Some Refurbishing

We’re going to have some company in a couple of weeks, and I need to do some cleaning up around here. We’re not going to paint or replace the flooring, or anything like that, but some areas of the house need some attention. Some more than others.

The space that is my office is easy to overlook. When I’m on the computer (reading something, writing something, watching something), the part of the room where people sleep and relax (single bed with a trundle underneath) is behind me. So, yes, of course, I see that part every time I walk into the room; however, I’m all too ready to drop books, knitting, magazines, and so on, on the bed. Things pile up back there. (Also, there’s a treadmill in the room. Yes. Really. And I do walk on it every day, so it doesn’t usually have things piled on it.)

There’s another bedroom, which is sort of a guest room. It’s also where the sewing machine is. I don’t sew very much, but, sometimes I’m repairing an article of clothing or sewing a gift. Also, the ironing board is stored there, hanging on a hook on the door, but it’s often set up in that room, where I might be pressing some wrinkled article of clothing. But, guests are coming, so I’ve had to be better organized about clearing off the beds and removing the clutter.

Here’s what the day bed looks like on a good day. It’s more of the look of the room when I know that company is coming, and I have to clear off the bed. It’s also where Peter and I sit when we’re ready to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. Or Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Often, Peter will barricade himself behind the pile of pillows while he watches all that baking going on.

The bed has looked like this since 2001. We bought it when Kevin and April were getting married. Kevin’s bedroom at our house was pretty small, and this was the solution for two sleepers in that cramped space. I made the blue cover, brown dust ruffle, and pillow covers.

I looked at it recently and thought, Maybe it’s time for a change.

That quilt’s been lying at the end of the bed for a few years. The blue comforter is pretty heavy, but, the person who’s sleeping on the trundle bed, at the floor level, might need some heavier bedding. That’s what the quilt’s been for. So, now, I’m going to have to rustle up some additional covering(s) for the lower level sleeper. I have more quilts. And blankets.

I like this new look in the room. Sometimes, even as small a change as a different bed cover and pillow covers can make a new resolution to keep things neater and better organized. This is where I typically dump library books that I’ve checked out. Hmmm. Where did I put those library books?

Even as I’m writing all this, I realize that I have all these books that I’ve not looked at for years. Some of them are treasured books that I sometimes revisit. Some of them are books that I used in class when I taught at our community college, years ago, which I am unlikely to ever want or need to keep. What if I cleaned out the unloved, unneeded books and made a place to keep library books that I’ve checked out.

And done