Rube Goldberg of Chores

Sunday was a glorious day. The sun was shining, the temperatures were well into the 70s, and we threw open the windows and screen doors and that's when it happened. As I was gathering the towels we use to dry the dog that live in the mudroom to do laundry, I noticed that the floors needed to be swept. So I started a load of laundry and headed to the mudroom to clean the floors.

Well, first I need to clean the winter gear out of the mudroom to be able to properly sweep. I put Hannah's winter coat away for the winter and take all of the shoes/boots I wear all winter to my closet. But the shoes in my closet are disorganized, so I start rearranging them. Then I notice that one of my scarves in on the ground of my closet, so I hang that back up. Change out a load of laundry.

Back to the mudroom. 

I sweep. The baseboards are really dusty though. Put a pin in that. 

I start to vacuum the area rugs. Hmmm... Hannah wasn't feeling well the last couple of days and she smells and so does her bed. Move the bed to the laundry room. Put a pin in the dog's stench level.

The area rugs are vacuumed. Then I get out the feather duster and dust the baseboards and door jambs. Change out a load of laundry.

The kitchen cabinets (painted white) are grimy in heavily touched areas. I am only noticing now because the sun is hitting them just right. Now I am using a Magic Eraser to clean the dingy spots, but when I clean the dingy spots, the rest of the cabinet looks dingy, so I have to clean every speck of every  cabinet. I contemplate removing every item from the cabinets and also washing the inside, but I cheat and just do the outsides. While I'm at it, I might as well clean the countertops and the stove top. 

Change out a load of laundry.

At this point, I rope my husband into the madness and request he take a Swiffer to any horizontal surface that might be dusty. I also ask him to clean the fan in the downstairs bathroom. 

I vacuum the downstairs bathroom. The litter box has not been washed all winter and even when it has fresh litter in it, it reeks. 

Ask my husband to help me trim Hannah's nails with the Dremel. I hold her and keep feeding her chicken while he actually uses the Dremel.

Have my husband turn the outside water on and hook up the hose. While he's out there, I ask him to unwinterize the air conditioner. 

Take the litter box outside and wash it thoroughly and then leave it in the sun to disinfect.

While the hose is out and the water is on, I corral the dog and force her to take a bath. I then walk her around for a mile or so in a vain attempt to dry off a dog whose undercoat is the thickest it will be all year. As she shakes, I see water and fur fly off and know that all the vacuuming I did today will be undone as soon as she is released into the house.

Throw the towels from the dog's bath into the laundry, along with her bed and blanket. The dog is now wandering around the house mournfully because she has no bed.

I take the trash and recycling out and realize that the bird feeders are empty, so then I fill the feeders.

At this point, I am exhausted, but the day is not over. 

I head upstairs to do some yoga. Once there, I notice that there are dust bunnies everywhere.

Finish yoga.

Grab the vacuum. Vacuum the stairs. Swiffer everywhere upstairs. Dust bunnies conquered. 

Get the dog's bed out of the dryer. She is so excited to have someplace to lay. Retrieve the litter box from outside. 

Collapse on the couch and write this post.

All I wanted to do was the laundry.