And you all know what THAT means.
Yep, that's right folks. I know you're all going to complain that all that effort simply isn't worth it, but seriously, it is. Especially for pet owners, when cats and dogs are shedding like crazy in light of the warmer weather. Doing a thorough vacuuming of your whole house will reduce fur and dander as well as dust and those lovely little microbial things that come with it. And, if you're like me, you can say a few blessings under you breath as you sweep out the kitchen with your besom. Yes, I know, some people may think using your besom instead of a regular icky modern plastic brooms is unthinkable, but by using an old fashoined one, as a kitchen witch might, it invites tradition and ancenstral memory of how cleaning the house isn't just physical hygeine, but spiritual. It invites in the new and sweeps out the old, opening you up to new opportunities and productive, confident thoughts. Sweeping your walk and/or porch outside will also invite happiness and luck into your home.
This is also a great time to redesign the look of your rooms. Rearranging furniture helps to keep things fresh and feeling like you're not just stuck in the same hum-drum routine of things. Using your space efficeitnly can help make your house feel bigger and reduce clutter, because after all, clutter usually piles up i theose little teeny corners we don't use much, until it gets out of control and spills into the places we do. Positioning your decor so that there are fewer of these little unusable corners will cut down on your pentiant to throw stuff there "temporarily". You could also paint your walls some new colors, or tear down that garish 70's plaid wallpaper you've been dying to get rid of since you moved in, hint hint.
And, actually, cleaning happens to be great exercise. Getting up off the couch and putting your lazy butt into gear will help you feel more productive, proactive, happy, and fulfilled.
Also, adding some new elements to the house is a good idea too, especially if they happen to be fire, earth, air and water. Adding a little fountain on your night stand or some candles on your shelves will make the space feel cozier and more natural. Using earth tones in your design plan also helps make it feel more relaxing. And let's not forget the flora! Every house should have at least a couple living plants in them to help liven (excuse the pun) things up. Seriously, especially for guys who aren't 'gardeney types' this simple element is highly underrated. Having plants in your house--some flowers on you kitchen table for example, or a nice little tree in the corner of your study or office--makes the space feel so much more alive, not to mention you get the benefit of knowing something living depends on you. Plants also help keep the air fresh, since they breathe in Co2 and exhale oxygen. They also add a nice aesthetic flair to any room.
And besides the obvious, it should be time to root through your belongings and find the things that you no longer need or could stand to part with. Even if you love all your 'treasures' they can pile up and become overwhelming, and trust me, you don't want to end up on Hoarders: Buried Alive, just because you couldn't bear to part with them. You could always save some stuff to have a garage sale in the warmer months, but how much is a little money when you think about how much work you'll have to put into it and how little profit you'll actually make, not to mention the fact that when people set stuff aside for a garage sale only half of them end up doing it. Instead of letting boxes crowd your garage just take them to the nearest church, Salvation Army thrift store, etc. Donations are always appreciated and they can use any money made to help those in need.
And now, onto...
Lastly, it's time to think about gardening! What would you like to have in your yard this year? Do you want to plant some crops like tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, etc, to save you some trips to the grocery store? Plus homegrown food is safer than store bought, and tastes much, MUCH better. Trust me. My dad is an avid gardener. His thumb is like, neon green, I swear.
Another thought is fruit trees! These require minimal care, only a few pesticide sprayings here or there, and boom! You've got fresh fruit every year. The blooms on them are particularly beautiful as well, and very fragrant. Speaking or scents, who doesn't love the smell of honeysuckle wafting through the summer air? Or for me, hyacinths: my favorite reminder that spring is hear and Easter/Ostara is on is near. Or, plant some pumpkins! It's fun to see how huge they can grow, and then you have your perfect jack-o-lantern canvas for Halloween/Samhain! Plus, pumpkins and sunflowers can give you some great seeds. And pies (Okay, sunflowers not so much). Corn is especially great to grow because it freezes so well and can be preserved for years. Just pop it in a boiling pot and voila! Fresh corn on the cob. Or dry it and make your own popcorn, or use it to decorate for Thanksgiving! And strawberries! Strawberries are AWESOME. You can put them on cereal, make them into milkshakes, pies, creams, jams, and all manner or tasty things. And have you ever tasted a fresh mint leaf? Plus those suckers grow like CRAZY without any help at all, and you can cut of some sprigs, hang them up and let them dry, then use them in cooking, just like you can with a bunch of other herbs like basil and thyme and such.
There are so many benefits to gardening! Not to mention all the hummingbirds and butterflies it can attract. Plus, planting colorful flowers will make your yard really stand out and make coming home a sensual extravaganza. You could even add some things like bench swings, gazing balls (or, in some cases, witches balls *wink wink*) trellises with roses or ivy, hammocks, statues, or anything else that catches your eye and makes the outdoors very tempting to explore on a nice warm day.
So there you have it, all the reasons you should spring clean and grow a garden! May your home, inside and out, blessed be!
-Autumn
Spring Cleaning!
Yep, that's right folks. I know you're all going to complain that all that effort simply isn't worth it, but seriously, it is. Especially for pet owners, when cats and dogs are shedding like crazy in light of the warmer weather. Doing a thorough vacuuming of your whole house will reduce fur and dander as well as dust and those lovely little microbial things that come with it. And, if you're like me, you can say a few blessings under you breath as you sweep out the kitchen with your besom. Yes, I know, some people may think using your besom instead of a regular icky modern plastic brooms is unthinkable, but by using an old fashoined one, as a kitchen witch might, it invites tradition and ancenstral memory of how cleaning the house isn't just physical hygeine, but spiritual. It invites in the new and sweeps out the old, opening you up to new opportunities and productive, confident thoughts. Sweeping your walk and/or porch outside will also invite happiness and luck into your home.
This is also a great time to redesign the look of your rooms. Rearranging furniture helps to keep things fresh and feeling like you're not just stuck in the same hum-drum routine of things. Using your space efficeitnly can help make your house feel bigger and reduce clutter, because after all, clutter usually piles up i theose little teeny corners we don't use much, until it gets out of control and spills into the places we do. Positioning your decor so that there are fewer of these little unusable corners will cut down on your pentiant to throw stuff there "temporarily". You could also paint your walls some new colors, or tear down that garish 70's plaid wallpaper you've been dying to get rid of since you moved in, hint hint.
And, actually, cleaning happens to be great exercise. Getting up off the couch and putting your lazy butt into gear will help you feel more productive, proactive, happy, and fulfilled.
Also, adding some new elements to the house is a good idea too, especially if they happen to be fire, earth, air and water. Adding a little fountain on your night stand or some candles on your shelves will make the space feel cozier and more natural. Using earth tones in your design plan also helps make it feel more relaxing. And let's not forget the flora! Every house should have at least a couple living plants in them to help liven (excuse the pun) things up. Seriously, especially for guys who aren't 'gardeney types' this simple element is highly underrated. Having plants in your house--some flowers on you kitchen table for example, or a nice little tree in the corner of your study or office--makes the space feel so much more alive, not to mention you get the benefit of knowing something living depends on you. Plants also help keep the air fresh, since they breathe in Co2 and exhale oxygen. They also add a nice aesthetic flair to any room.
And besides the obvious, it should be time to root through your belongings and find the things that you no longer need or could stand to part with. Even if you love all your 'treasures' they can pile up and become overwhelming, and trust me, you don't want to end up on Hoarders: Buried Alive, just because you couldn't bear to part with them. You could always save some stuff to have a garage sale in the warmer months, but how much is a little money when you think about how much work you'll have to put into it and how little profit you'll actually make, not to mention the fact that when people set stuff aside for a garage sale only half of them end up doing it. Instead of letting boxes crowd your garage just take them to the nearest church, Salvation Army thrift store, etc. Donations are always appreciated and they can use any money made to help those in need.
And now, onto...
Gardening!
Lastly, it's time to think about gardening! What would you like to have in your yard this year? Do you want to plant some crops like tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, etc, to save you some trips to the grocery store? Plus homegrown food is safer than store bought, and tastes much, MUCH better. Trust me. My dad is an avid gardener. His thumb is like, neon green, I swear.
Another thought is fruit trees! These require minimal care, only a few pesticide sprayings here or there, and boom! You've got fresh fruit every year. The blooms on them are particularly beautiful as well, and very fragrant. Speaking or scents, who doesn't love the smell of honeysuckle wafting through the summer air? Or for me, hyacinths: my favorite reminder that spring is hear and Easter/Ostara is on is near. Or, plant some pumpkins! It's fun to see how huge they can grow, and then you have your perfect jack-o-lantern canvas for Halloween/Samhain! Plus, pumpkins and sunflowers can give you some great seeds. And pies (Okay, sunflowers not so much). Corn is especially great to grow because it freezes so well and can be preserved for years. Just pop it in a boiling pot and voila! Fresh corn on the cob. Or dry it and make your own popcorn, or use it to decorate for Thanksgiving! And strawberries! Strawberries are AWESOME. You can put them on cereal, make them into milkshakes, pies, creams, jams, and all manner or tasty things. And have you ever tasted a fresh mint leaf? Plus those suckers grow like CRAZY without any help at all, and you can cut of some sprigs, hang them up and let them dry, then use them in cooking, just like you can with a bunch of other herbs like basil and thyme and such.
There are so many benefits to gardening! Not to mention all the hummingbirds and butterflies it can attract. Plus, planting colorful flowers will make your yard really stand out and make coming home a sensual extravaganza. You could even add some things like bench swings, gazing balls (or, in some cases, witches balls *wink wink*) trellises with roses or ivy, hammocks, statues, or anything else that catches your eye and makes the outdoors very tempting to explore on a nice warm day.
So there you have it, all the reasons you should spring clean and grow a garden! May your home, inside and out, blessed be!
-Autumn
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