Monday, October 13, 2008

A Clean Sweep

Today's Wonder of the World is...The Broom!

Flickr photo by Jorn Manilat
No, all the fumes from the cleaning products I used before my in-laws' visit didn't go to my head...I mean it. Brooms are beautiful! At least some of them.

Flickr photo by lao real00
I wonder who invented brooms?
I would like to have seen it--the first time a neatnik cave person blew up at their messy cave spouse who'd tracked in leaves and dirt all over the cave floor for the third time that day. I'm sure he or she sighed loudly and grunted, "Ugh. Booga ooga mooga," which meant, "Ugh. Look what you've tracked in, you thoughtless neanderthal!"
Then he or she stormed outside to cool off, stare out into the sunset, across a field of broom sedge.

Flickr photo by Jim - AR
This undoubtedly gave the cave person an idea.
"Dooga pooga looga rooga!" he/she shouted, which meant, "Eureka! I bet I could bind those plants together and sweep all of that dirt out of my cave!"
Or maybe it meant, "I bet that plant is called broom sedge for a reason! It's not just for flossing my teeth!"

Have you ever noticed how much children like brooms?
Until they actually get the hang of using them, and then they don't think it's fun anymore.
But I bet they'd like this one. With its Prince Charming Dust Pan.


Sorry, but I have to mention Pylones again. I just am crazy about that company! I can't help it!
How happy I would be to live in the Pylones world. I'd even clean my house without company coming!
I might even do a broom dance!

Flickr photo by navonod
Have you ever witnessed the jumping the broom by a new bride and broom--I mean groom?
I wouldn't have minded doing this at mine-- if the broom was engraved with my husband's name on it. (I only said I like looking at brooms, not necessarily using them!)

When we moved to France, we brought our whole broom family with us in our shipping container.

Flickr photo by Jacob...K

When our French movers unpacked it, they took it out of a box, laughed, and asked me if I were a...

sorciere! (Sorry, French accent police. I can't seem to add the proper accent. It's Blogger's faute, not mine!)

I didn't know it, but brooms like those weren't available in France. Unless you were a witch. Everyone else used push brooms.


Flickr photo by The Adventures of Tiff& Sean
No, not that kind of a push broom!
This kind.

Flickr photo by wagnerdh
Wait a minute! Do you see what I see?
Don't get swept away, but isn't that broom made of dollar bills?
I wonder if the owner won it in a sweepstakes.
Ha ha.

Here. This is what I'm talking about.

Flickr photo yb publius.vergilius
That kind of a pushbroom always makes me want to do a little broom dance.

Flickr photo by wallyspam
No, not the dance of enchanted brooms, although that would be fun!
I mean this kind...

Try it yourself! But don't get swept away!

Flickr photo by BobBurnham
Have a wonder-full Monday, y'all!
And enjoy another little bit of broom fun: a little Substitutiary Locamotion from Bedknobs and Broomsticks!

16 comments:

CREEKSIDEMOM said...

You make using a broom look like such fun! Mostly we just use ours to clean up dirt and spilled cat litter...
I would REALLY like the broom made of dollar bills. THAT would be a GOOD investment these days!
Jill

Unknown said...

I love the Pylones dustbroom and dustpan. I've had my eye on them for about a year now! LOL! Funny, I had no Idea that broom sedge was spelled "sedge" all this time I thought it was spelled "broom SAGE". Thanks for setting me straight on that. I've been spelling it wrong all these years!

Rosemary said...

Thas was a sweeping job today Rebecca.
Have a wonderful day!
Rosemary

a Tonggu Momma said...

Well done today, Rebecca. You swept the competition. BwwaaaahHaHaHa!

Cassoulet Cafe said...

A Minnesotan girl I worked with used to say "I'm gonna go broom the kitchen" instead of sweep. I thought it was so cute!
And speaking of brooms, I have major cleaning to do today.

Anonymous said...

You swept me away with this post!

Jennifer R. Hubbard said...

I want a Prince Charming dust pan.

Was I the only one who thought, at first glance, that those guys in the parade were hot dogs? :-)

Jenn H.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

My favorite mode of transportation!

Liz Harrell said...

I'd love to know where the whole witch-riding-a-broom thing came from. I'm off the Wikipedia. :)

Adrienne said...

That was fun seeing the Stomp video. Maybe if I had a cute dust broom from Pylones I could get into it...Nah, probably not.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Hey y'all. Fun comments as usual.

Tattingchic, after reading your comment I had to google broom sedge, just to make sure I was right. Whew! I'm glad I was--I sure could use an editor around here!

Cassoulet Cafe, I've never heard that expression before! It reminds me of a British friend who used to say she needed to Hoover her carpets.

Jenn, no, you weren't alone! I thought they were sausages when I first looked at that pic.

Liz, let me know if you found anything. I love Wikipedia.

Adrienne, if you're like me, you'd just sit around admiring your dustpan as the dustbunnies took over the world!

Cathy ~ Tadpoles and Teacups said...

I'm swept away by this post. :)
(Sorry... couldn't resist.)

Awake In Rochester said...

You have been tagged for a Meme! ;o)

CC said...

I love that princess/prince broom set! Some people are so imaginative!

Fete et Fleur said...

I love brooms too! I think we have this kindred vibe thing going on. You always make me laugh out loud. My hubby had to come over to read this one. He loved it! Bedknobs and Broomsticks is one of his favorites.

Hugs!
Nancy

Unknown said...

Based on your recommendation, I visited the Pylones site. It's terrific.