell makes me unhappy but all is fresh and clean for now.
By then it was late afternoon and quite cloudy so I got around to soaping the Hyundai and hosing it off. Wiped down the windows but the rest had to air dry. I watered some dry spots in the front flower bed as long as I had the water on and one thing leads to another. I couldn’t resist pulling the quack grass that looked so healthy. There were still some leaves hunkered down in the Valeriana – that’s the name of the thick leafed plant that comes up all over and blooms constantly. Pretty cool, huh. Anyway I cleaned up all the debrie I could grab with my fingers. I gather the stuff in a five gallon bucket and I collected five of them full so I will make a good showing for the garbage pickup Wednesday. Those were on top of the tree trash I picked up earlier.
Can you guess what that kind of work does to fingernails? Fills them with dirt, that’s what. Another cleanup job. Cleaned my feet too. I wouldn’t take time out to eat but I can hardly drag myself out of my chair so supper will be modest. With the house so clean it is better that I do very little and not mess it up.
Undoubtedly will go to bed tonight before the birds.
Naomi Sherer