A Cleaning I Shall Go

Well it’s post holiday and the time has come to pack up and clean up all the remnants of another Christmas season. Luckily, I have some new products I was given to trial and they are just great!



To start I needed to scrub all the dishes throughout the season and there were plenty of them to trial the new dishwashing soap called “Dawn” with scrubbing bubbles. Great Product! It created a mountain of long-lasting bubbles that ripped through countless dirty dishes without having to stop, drain or refill the sink. I also, was given Cascade All-in-1 ActionPacs which I gave to my daughter as I don’t own a dishwasher. Well, I do, but her name is Barb and she isn’t quite so automatic! Anyway, my daughter loved this product and said she’d purchase it in a heartbeat.

Next I need to spray away stale odours from all those nonwashable surfaces like the furniture, rugs and dog kennel. Using Febreze limited edition fabric refresher in a holiday scent of Cranberries & Frost dispelled all the staleness and gave me another whiff of the season. Which is also, why I lit a Febreze Limited Edition Winter Evening Candle in the main living area and another in the Limited Edition Evergreen and Snow scent in the bedroom? Lovely! I saved these so I could prolong the scents of the holidays just wee bit longer.

I also was given to trial the Febreze Noticeable in Caramel Apple and Cranberry Frost scent.This is a super product it is not only a night light but, alternates these lovely scents that are just subtle enough not to overpower the area. Just a delicate scent that wafts down my hallway; superb!

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On a more serious cleaning note I tried the Swifter 360 dusters and my goodness; talk about finding the most hidden, sneaky dust. Inside small vents plus around and under stereo equipment are just two examples of where this ideal tool cleans. I love it!
Then there was Mr. Faithful, Mr. Clean multi-surface spray with added Febreze Meadow Rain scent that sparkled up all my kitchen surfaces leaving a fresh, clean fragrance. I really like how this old stand-by that has been updated, but still consistent in cleaning power and quality.
There you have it on my cleaning experiences with these great products. I do recommend using them and although in limited edition holiday scents for the season; they come in many other wonderful year round scents. Their quality and effectiveness for getting the job done leaves you feeling your home sparkles. What more could a gal want?

The Heart of the Family

Today I’m preparing a birthday supper for my son-in-law. His birthday was actually Monday, but today was the convenient day for everyone to come over and break bread together. I’ve had several cancels due to illness and moving blues, but the guest list still includes 8 adults 3 granddaughters and 1 wee grandson. These birthday suppers have become a tradition and although originally confined to our immediate family of 4; now include 2 son-in-laws, 3 granddaughters, 1 grandson, 6 adopted adult children and 4 more grandchildren! These added family members are of the heart rather than blood, which brings me to the topic of this blog. Sorry, it isn’t going to be a blow by blow account of the birthday supper; menu and all that jazz. Ah gee.

What constitutes family? I grew up believing it meant related by blood whether I knew them or not. Anyone else was outside the circle. My parents weren’t particularly close to their siblings so; I never had any real relationships with Aunties, Uncles or Cousins. I did however grow up around a varied assortment of my parent’s friends some of which I grew quite fond of. A few felt like family, but in my heritage they were not blood and therefore not to be called Auntie, Uncle or any other familiar endearment. Sort of mystified me, but heh, I was a kid and that’s how it was. Then I grew up...

By the time I was married with children of my own, my father had passed on and my mother had become very sick with Alzheimer’s disease. My own siblings had moved on and weren’t overly taken with being enthusiastic kin to my children. My husband’s family lived a far distance away. I felt very sick at heart that my kids were missing out on real family interactions; which of course, had to be blood-related according to how I’d been tutored. What could I do? I couldn’t magically create family for them; now could I? Or could I?

It occurred to me that my husband and I had friends that felt closer than a brother. Our sisters and brothers of the heart could be my children’s family. Why not? Where was it written that we had to be blood related? Short of digging out the knife and doing the archaic ritual of becoming blood relatives with every close friend, (which sad to say, I tried once in an especially sentimental and inebriated state with a dear girlfriend – another story...) I brought down the house on my parents beliefs. Any friend who felt like family was adopted into our clan with love and generosity of the spirit. It felt right. It felt good.

It all started quite small and unremarkable. A sister here, a mother there and a couple of adopted kids added for fun. Soon our “family” grew and grew to a wholesome total of around 14! Not to mention the couple of complementary son-in-laws tossed into the mix! It was great! Our little foursome eventually became a very large family of about 20 and counting! Oh the chaos, noise and mess when we all gather for events like birthday suppers! Who could ask for more?

Will we add more family accomplices? Who knows? It depends where our hearts lead us. All I know as my husband and I grow older is that there is nothing more precious than family regardless blood or heart. Nothing like the warmth, fellowship and yes, even the chaos that a large family brings to the table. What a banquet we’ve been given!

Pure Joy

It’s 3:00 AM and I’ve been driven out of bed for the umpteenth time because of pain in my shoulder, lower back and right leg. It’s been five months since I’ve been able to work or function normally in any real sense of the word and I don’t see any relief in the immediate future. It is discouraging, it is depressing, and it is life.

You never know what curve balls life will throw that can change your life profoundly. You never know what mountain you’ll be asked to climb until it happens and then what...You can drown in a sea of self-pitying defeat or you can rise up early and meet it head on. It’s a choice you have to make and I choose to spit in the eye of adversity.

What better time to reflect than in the wee hours of the morning with the only sounds in the darkness are a ticking clock, my kitty purring and the whistle of a train in the distance. Reflect on not what hurts or what could’ve, would’ve, should’ve been, but what brings me joy.

I don’t mean the artificial joy that comes with buying something new or getting my own way or some other self-serving fixation that may bring a fleeting sense of joy or happiness. I mean the real deal. That which in my darkest moments makes me smile and lifts my spirits.

My grandchildren bring me the genuine article. Just thinking of their smiling faces, innocent questions and pure, unadulterated love brings me a profound delight that is gut-level deep. Aside from my own children nothing or no one has ever given me more happiness than the sight of their countenances. It is pure. It is honest. It is joy.

My puppy brings me joy. There is a rarely a day where I don’t find myself wholeheartedly laughing at his silly antics. He is underfoot, mischievous and quite frankly a pain in the butt, but he makes me feel better no matter how low I am.

Reading brings me joy. There is nothing like the smell and feel of a new hard cover book that can take me away into a different world. During that time I am transported into another life where I see new places, meet unusual people and undergo experiences I’d never take part in otherwise. It is fantasy quintessential.

Starting plants from seeds and watching them blossom into mature plants gives me joy. I wait anxiously like a new mother for those unborn seeds to burst forth and as the infant plants grow I worry and fuss over them like an overprotective hen. If one should die; I feel saddened, but those that brings forth luscious, mouth-watering fruit well...I feel like I touched God. Crazy, maybe...but everyone should try it at least once.

This brings me to my faith. It carries me, lifts me up and brings me joy. Without it I wouldn’t or couldn’t receive all the things that bring me joy. God gives me strength to weather the storms and to remember even in my darkest times He alone can heal the broken-hearted. Knowing this comforts me, heals me and brings me peace so I can truly enjoy all I mentioned and so much more.

Life hurts sometimes and it can be so difficult, but despite the pain if we uncluttered our minds and settled our spirits we don’t have to look far before we can find joy. It is in the ordinary, the every day and the mundane. Its right in front of us if we take the time to look; really look. Next time you’re feeling down, anxious or wrought up take the time to think about and even, write down all that brings you joy. Then rest there for awhile.

Resolutions are not for Wimps

I’m not sure about New Year resolutions. It’s said statistically they don’t last much past January for the average person, which would include me. What is it about resolutions that I can’t stick with? As I ponder this it seems that the start of a new year would be an ideal time to commit to something new. It has the sense of new beginnings and I feel very motivated and energised to get started. I want to make the changes in my life. Shouldn’t it be relatively easy to keep the resolutions when I’m on fire, revved up and ready to go? Yet the only easy part seems to be making the resolutions. Why is it I fizzle out so quickly? I feel like a cheap Wal-Mart candle that burns ever so brightly for about two hours then begins to melt into itself, sputtering, spitting out... I soon become another statistic year after year. Why? Why? Why?

I am a wimp. When it comes to change that might be uncomfortable I quickly cave and go back to my old habits which obviously appear to hurt less than following that diet, going on a budget or any other resolution I’ve devised. I never last long enough to get past the difficult part and have a “Rambo” kind of victory where I can just hear the music as I run that last half mile to the top of the stairs and crowds are cheering in my head at my determined success! Yea! NOT! I quit long before I can even get muscle cramps or a stitch in my side.

So, now in 2010 I once again want to make changes in my life; some small, some that will be painful. Will I cave by January 31st or before? If I follow my usual route I’ll be lucky to last one month. I am tired of being a wimp. I really would like to achieve a victory. But am I determined enough? Am I willing to suffer a little? Time will tell. I want to come back in a year and say I succeeded. How good would that feel?

So, I bid 2009 good-bye with a thankful “PHEW” and challenge myself to make it one month with my resolutions. Surely I can do one month? If I can do one then maybe two and hopefully three then..... My first resolution is to not wimp out on my resolutions. Wish me well on this journey; I’ll keep you posted.