Eleanor's Closet Opened

We all have them, something we do for ourselves or others. Things that are not necessary, but still necessary. Like a manicure. You can pay someone to do this and have a nice relaxing time getting your nails done. Or you can do it yourself. It's necessary, but you don't necessarily need to pay someone to do it.

I am venturing in the realm of hiring someone to clean my house. Of course I can do this myself, but I find that my time off is taken up with cleaning. As most folks can attest, my house is not spotless and with two beagles, it never will be. I'm not trying to achieve spotless - just clean. My house is cluttered with the objects of daily living - cups on the side table, shoes in the living room, coats draped over furniture. I'm not worried about these either. It's the fact that the upstairs hasn't been vacuumed in a month.

But I am torn to be honest. It's almost a relief to know that my house will be clean in time for the weekend (Jim is expecting company) and I don't have to do the cleaning. But at the same time, I wonder why I don't have time. Others can manage it, why can't I? I don't have kids. I don't have homework, after school activities, etc. But I get home at 5:00, feed the beagles, do dinner, clean-up after dinner and it's already 7:00 or so. Who wants to clean then? I'm lucky if I have an hour to work on a project. We go to bed early, because Jim is up at 3:30 and I'm up at 4:45.

Is this societal guilt and I should just get over it? Or are my priorities skewed?

 On a gardening note, apparently dahlias don't do well in my zone (7). I'm bummed. I'm going to look at some local nurseries and see if there are any varieties that do well here. So far nothing in the garden is blooming, but it looks like the daffodils will soon - probably next week. I'm hoping for a soaking rain tomorrow so that everything gets watered. I've been worried at the lack of rain, but with nighttime temperatures still dipping into the 20s I've been scared to water. I might run out this evening and fertilize the bushes so the rain will soak it all in.

gianetta  keeps talking about her daphne blooming so I looked it up real quick. Another beautiful plant that doesn't grow in zone 7. Pout.

What a weekend! Saturday was incredibly busy and somewhat productive. I had a few ladies over for sewing and patterning. I helped pattern a Viking dress and apron dress for one lady, patterned a cloak/cassock hybrid for Jim and just overall helped others achieve their sewing goals. We also went over some food things for the Clontarf Viking event on April 4th. I think we're going to have fun, but I sincerely hope it won't be as cold as it was last year.

Then around dinner time Boogie and Pearl got to meet the Ladybug when Jen and Alan came over. Overall, things went very well. Ladybug is taller and overall bigger than Boogie, so he wasn't too much of a butthead. He was, however, a little pushy with his nose in places it didn't belong so he was told pointedly that he had to stop. No Means No is lost on Boogie. Pearl being the smallest and overall submissive female just sort of ran with the pack. She barked a few times as they were all running around the back yard. I think it was more of a Hey what about me! type of attention getting bark. I was more nervous about the whole thing, but it all worked out.

I cranked out some handmade pizzas and I hope everyone got enough. Carla made an excellent raspberry cheesecake with hot fudge topping. Yum! That's all gone now.

On Sunday, after the dust settled I was pooped and so were the hounds. I think they slept most of the day. I however got to clean up the kitchen and do laundry. I did get some cutting-out done. I have more to do, but I can start working on the cloak/cassock hybrid for Jim. I definitely want a wool tunic before April 4th.