Sunday, February 22, 2009

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

I love to cook and bake. My kitchen is one of the happiest places in our home, because I'm always "inventing" new recipes to try out on Mac. Okay, he's the only other person who lives here, and so of course I have to try these things out on him. I made a new coffee cake the other day, just throwing in this and that and covered it over with slivered almonds (or slithered almonds as Arianna would say). Evil Sister and hubby were coming over and so I took the unusual opportunity to serve it to them. Tea for me and ES and coffee for Mac and ES's hubby. Okay, now I've never baked anything that turned out so well that the guinea pigs...(sorry, guests) asked for a second piece of it after only a few minutes. It was a first, and pleased me no end. My Aunt Florence (Merriman Sellers) used to say that she loved my grandmother's coconut cake because it "leaves a good farewell taste in your mouth ." So, I suppose this coffee cake left a good farewell taste in every one's mouth. The only problem is, I didn't bother to write anything down and to repeat the process will be purely hit and miss.

Now, hit and miss is apparently the way I cook and bake, anyway (as I discovered this morning). I have long been a fan of my neighbor Joanne's nice big fluorescent light that hangs in her kitchen. It gives enough light to see and makes the work area cheerful. My kitchen, on the other hand, is sort of dim and not enough light comes in because we face North. Craig, Joanne's hubby, told me he was going to put a light like hers in our kitchen. Being a licensed electrician he is our life saver around here. Anything we need done electrically that man is never to busy to come see about it. He loves his work or he loves us, we don't know which! He won't take a penny for anything he does. He says it's because he wants to keep in good with his computer man (Mac) so I guess it's sort of a reciprocal thing with us. Well, yesterday afternoon they came over and put in the light. It is about five feet long and 3 feet wide. It brightens up the room like someone turned on a soft white sun. He and Joanne put it in together...they make quite a team. Afterwards, we sat down and had coffee and the rest of the almond coffee cake. I was so happy to be able to see in the kitchen. We spent the rest of the day planting trees.

I got up this morning and flipped on the light, turned the coffee pot on and looked around at the bright kitchen. And saw disaster. Spots and stains and little tiny globs of what I don't care to even hazard a guess, was on everything. It had apparently been on everything for a while. I had just not been able to see it because of the dimness of the kitchen. Now I love dirt. I just don't love it in my kitchen. My wiping down of the cabinet doors and work areas apparently hadn't been such a job well done. I should be embarrassed to tell you this, but I told you I'm not normal. I've been cleaning since 7 am. Every cabinet, every door, every drawer, every surface. The floors will be next. And the long handled swiffer duster will be getting a workout on the top of the cabinets. Thank God I'm not tall enough to see up there. I think I may want my old light back.

31 comments:

loong said...

One is always on a strange road, watching strange scenery and listening to strange music. Then one day, you will find that the things you try hard to forget are already gone.  

Carol Murdock said...

And God said; " Let There Be Light"
I guess he wanted us to keep things clean? Happy cleaning! I have plenty to clean my self! Like the white kitchen cabinets in my kitchen!
Carol

Donna said...

Hahaaa....That happened to me...I was horrified as a young bride to find I hadn't cleaned as well as I Though I had!!...Happy sleep sweetie!hughugs

Vee said...

"I should be embarrassed to tell you this, but I told you I'm not normal." Ohhhh, hahahahahaha...what a fun way to finish my blogging time today!

You're going to love your light. It's just the initial dawn that's so interesting.

This reminds me of a story that Billy Graham told about his wife. They were expecting film crews into their home for a special program. Ruth cleaned for days, but when the cameras were set up and those bright lights were turned on, they revealed cob webs in every corner. He said that it was like sin. Leave it to a preacher to come up with an analogy!

Hugs to you, my friend. I'm so glad that you didn't "lose" me.

Oh, one last thing, when you're tossing ingredients about, do try to create some sort of record as well.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

LOL! At the end of the day in our house, the winter sun shines through our windows just perfectly enough that I can see layers of dust on top of everything....even an hour after I dust! I can't see it any other time of day...

I am having a mosaic giveaway....come on over!
Hugs,
Penny

granny grimble said...

Oh how gratifying and comforting to know that there are other mortals like me. Being 5'2" means I never get to see the dust and cobwebs that must make other people cringe. All I know is, when I make a concertive effort to clean out my kitchen drawers etc, I am amazed at how much rubbish and dirt lurks therein!

skywind said...

Cooking and cooking is a form of art. When you see the family together to eat the meals you make, the kind of feeling extremely wonderful.

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Janice said...

LOL - My maid (me) has been on vacation again! I'm going to have to find her today and clean this house up too!
When I cook, I seldom measure my spices - just a pinch of this and a dash of that...

larkswing said...

hehe - so now tomorrow when you get up and go into your bright kitchen for the start of new day - you will really enjoy it! Funny what dimness hides!

Sally said...

Okay, I'm going to turn off some lights so I won't see what I "should" be doing today! :)

Maggie May said...

I'm not to fond of kitchens right now!

Glad the coffee cake turned out so well. Evil Sister! Does she know you call her that?

Not sure it is good to have too much light anywhere! LOL

Tessa said...

Oooh, that cake sounds totally numticious, Sandi! Lucky ES and the others - I hope for their sakes you'll remember how you made it. (And if you do, maybe you'll share it on your wonderful blog?)

Jeannie said...

It's always best to leave well enough alone and not improve anything because even if it isn't a light, everything else starts to look bad.

Anonymous said...

OK, now I see the benefits of bad kitchen lighting! Maybe I'll just keep mine. Entertaining post, Sandi!

Anonymous said...

OK, now I see the benefits of bad kitchen lighting! Maybe I'll just keep mine. Entertaining post, Sandi!

Anonymous said...

OK, now I see the benefits of bad kitchen lighting! Maybe I'll just keep mine. Entertaining post, Sandi!

Terri Steffes said...

Isn't that a truth for all times? Give me light and you shall see?

I have a florescent light and I do see everything but I can imagine what your surprise must have been...

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

Remind me if I change out my lights to wear sunglasses in my kitchen!!

Anonymous said...

Okay when you get that coffee cake recipe down you have to share =0

Nancy said...

Great post! I, too, love to cook, and feel it is a gift from me to those I care about. I am currently working on the perfect stew. When we remodeled we added eight canned lights to the kitchen - light is soooo important.

Jeanne said...

Dang and I'm sitting here thinking well where's the recipe Sandi?!? LOL at your light story.

Anonymous said...

oh, i had an experience like this when i got new glasses once. UGH, the bathroom was not as clean as i truly believed. I was humiliated and enlightened all at once!

Dr.John said...

A new light shines far. Good luck in the cleaning and in making the coffee cake again.

Kathy's Klothesline said...

New lights must be like having unexpected company....when they leave you suddenly see your house through their eyes. Not always pretty, but enlightening nonetheless. I also am guilty of throwing together whatever I have on hand and creating something wonderful that I never seem to be able to duplicate. Sigh.

CatHerder said...

hee hee...one of my weaknesses...cleaning..i cant stand anything dirty or out of its place...so you KNOW its hard living with my hubby and kids lol! Im just driving myself crazy for nothing im sure.

Mockingbird Hill said...

One of my all time favorites: "My house is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy."

'Nuff said. :)

Cassie

Anonymous said...

Loved this post!!!

Happy cleaning. I will join the quest in my house.It is time. Lol

Hilary said...

Just don't ever get yourself one of those black lights which make all sorts of otherwise hidden stains show up. ;)

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Ahhhh....I have one of those lights in my kitchen. Once the cleaning is done...you're gonna love it!

Deb said...

Glad that I don't have a bright light in my kitchen - it is bad enough that my husband, who is
6'4", can see on top of all the cabinets and other dust catchers! Happy Cleaning!

Susie Q said...

Maybe that is why I LOVE cloudy days? Doesn't show the dust and dirt I probably miss while cleaning? : )

You will love the new light once you get used to it. I remember when my parents got a new bright light and my brother used to tell them that airplanes were gonna think it was the runway...
My Mom said it looked like she hadn't cleaned good in years! Guess who she had helpin' her play catch up under that new light! yeah...me. : )


Love,
Sue