After 4 nights in a row of staying up later than my usual bedtime watching the convention, I’m getting to this post a little later than usual. I fondly remember the days when wild variations in my bedtime made not one difference. Not a whit. But now? My sleep patterns are established and they don’t like me to mess with them. If I do, there’s usually hell to pay.
Thankfully, I slept in today. And it rained. And, hopefully, it will rain again later in the day. Fingers crossed. I can’t remember when I’ve seen our rivers this low.
Thanks for all your responses yesterday. I want to make clear that my intention with that post was to chastise myself, not the reader who complained. She had a right to voice her opinion. I should have handled it better than I did. And I wanted to explain to everyone, newer readers especially, why ads and sponsored posts are a necessity on this blog.
You all were just supporting me, but I do not want to imply, nor did I, that she did anything wrong. The post was a mea culpa on my part. I do not want her to feel any hurt over this post. It seems like I screwed up on all fronts.
My best friend in the world and her husband are coming to visit us on Wednesday – just for the day, as they are visiting NYC. (They live near Chicago.) They’ve never seen our cottage, so today marks the start of Claudia’s Cleaning Binge. Also, the lawn needs mowing, weeds need whacking, and the gardens need a little cleanup. But it’s been so hot and humid that none of that could be addressed.
I just want the whole place to look nice as we pull into the driveway after picking them up at the train station. Hopefully, they won’t look too closely at any of the interior rooms.
Maybe I should blindfold them as they enter the house?
Happy Friday.
I am sure they will love your homey little cottage.
Let’s hope so, Cindy. Thank you so much for continuing to read and comment, my friend.
If she is your best friend in the world, she knows you well and your style. You don’t have to put on airs for her. More than likely, she’s seen you at your best and worst and vise versa.
She’s coming to visit you and Don, not to inspect your domain. Spiff the place up a bit and then just enjoy the precious time spent with your best friend. Life is too short to worry about dust bunnies and weeds.
Vanessa B
That’s just what my sister said, Vanessa. But I’ll still clean. Just not like a maniac.
your intent in the sponsored post and follow-up came through just fine. hope you don’t lose sleep over that. and just sleep better in general. (when i was a kid i remember thinking how nice it would be as an adult to stay up as late as i wanted, but that idea vanished by the time i reached my mid-20s. many, many years beyond that, i try to keep a regular sleep schedule to just feel better.)
i am the same way about wanting to make sure things are clean and extra-nice for my family and friends … but (as with my family and me) i am sure your soon-to-arrive guests care much more about you and don than the tidiness of your home, so don’t stress over that, either! you will make it special for them. just being together is the best part anyway!
have a great, hopefully rainy weekend and time with your friends next week. (we could use a lot more rain here. i love days like that, especially if my family and i are all safe in our homes. rain gives me permission that i don’t often give myself – to stay home and putter or be lazy and take naps. days like that don’t happen often enough for me.)
kathy in iowa
Well, I feel terrible because the woman who commented felt attacked in the comments section on yesterday’s post. That upsets me. I feel like I handled the whole thing incorrectly.
you apologized (maybe the commenter did, too?) and you both learned something ……… all good. :)
kathy in iowa
Thank you, Kathy.
Oh yes…the famous quick binge clean…I know it well! I also know that my good friends couldn’t care less. I do it for me…and I hear my mother’s voice in my ear every time…”company’s coming, we have to clean up!” ( I come from a long line of spotless homemakers!) Have fun! ;)
I always say the same thing to Don: It matters to me.
Only able to do quick reads recently..that life gets in the way thing.
I’d bet your friend will not care one lick about neatness, but I do get it as my home is never as clean for just us as it is for company LOL. Have a wonderful visit!
I won’t go crazy, I promise!
Claudia, you are such a wonderfully gracious woman. I hope you have a lovely weekend with your friends!
Thank you, Linda!
I am sure your friends are there to see you and not how clean your house is….it will be fine. Enjoy your company, have few laughs, maybe some wine?? Just enjoy!
Thanks, Mamey. They’ll only be here for a day, so I should just relax, right?
Sorry if my comment upset the other reader…I had no intention of that. I think I was reacting to some comments you have received over the past months.. Anyhoo, my apologies to her (and you too for maybe over-reacting to your post).
Ah yes, visitors always prompts cleaning around my place. The other week my husband (finally) got around to painting our guestroom in anticipation of a friend of his visiting for a few days. It looks wonderful now…and his friend cancelled his visit. I laughed!
Enjoy your weekend and the visit from your friend.
You’re right – I have received some comments recently that were upsetting and I know my readers were ‘defending’ me. I love you all for that.
Hey, at least you got that room painted!
Oh, I always go into a panic when company’s coming! I know that I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. After they’re gone I wonder what was the big deal, anyway? It’s just the way I’m wired, I guess, but I never can seem to get it under control. Once guests arrive, I can relax a little bit. Hope you have a great, relaxed visit. Your home always looks very welcoming!
Don always tells me that no one is going to notice, but I notice, so I feel I have to clean!
There’s nothing like company coming to motivate a cleaning marathon. & funny how that to-do list for the home magically gets accomplished the week prior to a visit. The week before a vacation trip is the worst for me as I have pet sitters come in 2 X a day: I have to clean house & yard & get packed . I do keep the guest room & guest bathroom clean at all times. Best of luck with your to-do list!
We used to do the same thing when we had pet sitters – and our sitters had to stay overnight, which meant getting everything in order in the guest room.
Had to chuckle. One of my cousin’s fave sayings in the world, “Company is a good excuse to clean.” I hope you have a wonderful visit…remember, they’re here to see you, not your dust bunnies!
But there are a lot of dust bunnies, Vicki!
Best friends do not care how your home looks. Secret clean the mirrors and windex all faucets to make them shine, she will think you cleaned all day! Whoopee it is raining here! Enjoy you company.
I will follow your advice and clean the mirrors and faucets, Mary!
I neaten up a bit and hide the dust bunnies when I expect guests. But I have hobby supplies all over the place, and somehow my dining room has become sewing central, as I’ve come to realize I don’t like sewing in my sewing room. It’s upstairs at the end of the hall away from the family. You’ll have a fun time with your friends, no matter what the state of the cottage.
You’re right. I will! Thanks, Wendy.
I am so sorry the reader felt attacked. I know you never meant it that way. You are such a kind person. I’m excited that your friends are coming. I do the same thing, go into a cleaning frenzy! It’s a touch cooler today which is nice. I took Tiger clothes shopping for school, he starts Kindergarten on Aug 8th. Hugs to you Claudia!
Linda
It’s cooler today but gosh darn it, it’s very humid! I just came in from mowing and it’s miserable out there! Can’t believe Tiger is starting kindergarten, Linda!
I can relate. I carry that gene that generally requires things to look as though a photo crew from Better Homes & Gardens is expected. But everyone’s right. Your friends won’t really care. The bathroom is the only room you need to have spotless. Other than that try for clean floors, freshly-dusted Roseville and egg cups, and a tidy kitchen. And you’re good to go. Personally I love it when I walk in a house and smell a fresh pot of coffee – that is so welcoming. Maybe you can make a pot before you leave to pick up your friends? 💛
PS – have a wonderful weekend!
The visit will be on Wednesday – just for the day – and hopefully we’ll spend some of that time showing them our neck of the woods, Janet.
It’s so funny that we all do the same thing…. go into a bit of a frenzy when company is coming. But, truly, I seldom really deep clean when it is just the 2 of us. I don’t know if it happens to anyone else, but the one thing that company finds to really look at or comment upon is nearly always in the one spot I missed while cleaning. And each time it is something different, which, I guess, means I am not a real thorough duster, or I get distracted too easily!! As everyone else said, if the bathroom and the kitchen are shiny and clean, most people believe that your house is clean.
Hope you have a wonderful visit!!
I almost never deep clean when it’s just Don and me. Nope!
I’ll do the best I can (actually, I’m more interested in the gardens looking good) but I promise not to go crazy with the whole thing!
Your cottage always looks so warm and inviting! I am sure your friend will be just as charmed as I always am whenever I am “visiting” you. Have a great time, my friend.
Aw, thank you, Dottie! I’m really looking forward to seeing her.
At least you can see and enjoy looking at your collections while you do a quick dusting!😀
Yes, but not in the bathrooms that I have to clean, Doris!
Oh, I can so relate to the cleaning frenzy lest a visitor thinks I’m a total slob, but also to your sleep comments. In my mid-forties, the bedroom lights are out before 10pm, and if I stay up until 10.30 or even, gasp, 11, I am so wretched the next day. It’s winter here in New Zealand so it’s darker earlier and I’ve even found myself tucking in just after 9 and my husband sometimes beats me to it. What will I be like at 70??? 4pm dinner and 5pm lights out??? Hehe, I can just imagine it.
I’m the same. In the winter, I’m nodding off while sitting on the sofa right around 9 pm!
Aaah, that makes me feel better. I love my quiet and simple life!
Hi Claudia, I just found you and have enjoyed reading your blog and seeing a peek at your life. Stop by sometime. :) Jo
Claudia, you are such a kind person! I’m remembering when you urged me to keep commenting here when I was worried about my lack of education and grammar skills. I was worried that I would be judged by you and others here after one of your blog posts about words and language, but you encouraged me and so did some of your readers. I so appreciated that! You certainly set things right with me and I’m sure you did the same with your reader that was offended. Yes, you are a very kind and understanding person! I hope your offended reader will realize that and continue enjoying reading your blog, which is a real treasure compared to other blogs I have read. Thanks so much for all of your efforts regarding your blog. I’m sorry though that it is such a financial drain on you. I did not realize how much it costs to keep a blog going. :( I was hoping that the few ads you have here were making a profit for you.
Don’t wear yourself out cleaning too much! The nice thing about a deep cleaning is you don’t have to do it again for a long while! Enjoy your visit with your friend, who I think is so lucky to get to see you and Don along with your lovely and cozy cottage. :) Dont worry about everything being perfect, it already is!
Usually, visitors don’t see what we see. So just relax! :-)
But I see it, Regula!