2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[debthaven]

This week
- hairdresser/Tues
- supermarket/Tues
- podologist/Tues
- pharmacy/Wed

[Iggy aka IG]

I stayed at neighbor #1's (who also gave me a box of food for my friends in need) house too long last night and didn't get to the laundry.  Today is another day though I'm going out with a different group of friends this evening.

I own a hair dryer, flat iron and curling iron, though I haven't used the latter in years.  I sometimes let my hair air dry on days off, and it is super curly when I do.  I liken it to how Robert Plant's hair was back in the 70's, LOL.

[Empire the P.A.]

Trying to get through my freezer items. Mystery packages and small leftovers have gotten out of control. I also went through my pantry. Was able to tidy up and free up shelf space. Dumped expired cans and put soon to be expired stuff up front. Will be having hodge podge meals for the week. Family will just have to deal with it.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Yesterday:
Bought water for the office dispenser
Picked up our company banner
Dropped off food for the folks in need
Two loads of laundry
Emptied, refilled and started the dishwasher
Exercised for the first time since getting the crud two weeks ago
Folded towels from Sunday

There is something to be said about being home on weekends to do chores....

This weekend:
Drop off bags of onions to two families
Drop off a club sponsor's company banner
ATM
Fuel for the truck
Attend an annual festival
The usual chores

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.  

[startsmart]

I had friends over today which was the kick in the butt I needed to get the house cleaned up. They also wanted to see the upstairs which is not done yet but were impressed with the bones of the house. We had a good chat and are trying to get together more often. I also have a friend coming for lunch on Sunday so now I have incentive to KEEP it clean lol.

Tomorrow I'm going to drop off a bunch of my boxes to someone who needs them for moving and do my errands out of town. 

Other weekend chores: 
- finish installing contact paper on kitchen backsplash
- touch up paint on the bathroom vanity (pics and tile options here imgur.com/gallery/GwbSmkq) 
- finish quilting black and white quilt

I may not have any time to work out in the yard due to the rain but I did get 2 more panels delivered today for arches in the garden. I'm excited to get those installed! 

[moneysquirrel]

Returned home a few days ago and managed to get the laundry done and the luggage put away.  The trip was wonderful and needed.  It was my first big trip in four years and I needed the experiences and time away from the usual.  I enjoyed revisiting a few cities but most of the stops were new to me.  It was great to meet some people I only spoke to on the phone and to pick up old conversations with some I met on an earlier trip years ago.  Have not been affected by jet lag a lot but will be turning in early tonight.  I purchased a few small items but was not one of those purchasing an additional suitcase.  Also decluttered several items.  
Have several pages to read in order to catch up on all you have done but that will wait for another day.  Til later.

[Sharon]

moneysquirrel I'm glad you had a good time on your trip.

Lately I have been motivated to get rid of stuff and have several postings of items for sale but so far no takers.  Today is supposed to be cooler so I hope to get some yard work done.

[saveinla]

I have been very busy with family with us for 3 weeks and have been sick after that.
House is still clean and paper is still being tamed. Hope everyone has been fine.

[NastyWoman]

Couple of short bursts of energy this weekend (I don't have a clue what it is with weekends considering that I am retired) has resulted in one small drawer being emptied out a d two larger ones cleaned up with half of the contents gone. Yesterday I attacked the pi!e of old paperwork and got rid of ~ one foot of that. And today the "biggie".  DS2 used to have a drop leaf kind of table in...Singapore. It really is a nice table which is attached to a wall and, when down just has an 8 inch shelf but up it is a half circle of about 1 meter. Today I dragged it out of the storage area after 26 years of not being used   and set it at the street for the annual cleanup action. Since it was such a nice item it hurt a bit to do so. However, I drove it to the street and went to the grocery store. When I came back it was gone - I am happy to say it seems to have found a new home 

All in all a good weekend

[moneysquirrel]

Expecting power to be cut off in a few minutes.  Planned outage from power company to update some equipment.  Not wanted on a day expecting to reach upper 80-90s.  Not sure how much will get done at home today.

[Iggy aka IG]

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and that you're doing well with all of this smoke from the wildfires up north.

Glad you had a good trip, moneysquirrel.  And, same here, the power company has shut off our power twice in the past few weeks for scheduled whatever they're calling it.  Very strange.

Sharon I hope you had some relaxing time in your yard.

saveinla I hope you're feeling better.
The estimate for the office window tint came in at just under $1,300.   I must look for plan B.

This weekend was a balance of peopling, chores and relaxing.  I did get to the project I wanted to which was change out cold weather tops and sweaters for warm weather.  As I did this, I ensured I wore the cold weather items at least once over the winter, otherwise they would've gone into the donation box.  Other things:

-2 loads laundry
-Folded Monday's laundry
-Made a yummy brunch which included smashed potatoes cooked in the air fryer
-Scrubbed 3 toilets
-Emptied 2 garbage cans
-Boiled eggs, restocked TP, prepared the Keurig for today, refilled the ice trays, zapped a pork rind and parmesan breading in the food processor to keep in the fridge
-Meal planned for the week
-Started the next grocery list
-Tetrised last week's Sam's Club order into the back pantry
-Watered and trimmed house plants
-Unloaded, reloaded and started the dishwasher
-Did a bunch of handwashed dishes

[snapdragon]

May 22, 2023 10:46:45 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and that you're doing well with all of this smoke from the wildfires up north.

Glad you had a good trip, moneysquirrel .  And, same here, the power company has shut off our power twice in the past few weeks for scheduled whatever they're calling it.  Very strange.

Sharon I hope you had some relaxing time in your yard.

saveinla I hope you're feeling better.
The estimate for the office window tint came in at just under $1,300.   I must look for plan B.

This weekend was a balance of peopling, chores and relaxing.  I did get to the project I wanted to which was change out cold weather tops and sweaters for warm weather.  As I did this, I ensured I wore the cold weather items at least once over the winter, otherwise they would've gone into the donation box.  Other things:

-2 loads laundry
-Folded Monday's laundry
-Made a yummy brunch which included smashed potatoes cooked in the air fryer
-Scrubbed 3 toilets
-Emptied 2 garbage cans
-Boiled eggs, restocked TP, prepared the Keurig for today, refilled the ice trays, zapped a pork rind and parmesan breading in the food processor to keep in the fridge
-Meal planned for the week
-Started the next grocery list
-Tetrised last week's Sam's Club order into the back pantry
-Watered and trimmed house plants
-Unloaded, reloaded and started the dishwasher
-Did a bunch of handwashed dishes

Could you put up some type of window film inside your office? Or possibly put up cafe style curtains? 

[snapdragon]

I have been very low levels since I got back and of course being sick. Doing better now though. 

Not much has been done besides laundry and dishes. I need to unload the dishwasher and there is a load of whites in the washing machine. 

I have plans to go to dinner with a neighbor in the next few days. Chinese is on the menu and I am looking forward to it. I plan on placing a order to go after we have ordered our meal so that I will have really yummy leftovers for days.

There has been a break in our weather, so it was raining last night and damp with overcast today. Should be like this for about a week?

Been starting to plan a trip to see the redwoods of Oregon. From my place it would be about 11+ hours driving so if I do it, I plan for a few days to frolic around in the area. 

I also need to work on the paperwork for my passport renewal. With the sinus/cold/allergies I just have not been in the best shape to even attempt to fill out or read/deal with that.

Everyone take care.
  

[Iggy aka IG]

May 22, 2023 11:47:56 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

May 22, 2023 10:46:45 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and that you're doing well with all of this smoke from the wildfires up north.

Glad you had a good trip, moneysquirrel .  And, same here, the power company has shut off our power twice in the past few weeks for scheduled whatever they're calling it.  Very strange.

Sharon I hope you had some relaxing time in your yard.

saveinla I hope you're feeling better.
The estimate for the office window tint came in at just under $1,300.   I must look for plan B.

[snip]

Could you put up some type of window film inside your office? Or possibly put up cafe style curtains? 

snapdragon what an excellent idea!  I'll check out film covering.  Cafe style curtains may be a bit tricky as there are two glass doors which also need to be covered.

[moneysquirrel]

Ran a lot of errands and kept checking my email.  Toward the end of the errands got an email that power has been restored.  I definitely planned that well.  Did a bit of long browsing in a few stores to kill some time, renewed my library card as it was nearing its expiration date, got lunch and also got one item needed for a project and did a run to the bank. Now resting.

This Week:
* Laundry 
* Dishwasher 
* Place hold mail for next weekend
* Craft show Thursday
*Pack for craft retreat -- next weeken
* Work on ongoing projects -- 1 crochet and 2 beading
*Mail off the taxes for craft shows

[TheOtherMe]

I have managed to sift the litter box.  The trash this week is not going farther than the garage.  I don't think I can walk out there and back without fainting.

Gatorade is my best friend.  Yes, I am still sick.

[NastyWoman]

May 22, 2023 16:11:49 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have managed to sift the litter box.  The trash this week is not going farther than the garage.  I don't think I can walk out there and back without fainting.

Gatorade is my best friend.  Yes, I am still sick.

Liked not because you are sick but because you are doing what you can despite being sick. That is true persistence

[Sharon]

TheOtherMe I hope you start feeling better very soon.

Today wasn't as productive as it could have been but getting anything done is a step forward.  I picked up some small pieces of leftover composite decking that had been along side the house and added them to the trash.  There is a mass of wires along the one side of the house from various TV, phone, security systems and who knows what else.  There were some wires that had obviously been cut and were just hanging there by what attached them to the house.  Today I took the time to take some of those down and add them to the garbage.

A week or so I had done a bunch of spraying around the place and one place I hit with weed killer was the area between my pasture fence and the road.  The weeds grow high and then get dry and die.  Last year when I found some cigarette butts in there I knew that would be an annual job to kill that off and then cut it back as short as I could to reduce the possibility of fire.  Today I got in there with the mower and got it all cut way back.  Another day I will go in with the weed whacker and cut it even lower.

Wonderful DSIL fixed my sprinkler system yesterday so no more hauling hoses around for watering, so hopefully no more falling in the yard.

[finnime]

Hope you're feeling better very soon, TheOtherMe.

I'm running through lists of todos before we depart on our cruise tomorrow morning. This morning I bring Franklin the Dog to get groomed. Later he goes to ODB's to stay while we're gone. I'm very fortunate with my siblings! 

I think I have everything packed or at least ready to go. We'll be gone 3 weeks, starting in London and ending in Oslo. The hardest thing so far is finding a passport/cell phone holder for DH. We're going to look at JFK airport during the layover before we get on a plane to Heathrow.

I'm really excited.

[moneysquirrel]

finnime  -- Have a wonderful trip.  
TheOtherMe -- Hope you are feeling better. 
Sharon -- You are getting a lot of thikngs done.  Remember that everything that goes on that trash pile will never to touched again.

I was able to get the library card renewed yesterday.  I listen to a lot of audiobooks so that was a definite need.  Also use their video checkout often.
I picked up some ribbon at Joann's I will need as I finish that crochet project.  Still have a ways to go yet.
Treated myself to lunch since I was out -- used a GC so nothing oop.
Stopped at the bank for some cash and at the grocery for 2 items.  Still in the process of reducing the items I have in the small freezer in the fridge.
By the time I was finished all the running around I got an email that my power was back on.  Last night I ran the dishwasher and this morning I am doing a load of laundry.  Hoping to spend some time later today to make progress on a few of those projects as I will be coming home with 5 new ones after next week's retreat.  
Til later.

[Iggy aka IG]

TheOtherMe I hope you feel better very soon.

moneysquirrel and Sharon nice lists of accomplishments!!!  

finnime that sounds like a lovely trip!

After work yesterday:
-I put the signed playbill from last month's concert and a guitar pick from the same band a few years ago into an upcycled frame.
-I affixed a memorial sticker of a fellow rider who passed away a few months ago onto my ATV.
-I've been focusing on keeping the ice cube bin full now that it is iced coffee season.
-I made a lovely supper of Baja tacos topped with crema to finish the remaining bag of cod and sad avocado, LOL.  They also used a few corn tortillas that were gifted to us.

This evening:
-A grocery store run for fresh produce and the bins I posted about for the camper.
-Somehow, in some magical way, I will fit items from the garage freezer into the kitchen freezer in order to make room for a half cow.  First World Problems for sure.

[Artemis Windsong]

I had so much fun writing stories in the past.  I was in a couple of writing groups.  I saved a lot of materials.  I am passing them forward to a friend's daughter.

The sorting and organizing for her took about 3 hours.  So much better than heading them to the recycler!

The dictionary of flowers is hard to give up.

[debthaven]

I hope you are feeling better now TheOtherMe , snapdragon and saveinla  . 

Have a wonderful trip finnime ! 

We are back from 6 days travelling in Brittany with close friends of mine from college. We had a great time but every minute was scheduled. We're happy to be home.

My bag is unpacked and laundry is going.

I'm WFH tomorrow.

[TheOtherMe]

My niece is coming over this morning to bring him cat food and litter from Chewy and help me shower.  I am so thankful for her.

[Iggy aka IG]

Welcome home, debthaven.  I looked up Brittany (geography wasn't my strong subject in school) and was delighted to learn it is one of the Celtic nations.

I am glad your niece is helping you, TheOtherMe.  When I'm down, I always feel better after a shower.  

I didn't get to the moving of the freezer items yesterday evening, but I did make a delicious supper of air fryer enchiladas and did two mounds of dishes and other items for L's visit today.

[startsmart]

Iggy - I added a privacy film to my front door here in Kansas and it works great! Lmk if you’re interested and I’ll find the link and post a pic.

We got a surprise thunderstorm today so I’ve been in and outside pulling weeds and working in the garden. We should have a few days of high temps and no rain so I can break in the pool properly.

I got all the fabric I need for the new quilt and am just about done cutting it (5 more to iron and cut) and then I’ll have about 70 pieces to baste. It should be another month to get the pieces ready to lay out.

I did drop the king sized quilt to the long arm quilter to finish for me so that’s coming back in a few more weeks.

[Opti]

May 23, 2023 18:04:49 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

I had so much fun writing stories in the past.  I was in a couple of writing groups.  I saved a lot of materials.  I am passing them forward to a friend's daughter.

The sorting and organizing for her took about 3 hours.  So much better than heading them to the recycler!

The dictionary of flowers is hard to give up.

I am just reading the end of this thread. Why are you giving up this dictionary?

[debthaven]

I just placed a small Amazon order. We're almost out of coffee pods (they go quickly these days with the workers here). 

This weekend will be quiet, but then we have guests every weekend for 4 weekends in a row. Happily, most are our kids/grandkids, but alas, not all of them. 

We'll be eating out of the pantry/freezer when it's just the two of us.

It feels so good to be home again.  DH and I were joking about which hotel bed was too hard, and which hotel bed was too soft, and which bed was just right ... ours LOL. 

[TheOtherMe]

My niece is wonderful and knows her mother well.  I would never ask my sister to do things like this.  

My niece said I have more color than the last time she did this for me, 3 months ago, and I was able to do a lot more of the showering by myself.  I have this fear of falling in the shower, not being able to get the grab bar and lying there with cold water running on me for days.  I know it's irrational, but that is my fear. 

At least the shower is large enough for her to get right in if we use the handheld shower head.

[jerseygirl]

TOM do you have a shower chair? No need to worry about falling if you stand