Love in Bloom

Earlier today I had a blissful moment under the cherry trees. The skies are grey, and rather moist, but the beauty of the cherry blossom is so great!

Cherry blossom always takes me back to our wedding day. The cherry tree in the corner of my parents' garden was in full bloom, and the gentle breeze created glorious confetti.

It's working!

The simple measure of picking up and putting away five things is in the morning is working!  It's true I'm not really counting, and it could well be multiples of fives, but it's happening.  It's getting tidier!

Progress is also being made on the address book, the emergency contacts list and list of companies we have a working relationship with. 

Things are also progressing in the Noodle Bowl.  The Younger Offspring has agreed to do one or two little tasks each day to transform their Noodle Bowl into an oasis of serenity and calm. I know how clutter can weigh me down, and how liberating an uncluttered environment can be for me. I hope the same will prove to be true for YO.

In other news, the sitting room continues to be tidy, as does the kitchen. We have well stocked freezer, fridge and pantry. Meals are planned, and we are eating a huge deal healthier and many more fresh veggies. My clothes are laid out each evening too.

The one area of routine maintenance I need to pay attention to tomorrow is re-starting the laundry. It isn't an every day job, and when I miss a day (because there's nothing to wash), it interrupts my routine. This can set things astray for a few days. But tomorrow, it will re-start, and it won't be long before things are happy again.

Five in the Morning

My bedroom was slowly getting better, and then there was the influx of Elder Offspring's belongings. It feels as if I'm regressing, which is odd, as I'm most definitely not. I'm getting on, decluttering and working my way through our clutter.  I think it's just I've wanted to have a tidy bedroom for quite a while. A sliver of hope appears, and is dashed, again and again.

Anyway, I'm trying a new thing, Five in the Morning. Each morning I'll remove five items.  These might be rubbish, recycling or donate. 

Today's five items were: a small loom loaned by Sonja (this will be returned), two small stuff animals, an old unmatched sock and brand new ball of yarn.  The yarn has been given a little plastic sleeping bag and has been tucked away into storage.  The yarn will pupate and turn into a pair of beautiful socks. 

Week 16: Contact Information

This week's challenges are something I need to get to grips with. Papers abound, and we keep things long past the stage where we need them. Also finding addresses can be tricky.

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #16: Contact Information

Done.

Tuesday: Update and organize address book information (either on paper or electronic)

Started work on this.

Wednesday: Create most important contacts list for purse and household notebook

Thursday: Create emergency contact list

Friday: Create wallet inventory in case wallet lost or stolen
Done. I have added my bank cards and credit card. I'm not fussed about recording my store loyalty cards, mostly because I don't use them. The same is true for the library card.

Saturday: Declutter and organize business cards for home reference
Done. I don't have any.

Sunday: Declutter old phone books and directories

This has already been done.

School Books and Pottery

Huzzah!  The sicky Beloved and the sicky Bear have managed to accomplish some decluttering! Today has been a successful day already.

The Elder Offspring was asked if we needed to store all of her old school and college books. Thankfully, the answer was only art, ceramic, product design and psychology. This means about half of her books can be decluttered.  

This morning, we took two boxes of books and ceramics and reduced them to one box. The box has now been stored safely in the guest room until such times as we can take them over to England.

Even better, another load has been sorted. A large bin bag full of rubbish has been created.  Items have been removed for donating, and a much smaller pile of items to be retained is now on my bed.  This will have to be dealt with, but it will mean putting it in a box and taking it to the guest room - a much smaller job!

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Part of this procedure is to remove the Elder Offspring's belongings from the Noodle Bowl. Yesterday, I was reading anxiety levels can be increased by living in a cluttered mess. That would be a fair description of Younger Offspring's bedroom.  They have so much stuff of their own, and also EO's in the room. We will tackle it bit by bit, creating together, a calm, ordered sanctuary.

Remember to breathe!

I'm still learning to cut myself some slack, and it's hard sometimes to remember just to sit still and remember to breathe.

A week ago my GP prescribed a hefty dose of steroids to get my breathing back on the right track.  Whilst I was at that higher level I was able to do so much more. But now I've dropped down to 3/4 of that dose I'm constantly finding myself just that little bit short of breath.  It's a very tiring way to live.  It feels are if I've always just had to sprint for the bus, and then collapsed onto the seat, catching my breathe. The Ventolin inhaler is not making a significant difference to my breathing.

I'm going to go against doctor's orders and increase the oral steroids back to the higher level for a few days. I'm too tired, and breathing is too hard.

I had all sorts of plans made for this week, and this weekend, and they are all on hold.  The only things I've managed to do are go to the Yarnies meeting, and some sock knitting.  I'm a person who likes to be doing, completing, getting stuff done, and it's so very hard just now. When your airways are constricted getting oxygen into your lungs takes work, often double the amount of work as it would normally do.  If anyone doubles their physical work load for 3 weeks, they are going to get tired. I'm tired.

I want to breathe.    

Socks!

I had forgotten how much I like knitting socks!

When we were visiting with the Elder Offsping I inspected the socks I knitted for her about 4 years ago.  She wears them with her Doc Marten's. They have held up incredibly well, and so far need no daring! However, a woolly sock wearer needs more than 4 pairs of socks. And so, a new pair of socks was started, in dark grey.  

EO is happy to wear any hand knitted socks, as long as they are a single colour, in stocking stitch, and aren't red, orange, yellow or brown.  I have free reign in all other matters.  Although, there was one time I managed to sneak in a pair that were stripes of teal and blue!  I felt so subversive. 

A few stats for this new pair of socks. 56 stitches, 20 rounds of rib, 50 rounds of stocking stitch, heel flap worked over 28 rows and stitches.  I think I will need a foot to complete them though, so they will be knitted to fit a larger footed sibling, and then the toes re-worked to give the right size.

Thinking about Bathrooms

I've been thinking about bathrooms, and how my bathroom might look in the house I'm designing. My conclusion is I don't want a bathroom. I don't like baths. Showers are so much more pleasing to me. One of the things I love about our current shower room is the shower is not above a bath. When my joints are painful, negotiating a bath can be tricky. Love showers, hate baths.

One of the current trends is to have a large shower stall; they fit in the same sort of area as a bath. Rather like this one:

It is enclosed and has an extremely low step into the cubicle.This would be utterly brilliant for bad joint days. However, I've just noticed the tiles in the photograph, I'm not so keen. A non-porous, grout-free surface would be my choice. However, I do love the clean lines, the natural colours, the white, and the chrome. Those things really bring peace to me.

The other things I would want in my shower room will be a loo and sink, both in clean, simple white, a squatty potty, a mirror at my eye level and a loo brush. There will be minimal things on counters/surfaces. These will include tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap, loo roll and towels. There will storage for extra loo rolls. This will be able to be accessed whilst sitting on the loo! Storage will be available for spare towels, spare shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.

It is only now I'm considering under sink storage. It's always been free-standing pedestal sinks I've had, but now I'm looking at their effectiveness with regards to storage. This is one image I rather like, it's too big, but I like the general feel of it:

It would look great with a mahogany coloured loo seat, and a lush green plant on one side. 

There will be a window - so very much needed for ventilation - with a catch that means the window can be left open, but secured when people are not home. Also a heated towel rail/radiator to allow the towels to dry and be ready for their next use.

One last thing I really want, but for guests, is a mitzvah box of sanitary products. I have a little wicker basket on top of my loo, and in that basket are individually wrapped tampons and pads. It looks like little gifts, all wrapped up, but they really are a blessing (a mitzvah) if someone should find themselves in need. They are sitting out, ready to be used. This can be be wonderful for young females, and also those approaching the menopause, both times when periods often don't come along on a predictable schedule.

Well, that didn't work!

Well, that didn't happen! No decluttering took place today, or yesterday. The medication I'm on for the severe asthma thingy has caused me to have less than 9 hours sleep in the last 48 hours. Last night I was tired, but not exhausted. Today, I'm exhausted, but not tired! What a crazy, weird body I live in.

I used up so much energy doing a massive shop. It means we have food for the next 10 days or so, but it has left me rather um... well energy-less.

Motivation is Key - act on it straight away!

The task I had assigned myself today was to move the crafting materials from my bedroom into the guest room/craft room, and also the Elder Offspring's stuff too. After lunch I was all ready to do this, but The Beloved, who is currently ill, said he was going to have a nap. I could hardly go in and out of the bedroom, tidying and decluttering whilst he was trying to sleep.

It's now 9.30pm, and I've just realised I haven't decluttered or tidied today. I had the urge to declutter just before he had his nap, but it has well and truly left me. The moral is declutter/tidy when the mood strikes, use the energy to push on and get things done.

Instead of the larger task, I'm going for a smaller one of removing the items from the top of the large chest of drawers. This will take a few minutes, but it will mean decluttering happens.

Ideas for the rest of the week:

Thursday: move the boxes of crafting materials into the guest room.Dust the room, then sweep.

Friday: assemble new desk chairs and remove old ones for disposal on Saturday.

Saturday: declutter the tiny shelves outside the bedroom door. Make various donations at charity shops and visit the amenities site to dispose of recycling/rubbish

Sunday: take futon/sofa from bedroom and move to guest room.

Sharp Knives!

We are coming up to 25 years of marriage, and a number of wedding gifts have become old and worn out through constant use. Last year, we replaced the great majority of our towels. As I was doing this I remembered the comments from my Mam's friends who were exclaiming over the piles of towels we received when we were getting married. They were delighted at the stacks of brand new, fluffy towels. Many had married between 25-30 years ago, and their wedding towels were now very worn. 

This year, it's the turn of knives. The wedding knives have given good service, but are now blunt and worn out. The way they were made means they can't easily be sharpened. Whilst in Gloucester, I bought two knives. So sharp! So very sharp! Cutting food is now so very easy. It's a revelation.

When I buy items I try to keep a number of things in mind. For me, one of the most important is the the words of William Morris, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."  This is then tied into the idea of 'cost per use'. If an item costs a lot of money, but will be used again and again, and again, then the cost per use is low, and it's a good investment.  If an item is low cost, but will only be used a few times, then it's not worth it. The last principle is 'buy once, buy well'. Buy things that will last and last.  

Chicken Gravy

The Elder Offspring asked me how to make gravy. My reaction was "Umm... you just make gravy." This is now a much more considered response. I'm writing out my method and my recipe for chicken gravy as I cook.

Ingredients

1 onion, finely chopped

cooking juices from a roast chicken

2 gloves of garlic, minced

1/2 tsp mixed herbs

1 Stock Pot

560ml boiling water

3 level Tsp of gluten-free flour

cool water

seasoning

Method

Cook the onion in the chicken juice for about 7 minutes. Try to caramelise the onion, but don't burn it. You want to add a depth of flavour from the caramelisation, Then add the mixed herbs and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Again, do not burn the garlic - this will add bitterness.

Deglaze the pan with some boiling water.  When the pan has been deglazed, add all of the boiling water, and the Stock Pot. If you prefer, you can use home made stock. I like the convenience of a Stock Pot.

Mix the gluten-free flour with cool water to form a slurry. Use the slurry to thicken the gravy to your desired thickness.

Check the seasoning. Add salt, pepper, herbs etc, and even a squirt of brown ketchup!

Snicker Crunch

Ingredients

75g butter

150g Snickers

3 Tsp golden syrup

3 cups of crispy rice cereal

200g chocolate

Method

Melt the butter, and use some to grease a 20x10cm tray. Add the golden syrup and chopped Snickers bars.Stir until melted.

Stir in 3 cups of crispy rice until well mixed. Turn out into the tray, and smooth over with a metal spoon.

Melt the chocolate and spread over the top.  Leave to set, and then cut into squares.

Notes

This is based on my Mam (Auntie June)'s recipe for Mars Bar Crunch. As that isn't gluten-free, I substituted Snickers for Mars Bars, and used a gluten-free crispy rice cereal (Nature's Path). 

What's under the bed?

Today's decluttering task was to sort out the suit cases from our trip away. They have been emptied, the first load of washing is now drying and the second load is being washed. The travel pillows have been put in one of the suitcase, and 'heritage' clothing in another. This is things like my wedding dress, a few baby clothes and shoes, special clothes.I have swept under the bed, and suit cases have been sorted there.

It feels like a huge deal more work that I have described, but it is done now. Everything is back to normal, well, no, better than normal.

Linda's Chocolate Chip Brownies

These lovely brownies were first experienced at Linda's. The recipe is from "I Want Chocolate Cake and I Want it Now!"

Ingredients

225g unsalted butter

200f chocolate

4 large eggs

200g granulated sugar

115g brown sugar

1 Tsp vanilla essence

140g plain flour (use Dove gluten-free for a gluten-free brownie)

pinch of salt

255g chocolate chips

115g chopped walnuts or pecans

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a 32x23cm baking tin with foil. The foil should be long enough to extend beyond the tin when it is in place. Light grease the foil.

Melt the butter and chocolate and mix well. Let it come down to room temperature.

Beat the eggs and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes, until light in colour. Beat in the chocolate/butter mixture and vanilla until blended. Mix in the flour and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts (if desired).

Transfer mixture to baking tin and bake for 30-40 minutes. Cool the brownies in the tin.

Makes 20 brownies. They freeze well.

Grandma's Flower Garden

This quilt was made two years ago. We were collecting the Elder Offspring and bring her back to the Island for the summer, via a holiday in Wales.  It was an incredibly relaxed holiday. We went swimming, read, played board games, visited a castle and a historic town, and really just enjoyed each others company.

At the very start of the holiday I picked up a rainbow jelly roll and decided to have a go at hand piecing and hand quilting. This is the result. It's all hand sewn, apart from the first line of stitching on the binding, that was done by machines.

And so to bed

As we don't have an attic, this week I going to stay in bed, well, the bedroom at any rate.

Declutter the bedside chest of drawers. I did this back in January, but it needs doing again today. The Beloved's is very easy to do, and it's really just a quick tidy rather than a declutter, which is just as well, as I refuse to declutter other people's things. My side has a stack of books and bits that the Elder Offspring didn't want, and now has to be placed in the 'charity shop' pile.

Whilst away we visited Ikea and bought a pair of new bedside lamps. These will be put in place today.

Week 15: Attic

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #15: Attic

Tuesday: Declutter boxes, other stuff in attic

Wednesday: Continue to declutter attic

Thursday: Declutter storage room or closet in your home

Friday: Declutter storage area in your home

Saturday: Declutter storage containers and boxes

Sunday: Fill out attic storage inventory

Another thing we don't have. We have no attic. Instead, this week I will be focusing on my bedroom and getting things put back into place after our trip to Gloucester.

Open Plan Living and Minimalism

Open plan living in a minimal way requires constant tidying. When an item has been used, put it away. If you don't do this, it gets cluttered and messy so very quickly. It takes a bit of practise to get into this way of living, and it's easy to think 'I'll do it later', but when later comes there's a huge pile of stuff needing to be dealt with.

Little routines can mean a person can retrain themselves to act on auto-pilot, and after time, you don't notice you are doing it. Things just happen, good things, things that bring benefit. I must take this moment of enlightenment back home with me, and use it in my un-minimal house.

My brain is currently trying to work out how my life could be squeezed into a space like this. One of the things lacking here is wardrobe space/drawer space for clothing. That would need to be remedied. We would also need a Ben-cave, a place for him to play games and have the option of working from home.

For me, the biggest things could be getting rid of stashes: books, DVDs, yarn and fabric. With books, I have already turned my back on dead tree based reading, and only now buy books for my Kindle. This makes me wonder, do I need my paper books anymore? I am slowly buying electronic copies of the books I already have, want to read again, but are in paper. I wonder how long it will be until we cross over into streaming services for films? And my crafting supplies have reduced considerably.  This year, they will be reduced even further. (That being said, I'm off to buy another pack of fat quarters for a baby quilt I want to make.)

Re-think on the House Design

Staying at The Docks has opened my eyes to a number of aspects of house design. This apartment ticks many boxes regarding design. It's clean, crisp and neutral. It feels spacious enough for three people to holiday in it (one bedroom, and a sofa bed in the sitting area), and it would be great for two minimalists to live in all year.

It has made me re-consider the footprint of the house I'm designing. It's far too big! I had already suspected as much, but this visit has underlined this fact. Too big, too big, TOO BIG! The combined living space is about half the size of the great room I had planned. The open plan area 6x5m and the bedroom is 3x4m.

I love the cool. crisp, neutrals in the bedroom, white on white, with grey and cream, old beams stripped of paint, and exposed brickwork. It looks great. Whilst I like it here, I wouldn't want to have a new build with exposed brickwork. It would be substituted with a natural material. Anything added to the space needs to be considered as it makes a big difference to the look of the place. The limited palette gives a serenity to the place.

Another aspect of the serenity if the simplicity of the space. There's a bed, two 'bed side' drawers, a hanging rail and mirror. It feels cozy. It's interesting the difference not having clothes storage or bookcases has on the area. I like it. I am moving over to a system where the clothes are not in the bedroom, but there is a hanging rail to put the next day's clothing, and a couple of hooks for dressing gowns.

The Docks, Gloucester

We are down in Gloucester.  We are staying in The Docks, Gloucester. It was only expensive for the three of us to stay here than to stay at a Travelodge! 

The apartment is a short walk from the centre of town, and it's in a major shopping and restaurant area.  There's a fridge, freezer, dish washer, washing machine, television and wifi. It is an incredibly comfortable place to stay. I'm loving the light, and being beside the water. 

Here's what it looks like. 

Like it so far?  Here's more:

Chicken and Lemon Tagine

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil

3 large chicken breasts cut into large pieces

1 onion, slices

2 fat cloves garlic, minced

2 rounded teaspoons ginger (julienne)

300ml hot water

1 stock pot (concentrated stock)

dried mixed herbs

3 large carrots, cut into chunks

3 large potatoes, cut into chunks

1 large lemon, cut into wedges (1/8ths)

broccoli or olives

Method

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Sear the chicken in the oil for about 5 minutes, flip and sear the other side. Saute the onion. Put the chicken and onion in the tagine.

Sear the carrot and potatoes for a few minutes. Whilst they are cooking, distribute the garlic, ginger and dried herbs evenly over the chicken. Add the carrots and potatoes to the tagine. Arrange the lemon around the dish.

Use the hot water to deglaze the skillet, and then mix through the concentrated stock. Pour this into the tagine.

Put the lid on the tagine and cook at 200C for an hour.

In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add florets of broccoli to the top of the dish. It will cook in the steam. Or, if preferred, add a handful of olives and mix through.

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This meal is very popular amongst my family. It also freezes beautifully.

The stock transforms into a very thin gravy. This is perfect with the potatoes. Press on the potatoes to mash them slightly. The potatoes then soak up the gravy.

The flesh of the lemon disappears into the gravy, leaving the rind. It is beautifully mild and fragrant; eat a little of it with each mouthful.

Week 14: Garage

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #14: Garage

Tuesday: Declutter boxes, other stuff in garage

Wednesday: Continue to declutter garage

Thursday: Declutter and organize auto supplies and car care products

Friday: Declutter bicycles and gear, and then properly store what's left

Saturday: Declutter fitness and sports equipment

Sunday: Fill out garage storage inventory

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This is a very good set of missions to receive this week whilst I am ill. There is nothing to do! This week shall be a time of rest and recuperation instead.

Tissues

Today's product endorsement goes to Tesco Balm+ Tissues. They are most excellent for a drippy nose - able to do all the standard tissue-y things, but with a sprinkling of magic (possibly aloe vera) to help prevent a sore, red, roughed-up nose. It's little bit of love for a nose.  

I wonder what the equivalent for a throat would be?

Cough!

I've reached the stage where I am so sick of hearing myself cough that I want someone to smother me just so I don't have to listen to it any more.

My pelvic muscles are feeling the strain, and are also sick of having to compensate for the sudden differences in pressure. Thank goodness products like Tena Lady exist!

No decluttering, no reading, no writing, no craft, just coughing, and a big dollop of feeling pathetic.  It is to be hoped tomorrow will dawn a little brighter.  

More Boxes!

More boxes have been packed, 7 in total. These contain books, soft toys, CDs, CR-ROMs, DVDs and games. There's a large suitcase full of clothing, and a small one full of bags. In addition, there's a coffee table too. The Elder Offspring is going to have fun unpacking the boxes and deciding what to do with all of it.

The rest of the stuff will be put in crates and stored in the truckle under the bed in the guest room. Next time EO is over, she will decide on the contents of a box of stuff. When we next visit we will take over another batch. This process will repeat until almost all of her stuff is at her home.

I remember my parents did a similar thing with my belonging a good few years ago.  Sadly, they didn't look through boxes first, and a ballerina ornament that had belonged to my Grandma was smashed.  When we pack, we will be using bubble wrap for all fragile items!  

Priorities, priorities, priorities

The Elder Offspring now has her own apartment. We will be going over to visit soon. It's time to start transferring her belongings still in the family home to her new apartment. There is so much of it!

And so we set priorities.  These will be:

1. clothing
2. books
3. media (CDs, DVDs and games)

These items will be boxed up, labelled and packed into the car. The Noodle in the Noodle Bowl will be very happy about this. Tonight, it's clothes!

Decluttering whilst ill

Today I posted a joke on Facebook, there's 10 types of people in the world - those who understand binary, those who don't, and those who weren't expecting this joke to be in base 3.

I have come to realise there are often two approaches to standards. There's people who hold themselves to a far higher standard than others, and there's people who hold others to a standard, but supply excuses why they shouldn't be judged at that level. Normally, I expect more of myself than I do of others. This can lead to crazy situations, the sort of situations where people shake their heads and say 'Be kind to yourself!'

Today, my body is weary, my mind can't find spoken words (but I can write), my throat is scratchy and I'm losing my voice. If someone came to me with a list like that I'd tell them to veg out on the sofa, watch a movie and have an early night. But, it's me, so I expect me to get on and do some decluttering. I have made the decision to be kind to myself, but I still have guilt about not decluttering!

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There was a little bit of decluttering done today. A friend was having a 'bring and share' meal at her house. The large potato au gratin I made yesterday was earmarked for the supper. We love Quorn mince, but not the faux chicken pieces. Somehow we ended up with three bags of the faux chicken in the freezer. The Quorn was cooked in a skillet, and mixed through with a tomato sauce. It will go very nicely with the potato au gratin. There was a cry of 'Ooooh, excellent, some protein.'

Sadly, when we arrived at my friend's house my temperature spiked and I felt really rather unwell. We handed over food, and made excuses to leave. I feel guilty about that too! However, it was so lovely to come home to a cooler, quiet house. It's exactly what I need this evening.

What been decluttered today?

The Beloved brought home a mighy stash of baked potatoes, 17 in total. Yesterday I cut some in half, scooped out the middles and mashed them together with butter, onions, garlic and Stilton. The potatoes were stuffed and popped in the oven for 40 minutes. This was a big hit with the Beloved, and he took the leftovers away for his lunch today.

The second use was to slice them and layer the slices in a dish with a jar of carbonara sauce. One large, and two small dishes were made and are currently in the fridge. Tomorrow they will be topped with cheese and cooked.

And there's still five potatoes left. I think it might be time to make more 'loaded potatoes'. This time it will be Cheddar and onion. These ones will be frozen.

In addition to potato decluttering, garden decluttering has begun. Weeds have been weeded, the path has been weeded and swept, and the meter box has been washed and topped with a lovely little pot of narcissus.

Week 13: Basement

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #13: Basement

Done.

Tuesday: Declutter boxes, other stuff in basement

No basement.

Wednesday: Continue to declutter basement

Continue to have no basement.

Thursday: Declutter and organize hardware (such as screws, nails, etc.)

We do have a toolbox! Everything is nicely contained with it. I'll ask the Beloved to have a look through and ditch anything he doesn't want.

Friday: Declutter tools and create an essential tool chest

As well as the tool box, we have a set of easy access plastic drawers. These contain things like light bulbs, batteries, candles, a couple of screw drivers and a measuring tape. These are my essentials.

Saturday: Fill out basement storage inventory

The lack of basement is starting to concern me.

Sunday: Declutter storage unit or locker

Something else I don't have!

A little bit of work in the Guest Room

Saturday's plan to have a little dining room tidy didn't happen until today (Sunday). Sunday's shed plan didn't work and instead we spent time in my craft room turning it into a place where a guest could stay overnight.  About a third of the room has been done, but more work is required.

Decluttering: Time for a clear out the shed?

Next week's decluttering missions are based around the basement. We don't have one of those. It is not a feature of housing  in my part of the world. It's time to branch out and tackle another area instead. I realised we have a shed in the garden, and it is easily a year since it was opened, and I have not idea when things in the shed were last used. This weekend is shed weeked!

It would be great if the Beloved could make a trip or two to the Civic Amenities Site to dump/recycle a load of shed-stuff. I don't know if this will happen this weekend as he has several commitments. This will not stop me from my decluttering missions. It might mean things disappear next weekend rather than this one, but they will disappear. 

The rest of the week will be spent sorting items to be taken to England for the Elder Offspring. She now has her first grown up apartment (ie non-student place to live). There's still quite a bit of her stuff in the Noodle Bowl.  This trip is going to be clothes, books and music. We take her creations (product design and ceramics) and school books down on another trip.

Today's task will be to remove items from the dining room destined for the rubbish bin, recycling and charity shops. This will give space to start assembling the items heading England-wards for the Elder Offspring.

What's a docket?!

At the start of the week, I said I was not going to be creating daily dockets for my tasks.  My understanding of 'docket' is from the legal system, and so much information is stored on dockets.  I could not see how this could possibly help in home organisation.

Well, it turns out this is not what Taylor was meaning.  She just wanted people to monitor what they were doing.  I can so do that!  I was thinking about getting some gold stars to reward myself for jobs well done.  :o) 

Yesterday and today, I have completed all of the tasks on my list.  I hereby award myself who shiny, gold stars.