Sharing the Plenty in Twenty-Twenty
January always brings a sense of excitement to me. It’s literally like starting over, thinking fresh thoughts, beginning new projects, refreshing my prayer life and my spiritual growth, and updating things around the home. Following the Christmas season, it’s good to put away all its paraphernalia. I just can’t wait to put away my precious nativities, now close to one-hundred sets, change the paintings on the wall, clean the corners, and start over.
We live in Florida. The weather this week has been absolutely wonderful. We’re rejoicing that we just received notice that finally, after our twelve years of living on a dirt street, the city is paving our road this week. At least that’s the promise. We’ve heard that before. So, we’ve been weeding the rock garden next to the road, spiffing up the gardens, and yes, painted the front door a bright cranberry.
There’s really nothing like taking on the project of painting the front door. I noticed how shabby the door knocker was. It’s brass and has our Jackson name inscribed, but it looked dull and stained, and downright terrible. I took on the task of shining it.
As usual, when I want to do something inexpensive and quick, I googled “how do I clean brass?” Who knew that salt and white wine vinegar was the recommended method. So, digging in my pantry for white wine vinegar, who knows when I last used it, I tried it. Yes, it started to work, but the stains were still there. I can’t blame it all on the dust from the road or from just plain deterioration, but on the frogs that occupy every wreath I put on the door. Perhaps they stained the knocker, as well as other evidence on the door itself.
Then I tried the cleanser I use for my cooktop. I figured it might work. Indeed it did. But not all the stains came off with that either. I needed something a bit stronger. Ah, yes. Dishwasher detergent.
Bingo, the resulting shine and saving of the original door knocker was achieved, and it now graces my beautifully shiny cranberry door to greet all who visit our home in the new year.
That’s my sharing the plenty in twenty-twenty story for today.
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