A Smiley Face Mystery! 😊


It’s a mystery, for sure.  Our kitchen/downstairs remodeling fun continues and we’re making…err, I should say our carpenter, plumber, designer, electrician friends…are making good progress.  Next week we might see an installation of countertops.  Woohoo!

Meanwhile, we’ve been roughing it with a makeshift kitchenette in our old laundry room and the hubster’s office became the landing zone for kitchen equipment, and all sorts of stuff, especially the big bulky items like pots and pans that we didn’t want to lug down to the basement. 

Housekeeping while under construction has been spotty.  I’m trying to keep my ‘zones’ – my workspace and our bedroom and bathrooms shipshape, but the amount of dust and grime generated, on the daily, has been significant.  If I were inclined toward meteorology (and I’m not), I bet we could’ve measured the ‘dustfall’ in ways similar to snowfall.  No, not in inches, per se, but definitely in the ‘dusting’ (wink!) and ‘accumulation’ categories.

The image I’ve snipped in above?  It’s from the hubs’ office.  A few times…LOL…lie…I’ve asked if he might dust off the grime on the credenza behind his desk.  I mean, it can’t be a good thing to inhale all of that, right?  He dismisses me and I know I should just ignore him/it, or give in and dust his office, but I haven’t done either. 

I can’t avoid walking through his space altogether because my parents’ urns and that of our sweet little pupster, Sadie, sit behind a glass cabinet in hubs’ office.  It seemed like a secure place for them (along with the pots and pans?) during construction and every morning I walk in to greet them, per Lisa (my disabled sister’s request) to say good morning.  Every morning.  When Lisa calls each evening at 6pm, inevitably she asks if I remembered to “Say hello to mom, dad and Sadie” that morning.  You get the picture.  I don’t mind, so as the coffee’s brewing, with one eye open, the greeting is part of my routine.

This morning?  Even in the dim light at 5:30 a.m., I detected a little graffiti on the credenza.  I stooped down to take a look and then turned on a light because I figured I was imagining what I saw.  Nope.  Right there, clear as could be, sat a silly smile…the kind you see on the rear window of a car in desperate need of a bath.  What did I do?  I smiled back, of course and carried on, saying hello to the parents and the pup.

When the hubster rolled downstairs, I thanked him for the smile, asking him if it was a precursor to actually dusting.  A good omen, perhaps?  He stared at me.  Not just the ‘it’s too early, don’t ask me to respond yet’ stare but the blankest of blank looks.  So, we played show and tell as I ushered him into his office, pointing to the smiley face.  No reaction.  He figured I did it – as a tease to torment him, smiley face style and shame him into cleaning.

I know when he’s joking around and when he’s not.  He didn’t do it.  And honestly, it’s not his brand of humor.  So…the plot thickens.  Not me, not the hubs.  Maybe one of our remodeling friends?  I could inquire, but then I’m literally pointing out the schlocky housekeeping.  You know where my mind is going.  The urns.  Mom and dad…Sue and Sonny…plotting some hijinks?  Sending a message that their current view is less than desirable and a little too dust-borne? 

While I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation and one that doesn’t involve anything too paranormal, I’m not gonna investigate further.  Even though parts of the house are a biohazard right now, I’m digging the unexplained smirk.  It’ll be gone soon as we’re shuffling stuff around but for now…I’m all smiles.

Vicki 😉



56 responses to “A Smiley Face Mystery! 😊”

  1. Good luck, and I hope the urns earn their keep! I imagine they have. As to shaming, good luck there, too. But unless you put your husband into a severe church community to which he is attached like that described in “The Scarlett Letter,” shaming might not do the trick. On the other hand, you are a very clever lady. I’m betting on your magical presence and gentle reminders.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for another morning smile, Dr. Stein. I’m not sure the hubster’s too keen on my “cleverness” …you’re right…I’ll need to rely on something more than shaming him. He’s not biting there, not at all. Hope you have a wonderful day today! 🥰

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  2. I’ve always wished my house had a ghost but I’m sure I’d be terrified if I did. Used to live in a haunted house in England. Thankfully I was drunk most of the time and was able to get to sleep! Let us know if he starts pointing out any other jobs that need doing…

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    1. Jessica…you’re making me giggle! I’m guessing you have stories to tell! A haunted house in England, you say? Hmmm….right up my alley. And sure thing, if our friendly ghost (so far) starts highlighting any more of my housekeeping failures, I’ll let you know! Maybe he/she could just take care of a few of them? 🤣😘🤣

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      1. I didn’t see any of the paranormal activity myself but the women who ran the hotel (I lived in the attic flat) said when they were having the kitchen ripped out to make way for a new one, the unhappy spectre shoved a table and chairs violently to one side in protest (because they were removing historic flagstones etc). And they saw the whole thing…

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Oh my…THAT’s a story, for sure. Sounds exciting…as does living in an attic flat…thanks for sharing in my love of the unexplainable, Jessica! 😘

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  3. you’ll have to keep us posted on the dusting saga!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Choke, cough, weeze — LOL. Yes, I will! Eventually I’ll give in…unless Jessica’s on to something with her thought above…maybe ghosts that can point out tasks could actually do them? 🥰

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I’ve gotten the occasional nudge from what I wondered was from ‘the other side’ but nothing quite this sweet 🙂 Maybe they’re encouraging you that things WILL get back to normal, and thanking you for taking such good care of them (and for so lovingly honouring Lisa’s wishes) in the meantime. I like to think there are many things that exist even if we can’t (yet) explain them. I loved this, Vicki. You really made me smile today 🙂💕

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    1. Thank you, dear Patti — another lovely thing that we have in common — the belief that little signs and signals are there, we just need to reel them in! And I love your interpretation…maybe they are reminding me that normal will come again. And if that’s the case, the ‘message’ must be from my dad. When he retired, he took over the housekeeping duties and would wear an apron, a dust bonnet and used a feather duster…demanding that we call him “Mary”. I don’t know that he did a lot of actual cleaning but enjoyed being silly. I should probably blog about him as “Mary” some time! xo to you, Patti! 🥰

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      1. Oh you have me smiling from ear to ear, Vicki 🙂 I would LOVE to read that story! I didn’t grow up with very much silliness – life tended to be a serious thing in our household (I suspect you can relate to that). Your Dad sounds lovely. And sweet. And capable of a bit of silliness, including a mysterious smiley face in the dust 🙂💕💕💕

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Okay then…I’ll need to work on sharing Dad’s alter ego, “Mary” in a post sometime soon. Thanks for giggling with me, Patti — it’s much more fun with a friend along for the ride! 🥰🥰🥰

          Liked by 1 person

  5. it was the cat …

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    1. LOL…the invisible cat then! 😉

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  6. My apartment, with the dark furniture I chose (WHY?) looks very much like that within just a few hours of dusting Vicki! I could be on perpetual dusting duty but I’ve given up until I see a significant white coating (just like your picture sans the smiley face) then I make a half hearted attempt 🙂

    Since I live alone I’m not sure what I would do if images or words suddenly began to appear, although a very old couple did live here before me apparently so…

    Thanks for the chuckle and the interesting mystery this morning 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re so right — the darker the furniture the more endless the task of keeping dust at bay – even just regular household dust. And your wheels are turning! If some suspicious dusty graffiti should appear, it might be the old couple! Please share if I’ve stirred anything up.
      xo! 🥰

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      1. Believe me, I won’t hesitate to write all about it 😉

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        1. Yay! (Now that Wynne’s helped me learn it’s ‘yay’ and not ‘yeah’ I can’t stop using the word!) xo, Deb!

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  7. I’m all in with the paranormal. I received some undeniably clear messages from my dearly departed mother that it was time for me to pack up and move to a place she felt was more suitable to me. At least five incidents of things directly related to her; items falling off of shelves, being rearranged, etc—each one directly related to her in one way or another. Once I moved, I’ve not heard from her again. It does give one pause to wonder, does it not?!

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    1. It sure does provide a pause to wonder, Julia! Your mother was very focused until you took the hint, apparently. 🤣 I love musing over these seemingly out of the blue messages. Everything’s connected…we just don’t always know how. Hugs to you! 🥰

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  8. You’re all smiles…some more Fathers Day dad humor to end today’s post? 😆

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sure! Do you have some? 😉

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    2. Oh wait! I get it now! 😜

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I knew you would! 🙃

        Liked by 1 person

        1. LOL…some days…it’s like I have my very own mental ‘pause button’. xo! 🥰

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          1. We have THAT in common too, Vicki 🙄🤓

            Liked by 1 person

            1. LOL…the list continues to grow. I love all of our “twinning” traits and experiences.
              xo! 🥰

              Liked by 1 person

  9. You got me spooked, but it does seem to be a very friendly ghost. Maybe the ghost is sending you a message and you need to draw a nearby smiley face to respond to its greeting!! Ha ha!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh hey there – I hadn’t thought of that! Maybe so…but what if he/she already has “friends”. I hadn’t thought about that. Yikes! 😜

      Liked by 2 people

  10. Hmmm….I love a mystery for the weekend…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. LOL – thanks, LA! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  11. This definitely caught my attention with this mystery. Anita

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Anita…I’ll keep you posted if we find the culprit! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Oh the upheaval of home renovations! I don’t envy you the mess Vicki. Just keep reminding yourself it will all be worth it.

    I love that greeting the urns is part of your morning routine. I’m very intrigued by how that smiley face came to be. I’ll choose to think it’s a sign from beyond!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Michelle…I dare not forget to say hello to the parents and the pup…and I suspect I’d be doing it anyhow at this point – not just for Lisa’s sake. And yes — I’m going with a sign from beyond…nothing else is nearly as much fun. xo! 🥰

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Definitely the contractor. Not sure what they were doing there but it makes more sense than the urns.

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    1. I like your common sense approach, Detective Bernie. You’re hired! 😎

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yeah I don’t have a lot of middle ground!

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  14. petespringerauthor Avatar
    petespringerauthor

    You might consider changing the expression just to see what happens. Maybe one of your workers with a sense of humor will appreciate that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh…what a wonderful idea! I like that ‘next move’ VERY MUCH. It might tease the culprit into the light. Thanks, Pete! 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

  15. What a fun and lovely post with a great ending!! I think perhaps you could deduce the culprit by the width of the finger that drew the smile. Not fingerprints but fingerwidth…

    And whoever they are, I hope they know that they (along with you) made a whole lot of people smile today with this post. Love it!! ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh geez…Detective Bernie, now Detective Wynne — you’re right! Hmm…me thinks I need to go examine some digits! xo! 😎

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I’m digging the unexplained smirk. I would be too while thinking something along the lines of: “don’t look a gift smiley [🐴] in the mouth.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. LOL — right on, Ally Bean! Roll with it! Thanks for the giggle! 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

  17. The ‘smile creator’ must have a good sense of humor! And I hope you get to share your post and all our thoughtful comments with the creator sometime soon! 😊🤣😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Me, too, Mary – me, too! 🤣

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  18. How intriguing! This mystery is going to keep me up! Be sure I don’t miss the answer when you finally post it!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. LOL! Of course! Thanks, Betsy! 🥰

      Liked by 1 person

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