Spring Cleaning and Getting Organized Made Easy

With the coming change in season, longer days with more sunlight illuminating our homes, also comes the dreaded spring-cleaning. This is the time of year we feel rejuvenated. We have excess energy and vigour and feel quite capable of taking on insurmountable tasks and projects. Ah, spring is in the air and so is the dust, dirt and debris, inside and out that has accumulated over the dismal winter months.

Pick your weapons. Extendable poles to reach those high areas with ease; dry cloth sweepers to get under difficult to move furniture; light weight vacuum cleaner; leaf blower with bag for quick yard cleanup and a power washer for easy removal of dirt, mould and stains on cement patios, garage floors and vinyl siding. Try using a small painter’s bucket or ice cream pail, they fit nicely in smaller sinks and under faucets, and will help reduce back fatigue with less weight and bending. Use a microfiber cloth, well wringed out, on mirrors, tiles and windows to avoid streaking. On large mirrors and windows, use a soft, rubber blade squeegee, which will help make the job seem effortless.

Storage solutions are vital for any home small or large, and they do not have to be expensive. Make use of all the attractive, and versatile storage boxes and containers available at many department, hardware and pharmacy stores. Be creative, find uses for them throughout the home, garage and out of doors. For instance, I found an inexpensive small, vinyl deck box which also combos as a seat, to put my watering jug, plant fertilizer, yard gloves, etc. in.  I have also discovered that those ready to assemble wardrobe units work great in the garage for brooms, rakes, mops and large items that do not fit on a shelf. Wardrobes can be found in varied widths, and on sale at most department and hardware stores.

With a little brainstorming I found the perfect solution for those clothing items, which may be deemed wearable again before throwing into the wash; an ottoman or storage chest placed at the foot of a bed, with a hinged lid will keep them out of sight. Using an ottoman at an entrance also works great for storing away, while not in use, the pet bed and blanket. Closet space can also be repurposed, in addition to outer jackets and footwear a rectangular laundry hamper fits nicely next to the shoes and a larger closet will accommodate a sewing machine cabinet for easy use.

Book of Genesis - Is a Dog and Cat a Pet from God?

It is reported that the following edition of the Book of Genesis was discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls?  If authentic, it would shed light on the question "where do pets come from?"



     And Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me everyday.  Now I do not see you anymore.  I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love me."

     And God said, "No problem.  I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will know I love you, even when you cannot see me.  Regardless of how selfish and childish and unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself."

     And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam.

     And it was a good animal.  And God was pleased.  And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail.

     And Adam said, "But, Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and all the good names are taken and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."

     God said, "No problem!  Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."  And Dog lived with Adam, was a companion to him and loved him.  And Adam was comforted.  And God was pleased.  And Dog was content and wagged his tail.

     After a while, it came to pass that Adam's guardian angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride.  He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration.  Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but no one has taught him humility.

     And the Lord said, "No problem!  I will create for him a companion who will live with him forever and who will see him as he is.  The companion will remind him of his limitations, so he will know that he is not always worthy of adoration."

     And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam.  And Cat would not obey Adam.  And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the Supreme Being.  And Adam learned humility.  And God was pleased.  And Adam greatly improved.  And Cat did not care one way or the other.

Recycling and Water Consumption

I am all for recycling my tins, bottles and paper products but there is one glaring factor I just can’t justify, the amount of water it takes to clean some recyclable containers. For instance, Cheez Whiz, peanut butter and mayonnaise jars, margarine tubs, cream soup cans and other greasy, gooey and sticky containers.

It’s not as simple as just putting these containers in your dishwasher, as any residue left behind is now baked on, you also risk having your other dishes coming out filmy, and overtime your dishwasher and plumbing can become built-up and begin to smell.

So what are we suppose to do? Well, we can use some paper towel, some dish detergent with hot water, and then they would ready for the dishwasher or we can throw them in the garbage, but the latter in some places can come with a fine.  Even with one’s best effort the bottom line is some recycling requires the use of water.

Perhaps, when the time comes, and we have to ration out our drinking water, governments worldwide will make the industry switch to biodegradable plastics for such uses.