Casual Monday

‘Tis Monday! Feeling decidedly unwilling to let go of a “weekend” mentality, I have decided to make this a Casual Monday. A slipper-wearing, feet-up kind of day wherein I let go of the prosaic rambles and poetic sojourns in favor of a zany silly detour. A few days ago Farmlady closed her comment with “Thank you for letting us know how truly human you are.” I laughed when I read that one, realizing that my pinkly poetic blog may give some the wrong impression. So, to dispel any myths or misconceptions I figured I should pull the lace back a bit further and share some silliness with you.

Hmmmmm . . . Already having admitted I love Mondays, dare I venture further and add that I enjoy tidying the cottage? Yes, indeed, I do. Washing dishes, doing laundry, and vacuuming bring a smile to my face. Of course I do add a bit of “atmosphere” in the form of music. I absolutely love cranking up the stereo and grabbing the vacuum. Granted, my family does not share my love of domestic duties, so when they hear Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade theme (one of my favorite motivational tunes) ringing through the halls they scram. Doing math beats out folding laundry any day.

With a wide selection of music to choose from, I gravitate toward the light and lively. Any Disney/kids music will do but I also enjoy kicking up my heels with an American in Paris, or twirling amongst the alive-with-music hills of Austria, and I shall never forgo an invitation to Dance with Anna and the King of Siam, dustcloth in hand. Some days require a céilidh atmosphere and my collection of irish/celtic music serves me well. Who can shuffle through a mundane task when the fiddles and drums meet the hornpipes and penny whistles for a rollicking good time?

Can you handle a bit more silliness? I generally get involved with the cleaning routine before I shower, so am often casually cleaning in my nightie. For this very reason I take great care to select sleepwear that may be mistaken for a summer’s shift or a comfy winter's lounger. Once my neighbor stopped by a bit on the early side and I invited her in for tea. We chatted and sipped as she shared some sorrow upon her heart. She bid me farewell quite some time later, thanking me for the tea party. When I closed the door my children burst out laughing as I had carried the whole thing off in my nightie. That pink sprigged “dress” has saved me on more than one occasion, for not only do I enjoy cleaning in pjs, but have been known to stroll the gardens in the same attire and receive deliveries from UPS. Fortunately we live in a secluded spot behind a gate (to keep out deer, not guests) without too many drop-ins.

As a final silly snippet I will divulge my zaniest food vice. Known for healthy, from-scratch cooking with an abhorrence for fast- or processed-foods, I do have a penchant for “melty cheese” – that cheesefood that makes the gooiest grilled cheese sandwiches and the smoothest omelet filling. I buy organic “melty cheese” though my husband laughs out loud at that oxymoron. Still, I prefer the healthiest choice possible so Horizon’s organic cheese slices reside in my treasure-trove cheese drawer right alongside the cotswold cheddar and smoked gouda and sheep’s milk feta and buffalo milk mozzarella and lavender chevre and Point Reyes Bleu and a host of other delectable creations to delight the palate.

Well, I think that’s enough zany for one day. After all that talk about yummy cheese I feel the need to take a break and go have a snack before I turn up the volume and enjoy my Monday morning cleaning festival. Shall we snack before we dance?