I used to clean more, but as you all say, quilting is more fun! If someone comes to visit just to see how clean the house is, I'd rather they stay home. life is too short and priorities change.

Yep, the house work takes second place to quilting. My husband is a great help around the house, he does laundry, makes dinner (most of the time) and we both load the dishwasher but he gets it going. If I had to start the dishwasher I would have to get the instructions out to find out how to start it. We sleep in different bedrooms and he always makes his bed and mine is usually not made. Guess I'm the slob of the family.

Pat in MN

You have been peeking inside my windows....I am lucky that my hubby let me hire a girl to help a couple times a month - it gives me some more time in my sewing room - I really loathe housework at this point in my life - after 25yrs + of keeping home, dishes, laundry, etc - it just isn't fun anymore - I remember when hubby and I first married 25yrs ago - I thought keeping house was fun. I think its another reason why we don't need to accumulate as much stuff (except fabric) as we get older- less stuff to deal with and clean - luckily my hubby would rather me be happy above all else.

I never have been a good housekeeper. When my girls were young, I'd rather spend time with them. Now they're grown & husband is gone. I spent years taking care of everyone else; now it's MY time to do what I want and I want to quilt :D.

I've had Christmas Eve at my house for years and it's a mad scramble to do a good job cleaning house. The last few days before Christmas, my husband always said to the girls "Mom's lost it again". Now that I'm alone, Mom is still losing it. Oh well, life goes on. Besides I agree if people want to see me, they can come visit anytime. If they want to see my house, come on over on Christmas Eve.

My house is no where near magazine picture ready! It's lived in and comfortable. I keep things picked up and hubby keeps dishes done. (uses dishwasher lol) the bathrooms are clean. No one will get sick from visiting my house but if they want a spotless house then they can come over and clean it for themselves!

I try to give the house a once over once a week. Since we are both retired he dusts and vacuums once a week and I do bathrooms and kitchen. Except when something better comes along like quilting------

My house used to be very clean and you could eat off the floor. Used to be. I even wiped off the neck of ketchup, steak sauce and other bottles. Dishes were always done immediately after dinner. I loved having a clean house and still do but have too many other things I want to do more now. I've decided that "dust is a protective coating for furniture." I do live in the country on a farm and love to garden and sewing is my real joy. I had cancer and am a 11 year survivor at this point and decided my quilts and things I will leave behind some day will be remembered more than that CLEAN house. I really need to reorganize somethings and clean and then go SEW.

I am by nature an "everything in it's place, clean freak", however my gorgeous husband is not. So....now I quilt and have always loved gardening and reading. These three "distractions" keep me sane....otherwise I'd be sorely tempted to walk out the door:).

Clean enough to be healthy, dirty enough to be happy!
I try and do my "chores" before sitting down to hobbies, doesn't always work ;)

Housework? Seems like I've heard of that. Not sure what it is though. :D

Yes, I'd much rather quilt than clean house.

I keep my house clean. I used to be a total clean freak. But I decided it didn't need to be that clean...lol

As long as I can see the floor and look out the windows, I can clean tomorrow....haha

Love your saying, Jazzmyn:

"If you come to see me come anytime.....If you come to see my house make an appointment."
I recently just told my friend something very similar.

There is so much more than a clean house to be remembered for.

I think quilters are passionate about this topic.

I, too, used to do a bit better than I do now. What helps me is taking note of how little time is actually involved in basic things. Both of us have a habit of drying off the sinks, faucets and shower right after using them every time, and they always look okay. Dishes for two people can get shoved into the dishwasher in under 5 minutes and the laundry is a rude and repeated interruption, but really only takes a few minutes at a time. It helps a whole lot to buy fabric that needs to be washed. I usually put it in with a load of like-colored clothes.

I like to cook if it's quick and good, so keeping up the kitchen seems normal. If we didn't use it, it would become a dumping ground.

The big bugaboos are the occasional/seasonal chores. The freezer is an embarrassment. Windows are washed outside maybe every 5 years if we notice the need, and only the ones downstairs. So far the neighborhood association hasn't run us off. (I hope they're not following this thread! :o)

One of my favorite quotations:

"Our house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy." ~Author Unknown

I hear ya! Actually, I used to be Super Housekeeper. Back in the day, I took alot of my identity from how my house looked (go figure) & I just felt better about the world when my house was clean. But, then I got a new DH & house, my health took a serious turn towards the non-cleaning side (for real... my orthopedic surgeon told me "No more scrubbing the bathroom floor on your hands & knees" & I didn't have to be told twice... LOL!), & quilting (& this board) moved to the front of the line. So, now my house is messy. And while it bugs me sometimes, most of the time when it starts to get to me, I go into my sewing room & forget all about the rest of it... LOL!

or two. lol

My favorite saying: You can eat off my floor - you're bound to find something. lol

my house is definetly lived in too. this time of year it is because of all my flowers
and my four gardens. but my husbands sister called yesterday her and another
sister are coming for two days. i looked around the house and looked at the dog
and said oh my. so will be doing little housing keeping to day and tomorrow. lol

What's housework?
Enough said lol!

my house will need cleaned after I' m dead The quilts I make will keep someone warm for a long time

I love this. LOL

I used to do that, But my house will need cleaned after I'm dead, The quilts I make will keep someone warm for a long time

I tell people "If you're coming to see me, come anytime. If you're coming to see my house, Call first!!!"

Same here. Fabric everywhere!

When I was married, eons ago, I had 2 kids and a dog and a husband that never lifted a finger around the house and my house was spotless,really could eat off the floor, couldnt' tell I had kids or a dog. After my divorce I lived alone and had a white apartment. Then I learned. Who cares?? !! who was I doing it for? I am in a situation now where I clean up my own messes and everyone elses is theirs. I really don't care if the house is spotless. I figure if someone are coming to see the house that's their problem. lol They can clean if it bothers them :)

Amen! Well said, SouthPStitches.

why have the stress? I see the house, but look past the dust and clutter. I have worked my tail off for many years and tried to keep a house. I was successful in business-not so in housework. Can't do everything! I am now working on a room to have for myself, my cave........with wonderful color and light-where I can escape whenever I want. Housework??????????? not for me- if I see the "I cleaned my house yesterday..." sign I will buy it too! I retired 2 weeks ago, I have to get myself in house mode

Just received this in an email and it fits this discussion so well.

Addicted to Quilting

She Learned to Quilt on MONDAY.
Her stitches all were fine.
She forgot to make us dinner.
So we all went out to dine.

She quilted miniatures on TUESDAY.
She says they are a must.
They really were quite lovely.
But She forgot to dust.

On WEDNESDAY it was a sampler.
She says stippling's fun.
What Highlights What Shadows!
But The LAUNDRY wasn't done.

Nine Patches were on THURSDAY.
Green, Yellow, Blue, and red.
I guess she really was engrossed.
She never made the bed.

It was wall hangings on FRIDAY,
In colors she adores.
It never bothered her at all
that crumbs were on the floor.

I found a maid on SATURDAY.
My week is now complete.
My wife can quilt the hours away.
The house will still be neat.

Well, now its only SUNDAY.
I think I'm about to wilt.
I cursed, I raved, I ranted
Cause the Maid has learned to QUILT !

That's what I need to do - have guests about once a week. :)

Oh how sweet that is!! I love it.

Y'all are toooooo funny! I do what I can when I can, if people don't like it here's the broom.

What a beautiful post. My mother used to say exactly that - no one will carve "She kept a spotless house" on anyone's tombstone! And she lived. And I do too. As for cleaning for guests - I do that some, but I figure when they leave it will really need cleaning so why kill myself before they come?! ;) If they come in with a white glove, they're never coming in again. ;) Kids, pets, hobbies, things to do - they all come first, and then of course you do need to keep it fairly clean and safe to live in. Have a great day!

If God wanted me to cook and clean, my hands would be aluminum! That was a saying I read years ago and it applies happily to me. I was never much of a housekeeper so I pay someone else to clean for me. When my DD was living at home, I had someone in once a week. Now, it is every other week. I like clean, I just don't like devoting my time to it.

I loved all your sayings an no more housework. Dont do much myself. live alone an have housecleaned once a month. Thats enough for me. joyce j

I have never kept a spotless house. The house was the cleanest when the kids were home and had chores before school every morning. I think a bit of dust gives the place character. lol. I do laundry once a week and clean the bathrooms. Someone vacuums at least once a week but it is not always me. I still do not get to spend as much time in my serwing corner as I would like but I still have three things going at once. A book to read, hand embroidery. and a quilting project. Oh I do clean the kitchen once a day.

Why clean when you can sew/quilt/garden/play with the dogs,cats,chickens/enjoy the flowers? I have never been a spic and span housekeeper and don;t plan to start now....And I want my epitaph to be "she had fun" not 'she kept a clean house', Besides, it will be dirty three days after I die anyway...

When I Retired, many friends heard me say,"I will do everything necessary in the house in the morning, then "play" in the afternoon; sew, read, play the piano or flute. Well, it doesn't work that way; we go places in the morning when it is cool, work in the flowers/yard. \
It used to bother me that everything wasn't done by noon, but now I try to be more "laid back" about it all. It is important to remember we don't know when our "last day on earth" will be, and won't we want tobe remembered as a nice person who gave to others and was not tied up in knots about her house? Mine is basically pretty good shape most of the time; just don't stress about it.
Mariah.

make bed, clean kitchen, keep bathroom clean. I dust weekly if I'm in the mood. My house is well lived in. Not dirty but well lived in. There is more to life than house cleaning. I do clean kitchen as soon as we are through eating, just a habit. I have a little magnet ion my fridge that says " You may touch the dust but don't write in it" LOL. Also if people are coming to see my house and how clean it is or how dirty it is, stay away. If you have come to see me, come on in, love to have you.Keep sewing Girls, life is short!!!!

My house is very lived in. I still work a full time job and at my age by the time I get home and feed my puppies(2) then I'm usually to tired to to much else. I do try and keep the laundry done and my sewing room somewhat straight to make it easier to sit and sew but other than that I ask everyone to please not just drop by. I hope to retire in January and the first thing I want to do is to clean my house so I don't feel so guilty about spending time sewing. OK, I don't really feel guilty, everyone tell me it's my life, my home and I can do what I want to. My husband passed away 4 years ago and it's just me and the pet and they don't care, just more time I can spend with them. Love reading this everyday and getting new ideas to do when I can.

When you talk about house work... are we talking about making room for more fabric in our livingrooms/dine areas etc?? You know the drill, having to move things around to make it fit. If thats what you are talking about..sure I do a weekly cleaning then. ha ha ha If your talking vacuume..I do that also weekly..and sweep weekly.. as it seems like I drop pins etc weekly. I need to pick them up some how. I make sure my kitchen and bathrooms are done daily. It is just my DH and I..so it is not like we have clothes/toys all over the house. My floors always look like they are never swept as the thread bunny always leaves a trail all over the house... lol