Open  house is fast approaching. After our Summer Camp we were not going to have any time to clean all the  Earthy goodness we have around the Schoolhouse! So, we rolled up our sleeves and into cleaning mode we went!  Cleaning is always  for me a lovely activity, kind of spiritual I should say! I feel anew after a good deep cleaning and of course if is a fun task if you a have little helpers and a song or two to hold the space for the m all! So we followed the same cleaning routine as the one we do during Advent Time. We first, warm up our beeswax polish balm which make the house smell oh so lovely.  In the meantime we dust all our lovely toys to get them ready to receive that glorious balm.  When balm is ready we wax all our toys, we polished them and put them inside of our big basket until it is time to place them back into their houses. After a well deserved rest, we started with the big wash. All our silks, dolls blankets and dolly clothes were washed by little hands that waited patiently for the rub-a-dab session. We put all the silks in the big round tub full of lovely warm  soapy water and then we started. Well at least part of it. Children and water are a dangerous combination my friends, you know that!  So splashing, sprinkling and other fun things were enjoyed! Thank goodness it was some water left to wash all those silks and the dollies' cloths, phew! Finally all the children gathered around to help. The little ones still playing a bit with the bubbles sprinkling water here and there. The older ones, already trusted helpers showed the little ones how to do the merry job. At the end, we all had fun and enjoyed a lovely -and wet! time outside! Then , we hanged all our silks waiting for the sun and wind to do their magic! Next day we set up our iron table and with great care we smoothed out our fresh laundry. The younger children where enjoying "ironing" as well using this time a piece of wood block as the iron and  a piece of silk.  ​As we cleaned and polished our toys  we happily sang one of our many gnomes songs...

                                                                I met a little dusty gnome 
                                                                he says in the time to clean the toys 
                                                                round round round
                                                                swish swish swish clean the toys

(you can change the words to your particular activity: wash the cloth, sweep the room and more.