Clean or dirty?

Sunday afternoon G told me that I was a complete failure as a housewife. Here's the story:

We have never used the Cabin dishwasher. It was a circa 1986 GE model, and while it brought back lots of lovely childhood memories, I'm pretty sure they weren't giving out Energy Star certifications back then. So we just didn't use it. When we arrived home from our vacation last week, we discovered that the Cabin landlord had left us the most generous welcome-home gift: a new dishwasher. Better yet, an energy efficient dishwasher.

G was pondering the lunch dishes day before yesterday when he dropped the housewife failure bomb. He told me that any good wife, having received the gift of a new dishwasher, would have by now made a Clean/Dirty sign. He actually used the word "craft". "You know, El, one of those little craft project things made out of string or aluminum or whatever you use. . .one side says CLEAN, but when you start loading the dishes again, you flip it over to the DIRTY side".

He's right.

I used to craft all sorts of helpful and frivolous little household trinkets and signs. (Like these packages of hand-lettered animal magnets made from a vintage pictionary) In fact, over a year ago an acquaintance had asked to consign some in her local shop.

I had completely forgotten about the pile of stuff I gave her (Like these packages of hang tags, made from a deconstructed children's book called "The No Gook Dancing Donkey"), until a few weeks ago when she called and asked if I wouldn't mind picking up a few leftover odds and ends. (Like these decoupaged gift boxes. . the Yum Bucket and the Go Bucket)

I'm getting crafty again today, though, as I prepare to send out a little package in the swap organized by Little Red Caboose.

All these fun things I made, and not a Clean/Dirty sign among them.

Cheers.
ERB