Washing windows and baking cakes

Good as our word, we took the day off from decorating today.  Instead I got back to some basics  - I washed some of the outside windows.  One of the reasons we opted for a single-storey property was that we would be able to maintain it ourselves, or certainly for a good number of years.  I was able to reach the windows easily using the small step-ladder and with a bucket of water and a squirt of laundry liquid, I was perfectly happy in my cleaning.  Using the 'damp cloth, dry cloth' method, the glass is now sparkling and I feel the hour or so was put to very good use.

We then spent some time sorting out the lounge in preparation for our guest this week.  It was satisfying to arrange the table and chairs (rescued at last from the garage) ready for a meal.  When I begin painting the lounge walls the furniture will have to be covered with dust sheets and moved around again, but for the moment the room looks lived-in.

No carpet and bare walls, but we do have a table and chairs

This afternoon, having put the moment off for far too long, I finally did some baking in the new oven.  With a fan to evenly distribute the heat it can bake a whole oven-full at the same time and nothing gets burned.  And with a glass door, I can see how the cakes are progressing.  Oh the joys of simple pleasures!  A batch of rock cakes and a batch of fairy cakes, perfectly baked at the same time.  We had a mini-invasion of children and grand-children in the evening, so a good chance to get some professional cake-sampling done!

Washing on the line, a to-do list gradually being worked through, cleaning and baking - it was a good day.  I needed this day.  Tomorrow I shall paint again.