Cleaning the study

(1949 October 7)

I am so tired I can hardly hold a pen. Now I am housecleaning Daddy's study and hope all goes well so I can get it back together before he gets home [from California]. I can hardly push the stuff back far enough to get a square yard to varnish. Then I wait a day for that to dry and thus I continue. -- Yaas - now that I have got the three worst offenders out of the house, I am trying to restore the poor thing.

This morning finished varnishing the study except way under the safe. It seemed too terribly heavy to move because I was tired. I know it has casters and really isn't and feel guilty. Mary M unloaded the oak bookcase you made, and I cleaned and put all back, though I fear not in identical spots.

I know just how it will be: Daddy will come home and glance in and see the shiny floor and all in order and his heart will sink. But he will have guessed how hard I worked and so he will kiss me and say how wonderful it looks. Then when the welcome is over, he will sit down and dig in. Then things will start to fly and thump and that will be a good time for me to rake leaves, if daylight, or take a bath, if evening. But then it will be clean - after all, once every 3 years when he goes to his church convention.