2024 Organize & Declutter

[debthaven]

We got the estimate for a new front door ... 3.2K. We decided we like our existing front door just fine lol. 

[finnime]

Feb 21, 2024 10:04:14 GMT -5 debthaven said:

We got the estimate for a new front door ... 3.2K. We decided we like our existing front door just fine lol. 

[Iggy aka IG]

The system is being wonky, and I'm unable to tag people...?

Finnime, excellent job with the clothing items!

Start, that video made my morning!  

Hugs saveinla.

Things are plugging along here.  Several of us still have this latest crud, but I'm feeling better than I have in the past 6 weeks.

[NastyWoman]

New stacks for gifting (FB)/donations/trash started. The trash will go out in a minute or so and is 99% recycling.

I also have now twice found craft sets for the ~6 yo crowd. I have taken some for the littles when they are here this summer. The rest goes to a friend with similar a age DGD. DGD loves crafts of all kinds so my friend gets things every time she goes up to watch the little girl after school. So these finds get out of my house and my friend saves a bit of money win- win

[wvugurl26]

I did a first pass through my bathroom. I have a bag of trash and a box of recycling. I purposely did it on Wednesday because it's trash night.

I also replaced 2 cutting boards and 4 spatulas. I ended up with 2 new cutting boards and 3 spatulas. The old ones have seen better days. I bought the new ones home and washed them right away so I'd be ready to switch them. This is progress.

[TheOtherMe]

Maddow knocked a shoebox with dad's financial paperwork in it off the bookshelf and on to the floor.  It had the Medicare books for both him and me for several years so those are going in to the recycling.  

I put the rest back in the box.  I can't look at it yet.

[Iggy aka IG]

TheOtherMe 

Good job, NastyWoman and wvugurl26.

Last night I did the mid-week hand and kitchen towel switch out.

This morning, I put a roast in the slow cooker, went to the post office and gas station.

I'll pick up a fresh produce restock tomorrow in order to prep them Sunday.

Have a wonderful day, everyone.  

[debthaven]

Hugs TheOtherMe . Would it help to take photos of it or scan it? 

DH is now losing HIS mind trying to deal with our health insurance for HIS dental work. BTDT! I'm giving DH advice but I won't take over (not that he's asked me to).

They're also pulling the same crap with me again, but this time, it's for a 65E imaging fee! Ugh. They're happy to pay for doctors, but they DON'T want to pay for anything adjacent.

[TheOtherMe]

It isn't taking up that much room.  I will leave it alone for now.  

[nikiz628]

My goal for this weekend is to start moving the items I've purged and stuck in the garage. The garage is too full at this point. I want to get the good clothes to take to see if I can sell them at Platos/Once Upon a Child. I have a few bags I know just need to go to Goodwill. And I need to start listing items to sell on Facebook or to offer up for free on our area Buy Nothing group. I would love to have this process completely finished by the end of the school year (it's a lot of stuff!) 

[wvugurl26]

I got DH to shred some stuff for me. I had a stack of the hospital paperwork and I knew it wasn't needed. Each page had a header with her information. I couldn't stand to look at each page while I shredded over 150 pages. I flipped through it to confirm it was all the hospital paperwork. It sat in a pile for probably 6 months mocking me before I asked for help.

I'm hoping next month to file everything and box it up and shove it on the back of a basement shelf.

[moneysquirrel]

Got an early start this morning. I had a early home maintenance appointment so I needed to get up when I really just wanted to stay in bed. So now I am working on laundry -- one in washer and the other is in the dryer.  Bed linens were changed this morning as well.  I will be clearing any of the flat surfaces that have items living on them.  Most of them have been ok but I am sure I will find a few with stuff.

My doctor's appointment confirmed what I suspected.  Several pounds have been added to my body that I don't want.  Too many pieces of clothes were not fitting as well.  So I will attempt to declutter a few of those unwanted items from my body in the next few months.  Need to get back into walking the park now that the weather is beginning to improve. 

Continuing the process of going through spaces with the hopes of eliminating items out of my home.  The donation bag is getting a few items a week and the trash can is also being filled with things as I locate them.

Well -- I need to get back to work.  Take care all.

[azucena]

My goal today is to subdue the laundry monster. I think there are 12 loads in various stages. I got behind since I've been sick. Planning to use it as a lesson in being overwhelmed and asking DD11 for help tomorrow. Will continue to push the remainder thru the machines today while working.

[Iggy aka IG]

WVUgurl, good job asking for help.

Moneysquirrel, walking in the park sounds lovely.

Azu, I hope you're feeling better.  If it's anything like the crud that's going around here, it hangs on for weeks.

This weekend:
~I'm going to try and get the majority of the laundry done tomorrow before the neighbors come over for crab leg/burn party night.  I need to wash our pillows.
~Start taxes.
~Bake a lasagna to freeze for the next time illness hits our house.
~Bake a blueberry cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies using ingredients on hand,

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
 

[startsmart]

Today I went to the city to pay for the taxes on my car and also got coffee at the local cafe. I’ll also fill the car up with gas today so I don’t need to do it tomorrow.

Currently working with my laptop while the pup is sleeping next to me.

One more coat of paint and the last 2 kitchen doors will be ready to hang!

[azucena]

I'm on week 3 of the current round of kid crud and finally feeling better. Will just be so glad to stop coughing up gunk and blowing my nose all day.

Two more rounds of laundry thru machines. Last one in washer.

During this sickness, I decided to play a game and stop picking up DHs dirty clothes. Anything not making it in the various laundry baskets (one in our bedroom and one in our bathroom) hasn't been washed in about 10 days. I figure he has 2-3 more before he runs out of clean pants. If nothing else, it's proven that I'm not crazy to be pissy about constantly picking it all up. And how can a grown up walk past various piles of dirty clothes day after day and not notice them.

Had to laugh at DD15 last night as she said a freshie theater friend asked her to text him after school to remind him to bring the $5 for the director's gift tomorrow. She told him I ain't yo mama. Set an alarm or calendar reminder on your phone for yourself. (extra laugh bc that's what I've taught her). Boy goes I don't know how to do that. She says I'm not playing with your weaponized incompetence, ever heard of google.

I love my girl! She's fierce and independent and continues to teach me things.

[snapdragon]

I went and got a new Epson Eco Tank printer on Tuesday. I even picked up 1 refill ink set so I don't need to worry about the going dry. I will work on set up tomorrow. 

It was nice today so this afternoon I went out and weeded in the front yard for about a hour. 

Last night I was fighting a pressure headache and my sinuses have been petty as all get out.  

[debthaven]

Good for your DD azucena ! 

[Sharon]

Today I got a lot of help from DD and DSIL.  They removed the highly toxic hedge that is poisonous to most animals and small children.  Before they came over I went to Home Depot and purchased a come along.  That really helped with pulling out the stumps.  They also pulled out 6 or 7 rose bushes in the backyard that had reverted to wild roses and would just send out these long highly thorny stalks that would attack anyone walking, or mowing nearby.  There are still several rose bushes to remove in the front yard but hopefully I can get those pulled out.

I've been fighting this crud stuff also for almost a month now.  I'm so tired of coughing and blowing my nose.  I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever go away.

[TheOtherMe]

I finally brought the footstool my grandpa made in from the garage.  I had not noticed that it's covered in cat hair.  The cousin who gave it to me had a cat so I should not be surprised.

Ameila thinks it is a very nice throne.  

[Sharon]

The temperature today was in the upper 50's with a nice breeze so I turned down the heat and threw up on the doors and windows.  I'm hoping that by getting some fresh air in the house that I can get rid of this crud that I've had for so many weeks.

I also did some serious cleaning today.  While a lot got done there is still plenty more to do, housework has been shoved down to the bottom of my to-do list for far to long.

The dryer just turned off so time to go fold and put away the last load of laundry, then I think I will be done for the day.

[startsmart]

We had great weather today 60-70° so I opened the windows and got a lot of cleaning done.

Vacuumed chair slip covers
Cleaned the tub, toilet and sinks
Deep cleaned the countertops
Washed mirrors
Deep cleaned 2 windows
Scrubbed the oven and stove top
Wiped down the Keurig
Washed my pillows
Changed sheets
Put away kitchen towels in the drawers

Still have dishes to do tonight and then take out trash but feeling very productive!

All of the kitchen cabinet doors are now done and reinstalled! I have the handles coming tomorrow and assuming that they are the correct size and look I’ll get them installed tomorrow.

I also have 2 more doggie gates arriving because puppy has figured out he can climb the stairs.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

On the cleaning froont, I go the front porch dusted and the outside front windows washed today. 
I also cleaned the fridge, did three loads of laundry, and straightened up my cloes. 
Yesterday, I spent two hours cleaning up the flower garden at the front of our circle drive way. 


We're hosting a 30-person party on April 6th, and I've started prepping for that. 

[TheOtherMe]

That 70+ weather is supposed to be here today, but snow is predicted for Wednesday.  

My snow guy billed already for all of the snow days during two weeks of lots of snow and ice.  He usually bills at the end of the season.  That may have been the end of the season.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

So, want some input on if I am being weird here.....

as I mentioned previously, my gardener/neighbor was a bit put out when I asked him not to shovel my snow without me asking. [recap - he included the stairs and the porch, frightening my feral cat who has a heated enclosure on the porch, and she didn't come back for 2 days during negative digit weather and I was very annoyed and worried. Plus I was napping on the couch without the curtains  drawn after beign half the night at the ER vet] He really pressed me for reasons and was put out when my reasons weren't - oh please don't help little ole me, but - you bothered me and my feral cat! I tried not to make a big deal out of it, but I don't think it's too much to say don't do stuff on my property without my knowledge and permission]

He had also mentioned around this time that he had winter sown some tomatoe seeds in my coldframe - without me knowing or saying ok to this, and my coldframe is down my driveway at the end of the house, so I really felt quite invaded by these two things.

And when I was mentioning not to be doing the snow he mentioned I hope you don't mind my waving to your cats in the window....which - is he looking in my windows? I thought that was a weird thing to add on to please don't shovel snow on my porch...and cats don't need people waving at them!

To now....

With the weather unseasonable warm this winter, I have been doing some gardening - mainly planning for the vegetable garden. On two occassions after spending alot of time in my yard, he texts me do I need any gardening help. As I am low on disposable funds, I've been trying to not to spend much on gardening, and I discovered a treasure trove of rich compost in my garden paths. Every year I am topping them up with sticks and stems, cardboard, wood chips, pine needles, really whatever I have that will work to suppress weeds. Despite constant walking on I noticed these were all about 3-4 inches higher than they used to be and it is excellent soil! Been using it for any thing that won't come inside. Yesterday, I was mining this area to fill up some containers for going into the coldframe with some transplants. So yesterday a text from him was do I need any early yard clean up, which I put off answering and didn't actually answer and then today he follows up with or help digging for any new beds. Which I was digging in my yard yesterday. I said no now, maybe later in the season.

I'm feeling really weird about this. Am I being paranoid or is this justified? It is weird to even be asking about much yard work in winter! Even my gardening friends are thinking I'm going too far with early prep (if we get June in April - I want to be prepared!). In the past - when he asked I would think he needed some money and I'd try to find something for him to do. But now I am not so flush with cash, I've missed doing a lot of hands on gardening hiring most of it out, and I'm not too keen on feeling watched. And repeated asked about work. He first asked in Jan (again, the day after I was doing a lot of puttering in the yard due to warmer temps). The area I was digging in both times is pretty concealed. You could see a bit of something if you stared hard while walking by but there are 2 little areas with a lot of rose of sharon bushes and a 6 foot tall picket fence between those little areas so it would be a really odd and deliberate angle and deliberately looking past three visual obstacles. You would be looking diagonally down a driveway/side yard into an area behind the house. If you were just casually walking by even if looked into the side yard would not really notice. Maybe it's a coincidence? it doesn't feel that way. Both days I spent hours in my back yard he texts the next day about if I need help.

I would haved liked to have him do some work for me this year, he is reasonably priced, extremely strong, and works hard. He doesn't do the greatest job as he forgets instructions and has pulled out plants I told him not to touch. And then doesn't really clear roots out when that is the task. But I wasn't being too picky about anything given the rates. But now, I'm not so sure. 

I said likely some work later in the year. I'm thinking maybe just a few jobs this year when I really need it and then nothing next year and thereafter? Feels super awkward as he lives on my street.

[jerseygirl]

Is he good looking?

[debthaven]

In the past - when he asked I would think he needed some money and I'd try to find something for him to do. But now I am not so flush with cash,

I would just tell him that money is tight these days and you may contact him later in the year. I'm guessing he needs/wants the work so he'll probably leave you alone if none is forthcoming. I'd start there and hopefully it will resolve itself. It sounds like he just wants to earn some money and he ASSumed you'd continue to use him as much as you did before. 

But you need to be clear with him, so he doesn't think "later in the year" means next week or even next month...

Great job on the doors startsmart ! You've worked hard! 

I'm working 4 hours this week. Things should finally ramp up next week!  

[startsmart]

Rukh - I'd just let him know by text that you're enjoying working in the garden on your own this year and don't plan to spend any money on help but thanks for offering. I would be a bit annoyed by feeling like someone was watching me but as long as he doesn't veer into coming on the property or bothering my space, I'd ignore him. Of course, if he's crossing boundaries or escalating you might need to have a serious convo with a friend on hand to say "back off." Good luck with that, I'd be super annoyed if someone bothered my cats or sowed seeds in MY garden. 

I'm annoyed that the handles I got in for the kitchen today are the wrong size (my fault, difference of 1/8" arggggh) so I'm sending them back and on the hunt again for ones that do fit. You'd think it would be easy to find plain black, 3-7/8" kitchen handles in a pack of 6 and not spend $60 but nooooooo. I'm having to buy a box of 10 just to keep it under $30! 

So that means the kitchen cabinets won't be officially "done" by the end of the month but all the painting is complete and that was the big challenge, after all. I do want to move out my fridge and paint the end of the cabinet there but really don't want to do it myself and re-level it. I think I'll wait until I'm replacing the floor tiles so I only have to do it once.

On the plus side, this morning I picked out recipes to make and built a meal plan for March. Accounting for breakfast, lunch, dinner and some snacks, I have the full recipes printed, shopping list made and what I need to make and when. It's also on my calendar. I am splitting the groceries into 2 trips so I don't need to cook everything at one time and also remembered that end of March is Easter so eggs *should* be going on sale. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Hello everyone!  I enjoyed reading your posts about the nice weather.  Same here, it's supposed to get up to 58 degrees, but then snow is headed this way tomorrow.  Sorry to hear several of you still have the crud but glad you opened windows.

Well, I slacked and didn't start taxes or bake the cookies or cheesecake, however I:

~Cleaned the Crock Pot and air fryer and put them into their respective storage areas.
~Assembled a lasagna and stuffed shells for the freezer for the next virus go around.
~Browned an additional pound of ground beef for tonight's "John Wayne Casserole."
~Prepped boiled eggs and fresh produce for the week.
~Did 5 loads of laundry including pillows and sheets.
~Hosted 5 neighbors for the crab leg and burn barrel party.  The full moon made the latter extra special.  Items burned included 2016 tax documents.
~Emptied and refilled the dishwasher, Keurig and ice trays twice.
~Meal planned for the week.
~Sat outside for a while and appreciated the sunshine.

Doing laundry and other chores Saturday so that I may enjoy my love of cooking and baking on Sunday is working out well.  

[debthaven]

Doing laundry and other chores Saturday so that I may enjoy my love of cooking and baking on Sunday is working out well.

I am happy to hear this Iggy aka IG . 

So sorry about the handles startsmart . The new ones will be here soon!