An Out Of Season Spring Clean

[poliphilo]

We began an out of season spring clean last night. Ailz loves nothing better. The rubbish accumulates and accumulates to the point where she suddenly turns into Mrs Tittlemouse. 

 

Me, I'm more like Mr Jackson- he of the large, wet footprints. "Tiddly-widdly-widdly, Mrs Tittlemouse. Pouf, pouf, pouf"



Actually, this is wishful thinking. If only I could be as mellow as Mr Jackson! Spring cleaning makes me profoundly nervous. I look at the size of the task in hand and think, "Oh no, oh no- I'll never be able to deal with this."

I love Beatrix Potter. The Jane Austen of the nursery, don'tcha think?

Comments

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

We have a marvelous Beatrix Potter collection -- watercolors and such -- at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Rare Books Department. In fact, it was this collection that drew Maurice Sendak to Philadelphia to do research. Now, he has placed his entire output (except the opera sets) on long-term loan at the Rosenbach Museum & Library. It was A.S.W. Rosenbach who was responsible for so much Potter material being in Philadelphia.

I just sent a complete boxed set of the Peter Rabbit books to a colleague who is due to be delivered of a son in the next few weeks, and we are sending one to our new grandson. It's our default grand present.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Every home should possess a set of Beatrix Potter.

I think she's amazing- the economy with which she conjures up such unforgettable characters.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

What a delightful post.

Beatrix Potter is more than a children's writer/illustrator, that's for sure!
Have you seen the film "Miss Potter"? It's lovely.

Good luck with the cleaning, Mr. Jackson.
:)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Oh yes, she was a remarkable person, all ways round.

I haven't seen the movie. I'm getting a little tired of Rene Zellwegger playing quintessentially English heroines. Am I being unjust?

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I think you may be in this case. Rene actually does a very good job in this film. She seems to understand Miss Potter's character very well and the film itself is charming but not syrupy sweet.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, even as I wrote the comment I felt I was being mean. If Catherine Zeta Jones can play Americans, why shouldn't Rene Z. play Brits? Fair exchange is no robbery.

[momof2girls.livejournal.com]

Definitely! Beatrix Potter's stories and illustrations are wonderful!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

She was doing something entirely new. And she did it better than anyone since.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

This is such a delightful tale, and it gives credit for a working brain to the child who is reading it,unlike some of the newer books offered for very small children.
Ailz is one after my own heart. I do no deep cleaning except for spring and fall, when I turn out the entire apartment, throw out a lot of accumulated junk (or send it to be recycled, etc.), and scrub every nook and cranny in the place. The rest of the time? Daily: I pick up, do dishes, give bathroom a once over, and take out the trash. Weekly: I vacuum, dust, do the laundry, and wash the floors. Also I do keep the kitty litter box spotless because His Highness insists I police his commode the moment after he uses it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Mrs Tittlemouse and Mr Jackson are such unforgettable characters. It amazes me how she can achieve what she does achieve in such a small space.

I've been moving furniture and doing all sorts this afternoon. And now I ache.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

I love, love, love Beatrix Potter!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

She was a wonderful writer and artist.

[sculptruth.livejournal.com]

Oh, such good memories you've brought up!

And yes, we've cleaned and cleaned ourselves last weekend, and completely changed all the furniture around and now I believe I'm finally ready for those fast approaching 12 hour + long nights.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We've made a start- as a result of which the house looks even more untidy than it did before we started- but we'll get there eventually.