Bit by Bit
Bit by bit is our playbook these days. Do what you can, when you can, and call it a day.
I have for some time now kept the picnic basket on the top of the fridge. When I removed it for a photo op (see Saturday's final photo), I liked it ever so much better without it. (I think it has something to do with the fact that my inspiration photo had very high ceilings; mine are very low.) Today, I'll have to come up with something for the top of the fridge. My mother decorated hers with potato chip bags or bread loaves. My sister keeps extra bowls on hers. (I might do that.) What's on the top of your fridge?
John is all mine for the day. The list lengthens. I've added pruning lilac bushes and the spruce tree to the list and it was already long. He has his own ideas, of course.
This reminded me of a story my boss once told me about hiring a cleaning crew to tidy the small campus where I worked every evening after my regular job. The husband and wife team had to do the usual things...bathrooms, vacuuming, mopping. In addition, they used toothbrushes to clean the beautiful moldings in the main library. My boss caught them at it late one night when she returned to her office. When asked, they said that they never left the campus before their designated time and spent those last few minutes cleaning the molding. They showed her with some delight how they had been able to do nearly all of it bit by bit — it glowed. It was so much improved. The point my boss wished to make was that one has to allow a person to make a job his/her own. True. And the other point is that a lot can be done a little at a time.
Personally, I miss the days when I had a cleaning crew of my own. Hope that all you parents of children still in the home take advantage of training them to master chores. I loved the days when I assigned mine meal preparation (from about age 12 until they left home). My son really enjoyed it and remains an excellent cook and does much of the meal preparation even now.
These are the bars I made to send with John on Saturday. He was a most enthusiastic taste tester. He was so enthusiastic that I had to tone him down a bit... LOL!
Pinners, don't pin the bars from here, you'll find the recipe at Stephanie's right *here.*
Am I first!? Oh joy! There's dust on top of my frig. I didn't know I was suppose to decorate it. Just keep it clean.
ReplyDeleteThe sweet's look tempting. Wish I could still have sugar.
Luv ~:)
Those snickerdoodle thingamys look delicious. Hello. I am on my umpteenth return from the outside and this time, I actually have a computer. On top of my fridge is a toasted sandwich maker and the biscuits. Cookies. In packets. The ones I use for baking unless I am starving in which case, they are the ones I eat. From Lidl. Maybe I should tidy the top of my fridge now,,,,,
ReplyDeleteAs Sparky says, mostly dust on my frig too! We sure know about doing a little at a time. We tire easily these days. The extra steps made while moving and the unpacking of boxes made me so sore. I keep reminding myself that I'll have all winter to do these chores!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice Monday.
Good morning! My fridge fits into a little enclosed area right now so there is room for nothing on top of it. It still bugs me. I've always kept a variety of things on top of mine. My middle son and the youngest and Mel all ended up loving to cook, and continue to do so to this day. My oldest HATED it and still does, lol. But if he HAD to, he is fully trained. All of my boys can clean anything in the house well too, and do a good job of it too. Their wives appreciate it trust me, lol. Laundry is on their lists of jobs well done too. I never saw a reason that they shouldn't be able to do it all. The bars look delish...Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteOne of the things about being short is not being able to see all of that nastiness on top of the fridge...and it is one of those places that tend to ignore, forgetting the fact that everyone isn't short and they can see it! I also tend to keep a bag or two of chips on top, along with the dust! The older I get, I am learning to do things bit by bit...it seems when I take on large task, it takes me days to recover!
ReplyDeleteYum, the snickerdoodle bars look wonderful! The new kitchen should have dust-free places I can't see:-D I put the cabinets to the ceiling and built in the refrigerator! My list is a mile long too, so I better get to it, XOXO
ReplyDeleteI pinned that recipe for later. It is the kind I like when people come over.
ReplyDeleteMr. & Mrs. C. move into their new-to-them home this next weekend. I need to bake something for the workers but quick to grab cookies would be better then. ;)
The top of my frig has a vintage cake server along with some other vintagey items. Except the rooster peeking his head from the back over all of it. He is on a tall stick so he feels quite superior to the rest of the crew.
Did John know you had a list when he agreed to the whole day?? ;-) What's on my refrig, besides a healthy layer of dust, would be a back scratcher and a first aid kit. Very exciting, I know.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a fun and productive today. I'm trying to decide where to start (cleaning and sorting, that is).
John tossed in so many of his own projects that I feel fine with my little ole list. ☺
DeleteJohn is so funny (smiles). I have 2 cloth totes on top of the fridge that holds foil, napkins, parchement paper, saran wrap, sandwiche bags. Space is a limited thing in this kitchen. Blessings
ReplyDeleteOn top of my fridge is a tea tray and a couple of pitchers. The picnic basket sounds like a good fridge topper (do you also use if for storage?), but sometimes you just need a change. When you move something, you tend to see it with new eyes.
ReplyDeleteI love the story you told and both of the points it illustrated. "Bit by bit" is a great way to get things done. It is how I teach, clean house, organize, etc.
Indeed I do utilize my crew! We often work together on tasks, although we each have individual responsibilities too. It will be quite an adjustment for me when the day comes that I am on my own. After all, I have had a crew for thirty-some years now...and I am thinking that I have another ten or so to go.
I keep my collection of too many smallish wicker baskets up there, though Andy has added boxes of cereal to enhance the effect. I believe the warmth from the fridge top is supposed to keep bread products from going stale. I love your story of the toothbrush and the molding. I feel as if the point is to care about what one is doing.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing on top of my fridge. There are cabinets above the fridge, but they sit back a little and there is nothing in the cabinets, so I could decorate up there. But then I think that would be just one more place to dust, lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's very true about letting a person own their job..wish more bosses would respect that. The bars look scrumptious- I'm off to see the recipe.
ReplyDeleteTop to bottom or bottom to top? I always struggle with wanting to respond to the last thing first. That pan of sweetness looks real good. I was real bad at giving my kids chores, thankfully they can cook and take care of themselves despite my lack of direction there. Right now Dear has so much on his own lists I don't dare add anything to them. I have a cupboard at the top of my fridge so the hardest thing is removing the dust since it's a small crack between the cupboard the the fridge so the dust is stored nicely there. Have a great Monday, Vee. Glad you have your honey to do some things today. I'm headed out to mow the weeds before the rains come tonight!
ReplyDeleteI have a cabinet on the top of my fridge so all the stuff I store is invisible :>) You prune your lilacs? I never have, didn't know they needed it!
ReplyDeleteI miss my "cleaners" too. In many ways. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a cabinet above my fridge, so I only keep a fly swatter on top of the fridge. Nothing else will fit.
It's probably a good thing. I'm too short to see on top of the fridge but my husband is not. Once he asked me why I kept such a clean house but never dusted on top of the fridge. Hmmm. I never saw it so I never even thought of it! LOL!
Besides the layer of dust on top of my fridge, there's a box of tissues and a wire basket that I use for gathering in my garden. In the basket just now is Tim's insulated lunch bag which he didn't need today because he has a meeting that includes lunch.
ReplyDeleteLoved the little by little story. That's the way to get things done, one toothbrushing at a time.
He sure looks happy with his treats! He's worked so hard lately...and has more to do, sounds like. I have baskets on top of my fridge but I haven't changed things up in awhile..it's TIME! lol Enjoy your day! Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteI only have a little planter on top of mine at the moment, besides the usual dust and whatever BG puts there as it's close to the garage door. I might find a screwdriver, a pair of sunglasses, pens, who knows what up there.
ReplyDeleteThe snickerdoodles look yummy. I'm off to check out the recipe! Have a nice day and don't work John too hard.
Oh yes, I'm with the "bit by bit" movement too :) It's frustrating since I have so much to do right now and my husband is really busy at work and he can't help that much. So I do what I can when I can.
ReplyDeleteOn top of my fridge are cabinets that hold things I don't need often (as I'm 5'4" and have to get a step stool to access it).
The snickerdoodle treats look very yummy and John looks really really happy with his!
I have a cabinet above my refrigerator that I just love. It is as deep as my refrigerator and holds platters and plates, dishes that have no other place.
ReplyDeleteI loved your story and thought on the weekend how I can start assigning some chores to the littles when they come over. We were in the garden and my little blond girl had a fist full of weeds before I knew it. =)
Enjoy your John day. I'm glad you keep him so happy!
We share the most intimate things on your blog. :-)
ReplyDeleteOn top of my fridge is a box of tissues, the watering can for my plants, liquid fertilizer, and dust.
I've never used the top of the fridge for displaying things, but suppose I could.
We've had great weather in Dublin so far but my feet are starting to complain about all the walking.
Vee
ReplyDeleteYour Snickerdoodle recipe is timely for me. It is my sons favorite cookie and I will be visiting him this weekend, so I want to try this new version.
I like your bit by bit philosophy!
It sounds very practical to me.
Since I only have a two inch space between my frig and the upper cabinet I only have space for a narrow box of Kleenexes. It's not very attractive, but serves a purpose!
I currently have a built in refrigerator, but my grandmother, great aunts, my mom and I have always had live cats lounging atop our refrigerators. My great aunt has a small cabinet above her fridge which held liquor. Her Siamese Jato (short for Jet Assist Take Off) would snooze up there and take a wicked swipe at anyone who reach up. The cat was their designated "Guardian of the Liquor Cabinet".
ReplyDeleteAt least with a cat up there the dust doesn't build up. 😀
They look YUMMY ! That's what I have always said about getting things done bit by bit !Thanks for sharing , Have a good day 1
ReplyDeleteI like the tray on your fridge. Our fridge has a cupboard over it so there is about 3 inches of space between where I keep a bright yellow plastic tray with a box of tissues sitting in it. Very handy for both I might add. The tray gets lots of use in the summer for meals on the deck and the tissues get used a lot. Also, I keep the fly swatter up there next to the tray. Out of sight. :) The snicker doodle bars sound very good. Love the picture of John. :=) Enjoy the day.
ReplyDeleteBit I bit...a good way to tackle things. But I never do it that way, it seems. It's all or nothing over here. Mostly nothing! I am on my way out to do some of those pruning, weeding, and cleaning jobs that I have no one else to assign to.
ReplyDeleteOn top of my fridge? There is no room...but my fly swatter slides into the space quite nicely! (And the dust seems to find its way in as well!)
Hi Vee, There's nothing on top of my frig - except for dust! I like your title. It's so true that while we see the big picture of what needs done, the job(s) are too numerous or time consuming to complete in a day. So bit by bit it is.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Beth
The top of my Fridge has dust on it!
ReplyDeleteOut of sight out of mind. I'm short and never could see up there.
I guess I'll be dusting up there tonight now that I am reminded.
I have a built-in cabinet above my refrigerator. Storage! John looks like he took too much medication, if you know what I mean. Ha! I agree about the bit by bit part. It's how I roll these days. Wish I could delegate on the honey-do list. So treasure that man of yours, whether he gets everything done you put on his list or not!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Oh, yes, he is treasured!
DeleteMy fridge is in a built-in area with a cabinet above, leaving no room for anything BUT dust on top. :)
ReplyDeleteIn our olden state, Mr. Sweet and I do EVERYthing "a little at a time".
We always take "time out" for a nice, resting nap.
My mother taught me that when I had a job to do for someone else, if I ran out of things to do, LOOK for something else.
We all know that there is ALWAYS something else to do.:)
Your bars look sooo good.
What is on top of my frig? I keep a big basket that holds smaller baskets --I use baskets to hold fruit on my counter. There is also a large shallow bowl that holds my round outdoor placements.
ReplyDeleteYour snickerdoodles look yummy, Vee!
I like an empty frig top but partly because I have cabinets there. So I keep a low basket with our cloth napkins.. Oh yes and dust of course. Then I an get to the cabinets without having to empty the top first. It's bad enough to go get a ladder.
ReplyDeleteThe top of my refrigerator holds two round pizza stones and pizza peel. You can see them way up there.
ReplyDeleteI was not good about delegating household jobs and did them all myself. I never liked how others did them.
I keep pretty baskets that can be used, on top of my fridge, Vee. Those snickerdoodle bars are wonderful, aren't they? John looks pretty happy!
ReplyDeleteThey were! Not as pretty as yours and Stephanie's, though.
DeleteYou make me smile, and those bars make me drool. A drooling smile - well, that doesn't sound very pretty does it - LOL! Anyway, let's forget about that. On top of my fridge are the 3 plastic plates I use to feed my 3 cats their 3:00 pm "meat treat". There is a cupboard right above the fridge so not really much room to put anything up there. Probably lots of dust behind the plates. I'm not going to look anytime soon however.
ReplyDeleteYes, I miss my helpers. I never vacuumed or dusted or mopped or cleaned the baths. those were the days!! My fridge is right under cabinets thankfully!
ReplyDeleteSince we downsized, I decorate like your mother did. Love John's smile! Those bars look yummy.
ReplyDeleteMy fridge in MA slides in and has a cabinet over it, so thankfully I can't put anything on it! My fridge in OOB . . . booze, coffee, coffee grinder, pitchers, tray, wine rack with wine & dust!
ReplyDeleteHey thanks for stopping by today! Oh, I answered your vinegar question too!
I often don't keep anything on the top of the fridge. I like it to see as it is!
ReplyDeleteLook at John's face eating your Snickerdoodle bars, oh my that is sheer BLISS!
ReplyDeleteGood point about chores - and a GREAT story about the "little by little." Sound and true, thanks Vee.
You have such a storytelling gift.
PS
ReplyDeleteNothing on top of my fridge. Well, grimy dirty dust, I am fairly certain, though.
I like yours how you have it. Neat vignette!
I've got cupboards above my fridge that holds all the stuff I never use. Which means it should be cleaned out but I have to get a ladder and well, I just never think of it. :) On top of the fridge is a metal basket with Perrier water and a box of tissues. Guess I have some work to do.
ReplyDeleteLoved the image of your Mum's fridge top - chip and bread bags. Reminded me that my Gram had those things stored in her dryer - which was in the kitchen. Our boys always got a kick out of it!
ReplyDeleteI have a cookie Jar that I never use and a basket with gift certificates that we've been given.
I love your new look!
Leann