Today was cleaning day—cue the sound of angels singing and vacuums humming. Our fabulous house cleaner, Brittanee, came for her monthly magic. And let me tell you, this woman doesn’t just clean, she transforms. She sweeps through the house like a 40-year-old cleaning ninja—earbuds in, playlist on, singing her way from room to room. And somehow, she makes dusting look like a dance move. She’s really cool like that.

This time was a little different though—Lucy got to meet her for the first time.

Now, Ken and I had our concerns. Our 11-week-old, full-of-attitude puppy hadn’t encountered anyone quite like Brittanee before. We braced for chaos.

Sure enough, the barking started as soon as Brittanee walked in the door. Lucy puffed herself up like a lion cub, determined to defend her territory. All seven pounds of her. But the standoff didn’t last long—Brittanee, being the dog whisperer she apparently is, calmly reached out and scooped Lucy right from Ken’s arms. And just like that… they were bonded. Lucy was smitten.

She still had her puppy suspicions, of course. As Brittanee started cleaning, Lucy observed her every move with the intense focus of a tiny FBI agent. It was adorable. Eventually, she dropped the surveillance act and began following Brittanee room to room, like a curious little intern learning the ropes.

Right now, Lucy is snoozing on my feet, totally tuckered out from all the excitement. But soon, it’ll be time for Brittanee to tackle the living room and kitchen, and that means I’ll have to bring Lucy into my room.

Ugh. My room. It’s less of a sanctuary and more of an art supply battleground. Crates of paints, brushes, sketchpads, and half-finished craft projects are scattered like confetti from a creative tornado. And Lucy? She loves it in there. She bites the crates, tries to chew the handles, and has recently discovered how to open the lids on my paint jars. I now have a carpet that looks like it went through an abstract art phase. Multicolored splotches galore.

But now, Brittanee has come and gone. Our house sparkles like new—floors shining, counters gleaming, even the corners look happy. Lucy made a new friend, and I survived another round of “puppy meets paint supplies.”

Until next time, Brittanee! Thanks for the shine, the songs, and for handling both the house and the hound like a total pro. 🐾✨