A Clean Corner of My World

Yesterday I attempted to get the lead out...But then I started reading blogs and lost all forward motion. I did get all the "pretties" off the top of my kitchen cabinets down and wash them. That's a major chore, and one I only do about twice a year. I'm always amazed at the amount of grease and dust that accumulates on my bottles. And dust + grease = glue, I think. A little Simple Green works wonders.

My cleaning mini-frenzy got me looking at things I often miss. Like my boots. Most people bronze their baby shoes. I varnished mine and put them on top of the cabinet. I think I wore them when I was 4. They were my favorite shoes. Mama and Daddy brought them up for Baby Girl a few years ago. She wore them a few times before the soles gave out. Then they took up residence with my bottles. I have a thing for bottles...Can you tell? Some are old (antique shops and junk yards), some are new (gifts from friends and family), some are green (on the far right is a glass 2 liter 7-up bottle), some are blue (ok, enough Dr.Seusse). Then there's the heart shaped bird house Art and Did gave me for my birthday the year they celebrated it for 6 months. That was a fun year!

Here are my Elephants. I collect them. Started collecting when I was 17 I think. I love them. These are only a few of the large ones. The 3 white ones with pink ears are from Husband. He brought them back in his duffel bag from a mission trip to Mexico. The one in the frame was cross stitched by Little BIL. I was so excited that not only did he cross stitch, but he designed it just for me. The largest elephant on the right was a peace offering from Art's husband. We weren't the best of friends and he brought that back for me the first time he took her to meet the parents. It's an antique toy. In the middle is a fat little grey guy that Inkling found and knew I needed. I adore him!

Then we have my tea pots. One that is an elephant (another birthday gift from those 6 months I think), one with pansies (matches my dishes), and one that's a cup and a keeper (from Did). I love tea. It's not easy to come by around here...Unless it's Celestial Seasonings. I have nothing against CS, but I know there's better out there. Come over some time and I'll break out my entire pansy tea set and we'll have a real life tea party! I even have the sugar bowl, creamer pitcher, candle sticks, cups, and saucers to match. I've never put them to real use before.

You know, it's easy to forget that everything has a story of it's own. If I told you the story behind every item in these pictures we could be here all day. But they're all special to me...And on top of the cabinets they stand a chance of surviving until my kids hit puberty.

If I keep up my mini-frenzy, this house could look real good by Saturday. Of course then I'd miss the chance to run my kids around the yard in this 70 degree weather! And I will not pass that up! I may have to change Cate's poem up a little... "I'm chasing my babies, and babies don't keep!"