A multi-purpose cleaning recipe

Devin and I spent the entire day cleaning the kitchen.  I don't think it has actually been cleaned from top to bottom ever in the two years we've lived here.  I wanted to share because 1) I'm proud of our immensely clean room and B) I found a multi-purpose cleaner that I really enjoy and I wanted to share:

Multi-purpose cleaner

• 1/2 cup water (distilled, boiled, or oh heck get wild and crazy straight from the tap)
• 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 1/2 teaspoon castile soap (I loved the smell of Dr. Bronner's citrus soap)

Combine in a spray bottle and use on counters, windows, cupboards, etc.  Test on fabrics before using as peroxide can sometimes discolor fabrics.  I found a lot of success using my cleaner with a microfiber cloth.

I forgot that there was peroxide in my cleaner until I sprayed a section along the counter behind our sink faucet and - foooooom - a huge puff of white foam!  Good thing I had that disinfecting power.  And kinda gross.

While I finished the kitchen, Devin cleaned out our spare bathroom.  Didn't know we had a spare bathroom?  Well if you've been over in the last 12 months you wouldn't have because it was filled with gardening supplies and recycling.  

With two rooms down, I'll leave you now....the dining room is calling.

Pics or it didn't happen

A month gone by...

What have I been doing!? Not writing, that's for sure.

I've been working on our home and it has been both lovely and exhausting.  We have some new furniture, warmer walls, and curtains!  I've collected a respectable 15 pounds of produce from the garden and am working on a late summer planting for cool fall crops (broccoli, peas, lettuce, carrots, pak choy, and garlic)!  Deciding not to purchase a home this summer was probably the best decision we've made in a while.  I've really needed to settle in somewhere.

I've also been organizing a lot of my digital crap - hundreds of starred blog posts on my google reader and an overflowing "to be sorted" file on my desktop.  I'm putting together a household binder with contact information, recipes, giftcards/tickets, and all sorts of other useful information - most of which has been snagged from the internet.

Finally, I've been dealing with some family events.  I have an uncle, a man who in my life has always represented the epitome of a good man, who is nearing the end of his life.  He has had MS for several years now and has had very little desire to live for the last several months.  He is in and out of the hospital and my aunt has recently made the decision to bring in hospice.  We've all known this would come someday but it has been hitting me harder than I had anticipated.

One of the starred posts I came across recently has helped me reframe a little.  It's a post called "5 ways to breathe in a breathless world."  It's worth reading but here's the gist of it:

1. remember that productivity is not your god

2. don’t confuse the urgent with the important 

3. move toward community, not away

4. learn how to close the day

5. lift up your eyes