Hello my friends :) Did you hear that??? That was the biggest sigh of relief you will ever hear!
Spring Cleaning is DONE...I never thought it would take this long and be so tough! Ten days in total of cleaning, with a few days off in between. My body is SO sore...this is very physical work, and I'm not buying into the idea that it's good exercise either lol...just work that results in an achy breaky body! The big deep cleaning idea was for us of course, but mostly for this pack:
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| Click for a better view :) |
Jack, Charlie, Marlene, Pavlov, Oscar the cat and Stella (butt to butt), Leo and Dana. Alex got a panoramic photo of the eight pets together, not an easy task!! Three of the five have mystery allergies. I'm hoping those ease up now.
I have a daily upkeep plan for the house to keep it clean and dust free now. You'll note the basement is nowhere to be seen on this list...if it were up to me, I'd never go down there, but my darling Alex vacuums it regularly so I don't even have to worry about that anymore. :) I also made a Spring Cleaning Checklist if anyone wants to be inspired to get down and dirty lol! :)
I'm so happy to get back to painting!! I didn't think I'd make it to Michael's Scribble Picnic this week, but I was up so dang early this morning. Good thing! :) The theme this week is Across the Universe. (check out more lovely scribbles by following the link - why not join yourself?!) :) I felt like doing a little abstract Nebula today. What's happening on your side of the universe? :)
This is what my world looked like this morning at 7:12 am. I love the hue of blue on winter mornings!
I have a daily upkeep plan for the house to keep it clean and dust free now. You'll note the basement is nowhere to be seen on this list...if it were up to me, I'd never go down there, but my darling Alex vacuums it regularly so I don't even have to worry about that anymore. :) I also made a Spring Cleaning Checklist if anyone wants to be inspired to get down and dirty lol! :)
I'm so happy to get back to painting!! I didn't think I'd make it to Michael's Scribble Picnic this week, but I was up so dang early this morning. Good thing! :) The theme this week is Across the Universe. (check out more lovely scribbles by following the link - why not join yourself?!) :) I felt like doing a little abstract Nebula today. What's happening on your side of the universe? :)
This is what my world looked like this morning at 7:12 am. I love the hue of blue on winter mornings!
Today Alex and I celebrate our 5th Anniversary together. :) We're having a Raclette dinner and I'm making an Amaretto cake! During the spring cleaning, we realized how much work this rental is...and how it's WAY too much house for us. We don't want to go through this back-breaking cleaning ever again on a rental...we really want to buy our own place next year, downsize and live in the woods. We put together an extreme frugal plan for the next year so we can try to buy our home a year from now. It's going to be tough, but our motivation is very high! As long as pet, car and/or dental emergencies don't get in the way, we can do it. :)
Big ol' icicles are a sign of warmer weather! We lost internet for about 3 days and had to rely on our phones, which I now accept is a good back up for the internet-addicted lol...I'm not that addicted, but it definitely comes in handy. I'm sure I could do without it, but I don't want to. :)
To keep sane the last few weeks, I continued my daily drawings...all cleaning-related! (I post a daily drawing on Instagram) I'm so glad to be back and catching up with all of you! :) It feels normal again. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! :)
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| I was so sick that day...I think it was all the ickiness of the unfinished basement! |
Loving your universe Rain! And big congrats on completing the housecleaning not my favourite thing to do. Beautiful art as well.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! What a great cleaning job you must have done. I hope it does eliminate some of those pesky allergies the furry bodies have developed. I don't know how you keep things as clean as you do on a day to day basis with so many (much loved) animals inside. I'm sure it took a lot of will power and fortitude to stay on the job of this deep, deep cleaning you did. You are my cleanliness idol!
ReplyDeleteyou must feel great to have accomplished that spring cleaning and all the beautiful art as well!!
ReplyDeleteI like your hats, my wife looks good in one, even a baseball cap but she never wears them. I usually have one on when outside, if nothing else they are good to whack bugs with.
ReplyDeletewow, fun to see your sketches and oh those dogs!! so cute. Cute pic of you and your sweetie too.
ReplyDeletewow! way to go rain! you accomplished so much. you must feel very satisfied. i'm so glad you are back to blogging. i missed you!
ReplyDeleteHaHa...oh Rain you have me laughing at your cleaning sketches. Adorable. I relate to everyone of them. We live in a rental too. Annual inspection next week. So cleaning and de-cluttering have been our cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteLove your sky....you were able to get the stars my camera wouldn't pick up on my sky.
Happy Anniversary...what a darling couple and love your furry family.
Your nebula is beautiful Rain.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting your cleaning completed. I would think with that many pets it would be more challenging. I wish you the home your long for. It will be a special thing for sure.
Wilma Flintstone with her wolly mammoth vacuum! Hahahah!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on five years! :-)
I love your painting; it's like my Distress Inks. I love your bathrobe drawing and those hats. Those icicles are no joke. What a beautiful picturesque that second snow picture is. You deserve a hot bubble bath after all of that cleaning. I have my fingers crossed for you and Alex to make your house in the woods come true.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Rain :) it’s nice to have you back. Reading your blog again is wonderful. You’re so pretty. Alex is so lucky :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I'm glad you've got the heavy work behind you. I give you a lot of credit for sticking with it until it's done. Your nebula painting is beautiful. And your cleaning sketches are very entertaining.
ReplyDeleteI AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a job! But an extra benefit... Knowing you have had it with a rental. Best wishes with making it work, to be able to move next year.
Congratulations, to you cuties! 5 years. Wonderful.
Ohhhh those icicles. We haven't had them this year. They are pretty and cool, but...... not so good. Make a great pic though.
Hugssssssssss
So nice to see you back, Rain! Happy anniversary to you two love bugs. I foolishly clicked on your detailed cleaning list and now I'm traumatized! LOL... Actually, it's a great list. I'm going to keep that link. Speaking of cleaning, that's what I spent Monday and today doing...cleaning the entire house. It is now spotless. We even hung up some pictures that had been sitting in a closet for months. We could've put them up a long time ago but after all the hard work we put into washing and painting the entire house, the thought of even putting a tiny hole in a wall to hang something up was frightening. HAHA But I'm glad we finally did it. It added some much needed character to the home. I am loving your artwork! I get the preview on Instagram, lucky me :)
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I hope you will now take some time to rest and re-energize. Hope you're having a wonderful evening!
Happy Anniversary to both of you!
ReplyDeleteI really should do some cleaning here. It’s always so daunting. Feels great when it’s done though.
Happy Anniversary to you and Alex!
ReplyDeleteMy hat is off to you, girl...getting all that spring cleaning done. My back is groaning just reading your list of tasks. That said, I think it's a great idea to assign a different room to a different day of the week. I may adopt that myself...having a back injury, I need to do it in small segments though.
Wonderful sketches and, of course, they'd be cleaning related after all the work you've been putting in. LOVE the Universe sketch!
Enjoy the rest of your week! :)
My gosh, Rain, you do have a lot of energy. I retired from spring cleaning and now only do the hard stuff when company is coming.
ReplyDeleteThat picture of you and Alex is very nice.
Congratulations on the cleaning! You have quite a herd!
ReplyDeleteI suspect most of us, if we really admitted it, would agree that we have more house to clean than we want. So much of modern living seems consumed with having a place to put all the stuff we acquire.
Happy anniversary and congrats on finishing the house cleaning. I just started my spring cleaning today ... gotta get this nasty bug out of the house that seems to be clinging on to us. I have a weekly housecleaning plan too. It helps me a lot and nakes housecleaning a short and easy task.
ReplyDeleteI hope your extreme frugal plan will work out. I know how much u want your own house. One year is like NOTHING 😁
Way to go persevering through an entire Spring housecleaning! I hope your landlord appreciate how well you're taking care of the place.
ReplyDeleteThat blue photo may explain why so many of your paintings have blue as their main color. :-)
Beautiful universe painting!
Yay - welcome back Rain! I keep a Planner and use stickers and sure wish I could draw my daily activities the way you do, which is much prettier! Send the snow my way please, and what a lovely picture of the furry family. CONGRATULATIONS on 5 wonderful and romantic years together. I'm so thrilled that you've found the love of your life who loves and appreciates you. Keeping my fingers crossed that you get the home of your dreams very soon. Hus...RO
ReplyDeleteYour Nebula is perfect. I thought of doing a Nebula, but couldn't come up with anything that really reminded me of what it should look like. If you think 10 days of cleaning is bad, wait until you get into the throws of moving. We are in the middle of that process and it is a nightmare. Thank Goodness for scribble picnic, it is my only escape. Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary ... life is wonderful when you have that special person to share it with. Sadly I have dropped off of the daily drawing. I am hoping I will be able to pick it up again down the road (when we are moved and resettled). Be well, Rain and enjoy your clean house :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Hi Rain, Great that you have all that deep cleaning done! I am aching but it is not from cleaning. Wish ours was all done! I hope you have no emergencies and you can get your own place as planned. Happy Anniversary! Hope you have a wonderful year ahead! Nancy
ReplyDeleteJust to say that your panoramic photo is really cool. :))
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine :) The cleaning was not fun. But definitely necessary.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mama Pea :) I'm SO glad to be done with it! NEVER again lol...I say that now. But really, I hope to never have to clean that intensely again, at least here. Pavlov is off his meds as of today, so fingers crossed!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurie :) Yes, it feels great! Now I have to make sure I keep it up daily so I don't have to do it again!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gill :) We are hat people! There was a Western that showed a cowboy using his hat to catch rain water to drink...they are very useful lol :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandy :) The dogs make this house a home, that's for sure! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Joyce! :) I missed the interaction and friendliness the last few weeks! I am very satisfied, but oh so sore!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wanda :) Good luck on your inspection!! We haven't seen our landlord in 2 years now. He lives pretty far away and doesn't care too much about this place. But if he came over now, I'd be pretty proud. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tammie Lee :) Something like your home is what I'm dreaming about! :) I think that we can do it, it'll just take work to keep saving and be frugal. :) Yes, with all the pets, especially during shedding season, it's work to keep this giant house clean!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandi :) Glad you enjoyed Wilma, though I wasn't as well put-together as she was during MY cleaning lol! :)
ReplyDelete:)
Thanks Stefanie :) I have to check out your distress inks. The icicles are really pretty to look at, and always a sign of spring coming! We had a huge one over the back porch, Alex had to knock it off with a broom from his office window! Kind of scary! Trust me, I did have a long hot bubble bath! It helped the sore muscles!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terry :) Alex is lucky lol...but so am I! :)) And thanks :) The panorama option on the cell phone camera is pretty neat! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lorraine :) I will be honest, after the living room and cleaning that stone fireplace...I was ready to give up, but then I thought of the pets with those allergies and it kept me going! I'm so happy it's done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wisps of Words! :) We've been working so hard at trying to save money but expenses keep popping up...this year we are going to try even harder, I really want to stop renting. I still can't believe it's been 5 years with Alex, it went by too fast!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Martha :) I'm so happy to be back too. :) I laughed so hard at your traumatized comment...when I wrote it all out, I was traumatized too lol. Oh, I know that feeling! When we first moved in here, we repainted all the walls and I didn't want to make any holes in them either! But once you get the first one done, you're home free lol! We had a great evening, thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Birdie :) It was daunting for sure, but you're right, it does feel great to be done. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Serena :) The daily cleaning is so much easier. I was doing that regularly, but when we got the two extra dogs last September, things went a little haywire and the dust built up...I'm not doing this deep cleaning again that's for sure! If you do a little each day, it's easier, just watch your back. That must be difficult and painful. :(
ReplyDeleteHi Starting Over :) Retired from spring cleaning!! LOL...I want to be retired too lol. My energy is sapped...I think I need a week of recovery!
ReplyDeleteThanks TB :) When we moved in, we didn't have as much junk as we do now. You're right though....if the space is there, we tend to fill it up. I've lived in much smaller places and never had so much stuff before!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nik :) One year is nothing, you are so right. We can do this. Lots of sacrifices, but it'll be so worth it. I just have to wrap my head around HOW we're going to do it...but you know, everything always works out! I hope your spring cleaning goes well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jolene :) It was quite a job!! I think our landlord appreciates us, the last tenants really wrecked this place. They were partiers and there were holes in walls, a patio door shattered, broken cupboard doors...cigarette burns on the counters...it was a wreck. We took it because he gave us a really good deal on the price. But it's way too big. And yes! I do love those blue hues of nature!! They do reflect a lot in my watercolours! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks RO :) I do hope we are able to buy too! It'll be so nice to be in the woods, away from neighbours. :) You can have as much snow as you like!!! :) I'm so thrilled to have found Alex :) He's a keeper. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea :) I hope you can pick up the daily drawing too. I'm sure your move is stressful and so much work. I remember our last move, it was crazy. We had a violent neighbour and had to move quick. With a house-full, it was crazy, we found the new place, packed and moved ourselves all in a 9-day span. I hope it's not so rush rush next time!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy :) I think our year ahead will be great! :) I hope we can buy too, it's time. :) I hope you're feeling better! An achy body is hard to live with.
ReplyDeleteLOVING the drawings! Great job....proud that you are keeping that up. So glad that you are coming back to blogging, missed you! Wow...you guys have really had the snow! Love the pic of the ice!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam! I really enjoyed doing the drawings, of course they had to be cleaning related! LOL I'm glad to be back too! I think I'm getting sick of the snow again hahaha! I'm so glad Alex is taking care of all the shoveling.
ReplyDeleteI have missed you. So happy to have you back.
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary. Is the Raclette one of your homemade cheeses? Sounds super yummy.
Spring cleaning sucks. I am working in decluttering our place but not getting much help from the man. He can not part with his books and I have 5 LARGE bookcases full of them. Even asking him to clean out his closet causes him a bit of anxiety lol. I admire your tenacity and getting it all accomplished in 10 days.
I certainly hope you are able to get your own place next year. You both deserve it and have been wishing for it for sometime now. Hopefully it won't be near winter snow mobilers lol.
Your art is cute. I found you on instagram and have followed you there now. I would hate to miss any of your drawings or paintings.
Tell Alex, the panoramic shot of the critters was perfect. But, where do you guys sit?
Have a wonderful day.
Hi Marsha :) Thank you! :) I'm glad to be back too! Oh cool, I'll have to check on Instagram and follow you too! I purposely gave myself a deadline to finish the cleaning or else I know I would have given up too early, it was too much work. Plus, Pavlov stopped his allergy pills this morning AND I wanted it all done before our anniversary :) I really hope we can get our home soon too...next year would be ideal. I'm actually currently revamping the budget and my meal plan to be more frugal.
ReplyDeleteRaclette is a cheese meal, here is a link from the last time we had it on New Year's. Raclette Dinner!It's just a melty cheesy delicious meal!
Oh ha ha...we gave up on the couches lol, you should see those things under the sheets...we are NOT bringing them with us next time we move!!! The pets made so many holes and scratches in them, but that's okay, we want them to be comfy :) We squish our way in if we really want to!
I am glad all that is done. I know how weary you feel after just one day of hard cleaning, let along several.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the picture of all the animals. You know, the Iroquois Indians believed that when you died, your soul went to a steep canyon. There was a bridge across it, and "the land of the dead" lay on the other side, where all your passed family and friends waited for you, and the afterlife was good.
But you had to make it across the bridge. All the animals from your life, to whom you had been kind, were waiting there to help you. But all the animals to whom you had been uncaring, or cruel, were also there and they tried to push you off the bridge, so you would fall forever and never get to the land of dead. You would be in limbo.
I think if they are right, you will not have any trouble making it to the happy land of the dead.
Hary
Thanks Harry :)) That is such a nice bit of lore, I love it! And I appreciate that you said I'd make it to the land of the dead :) The cleaning was a beast for sure, I'm so glad it's over (for now, eek.)!! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your spring cleaning! Actually, congratulations on doing it at all! My house is in major need of it too, but I'll probably wait until we're done with the wood stoves for the winter. I like your schedule and your drawings to go with it!
ReplyDeletethank God you are done with the huge task dear Rain!
ReplyDeletethere were days when working like this was taken as exercise by me but now i agree it is aching body and torn sleep .
LOVED your adorable drawings my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy anniversary and best of luck for your plans for future home!!!
you both look FABULOUS!!!!!
Thanks Leigh :) It was such a big job! I think I would have preferred to wait for a little warmer weather to use the clothes line and keep the windows open, but it was timing for when Pavlov stopped those expensive allergy pills. Now we're just waiting a little while to see if he starts to itch again or not! Hope not!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Baili :) It's been only 3 days since I stopped cleaning and my body is still sore, it IS too much work! I won't do this again that's for sure, at least not all at once.
ReplyDeleteYou are so amazing, Rain, at DIY that you'd have no problem knitting socks. You can always start with a baby one just to get the idea of how one works. verypink.com has great videos on how to knit a sock, having a separate video for each part.
ReplyDeleteHi Stefanie :) Thanks for the vote of confidence!! I don't know why socks scare the heebies out of me...I made those pet stockings before Christmas, I guess it's kind of the same idea. It's the little needles I think. Maybe I need to start with my gigantic size 15's and make some big foot socks just to practice!! :)
ReplyDeleteI think I heard that sigh all the way over here! :) So glad to hear its all done. That is one giant task! I am going to check your spring cleaning list out too! We are still in the midst of "housing" so I have not been on here regularly and it seems like I haven't been on Instagram in a really long time! Will rectify that once we are done!
ReplyDeleteBe careful Dianna, I've heard that my spring cleaning list is traumatizing lol...but I'm sure you're in the middle of something similar!! I hope your housing situation has a good quick result! :))
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Rain! So good to see you! So happy your cleaning is done, for now! I sure hope it helps! Look at all your fur babies!! I love them!! So cute! The colours in your Universe painting is so pretty!!! Loving the outside pictures! Truly beautiful! Congrats to you and Alex! 5 years!!! Amaretto cake?? Yummy! Love the picture of you two! Wishing you all the best in getting your own home! You'll do it!!! Rain, I love your cleaning drawings! They are brilliant!! Really love them all! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say, I'm sorry you were sick!
ReplyDeleteYou guys look so adorable in those hats! Still waiting for you to send some of that snow this way(lol) Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Fantastic job on your deep clean - makes me tired just reading the breakdown of what you accomplished! Lisa
ReplyDeleteThanks Magic Love Crow! :) Oh thank you, I'm very glad I was only sick for one day or I don't think I would have found the motivation to keep cleaning! :) The cake was SO GOOD....it's made with marzipan and I could eat that stuff out of the wrapper! So far it's been 3 days and Pavlov toes are not turning pink and he's not licking them, so I hope it stays that way!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks RO! :) Ha! I sent the snow, but maybe it melted at the border. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa! :) It was a huge endeavor, but now with maintenance I hope I don't have to do it again! :)
ReplyDeleteAs I have always preferred barn cleaning to house cleaning I will live vicariously through you.
ReplyDeleteHope you find the home of your dreams !
LOL...Thank you Goatldi! :) The dream house is much cleaner in my dreams! :)
ReplyDeleteBravo, Rain, getting to that Sring cleaning and for a rental no less. Just think how much easier it will be when you eventually move out of there. Your thoroughness there was inspiring and back breakingly exhausting, no doubt! And even so , you did all these other lovely drawings too plus the fab nebula-perfect! Thank you so much. Well done! Sorry it's taken me so long to hop back to the picnic! :)
ReplyDeleteI missed you!!!! I was going to deep clean also but 2 of the critters got ill so it has gotten me no where except"deeper in debt"...lol! But you are such an inspiration and I only wish I had your energy! I keep plugging away. I love your drawings! I hope all our plans come to fruition! Good job! Thank you for t he list too and welcome back!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael :) Honestly, this cleaning frenzy I went on was an eye opening of how much stuff we've accumulated over the years! When we move, yes, it'll be much easier because we have made a mental list of what we'll be bringing with us! I really needed to paint! The drawing is fun, but painting is my passion, I'm so glad I found time for my Nebula! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sam :) I missed you too! I hope to be back to normal soon, now that the monthly shopping is done! Oh gosh...deeper in debt is my norm lol...I'm trying really hard to cut down everything I can. We really want to get out of this rental as soon as possible. I hope all is well with you and your critters! xx
ReplyDeleteI like your abstract Nebula, very pretty!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos and artwork. I adore that little house at the beginning and your universe is beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Trina :) It was fun to do a watercolour again! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Alexandra :) I wish I could LIVE in that little house lol! :)
ReplyDelete