tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post2936942861656870823..comments2023-12-18T17:32:03.325+00:00Comments on Kindred of the Quiet Way: HouseworkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-23905807228086168502019-01-13T08:15:23.004+00:002019-01-13T08:15:23.004+00:00Greta — what you said there made me realise someth...Greta — what you said there made me realise something important; this is exactly how and why we learn, from early childhood onward, isn't it? When there's something we really want to do, but we haven't mastered yet!<br /><br />Bean — leaving a room as you like to find it is a most excellent principle!<br /><br />Suzan — Jeepers, what a struggle! May the next stages of your surgery go well! It sounds as if you need some planned regular help.Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-8822748328449015702019-01-13T04:52:43.222+00:002019-01-13T04:52:43.222+00:00Housework is my nemesis. As I recover from hand s...Housework is my nemesis. As I recover from hand surgery I am losing the battle even more. I will sound whiny but the loading of the washing machine is impossible and I could not hang the clothing If I could load it. The dishwasher takes me forever. I am grateful for it for I could not hand wash if I tried. Only two more operations to go. Then I will be applying a ruthlessness too decluttering the house. My daughter came an picked up many things for me today. My mother has declared she will no longer do housework. She drops so many things day by day.<br />Suzannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-49885598059089489442019-01-12T23:16:26.016+00:002019-01-12T23:16:26.016+00:00I don't like clutter, I find it stressful. I l...I don't like clutter, I find it stressful. I like to leave a room as I like to find it, hope that makes sense. I find cleaning rewarding, and relaxing, as I kind if zone out of the world and focus only on the task at hand.<br />Your home looks lovely. <br />Peace,<br />Bean?https://www.blogger.com/profile/17962573271182905538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-49887143333535241232019-01-12T23:00:12.594+00:002019-01-12T23:00:12.594+00:00to julie b.: aargh, the books are the hardest! i&...to julie b.: aargh, the books are the hardest! i've finally managed to get mine down to one small bookcase. they are mostly the irreplaceable items as pen said. all my miss read books, elizabeth goudge, d.e. stevenson - lovely out-of-print books that i read over and over. there are also a handful of spiritual reading but, there too, i have pared down. honestly, if i don't know some of this stuff by now, reading another book isn't going to be much help (or so i tell myself :)<br /><br />to pen: if i were more tech savvy, i'd take photos and e-mail them to you. i'll have to work on that!gretanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-31628030961945823002019-01-12T21:57:28.946+00:002019-01-12T21:57:28.946+00:00Anglican, yes. The Community of the Glorious Ascen...Anglican, yes. The Community of the Glorious Ascension.Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-78360564352820339502019-01-12T19:25:25.367+00:002019-01-12T19:25:25.367+00:00Hello
Who were the monks you lived with please? We...Hello<br />Who were the monks you lived with please? Were they Anglican? I'm intrigued and nosy!<br />JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-59512653659296084212019-01-12T17:42:32.270+00:002019-01-12T17:42:32.270+00:00Gerri — that's really interesting to have the ...Gerri — that's really interesting to have the perspective of German culture! I don't know a huge number of German people, but I have much admired the conscientious and methodical approach I have seen.<br /><br />Julie B — about books, I have done three things, mainly. Firstly, I buy books on Kindle now. Secondly, If there's a really good one I want to share with friends and family, I get my own on Kindle and also a paper one that I send off on its journey for them to read. I rarely get it back, but if I do I donate it to anyone who wants it. Thirdly, I have a few irreplaceable books — eg, some signed copies of out of print 1930s novels by the grandmother of my friend, from a small print run. How could I get rid of them? In my attic, I have a medium-sized box in which I keep a few such treasures. I review it regularly. Once the box is full, it's decision time! Tony had thousands of books, which he has gradually reduced. When he recently downsized from the attic to his present bedroom, he downsized again. This time, he gave away loads of favourites (eg his Terry Pratchett collection). He expects to want to read this again, but will buy them one at a time on Kindle when he does. He kept some that wouldn't work on Kindle, eg his Asterix collection.<br /><br />Rebecca — Yes, it's fun looking at other people's homes, isn't it! Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-91681283964535186152019-01-12T16:36:47.302+00:002019-01-12T16:36:47.302+00:00Thanks for the peek into your house. It appears a...Thanks for the peek into your house. It appears as I might imagine--clean and clear, attractive and accomodatinac. ❤️Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08740950362293427086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-7974808730631132282019-01-12T16:29:52.413+00:002019-01-12T16:29:52.413+00:00How lovely to see the flow and peace of your home,...How lovely to see the flow and peace of your home, Ember. It's easy for me to send things out of my home as I think of downsizing, and also easy for me not to buy things I don't need. What will be the most difficult for me is paring down my books. I have six bookcases filled with cherished friends. Monthly I choose one or two or three books to donate or give away, but it's painful. I have figured that I will need to move one half of my books out before I move (which won't be soon, but is on the very distant horizon) and that seems so sad to me. Do you have any thoughts on how to part with beloved books? Julie B.http://www.justjulieb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-63516165768510731882019-01-12T15:18:31.316+00:002019-01-12T15:18:31.316+00:00I was born,raised and educated in Germany...cleani...I was born,raised and educated in Germany...cleaning is in my DNA. I spend about 30 minutes a day going through everything,straightening,removing clutter,wiping things down and making our place "visitor worthy". Once a week my husband and I go through the house together. I have a place for everything and ( most of the time) everything in it's place. Hubby not so much,hehe. I have more things than you do,Pen,but it's neat and clutter free.<br />I don't mind cleaning at all,it's something you do for yourself and your loved ones. I really like the lay out of your home :)GerriHultgrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02219836441687865882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-29089129417489925932019-01-12T15:04:02.019+00:002019-01-12T15:04:02.019+00:00I wish I had a photo of your home, Greta, with the...I wish I had a photo of your home, Greta, with the candles and the snow falling outside the window, and the peacefulness within!Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-30388449832789612872019-01-12T15:03:00.274+00:002019-01-12T15:03:00.274+00:00Heheh — well, that's the thing. I love cleanin...Heheh — well, that's the thing. I love cleaning too, but I quickly go off it if it's complicated or there's too much of it. I find sweeping our passages calm and meditative, just as you say — but I think I might not if there was a tumble of shoes and bags and dropped coats, or a lot of hard-to-get-under-and-behind furniture that left too narrow a gap for the broom or vacuum cleaner heads. It's the same with laundry. Hand-washing the clothes I took off yesterday and a few handkerchiefs is fine, but if I had eighteen nappies, five pairs of denim jeans, the linen from a double bed, and someone's rugby kit, I'd definitely opt for a washing machine! Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-58227298878710820842019-01-12T14:40:09.621+00:002019-01-12T14:40:09.621+00:00i say this quietly so as not to frighten anyone, i...i say this quietly so as not to frighten anyone, i actually love cleaning. it's a very calm and meditative activity that keeps my often distracted mind focused nicely. it does help that we have few possessions, simple furniture and plenty of open space. i've embarked on my annual post-holiday clean and, because we've simplified more each year, every year the cleaning is easier and takes less time. this is important, as you so rightly observed, because we are getting older and can't manage some of that heavier cleaning without help (like moving the fridge to clean behind it!) it's snowing outside today, candles are lit within and the house is today and welcoming. that's a lovely feeling!gretanoreply@blogger.com