Dorothy’s Place: A Can of Beans

– Courtesy photo

By Dorothy Denne

Housekeeping is like threading beads on a string with no knot at the end. When I was a young woman I walked around the house with a dust cloth or a dress-tail ever in my hand. I vacuumed at least three times a week and I never left a dirty dish in the sink.

Times have changed. I do not wear dresses any more, I have learned that dust cloths harbor germs, and I eat out a lot.

Every once in a while I am forced to dig in if I want to avoid a fine from the health department. Last week was one of those once in a whiles. I scrubbed, waxed, and shined everything in sight. Then I went to the laundromat with my scatter rugs, the cat hair covered furniture throws, and the big, old Heirloom bedspread.

By dinnertime, my house looked and smelled delightfully clean but I was exhausted. I was too tired even to go out to eat. I decided I would just have veggie hot dogs and a can of baked beans.

I nearly caused a riot. The electric can opener whirred and sleeping, hiding cats tore into the kitchen meowing, “m-r-r-owing,” and climbing my legs. They jumped on the counter and found no tuna – only beans. They complained bitterly.

Mewston decided if that was the only fare available, he would have some. Before I could stop him, he slurped up some of the bean juice.

Now, we all know that cats should not eat beans. Mewston proved it that night. He threw up on my labor intensive, spanking clean Heirloom bedspread.

In his embarrassment, he retreated to the newly purchased floor mat in front of the kitchen sink and began to claw. Thus he learned that it makes a wonderful scratching pad.

Meanwhile, Meowry had discovered the no longer cat hair covered furniture throws. He does love sleeping on things that are clean. They remained that way for a short time.

I spot-cleaned the bedspread, there are two clean throws left to sleep on and only one corner of the new mat is completely shredded. Maybe next week I will have to succumb and string a few more beads but tonight I am going out to eat. I am certainly not going to open a can of beans!

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