- Four Good Legs
I’ve often reflected that my mother didn’t teach me much of anything along the lines of domesticity, but that isn’t strictly true. She taught me, usually by example, about the things that weren’t worth bothering about. Like dust.
Her theory about dusting was, “Don’t start!” Especially in an old house like this, she often said, a layer or two of dust just adds to the over-all patina. But once you touch that dust rag to a surface, you are committed to every furniture crevice, knick-knack, and picture frame. It’s the one piece of motherly advice that I have followed assiduously.
Two very important factors have contributed to my success in adopting this non-dusting sentiment. The first is our weather; the second is my aging eyes. When it is rainy and gray outside, it is a bit dim inside our house and the dust simply doesn’t show itself. And, the gradual development of cataracts has further assured that it is dim-looking everywhere, all the time. Dust? What dust?
But now that the sun is giving consideration to spending summer in Oysterville, and now that I have had one eye ‘done,’ the patina that mom spoke of has made itself more apparent. (So have the cobwebs, but that’s another story…) Plus we are hosting houseguests and a House Concert this weekend. It may be time to ignore the advice of my sainted mother and dig out the dusting equipment — if we have any..
Unfortunately, both Nyel and I are still in recovery mode and are firmly listed among the impaired. Heavy lifting and straining (as in moving furniture) and vacuuming…not for awhile yet. And, actually seeing those dust bunnies and buffaloes only occurs with one eye. That would be my new eye, of course. Nyel is genetically programmed like all males not to see dust at all. Besides, getting assistance from him just now is left-handed help from a totally right-handed guy. Not totally satisfactory.
As I have reviewed our options, I have come to realize the wisdom of my mother’s advice once again. With regard to dusting, she was spot on!
As always a great blog day!
Love the picture!
Which one of you plays the Fife?
It is sure to be treasured in years to come…
Great comment, Diana! I should have titled the photo “In Honor of the Civil War’s 150th!”
How old does a house have to be before it’s okay to collect ‘patina’? Is 33 okay? My impulse, after seeing the picture of you two wounded, was to come right over there, put you both to bed with a cup of tea and read to you! One who can’t see and one who can’t turn the pages……..
The halt and the blind–it’s a classic! This year’s Christmas card?
What a great picture! I agree with your mother on the subject of dusting! Good luck convalescing!
Ditto sis Cheryl’s comments about dusting, but the few times I’ve stayed chez Sydney and Nyel I swear that there was no dust! I thought of a caption for today’s photo: the one-eyed, one-armed flyin’ purple people greeters (considering how you and Nyel are such gracious hosts to one and all and not in the least cannibalistic!)
Hi Sydney and Nyel, One day Don came home while was dusting a shelf, getting ready for the company that keeps us from living like pigs. He said, “What are you doing?!”
Guess I should have prepared him for what a dust cloth looked like, knowing he’d some day catch me with one…
So glad you’re both doing well!
Anne
I like your mother’s thinking, Sydney, as long as the children aren’t able to write their names in the dust! 🙂 What really angers me about dust (and who thought dust was a good idea anyway?) is that it just settles even in rooms seldom used. When I come to the beach I would like to just hang out in our living room and read, but the dust sneaks in while we’re away. It’s been nearly a year since we gave the place a good cleaning so I suppose Spring Cleaning is upon us!