The Reality of It All

Yesterday I found myself standing in the middle of my kitchen, looking around at all the stuff that accumulates on my counters this time of year.  I thought back to my younger self.  The self that cleaned her house (completely) every week no matter how clean dirty it was.  The self that always had everything in it's place.  The self that couldn't go to bed unless everything was in it's place (no matter the hour).

Ahhh.  I remember her.  Her expectations were high because they could be high.  Fast forward eight years, three children, an old farmhouse, large gardens and a (sometimes insane) desire to put up and make my family's food.

My expectations have changed.

At first, I wasn't too sure about the change.  I regularly had internal arguments with myself.  What if someone came over?  What if I win the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes and they come to my door with cameras?  (I was failing to remember that you actually have to enter said sweepstakes to have a chance to win it.)

But slowly, and over time and additional kids and projects, toys and canning supplies, I've been able to relax into some new expectations of myself.  Here are the main biggies:

1) The house is not cleaned completely unless we're having overnight guests.
2) The downstairs will be cleaned (minus the dusting sometimes) if we're having dinner guests.
3) The bathrooms are cleaned only if they are in (way) obvious need of cleaning.
4) The floors must be picked up/swept every couple days.  I cannot let go of this one- I really dislike feeling stuff on my bare feet.

Back to kitchens.  I often see photographs of kitchens with nary a thing on the counter tops and it puzzles me.  First I think, maybe they don't cook.  Then I think, maybe they do cook but they're just willing to pull out everything they need each time (and then promptly put it all away) to keep their counters clear.  If the second maybe is the case, I applaud them for not being as lazy as I am.  And for having adequate storage space to house all their stuff.

And so, this is my life.  The reality of it all is that my counters are cluttered.  Yes, everything has it's place and one day each thing will return to it's home, but I will never promise that they'll all be away at the same time.

So, just for fun, I'm going to show you what my kitchen looks like these days (this happened to be a pretty good day).  Controlled clutter is what I like to call it.  I'm fine with it.  My younger self?  Well, let's just not show her, okay?

 Pans that wouldn't fit in my drying rack (I do not believe in drying dishes.  Now, if my Mom wants to do it when she comes, I will not stop her.  I love you, Mom!), bag of used plastic bags for freezing, red raspberry jam.

 Butterfly habitat complete with chrysalis and a caterpillar happily munching on carrot fronds, my food processor (which requires me standing on a chair to put back in it's place- not going to happen if I'm going to use it again within a week), spare bowl, cake carrier contraption, bag of jar rings.  Behind it all, radio/tape/CD player, books on tape, CDs.

 Lid, lists, canning journal, seed catalog, Sunday school materials, bug spray, phone, pennies drying on a tissue (what? why?).

 This counter is kept relatively clear.  I mean, where is a girl going to work?  (Three) compost containers (goodness- take a walk already), cooling rack, egg towel, garlic, stevia, homemade fruit fly trap (more on that soon). 

 Even my bench gets cluttered.

Okay.  I know my fridge looks pretty good.  I recently cleaned it because something spilled everywhere.  I just took this picture because I think it looks so pretty this time of year.  You know, because of all the produce?  Am I the only one that sees the beauty of the contents of refrigerators?  

I may be embarrassing myself now.  I'm going to stop typing.

But before I do, I want to know about the state of your counter tops- at this very moment.  Embrace those changed expectations!