Tackle It Tuesday: That Laundry Basket

So, yes, I am one of those lazy people who sweeps up everything off the kitchen counter into a laundry basket when I have to clean quickly. Or because I will sort through that important stuff that needs to be on the counter right away, as soon as the company is gone.


So here is the laundry basket a few weeks after our party on October 30th. Actually, this is after I cleared out half of the papers and then got distracted. I finally got back to the basket because 1) I got tired of tripping over it; 2) I had a nagging feeling that something important might be in there; and 3) I really needed my laundry basket back.

Ta-da! Isn't it beautiful? There was even a quarter at the bottom of it. And a hibiscus seed pod. If you live with a botanist whose nickname is Dr. Hibiscus (Dr. H.), you might expect such a thing.

Go forth and tackle something! It feels so good. And you might find a quarter. More Tackles at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tackle It Tuesday

So about 2 weeks ago, Dr. H. declared, "This year we are NOT going to let our pumpkins rot on the front porch like we always do!"

He is such an optimist.

Today's tacklings included cleaning the front porch:

Two rotten pumpkins, a hedge trimmer, a bright orange extension cord, a pair of gloves, and two dead mums, all gone by 8:15 a.m.!

I was especially proud of myself since this thing was lurking above my head as I cleaned:

I find slugs particularly repulsive.

Next up, the guest bedroom. Dr. H's best friend from high school and his wife and new baby are arriving shortly. Here's what the bedroom looked like earlier today:

And now:


Phew! I'm glad that's done. Now the house is clean, soup's on the stovetop, and brownies are in the oven.

Let the holidays begin!

See more Tackle It Tuesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom!

Tackle It Tuesday

I have a lot, a whole lot, of areas that need tackled in my house, especially after a whirlwind week like the last one. Tackle It Tuesday encourages me to start with one small place, so today I chose the first spot that you see when you come in my house.


This is the buffet/cupboard in the dining room, where most people enter (unless you're a stranger and come through the front door) and where all family members drop their stuff. I really do try to keep this cleared off, but it's gotten ridiculous this week. And those flowers in the vase on the wall might look OK in the picture above, but here is what they really look like:


Attractive, I know. So, I got busy this morning and put all that junk away or gave it to the person to whom it belongs so he or she could put it away. Laurel found the fall table runner (I didn't remember that we had one!) and the sweet little picture of Duncan's handprint/turkey in a closet, and I tossed out the dead mums and replaced them with greenery.


Aaah. This is a much more peaceful view from my side of the dining room table.

And then there is the project I didn't get done today:

That's a basket of junk I swept off the counter before a party here 3 weeks ago.

Maybe next week on Tackle It Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

(P.S. Don't forget to share a soup recipe with me and check out the great ones I have received so far! I'm having one tonight!)