New Look

My Spring cleaning was a little late this year, what with March and April gone in a blur of hospital stay with my husband, then May busy with his care. Still, I usually managed to get the "public" rooms in order in time for the varied home health workers' visits. I had been making some inroads recently, tackling chores piece-meal and a little at a time.

My kids were urging me to get a cleaning woman, even offering to help with that.  The other day when I mentioned again to my husband that I needed the windows cleaned, curtains washed, and venetian blinds scoured, he said he would call his friend.  This guy usually does our lawns, but he also is a house man for some folks, doing chores like cleaning fridges, vacuuming and organizing cupboards.

I agreed, since we knew him and he was economical.  He was a life-saver! I now have clean windows and sills, billowing clean curtains, vacuumed floors and freshened AC units!  When it was time to put the curtains back up, I was a little reluctant.  I  had forgotten how fresh and charming the white-painted woodwork was against our brown-painted walls, sans curtains. The bare, double living-room windows looking out on the screened porch set off the view beautifully!

Suddenly my living room felt bigger, enlarged with the view of porch furniture, hanging baskets of flowers and dripping vines on the lattice of  a porch étagère, all framed by the windows like a picture. I did put the curtains back up, but every morning I pull them back and raise the blinds, treating myself to the restful scene shaded by the woven porch blinds outside. It's like I have an enlarged room!

It's funny how a few small changes can make a difference, both in our outlook and attitude! Sometimes I get stuck in a rut, doing the same things the same way day after day.  I started to make a cake yesterday, pouring the mix into a bowl and thinking about the can of frosting I had.  Then my eyes fell on a recipe at the bottom of the box, changing the plain chocolate cake into a bundt-style cake. It called for  sour cream, which I had, instant chocolate pudding (I had that, too) and I remembered a fluted cake pan I never use!   The result was a beautiful, luscious cake--an improvement over what I would usually make! Oh yes, the frosting spreading down the cake in scallops added just the right touch!

Jesus obviously doesn't want us to get bored. He paints a different sunrise and sunset for us every day. When we are tired of one season, He gives us another.  His Word tells us to sing a new song. Change is good for the soul!