Washing the Windows and Catching Up on Chores

This week I finally washed all the windows. It had been on my list since early spring, and the warmer weather made it feel like the right time to get it done. Ren helped with the screens while I handled the glass and sills. We used a simple mix of vinegar and water, which works better than the commercial stuff I tried last year. The sharp tang of the vinegar hit as soon as I poured it into the bucket, mixing with the faint scent of the old wooden frames that always smells a little like dust and sun-warmed paint. Ren grumbled good-naturedly about the screens being heavier than they looked, and we ended up laughing when one of them slipped and clattered against the porch railing before he caught it.

I started on the ground floor and worked my way around. The front ones face the street, so those got the most attention. A couple of them had streaks from the rain we had last month. I noticed little bits of pollen stuck in the corners where the water had pooled, and the cloth made a soft squeak each time I dragged it across the glass. The side windows were easier once I moved the plant stand out of the way. One of the sills needed a quick sanding because the paint had started to chip near the corner. The fine white dust from the sandpaper drifted down onto the floorboards, and I had to pause to sweep it up before it got tracked inside on our shoes.

After the first floor, I took a break and made lunch. Nothing fancy, just a sandwich with some leftover chicken and the skyberry preserves I picked up last weekend. They add a nice brightness without being too sweet. The bread was still a little warm from the toaster, and the preserves caught the light in little ruby glints as I spread them on. I ate standing at the counter and looked over the rest of the day’s list, listening to the neighbor’s dog barking at something down the block. A breeze came through the open door and lifted the corner of the paper where I’d jotted my notes.

In the afternoon I moved to the upstairs windows. Those always take longer because of the angles. I had to climb on the step stool for the higher panes, and the stool wobbled just enough on the uneven floorboards that I kept one hand braced against the wall. Ren came up later with the vacuum to get the dust that had settled on the frames. We opened a couple of them to let some air through while we worked. The air outside carried the smell of cut grass from someone’s mower, and a few stray petals from the neighbor’s flowering tree drifted in and landed on the sill.

The back bedroom window was the trickiest. The latch sticks sometimes, and it took a few tries to get it open all the way. Once it was done, the whole room felt lighter. I wiped down the trim and put the curtains back up. They are the ones we got at the sale last fall, and they still look good. The fabric was cool and slightly stiff from being folded in the closet, and when I shook them out a tiny moth flew out and circled the ceiling before disappearing into the hallway.

By evening most of the windows were finished. I still have the small ones in the bathroom and laundry room to do, but those can wait until tomorrow. We ordered takeout and ate on the back steps. The light stays later now, so it was nice to sit outside for a while. The paper cartons left faint grease marks on the wooden steps, and we passed the containers back and forth while watching the sky shift from gold to soft gray. A few mosquitoes showed up near the end, so we waved them off with our napkins and finished the last of the noodles before heading inside.

Tomorrow I might run over to Willow Bend for a couple of things we need. Nothing major, just some lightbulbs and maybe a new doormat. The one by the kitchen door is starting to fray at the edge. It should be a quick trip if I go in the morning before it gets busy. I also need to return a few library books that have been sitting on the table. One of them had a recipe section I marked but never got around to trying. Maybe next week when things settle down a bit. The pages had started to curl at the corners from being left open too long, and I stacked them neatly by the door so I wouldn’t forget.