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Post by ntsf on Nov 29, 2021 18:17:29 GMT
my dad died last week, and I am still at his condo. so I made a massive trip to good will and have been tossing and recycling like mad. have found some family history stuff I am taking home. we will do the big clean out in april, but am tossing what I can now. so when I get home, I will also be in a tossing mood. our painter is coming on the 11th.. to paint the room that has all the books and scrapbooking stuff (which lives currently in living room and dining room).. so after painting, I will be able to start putting stuff back and sorting. I hope my sister will take some of dad's household goods.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Nov 29, 2021 18:32:46 GMT
ntsf - I'm so sorry about your father. Getting rid of as much stuff immediately afterwards was what worked for us. I have found that the stuff I brought home has been much harder to sort through and purge. I still have a good bit 5.5 years later. Every year I say I will tackle it, but I do think I am mentally ready now. Good luck with your painting project. It will be so nice to move your things back into a freshly painted room!
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Post by ~summer~ on Nov 29, 2021 18:34:45 GMT
ntsf - sorry about your father. It sounds like he had a long, active life.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Nov 29, 2021 19:09:40 GMT
My sympathies to you ntsf. You are wise to purge all you can while you're in the mood to do so. Decisions deferred are often decisions never made.
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 29, 2021 19:25:42 GMT
ntsf I am sorry for your loss. I hope you are able to empty his condo quickly.
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Post by Linda on Nov 29, 2021 19:52:16 GMT
((((Hugs))) and prayers ntsf - I'm so sorry for your loss
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Post by simplyparticular on Nov 30, 2021 0:02:40 GMT
ntsf - my condolences on your loss. Be kind to yourself. The energy to purge runs out pretty quickly as the decisions get more difficult, so dealing with the easy stuff now is a good call. My father died in June and I’m Still dealing with scanning the paperwork that came to my house for the estate, and my brothers are still trying to empty the garage so mom can park in it this winter.
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Post by ntsf on Nov 30, 2021 6:26:39 GMT
my dad lived to 95, so a good long life. and we are not clearing out the condo to sell til spring.. but just trying to get a jump on it. my dad was very focused on photography.. working on sorting this out. took a box of sweaters to my sister. (she is on ssi and mentally ill).
thanks for the sympathy. it will hit me later.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Nov 30, 2021 10:13:36 GMT
ntsf (((Hugs))) I'm sorry for your loss.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Nov 30, 2021 14:33:32 GMT
I had a load of laundry for myself to put away yesterday so I decided to flip my closet and drawers to move winter stuff closer and summer further away. I decided I had time so I gave everything the critical eye... and got rid of 47 items! I tried on all the jeans/pants that aren't my know-they-fit-like-them-grab-them-every-time ones. If I didn't love the way they felt on me... out they went.
I really need to have a long talk with myself about high heeled shoes. I have some I admittedly will probably never wear again. But I like the *potential* of them sitting there all pretty on the shelves. They aren't really in the way, but who couldn't stand to free up a few extra shelves for other things? Ack. This one is hard for me.
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 30, 2021 19:15:40 GMT
Where does all the stuff come from? I had gone through all the drawers, closets, and bins since I retired, but I am finding more. It's very motivating to know we are moving in 3 months. I'm taking a second look at everything. I have 5 boxes ready to go to Goodwill. I'm hoping to give a keyboard to my sister's school. I'll know later today. If not, it's going on the curb with a free sign.
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Post by Linda on Nov 30, 2021 19:42:10 GMT
Where does all the stuff come from? I had gone through all the drawers, closets, and bins since I retired, but I am finding more. It's very motivating to know we are moving in 3 months. I'm taking a second look at everything. I have 5 boxes ready to go to Goodwill. I'm hoping to give a keyboard to my sister's school. I'll know later today. If not, it's going on the curb with a free sign. I find that everytime I go back through - I'm ready to let go of things I wasn't ready for last time. The first time I go through a drawer or a shelf or a room - I get the low-lying fruit - the easy stuff that I know I don't want/need to keep and the trash. The next time through, I dig a little deeper and let go of stuff that is still good but perhaps a duplicate or no longer needed. The next time time through, I'm digging even deeper - and I'm thinking about whether I've even touched this item since last time I went through and if not, why I am I still holding on to it. So that's part of it. The other part is most of us are still bringing stuff in - stuff we buy, stuff we are given, stuff that the people we live with buy and are given... and it's not always as easy to follow through with one thing in, one thing out as it sounds. I know we talked here earlier in the thread about how decluttering has changed our buying habits but that's also an 'over time' process. Sounds like you're doing great!
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,329
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Nov 30, 2021 20:22:54 GMT
I finally got the 1st level of the house decorated for Christmas and I gotta say how much easier it was since I had purged and reorganized the Christmas decor this past year. I'm still pretty much in maintaining mode right now with the rest of the house.
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Post by Linda on Dec 14, 2021 3:01:42 GMT
I think we finally got all the books dealt with. I had originally unpacked books into the bookcases in the guest room (all the books that had been in the living room at the old house) and later we unearthed a ton of book boxes with DH's books - no idea where he was hiding those at the old house. D21 is moving out in two weeks and I've been helping her pack - she's not bringing her bookcases and her room will also become a guest room.
So I decided to put the fiction books in her room and the non-fiction in the guest room. That was QUITE the project and then I found another half dozen book boxes. But they are all on shelves now. Actually organising them will be for another day.
Found a bunch of duplicates - DD21 is taking some of them, DD15 took one, and the rest went in the donation pile. We had THREE copies of one Stephen King book - and I don't think any of us have even read it yet.
I've also purged my bread machine although that was certainly unintentional - it threw itself off the counter mid-cyle this afternoon and perished. Not sure if I'll replace it. I haven't used it as much as I thought I would.
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Post by Linda on Dec 14, 2021 3:05:42 GMT
and yes - we have too many books. With a few exceptions - I'm donating or passing along as I finish reading. DH is 'planning' to go through his and see if there are any he can let go of.
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Post by ntsf on Dec 14, 2021 3:14:38 GMT
the painting on my extra room is done.. but the dish cabinet will have to move to a temp position.. for the window installation in jan and to get all the good dishes off my tabletop. one good thing, my kids had a good look at some of the china my grandmother painted in the 1920's.. neat art deco patterns.. and they will take some of it and my son said that at his next move, he will take our wedding china. I still have my grandmother's china set (1920's.. with dragons on it).
and in addition to the 6 boxes of photos to go through and scan, my daughter may come visit from new zealand for 8 weeks. so I have to clean out the other junk room.. that has all my sewing and extra stuff (the room is 8x10)...tiny. progress happening but slow.
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Post by tentoes on Dec 14, 2021 4:33:39 GMT
I went through my clothes yet again, and got rid of 6 huge plastic bags full of clothes. According to my ddil, I still have too many clothes, but I am working on it!! I've always only had "current season" clothes in my closet because of lack of room, and the out-of-season clothes were in clothes boxes in the shed. Well, since I moved to my son's home, I have two huge closets, and was kind of told "we keep all our clothes in our closets." So, I'm trying! I have one huge box full of clothes in the next size up that I put in the garage, I guess I could get rid of that--but if I gain weight I won't have anything to wear!!
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Post by tentoes on Dec 14, 2021 4:35:24 GMT
ntsf so sorry about your dad. Sending prayers to you and your family.
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Post by Linda on Dec 17, 2021 3:06:40 GMT
I'm tired - helped DH at the old house today for about five hours. We loaded up the exercise bike and the freezer (which DS is taking), finished clearing out the carport except for the gas cans, and made really good progress in the small shed - we emptied 4 of the 6 shelving units and brought 3 of them back with us, the 5th is almost empty. I think one more trip over there and the shed will be empty.
We have a BIG pile of scrap metal to take to the scrapyard, we filled up the big trashbin plus 2 big black bin bags with rubbish, we have a goodsized pile of stuff that needs to go to hazardous waste.
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Post by ntsf on Dec 17, 2021 3:11:54 GMT
congrats linda.. sounds like a big job and big progress.
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Post by Linda on Dec 18, 2021 21:06:23 GMT
Thanks ntsfToday we had the movers move the remaining furniture - the couch, loveseat, and recliner for the living room, the headboard, my dresser, and DH's armoire for the bedroom, a desk for the guest room, a desk and 2 tables for the bonus room, and the piano. They are all in place now. The living room is completely set up - except DH needs to assemble one more narrow Billy bookcase for CDs and actually hook up the stereo. I steam cleaned the couch and loveseat. I'm starting to unpack and wash the dining room stuff - so much stuff...and most of it isn't dishwasher safe. Hopefully between today and tomorrow I can get that finished. I'll deal with the dresser drawers once DH wakes up. We were up until midnight making space in the bonus room for the tables and desk and up before 7 to meet the movers.
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Post by Linda on Dec 19, 2021 0:34:09 GMT
dresser drawers are in the dresser and filled with neatly folded clothes; closet is straightened out; and I've filled a paper ream box with clothes and other things for donation and passed a pair of dress trousers to DD21 - if they don't fit her, they'll go in the donation pile. I also tossed a couple of pairs of socks that had seen better days and added a plate and a crock to the donation bin as well.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 19, 2021 1:14:16 GMT
Today we had the movers move the remaining furniture Fantastic! You must be so glad to finally have that behind you. I haven't been posting much lately as not much has been happening. I'll toss an item here or there into the donation bin, but I've had other projects going. Once the holidays are over I will get back to work. So much to be done yet.
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Post by Linda on Dec 19, 2021 1:41:02 GMT
Fantastic! You must be so glad to finally have that behind you. so very very glad
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 19, 2021 13:14:36 GMT
I asked DS to paint our hall bath when he is here for Christmas, as my gift. He was all in, so yay! I took down all the stuff off the walls yesterday and put it in a box for donation. After New Years, I have some furniture to donate. I'll be so happy when that is gone. Linda I am so happy you finally got your furniture moved!
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Post by Linda on Dec 21, 2021 20:44:28 GMT
mikklynn - thank you - me too! That's great your DS will do the painting for you! Yay! Our movers took several bikes out of the scrap pile (they asked first) so that's less we have to drag to the scrap yard. DD15 is cleaning her room and has a box of stuff she's getting rid of - yay! DH picked up a battery storage box this week - which will keep them all confined and in one place. So an organisation win there. Anyone thinking about 2022 plans for decluttering, organising, downsizing etc...? **GypsyGirl** will we have a 2022 thread? I know, for me, I want to focus on using what I have sewing and scrapping wise rather than buying more. I have plenty of fabric and unused patterns to sew up and I'm aiming to sew at least once a week next year. I'm going on a scrapbook freeze to use down some of my stash it's a bit bigger than I prefer - but I'll also look with a critical eye at it all and see if there's stuff I'm just not going to use. Organising wise - I have more family archives stuff to do and I want to work on that at least once a month And I'll be transforming D21's room into a second guest room - it'll need a bed and a nightstand. There are already plenty of bookcases and I've already moved teh fiction books in there - they could use some organising though (as could the non-fiction in the other room). And I want to make some displays with some of the family stuff I've inherited - I figure my kids are more likely to be interested in it if they see it and learn the stories than if I keep them in boxes.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 22, 2021 5:53:06 GMT
Linda - Ya'll are really making some progress this month. I like that the movers saved those old bikes from the scrap pile. Here there is a heavy trash day every other month that will take nearly anything. It's fun to see what people put out...and what people will take before the trash trucks come around. I picked up all but one of the things I was having framed. 4 are staying here and 3 have gone to DD for her WFH office. The last item will stay here and should be ready by Jan 1. That's a total of 8 things out of cabinets and drawers so they can be enjoyed. Will be dropping off 3 more needlepoint/cross stitch items to be framed when I pick up. Anyone thinking about 2022 plans for decluttering, organising, downsizing etc...? **GypsyGirl** will we have a 2022 thread? I have been thinking about this. As everyone remembers, I swore up and down in January that this year would be the last. The year long thread format has worked well, so perhaps another year done this way? If there is someone who wants to take over the decluttering thread, I am happy to step aside. In the event that none of you declutterers want to take it on, then I will start a thread on Jan. 1 for 2022, but can't promise that I will spend as much time refreshing and bumping as I have in the past. As for my own 2022 plans, there are plenty! Family history (photos, albums, memorabilia) are high on my list. Plans are to finish albums, sorting photos, having things printed and/or framed so that we can enjoy them. On the creative front I have a couple of baby quilts I need to make and a few more UFO's to wrap up. I pick up my new sewing machine tomorrow and plan to get back to garment sewing. There is a large stash of garment fabric that needs to be made smaller. I am also circling back to doing more needlepoint. There is a healthy stash of canvases to do, as well as a couple of UFO's to finish. House-wise will be that darn guest room. The room really needs to be repainted, but has to be cleared out before that can happen. Also hoping that I'll be able to have the kitchen/old dining room project done. Won't really know until March or April though if it will happen. I've told DH that it takes priority to any other house project now, and am willing to consider it my 65th birthday gift. That's how desperate I am to get it done!
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 22, 2021 13:09:58 GMT
**GypsyGirl** Thanks for doing this thread. It's my favorite. I hope you'll start one for 2022 and I commit to bumping it. I'm sure others will, too. Since I'll start packing my house after I put away Christmas, I will probably be posting a lot. I am sure I'll find more to declutter!
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Post by Linda on Dec 22, 2021 14:27:32 GMT
Here there is a heavy trash day every other month that will take nearly anything. It's fun to see what people put out...and what people will take before the trash trucks come around. Where I lived as a tween/teen did that in the spring and it was traditional to drive around the evening before trash pickup and find treasures in other people's trash That's a total of 8 things out of cabinets and drawers so they can be enjoyed that's the best - the things being enjoyed Thank you for doing this thread - I find it motivating to share progress but it's also nice to have a place to vent and find commiseration when projects are slower than hoped. If you're not up to posting it - I'll do it but either way - I'll do my best to help keep it bumped.
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Post by dewryce on Dec 22, 2021 15:26:52 GMT
mikklynn What an awesome idea for a gift! Makes me wonder who I could ask that of I don’t pop in much because we are in the maintenance phase of decluttering so just little things here and there, which is not exiting or motivational to post. But I just remembered it’s an organizing thread as well. Duh. We are mostly working on little projects around the house and a few reorganization projects now. As we’ve put up our Christmas trees and decorations I have found some items we aren’t in love with any more so out they go, and some ornaments are being reassigned to another tree. I got motivated last night putting the finishing touches on our tree in the entry way so I’m going to go through our other tree boxes with a vengeance today and see if I can let go of even more. We are bringing in new decorations, but only if we really love them; we are much more discerning now. Also going to put up our summer clothes this week. I don’t know why, it’ll be 82 on Christmas. But these spring colors just have to go. While I do that we will try on things and give them a critical look to make sure we love them. In 2022 my goals are to finish the small around-the-house projects so I can start making a lot more headway on my craft projects. I finally got the Christmas cards out that I’ve been working on for years and our Valentines cards are stamped and ready to go! Some of my projects need a new computer to accomplish and that’s not in the cards for a while so that’s a bit frustrating. Like scanning photos. I’d say 95% are really well organized but I can go through them again and thin the heard. Plus tackle the 5%. Then it’s on to my crazily well organized craft supplies. The one area I didn’t go through with a fine tooth comb this last time we did a declutter spree, only a few minutes here and there and again when I worked on projects. Whoever said you can’t organize clutter was wrong! *sigh* This category will be hard and I need y’all to hold my hand.
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