The DeCluttering Party Continues!

I'll start with this cute song to get us going...I become rather daffy when decluttering and such, so I figure Betty Hutton will keep us going with this!

Betty Hutton: Bluebirds in My Belfry Enjoy!

Dear Blog Friends, The Declutter Party, "Simplify-Simplify" continues. I will be trying to keep regular updates continued from last week's blog entry of my declutter victories. I so want to simplify my life so I can concentrate on the people, beings & things I love.

You can read my micro-bio on the last entry, my parents and grandparents were both Depression Era. I too have trouble with hanging on to things, Hubs is self employed.

The purpose for these updates as I am able to post them is to encourage others who have the same battles with things. Many who are ruthless and some times wasteful thrower-awayers in this disposable society may poo-poo this blog series scratching their heads not understanding.

What can I say?

Many of us are merciful creative messies, some of us at times have or have had a lack of money, we've learned to be frugal by necessity, many of us though frugal are some of the most giving people around. Many of us do enjoy crafting and art, many of us keep stashes to re-sew and repair...We see beauty and a future in almost anything...thus it's hard to simply get rid of things.

Oh what a delightful nice world it would be if we were all creative merciful messies! The freeway systems would be a wreck but we would sure be having a wonderful time in our creative, caring bliss. ; )

The Party Continues! I will be posting from day to day here on this entry, hopefully at different times of the day any declutter victories accomplished. Stay tuned for laughs and confessions from a creative messy.


Characters in My Adventure Here in our Home:

Dh or Hubs: My dear husband or hubby.

Dd28: Our 28 year old daughter.

Dd25: Our 25 year old daughter:


Dd21: Our 21 year old daughter:

Dd17: Our 17 year old daughter:




Doglets: Our four doggies: A black rolie-polie toy poodle; Esther. Our rescue dog, Charlie; he is a most handsome silver half terrior & half poodle. A darling miniature golden colored schitzu literally rescued from the streets; Muffie. And our sweet, robust, husky little schitzu; Guisseppi who has cataracts which I am treating naturally.


Kitty: Our beautiful black & white Victorian kitty, her name is Topsy, she loves the great outdoors no matter how we try to coax her inside.



The Party & Adventure Continues! Please feel free to come & join in! You are welcome to comment with your successes too! Quandries are always welcome, you are in good company here. : )

Monday 1.10.11 10:56AM The top o' the mornin' to ya! Woke up this morning, as I was stepping out of bed into my house shoes a sentimental dried pink rose bouqet hanging upside down so Victorian-ish from my bookcase fell on my head. I laughed & told hubs, one more thing to declutter! I'm getting ready to go through my Christmas gift boxes now. Many are very mismatched and getting older. I bought 6 new packs nicely sealed up on clearance at Hobby Lobby so that gives me some leverage on that. Also, starting to clean some cold drawers in fridge....

5:21PM I went through the gift boxes, weeded out all those with creases & stains, mis-matched lids, it took a little while to do so too! I laughed...One lid had a department store name that has been out of business for years, oh my! I also went through all Christmas bows throwing out the wilted looking ones and reboxed the nice shaped ones in a fresh box. Went through tags as well, throwing out old unsticky ones. I finished cleaning one cold drawer from the fridge. I finally went into my closet and seized that pair of evening shoes...Boy was I surprised when I opened the box & found the pair in the box was another like-new pair I had forgotten that Dd25 had given to me! Another box revealed yet another like-new black evening pair I had forgotten about. Finally I opened the box with the remembered and long time favorite but now too high pair. All went to donations. All too high to wear, and someone else will love them. Dd25 is cooking a neat chicken recipe with turkey bacon accents and it sure smells wonderful! Kitty is inside with the doglets tonight, Dd21 somehow gained her trust and brought her inside out of the cold...

7:39PM Stay warm friends, and to all a good night. (Paul Harvey tone)
"Nightie-night" (as Shirley Temple said in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms).


Tuesday 1.11.11 10:24AM Good Morning Everyone! My mom is here to visit today, but I'll declutter as I am able. I did get a headstart last night, I went ahead & threw out the dried pink roses that fell on my head yesterday morning. lol I also donated a nice dressy knit shirt my mil had handed down to me, the neckline wasn't flattering on me. I'll be back later hopefully with more declutter victories. : )

1:20PM So far...Several like-new devotionals & a stack of Daily Bread booklets my mother gave me to give to donations.

And...I have a story from my mother as she is here visiting today. She is a youthful almost 81 years old. (She really is!) You would not know she is 81 if you were to see her. She tells that she & her brother would take the bus from the little town to the city and that is where they would shop for clothes & larger grocery store purchases where they actually had real fresh french bread! Til this day, french bread is a comfort food for my mother & uncle. The ride would take over an hour. She said for years she owned 1 nice black skirt and several pretty blouses and she was fine. It was only until she worked in a downtown bank as a single young lady that she added a couple more skirts etc. How's that for practicality? : )

3:43PM Wow. Am I tired out...Tried on. Donated around 15 long sleeve tshirt tops, turtlenecks...I had two red turtlenecks and two cream colored turtlenecks. Don't need two, kept one of the better fit of each. I donated a new Christmas turtleneck, the color was a little dull for my complexion, although it has cute snowmen on it... I know, I know, me and my snowmen.... I also donated a really cute tunic top that I MADE just last summer. The sleeves fit a bit snug, and when I tried it on for girls,

Dd17 & Dd25...They shook their heads... "It's not that flattering"....

Dd25: "Someone will be very blessed to get that hand sewn top, I know I have been blessed to find a handmade top in the past"

Yes, she is so right. It will be a treasure for someone who is looking for that type of blouse. New frame & angel Christmas stocking Dd17 doesn't want. I threw out a snow glove. It's been hanging around here for several years since one of our Dds Christmas parties. It was a pair a young man had left on the hayride. As we have waited several years to return them, one glove would go awol and vise versa. Well, that young man is married now and who knows where, so out goes the glove(s). The end. For now. : )

Yesterday 1.12.11 9:42AM Good Morning! It's time to rise and shine!

Yesterday I finally took *The* Jewel tone, blue-green velvet blazer out of my closet to examine closely and retrieve opinions. Dd17: "No, it looks dated Mom." Dd25: "Maybe with a vintage pin?"

Well folks I'm learning I have a mirror in the house way back in our hobby room...That mirror is a ruthless critic, yes, when in doubt go to the big antique armoir mirror. Believe me...If it looks good in that mirror it's a keeper. The blazer did not look good in that mirror. Out to bless someone else who will look good in it.

I'm donating any tops, new or not with unflattering necklines or any colors that wash me out. Several tops with nice necklines & colors had been crowded out by excess, now I can see & enjoy wearing those.

Out went a brand new pair of pretty black bow dress flats. A couple of months ago I was wearing them carrying a laundry basket on hardwood floors and fell plumb across the room! (embarrassing) Yesterday eve I put them on for datenight with black tights and skirt, walked around in our room a bit. No. The shoes are made narrow, even the low heel is narrowed...I could just see myself twisting my ankle on wet pavement. Out-out-out. Glad I got them on clearance, not too huge of a loss. (rinkled nose)

I told Hubs yesterday, it seems the more I declutter, the more that oozes out! It's like the Blob! It was a bit discouraging but I will press on. It would probably also be a good idea to tidy up for 15 minutes in my room today too.

The Donatons people are coming by to pick up our huge pile of bags tomorrow, but wait there will be more! Be back later with more updating...I see Dd25 has commented too on her decluttering process.

1:02PM Weeding out sweaters today, it's amazing what a couple of years make in the way things look to us. Also a couple of blouses that were bad purchases last summer. The material turned out to be itchy, they both should have gone back for a return but I didn't do it, I kept thinking I would soften them up in the wash, they never softened. I had a black & a white. The white was never worn. One last pair of clogs that are new, I thought for sure these would be okay, no....they seemed to hurt my back today, my back has been aching lately anyhow. The clogs will go to dd25 if she wants them. ...I need to be thinking of supper, the famous question has already popped up: "What's for supper?" : ) I'm watching the most darling old 40s movie; I'm going to treat myself to a nice sandwich now and peruse my cookbook for a nice winter supper, perhaps a soup?

4:16PM Oh me oh my. I feel a bit discouraged. I'm tired and drinking some coffee, my back is giving me problems today. I did sneak a short nap in. Some of my drawers are still filled but I have emptied boxes and I have loaded up more than several bags in the past week so why should I feel discouraged? My dd25 & dd28 just said they don't understand how mom has so much stuff when I go shopping less than anyone...I know how. It's because I hang onto everything longer than anybody. I'm getting better though. Dd28 reminds me.... I am making progress...that is what to remember instead of seeing the glass half empty...Oh and did I tell you I just turned 50? That just should not be...I was 19 just yesterday...

6:01PM It's dark now. Dd25 has some good looking chicken stew cooking. I told Dd28 earlier I was thinking of soup for sup and she jokingly asked:

"Is that a threat?" LOL

Dd25 helped me quickly organize some clothes and that was a huge help. I donated my pink fleece Minnie Mouse Christmas shirt. I was told it was a bit frumpy, it was one of my favorites but if it's too baggy on me etc. then maybe someone else should have it. Dd25 good naturedly warned...

"Now don't get emo on me..." (I was sadly telling the shirt goodbye)

The rest will have to wait til the next pick up, we can't make a U-turn with the Queen Mary right? We'll finish bagging our offerings up in the morning for tomorrow's pickup...And then restart the process...Thanks for dropping by friends. Feel free to leave comments of encouragement or your declutter quandries & victories. Sweet dreams! Good night! : )

Thursday. 1.13.11 10:30AM Alrighty! Good Morning! Our family has aproximately 13 kitchen size bags, 1 black bag, several boxes and a lamp on the front porch waiting for the donation pickup to come pick them up. Yay!!!

Hubs even got into the act and donated a couple of robes, shirts, a couple of winter jackets etc. One robe, I had made him years ago. He asked what I thought....I told him please donate it if he doesn't wear it. : ) It's a nice heavy one and someone else could really enjoy that robe this winter. The robe was appreciated for 30 years and if it's not being used it's a shame for it to sit. Dd21 donated a huge beanie baby collection, she had thought about selling it on ebay but with shipping & describing all of it, it may save her nerves and do her heart good to bless some children with the little guys. I threw in a lime green summer knit shirt, just not flattering and a white undershirt that is always passed up, since it really doesn't cover the way it should. So voila! The journey doesn't stop nor the party. We shall see what we shall see today. Stay tuned. Possible updates! : )

11.52AM The organization picked it all up is the good news. : ) The bad news is one of the men they had working for them THREW my lamp into the truck and a few of the boxes with breakables in them football style! I didn't mind the bags being slung in the truck but a lamp? A box of nice breakables, things like a nice waterglobe? I was so upset I went out the door and yelled at the one man who was doing that to PLEASE be careful with my donations! The one African American man who was near the door was so sweet, he had accidently dropped a box and bless his heart, he was apologizing, and I totally understood that, and I told him so. The other man, the "rough thrower" scurried around the truck where he thought I couldn't see him. I called and reported the "rough thrower". My goodness. Disturbing.

3:16PM Had a nice leisurely lunch of Tomato-Basil soup with a cheese pita....oh it was delightful and I shared my little feast with doglets while watching Dd21 model her clothes as I helped her decide what to give or keep. Not much decluttering today for myself though after that morning pick-up. Did some light blogging on my other blogs.
Washing clothes is in order today and then for dinner... Thawing chicken breast seems to be the "next thing" as Elizabeth Elliot used to reiterate... "Just do the thing next". I will.

6:41Pm And a good evening to all, it's so nice to have donated all those bags of things we don't need any longer so we can see what we have. Watching me running out of the house yelling to that one reckless pickup guy to please stop throwing breakables like a football, and lecturing him on how I was giving nice things with a good conscience to this organization was epic. I'm not normally a person who bolts out the door to lecture or even talk with anyone. Trust me, I speak publicly with my family once a year, and that is huge for me. God is so good, He always gives me the words to speak. He. Is. Faithful.

Next time I will either call another organization or bring breakables to a Goodwill window. Surprisingly enough I've already run across a scarf to give on the next round. Thank you to my dear daughters for your encouragements and participating too, it makes it more fun, and we had some really good fashion shows too didn't we? LOL Thank you Carmen for the shout out, I really appreciate that Carmen, and I appreciate your appreciation. Thanks to Mary & Maxine for commenting even though you didn't feel that urge to declutter. (yet) : ) And a thank you to Melissa for sharing that wowee testimony of a grand drop-off. Thanks also for Ms. B's encouragement and thoughts...So good to hear from you! And of course Ariadone, thanks for the sweet New Year's Wishes!

We'll see what tomorrow holds! God is good! This blog has been a hilarious help. If you haven't joined in, you sure are missing out on a lot of fun!

Good Night. : )

Friday 1.14.11 2:31PM Don't mind me...Just puttering today. Nothing like a puttery day, yes indeedie. I'm studying some minimalist blogs picking some good ideas out of them. Thinking about supper, getting ready to take inventory of what I can artfully put together from the pantry so no one will have to make a trip to the grocery. I did go through a drawer quickly this morning and pulled things out that don't go there, threw away things that obviously needed to go and ya know? It didn't take but a few minutes!

7:40PM I also decluttered today by ignoring two email requests to save even more in my shopping cart. I already ordered what I needed last week; I don't need anymore. Am sending two denim skirts back to another company. Just not flattering. I knew in my heart that my homemade one was plenty sufficient & flattering to boot. I now so appreciate my homemade denim skirt. Good night to all! I. Am. Tired. Blessings!

Friday 1.15.11 5:16PM Such a sweet day, went out to the country to check on things at our house we're building as a family...Oh it felt so wonderful to walk on the earth...see and hear the birds, see a few people's homes who haven't bothered taking their Christmas decor down...*happy sigh* Peace.

I decluttered in one way today by ignoring the Walmart clearance racks. I didn't set foot into Academy, just sent dd21 in to find snow pants. Period. I did enjoy an awfully good Beefy burrito at Taco Bell. Delightful my friends and totally junkworthy. ; )

The things that are still in the balance is my beloved snowman cookie jar, I'm thinking he needs to come with me to the new house. : ) AND I am SO glad I did not donate him to that last organization...Can you imagine what I would have done to that reckless, mean-thrower-worker if he would have thrown my snowman?! Oh man oh man...He would have been minced meat indeed. Never underestimate the wrath of Mama Mia. ; )
Watching an old early 60s Lawrence Welk with our 4 Dds, it is so entertaining! Covers mouth giggling...Drinking a nice cup of French-pressed coffee. Dd28 making stuffed bell pepper casserole...Very nice indeed. I think I'm in a resting mode, kind of like kneading bread, you knead it and let it rest. Goodnight. : )


Today. Sunday 1.16.11 6:21PM A most delightful Lord's day...Visited one of our most favorite churches, thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship today. The pastor warned of combative divisions some people cause with wanting to fight & debate doctrine. Refreshing. So refreshing. Jesus anyone? : )

No decluttering today except clearing my mind. Dd25 is making a quick homemade Tortilla Soup. Dd25 & I are previewing a new dvd I treated myself to: Tea With Michelle Duggar How do ya like them apples for a delightful Sunday eve? Goodnight Everyone.

~Amelia