The sweet sound of someone else cleaning my house
Ah…and the lemony scent of Pledge wafting up the stairs as well…
We’re trying to have the house ready to go on the market April 7th, and there is still much much work to be done. Yesterday I had a mini freakout about how much is left to be done and Billy rode to the rescue and called in a cleaning service. Not really in the budget, but you have to spend some money to make money, right? And if I’m going to do all of this decluttering and sorting through of stuff and organizing what gets donated (big pile of donation stuff already accumulating in the basement now) and what gets packed and saved and what gets tossed, while taking care of Thumper, I’ve realized I can’t also clean the house to the degree it needs to be cleaned for the open house planned for the seventh. So two lovely young women are here now cleaning, and will come again the day before the open house.
Ahhh….
Yes, I’ll try not to get used to it.
My mother just left. She came for a few hours to help me get the front garden into shape. It looks great now, all weeded and with fresh mulch. The daffodils are blooming, the grape hyacinth are poking their beady little coneheads up, and the forsythia is budding. Now to plant the windowboxes with winter pansy and I think the front of the house is ready to show. Wouldn’t it be nice if I showed you a picture of the front garden? I’d love to, but I can’t. I’ve got very few blogging policies in place to protect our family’s privacy, and one of them is never showing photos of the front of the house or our immediate block. Sorry! How about I take the photos now and show them to you after we move?
No, no…it’s not YOU I don’t trust, darling. It’s those random folk who surf in after a Google search for “pregnant breasts” or “how to kill my sister’s dog” or somesuch. Yes, those are real searches that lead folks here. Charming, yeah?
Ugh…this getting the house ready to show, it’s the very worst part of moving for me. I love searching for new houses. Hate selling the old one. But it’s exciting, too. This getting ready to move and start our new life in a new city. I can’t wait. I wish we were already there.
It’s a good plan. I love our apartment building and I’ve thought about blogging it because it’s so cool, but it’s REALLY recognizable and when taken into context with some other stuff I’ve said, it would be really easy to find. I don’t want creepy people finding me. Most of my good blog friends have my address anyway, so you’re right. It’s for the weirdos who stumble upon us.
Cleaning service sounds LOVELY! It would be nice to have an “organizing service” too. But they would have to be familiar with knitting and different types of yarn to do a good job 🙂
Posted by: Miriam
My two sisters-in-law have a cleaning business and they clean for me every Thursday. Indulgent? Absolutely. But it’s the best money I spend, I tell ya.
Posted by: Carole
my cleaning lady is the best present i ever gave myself.
so this move is…soon then? be in portland by…summer?
Posted by: carolyn
A cleaning service sounds heavenly! Now you just have to keep it clean until the open house. Will they come back for maintenance?
Posted by: Emily
It will be fun to see where you used to live 🙂 I totally understand– your safety is more important than satisfying your readers!
I’m glad you got a cleaning service. Sometimes they are really worth the money!
Posted by: Kristy
We used to have a cleaning lady every other week. Damn those were good days.
I’m so excited for you guys. And really admire the way you made a decision and then picked up and started making it real. It can’t help but be great the way you’re approaching it. Good for you both. Really very good. I don’t know if I know you well enough to tell you I’m proud of you without it potentially sounding condecending, but I hope it doesn’t because I truly am.
Posted by: Rachel H
“Pregnant breasts” huh? Yeah–I can picture the sickos that would attract. Good policy.
Posted by: Suzanne
I’m excited for you, but it feels like it’s happening SO FAST. Of course, you guys have probably talked this over for a really long time and you want to just hurry up and get on with it. It feels like things are moving at warp speed, though. One of these days, I will find a way to hire someone to do the cleaning. As much as I kind of enjoy cleaning (i know, it’s sick), I’m not really enjoying it as much as I used to. Frankly, i’m just tired of always being tired. Enough grousing: it’s a beautiful day and flowers are blooming everywhere. Enjoy the clean!
Posted by: regina
good luck with the open house! i wish i had the money to buy right now. i’ve always admired the photos of the inside of your place 🙂
Posted by: gleek
I have always wanted someone else to clean my house…maybe if I move.
Posted by: Natalie
I’m a few days away from being nine months pregnant with my first child, also a boy. My husband’s job may have us relocate from California to NYC within the next year.
My father says New York is no place for children.
I hope that isn’t why you are moving.
What do you think about raising children in the New York City area? Would you encourage or discourage new parents from making the move?
I would be very thankful for any advice you may have on the subject.
Good luck with selling the house, and best wishes to you and your family. Portland is wonderful and I’m sure you will all be very happy there. I have some close friends that live there and it is a very special place.
Suzanne of “The Frog’s Blog”
http://sbfrogger.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Suzanne
My housekeeper keeps me sane. And, since I am moving in less than a week (eeeeek) she’s even coming over one day to help me pack.
I am mostly done with the purging of junk in my house (one good side effect of moving) and it feels really good. Less stuff, more organized. Sounds like you’re on the way to that too. Good luck with the selling and the moving!
Posted by: Wen
Some days the only thing that gets me up and to work is the thought that if I didn’t work I would have to clean instead of paying someone to do it!
Posted by: BethC
This is a random comment with nothing to do with your post. I’m at work and don’t have the time to devote to reading that your words truly deserve. I’ve been reading for a while, since Thumper was just a wee bump, and it’s been delightful to watch him grow into a wee person now. I just was reading this article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6496977.stm) and immediately thought of you and Thumper, and so I wanted to finally tell you how much I admire what you’ve done, basically being a vegan mom, and how I think what you’ve done for your big boy is so great. 🙂
Posted by: KathyB
wow, you’ll be there before i am! but wow, leaving a situation where your mom is nearby. it kills me that i won’t have that (have never had it actually) and know that would be hard to give up. good luck with everything!
Posted by: k
I wish I could buy the house! And then you wouldn’t even have to get those cleaning people…oh to dream.
Posted by: sarah
Billy is the MAN!
Posted by: claudia
Good luck on your move! I’d like to thank you for the wonderful baby yoda sweater. I just made it and it looks beautiful!
Posted by: Christine
It’s a good plan. I love our apartment building and I’ve thought about blogging it because it’s so cool, but it’s REALLY recognizable and when taken into context with some other stuff I’ve said, it would be really easy to find. I don’t want creepy people finding me. Most of my good blog friends have my address anyway, so you’re right. It’s for the weirdos who stumble upon us.
Cleaning service sounds LOVELY! It would be nice to have an “organizing service” too. But they would have to be familiar with knitting and different types of yarn to do a good job 🙂
Posted by: Miriam
My two sisters-in-law have a cleaning business and they clean for me every Thursday. Indulgent? Absolutely. But it’s the best money I spend, I tell ya.
Posted by: Carole
my cleaning lady is the best present i ever gave myself.
so this move is…soon then? be in portland by…summer?
Posted by: carolyn
A cleaning service sounds heavenly! Now you just have to keep it clean until the open house. Will they come back for maintenance?
Posted by: Emily
It will be fun to see where you used to live 🙂 I totally understand– your safety is more important than satisfying your readers!
I’m glad you got a cleaning service. Sometimes they are really worth the money!
Posted by: Kristy
We used to have a cleaning lady every other week. Damn those were good days.
I’m so excited for you guys. And really admire the way you made a decision and then picked up and started making it real. It can’t help but be great the way you’re approaching it. Good for you both. Really very good. I don’t know if I know you well enough to tell you I’m proud of you without it potentially sounding condecending, but I hope it doesn’t because I truly am.
Posted by: Rachel H
“Pregnant breasts” huh? Yeah–I can picture the sickos that would attract. Good policy.
Posted by: Suzanne
I’m excited for you, but it feels like it’s happening SO FAST. Of course, you guys have probably talked this over for a really long time and you want to just hurry up and get on with it. It feels like things are moving at warp speed, though. One of these days, I will find a way to hire someone to do the cleaning. As much as I kind of enjoy cleaning (i know, it’s sick), I’m not really enjoying it as much as I used to. Frankly, i’m just tired of always being tired. Enough grousing: it’s a beautiful day and flowers are blooming everywhere. Enjoy the clean!
Posted by: regina
good luck with the open house! i wish i had the money to buy right now. i’ve always admired the photos of the inside of your place 🙂
Posted by: gleek
I have always wanted someone else to clean my house…maybe if I move.
Posted by: Natalie
I’m a few days away from being nine months pregnant with my first child, also a boy. My husband’s job may have us relocate from California to NYC within the next year.
My father says New York is no place for children.
I hope that isn’t why you are moving.
What do you think about raising children in the New York City area? Would you encourage or discourage new parents from making the move?
I would be very thankful for any advice you may have on the subject.
Good luck with selling the house, and best wishes to you and your family. Portland is wonderful and I’m sure you will all be very happy there. I have some close friends that live there and it is a very special place.
Suzanne of “The Frog’s Blog”
http://sbfrogger.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Suzanne
My housekeeper keeps me sane. And, since I am moving in less than a week (eeeeek) she’s even coming over one day to help me pack.
I am mostly done with the purging of junk in my house (one good side effect of moving) and it feels really good. Less stuff, more organized. Sounds like you’re on the way to that too. Good luck with the selling and the moving!
Posted by: Wen
Some days the only thing that gets me up and to work is the thought that if I didn’t work I would have to clean instead of paying someone to do it!
Posted by: BethC
This is a random comment with nothing to do with your post. I’m at work and don’t have the time to devote to reading that your words truly deserve. I’ve been reading for a while, since Thumper was just a wee bump, and it’s been delightful to watch him grow into a wee person now. I just was reading this article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6496977.stm) and immediately thought of you and Thumper, and so I wanted to finally tell you how much I admire what you’ve done, basically being a vegan mom, and how I think what you’ve done for your big boy is so great. 🙂
Posted by: KathyB
wow, you’ll be there before i am! but wow, leaving a situation where your mom is nearby. it kills me that i won’t have that (have never had it actually) and know that would be hard to give up. good luck with everything!
Posted by: k
I wish I could buy the house! And then you wouldn’t even have to get those cleaning people…oh to dream.
Posted by: sarah
Billy is the MAN!
Posted by: claudia
Good luck on your move! I’d like to thank you for the wonderful baby yoda sweater. I just made it and it looks beautiful!
Posted by: Christine
Good luck on your move! I’d like to thank you for the wonderful baby yoda sweater. I just made it and it looks beautiful!
Posted by: Christine
Hi, I’m a random stranger. I found you by searching for Ernesto Mestre, who is my current thesis advisor at Sarah Lawrence. I read your story, “Go.” It gave me goose flesh. My father died in 1975 and my mom died in 1996. That need to just keep moving while grieving, I know that discomfort like an itch in a place you can’t scratch.
I poked around in your blog, which makes me feel like I riffled through your closet and took out all your sweaters and tried them on. I’ve abandoned my knitting since we moved to nyc, but now very much want to go poke around in my own closet and dig some out. I have a sweater with no sleeves. It has had no sleeves for three years.
And the irony that made me post this rambling mess is that today MC came to Sarah Lawrence to read. I worked for a lit agent in the city last year and read a pile of writing samples from his current crop of MFA students. He and I had a nice chat about and it today. What an amazing teacher he must be. His craft talk made me floaty and full of electric thoughts.
I’m about to graduate with my ridiculous MFA, and I am about to start doing free lance editorial work. And my husband and are thinking about having a baby next year after we buy a house. I feel like I am leading a weird parallel life to yours, but am a year or two behind.
I’ll look for your novel. Best wishes on your move.
Cheers,
Katie
Posted by: Kate
I am an avid lurker, and I live just over the river from Portland, in Vancouver. I am excited to think of you moving out-I think you will really enjoy Portland. New Seasons is the yummy local organic market (a Portland chain), which you will enjoy. There are many fun yarn stores with much to offer–I think you will like Mabel’s on Division. Look me up when you get here if you need a buddy.
I have made two of your Baby Yoda sweaters–I will send you pictures soon. Happy Spring! ;))
Posted by: Julie
I am an avid lurker, and I live just over the river from Portland, in Vancouver. I am excited to think of you moving out-I think you will really enjoy Portland. New Seasons is the yummy local organic market (a Portland chain), which you will enjoy. There are many fun yarn stores with much to offer–I think you will like Mabel’s on Division. Look me up when you get here if you need a buddy.
I have made two of your Baby Yoda sweaters–I will send you pictures soon. Happy Spring! ;))
Posted by: Julie
It’s kind of creepy the things people search for and then end up on an innocuous knitting blog!
Posted by: Amy
Oh, I hear you about wanting to be there already. Last night we spent the first night in our new house in WA- moved from VA- after moving to VA from WA 3 years ago! Whew! You are doing great. Portland is wonderful and sounds like it will be a good fit for you & your family (not pretending to know you well- just what I read on your blog). And, for the record, I would dress both my 6 year old and almost 4 year old in your robot vest any day of the week.
Posted by: KT
We just moved. It sucks so bad. We only moved a 1/2 hour away from our old house but it is a much better situation. Cheaper rent, bigger house, etc. We are trying to sell our old house now. What a pain. We moved more today. It’s just amazing how much one family can accumulate. Good luck with your reorganizing. I sympathize.
Love your blog and am looking forward to your new paterns. Thumper is so cute!!
We have Amanda (10 weeks) and Jacob (3 in May).
I commented a while back when you were talking about your Doula. You might remember that I got a way with a steal of a deal. ($300.00 in Minnesota, compared to what you guys paid.)
Posted by: Michele
ooooh I need to get me a cleaning agency… if that one was good and you are willing to pass on the name I would owe you an afternoon out for sure 🙂
Posted by: stinkerbell
This is my first visit to your site. Cute baby. I like the vest with the robot head actually. I haven’t had to sell a house yet (bought my first house 2.5 years ago), but my mom always complains about keeping it immaculate while it’s on the market.
I had cleaning people temporarily in Oct/Nov after I had minor surgery. My house was much neater because while I can stand clutter – I can’t stand the dirt (I’ll move a pile of papers, clean under it and put the papers back). Since I wasn’t allowed to clean (lift a vacuum really), I straightened up more thoroughly and my house was lovely.
Miriam – They actually do have organizing services. I keep toying with hiring one, but I have a friend who is fabulous at organizing and I use her as a consultant. In return, I keep her in recipes and books and sometimes help with home improvement projects. I’m a fairly new knitter – so I haven’t figured out the best way to store my knitting supplies yet. I have an idea for yarn storage at home and can’t find what I want to fit in the spot available – so I’ll probably attempt to build it late this summer… That will probably be disasterous, but I have a book that keeps convincing me that I can build a simple cabinet. I was able to install the hardwood floors and new mouldings the same book convinced me I could do – so who knows?
Posted by: Jennifer
Good luck on your move! I’d like to thank you for the wonderful baby yoda sweater. I just made it and it looks beautiful!
Posted by: Christine
Hi, I’m a random stranger. I found you by searching for Ernesto Mestre, who is my current thesis advisor at Sarah Lawrence. I read your story, “Go.” It gave me goose flesh. My father died in 1975 and my mom died in 1996. That need to just keep moving while grieving, I know that discomfort like an itch in a place you can’t scratch.
I poked around in your blog, which makes me feel like I riffled through your closet and took out all your sweaters and tried them on. I’ve abandoned my knitting since we moved to nyc, but now very much want to go poke around in my own closet and dig some out. I have a sweater with no sleeves. It has had no sleeves for three years.
And the irony that made me post this rambling mess is that today MC came to Sarah Lawrence to read. I worked for a lit agent in the city last year and read a pile of writing samples from his current crop of MFA students. He and I had a nice chat about and it today. What an amazing teacher he must be. His craft talk made me floaty and full of electric thoughts.
I’m about to graduate with my ridiculous MFA, and I am about to start doing free lance editorial work. And my husband and are thinking about having a baby next year after we buy a house. I feel like I am leading a weird parallel life to yours, but am a year or two behind.
I’ll look for your novel. Best wishes on your move.
Cheers,
Katie
Posted by: Kate
I am an avid lurker, and I live just over the river from Portland, in Vancouver. I am excited to think of you moving out-I think you will really enjoy Portland. New Seasons is the yummy local organic market (a Portland chain), which you will enjoy. There are many fun yarn stores with much to offer–I think you will like Mabel’s on Division. Look me up when you get here if you need a buddy.
I have made two of your Baby Yoda sweaters–I will send you pictures soon. Happy Spring! ;))
Posted by: Julie
I am an avid lurker, and I live just over the river from Portland, in Vancouver. I am excited to think of you moving out-I think you will really enjoy Portland. New Seasons is the yummy local organic market (a Portland chain), which you will enjoy. There are many fun yarn stores with much to offer–I think you will like Mabel’s on Division. Look me up when you get here if you need a buddy.
I have made two of your Baby Yoda sweaters–I will send you pictures soon. Happy Spring! ;))
Posted by: Julie
It’s kind of creepy the things people search for and then end up on an innocuous knitting blog!
Posted by: Amy
Oh, I hear you about wanting to be there already. Last night we spent the first night in our new house in WA- moved from VA- after moving to VA from WA 3 years ago! Whew! You are doing great. Portland is wonderful and sounds like it will be a good fit for you & your family (not pretending to know you well- just what I read on your blog). And, for the record, I would dress both my 6 year old and almost 4 year old in your robot vest any day of the week.
Posted by: KT
We just moved. It sucks so bad. We only moved a 1/2 hour away from our old house but it is a much better situation. Cheaper rent, bigger house, etc. We are trying to sell our old house now. What a pain. We moved more today. It’s just amazing how much one family can accumulate. Good luck with your reorganizing. I sympathize.
Love your blog and am looking forward to your new paterns. Thumper is so cute!!
We have Amanda (10 weeks) and Jacob (3 in May).
I commented a while back when you were talking about your Doula. You might remember that I got a way with a steal of a deal. ($300.00 in Minnesota, compared to what you guys paid.)
Posted by: Michele
ooooh I need to get me a cleaning agency… if that one was good and you are willing to pass on the name I would owe you an afternoon out for sure 🙂
Posted by: stinkerbell
This is my first visit to your site. Cute baby. I like the vest with the robot head actually. I haven’t had to sell a house yet (bought my first house 2.5 years ago), but my mom always complains about keeping it immaculate while it’s on the market.
I had cleaning people temporarily in Oct/Nov after I had minor surgery. My house was much neater because while I can stand clutter – I can’t stand the dirt (I’ll move a pile of papers, clean under it and put the papers back). Since I wasn’t allowed to clean (lift a vacuum really), I straightened up more thoroughly and my house was lovely.
Miriam – They actually do have organizing services. I keep toying with hiring one, but I have a friend who is fabulous at organizing and I use her as a consultant. In return, I keep her in recipes and books and sometimes help with home improvement projects. I’m a fairly new knitter – so I haven’t figured out the best way to store my knitting supplies yet. I have an idea for yarn storage at home and can’t find what I want to fit in the spot available – so I’ll probably attempt to build it late this summer… That will probably be disasterous, but I have a book that keeps convincing me that I can build a simple cabinet. I was able to install the hardwood floors and new mouldings the same book convinced me I could do – so who knows?
Posted by: Jennifer