One of the things that the Bag Lady has to keep reminding herself about is that this is a business, and the way to make money when you raise cattle is to sell the calves..... but it is hard to see them go.
The Rancher might go to watch the sale, but the Bag Lady is undecided about going with him. She has gotten quite attached to the calves and gets a little emotional about saying goodbye to them. She also has lots of things she should be doing at home. She still hasn't finished the paperwork for the taxes, and would like to get that over and done with. The weather has been a little warmer these past couple of days, which means it's time to start spring cleaning.
Does anyone else "spring-clean", or is that an old-fashioned idea that has mostly gone out one of those
26 comments:
Good-bye Jocelyn. Good-bye calves. Sigh.
Oh, I spring clean the windows. Eventually. Some years its the first chance I get. I was out early one warm April morn and had them done by 06:30. I don't know that I'll be all that ambitious this year.
I would definitly have a hard time saying good-bye to the calves...especially after giving them names, they seem like pets now : ( Well, at least you'll have new calves to love on soon enough!
I don't really spring clean. I try to keep up with it so I don't have to do a major over hauling. That said, I did find myself cleaning out closets last weekend (I have a bad habit of cramming things into them until I can't close the door!)
I don't know if I can properly call it spring cleaning, but I did go nuts with the steam cleaner yesterday and use it on the kitchen and bathroom floors... and I've been eye-ing the windows.
(Too sad about the calves leaving to make a proper farewell.)
dfLeah - I have been known to put off spring cleaning until... oh... autumn?
And it was very difficult to see the calves go. (There are still a few here - we kept them for slaughter. I know, I know, but I would far rather eat our own home-grown beef....)
Emily - I should do a better job of keeping up with the cleaning year-round. But I figure once a year is plenty for washing walls and cleaning out closets. (Don't get me wrong - I spot-clean the walls if they need it, but whole "drag out the ladder and do them from bottom to top"? Once a year is plenty!)
kcinnova - do you have one of those fancy hand-held steamers? I've eyed those and wondered.....
And I am very sad about saying goodbye to the calves, too. I really hope we get a good price for them, as that helps ease the pain a little!
Nothing says spring like vinegar cleaned windows...something about the smell and the sun shining in makes the last bit of winter easier to take. I usually do fall cleaning more than spring, as it helps out my allergies during the logn hibernation, but a few things, like windows are a part of spring.
I hope Geosomin was one of the ones off for sale. If she's destined to be Geo jerky now, don't tell me OK?
*sniff*
Geo - I agree - there's something about clean windows that says spring.
And, okay, I won't tell you what happened with your namesake!
I love spring cleaning and fall cleaning.
I like spring cleaning. It feels so good to get rid of the clutter and to have everything fresh and neat and organized!
Sad about the calves... its hard not to get emotionally attached to animals. Especially when they're so darn cute.
Awww, I'm so sorry about the calves. My grandmother used to have cows on her property (she had a forest and acres and acres of land in her backyard). She named the calves after her grandchildren, so yes, there was an "Aleta" out there when she called them to come feed. She loved those cows and I was sorry when she gave them up.
Yes, I spring clean - absolutely and every year! I take it to an extreme. I will literally EMPTY out a room, furniture, everything, even the closets, so I can dust and clean everything and anything that goes back into the room is organized and if I haven't used it then it goes in the garage sale or trash stack. It's a good feeling when the house is clean and organized. This year I had an early spring cleaning, because we took all of the floors out in the house (other than the office room, which was a new renovation and the bathrooms, which will require a major overhaul). So, with all the floors coming up, including in the closets, well, spring came really early in our home this year!
Bye calves! *wah*
I do a closet spring cleaning - put away winter clothes and pull out spring/summer clothes. And hope everything still fits!
Maggie - I can't say as I love the cleaning part, but I do love having a clean house!
Sagan - It does feel good to have everything clean!
And I will miss the calves. *sob*
Aleta - Wow! You have far more energy than I do - I feel as though I've really accomplished something if I manage to get the walls and the windows clean in the same room at the same time! :)
Missicat - oh, those closets... of course, around here, you never really put away all your winter clothes... never can tell when you might need something a little warmer!
I think the selling and/or butchering of stock would be the hardest part of farming or ranching. It doesn't square with how most people are raised to think about animals these days. I can see the necessity and practical value of it, but it would be terribly hard for me.
As for spring cleaning, I don't usually do much more than change over my closet. If I worked from home or didn't work at all though, I'd probably make an event of spring cleaning. It seems like a nice thing to welcome the changing season with a sparkling clean house.
BG - selling the animals definitely is the hardest part of ranching; at least, as far as I am concerned. You do become fond of some of the animals when you work closely with them.
I need to remind myself once in awhile that they are not pets, regardless of how tame they become.
As far as the spring cleaning goes - perhaps part of the difference is due to the climate. When your house is closed up tight against the cold for so many months (as it is here) it makes sense to shine it up a little. Of course, when summer is over and the windows have to be closed, it needs a little cleaning, too.... Sigh.
Bye-bye babies!
I understand the word spring, but what is this word "clean"? Well at least to look at my house right now, you would think I had no concept! I am in the process of working on it though.
df Bag Lady,
You will feel better if you make a bowl of popcorn, watch the Lion King and sing "The Circle of Life" a few times.
I am a big old mush about stuff like the calves but they are old enough to leave home. And the new babies will be here before you know it.
Spring cleaning, well, yeah, sort of. Years ago I had a four season thing going on and a chart saying what should be done when. Now if I open the windows for an entire day to air out the apartment and throw a few old things in the trash--voila!--spring cleaning is complete.
Terrie
Dang, Baggie. I should have thought of that when we were doing the name thing. Smitty is a male, right? Sigh!
Oh dear. Goodbye little calves! (Especially the Crabbiest little calf.) Must be a difficult part of ranching.
Afraid I don't spring clean, or summer clean, or fall or winter clean either. Just the minimum I need to see the floor!
Reb - to look at my house right now, you would think I had no concept of that word, either! Especially my office, surrounded by mountains of paper.
dfTerrie - Sadly, it IS time for the calves to be out on their own.
And you and I have a similar philosophy towards housework - well, except I need to scrape the gunk off the windows so I can see out... :)
Hilary - I cannot tell a lie. So I won't say anything about Smitty making a fine meal for someone one day....
Crabby - it is really hard to see them go. The cheque that came home from the Auction Mart helps a little. (Very little - works out to about a dollar an hour. Sigh.)
I don't like to be able to see my floor, because then I can see how badly it needs to be washed! :)
Reason #4562 I'm a vegetarian. Poor calves! And yes, I spring clean. I usually get the bug as soon as I can open my windows. The fresh air and light makes me see all the filth I've been living in. Now if spring would just come already!
Charlotte - I know what you mean - I am really looking forward to spring. Really.
Spring cleaning used to mean the end of coal-heating season. Now there's not as much dirt to clean up after a winter of heat. (I will enjoy cleaning up where I have wood stacked by the stoves, but it's not time for that yet.)
It wouldn't do me much good to wash the windows now; it's just the beginning of disoriented bird flying into glass season.
Heifers, go forth and multiply!
Mary Anne in Kentucky
Poor calves! I know! I know! That's what they were raised for, but I'm a real suck for getting attached! As far as spring cleaning goes, I put it off as long as I can. I find window cleaning a dreaded job. It's so hard to get them cleaned without leaving streaks!
oh you know Id struggle with that as well--but it is the circle of life huh?
*sigh*
Miz, who doesnt spring clean much. I did up north but here it always feels like spring so Im always cleaning (or not. either way :))
would it help if I hummed the circle of life? I know *my* calf is still around! And yes to spring cleaning, as soon as it gets nice enough to open the windows and leave them open all day!
Post a Comment