Spring Cleaning for the Mountain Home
When you live in a Mountain Home spring cleaning looks somewhat different than if you live in a suburb.
Every year I’m shocked at the range of tasks we need to accomplish during the spring. We love the possibility for new growth, and the joy warmer days can bring.
In our Mountain Home the spring cleaning tasks look a little something like this:
Spring Cleaning Means-Change the Clocks, Dust the High Spots.
It’s no secret that Pine Daisy House had me at “hello” and a vaulted ceiling with a beam (sorry not pictured, ha!) certainly helped seal the deal. But OH THE DUST! Here’s what we do, every time the clocks change, we get out the ladder and the extra long-handled duster and set to work. Skylights, spot lights, ceiling fans, on top of cabinets, and even the tippy tops of our wall decor get some much-needed love. No rhyme or reason here just some good old-fashioned elbow grease, a few able-bodied helpers, and the vacuum on stand-by.
Spring Cleaning Means-Yard Maintenance, i.e. Fire Prevention (keeping it real Colorado)
This year we did not get our typical nine feet of snow. In fact snow pack is down all over the state. So that means, fire prevention and clean up efforts are under way. We have been using the wheel barrel and filling loads with downed branches, twigs and pine cones since February. Every warm chance we get, we fill a load. Spring cleaning for us literally looks like spring clearing. Wildfires are no joke and we plan to expend some energy this season making sure we keep our property safe. Soon, we plan to start raking the pine duff (so ALLLL the pine needles). The kids and I make a game out of it and start our trash bag count each year to keep things interesting. The number to beat, 41!!!
Spring Cleaning Means-Everybody Does it…Spring Clothes Transfer
I have gone round and round…to build a capsule wardrobe, or not to…hmmm. Erin at CottonStem does a great job outlining how to do so and I feel like I’m almost ready.
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of essential clothing items you wear throughout one season. It’s a small wardrobe of styled pieces that you absolutely love. Ideally everything coordinates together and you are never at a loss for what to wear.
I have a challenging issue though. I need to have three seasons worth of clothes closeted and ready at all times. Like I said, I’m almost ready just gotta think through Colorado wardrobe needs. So, while spring clothes transfer is a long work in progress around here, it’s something I make sure to save time for. I lump this idea in the spring cleaning section of my brain because it is very seasonal and can sometimes feel like a chore. Another biggee, which every mom knows, you gotta inventory the kids spring/summer clothes situation. And when your teenager grows close to a foot in a year, you gotta get your mind right cuz your son needs pretty much everything. Let’s see a raise of hands, who enjoy going clothes shopping with your teenage son? Yep, good times.
Spring Cleaning Means-Away Go the Sleds, and Skis, Out Come the Mountain Bikes
Who am I kidding, we were busy, no skiing this year. But OH DID WE SLED, on each of our three snow days. Nevertheless, the snow clothes get put away and the mountain bikes are
pulled out. We tune’em up, make sure helmets still fit, and the bike rack goes on the truck. Mr. PDH recreationally races and knows how to do basic mountain bike maintenance so that saves us some moolah each year. Plus, you tube is awesome, so there’s that too. This task usually lands on his spring cleaning list, but it’s an annual occurrence nonetheless. Our kids love mountain biking, and we go as much as possible in the summer. There is a trail near our house that is easy enough for the kids. They track their progress on walk spots, technical passes, and stamina as the summer continues which is always fun for them.
Spring Cleaning Means- Restock Spring Home Maintenance Essentials
During the school year we make the conscious decision to limit our house projects. We just do simple maintenance, painting, or home decorating. Since I teach full-time, I intentionally make sure I’m not overextending myself. Well, friends, when summer arrives the clock starts! If you’re a teacher you know exactly what I’m talking about. In order to maximize summer project time, I spend the spring stocking up on house project and yard work essentials. I buy contractor sized trash bags, at least three extra bags of garden soil or mulch, I check the status of our work gloves and make sure our garden tools are all in working order. There is nothing more frustrating than being in the zone with chores, and you run out of trash bags or mulch. Our summer project list seems super human in May but we just chip away at it and are always amazed at what we accomplish. To do lists for the win!
Much of what we do during spring cleaning is in preparation for the 11ish weeks of summer potential. The longer we live in our little slice of forest the more I realize; we plan, hope and dream in time with the seasons. The steady predictability April brings is something that helps reset my mind and heart each year. The longer days, the warmer sun, and the sprigs of green are filled with so much possibility!
