The days are so nice and long right now. Let’s not squander our opportunities to enjoy warm sunny evenings. Go for walks, go berry picking, sit on the porch visiting with friends, go to outdoor cafes. I’ve banned myself from watching my shows on Tivo until it’s dark or too cold to be outside.

QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:

• Declutter mail table if needed
• Any houseplants need watering? I have a particular indoor heather I keep forgetting about because it’s tucked away in a corner of a living room I haven’t used much lately.
• Take inventory of condiments for picnic and BBQ purposes. Do you need to throw any out? Have enough mustard, relish, ketchup, mayo? Pickles? Sauerkraut, if you like that kind of thing? If you use mayo alternatives, do you have a small jar of the real stuff to offer visiting guests who might not enjoy your alternative versions?
• Do you have summer plans for your kids in August? Any classes, sports, activities, camps you want to sign them up for?

TODAY’S PROJECT: Mid-Week Maintenance Cleaning

I’m tidying the house so I won’t have so much to do on Friday evening before I go out. I’ll sweep my front entry hall, mop the kitchen, vacuum both living rooms, vacuum the upstairs hall, do a load of dark laundry, declutter the dining room table and change the tablecloth, and spend some time getting the kitchen back in order.

I’ll also probably make time to dust the downstairs living room. The tray we keep remote controls and drinks on gets dirty very fast, and I have the doors and windows open so much, my bookcase and end table get dusty more quickly. While I work, I’ll be airing out the cushions and pillows from the living room, outdoors in the sun if I am lucky enough to see some.