'Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?'
- Anon.
- well this has always been my mantra as far as housework is concerned but after spring cleaning my greenhouse, I have decided that I had neglected this task for too long. It's probably been a couple of years since I did this job thoroughly I am ashamed to say and all sorts of debris was lurking in the depths. Myriads of labels, squashed pots, my long lost dibber and gigantic spiders were unearthed. I had to resist the urge to scream on disturbing the spiders, as himself was indoors asleep having worked a night shift. I eventually worked my way to the back of the greenhouse where there is an old sink which himself thoughtfully installed. The idea was that I could use this for potting up but somehow it never worked out. Instead it has been an area where I shove various bits and bobs such as twine, old jars, some cane top protectors etc. Turfing everything out I discovered an old bamboo tray, which to my surprise contained a bird's nest complete with the remnants of an egg. I have been wondering since whether Mama Bird and I were both coming and going into the greenhouse last spring and if so how
we never met !
Postcript - the above is just one verse from a poem the rest of which can be seen here.
Well that sounds like a job well done, do you use jeyes fluid to clean your greenhouse? I know you say that you don't use the sink for potting, but what a brilliant idea, it's much deeper than the plastic potting trays on sale, I still manage to make a huge mess potting up in mine.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week-end :)
maureen
Love that poem!
ReplyDeleteWhat a find! I do a lot of cleaning in my mind as I pass something in my house that needs it. It's too bad it can't get done that way.
ReplyDeleteI imagine you feel good that the greenhouse is cleaner.
Hi Anna, who wrote those great words! I like them a lot.
ReplyDeleteSpring cleaning is rather nice I think, it is so much easier to do it now when the light has returned.
Tyra
:)
ReplyDeletek
I really enjoyed this post. I hate spiders as well and have to really pysche myself up to do jobs like you have described. Do you leave the door open on your greenhouse alot then? I was wondering how the bird got in and out early in the year - suppose we will never know
ReplyDeleteMaureen - I don't use Jeyes Fluid as I have asthma and the two don't mix well :) The sink is a good idea and perhaps I should train myself to use it. I'm very messy when I pot up too. Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you like the poem Wendy - it's only one verse - I will put up a link to the rest.
Sue, I do a lot of mental cleaning too - it's not as boring and you can convince yourself that you are making inroads.
Hello Tyra - as far as I know the poem is penned by that well known character - Anonymous:) Yes the extra light does make cleaning less of a chore I think but I would rather be out in the garden.
Karen - lovely to see your smile :)
Hi Helen - I know what you exactly what you mean by psyching yourself up. I have to steel my nerves even though I know logically that the spiders will probably be just as scared as me :) I try to leave the greenhouse door open in the day for ventilation unless it's freezing. Once it starts warming up at night I may leave it open then depending on the weather forecast. In fact I had better go and open it up now - shopping got in the way:)
ReplyDeleteI have a shed that holds all my gardening clutter and I can it out at least once, and sometimes twice, a year. It's still all messy and yucky in there with squished pots and other weird odds and ends I don't even remember putting there. I think of it as an archaeological adventure! :)
ReplyDeleteI like your comparison to an archeological adventure Monica. I felt that my cleaning out session was a voyage of discovery too and I unearthed several ancient relics :)
ReplyDelete