Spring cleaning: Spices

Like many of my fellow Minnesotans, I can't wait for spring to roll around.  

With warm weather comes spring cleaning.  Windows finally get opened and need to be cleaned, screens get put back on (or vacuumed off if you are like us and leave them on in the winter), planting begins, old leaves get raked up, new batches of mulch are hauled in, spring clothes get moved to the front of the closet (or, if you are like me the storage tubs get switched out).  Bottom line...there is a lot to do.  Personally, I find spring cleaning to be therapeutic (for some people the idea of cleaning puts them in therapy) but keep reading for an easy task.  

Spring cleaning can be overwhelming!  You may very well be tempted to move to the fridge, or the pantry, or the toaster cupboard where all of the crumbs have accumulated, or look at the leaves out front just waiting to be raked, or perhaps even write a blog post about your cleaning tips...but just stick to the task at hand.  Today, the project is simple.  Spices.  Cooking is more fun (and tasty) and it will give you a new appreciation for actually using your spices.  Although using out of date spices won't cause harm (from what I have read), they won't have the potency and flavor intended.  

Also, if you have children at home - this project is a great one to incorporate their help.  Let them smell each of the different spices (great sensory lesson) and give them small tasks of dumping, stacking, or sorting.  Win, win! 

So here we go:

Step 1:  Take out ALL of the spices in your storage space.  

Step 2:  Wipe down drawer or cupboard where you keep said spices.  If you are like me, you may consider sterilizing your drawer if you suspect you are looking at mice turds and not black peppercorns.  When we moved into this house old house a few years back, we found old evidence of a mouse.   Although we never caught one, we haven't seen any more evidence of them.  After today, I am not sure what to think.  I am just going to keep going.  And maybe reading about Runaway Ralph will help me think of mice in a new, happy light.

Step 3:  Check expiration dates.  Empty expired spices into garbage.  Recycle containers.  Combine duplicate spices.  For those of you that have a hard time with throwing out things...think of it as gaining valuable space.  If they have lost their spice, why keep them?

Step 4:  Put spices back in drawer.  And if you want to get really crazy, put them back in according to spice type. (Most used spices in front for easy access, pumpkin pie baking spices grouped together in back...now that is some Type A mentality for you!)

For those of you that don't have a drawer to store spices...try storing spice containers in a smaller storage tub (no lid) for easy access and easy clean up.  

In a short amount of time you've condensed, cleaned, and accomplished one spring cleaning task.  

Next week, Scott will be our guest blogger on how to spring clean your garage.  Wink, wink.  

Happy cleaning!

Spring has sprung

These little yellow flowers are the first of many popping up in our front yard.  Last fall when we moved in we cleared out all of the weeds, overgrown shrubs, and pretty much created an empty canvas.  Our painting is in progress and it brings me much joy!

Before and After

Living room before

Living room after. 

Opposite view living room (before)

Opposite view living room (after)

Sun porch (soon to be toy area) before

Toy room after

Inside look at Jacob's toys

Art and project corner

Guest room before

Guest room after

Upstairs bath before

Upstairs bath after

Master bedroom before

Master bedroom after

Opposite view 

Phase 1 of our house projects are almost complete.  These are the rooms which are finished.  And I use the term finished loosely.  :)  Soon you will see pictures of Jacob and Nathan's room (waiting for one piece in Jake's room and the electrical in Nathan's room), the dining room (waiting to hang fixture) and eventually we'll get to the office and basement.  It is definitely feeling like home and we're settling in nicely.  Those squeaky floors?  We don't even notice them anymore. 

Before and After - The Yard (Phase 1)

As I look at these pictures I am already missing summer.  The leaves are pretty much gone...it's getting cold.  And snow is just around the corner.  Anyway, as you can see our yard is a blank canvas going into winter.  I called this Phase 1.  My dad and Scott spend an entire weekend cutting back, weeding, and basically getting everything cleared out.  We had a brick path that we didn't even know existed.  It looks so bare compared to the overgrown jungle we had before - but we are looking forward to landscaping in the spring! 

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Welcome to our humble abode.

This amazing apple pie, along with a bottle of champagne was given to us by one of our new neighbors.

Big trees = lots of leaves.

Loves to rake.

Happy because he doesn't have to rake?

Need more room.

Our new to us, old house is starting to feel like home.  We've got most of the boxes unpacked, things put away (or at least in a temporary spot) and can actually walk around without stumbling on something.  Except maybe a rogue lego truck.  Our computer is up and running and the boys are napping (hence the blog post).  We have a lovely neighborhood, giant trees, and plenty of projects to keep us busy for at least a year.  Or twenty. 

One set of neighbors consists of two young boys, 3 years and 6 mos.  Sound similar to someone else you know?  They are already best buds.  We're still getting used to the creaks and noises of the house and training ourselves to open up the right cupboards for what we need.  The cats are still along for yet another move although I suspect this will be their last.  They are both still in good health but we aren't going anywhere for a long long time.

In the midst of our move we've been busy trying to keep up with normal everyday life.  Jacob started his first year of pre-school and is loving it.  He is there Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  Nathan just had his four month check up and is 19 lbs.  Yes.  The incredible thing is that not only is he in the high 90th percentile for weight, but for length as well. 

I will be posting pictures of the inside of the house, but there are a few more finishing touches that have to be done before I post before and after photos.  You are welcome to see the work in progress if you happen to be in the neighborhood!

Last but not least, thank you to Doug, Lin, Mark, Sue, Mike, Sarah, Tom, Sarah, Chad, Tony, Cindy and Larry for your time and energy.  The amount of work that you have put into helping us has not gone unnoticed and is truly truly appreciated from the bottom of our hearts.  We couldn't have done it without you.  Thank you! 

We're off to enjoy this crisp fall day.  One of my favorites. 

House update

Testing out paint samples. 

Doug painted my pantry and put some laminate on the floor.  The floor that is there is the original hardwood and you could see into the basement through the cracks. 

Insulation holes.

Jacob checking out the view from his new room.

Lin lined all of my cupboards.  Except the one where we found some mouse droppings.  She put DCON in that one.  We're hoping he is long gone.  I really really do not like mice.

 

Last week Doug and Lin came up to help us with the first round of the house.  We were busy, busy, busy and so thankful to have them here.

We've been to Sherwin Williams at least a dozen times and have at least 20 paint samples.  I am happy to report that we have chosen our colors.  I will keep it a surprise though.  

Notice the holes in the wall?  After we had the electricians spend a couple of days doing some updates they noted our exterior walls weren't insulated.  Not uncommon, but we decided to go ahead and take care of it before we moved in. 

Tomorrow the crew is arriving to patch those holes, do the ceilings, paint, and sheet rock the garage.  We were originally going to have my dad and Larry help with the garage but decided to do it before we moved in.  Anyway, I have a long to-do list for my handyman Dad when he arrives on Thursday.  :)

Today Scott was busy clearing out old boards and shelves and putting up trim while Jacob, Nathan and I raked the lawn.  Well, Nathan napped and Jacob buried his trucks in my piles.  We enjoyed the nice weather and our lawn is cleaned up.  At least until tomorrow.  We have a huge beautiful oak tree in our front yard.

The crew is hoping to be done by Friday - we'll clean up, and get ready to start moving.

Stay tuned for photos of the finished projects!

Something else that is old...

...turned into something new.  (New for us, anyway).  This is the house.  Isn't she beautiful?  I have pictures of the inside as well.  But, it isn't official yet so I will hold off on those photos. We have signed the purchase agreement but are still waiting to get the appraisal and inspection done.

Okay...maybe just one sneak peek...