2017 Declutter and Organization Thread

[moneysquirrel]

Just realized that I have not posted in a while.  I have been keeping busy and things are in process for hosting Thanksgiving.  Only have a few for that so will not have as much cooking to do as usual.  

I also only have a few craft shows left this season both in December.  Also have a lot of items that I have to make to get ready for future shows as well as a list of new things to try.  I also need to spend some time to try to make the Etsy shop better.  I need to work on that as I know that I need to do several things to make it better but find that I have so many other things that need to be done now and that site is just a whim for me at the moment.  I think that I will be able to do better once all of the holidays have passed.

Household chores are mainly up to date.  Still adding items to donation bags and boxes.  Will be taking more items to school at the beginning of next month.  I do have a lot more to go through but can only do a little at a time.  I finally got the the grocery and started stocking up all of the items that I was low on.  I know that it is still not where it need to be but enough on hand that I can manage if need be.  

Wishing all of you a truly grateful Thanksgiving.  Thanks to all of you for sharing your talents with all you come in contact.  

[ilovedolphins]

I have the main bathroom cleaned, my daughter's room cleaned out...washing the bedding now, and now I am starting on the living room hoping to put up the Christmas tree and window lights.  It feels so good to get things uncluttered.  After the first of the year I hope to order 2 new beds and get through my son's room and organize the stuff  he didn't have room to take to Florida.  I got a lot more accomplished this morning than I thought I would.

[ilovedolphins]

Last year I didn't have time to put up my usual tree so I bought a pop-up tree.  It is already decorated and lighted and goes up in less than 5 minutes.  I was so thankful to find it.  It saves me a lot of time and even though it isn't as full as a regular tree...it's a tree and I like it.  I even bought one for my parent's house so that saves me time there also.

[debthaven]

You're all getting a lot out of the house!

We made it to Ikea today for the cushions. I also bought a ham there, most stores here don't have them.

This week
School:
- Group A: 19 papers (Tues)
- Group B: 22 papers (Fri?)
- MSc: 5 reports (Sat?)

I have more parent-teacher conferences on Fri so it's another long week.

Of course we never heard from insurance by Fri as promised.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I'm still flabbergasted with the parent-teacher conferences at college! And I'm a helicopter parent. 


Today is our first Thanksgiving. 
DD had Nutcracker performances yesterday, so my mother, sister, and nieces are here. 
Turkey is in the oven, green bean casserole from scratch is ready to cook. Potatoes are in the roasting pan with the turkey
Carrots will be sauteed; asparagus will be steamed. And the quintessential Pilsbury Cresent rolls will be baked while DH slices the turkey. 

We'll be north on Wednesday. DD#1 and DS#1 will join us in our RV on Thursday. I've not planned that meal yet--although DH says we're having ham. 

[ilovedolphins]

Now I worked too hard or too long and my chronic fatigue has kicked in.  I may be done for the day but hope to at least do the dishes and maybe exercise if I get to feeling better.

[TheOtherMe]

Have a package ready to go to someone who mentioned needed something old that I just happened to have, so it is changing households.

Have a load ready to go to Goodwill tomorrow.

I fly to Colorado on Thursday.  I am so excited!!!

[Waffle]

Hello people, it's been a while. Just thought you might be interested to know that I'm being "forced" to keep a clean house - ok so far only the first floor - but that in itself is more than I was doing before.

My mother was in the hospital for a few days. On I believe the 2nd day they started talking about home health care. And I started spending my evenings decluttering and hiding stuff and cleaning. She was released Saturday and the first nurse visit was scheduled for Sunday at 10:00 a.m.   The odds of my getting the whole first floor clean were slim to none.

I went to bed about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday and got back up at 6:00 a.m. By the time the nurse got to the house the first floor looked pretty good, but I know there are boxes of things that I just gathered up and put in the garage.  At some point I'll have to sort through all of that stuff and other stuff that I jammed into cabinets and drawers.   Not to mention real cleaning, like the refrigerator, cabinet doors and a thorough floor moping/vacuuming - as opposed to the quick sweep I gave it Sunday morning. (Mom's bedroom and bathroom floors were the only ones that got thoroughly cleaned.)

And I haven't even started on the 2nd floor - hopefully I'll be able to tackle that sometime soon - because mom's sisters are  talking about coming to visit her.  One guest room is ok, but the 2nd is a total mess, because before she got sick mom got the great idea to turn it into extra storage for the antiques business - instead of keeping so much stuff in the basement.  20/20 hindsight probably not such a great idea.

[TheOtherMe]

Hope your mother is feeling better.

[debthaven]

Same here Waffle . I'm sure cleaning up under those circumstances is very stressful but I'm sure you're glad it's getting done. Is there someone who could help you carry the antiques either to the garage or the basement? Might it be worth trying to sell some at a lower price just to get rid of some?

I forgot about laundry this weekend (very unlike me). I started a second load but I'll probably finish it tomorrow.

Rehearsals for the next play started tonight. I backed out last week because I can't face late evening rehearsals twice a week (I was just in the chorus this year so it didn't matter).

I've decided I want to give up one class (with lots of marking) at my main job next fall semester. (I automatically lose 1 or 2 classes in spring.) But, my boss could then take away a second class (with no marking). (The no marking classes are sort of a "reward" for the others). I have plenty of time to worry about it. And of course that will depend on insurance / DH's settlement / selling a studio.

Remember more teaching hours = more prep = more marking. I've always been fine with 21-22h/week but 24-25h/week is too much. Also, with so many teachers (10 of us now) somebody inevitably ends up with a health/family issue so we usually have to do extra hours at some point. It's one thing to temporarily ramp up your hours for 2-4 weeks and another thing to do it all semester. Plus, three teachers are young, recently married, and want children.

Still no news from insurance. I finish early tomorrow so DH'll probably call when I get home. And we know they got the adjuster's report last Wed. I'm feeling very low again.

[TheOtherMe]

The Goodwill drop off location was packed to the brim when I dropped off my things this morning.  I was happy to see the Christmas decorations (new in boxes) were taken to a different area than the other things I dropped off that are not seasonal.

[startsmart]

Dropped off the items I'm selling at the holiday consignment shop. I'm not too hopeful because they're in a new location and it doesn't have good signage yet. We'll see. 17 items dropped off at least. 

I also did some grocery shopping since the stores only get more crazy as the week goes on. I did pick up a small turkey I'm going to roast tomorrow and then freeze most of for meals. 

I'm still working on the small projects list, today's action was re-covering a few pop up tables with new fabric. They get modge podged and then are pretty easy to clean up. I've had the plastic tables about 12 years now but used them for a lot of outdoor painting projects which made them pretty gross. Remnant piece of outdoor fabric and they're looking good! If it will stop raining long enough I'll try to finish cutting all the wood for my kitchen window trim. I need a couple of free days to cut, sand, paint and then install it.

I got caught up on a lot of client work today but there's so much more to do this week it's going to be a very hectic time. 

[countrygirl2]

Oh am I going to clean when the kids leave.

They want a spare table and chairs, it was ours the first year we were married. Maybe another
table a Duncan Phyfe of his mom's that was her MIL's. Mom's old rocking chair, an extra recliner
from the basement, we have 3 down there. We have an extra TV, a twin bed and chest of drawers for
little guy and a coffee table I have. Son's telescope an maybe my toddler chair for little guy.

Then a lawn mower from MIL, a dryer we have that is only 3 years old, a dehumidifier for their
basement. He will only have to buy a washer.

Also an antique table from my aunts MIL and a pretty lamp I've had for 20 years I suppose, my
mom bought it at a yard sale she wants. We have extra dishes, silverware, glasses. I bought her
some bath towels, kitchen towels, some pots and pans for Christmas. Just basics but good ones
as their belongings will take a month or more to get to them.

She is driving us crazy wanting to buy, buy, buy all kinds of stuff here, we are going to be taking a
long trailer now and as hubs has tried to tell her with snow and rain it will be hard to keep
stuff dry. We will wrap it in tarps and stuff but she has a truckbed of suitcases and junk
she has bought while here. And I hate to say it but junk is a name for a lot of it.

DIL has agreed to meet some guy in the city tomorrow evening to buy a damned lamp she just
has to have and she has no end tables!! Will send more if she wants it, maybe curtains, have
some throw rugs too.

Hubs intends to put blinds up in the house for them and also to seal the new granite countertops,
likely other stuff while there.

When home I'm getting all my carpets cleaned and upholstered furniture, everything needs it.

Good night all

[debthaven]

School:
- Group A: 17 papers (Tues)
- Group B: 22 papers (Wed-Fri)
- MSc: 5 group reports (Sat?)
- 2 late papers (whenever)


The hot water tank in one of the studios just died. We just can't catch a break financially. 

[TheOtherMe]

Sorry debt.

[Waffle]

Nov 21, 2017 10:45:01 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Sorry debt.

[Chocolate Lover]

Sorry Debt! 

[Waffle]

Things to do tonight:

Finish load of mom's laundry (threw it in the washer when I went home for lunch.)

Do one load of laundry for me.

Wrap 4 items that sold on Ebay.

Rearrange/clean/declutter things in "corner" where breakfast nook and family room meet.

Mop kitchen and laundry room floors.

Throw out pile of magazines that are currently in the living room.

Throw out shedding plant and sweep 3 season room.

debthaven - yes it's been stressful, but also given me a sense of accomplishment.  In theory yes, I'm willing to let some of the antiques go for cheap or even donate some of them. (understand these are not fine antiques - mostly vintage collectibles - glassware, pottery, jewelry, linens, lamps, small pieces of furniture, etc.)   And yes, I have a few people who would help me move things - the problem, of course, is deciding which things to keep and which to let go of.  I am having a sale at one of the antique malls - trying to get rid of some stuff.

I figure I'm going to have to come up with an "for now" plan and then eventually (frankly, after my mother passes)  I'll work on really tackling that mound of stuff in the garage and elsewhere.  I'm sure there is a lot of stuff that I don't really want anymore. 

[Iggy aka IG]

debthaven glad you found cushions you like.  Sorry about the tank. 

Safe travels to you, Knee Deep in Water Chloe and TheOtherMe!

Waffle, that's a heck of a list!

Attempting to wind down for the long holiday weekend.  My list and what my clients have in mind are always polar opposites. 

Tomorrow night I'm going to bake cherry and pumpkin pies for mom's Thursday.  I'm excited to see the nieces and their boyfriends.  Niece1 and her BF each graduated from their respective study programs, and niece2 purchased a new to her truck.  Aunt Iggy will be doling out $$. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  Thank you for being here. 

[chiver78]

offloaded the hurricane candle holder this afternoon on my way in to work. the woman I met was running late, and thought she could pop into a CVS to get cash back from her debit card in order to pay me......but there's no CVS near where we were meeting. so she gave me $6 in bills and $3 in quarters for the $10 price of the item. I told her I'd have taken the $6, but she wouldn't hear of it, she offered a check too. I was like, you are taking this large and oddly shaped thing that doesn't fit my decor anymore out of my storage, THANK YOU! I threw the quarters into my center console. I'll run into a parking meter somewhere soon enough. 

but YAY! one more item GONE!! 




and sorry, debt. you really can't catch a break

[TheOtherMe]

Waffle  As I do my decluttering, I am under orders from my sister that nothing that came from my parents can be donated or sold.  It is all going back to her.  Most of what I took when we went through mom's things are sentimental items.  I'm not giving her my mom's quilt that was made by her grandmother or things that mom gave to me as gifts.  Also not donating/selling the porch swing my grandpa made by hand or the quilt given to me by my grandma.

If she wants to have a warehouse, she can.  She has told me that their basement is full of things that belonged to his parents that he couldn't/can't part with.  My niece told me that periodically she says she needs to go through mom's things and then can't get rid of any of it.

She worries that I will let it out of the family.  Anything I have will be going to her kids since I don't have any.

[debthaven]

By the way DH called insurance today. They are "still processing our file". It's a good thing that it's DH calling and not me, because I would have gone ballistic on them a long time ago, and perhaps that wouldn't have done us any good. They said it's only a matter of days now (which is exactly what they said last week).

[startsmart]

Today was a nice twist - I had contacted my hair/makeup gal to offer her some dark lipsticks I never used and she just texted me her new salon address. Then I got derailed on my way to the store because there was an accident and a ton of traffic and ran into her at the grocery store! Pulled the 6 lipsticks out of my purse right then and there!

(but forgot my lettuce so I have to go back tomorrow anyway - doh) 

Turkey is going in the oven in the morning and then I'll work on a few side dishes - it's just me eating so I don't plan on doing much but I do have some yams and carrots to roast. I am hopeful that after getting my lettuce at the store I can introvert all weekend and re-emerge on Monday  

[busymom]

Aw nuts!  Sorry debthaven!    (Were you mopping up water like we did when our hot water heater went out?)


I really didn't do any decluttering today.  I Christmas shopped online.  There are some really good deals out there.  And yes, I behaved & didn't buy anything that would clutter up my house.  

[debthaven]

busymom it was in our rental ... we only found out when we got the estimate from the property manager.

[busymom]

Nov 22, 2017 2:43:56 GMT -5 debthaven said:

busymom it was in our rental ... we only found out when we got the estimate from the property manager.

       It's still an expensive (and sometimes messy) problem.  I hope it doesn't run into too much $$$ for you.

       It looks like our company won't be able to be here for Thanksgiving.  We'll still have a good day, with the kids being home,    and there's plenty of food.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Nov 21, 2017 18:07:26 GMT -5 debthaven said:

By the way DH called insurance today. They are "still processing our file". It's a good thing that it's DH calling and not me, because I would have gone ballistic on them a long time ago, and perhaps that wouldn't have done us any good. They said it's only a matter of days now (which is exactly what they said last week).

When it comes to complaints here in the states, we have the Division of Insurance.  Do you folks have something similar?  Like a bank department to which you can escalate complaints?

[debthaven]

Insurance said NO. Not a penny. I found out this morning on the train to school. I was a wreck, still am. Don't know how I got through the day. They said it was a design fault and not an accident and we're not covered for buried pipes. I even called.

Now that I'm home I can't stop crying. It's only money right?!

I planned to mark tonight but I can't.

[Iggy aka IG]

[dee27]

Sorry, Debt