Before Fifi came to take photos for Romantic Country, I had to clean and spiff up. Like I mentioned before, I knew not to try to pre-style the place, but it still had to be clean, arranged, and ready.
Not all the rooms were shot, so I thought I'd show you the photos I took of my sparkly, clean house instead of wasting all that work!!
I guess it wasn't exactly wasted, I enjoyed the peace and quiet of banning my family and having a clean cottage for about 24 hours.
And yes, I really did BAN them. I packed a picnic breakfast and fresh clothes for the little girls and sent them with their dad to sleep in the office!
The house was oddly quiet, and spookily spotless.
I even banned the dorkies. Those poor pupeesh couldn't believe they were being kept out.
My husband was out of town on business, which worked out well. He wouldn't have put up with any banning. And while he is adorable, he might be the messiest of them all.
The girls weren't all that happy with it either, and everyone gladly came in to clutter up and make it all more homey and real as soon as Fifi and Mark pulled out of the driveway.
I admire people who can keep their homes up to this standard of tidiness, but I don't know how they manage it.
Of course, having tiny fairy girls tromping about doesn't always lead to chaos, it just seems that way sometimes.
But the kind of chaos they create is so much more fun than cleaning house!
I do try to keep things picked up, and the little sprites know to leave my "pretties" to an eyes only, no fingers exploration.
Most of the time.
They know they can pull out all their dress up clothes for a fashion show, or empty all the crayons and markers onto their table, or bring in their latest pretty rocks or bugs found outside, and Grammy will enjoy seeing the newest creation or them all dressed up.
Sometimes, I have to draw the line about bugs, though.
Sugarwings and Dewdrop leave to go to their mommies and I if I'm not too worn to a frazzle from all the goings ons, I'll shovel out the mess when they are away.
But even then, my house rarely looks this good! I'm glad I have some photos to prove it can happen.
See, not a juice bottle, dirty sock, or naked Barbie anywhere.
Which reminds me, why do all the dolls have to be stripped? Even poor Ariel gets her tail snapped off if it is removable. There isn't a doll that we own that is wearing anything. Although, sometimes Dewdrop will take off her own panties and put them on a doll.
Which is a bit weird.
While it's nice to have a day of tidy living, I miss the clutter that comes from family. Sometimes when the girls leave, I purposely walk around a pink shoe in the middle of the floor instead of picking it up. Because it reminds me that soon, a little girl will be back to fill that shoe.
When they first leave, my husband and I will take a deep sigh of relief for the quiet. Then, an hour or so goes by and one of us mentions some funny thing one of them had said or done. In another hour, we start to wonder how long it will be till we get to see them and laugh with them again.
Someday, too soon, they will be busy with friends, college, jobs, and finding a true love. My house will be clean and I'll miss those naked Barbies and forgotten socks.
Who am I kidding? My house will never be perfectly clean!! I'll still have dogs bringing in sticks, tracking in mud, and leaving toys all around. And remember that adorable, but messy husband I mentioned? I can't imagine our dining room table will magically lose it's collection of crossword puzzles saved from the newspaper, or the half empty coffee cup on it!
Magazine clean just isn't real. It's a fun fantasy for a day, but that is about as long as I could live in it.
PS-Leave a comment on this post, if you would like to enter my two giveaways. I'm away at the moment, but will draw names after Labor Day weekend
I did’nt even know that Barbie dolls had clothes! The ones I see are always,well without!
The grandkids grow up so fast. I see it every week here.Love the pictures. Even my apt. is never clutter free. Not realistic. We have to live!.
Grandma Joan N.
Joan
I so enjoy getting up each morning and reading your post. You put all our lives in such perfect words. Your house is beautiful as is you and your adorable little ones.
You have a beautiful house, so warm and cozy! The pictures were gorgeous, as usual!
I’d live in your home clean or dirty any time… it is beautiful and filled with so much love…a reflection Karla of your beautiful soul.
We had boys, so I don’t know about the naked Barbies. Maybe Dewdrop was sharing her own panties since her doll wasn’t wearing any or maybe like my great, great niece, she prefers commando and finds other places for her panties. It’s those awkward moments when you discover she has place them elsewhere…smile.
Hugs, Tami
What a delightful post! Both showing your lovely cottage, in its pristine magazine ready condition. And telling us, that it is hardly ever, this way. A blogger who admits to True Life! 🙂
Again, your home decor takes my breath away…
I’ve had blogging chatter, on the topic of, how we tend to show “perfect” little spots, when we picture, on our blogs. Being careful to… say…. crop out the garbage can… Or the messy stack of books which needs straightening… Etc. -giggles-
Me’thinks the only ladies who live in constantly proper homes, have lots of house keepers! 🙂
Tessa~
Love your use of wit and humor. I was laughing most of the way through the post because I agreed with pretty much EVERYTHING….lol.
Thank you for sharing and letting us know we are not alone 🙂
Happy Crafting
Tracie
Karla, you are such a wonderful Grammy and Mom. I hope that they all know how special you are! Love certainly brightens up a home and yours is filled with it!
Your house is beautiful Karla. I love your bathroom with all of those cabinets! Your home has given me a few ideas for my own.
We have an every day clean and tidy and a visitors are coming tidy (we’re in the latter one today as we’ve had visitors). All of the important rooms e.g. bathroom, kitchen are kept clean but I don’t mind a bit of dust elsewhere. Like you, I have lots of stuff and I don’t want to move things for the sake of a bit of dust. I can get messy when I’m sewing downstairs, or ‘take over’ as my husband says!
Karla, Loved all the pretty pictures and I can enjoy them more having seen most of those rooms in person, all the rest of the room fills in having previously been in the room. Can’t wait to see how it all comes out in the magazine. We are past the Barbie stage here but I remember it well. Also the day I came home from work and Jenn had cut into a cloth version of Ronald McDonald to take the stuffing into her “Puddin”c Madame Alexander doll that was losing hers. We still have that original Puddin in a box, no hair, no stuffing and her arms and legs reattached with duct tape. She was literally loved into pieces!! Little girls are so very precious!!
I never get tired of seeing your lovely home! With so many pretties around, I must ask if you have any secrets as to how you dust. I have lots of pretties around, too, and I could use advice. ; )
I took note when you mentioned your hubby’s crossword puzzles! I am a lover of them myself! Plus, they are actually supposed to be good for your brain and contribute to keeping it in good shape. : )
Thanks for sharing all the pictures of your beautiful cottage. Among the many things I love about your home, the ceiling in the bedroom is especially pretty – is that wallpaper?
Karla – love seeing pictures of your lovely home and reading sweet tales about your little fairies! My grandson is with us this week-end. I can’t count the times I’ve heard Grandmaaaaaaa. I Love It!!!
Marilyn in Missouri
OMG! What a magnificent home! I would love to see more of it. I would also love to see what the front looks like. I adore your bathroom. I love both the bedrooms shown. The rose chintz bedspread is really pretty. I could move in tomorrow. You have done a wonderful job. When is the magazine going to come out?
Love your home, clean or dirty! Your collections and your style are amazing! Thank you so much for sharing them with us!
Best regards, Wanda
Karla – love all your wonderful adventures and creativity. All your rooms are beautiful and your bathroom is to die for! Thank you for sharing with us. regards, Auntritz
Oh, my — it’s gorgeous and I can’t believe you got it all so tidy. Those were the rooms they DIDN’T shoot? Oh, dear — I’d have to start tomorrow if they were coming in January… Magnificent!
Hi Karla, I enjoyed seeing your magazine clean home!
I always say to my husband…I’m an artist and I’m just way to creative to be confined by such cleanliness!
So just sit back and enjoy your creative chaos, it’s way better than being bored by too much tidiness!
I cannot wait to see the magazine spread, but have to agree that grandgirls’ messes are sweet. (or bittersweet.). And thinking back to my daughter as a young girl, her Barbies never had clothes and often didn’t have heads, either!
Oh Karla, I really enjoyed this post! You have said so many things that are near and dear to my heart! I don’t have grandbabies yet, but I’m hoping that when I do, the messes they create will be much welcomed… the days of worrying about a “clean” house are gone! I think when we turn 50, our priorities all get re-arranged (in a good way!)…mine did! Hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend.
Hi Karla,
It’s been awhile since I visited, the cottage looks amazing! I know all about little messes. I’m so excited to hear your place will be in RC. After all, that’s where I discovered you all those years ago. Let me know when.
Lisa
Wow, what a fun peak inside your delightful home! I can’t believe how big Sugar fairy has grown, and her cute little side kick is new to me as well. I guess I’ve been buried in my own life and messy domain. Thank you for sharing some fun photos of your tidy 24 hour cleaned up home. How quickly the time does pass.
Gretchen
I miss my barbies…and if anyone dare say you never clean house, just show them the evidence, your pics! That’ll shut them up! Love your family, home, blog and definitely your sense of humor. I can so relate to it all. My husband has a twin!
Having priorities straight is an important quality in a friend. That’s one of the reasons I adore you!