Ugh, one of the rituals I like least about spring is the cleaning. Granted, it needs to be done and it does help with all of the allergy problems that come from being cooped up inside for 6 months, but it’s no fun.

It’s a reminder to me that I’m a collectorholic. I collect SO many things and of course, all of them take up space and need to be dusted. I have my first edition mysteries, all the Agatha Christies, all the SS Van Dines, a number of the Ellery Queens, all the Craig Rices, Anthony Bouchers and a number of Stuart Palmers. Now I can add most of the Erle Stanley Gardners to that list. If you want to see what a collection can do, add 150 books to the 5 bookcases that line the walls of my house.

Then you’ll need to add the Rookwood Pottery bookends. Can’t have all the books without bookends! Plus some of them came from my grandmother, so there’s sentimental value to them.

By that time, add in another person, a dog and you’ve got a full house. I spent a decent part of my spring break cleaning. I’ve got most of the house done and took 5 big bags of clothes to Goodwill today. It’s been an effort.

The sad thing is that unless you visit my house often, you won’t even notice that I’ve reduce the refuse.

Hopefully, in a few weeks, I’ll be able to add a teapot from Malice Domestic to my domestic clutter. The Anthony Boucher biography was nominated for Best Non-fiction there. I’m thrilled to be nominated and have my fingers crossed.