Notes From the Freedom Front
So, my husband took my daughters skiing and I have had this whole weekend to do whatever I want.
MWUAHAHAHA.
(Er. Um. Sorry about that.)
Saturday
I thought perhaps I would sleep in Saturday morning but someone forgot to send the memo to one Edward the Cat who thought he would knock everything off of my nightstand at exactly 6:00 AM in an effort to keep me from oversleeping.
I had resolved not to spend my free time cleaning and I had even called the house cleaners, who came Saturday afternoon. Nevertheless, in between winding my new sock yarn, I emptied my kitchen drawers (I originally wrote that I emptied my drawers... and I don't know, maybe I've had too much coffee but that made me laugh out loud.) and cleaned them out and I cleaned the refrigerator. I did every last scrap of laundry in this house, including my ridiculous cowdog Scout's bed. I ran my dishwasher three times.
Why?
Because my mommy is coming on Wednesday and I am so excited, I almost can't stand it.
And also because I wanted to treat myself to an utterly clean house which would stay clean for more than 20 minutes. I'm selfish that way.
(I would show you pictures but I'm afraid y'all would want to kill me. Seriously, it's THAT awesome.)
Then I took a glass of wine and a book upstairs and soaked in the tub before climbing into my freshly made-up bed.
...........................................................
Sunday
Today, I woke up just before seven, made my bed, wandered downstairs to make the coffee and feed the pets and then, because apparently I am too little to have unscheduled free time plus a ball-winder plus a lot of new yarn plus a new MacBook PLUS a brilliant brother-in-law who knows how to do these things, I made the following little yarn-fetish video.
(Because I know you will ask (well, some of you. Those who CARE.), here are the yarns featured: Malabrigo Sock Yarn in Stonechat, Claudia Handpainted Yarn - Sport weight in Tealparty and Strawberry Latte (how could I resist that name?), Handmaiden Yarn - Casbah Sock in Glacier (gorgeous cashmere blend), Lorna's Laces - Shepherd Sport in Watercolor and finally, the most luxurious yarn of the whole bunch, Schaefer Yarn - Heather in Thistle. (My first silk blend.))
So, honestly?
Don't tell anyone, but in the end, I've had to sort of consciously enjoy my clean, empty house and all this peace and quiet by reminding myself that in less than 24 hours, my family will be home, bringing a mountain of dirty clothes and demanding food and everyone talking full-voice at once.
My little vacation has been a good exercise. I've learned that the things I crave most often--the ability to eat what I want when I want, the luxury of cleaning something and having it stay clean, the quiet to think and write and knit-- those are NOT the things that bring me a Joy Rush. I wouldn't have predicted that, actually. I would have thought that some solitude and freedom from my normal, structured routines would have come over me like when Scout is so happy he just has to roll around on the carpet in ecstasy. In reality, I find that what gives me that almost painful rush of sheer joy is sharing my life with my family, not focusing on myself and MY agenda but focusing on the hilarious, chaotic, and ever-so-full agendas of the people I love the most.
That's not to say that I wouldn't want to visit here every so often. But I'm going to be really glad to see my people roll up the driveway.
Let's just let that be our little secret, okay?
MWUAHAHAHA.
(Er. Um. Sorry about that.)
Saturday
I thought perhaps I would sleep in Saturday morning but someone forgot to send the memo to one Edward the Cat who thought he would knock everything off of my nightstand at exactly 6:00 AM in an effort to keep me from oversleeping.
I had resolved not to spend my free time cleaning and I had even called the house cleaners, who came Saturday afternoon. Nevertheless, in between winding my new sock yarn, I emptied my kitchen drawers (I originally wrote that I emptied my drawers... and I don't know, maybe I've had too much coffee but that made me laugh out loud.) and cleaned them out and I cleaned the refrigerator. I did every last scrap of laundry in this house, including my ridiculous cowdog Scout's bed. I ran my dishwasher three times.
Why?
Because my mommy is coming on Wednesday and I am so excited, I almost can't stand it.
And also because I wanted to treat myself to an utterly clean house which would stay clean for more than 20 minutes. I'm selfish that way.
(I would show you pictures but I'm afraid y'all would want to kill me. Seriously, it's THAT awesome.)
Then I took a glass of wine and a book upstairs and soaked in the tub before climbing into my freshly made-up bed.
...........................................................
Sunday
Today, I woke up just before seven, made my bed, wandered downstairs to make the coffee and feed the pets and then, because apparently I am too little to have unscheduled free time plus a ball-winder plus a lot of new yarn plus a new MacBook PLUS a brilliant brother-in-law who knows how to do these things, I made the following little yarn-fetish video.
(Because I know you will ask (well, some of you. Those who CARE.), here are the yarns featured: Malabrigo Sock Yarn in Stonechat, Claudia Handpainted Yarn - Sport weight in Tealparty and Strawberry Latte (how could I resist that name?), Handmaiden Yarn - Casbah Sock in Glacier (gorgeous cashmere blend), Lorna's Laces - Shepherd Sport in Watercolor and finally, the most luxurious yarn of the whole bunch, Schaefer Yarn - Heather in Thistle. (My first silk blend.))
So, honestly?
Don't tell anyone, but in the end, I've had to sort of consciously enjoy my clean, empty house and all this peace and quiet by reminding myself that in less than 24 hours, my family will be home, bringing a mountain of dirty clothes and demanding food and everyone talking full-voice at once.
My little vacation has been a good exercise. I've learned that the things I crave most often--the ability to eat what I want when I want, the luxury of cleaning something and having it stay clean, the quiet to think and write and knit-- those are NOT the things that bring me a Joy Rush. I wouldn't have predicted that, actually. I would have thought that some solitude and freedom from my normal, structured routines would have come over me like when Scout is so happy he just has to roll around on the carpet in ecstasy. In reality, I find that what gives me that almost painful rush of sheer joy is sharing my life with my family, not focusing on myself and MY agenda but focusing on the hilarious, chaotic, and ever-so-full agendas of the people I love the most.
That's not to say that I wouldn't want to visit here every so often. But I'm going to be really glad to see my people roll up the driveway.
Let's just let that be our little secret, okay?
Comments
Sometimes I remember to get dressed.
But you're right--the perfect end to a weekend like that is when they all come back. It just gets too darn quiet without them!
and to have the cleaners come in, plus do some reorganization, wow that IS nice!!
But I'm totally feeling your dilemma... the alone time we crave has some inside-out power to cause us to miss the noisy ones like the dickens.
seriously though, I know what you mean.
but DUDE! Next time you've got a weekend to yourself - you need to LET ME KNOW!
Not that the stupid cat learned his lesson. I caught him by the tail just this morning.