TGIF

The college crew is coming to town tomorrow! Can't wait. A nice bonus: a clean house. I feel like I'm cleaning all the time but it's rare that everything is clean at once. Right now, it is.

Half the people who are coming tomorrow will read this in two or three days and think, "Clean?" Because it won't be by the time they get here. Fortunately, they're all in the same boat (with young kids), so they get it, and anyway, they're not judgey. But at this moment everything is unsticky and uncluttered and the air is full of fragrant chemicals. Aaah.

A few days ago I mentioned that one downside of living in an older house is that you're living with "layers of other people's filth." But I actually think that can be an advantage if you're only moderately concerned about immaculate housekeeping, as I am. In a new home, all scratches in the wood floors,stains in the carpet and stubborn patches of mildewed shower-tile grout are definitely your fault. That's a lot of responsibility and a lot of potential for guilt.

In a previously occupied home, you can always choose to believe someone else caused every imperfection. And the cleanliness standard is lower. All the scrubbing in the world isn't going to make this house sparkle, so I don't have to break my back trying. There's something to be said for that.

P.S. Fridays have been extra-special lately because we've been spending them with Riley! Check out these cuties.