The first day of the spring at the Smith house did not evolve into the day I had envisioned all week. To usher in my favorite season I had planned a trip to Higgins Beach. However we wound up comemmorating the day performing a spring cleaning marathon.

My first inkling that the day would not be a 'day at the beach' occurred when my husband woke up, went to our 12-year-old son’s room and removed the mattress from his bed. Oh my!!! So that's the black hole into which all of our underwear, socks, hats gloves, miscellaneous shoes and things we had been searching for since last summer had fallen. Added to the assorted mix were plastic wrappers and leftover bits of food and...well, it was as good a day as any to clean up.

Isn't there always a reason not to clean? Three kids, a husband who travels for work, my job, dog walks…“Hi, my name is Nancy and I am domestically challenged.”

I did allow myself to observe the occasion though with one blissful half-cup of coffee in front of my home - my own private spot in Maine where signs of spring abound. I sat barefoot on the porch soaking up the spring sun and listening to the birds and the snow melt (really!). Within view were my budding tulips, daffodils, seedlings, geraniums and emerging green grass beneath the overhang of the house's southern side. Of course it wasn’t long before the 'cleaning crew' came looking for me and my getaway was foiled...but it was nice while it lasted.

See!

But the dog had the best plan of all and spent the entire day napping on her dog bed!