Zig Ziglar once said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily”. Don’t you just love that? That’s so very true, Zig!

Today is Day Three of my journey as an Empty Nester and so I decided that it was time to wash my kitchen cabinets, all the woodwork in the kitchen, drawers and give my pantry a good thorough cleaning! I don’t know about you, but my spice drawer, island cabinets and my pantry always need organizing, reorganizing and then reorganizing again. I don’t mind because I feel very productive when I have things in order and certainly blessed to have a full pantry.

I began cleaning my kitchen at 10:00 this morning and I finished as Mike came home! : ) I made a quick and easy Chicken Fried Rice, which Mike just loves!

We also had a cup of Greek yogurt with grapes, strawberries, raspberries and a few dried cranberries – very good! I got the idea to add the Craisins to our yogurt because while in Charleston we had a quick bite at Jake’s. I got a cup of yogurt with fruit. They added a few dried cranberries and it made such a difference!

Anyway, I talked to my mom early this morning (she was, by the way, deep cleaning, too) the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I stopped at 12:30 to make myself lunch (a Chicken Feta Sausage and Pepper Omelet), and I sat with Isabel for a few minutes. Isabel decided to sleep on our back porch most of the afternoon. The weather here today was especially nice particularly in the shade of our one hundred-year-old willow oak tree.

My Cat’s Meow collection found above many of our doorways was quite dusty and in need of some attention. That’s not something I do every week, okay every month, but seasonally. I love my Cat’s Meow collection and many of them represent places our family has lived, traveled to or would like to visit. Because we love history many of my pieces have historical references. For many years my three guys (hubby and both sons) would add to my collection and my mom and dad once sent me a box full of Cat’s Meow pieces that represented my hometown of Fall River, Massachusetts. That set is in our den upstairs. In our kitchen I have a collection that my husband Mike bought for me many years ago. It is actually my favorite set. Each house represents some of America’s most famous women.

houses from left to right:

Lillian Gish Home in Massilion, Ohio
Lillian was a famous Stage, motion picture and television actress

Abigail Adams Birthplace in Weymouth, Massachusetts
Abigail first emancipated woman in American history

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Home in Hyde Park, NY
One of the country’s most active first ladies and one of America’s great reforming leaders
We actually lived in Poughkeepsie, NY and would often frequent this home

Barbara Fritchie House in Frederick, Maryland
Legend has it that 95-year-old, Barbara, waved her Union flag from the top window of her home as Stonewall Jackson and his troops marched through Frederick in 1862. Jackson ordered his men to fire but she continued to wave the flag. No one really knows if Jackson really came to her town, but Fritchie was well known for her intense loyalty to the Union. She was assured everlasting fame when John Greenleaf Whittier penned a sixty-line poem entitled “Barbara Fritchie.”

The Quilter’s Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana
The Quilter’s Hall of Fame honors well-known quilt designer, Marie Webster. I enjoy quilting. Below is a picture of a wall quilt that hangs in between our kitchen and Keeping Room. I made this quilt after our house fire in 2000. Because we lost everything in that fire, I wanted my boys to have some handmade pieces. This is one of many quilts hanging in our home. At that time I also enjoyed needle point and have some pieces made for their future families as well. My eyes do not allow me to concentrate so much on my needlepoint and so we just enjoy the pieces I made back then.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton House
Elizabeth was one of the most important leaders in the women’s movement. In 1847, she moved into this house with her husband and three boys. Her philosophy was based largely on her experiences during her 15-year stay at home in Seneca Falls. 1998 marked the 150th anniversary of Stanton’s first organized women’s rights convention.

Mary McLeod Bethune
Mary rose from humble beginnings to prominence as an advocate for young people and for the rights of African-American women. She also served as an adviser to President Roosevelt.

Amelia Earheart’s Birthplace in Atchinson, KS
Famed flyer Amelia lived her early years in this house high on the Missouri River bluffs.

I love my Cat’s Meow collection. As I dusted each little house above each doorway in the kitchen and Keeping Room, I began remembering certain occasions, birthdays, Mother’s Days and “just because” moments when my guys kindly and thoughtfully added to my collection. You see to me it’s more than just a collection. Each little house holds wonderful memories of times past and each time I look above my doorways I think of my hubby and boys…and it makes me…happy!

I continued my work in the kitchen and after a day’s work here are my results. C’mon in … I’ll show you around!

Y’all don’t you laugh at me now! I have to alphabetize my spices. It just makes finding a spice that much easier and it also tells me when I am out of something or that I accidentally have more than I need.

I like to keep all my oils and larger spices here in the island. I also keep my sprinkles, extracts and things like baking soda, baking powder and salt down here, too!

Pantry done!

…and now for the kitchen…nice and tidy and I feel good!

For more tips I hope you find The Well Organized Heart of Your Home helpful!

So happy y’all visited! Be sure to come back and have a cup of tea with me!