Thoughts/Tips on Mopping Part 1

I don't dress like this when I mop.

In fact I don't even own heels anymore!

There was a time that I truly despised mopping my floors. For 

a short while we lived in a beautiful home.  I loved everything about the house except the floors!  The huge entry, den, huge kitchen, laundry and a powder room were all white tile.  

I labored over that floor . . .  

It/I wasn't pretty.  

I was grumpy.   I was annoyed every time I started the task. 

Back in the day this is the way you mopped . . . 

   Actually  I used a mop for most of the house only doing it on my poor little knees in the kitchen/laundry room because it was always so dirty.  2 dogs and a cat track in a bunch of dirt. 

And so as I grumbled one day I did something different.

Source

I actually prayed that I would enjoy mopping.  I prayed while I mopped.  I thanked God for the beautiful house that he had given us.  

I didn't realize it until many, many years later.  Actually I realized it only a few short weeks ago. 

 I like to mop

I clean houses now.  It's a good thing I like to mop. It's a better thing that God listens and answers prayers!

 Having the right and proper tools is a big plus.   Tomorrow I'll be sharing with you the mopping system(s) that I prefer.  

Linking with a few favorite parties including . . . 

Show and Share Party

 Inspire Me Tuesdays

The Scoop

Tuesdays with a Twist

Fluster's Creative Muster Wednesday's  

 Ducks in a Row Wonderful Wednesdays Blog Hop  

WowUs Wednesday

Fall Into Fall Party

Party in Your PJ's

DreamCreate Inspire Link

 Dagmar's HomeLinky Party 

 Waste NotWednesday 
The Homemaking Party

And

over here

If I Had A Tea Cup. . . (A Let's Pretend Tea Party)

. . . I would have a tea party.

I would invite a few friends

One would bring tea

One will dress up really pretty and bring cookies of course

I'll ask my friend from the library to bring a few books to enjoy

I'll set the tea cart with grandma's pretty glass dishes and pretty pink napkins . And ask my friends to pick some flowers from the garden Oh no we dropped some flower petals we must sweep before the party! . . .

 

And then we will be all ready for

The Fairy Princesses (in pink) to come in to our party. 

We'll eat cookies and drink tea.  And visit with our friends.

And then we will read one last book.

The very best one!

And as the fairy princess's (in pink) nod off. Because it's been a very busy morning they'll be dreaming about . . . 

Many more adventures and their next tea party.  

Can you guess who they are inviting?

Thank you for visiting my Let's Pretend Tea Party.  All photo's are taken by me.  All prop's are family heirlooms.  The photo's of the fairy princess are actually only one princess.  Who has grown up way too fast.  

This post will be linked at my favorite parties and the Tea Party at Bernideen's.  Click here to visit her party. 

A few of my favorite parties . . . 
The Fabulous Party
The Art Of Homemaking
Create With Joy
Grammy's Grid
The Homemaking Party @ Classical Homemaking

Raven Would Link It Up Wednesday

Why I Clean Houses / It's O.K. To Hire A House Keeper Part 1

Hello Dear Friends

I think of hearts and flowers when I think of you.  So I wanted to begin my post with a cute little heart/flower banner.  

.

 I am having a great week.  I hope you are too!  

  

Tonight  (Wednesday)  my chores consist of cleaning the kitchen from a huge meal on  Tuesday lunch.  

I see your Gasp.

But I have an excuse. This time (I really didn't say that did  I?) 

Our son and his family arrived Sunday night at 9:00 pm for a short stay.  So it is  a crazy couple of days they will early on Friday morning.  

Have you ever had one of those weeks and then you were burdened and labored with chores to do?  

I know your nodding.  We've all had those weeks! Whether your semi retired and working again or your a young mom. 

 I know you can relate. 

 Today on my list was of course the kitchen, laundry, vacuuming the floors and then mopping.  It is 12:45 and I am almost done.  I don't have a tiny house but it is small enough that chores only take a fraction of the time that they once did.  

Plus I've gotten pretty fast because I clean houses for a living.  

I know I see it another 

Gasp

I know call me crazy but I do.  And I love it.  I love setting my own hours.  I realize I actually enjoy cleaning.  Now.  

But back in the day. Not so much!

Now walking into a mess isn't anything like walking into my own mess.  A few short hours later that mess is all sparkly.

Waaay back in the day when I was a stay at home mom I had the chance to have a house keeper.  I know another . . . 

Gasp

 I really didn't need it but I could so I did.  The Cowboy traveled alot and so it was somewhat of a single mom household most weeks.  The Cowboy wasn't able to be around for afternoon activities etc.  

 Basically I/we realized that with someone helping with the deep clean then it freed me up to do more fun things with the kids. 

My kitchen never looked like this.  We didn't have a cool faucet back then. We always as a family on the night before the cleaner came made sure dinner was cleaned up.   I planned my menus for a simple meal that was super easy to clean.  Or we ate out.  

The kids rooms did Not look like this.  And frankly as a house keeper I wouldn't touch this.  I did have a house early on that started out similar.  Dawng I wish I could remember to take before and after photos!

The big rule in our home was nothing on the floor everything put away.  

The cleaners job was to vacuum and change sheets and dust.  My kids had plenty of storage and knew how to use it.  Many times as pre-schooler's they had to 'buy their toys back'.  I was a 'mean' mom

I inspected in the morning on cleaning day. Actually every day.

(That's the key...and a post for another day)

If the rooms didn't meet my inspection they didn't get cleaned. 

I wish I had the forethought to photo/document all this for you and me and my grown children. The guilty party had to clean their own room that afternoon even if it meant not getting to do something they wanted.  They knew the night before the cleaner was coming.  

There were really no excuses but there were a few times my son rebelled. Actually I can't say he rebelled he just got distracted. 

For the most part the houses that I clean now are easy to clean. Just big!  I've arranged my portfolio (that sounds fancy. HeHe) 

I've learned teenage boys don't make messes all they do is play electronic homes.  

Teen age girls that's another story.  None of my clients have girls. 

(I pick and choose my clients)

My clients are all professional working couples and have plenty of money to spend on a house keeper.  

There is no way we were anywhere near their income level back in the day but we managed easily.  I didn't pay alot for a cleaner. 

I was cheap.  I paid the cleaner from my 'play' money and well honestly I didn't want to share too much.  

Today you can get a professional cleaner for anywhere from 

$10.00 to $25.00 an hour.  Care.com is a super easy, simple and safe way to find a cleaner.  Word of mouth is even better!  

Are you wondering do you need a housekeeper?  Are you wondering can you afford a housekeeper or cleaner?

The answer is yes for a couple of reasons.  

You/your family deserves it

The cleaner you choose needs a good gig!

There are a couple of things you shouldn't do . . . 

Don't feel guilty.  Don't wait.  

And one thing you should do.  Pray about hiring a housekeeper.

 

Back in the day I didn't look like this when I cleaned our home.

It was the '80's maybe I looked a little more like this.

For us it was a good thing to do.    I'd love to hear your thoughts or questions about hiring a housekeeper. 

  Maybe it's right for your family. 

Linking with a few fun parties.

The list is on my parties page

Home Town America Tour

     
                                Where do you call

 Home?

This summer something big will be going on here at the blog!

One big 'ole party to celebrate!

We want to hear all about why your hometown

or a town near you

Is a great place to visit.

Plan your post

Leave a comment 

or email

slegan@yahoo.com 

Frugal Friday

Good afternoon my dear friends.

I've been awoke everyday this week to the sound of birds singing.

What a pleasant way to start your day I think!  I hope you've had pleasant days this week.  

We've had a great week being frugal.  As I am eating my left over lunch I am thinking how humbly proud I am to be saving money by being frugal and eating my leftovers.

As usual we got some real bargains at the grocery store . . . 

 Look at this big 'ole pork chops the 

Cowboy grilled they were just over $3.00 for two.  The fire wouldn't stay lite so we had to finish in an iron skillet. He marinated them in 'whatever was in the fridge'. His answer when I asked.  He actually used ...

    

Regularly well over $2.00.  Suggested use is for beef.  I love that is says 'Junk free" beef marinade.  It was great on pork. 

Looks like a bargain doesn't it?  There was a $1.00 coupon on each package.  Yep.  I paid .49 each!  I didn't look at the regular price.  The Cowboy went back the next day.  No more marked down but the regular price was $6.89!   I over head the meat market worker telling the manager that he was almost done with his pallet.  I asked him and he told me that corporate orders for them.  They end up with way more stock they need.   

Crazy.  But works for me.  Here's a couple other finds . . . 

The week before these were $2.00 each.  Last week $1.00

I paid $1.00 each last week.  This week they are on sale at 
Sprouts for .88.  I've seen Sprouts put them on sale for as little as .49.  I rush to grab a few.  I love blackberries!

   

I think I mentioned before that I bought seeds at our favorite resale store.  I paid .10 for tomatoes and cucumber little seed pots.  I have 3 of each growing already too big for the little pots! 

I am always on the look out for a bargain.  Are you? Bargain hunting and finding ways to be frugal make me a really Happy Homemaker everyday of the week.  

I apologize for writing this post so late and not having it up early for my early rising friends.   I have had so much trouble the last few weeks with the internet.  I am writing at 2:33.  Yesterday from 1:00 in the afternoon until about 10:00p.m I could barely get any website to open much less get a post written.   

I hope your day and your weekend is

Blessed 

Thanks for coming by!