A LONG DAY WITH SPONGE, MOP, VACUUM, SCREWDRIVER, DRILL AND VELCRO

As anticipated, all the renovation work on Scoopy was done when we arrived Friday afternoon.  Jerry showed us how the new toys work, and we talked about the various things that had been done.  Then, we paid the bill, which was just what we had been expecting.  Now OUR work began! 

Living Room at 11 am; an explosion of activity!	Living Room at 4 pm; note the windshield wrap.

We had three goals on Saturday:

- pick up and install the cleaned, repaired windshield wrap (the curtains that wrap around the cockpit);

- attack and clean all the hard-to-reach dusty corners and under-sink areas (not to mention normal scrubbing, dusting and vacuuming);

- return to their rightful places all the things that had been moved from the drawers and cabinets in the slides, clearing the spaces that will be occupied by those many items we moved into the loft.

Bedroom at 11 am on Saturday	Bedroom at 4 pm on Saturday

Odel got right to work on installing the windshield wrap.  With sun pouring in the windshield (new glass!), the temperature was rising rapidly.  While he sweated away in the sunshine, I got to work with the vacuum and dust cloth.  Every dusty corner was on my hit list, along with the bedroom’s fabric covered valances and padded headboard.  I sucked a tablespoon of accumulated grit out of the laundry hamper; even vacuumed the kitchen cabinets and drawers!

We took at break for lunch at 1 pm, heading to the Ace Hardware to pick up a few things Odel needed to finish his job.  We got lunch to go, then headed back.  Munch, munch, glug, glug - then we were back to the grindstone, Odel to attach new Velcro to the edges of the windshield wrap, me to break out the sponge and hot water.

Under the kitchen sink – like new!!	The kitchen at 4 pm on Saturday

Above, left: my fondest accomplishment of the day.  This little under-sink nook – the storage spot for dishpan, rags, sponges, a fire extinguisher, and miscellaneous cleansers and polishers - was a only a couple weeks from full-blown plague.  The mice we’d attracted in Yellowstone had been remodeling it into a cozy home before they were vanquished.  I found poop, a half-built nest of chewed rags, food scraps… and look at it now.  If I hadn’t spilled the secret, you’d think my housekeeping was to be emulated, huh?  :)

While Odel took a short trip to Kmart, I scrubbed the tile floor of the kitchen, watched it dry (takes every bit of 60 seconds here in Phoenix’s negative humidity), and laid out my new “Imprint Anti-Fatigue Comfort Mat”.  Oh, man – what a treat that is!  Thick, cushy… no more aching feet, knees and back from standing on the hard tile. 

More cleaning, more polishing.  By 3 pm, we were two tired puppies.  We played with the new TV for awhile, hauled trash out – I’d become RELENTLESS in eliminating things we no longer use – and took empty boxes and bags to the Jeep to be refilled with items in the loft.  Then it was time for the glamour shots. 

Scoopy will never look this clutter free again – we’re returning on Sunday with computers, files, note pads, kitchen appliances and a variety of additional indispensible items that sit in easy-to-reach spots when we are in residence.  We’ll spend the night in Scoopy tomorrow, then drive back to the loft on Monday to load our clothes, food, and kitchen equipment. 

Though I enjoyed the once-every-eight-years deep cleaning we did today, I’m glad that tomorrow will involve less effort and more relaxation.  Best of all, we’ll be sleeping in our own bed.  :)