the diary of a reluctant domestic goddess...

I read this and was gently inspired. I felt invigorated by the simplicity of it all and looking around my house, decided that now was as good a time as any to do a bit of Zen-cleaning.

So with serene determination, a clear mind and an empty house (shipped boys off to school and Himself to work) I started.

I initially meditated with a mug of tea as I formulated a plan of attack. The house, as an entire entity, is too vast  a task to tackle especially as I only have the morning to start a life changing de-cluttering, cleansing and leaving no trace. No - a small piece of my untidy world would be enough start with (as the saying goes....how does a mouse eat an elephant? Well - a very small piece at a time) My house is my elephant....!

Having started another mediation with my second mug of tea I decided that procrastination does not fit in a Zen-style cleaning sesh so reluctantly drained the last drop and started.

I filled the sink with lovely warm soapy water and washed carefully and mindfully the breakfast crockery, keeping my head clear and thought free (note to self -must clean out litter tray). The cats were lying by the fire I'd lit earlier to warm the house, helping me have that satisfied homely feel (note to self - must clean up ash around fire) Keeping my head clear of thoughts and lists was going to be a little harder than I had hoped...hey ho, will keep at it (note to self - must start washing machine) hmmm.

The cats, now rested and feeling quite Zenned out - saunter over to the kitchen as I start lovingly and mindfully wiping down the surfaces (note to self - how did paw prints get up here?) I shush my chatty brain as I serenely scrub the mucky marks on the wall (note to self - think I will take off my fleece, all this Zen-style housework is raising a sweat!) Shuush brain!

The cats, now fully invigorated from their Zentype rest are having a full scale fisticuffs on the kitchen floor, red and white fluff artfully flying and drifting in Zenlike motion in the air. I, maintaining my serenity, open the back door to encourage them to go and play out. They, completely in the zone of cat-warfare, have not noticed my gentle encouragement and continue their game with gusto. With conciousness and a kindly guiding foot - I usher them out (note to self - try to breathe more calmly) I brush a stray hair out of my eye, straighten my apron and try to reconnect with that Zenstyle housework thing I am trying to engender. It's not working. I think a spot of meditation will help put me back on track. On goes the kettle.

For a short while I am busy - kept buoyed along by the feeling of Zengoodness. Then.....Pan comes in through the window pronouncing very loudly that she HaS BeeeN OUtside and IT is RAINING! I lift her off the window ledge and pop her on the floor. Trying not to notice the muddy pawprints she has kindly left me in a rather fetching pattern. I reach for the cloth and remove them instantly and instantly feel Zensatisfied.

I continue with my Zenwork, trying not to think about how grubby a house can get, clearing my mind of thought, breathing and using the act of zenwork as a form of meditation - when....

In comes Lily - she too was caught out in the rain but with her huge red fur coat has kept her reasonably dry however, her entire fluffy undercarriage is dripping in wet twigs, leaves and garden detritus. I zenlunge so I can de-twig her and she, being a cat, maintained a decent distance from my grasping hands as she shed her own personal compost-like-contents along the floor and the carpet. Standing up and composing my rapidly reducing Zencalm I accepted her and decided that I would just vacuum up after I had finished in the kitchen. She, by now had settled down by the fire and was pulling off and spitting out leaves and twigs all over the carpet (breathe..meditate..breathe...meditate......).

Back in the sactuary of the now almost Zenclean kitchen, Pan has gone out of the door coz the sun is back out and come back in through the window - as she cheerfully tells me I liiiiike this coz it IS fUUUUn. I mindfully and lovingly notice her ********muddy paw prints along the window, across the sink, on to the floor and end where she very happily sits and purrs at me. (pant..meditate..pant...meditate......)

Teeth clenched, hackles raised and blood pressure ready to blow, I get the cloth and vigourously rub off the prints and stomp down to get the vacuum cleaner and frantically clean the carpet then round the fire. The vacuum cleaner doesn't seem to be playing nicely so I check the bag - it is full to bursting. I am getting jaw ache. Bag replaced - I start again.

A final flourish with it and I am done. As I turn of the motor I can hear the dreaded noise that all cat owners cower at.....the noise of digging in the litter tray. That sound of a cat as it settles in the tray then....that moment of silence.....that 'productive' moment of silence......then the frantic covering up.

Dig. Dig,dig, dig,dig,dig,scratch, scratch, scratch (silence as they check what they have been doing) then a scattering of litter as they leap out of the tray feeling quite pleased with themselves.

Trembling at the affront to my Zenzone kitchen I stumbled into the detritus strewn floor as I pass a very satisfied and relieved cat. I can feel a cold sweat come over me. (pant..pant.....pant... sod the meditate..pant.....) I empty the tray as a smell worthy of chemical warfare engulfs me and my Zenzone, my eyes water and I feel faint at the length I have to hold my breath.

Outside in the fresh air, I clean the tray, dry it, reload it with litter and return it to the kitchen. Feeling a little less Zenhappy and getting rather fed up with the Zenwork, I put on the kettle and try to think calm thoughts, fail miserably as I can hear the second cat leaping into the clean litter tray................

Later.

Having recovered myself, put out and then had to dash out to bring back in the washing, dried two rain-wet cats, re-wiped the floor, the window ledge and washed the dog (no - not sure why I did that one either) I needed to bring myself back down to earth - so have resorted to blogging and having a brew......

*sigh*

Lily and Pan - the anti-Zencats

I have to say that having a break from blogging was a good thing for me - quite cathartic actually. Your comments are wonderful to read and I am always gratified that firstly that my blog is read and secondly you comment on my rather random life - thank you! Welcome too - all my new followers, which have quietly crept up to 101 - wow, thank you again :) xxx

blessings (and other Zenlike thoughts)   hawthorn xxxxxxxxxxxxx