Well, I guess it's time to get cracking on the cleanup!

We've invited my mom out for Thanksgiving with the McB's, and happily, she has accepted, but now it means we've got to actually whip the house into shape to receive anyone but us! Oh, don't get me wrong: I come by my slobbitude naturally, and it's not like Mom's rolling through here with white gloves on or anything even vaguely resembling a critical eye about housekeeping, but we're dangerously near the point where we should just apply for FEMA aid.

The issue, at base, is that we have too much stuff and I have too many hobbies (the pic above is just one example of the clutter: rolling dresser full of card/stationery-making materials, topped by fabric and needlepoint; the knitting boxes are below). Oh, and we have a shedload more books than any family of two really ought to have, although in fairness we have read them all -- or are planning to (sorry, Harry Potter, it's not that I've gone off you, but I've turned to more mature literature. I promise I'll be back), one of these days.I think I just need to put together a comprehensive list of small, discrete tasks and tackle them one hour at a time, with frequent breaks. That works, right? I mean, it's the premise of the Fly Lady that you can do anything if you manage your time properly! Maybe I should just have a nervous breakdown so we'll have more important things to focus on, like my fragile mental health!