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Show By Janet Wallis )t& Mid-February mania There still exist, I am told, women who do not feel fulfilled unless they accomplish ac-complish a major project every February. A remodeling bonanza. A quilting marathon. A family historical regalia. They seem overcome by a sadistic desire to have a jump on spring. A worthwhile and forthright mania. But I find February is a perfect handy-dandy handy-dandy month to clean out a few drawers. Besides it's too short to do anything else. So, out comes "Confessions of an Organized Housewife." Denice starts every project with "Make a schedule." That's easy. February schedule A. Straighten drawers: (I'd better list the types of drawers which need straightening. Denice likes specifics.) 1. All varieties. Or have you noticed, on February first every drawer in the house is a jumble. 2. Supplies needed to accomplish the job. a. An unplugged telephone (drawer cleaners cannot be disturbed.) b. A comfortable spot at least six feet square. c. Three large empty grocery sacks. 3. Begin! The month is half over all ready! However, never start on a day when you are experiencing any type of stress. Drawer cleaning takes a clear head, a firm hand and a strong will. Afterall, it involves making earth shaking decisions. "Should I or should I not keep Aunt Sephronia's letters?" "Why did I tear out this yellowed newspaper clipping?" "Why is the egg slicer stored in the same corner as the elastic bands?" "Here's that recipe I was searching for last month. What did I want it for?" These decisions result in three piles of junk. (That's what the three sacks are for.) In the first sack put the junk to throw away. In the second put the junk which should be stored somewhere else. In the third put the junk to place back in the drawer. Drawer cleaning can occupy the whole short month of February, if done correctly. There are a few indispensible rules: 1. Thoroughly examine each item to ascertain if it has filled its potential. 2. Test every piece of drawered paraphernalia, which passes number one, for workability. If it's ancient, useless or broken consider number three. 3. What is its memorabilia value. 4. Reminisce about each item still marked for discard. While totally inundated last week in this fascinating task, I almost threw away a clipping given to me a year ago. It was sandwiched in between a recipe for chocolate mousse and a discolored dishcloth way in the back of my utensil drawer. Across the top was written in purple crayon: "Read this when you have time." I didn't have time. I read it anyway. It contained some astute ideas about housekeeping. And when I came to "Drawers need never become a jumbled mess if you refuse to allow it. Keep them clean and organized on a day to day basis." I read no further, I dropped it into sack one. Now, if you are a firm believer in the above policy, I'm proud of you and so is everyone else. But I prefer my February ritual. I would sorely miss the super-duper high I feel when once a year every drawer in my home is neat and organized. Guess I'm not so different from those other February "major project" gals. - My February mania is to clean drawers. - I like the rewards. |