My Just Desserts

Well I trust that you all had a lovely weekend.

I think that April might be the sweetest month God ever made. Don't you?

All the doors and windows are wide open, and even though I'm sneezing my fool head off, I'm enjoying it to the fullest. It will be hotter than seven kinds of hell in a heartbeat, so I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts.

Thank you, to everyone who has wished me well with my battle against the oak trees. They are still all caught up in their crazy yellow love fest, but thankfully, it rained, and that's settled things down a bit, for now.

So, since I was feeling a little bit better over the weekend, and since the husband got a bee in his bonnet to launch into spring yard work, I thought I'd take on some spring cleaning indoors.

As I've said though, I'm kind of sedentary by nature. It's just that I can think of so many things I'd rather do with my time, besides scrubbing floors and organizing closets. Some people love that stuff. i do not. Plus, when you have three little boys, cleaning seems so utterly futile.

It was time though. It just was.

So I gave myself a little incentive.

First, I made a pie and downloaded an audio book.

THEN I set to work.

I scrubbed my floor on my hands and knees, getting up all that gunk that clings to the edges, up under the counters and behind the fridge. I scrubbed all the splatters of God only knows what off every cabinet in the kitchen and laundry room. I cleaned all the walls, the vent over the stove, the chair railing, the table, under the table, the chairs, the pantry floor and shelves, the doors and around all the light switches.

And it wasn't half bad, scrubbing, listening to my book, and knowing that pie was in my near future :-)

You wanna know the sad part? I am SORE!

S - O - R - E! My arms ACHE! Is that not pitiful?

Well anyway, my cabinets and floors and walls are shining like a new dime, and there's pie calling my name...

If you've got some cleaning of your own to accomplish, let me suggest that you first make the easiest pie in the world, and pop it in the freezer to set up while you scrub.

Here's the Peach Cloud:

3 containers of Peach Yogurt (lime works well too)
1 container of Cool Whip
1 graham cracker crust (buy one premade if you must, but I maintain that a homemade graham crust is essential. For that, you just mix 1/2 stick butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar and 2 cups crushed grahams, then press into the pan)

Mix the yogurt and whipped cream, throw it on the crust, and pop it in the freezer for a few hours.

Set it out on the counter for 20 minutes or so before you want to eat it, so it will soften just a little.

Sometimes, we even make it in ramekins, so we can just take out a little bit at a time.

Happy new week to you!

Comments

[Sarah Jackson]

I'm so impressed! I need to start that this week - my inlaws are coming soon. Maybe the promise of pie will get me over my lethargy....

[Holly C]

Little rewards help me in the cleaning department too.

I don't know if you've ever tried it, but Flonase has ended my suffering and sleepless nights in July, August, and September.

Your pie sounds yummy!

[erin]

i am a big fan of rewarding myself for cleaning. i hate cleaning! i have never used pie as incentive though....that might be just what i need to do.

[jessica]

we're getting ready to move and i really need to get to that cleaning...
i wonder what book would get me motivated?

[beki]

Ooo, I used to make the lime version all the time - I had totally forgotten about it. I think I'll make one soon, but I'm not promising that I'll be doing any major house cleaning.

[Sandy]

I did my floors, cabinets and other kitchen crevices a couple weeks ago. It looked great, but I was sore too.
That pie would have made it so much more rewarding though. It looks fantastic!

[Patty Thomas]

Ditto on the pollen thing! We've been struggling too. Gotta live though! My husband and I fight over the windows being open. I need the fresh air even with watering eyes! I think pie after cleaning is a fair trade. Maybe that will motivate me!

[molly Bridle]

"hotter than seven kinds of hell"! Is that another texas slang term I have yet to learn? I'm thinking of making a poster to hang in my living room come summer to embrace the season!

[miss chris]

Holy cow, woman! You totally deserve that pie!

[Lisa Clarke]

I'm not a real fan of housework either, and I find what helps me is listening to podcasts. It's fun to collect inspiration and hear crafty people chatting with each other while I boil spaghetti ;-)

[Tipper]

I'm not fond of spring cleaning either-but once its over with, everything does feel so much nicer!

[MadWoman]

I'm not a big fan of cleaning, but once I'm down doing it, and especially once it's done, I love it. And the reward a the end is super important. I am making that pie today!

[collins]

Thank you for the recipe, it looks yummy! Yes, april is the best month.

[molly]

that pie does look yummy and easy! the cleaning not so yummy and easy, but a necessary evil, like oak pollen.

[Lasso the Moon]

Looks delicious. A just reward for your Cinderellie day.
Anna

[golden]

We have at least 2-3 more weeks up here in NE before we get to feel that green glory!

What's your favorite brand of yogurt to use here? Can you use real yogurt like Stoneyfield or does it have to be one those gelatinous ones like Yoplait or something like that?

[Jade]

Oh I need to do that cleaning too. Maybe adding pie and an audio book to the mix would make it worth it!

[Cheryl]

the pie is great and all but I love that vintage plate as well!

[Knitsational]

Oh yeah, Spring cleaning. I knew I had "forgotten" something!

[kristi]

Yes when you have three kids, any type of cleaning is almost futile. In mere minutes, it can and will be destroyed by the nearest child. but I don't think I would have it any other way.

[Julie @ Letter9]

Whoa. Yes. VERY good idea. Yum, yum, EXTRA yum. : )

[Megan]

Since we're in Tejas too we're loving every minute of this weather - pretending like May's heat will never come. Maybe it won't! Maybe this year will be the most beautiful year Texas has ever had. And we will spend the entire summer in our backyards with golden arms and freckled bosoms.

And that pie looks TO DIE FOR!

And I'll have to take you word for it on the cleaning...I just can't bring myself to do it today.

p.s. What book was it?

[Jen]

My grandmother used to make that same pie! But I never got the recipe from her. Thank you!

And I wish I had your energy this weekend. I sewed and ignored all housework!

[Molly]

you, and this post, are delightful!

[Relyn]

You are one talented lady to make cleaning not only sound enticing, but look so good. Taste good, too; it sounds like. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'm with Megan - what was the book? I love audiobooks and am always looking for a good one.