2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[TheOtherMe]

Wish me luck.  I am about to put together two food storage bins on wheels for the cat food because they eat different types of food.  

These are supposed to have good seals and don't take up much space.  

A bag was broken in a cupboard because the cats chewed on the bag and it drew ants.  I'm hoping I can now totally clean that up.  The ants are dead, I think.  I haven't seen any for some time.

That will open up the cupboard space for something else.

[Sharon]

Nov 5, 2023 9:03:04 GMT -5 debthaven said:

You're such a good grandma Sharon ! Would it be worth knitting him a back-up blankie? 

This week/weekend
- finalize Job 2 film review brief/done
- finalize Job 2 final exam brief/done  
- figure out the menu for Book Club on Tues and ask for contributions/done
- find papers in the basement for DS1/done

I found the papers for DS1, scanned them and sent them to him. 

He has a back up blanket.  Each of the kids has two hand knitted blankets, except the youngest.  One knitted by me and one knitted by my Mom.  My Mom is behind on her knitting.  He is just very attached to that blanket that I knit for him.  He calls it his "me". 

[Sharon]

The family room is painted.  The color isn't exactly what I was expecting, which is odd since it is the same color that was in my living room at my last house.   My other living room was really dark and the family room is light so I think it is the amount of light in the room.  It isn't bad, just not what I was expecting.  The previous color was a fairly dark gray, not charcoal, but a very strong gray color.

Tomorrow I will give the floor in there a good cleaning since most of the furniture is moved out.  I think I have found a ceiling fan that I like to replace the one that in that room.  It is more modern looking.

[Iggy aka IG]

TheOtherMe I hope the bin works out!

Sharon excellent job finishing the paint job.  I admire you for doing it yourself because when I helped DH paint our bedroom a few years ago, my hand cramped toward the end.  It's harder than it looks!

moneysquirrel nice list!

Boy does being out of town over the weekend make a difference!  We arrived home mid-afternoon yesterday, emptied my truck, and I immediately unpacked and started a load of laundry.  I then went to the neighbors to bring them two types of melons we picked up at a fruit stand on the way home, and for a few reasons, stayed a bit longer than anticipated.  When I arrived home, I moved the laundry to the dryer, and because I watched my NFL game, have at least 3 more loads waiting for me this evening.  In between plays, I warmed up leftovers for supper, emptied the dishwasher, put fresh towels out in the master bathroom, boiled and peeled eggs and prepped fresh veggies for the week, and refilled the ice trays and Keurig.  After the game I did dishes.  When going up and down stairs for laundry this evening, I'll bring down the remaining Halloween items for storage purposes.

[TheOtherMe]

The food bins were very easy to put together.  No tools necessary.  To think I had been going to ask my nephew!  I would have been so embarrassed.  

I'm thinking that I will buy two more in January to keep the unopened bags in.  The bins are not very big and not totally ugly.  The ones with the open food will stay in the kitchen.  When I get the other two, the unopened bags can be in the garage.  Something would have to chew through both the bin and then the bag to get to it.  

[debthaven]

TheOtherMe from what you are describing, my friend A has the same sort of bin for her border collie. It works very well. I've used it too when we've watched him.

Iggy aka IG what a busy return from your weekend away! 

Congrats on getting the painting done Sharon ! That's no mean feat!

So glad you're feeling better moneysquirrel and startsmart .

jerseygirl my DH is selling his dad's old motorcycle tomorrow. He said he's happy to see it go to a good home. Hopefully you can convince your DH to feel the same way.

The complementary health insurance is still giving me the runaround. I called them today and the woman promised me I'd be reimbursed in 48h. I'm not sure I believe her, because I got two emails this morning telling me that the main French health insurance has me signed up with another company. I checked, and it's not true!!! This is not even for the bridge! It's BEYOND frustrating, and I was in a bad state all day. 

The admin student I took over for somebody else and wrote to about classes 5 weeks ago suddenly woke up ... he wants classes starting NOW. I should have ignored him, but I agreed. I'll do it at MY convenience, but still.

So I'm not in a good place. 

[debthaven]

To add to the excitement, I have 11 people here for book club tomorrow night. My DH made dinner.   And I realized two days ago it's our turn to host Thanksgiving this year! (Only 4 people, but still.) The rule here for book club is that the host can make a main dish if she wants, but no obligation. The others bring wine/salad/cheese/dessert.

Plus tomorrow I will have 18 videos to mark.  I want to finish them by Saturday.

[TheOtherMe]

18 videos to mark?  What are you looking for in the videos?

Full bins of trash and recycling are at the curb

[Sharon]

Today after work I went and bought two more gallons of paint before the sale ends tomorrow.  I've finally decided what color to paint the kitchen.  I put on two coats of primer probably a year ago so it is ready to go.  While I was out I picked up a new smoke detector, to replace the 10 year old one, and some blank face plates.  The speaker plug ins are going away and I'm just going to put a blank plate over them, hopefully it looks better.

The floor got a good scrubbing and the furniture has been moved back into place.  I also got the litter box changed and the waste baskets emptied and the garbage taken out.

[TheOtherMe]

For whatever reason, they only took half of the recycling.  They pick it up with a machine and a machine empties it.  I don't know what a human actually does.  

[Iggy aka IG]

debthaven sorry about your insurance frustration!  I hope book club night is fun.

Sharon since moving in, we installed several blank face plates in our home.  A few were to cover several odd things which I'd love to ask a former owner about.  

I finished all 3 laundry loads last night.  The towels are still in the dryer and will get fluffed tonight.  I also want to wash throw blankets, but we'll see.  All Halloween decorations have been moved downstairs and need to be fitted back into storage bins.  I decorate for Christmas over the Thanksgiving weekend.  The main kitchen counter is cleared off, all dishes but the air fryer pans are washed, the slow cooker is in the cupboard, and the garbage is ready to go out.  L comes tomorrow.

[debthaven]

Book club is over. It was fun. The dishwasher has been run and emptied. Everything is put away, including the extendable table leaves.

Very happy I'm off tomorrow. I'm WFH on Thursday.

 

[startsmart]

Today I put out the trash and recycling for pickup and then had to pick up a ton of trash from my yard and driveway. My neighbors don’t use bags correctly and let their cans fall over and the wind blows it into my yard. It’s so obnoxious and looks, well, trashy.

I went grocery shopping today just for the essentials and that was expensive enough. Everything is put away and dinner the next few nights is sorted. I have soup that’s taking a long time to cook (5 hrs so far) and I need to go do a bunch of dishes soon.

I did vote today and picked up my mail which handled 2 fun packages from fabric swaps. I’m working on a Christmas tree skirt and now I have 75 more Christmas fabrics to use.

[Iggy aka IG]

seriousthistime before I forget:  Last week I made the vegetable stew you posted about a few pages back.  It really IS delicious!  I made a few vegetable substitutions, and added sliced beef sausage and it was amazing.  It made for 5 servings which included supper and three lunches.  I put it into the cold weather meal rotation.

debthaven glad it was fun!  Good job on things already being picked up.

startsmart ugh, some people!  Sorry about their trash.

Last night the towels got fluffed, and a throw blanket and comforter from the former guest bed got washed.  DH put the latter into the dryer but forgot to bring up the towels.  Ah, well.  I filled and started the dishwasher, and every hand wash item is clean and put away including the air fryer pans.  I gave L an update this morning.  She is very excited about the fact the stationary bike is out of the living room, LOL.  I took out the trash on the way to the office.

I've been putting off stopping at the grocery store as October was a verrrryyyy expensive food and beverage month.  We'll soon need fresh produce, which I never mind spending money on because of the nutrition.

[moneysquirrel]

Updating:

Nov 5, 2023 16:40:29 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

This Week as of now :

*Grocery and errands, Sheets -- Monday
*Medical Appointment -- Tuesday
*Hair Appointment -- Wednesday
*Classes -- Thursday
*Pack Car -- Friday
*Craft Show -- Saturday
*D's birthday -- Saturday

After my hair appointment today I ran a few errands -- Sam's trip, Hardware store, bank and gas.  I have been working on the flower pot that I had for a while.  Only a few more hours and it will be finished -- I don't work on it every day and that is the major reason it is not already finished.  

[debthaven]

So glad you're back to normal after your surgery moneysquirrel ! 

I should have started marking videos today but I was exhausted after working Mon and Tues and then hosting Book Club (there were 11 of us in the end). So I took today off lol. 

I responded to TheO's question in more detail privately, but these days, it's common for students to submit assignments on video.

I am seeing the neurologist on Fri for my carpal tunnel. I'm sure the surgeon who was supposed to do my left wrist last fall didn't do it. I think taking out the plate took him longer than planned, and he ran out of time. People don't sue here, it's just not a thing.

So I will be going elsewhere. My friend E's good friend was head nurse at the clinic where DH had his knee replacement done. She's now at an SOS Hands clinic. It's a bit far for me (40 min), but it's worth it. The right wrist needs doing too. 

This makes my health insurance issues all the more aggravating ...

[debthaven]

Ah, one excellent thing about last night's Book Club! 

My two close friends S and A who have been over a million times both spontaneously said how much warmer the house is now!!! (I don't really socialize with the others apart from at Book Club.) I said, but we're still only in early Nov. They both said, your house was always freezing, even in early November!!! It was even freezing in mid October!!!

I told DH, who said that he's noticed that the kitchen windows are no longer full of condensation the way they used to be.

So YAY for the new windows!!! That made me very happy!

 

[TheOtherMe]

I always try to guess high on the cost of things like getting the furnace serviced for winter.  The bill was $50 less than I guessed.  The cost of a service call has gone up.  He changed some light bulbs for me that I can't reach in addition to the furnace so I won't complain. 

[debthaven]

Also, DS1 asked for more papers. I planned to deal with that this weekend, but in the end I scanned and sent them tonight. I think he should have everything he needs now.

DS1 is one of my two VERY well-organized kids. He has all of HIS papers. But he needs MY papers because he's applying for US nationality for my DGD. 

[Sharon]

Today I took a notion after work and painted the eat in part of kitchen.  It is a fairly good sized area but it is just flat walls.  I had applied primer several months ago, if not a year ago, but didn't know what color I wanted to paint it.  Hopefully I will be able to do the kitchen part by this weekend.  I'm not painting the cabinets, they aren't worth the money the paint would cost.   That means all ladder work painting the soffits, and having to move the fridge etc.  By the end of this evenings shenanigans my hip was hurting. so we shall see.

Yesterday I got my new smoke detector installed

[debthaven]

Wow Sharon you're working so hard at painting these days!

Done with work for the week. I still have the marking to do.

[TheOtherMe]

Have virtual doctor's appoint in half an hour.  Then I have to get ready for the cleaners tomorrow.

[azucena]

Hired painter has been here the past couple of days to paint new drywall around egress windows. Money well spent; she's great.

[Iggy aka IG]

Nice work, everyone!

Good to see you, moneysquirrel.  What is it you are doing with the pot?

TheOtherMe I hope your appointment went well.

debthaven a friend of mine had carpal tunnel surgery earlier this week and said, although her hand is still swollen, she can already tell the difference.  And I am so glad the windows are making a difference!  My home needs all new windows, but at this time I don't need the expense, LOL.

Sharon when you say you're not painting the cabinets, does that mean someone else is going to or are you buying new cabinets?

L did another pristine job!  When I arrived home, I said aloud to the clean, empty main room how blessed I am.  L already put a small table between two pieces of exercise equipment and neatly folded two washcloths on it.  It seems she's in my head and knows what direction I want to go in there.     DH and I will relocate the treadmill from my home office to that room this weekend.  Because there are stairs involved, I'm hoping we can borrow a young neighbor for muscle purposes, but we'll see.

[startsmart]

Had a fairly productive day!

Took another 50 gallons of water out of the pool, sent in my receipts, moved some furniture upstairs which had been in the way, cooked some stuff from the freezer, cleaned the stove and dusted the ceiling fans.

I’m getting laundry put away and finishing up the dishes before bed.

It feels like midnight due to the darkness but it’s not even 8pm.

[Sharon]

Nov 9, 2023 13:39:23 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Sharon when you say you're not painting the cabinets, does that mean someone else is going to or are you buying new cabinets?

I'm hoping to some day get all new cabinets, counter tops, and do a little bit of reconfiguration of the area.  The cabinet doors are super thin and while you could reface the cabinets the insides aren't much better.  I would also like to move the stove from where it is to the wall where the fridge is located.  The fridge is at the end of the counter but I would like to move the stove into the middle of that area so there would be more counter space on both sides of the stove.  That would probably mean that the dishwasher would need to be swapped to the other side of the sink, which actually make more sense based on how much dishes are stored.  

My counter tops are granite but it is a very busy pattern and I lose things on the counter all the time, especially glassware.  You also can't see spills or where things are stuck on the counter.  For DD's birthday I baked her a layer cake and had it on a clear glass cake plate.  When I took a picture it looked like I had just set the cake on the counter and frosted it in place.

[debthaven]

I'm back from the neurologist with great news ... the surgeon DID do the left wrist, and the right wrist is improved from 2.5 years ago (probably because I write on the board less). So I don't need surgery on either wrist. 

[azucena]

Gotta pickup for the housekeeper to do a deep clean tomorrow. Picture me scurrying around for the next couple of hours. I've really let things go as I just get tired of being the only proactive one around here.

[TheOtherMe]

My cleaners will be here this morning.  Yes, I scurried around last evening and then the last minute things this morning  

Remember I bought a second cat box.  When I cleaned the cat boxes this morning, they are only using the new one.  I don't have a good place to put one upstairs and I know I won't go to the basement to clean it.  

[finnime]

That's great news, debthaven!