I'm looking at a domesticity double-header over the next two weeks. First, I'll be hosting some guests, staying with me while they explore Washington, D.C. We'll have lots of lovely meals and celebrate both Canada Day and Independence Day. And, I'll get to spend some time playing tourist in my hometown.

Of course, that means this week is spent preparing. I've already made lists of the things to do in town so that my guests know their options. I've planned the menus for the week and drafted a schedule to guide my preparations. I've mapped the best way to the airport to meet my guests. I still need to make my grocery list, do my shopping, clean the house, and prepare the guest room. Completely doable in the time available. Then, I'll be able to have tons of fun, enjoying my city and my friends.

Then, after attending a dinner party hosted by some friends, I'll be heading to my mom's house to spend some time collecting her stories and doing some de-cluttering. Hopefully, by the end of the week I spend with her, I will have emptied her storage shed so that she can shed that expense. I'm also hoping to sort through the contents of a few file cabinets and a few cupboards. The key is to get rid of extraneous paperwork that's no longer valuable or useful. We don't need to get rid of anything meaningful — just the stuff we don't use anymore. With any luck, we'll end the week with some donations, lots of recycling,and some trash. Most important, we''ll be able to find and access the things that we actually need and care about.

Then, it's back home for the rest of my summer!