Thursday, May 8, 2008

Scrub-a-scrub-scrub. Or not.

Today's Wonder of the World is another double header! Yes, two doubles in one week! Aren't you lucky?

Nod your head.

Here's the first one. I found this ad in a 1934 Illustration magazine that I bought at the flea market back in Clermont, and it fascinated me.

No, it's not the French maid that caught my eye, although that is an awfully big bow in her hair. Look at the shoes!

I'm certainly no clean freak, but I do believe I'd keep a spic and span floor if I had a pair of these to strap on my feet! Can you imagine it, doing your floors by simply turning up the music and dancing across the kitchen? And if some child comes in and asks you to referee an argument or retrieve a Nerf dart from the top of an armoire, when they shouldn't be shooting it up there in the first place, you can say, "Can't you see I'm cleaning the kitchen?"

I scoured flea markets all over France searching for a pair of my own, but I never found any.

But I do have these lovely beauties, Wonder of the World #2...


I usually don't get too psyched about cleaning supplies, (unless they're made by Pylones, remember?) but aren't these the cutest rubber gloves you've ever seen? My buddy Susie gave them to me because she's a dear and knew I'd love them. I don't actually use them. I hang them in my kitchen and admire them.

And the dishes sometimes pile up.
I'm about to show you what I mean.

If you're a Felix more than an Oscar, you may need to avert your eyes. It could be painful. Here's the reason why I'm about to embarrass myself in front of all you nice people: My beautiful husband Todd was reading my blog yesterday, and here's what he said: "Wow. You make our life look so good." (Didn't he see the post with the dirty towels in the tub? The scissors in the sink? Wasn't he paying attention?) He went on to add, "You should show the real deal, you know, the kids fighting over the computer, the dog eating our last loaf of bread, complete with wrapper and twist tie, and you know, THE KITCHEN."
I looked at the kitchen and shuddered.

Most of you probably live my life or something similar, but I'm sure you handle it better than I do. We've had meetings of some kind every night this week, so that's my excuse. Here's what my kitchen looked like yesterday afternoon.

And no, that is not a jug of moonshine above my sink. It used to have apple juice in it.

I was running here and there like crazy yesterday while a couple of the kids stayed home. They did not feel compelled to empty the dishwasher. They like to leave the door open for easier access. There is an empty diet coke bottle there, which they could have thrown away, but no.
Bad children.
And the scary thing is that it's looked like this (or variations of this) for several days now.
It may be because I like to loll about graveyards, taking pictures of moss.

I should probably put on those gloves and get to work.
Instead, let's focus on the one neat section of my kitchen. Don't click on the pictures. You may see dirt.


Here, I'll do close ups for you.

Aren't they cute? Sam made them at preschool our last year in France. I know it's not the most imaginative artwork--they're just designs the teacher copied and then the children added paint or crayon and ribbon tail feathers --but they're fun. I keep them in the kitchen because they make me happy, so that I'll hang around and clean up a little.
Speaking of which, I should probably tidy up.
I'll go get my shovel.
Have a great Thursday!

20 comments:

Liz Harrell said...

I'm SURE I would clean more with gloves like those! Very adorable.

La Belette Rouge said...

There is not a shoe or a glove cute enough that would make me want to scrub the floors or wash the dishes. But, moonshine might help.;-)
p.s. There is no a dirt in your kitchen that I can see and I ignored your suggestion and clicked on the picture.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Thank you Liz!
And la belette, ha ha on the moonshine. You can't see the dirt because sticky doesn't show up in the picture. Also before I took the shot I admit I brushed some crumbs into the trash.
Just trying to be honest here.

I have the urge to try to explain myself, to say that I'm working hard on a book right now, and yada yada yada. But I also hate cleaning.
Excuses excuses.

Anonymous said...

OK. I have strapped a cloth to my feet to "mop" the floor but I usually don't do the dishes. I avoid it like the plague. (I have a fiance for that.)

However, the red gloves would be a great thing to hang in my kitchen. Then there would be "proof" that I do dishes. And they are fabulous to boot.

Sherri said...

You are not alone with a dirty kitchen...mine's worse than yours.

Also,I remember as a little girl watching the movie Pippi Longstocking and she and her friends were scrubbing the floor wearing the scrubbing shoes, skating and dancing around....I wanted those scrubbers then,and still do now,lol
Makes cleaning ALOT more fun!

Anonymous said...

I think you should never clean and maybe even let some moss grow IN your kitchen. hugs to you!

Rebecca Ramsey said...

I've done that too, f.o.t.! The cloth on a shoe does work!

Sherri, I had forgotten all about Pippi doing that! No wonder I love that girl!

Susie, it just may happen if I continue in my present behavior. At least I won't have to leave home to take pictures!

Jennifer R. Hubbard said...

"It may be because I like to loll about graveyards, taking pictures of moss." Who doesn't? Especially in preference to cleaning?

One great thing about writing books is that we have a good excuse for putting cleaning way, way down on the priority list. But your house still looks good to me!

Sherri said...

I cracked up when I read your comment about your comments having a party...yeah everybody was ok after the tornado. That happened in February. I woke up at 4 in the morning thinking people were all around the house throwing rocks (it was hail and I can only imagine how big they were)and the lightning was so bad,it looked like strobe lights in the sky.It uprooted over 400 trees in the park alone.The park is still closed due to clean up,but it was still open for a whole week after the tornado and then they closed it.We managed to go in a couple of days after the storm and I took over 100 pictures.

Debbi said...

Those gloves are adorable. And they would match my kitchen to a t.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Hey Jenn. Thanks!
Sherri, that's frightening. I hope the park opens soon!
Hi Debbi. You should get yourself some. I just checked the brand and they are Two's Company. I'm sure they'd hold up fine with cleaning, but I recommend them as art!

Ada [The Duchess] said...

Those would make me clean like a mad woman. As it is I hate doing the dishes and I hate mopping. I do however, love love love to sweep the floor.

My parents -- well dad -- refuses to buy a proper vacum cleaner. We have one called a 'Henry.' You have to bend down on your knees (or crouch depending on your height -- which varies in the household, myself the tallest) to use the damn thing. Not fun.

Rosemary said...

Hi Rebecca,
Nice to hear from you!! It's so funny, I just started reading your book last night. I told my husband we should go live in France for awhile.
I love the gloves!!
I wouldn't mind dancing around my kitchen floor. It's better than last week when I was on my hands and knees. Love the sweet paintings too!!
Have a wonderful night,
Rosemary
PS, I hope you don't mind if I add you to my favorite blog list.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Hi Adaora,
If you ever need to escape your poor vacuum and indulge your love in sweeping, you're always welcome at my house! Tanner's hair forms daily tumbleweeds that drift across my house.

And Rosemary, I hope you enjoy the book! Of course I'd love to be added to your blog list. Link away!

Rhondi said...

Hi Rebbeca
I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying blogging so much. It's opened up a whole new world to me too!
Everyone's kitchen is a mess if they have kids. Mine is a mess rifht now and it's only myhusband and me!! Don't worry about it!
Rhondi xo

Unknown said...

I think that is so neat that you framed your child's art work. What a nice mommy. Your post made me chuckle. I have a pair of black glove with a big pink ruffle with black polka dots. I never really enjoyed doing dishes, but they make me smile everytime I put them on.

Anonymous said...

Those Roster pictures are fabulous! You should make them into cards! They me happy too!!

You are are right Rebecca, no one is perfect and Life just isn't isn't perfect either.

Thank you for your kind compliment!
xo
Constance

Sandra Evertson said...

Most Beautiful rubber gloves, might even be fun to dishes!
Sandra Evertson

Ada [The Duchess] said...

I'll remember that offer Rebecca! That vacum is my worst enemy I assure you. I'm a very good house guest (lol!)

Susie Q said...

These are treasures!

And those gloves...love 'em!

Now, you are so living mt dream of being well published...and I am going straight over and ordering your book.
Can't wait to read it!!

Hugs,
Sue