they call it a laundry list, because it needs to be cleaned.

There are essays running untamed through my hair. I'm non sequiturs and full of spine. Rowan's been walking for about a week. It's still funny to look over and see my tall little boy or put him down on his feet rather than his bottom.

We may be seriously on the prowl to purchase a house. I'm supposed to be getting paperwork together for a preapproval now. But as you can see, I procrastinate. Instead I'd like to tell you what's on my mantel. In order from left to right, like reading a book.

1. An ugly cylinder lamp with its cord tucked into its gape circle mouth, so Rowan won't pull it down. We never plug it in or turn it on, because it's blinding bright like the dickens.
2. Triangle garland folded up to be put away, from Rowan's 1st birthday, more than a month ago.
3. An old glass dropper bottle with a dried out rubber bulb, which we found at a salvage yard three weekends ago, while hunting for parts to create a DIY play kitchen for Rowan. 
4. The camera in its bag. 
5. A box of tissue. 
6. Snapware with Rowan's reusable wipes. I cut up an old receiving blanket and make the water solution at home. We cloth diaper, so it's actually easier just to have cloth wipes as well (one bin to put stuff in, instead of two). Easiest baby wipe recipe: a baby blanket's worth of cloth, cut into squares or whatever shape you desire; a container; water; olive oil; the innards of a vitamin e capsule; essential oil (I use lavender, because I'm not a huge fan of the smell of tea tree oil.)
7. Ball of handspun wool yarn, which I bought in Punta Arenas, Chile, back when I was really gung ho about learning to crochet for real and wanted to make Rowan a baby blanket.
8. Incense catcher and the butt of a nag champa stick. OK. I got up to light a new one. 
9. Lighter that I just used to light the incense.
10. Four tea light candles in rainbow holders. 
11. A seashell from some far-flown place, I don't remember where.
12. Remote for the stereo. 
13. Three opening daffodils inside a chemistry vial, also from the salvage yard. 
14. Rowan's favorite sorting puzzle. 
15. Tibetan singing bowl, pillow stuffed inside, mallet pointing to 4 'o clock. 
16. Remote for the TV. 
17. Baby nail clippers. 
18. Box of rose Rosicrucian incense that my brother bought us when he visited last May. 
19. Cloth box of incense and sundries. 

As you can imagine, our mantel is extremely long. It wraps around the fireplace and then some. It's also a mess. Maybe it gives the living room that special lived-in look. I used to be way more on top of these things. Everything had its place. Of course, with Rowan stalking, everything needs to move up up up and out of reach. Rowan's a thrower, which is why his toys sometimes take a time out on the mantel, if you're wondering about the aforementioned puzzle.

If we actually go through with this house thing, it will prove that we have grown too accustomed to living on the move. That we cannot live in a place for more than six months at a time. It will also solve that problem, give us roots, give us a place to hang our hats. That I'm reading Bruce Chatwin's The Anatomy of Restlessness right now is mere cosmic accident.

What's in your clutter space?