OK, it is officially spring (so they say). Time for this gal to get her bum a bobbin'!!!!! Just had no oomph or get up and go lately. I had such big plans - then poof! Soooooo, yes, I have started that spring fling thing! Decluttering and getting rid of stuff. I have started small (so as not to overwhelm me!). LOL
My momentum yesterday was great! I did smaller jobs and flitted around a lot. That keeps me from getting bored and I do more.
You know that adage about 15 minute jobs? Work on something for 15 minutes, then do something else, then on and on. It makes a job not seem so daunting. Works for me!
Any way, I got started. I hope that I can keep motivated and continue until I make HUGE progress. Each day of decluttering is just one down - and things out - so it all works out!
I started with drawers! Undies, junk, Glen's, and on and on........ I then went to cabinets. Then the overstock pantry.
Hey, it is a start.
Some may find it odd that I mention Glen's drawer - it has been almost 4 years. Well gals, let me tell you - there is a huge amount of his presence still here. It is OK! You don't have to rush through things and get rid of everything that reminds you of someone. I still have tons of stuff. I like being reminded that he was here. He is never gone (totally) in my opinion. Remembering is keeping him alive in my mind. I KNOW not everyone feels that way - no problem. We each handle things differently. I just wanted some of you to know that YES, it can take a fair amount of time - and it is OK.
I did clean out his bedside drawer. My goodness, the stuff he kept in there! I got a few chuckles! As bad as I am about keeping stuff - let's say he was worse!!!!! LOL! I am thankful for him still giving me a laugh or two!
I got rid of a bunch of my old undies. WHY did I feel that I needed to keep these items? Geesh. Not even good for rags - just plain old worn out! I did keep some stretched out socks to use for cleaning and for my dust mop. They went into the cleaning bag.
I think we all have a junk drawer. I have always had one. Well, sometimes two or three! I was pretty much down to one. What a mess!!!!!!! The drawer was full of stuff - junk - now trash.
Today is trash day - and I managed to get rid of much for the trash pick-up. I got the cleaning bag (cloths & rags) started again. Lots of little stuff trashed and out of the house! Out is good!
IT IS A START!
It is going to be warmer the next few days - but we have a lot of rain coming our way. No better reason to stay in and clean out. I just want to make a bigger difference in the STUFF this year. I am always getting rid of things - but I see no real difference. I want to SEE a difference.
So as I air the house the next couple of days, I will AIR my house of junk!!!!!! I am so over looking at all this stuff. I know some of you feel that way as well. Let's do this together!!!!!!
We can keep encouraging each other and maybe keep the momentum going!
Good luck to those on the declutter journey.
Wish me luck!!!!!
Happy Spring!!!!!!!
Your "junk" drawer makes me smile. I cleaned mine a few months ago. I found myself opening it when I went by just to look at its organized splendor!
ReplyDeleteLOL - I totally understand that. I got in there this morning, and found what I wanted in a second!!!
DeleteThat is AWESOME, Cheryl! Drawers are just so convenient to quickly throw stuff into to get them out of sight. At least they've always been my "go to" for a quick tidy up. I cleaned out bathroom drawers, moving my stuff into the master bath on Saturday morning. Yes, I'd been using the guest bath since we moved into the house, because the vanity is a little larger. Had to get it ready for BIL.
ReplyDeleteKeep what makes you happy. If Glenn's things make you happy, they deserve to be part of your home and daily life. Why not? That's really what if comes down to and what makes a house a home. Have a beautiful day. --Elise
It is very easy to shove stuff away. Drawers and closets - well and a basement are my nemesis! YIKES
DeleteYep, keeping things that make me smile and just say Glen! This was our house and I still look at it the same now.
Good for you!! I did a "touch-up" cleanout over the winter, and it sure felt good. I also resolved to work down my fabric and yarn stash. So far I have used up a xerox paper box of fabric and another one of yarn. Husband cleaned out his old magazines. I love how much better my home looks without all the clutter, though it is a never-ending battle.
ReplyDeleteTook a look at the inside of the shed last week. Boy, do I have a cleanout job on my hands in there! Didn't throw anything out yet, but did get out the rain barrels and garden hose barrel, freeing up some space to move things around. I also found some things that I didn't know I had and had planned to buy in the future. Found Husband's tools, including a nice socket set, a multimeter, and other very useful items. That shed was so stuffed that I was purchasing things instead of "shopping in my shed"!
Started a compost bin yesterday. I remembered that I had Husband's wheelie trash bin (with tight-fitting lid) from his old house that had been sitting in my shed for nearly 16 years. I drilled ventilation holes and put it in the backyard. Already saving food scraps and have plenty of newspaper and leaves to add.
It does make a difference to release things!!!!
DeleteOh now my bubble is burst. Haven't even thought about shed and garage!!!!!!!! Sigh. Talk about stuff!!!!!!!
Shed will be easier than garage - my man loved his tools!
How neat on the compost bin. Great use of something you already had. Good luck with it.
You might buy a couple dozen red worms to throw in - it helped mine!!!!!!
Good for you! It takes time, and we all process things at our own pace. It IS okay to let things rest for awhile. I still have my husband's backpack that went everywhere with him -- kind of his alternative briefcase and it's been almost 9 years. I know what's in there, for the most part, and it's ok if it just sits undisturbed in the closet. Maybe some day I'll feel the need to go through it, but for now that's where it will stay. I have gone thru the nightstand drawers and his tool bags; his clothes were all sorted and dealt with. But his backpack ... that will stay a little longer.
ReplyDeleteThat is where the backpack lives and it isn't costing anything or eating anything. It is comfort!!!!! That is how I feel. Just a little smile when you see it!
DeleteDo ladies still do spring cleaning? Boy, I need to do that and get rid of some stuff. We worked in the office and didn't quite get finished as there is so much, well I won't say junk, but things in the room. Actually it is partly a storage place for dog supplies as well as their little "apartment". This is when a basement would be useful!
ReplyDeleteNot looking forward to more rain. At least it is not snow as in some places.
We watched a doctor on YouTube talk about the health benefits of consuming the whole lemon, skin and all. We have been putting a cut up lemon in our smoothies and it is really refreshing. I usually put some honey in but forgot this morning and it wasn't too tart. The Farmer had been squeezing a fresh lemon and drinking it with his breakfast but using the whole lemon is much better. Here is the link to Dr. Berg's You Tube presentation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z-EOytgEhA
Taking the youngest daughter out for her birthday. I know I feel better than I did 48 years ago! ha!
I do believe many still do spring and even fall cleaning. There are times I am thankful for a basement and others not so much!
DeleteInteresting. I like lemon in water. Thanks for the link - will check it out.
I know what you mean about Glen's things. Many of Mom's things are still here too. I just stumbled across her Coca Cola straw holder this morning. I will add it to the things for the next consignment sale as we no longer use those kinds of straws. There is always something to declutter, right?
ReplyDeleteLet us not talk about Coca Cola things!!!! That is my kitchen decor. I have all kinds of it - although last year I did get rid of some.
DeleteYep, there is always clutter to go.
Cheering you on! We need to go through the whole house again, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks - I can hear the cheers from here!!!!!! LOL
DeleteI need that push! Always something to do.
A plumbing leak gave a big boost to cleaning out underneath the utility sink. I too would not want a before picture. Argh! But it's looking good now and I continued on and cleaned all the cupboards in the utility room. Got rid of an OLD broom and bought a new one. Using my new one makes me realize how BAD the old one was. And why did I wait so long??
ReplyDeleteI love "shopping" the shed. Yep, mine needs help too. And thanks for the lemon link. We often get a bag or a box full of citrus from family who live in the Valley of the Sun.
Ellie
Central Az
Something like that can be a blessing in disguise! Under sinks is a collection point too. I just wondering WHY on so many things I have run across.
DeleteOnce the weather gets nice - I will be in my shed 'shopping'!
I'm right there with you! *chuckle*
ReplyDeleteYep, I hear ya...I'm flitting around today too, the littles are coming over tomorrow and so there needs to be some semblence of order plus the declutter thing. I'm getting better at it though...
Even ten minutes helps in a bad area.
Saving things? Yes. Especially those who have gone from us...I loved my step dad so very much and he died in '91. I would save every piece of candy, like little suckers he bought our girls and stuff. I still have his Norman Rockwell painting book, a rock he had on his desk....I even have the cassette tape from the answering machine where he was telling our second born little girl that he had troubles. (he was under so much pressure) He was a sculptor and did cemetery monuments, beautiful work, he sculpted Dr. Cooley's heart monument. A big mega church secretary was really pressuring him at the time...He died of a heart attack suddenly. Broke. Our. Hearts. I don't blame the church but I don't think it helped the way that secretary pressured him either. Poor sweet man...I see signs of his love every now and then...I've seen a Family Circle cartoon where there was a man who looked just like him named Al. His name was Al. It showed Al up in Heaven making it snow for the grandkids...
I miss my dad too....Many reminders and signs as well. I so get what you are saying. There is a great crowd of witnesses too the Bible says.
Cardinals are used and other birds too. Three days before my dad died a bright cardinal appeared before my husband and I walking down the gravel driveway. He was hopping around trying to stop us waving his little wings around trying to tell us something! My dad was in a far away hospital dying, long story that you may remember but it is tragic.
We miss our loved ones something terrible and their little treasures are treasures to us for sure... There are no words.
You go girl on that decluttering and stuff. Sorry about the novelette, but I type what comes to mind... (((hugs))) ~Amelia
Thank you for sharing such sweet stories. They both sound like very special men. I think some people feel out of sight out of mind. The more I talk about them or someone wlse does - that keeps a bit of the person alive. I would like to think someday there will be people talking about us too!
DeletePeople make such huge impressions on our lives - nothing wrong with respecting that and loving it.
I have a backyard full of visitors each day!!!!!!! Cardinals come to see me every morning about dawn and come again about dusk. My good morning and good night!
It was more than 3 years after my brother passed away when my sister in law one day looked at his dresser and said, "I could use that space." That's how she knew she was ready to go through it. There were still tears, but smiles and good byes too.
ReplyDeleteYes, you know when the time is right. It is different for everyone. No wrong or right amount of time.
DeleteI do spring and fall deep cleaning every year. I was just looking at the garage this morning thinking it is time for a deep clean in it. Hopefully it will be warm soon. Good luck on your decluttering! It really is never ending even when you're not much of a shopper.
ReplyDeleteI do big cleans each spring and fall - and like you said, the declutter goes on and on. That is my big thing now - just let stuff go. No, it never seems to end.
DeleteI think it was smart of you to wait for awhile to clean out Glen's bedside table drawer. It would have been painful four years ago, now you even got some chuckles out of it.
ReplyDeleteDecluttering is an interesting process - hard to start, but once you (or at least I) do, it becomes a motivator in itself. However, I have a bad habit of not putting things away properly and it doesn't take long for my closets and drawers to start looking messy again.
I do hope spring shows itself more fully soon!
Glad to know I am not the only one who doesn't put things up properly all the time. That is why my basement is a mess!!!!
DeleteI agree with G's things - just had to be the right time. It's nice to know he can still make me laugh!!!!
I sure hope you get spring soon. You have to be so over winter!
Yes, old things from (or that belonged to) loved ones are special. There are many things I "should" discard, but I'm not ready. Some of these things make this house into my home. Been thinking about my dad lately. A friend's dad died recently and we were chatting about how that feels and changes over time.
ReplyDeleteI always have a basket or box ready to receive things for the charity shop. The Covid years gave me a lot of time to sort stuff and I got rid of heaps and heaps, but there is always more! Thanks for the push to get moving on it again. :)
MaryB
Absolutely, there are lots of items that we keep just as keepsakes. I have stuff from mom and daddy and grandma and Glen. Even my brother and sis. It is all special.
DeleteDeath is part of life and we grow even in our 'stuck' times.
Such is life.
Good luck!
I absolutely love the decluttering process. It's the best. In 2016 I ditched 95 percent of my crap and it was WONDERFUL. Looking forward to reading more as you journey along in the adventures of decluttering! Cheers, Ivy.
ReplyDeleteWOW - you must be the queen of decluttering! That is a lot of stuff to say bye-bye to!
DeleteThanks - it does feel good to get some things gone.
It was a lot of fun and the main thing is, I wanted to do the work and I did it quickly. Which mean a complete shift. Not just a new page - rather a new book.
DeleteIt certainly sounds as if you are full of energy, you go girl.
ReplyDeleteWhen I am cleaning/ organising I will often take a before and after photo just to look at when I’m finished. It gives you a real sense of satisfaction.
Isn’t it always good to be a little tired at the end of the day to feel you have accomplished something? Louise
I have energy for now!!!! We will see how long it lasts!
DeleteI do that too - but just looking in that drawer makes me happy. I remember how bad it was!
Yes, being a little tired at night means a good days work done. It is a nice feeling.
I still refuse to take a picture of my "cleaned" junk drawer. Yours is well organized, whereas mine is a mishmash still.
ReplyDeleteI am a big believer in small bites of the elephant mindset.
God bless.
LOL - I don't know how long this will last - we will see.
DeleteYes mam - every baby step is an inch closer.
Hey Cheryl! I absolutely love your blog and have for some time. I read all the comments, too and I have a question for you. One of your commenters has a blog and I used to go to it all the time. It was great! If I tell you the things I remember, could you direct me to her blog? She was in her 50s or 60s. She was a seamstress who altered a lot of wedding dresses. She had two grown children - one is a doctor? And she’s in love with the grandkids. She has special ways to mark off how she’s saving money. Her and her husband are real active at church, feeding visiting missionaries, and the local food pantry. She’s close to her sister. Please help me with this!
ReplyDelete