Hello all, hope this is finding everyone safe and well. It is a beautiful morning here. Yesterday was about as close to perfect as you can get weatherwise. I worked outside most of the day, and really never got too hot. We have a rain (storms) coming in this afternoon. They say they will be quick moving. I love the rain but sure do hate storms! They are just scary. Temps are to stay very lovely all week.
Do you have a spot that gathers too much stuff? My dining table stays clear. The center spot on the hutch is relatively clear. The kitchen cabinets are clean.
Now if you go to the basement - hmmmm, there are placess!!!! My sewing area, an old dining table has way too much stuff on it. There is an old round coffee table up against a wall - it is loaded with wrapping paper, and cards and supplies.
NEVER look in the storage area of the basement - oh my. That is what gives me the most problems, my nemesis!!!!! That is where I go to de-clutter, get super frustrated and come back upstairs.
I am really a neat person. You can come to the house, any day of the week and it looks pretty darn good. I have had my brother say that before - when just stopping in with no warning. He's always like 'did you just clean'? It is just me, so how hard is it to keep things neat? Even when Glen was here, it was the same. I am always company ready. I put things away and clean as I go. (except for the chair!!!!!)
I know most people have a spot that is the catch-all. Is it a table, the counters, a chair, the dryer top, a bed?
I know I am not the only one!!! Be honest and tell us where your piles are!!!
Time to admit our little secrets - LOL!
Have a beautiful and productive day.
I have been working on a major declutter. With my health, I can’t do the bigger things…hauling stuff up from basement, etc. I had a company come in and for a reasonable price they loaded up and took things away for me… to trash or donate. Ahead of time, my aunt (a second set of eyes) and I walked through and put colored post it notes on everything that needed to go so it made everyone’s job easier. In three hours the big truck was full. I have not missed a thing and simplifying is making taking care of things around the house easier for everyone helping me right now. That chair of yours sounds like the one I have in my bedroom. It’s so nice to sit in after a shower while I’m getting dressed and very frustrating when I fill it with things that need putting away that I tend to not do immediately (which I should). I think most of us have that chairš¤«. Julie V
ReplyDeleteGood to see you post. Did you get surgery? We have all been praying for you.
DeleteThat sounds like a good system. Glad you had help with it. I know I wouldn't miss stuff downstairs - it is out of sight now!
Yes, if we just did things immediately, there would be no need to EMPTY the chair.
Take care!
Good post. There are actually 3 spots that collect things - the island countertop, the table, the trunk in the bedroom. What keeps us from putting those things away the first time? For me, it's a "future" item, i.e. the rhubarb pie recipe, the unfinished magazine article, the clothes to be worn again. There is a coat rack in the bedroom that clothes, pjs can be hung on. Clean surfaces make a space look tidy.
ReplyDeleteI really wonder the same thing. Procrastination I guess.
DeleteI put to be worn again clothes on there as well - sometimes I hang them on a doorknob! (right next to chair).
Yep, tidy just looks good and I don't feel stress.
I think we all do it!
I try to keep the living room straightened up most times but the hubby just puts stuff where ever and then there are the cat toys. So I have to pick my battles.
ReplyDeleteLOL - pick your battles. I get that. Guys do that a lot - Glen used to have piles at his workspace table for the computer. It would drive me crazy. I'd love to see it now.
DeleteKitty toys - but they have so much fun.
For years I had a bedroom chair like yours Cheryl but then I bought some hanging plastic shelves for my closet. I put clothes to be worn again there. I do put away all laundry as soon as it’s dry (dryer). My house stays pretty neat, not perfect but I would not be embarrassed with unexpected guests. My worst clutter by far is paper. I still save too much in files and stack it in piles until I’m ready to file it. Mostly it is in what I call the family room (converted bedroom) and on the night table in my bedroom.
ReplyDeleteI leave tomorrow. Got my electric bill online this morning and not as bad as I expected - $94.28. Yesterday, I emailed a local bus company about going to a castle I want to visit on first day. They responded right away. It may be raining. Distance is only 14 miles from where I’m staying but I understand that Uber does not operate there. A taxi is possible but I’d rather take the bus if I can make the connection work. I am not a tour person, enjoy planning on my own. Barbara M.
Paper can be the worse. I have shredded and gone to shredding events so many times in past few years. Glen kept all of it.
DeleteGlad the elec. bill wasn't as bad as expected. Have a wonderful time and totally enjoy yourself. Can't wait to hear about your adventures.
I got a chuckle out of this post, realizing that this fits most people. Even though we might be tidy by nature, there is still a spot that is neglected. We hung a decorative board with pegs behind our bedroom door, and odds and ends go there. (Similar to Miss Mona's.) The Farmer is a person to put things down, not away. For the most part I collect up things as it bothers me, not him. Miss LaurieS is right...pick your battles. It sure save time to handle something only once, not revisiting several times.
ReplyDeleteLovely day, nice and cool.
I am neat by nature too - but I do have the chair!
DeletePut it down - may mean never seeing it again - or hunting. Put it away, you know where it is!
Yep, picking battles is big.
I honestly don't do piles as they are visually disturbing to my organized genes. I generally put things away when done with them or at worst, tidy before I go to bed.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. I try to stay neat - but dang that chair is just there! Your way is best, but not always going to happen in my world!
DeleteI do keep a "need to file" stack on my desk and that's about it. We both are really good at putting things away.
ReplyDeleteGood for you as well. You and Elle have it going on! I wish I had not mess at all (very little), but then I would have to hunt for something to do. That is my story, and I am sticking to it!
DeleteOh My, we all do. Fly Lady called them hot spots!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good name. It just seems too easy sometimes when we are in a hurry. Glad I am not alone!
DeleteMY spots are the kitchen island, my desk in the bedrrom, and the yarn basket next to my chair. MY dream is to have a old fashioned valet to hang my pants/jeans that I have only worn once and my sweater on. I saw one at a rummage sale and told myself not to buy it. Big mistake.
ReplyDeleteYour yarn basket is probably full of yarn - so that is something you will use. I didn't mention my basket of books, as those are daily items.
DeleteA old fashioned Valet would be something. Don't talk yourself out of one again, if you see it!
For me the hot spot is the top of the blanket box in my bedroom, which always seems to hold a pile of worn once but not dirty clothes ready to be worn again.
ReplyDeleteI have a beautiful cut glass bowl on my dining table, but my son fills it with all sorts of bits and pieces when he sits there using his laptop. I also have a stunning large wooden bowl (I think it is elm) on my coffee table, but my husband uses that in the same way. Every so often I clear them both out, but they don't stay tidy for long.
I am glad to hear so many wear clothes again without laundering. I do that as well. No sense wearing them out in the washer, if they are good for another round.
DeleteI have had bowls like that. I did remove the one I had on the dining table, because I caught myself using it for receipts, mail and papers. I guess we see something empty, te notion is fill it!