Today is the day you get to show us all how you made things clean and pretty above your kitchen sink. Why do I go on and on about this?
What is it with me and this kitchen sink thing?
Well, I'll tell you. Over the years I've noticed that many women do get the idea that they would like to stay home and take care of their family. They feel torn away when they leave home, as if a part of them gets left behind — and that feeling is far stronger for them than the feeling they have when they leave the outside world and feel a little torn about that. I think most people understand that you can't have everything, and they make a choice.
But many of these same women do go just a teensy bit insane (and I say this because I was sort of this way myself, although I had no outside life I cared anything about at all) when they stay home.
And part of that insanity is that it is truly difficult to live somewhere that's probably far from anyone you know or are related to, have no friends who are willing to do what you are doing, and spend all your time with small children when you don't feel very well to start with. I understand all that, believe me!
Part of it, though, has to do with not understanding or not being willing to commit yourself to the little tasks that make up this life.
Just as I suppose a bank executive has some little tedious tasks that, when done with finesse and elegance, become pleasurable, so the wife and mother has the ability to turn something that seems like drudgery into a pleasure and even a prayer.
This is not just in our head or our attitude, though! It's very material and palpable. It's visual and appeals to or repels the other senses as well. So things have to look nice and smell nice and feel nice and sound nice and taste nice for them to be felt by us to be nice! (Mind that I'm not saying they have to be expensive or nice according to what the magazines and catalogs try to tell us are nice, necessarily. Just simply nice.)
So that's why I say to make the area around your sink pretty, according to what you think is pretty! And not just pretty, but maybe even a place that your prayers rise like incense to Heaven even while your hands are in soapy water.
{If you do not see the link collection below, click HERE.}
priest's wife says
My camera phone didn't take that great of a photo- I didn't even get the faucet! Oh well- what is worth being done is worth being done badly…:)
I can't wait to see the other photos
womanofthehouse says
Here's my contribution to your linky party! I'm looking forward to looking at others' posts! http://womanofthehouse-blog.blogspot.com/2010/12/…
Suzanne says
Hi girls, Hi Leila,
thanks for stopping by my window sill……………thought you might like a visit from across the miles in Australia,
I love your blog Leila, I am a mum with three children, I choose to stay at home and love all that it brings..maybe not so the ironing and constant picking up of toys…but all that means I am blessed with healthy children…..dosnt it? So I should not complain …I do love your straight to the point 'mother' posts….
Suzanne.
GinnySheller says
I just happened to give my sink area a good cleaning and a bit of decorating this week!
LeeAnn Balbirona says
Is it nuts that I am waiting impatiently (very impatiently!) for the sun to rise so I can get a decent photo of my sink?! I have it all clean and ready to go, but the light is awful. I guess this is how blogging can drive you crazy. 🙂
Jan says
I don't have a blog to post too and I don't have a window above my sink! Unfortunately my sink is on an inside wall. If you would like I will email you a photo of my sink and wall area. I love all the pretty things above your sink.
Mamabear says
I was goofily excited to do this, and goofily worried my little ones would keep me from doing it! I'm looking forward to checking out all the links this weekend.
Juliana says
I think the difference between the bank manager who does tedious things as *part* of his/her larger job, the stay at home mother does tedious jobs *as* her job. That is what makes it so mind-numbing and difficult, in addition to all the other things you list, in my opinion. I'm a stay at home mom who does a lot of crafting at home to stay sane, but that crafting is not part of my mothering or housekeeping.
I do have a window over my kitchen sink, but my kitchen is dark and difficult to photograph. The window looks onto a brick wall (we live in an urban row home) so it is not anything special. There is an icon of St. Euphrsynos the cook on the ledge, along with assorted kid toothbrushes, morning medicines and toothpaste. I have a tiny Delft bud vase from my grandmother on the sill, but there isn't much room for anything else.
_Leila says
Dearest Juliana,
I could NOT disagree more!
I hope you will rethink what you say!
The tedious jobs are just very much only a part of what mothers and wives do! Making a home is creative and rewarding in so many ways — ways I hope we articulate here at LMLD. Crafting is very much a part of this life, and I'm always amazed at how much crafting our supposedly more drudgery-bound foremothers did. As part of their homemaking lives.
Doing the dishes or cleaning a bathroom — those are just necessary things that have to be done but don't make up the whole of it! And if you can be efficient and add a little “pretty” — why then, it's not so bad!
Even a “nothing special” view over the kitchen sink can still be squeaky clean, clutter-free, and pleasing to look at, given what it is! You might not be able to take a picture, but you can still love that little spot.
It's the hidden things that we embrace that make things worthwhile!
Christina A says
Reading The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer really helped shift my attitude toward my home and the people in it. It was very practical. A more philosophical read was a collection GK Chesterton’s writings called Brave New Family. I realize this is a rather old post, but thought I’d comment just in case you were struggling. My attitude is never entirely consistent (whose is?), and it’s so helpful to have a deep reservoir of wisdom to draw from (like this blog, great books, a trusted older friend) when I get in a funk. 🙂
Meredith says
thanks for the inspiration Leila, my kitchen sink area was in desperate need of an overhaul, a great first thing in the morning task 🙂 My picture isn't super, funny lighting today, but you get the idea anyhoo. Many blessings for a lovely weekend ahead, God Bless You!
Briana says
I love the way you arrange little objects throughout your home.
CarlynB says
Ok, I took the plunge! I've just started my very first blog and I'm being very brave to do something like this.
My photography skills are negligible, so I apologize for the quality of my photo.
I needed to give my kitchen sink area some attention. I almost wish I had taken “before” and “after” photos so you could see the terrible condition of that valance that I had to take down.
I love the idea of living in pretty spaces, my problem is that I get so distracted with what is going on inside my head that many times I don't even notice that stuff has piled up, or something needs to be cleaned until somebody else brings it to my attention. I'm also a very good “starter” but a bad “finisher.” Now I need to go “finish” the rest of my kitchen!
Michelle Reitemeyer says
Thanks for the inspiration to take a break from my “for-pay” craft to do something ncie for myself and my home.
MamaHen says
I linked up! I am looking forward to checking out everyone's pictures this weekend.
Anitra says
Well, I don't have time to get the pictures up, but I did it! The teeny-tiny north-facing window over my sink is clean and shiny and clutter-free. It's amazing how much more light comes in there now.
I also moved the contents of a couple cabinets around which will hopefully help us with “flow”. It will take a couple of days to know for sure!
Chalk it up to nesting. I would never do this sort of stuff normally. Now, this pregnant mama is going to go take a nap.
Elisa says
How fun!! What a great idea, Leila. I am always trying to make little special places in my home, little tiny things that bring me joy when I am doing the housekeeping. It's the same with dressing nicely. When I spend a couple extra minutes on my hair and have a nice outfit to wear, I feel fantastic! When I make sure to wipe off the kitchen table and the sink and add a pretty table cloth, the whole room lifts your spirits when you walk into it.
Breanna says
I have no windowsill above my sink, and I find myself too pregnant to take a picture, BUT knowing what I know about the last weeks of pregnancy, I did clean and prettify my sink before I got to this point. I put the dishsoap in a pretty handsoap pump dispenser (vs. the ugly Coscto jug), have a blue and white dish holding my scrubrush, and I can look out on my backyard.
Breanna says
-cont-
It's attitude. There are things that are never going to be pretty–rinsing a cloth diaper comes to mind–but it truly makes a difference whether I'm rinsing a cloth diaper and looking a dirty, ugly bathroom at the same time and thinking *you are failing*, vs. being in a pretty, nice bathroom and thinking, *get this done and then you can read with the kids*. I had a sucessful career, that I loved, as a nurse before I had kids; quite honestly the ratio of tedium/scut work to inspiring/enjoyable work was pretty much the same. It's part, I think, of living after the Fall–part of the curse is the concept of “toil”, the unfortunate fact that *every* job will have an aspect that isn't any fun, housekeeping included. And pushing through that, restoring work to the way it is meant to be, is part of the way we foreshadow Heaven–because, garbagemen and CEOs included, *every* job will have aspects that can be made, well, divine. IMO, anyway, pretty sure that's not strict doctrine. 😉
_Leila says
Breanna, I think it IS strict doctrine, or at least good theology 😉
The only difference is that being wife and a mother, while involving multiple tasks, isn't a job but a vocation! So all the more reason to ponder how the tedious toilsome aspects connect with the more inspiring ones!
Amy says
Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to take a picture, and my sink area isn't as pretty as I'd llike it to be, but I am totally insprired to really work on cleaning and organizing my kitchen and other areas of my house so that I can keep it looking nice and not have a huge disaster on my hands to clean up after. I am a predominately SAHM and love beign abel to stay at home with my kids and only having to work 3 hours a day. My other goal is to get my kids involved in helping now that they are alomost 2 (twins)and 3. 3 little ones can make a huge mess and I think it's time to get them involved in helping to keep teh house clean and organized. Thanks for all your suggestions. I look forward to reading more of your blog. And yes I totally agree that crafting can be a great way to take away the tediousness of housecleaning. I love having handmade things in my home that I have made or someone else has made. It just makes the whole house so much more special!
HollyElise says
I have no window over my kitchen sink, and in fact my kitchen is a bit dark – but if you read my blog post you'll see I've brought in my own “light” with printed prayers, Bible verses, and a pretty painting.
I (mostly) love my little kitchen with all it's silly foibles.
Thank you for the linky party, Aunty Leila!
Shivayamama says
What a gorgeous collection of photographs.
Charlotte says
OK… you inspired me too! I even covered the ugly warped wood on the bottom of my bay window with shelf paper just to make it prettier! I've been meaning to do that for a while.Thanks for the kick in the pants!
Maria says
I just posted my sink. I'm a new blogger and never participated in a linky before so I hope it works. I also only own a camera phone so my pictures aren't exactly high-quality but I think it tells the story 🙂
Thanks, this was fun…even prettying up the sink!
Maria
Sue says
I loved seeing everyone's lovely sink spots! Surprisingly, I'm not even that envious. I sometimes dream of a window to gaze out of while doing the dishes, but my kitchen is teeny tiny and has only sliding glass doors that lead to my little “garbage & recycle” balcony – and my back is to the doors when I'm at the sink. Still, my sink looks over a counter where my kids can sit and ask questions, chat, or watch (or help) cook. That's not a bad trade off!
Heather says
I don't have a blog to link back to, but know that I did participate and tidy my sink area. I tossed the chrome dish drainer that was starting to rust and plastic mat that never looked clean. I ordered a collapsible dish drainer from Amazon last night. I made a coffee station in the newly reclaimed counter space.
I put my soap bottle under the sink, I never would have thought that would make such a difference. I dilute dish detergent with water and have it in a spray bottle, but the spray bottle is not pretty. I will be hunting for a better one. Then I hung a sun catcher my son made in the window above it. For seasonal fun, I also hung this snowflake that we made out of pipe cleaners and borax, that was a fun science project! Thanks for the continued inspiration, Leila!
mamabearjd says
I already commented, so I hope this doesn't make me a comment hog! I wanted to share what this did for my family yesterday. Working on kitchen flow led to a good clearing off of my desk – which required me to steal a power strip from my bedroom and reorganize my husband's bedside table (it was actually clean but a mess of electronic charging wires). Daddy came home to clutter free kitchen, living room and bedroom yesterday – and everyone was proud/happy/relaxed. I always have a reasonably clean kitchen but I think I've made some good changes to manage the school clutter that comes in that door. Next week will be the true test – that crazy week before Christmas where school papers seem to multiply like dust bunnies!
_Leila says
We love all comments 🙂
Nicely done! Yes, you need your game on for Christmas, no question about it!
Cate says
Boy do I need this!! I can't wait to read the other entries…
Thanks, Leila!
Jenn says
Thank you for hosting this “party.” I enjoy your blog very much. I appreciate the time you take to help others.
Jenn
Becky says
You've inspired me to clean the blinds on the window behind my sink. That would help tremendously. Thanks!
Also, I thought of your family when I read this. What do you think? I don't like the idea of these chemical companies messing with seeds w/pesticides and their genetics. Doesn't sound like there is too much “we” can do about it though. http://www.alternet.org/story/149150/leaked_memo_…
_Leila says
Becky, I'll ask the Chief what he thinks…he reads up on all this stuff!
A Homemaker's Heart says
Becky, I'll ask the Chief what he thinks…he reads up on all this stuff!
aviendha1979 says
I'm late to this little party, but here's my entry: https://thekhouriyehsaidwhat.wordpress.com/2010/1… 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement!
_Leila says
Hi and welcome~! I tried several times to link you up to the party up there, but for whatever reason it's not working. But thanks for joining!
Barbara says
That was quite a party you hosted, Leila. I hope that you don't have a hangover. 😉 You inspired lots of sink cleaning! Yeah for you! Like I said about Ginny's Yarn Along, “By George, if we can blog about it, we'll do it!”
_Leila says
I'm all tuckered out! I don't have a hangover but I need a drink! All that cleaning! 🙂
Barbara says
That's a cleaning hangover — cured with a stiff Bloody Mary!
Matushka Anna says
This was fun! Sometimes you just need a little kick to get you going. And I didn't expect you to visit all of our blogs, Leila! Thank you for your thoughtfulness! (I'm the dead flower lady)
Cary says
Thank you for this! I hadn't given my sink a good scrubbing in too long….letting my daughter take charge of her chore. How it did me some good to clean it and all around it and to even put some pretties on my windowsill. I have always thought it to be too small to much on there, or anything at all, but I see others on the linky party that have small sills, too. I must say, it just made me feel so good. I like clean and orderly………and pretty.
Ryane says
Loving this!! I am sure it was hard work organizing this, but please do more!! You are a wonderful mentor for us young, homeschooling moms of many.
Thanks!!
lena says
thanks for the prompting, leila. i was following and participating but missed the deadline to link. here is my post http://joyfilledfamily.blogspot.com/2010/12/one-s…
prayers for a JOYfilled Advent and Christmas.
pax Christi – lena
Jessica says
What a cute idea for a link party. My sink area doesn't really have this now. It looks out into the living room. My Mom's sink has the little ledge like yours, complete with saints etc. 🙂
jamiemgottlieb says
Thanks! Because of your encouragement I moved my trashcan and recycling can to experiment with flow, hung a few hooks for hanging frequently used things, wiped and cleared my windowsill (which in turn made me clean the light above sink…ewwww), and then these changes gave me a few shelves to relocate so they are in the laundry area now! Also started working with my toddler on clearing his own place. 🙂 Thanks for these challenges.
Donna says
What incentive to get my sink cleaned up! Thanks Leila!
http://whatifgodsaysno.blogspot.com/2010/12/every…
Krista says
Just want to say thanks. Found you the other night through some off-the-cuff blog hopping and wow. The encouragement I get from what you have to say about having a reasonably clean house – it's the best stuff I've ever read on the subject. I need to “man up” and accept my duties. I can't be a stay at home mom and not work. I need to, have to, work every day. It's what women who have clean, happy homes *do*. So thank you. Each morning has started off with my one hour session while my one year old plays (his best by-himself play time of the day). Day one was just getting acquainted with the task. Today though, I worked around the living room in a circle. Once to dust and pick up, the other to vacuum. All while my son kept to himself! I was amazed!! The dishes are washing, the laundry is going, and ALL BEFORE TEN!!!! I feel more liberated and empowered than ever before. I am sharing your blog with everyone I can on Facebook. Keep up the life-changing work, ladies. It is so desperately needed.
jenletts says
Rereading your posts inspired me this week to take a good long look at my kitchen. I really do love it so! Thanks for the inspiration…
Laura says
I loved this idea, and really needed it too! I hate doing the dishes, but, of course, I always feel better when they're done. I'd love to make that time prayerful time. I posted my pics on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75328627@N00/5472862…