A TIny Bit of Order Restored

The coffee table chest is no longer the TARDIS construction site. The stenciling and painting had been completed. It now in the dining room, drying for 72 hours before it can be used.

The coffee table has been returned to its function as a coffee table. There's four coasters, one in each corner, and the bowl made from recycled keys.

The top of the sideboard has also been cleared. There's a vase of flowers sitting on a tatted mat, and a box of tissues, and that's all.

Windows for the TARDIS

The TARDIS now has windows!  The text 'Police Box' will be added, I've run out of white fabric paint. The Beloved is in town this afternoon, and he will get some for me.

More Sitting Around

I've extracted all the DVDs I want to keep from the coffee table chest.  Now to ask the other two to do the same. 

The next item to be declutted is the side board.  Back in March a third of it was decluttered, the cupboard where the games are stores.  That section is looking good. There's two other sections, a set of drawers, and another cupboard full of DVDs. The drawers have been decluttered. However, there are a few items I don't know if I actually want to keep.  There's about 30 chunky, glass tea light holders.  There's also some fairly random stuff, and I haven't got the foggiest where they are going to go. Currently they are sitting in almost empty drawers. I'll revisit the contents at a later date.

I am looking forward to the time when we can simply stream any television programme or movie, and we no longer need to have a physical item.

It's done! The letter has been sent.

I've been thinking about this since Christmas. I've talked with my family and a few friends. And now it's done. My letter of resignation has been posted.

I've been in this job for almost 9 years, and it's time for a change. It's time for something different. There's a clear goal in mind, but I don't know if I will be able to get straight to it. It might take a bit of effort, but the effort will make it all the more worthy of pursuing.

Scrap the Guest Room, Welcome the Sitting Room

Facebook friends were asked to give opinions on which room should be tackled next, the sitting room or the guest room. The guest room is a storage place just now, but the sitting room is used each and every day, by each and every member of the family. The sitting room is okay, and I would not be ashamed if someone were to drop by unannounced. However, it could be better. It could be a lot better. The sitting room is the public face of the house.

Decluttering the sitting room is an easy win. There are very few sentimental items, but there's lots of media, mostly DVDs and CDs. After dinner tonight I invited the Younger Offspring and The Beloved, each in turn, to remove from the DVD storage chest DVDs they wanted to keep.  We took a few minutes and were able to declutter the first two drawers of the chest.  The unwanted DVDs have been added to the charity shop pile. We have completed this exercise a number of times over the years.  I dread to think how many DVDs we would have if we didn't purge from time to time.

The Guest Room - OH MY!

The Beloved has very kindly been carrying The Elder Offspring's sorted and packed belongings up to the guest room. My crafting materials have also been going up there too. Now that my bedroom is looking great, it's time to start eyeing up the next challenge, and the guest room is looking rather packed with challenges!

I was in there there first thing this morning, beginning the declutter in a very gentle way. Part of me is wondering whether it would be better to tackle the sitting room, a far easier prospect. The sitting room will not take long to do as it's already in a half way decent state. Might it be better to keep the guest room on hold for a few weeks? I have the last couple of weeks of May booked as a holiday. 

The Clutter Corner is no more!

Last night, we decided not to try to move the not-quite-dry TARDIS from out bed. A guest room is very handy for times like that! This morning, I woke up early and decided to tackle a box or bag from the Clutter Corner. Something was up, as I hit a groove and stormed through all of the boxes and bags. The rubbish has been bagged, the charity shop donations have joined the rest of the pile, the Elder Offspring's belongings have been boxed up, and my craft stuff is in bags. It's all ready leave the Clutter Corner. By the end of today, the only thing in the Clutter Corner will be the cheval mirror!

The only things left to do will be to tidy up a small bookcase, and move a few random objects into their proper homes, oh and finish the TARDIS. I can see a fully decluttered bedroom being on the cards by the end of the week. It took for ever to get here, and then all of a sudden it's almost done!

Life without clutter de-stresses me. It feels as if I can breathe deeply again. 

A little floral construction

I was going to use the word 'arrangement', but that implies order and consideration. This isn't quite what happened. Flowers were cut to size, and stuck in a rose bowl.

At some point, at some time, I would like to have weekly sessions with a floral arranger and learn how to do this.  At this point, at this time, I'll just stick them in a bowl.  

Flowers are pretty. Look at the pretty flowers.

Constructing a TARDIS

The next desk chairs from Ikea were constructed on Sunday, and The Beloved was going to take their cardboard boxes to the amenity site for disposal.  I asked for a one week stay.  This was to give me a fair chance to use the cardboard in the making of the TARDIS duvet cover.

The Younger Offspring and I flatted the boxes and slipped them inside the duvet cover. The rest of the cardboard was used to created a very blocky outline of the TARDIS. Then the fun started with fabric paints (white and gold) and pencils.  We flicked away until there were little galaxies and a few constellations visible.  

The first layer of paint is now drying. Later this week, we will add 'Police Public Call Box' and some windows.

Where are my black trousers?

Where are my black trousers?!

Last night there was hail, and this morning it is distinctly nippy out. I needed to open up the woolly drawer and drag out a merino sweater to wear today.  I had laid out a pair of light weight black trousers, and had second thoughts. But do you think I could find my thick, winter trousers? Not on your nelly!

I've been through the wardrobe; nothing.  I've been through the out of season clothes drawer; nothing. The contents of the drawer have been emptied, decluttered and tidied. I wonder if my trousers have snuck off on a little holiday to the Noodle Bowl? I shall have a word with the Younger Offspring to see if they have spotted a pair of migratory breeks.

In other household news, the post recycled/filed as soon as it arrived, and five items have left the bedroom clutter corner for the 'take to a charity shop' pile.

Two more crates done

Two more crates of the Elder Offspring's belongings have been sorted and decluttered. With filtering and careful packaging, the remaining items don't quite fill one crate. Success! The crate and a folder of art work is now ready to be moved into the guest room for storage.

Mail Decluttter

The box by the front door that usually contains un-dealt-with mail, newspapers and flyers has been emptied. The vast majority of it was filed straight into the recycling bin.  The items kept were old bank statements belonging to the Elder Offspring. Those have been gathered into one envelope and the envelope put into the writing desk in the dining room. When she next comes to visit there will be a ceremonial handing over of bank statements.

Week 17: Organising Mail

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #17: Mail

Done.

Tuesday: Clear spot to hold incoming and outgoing mail and unpaid bills

There's a spot by the door for incoming mail.  It needs to be cleared on a regular basis.  As there's a post box just across the road from the house we put outgoing post directly in the post box.  Unpaid bills are handed directly to The Beloved.  He then pays them and returns to bill to me for filing.

Wednesday: Create a daily routine for organizing paperwork

Done.

Thursday: Create tickler file  for upcoming events/paperwork

Not needed.  Information is stored electronically, written on the calendar, and tickets kept in one location.  I can see how it would have been a great system to use in a busy house with little children, but is not required in our home just now..  

Friday: Create home paper shredder area for discarded paperwork

Not needed.

Saturday: Declutter junk mail

Not needed.

Sunday: Opt out of junk mail

Not needed.

A Slightly Smaller Clutter Corner

Three bags of stuff have been decluttered/sorted. One was a bag of fabric; this is being sent to the prison for prisoners to use in the craft room. The next two were artsy stuff  belonging to the Elder Offspring. The sketchbooks and painting have been added to a large A0 folder, and a bag established for canvases, new sketchbooks etc.

In addition to this, the bed has been made, the 'done' bit of the room has been given a very quick straightening, two loads of laundry have been washed and hung out, a third load is being washed, clean clothing has been folded and put away, the breakfast dishes have been washed, and preparations for dinner (chicken in red wine) have been started.

Bedroom Joy!

Last night, I went to sleep with a smile on my face, and I woke up this morning smiling!  My bedroom is huge! It's tidy, it's decluttered (apart from clutter corner), and I'm loving it. My bedroom is a place of peace, calm, rest and contentment. This is blissful.

I'll work on a couple of bags and boxes today, to make it even better. 

Even thinking about my bedroom just now is making me smile!

Bedroom Decluttering!

At last, at long last, I've made significant progress in the grand bedroom declutter!

The clutter is now all contained in one small corner of the room. It's a heady mix of Elder Offspring's old school books, crafting materials and unidentified crap. There's about 10 bags/boxes.The futon is currently being dis-assmbled, ready to be taken upstairs for the guest bedroom. About 8 bags of books and assorted items have been removed, as well as rubbish.

And it's gone. The futon has gone! The exercise bike has been set in place, and the laundry basket. Stuff has gone, and there's a huge, stupid grin on my face! I am so utterly delighted! I look around my bedroom and I feel calm and blissful!

Just noticed, one more thing. The Elder Offspring created a pencil drawing of a vase of roses. It's currently hanging above the bed. It would look even better over the fireplace.

So much clear, clean space. Uncluttered horizontal surfaces on which the eye can rest. Yes! This is my bedroom. This is the room I have wanted for ages. It's not yet quite finished, but it's taken a huge leap forward today.

Butternut Squash Pasta, part 2

Today's version is a cold salad.

It starts out with gluten-free pasta, and a handful of green beans cut into thirds. The green beans were tossed into the pasta pot two minutes before the end of pasta cooking. This cooks them, but keeps them crisp.

The pasta and green beans were placed under cold, running water to cool them. Then they were mixed with blue cheese dressing, a shake of garlic granules, a mix of butternut squash and sweet potato, chunks of Stilton, a few chopped cherry tomatoes, and the remains of the cashew and pecans.

The verdict is today's concoction is better than the previous one. The blue cheese dressing coats the pasts much better. The quantity of butternut squash/sweet potato is better, but the previous butternut squash that was heavily roasted tasted better. (I saw cubes of seasoned squash and potato bought that to use.) I would like more green beans. The nuts are good. I prefer the cashews and pecans to the walnuts, but we think it would be better still with toasted pine nuts.

Over all, this is a good, easy meal to make, and it provides happy face and happy tummies. It's quick, provided the butternut squash has been pre-cooked. In the time the pasta takes to cook, the veggies, cheese and nuts can be prepared. There's even time to do a little kitchen tidy too!

Inspired by: Butternut squash pasta

The original recipe called for pasta, goat's cheese, butternut squash, roquette and pine nuts. I had pasta, goat's cheese, and butternut squash, but not the leaves or nuts.

Today's version is gluten-free pasta, and fresh green beans cooked to al dente. Some left over cooked butternut squash (not enough), halved cherry tomatoes and toasted walnuts.

It is tasty, but needs less pasta and more veggies. The walnuts didn't do it for me, and I would have preferred the pine nuts. (Must put them on the shopping list!) But the green beans do!

Next time, I'll use a whole butternut squash, cooking it the day before and leaving to chill overnight. The pasta will be cold. There will be pine nuts too. Instead of using a soft spreadable goat's cheese I'll use crumbled Feta (must add to shopping list too). Oh! Stilton would be good too. Then the whole lot will the tossed with a light vinaigrette dressing.

How long to keep paperwork?

The time has come to start decluttering paperwork in our house. Currently it just gets dumped in the dining room, or in The Beloved's study. There is no organisation. Now I have a clear game-plan, and I shall be setting up folders for storage of the things that need to be stored.  The new system will start at properly at the end of the month, but I'll backdate my records to the start of April 2017 (the start of the tax year). 

A while back I decluttered a load of papers, and I need to do more. Once the new system is up and running, I'll return to the existing piles and declutter them according to the rules of the new system. 

One Year

• Bills, such as utility, cable, phone, and credit card statements
• Pay slips
• Bank statements
• Receipts (for many 90 days or less is sufficient). Exceptions - receipts for bigger ticket items should
• be stored with warranties or home inventory, and save those receipts needed for tax documentation

Seven Years

• Personal tax returns and supporting documentation

Indefinitely

• Loan documents, for the life of the loan, plus payoff statements forever
• Retirement statements (until all money has been distributed)
• Vehicle titles, and maintenance records (until no longer own vehicle)
• Warranties (until no longer own item, or warranty expires)
• Personal identification and records, such as birth and death certificates, marriage certificate, wills, passports, degree certificates

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.