She Looks Well... At the Mess That is Her Household

Did anyone get the license plate number of the truck that ran through here? Piles of sewing projects and materials – schoolbooks and papers – toys – dirty laundry – small appliances – more papers for work… Brian’s beloved sofa has broken support springs that make an ominous twang whenever anyone sits on it, or rather in it. The loveseat is missing three of four cushions and smells faintly of cat’s wee, an aroma that emanates especially when the weather is warm and muggy. My wing chair is threadbare; the behemoth entertainment centre has seen better days, as have our bookcases. The chests of drawers that hold the children’s school supplies and our art supplies are in fine shape – or will be as soon as that cracked drawer front is replaced. But wait, there’s more... I have a few broken windows, no curtains in one room, peeling laminate on my kitchen counters (and walls! UGH!), worn hardwood floors, smoke damaged ceilings above the fireplace, a leaking roof, tumble down chimney, broken porch, rotten siding (did someone tell me it was cedar?), and a wet basement complete with mouldering treasures. Oh… and a bathroom that has only been in a state of demolition for four years.

My home is in utter chaos, I’m grumpy, the kids are out-of-sorts and I think Brian is avoiding us. How on earth will we be able to produce a magazine that is already two months behind in production, organize our homeschooling group, teach the kids, and continue living in all this? The problem is that our home is too small for a family with five children who live, work, school and play at home… Since moving in the short term is not in the cards, organization is the key to living harmoniously.

But things are looking up. Brian managed to finish the wallpapering job I started four years ago – that terrible strip by the chimneybreast that I tried three times to cut properly and hang. There are only three strips left to replace! A new Mac computer now takes pride of place on the table I used to use as a kitchen island. That will make magazine layout and website updates ever so much easier to accomplish. We’ve ordered a truckload of furniture for our home office and kitchen – a real desk, which will fit perfectly into the corner, with room for files and supplies, and for two people to sit and work. There will also be new bookcases so that I can retire the old ones, a china cabinet to store Memere’s stoneware and Nana’s treasures, and an actual kitchen island. Everything is unfinished wood, so we’ll have an orgy of painting and waxing when it all arrives in a few weeks’ time.

Game on…