A Contrarian Cleans

Mother Nature and I are sisters in contrary behavior. On October 19, it was 76 degrees, and I have no complaints as I enjoy this contrarian weather pattern. My Irises are blooming. I've got a new mini crop of sugar snap peas, and tomatoes just keep coming. I am cruising the highway with the top down, playing tennis on the outdoor courts, grateful for this unseasonable warmth.

My behavior is less monumentally contrarian than Mother Nature's, but still off the norm. My sister complains I send birthday and holiday gifts to her grandchildren in California after the proper dates. I have frequently explained to her that I do it intentionally, so my gifts stand out from the pile, giving me a special connection to the kids.

After receiving my belated gifts, my niece and her kids Facetime me so I can see their reactions as they open their packages. Most of the time, I pick winning gifts, but I was a bit disheartened a few years ago when the item they found most exciting in the gift box was the bubble wrap. They've outgrown that stage, so I can't get away with the easy stuff anymore.

Along with contrarian gift-giving, I ascribe that philosophy to my household "management." I spring clean in the fall and winter because spring weather is too nice to stay inside. It's for gardening, tennis, walks around town, chatting with neighbors, and having a glass of rosé on the deck.

A few days ago, the cold and dreary weather was an omen, reminding me that it is now Fall, time for the dreaded "deep clean." To add to the cleaning misery, with my "new eyes," I see a lot of dirt I've previously missed. But I've started cleaning and have been on a mission to begin the winter with a clean house.

First was the kitchen; I "manned up" and climbed a tall ladder to clean the dust and grease accumulated on the open shelves. I eliminated some of the décor, mostly the chipped items and those that collect too much dust.

The next job was the knee-deep grease above the stovetop. With that job finished, the stove vent is white again. I also tackled the baseboards and door trim, vacuumed dead flies from the windowsills, and wiped clean all the cabinets. I can now see some chips in the paint that need to be touched up. However, I am the worst painter in the world, so either that's a Daniel job, or it stays chipped.

Since Mother Nature has decided to do a "fall weather fake out," I've taken advantage of the warm weather to tear down the garden a little early. I'm still picking cherry tomatoes, a few lemon cucumbers are hanging in, with some late planting of a round heirloom zucchini that has gone on a massive growth spurt. Daniel and I are still lucky to have a generous supply of butternut squash and a few humongous spaghetti squashes.

I knew this was a brief interlude; the leaf-raking deluge is around the corner, and muddy feet and paws are imminent. I've already raked and filled two bags, and the tree is still loaded. I will head out to mow the lawn in a few minutes, hoping it's the last of the year. However, with my contrarian expectations, I'm not counting on it.