Saturday, September 11, 2021

Making Space...

With comfortable weather upon us, it was into the garage yesterday and today for just a little bit each day.  I think there will be yet another foray into this space soon, but for today's post, I am divesting myself of most of my silk flowers and greenery I store for seasonal decorating, but when it comes right down to it, I don't really use most of it.  Some items still have tags on them.  

Out it goes!

Most of it, anyway.  I saved aside a few pieces that I may find useful, but largely I'm done with silk flowers and fake plant material.  For now.  

I have no idea how many pieces are in the tub in the second picture above, but I count 10 different types of flowers or plants in the first picture.  Individually, there are probably nearly a hundred pieces (from the largest to the smallest), but I'm going to count 20 things gone from this category and call it good.


While outside, I took a picture of two 4-H posters two sons completed for Shooting Sports.   I asked them if they wanted them and I got a "Geesh!  You still have those?"   ðŸ˜†

Outta here!



I brought some boxes of miscellaneous stuff inside to sort through and I'm happy to count 10 items above (in all that fake greenery, there are at least 3 separate pieces).  


And one bow made of PVC pipe.  At least one of our boys enjoyed making these (and arrows from wooden dowels and some material for feathers) many years ago (when a young teen).  I think he may have sold a few to friends.   If son doesn't want this for memory's sake, it's leaving.  As much as it makes me smile remembering him making these, one way or another it's leaving.


Now... what I'd like to know is why there were these five Better Homes and Gardens magazines, dated from 2009 - 2012 amongst the stuff in the garage.  That one is a head scratcher. I'm assuming I just tossed them in a box to clean off a surface once upon a time, but they've been in that box for at least nine years (according to the newest date on the magazines).  Sigh.  The other things are just random stuff used at some point in homeschooling.  I did put a couple of books found in this box on the shelf.  You know... for those yet-to-appear grandchildren.  😉  

Not pictured are a couple of boxes of memorabilia that look like they're full of stuff from from my side of the family.  Since that's a project that will slow me down, I'll probably not sort through them right now.  Just quickly glancing at the contents of those boxes, I honestly didn't even know I had those things.

I think it's obvious more than 41 things are leaving the house with this post, but that's what I'll count - and be happy about it.


Making Space Week 45:  811 things gone!



23 comments:

  1. Congrats on the clean-out accomplishments. Big decisions, some easy, some not. When it all comes down to it, it's just stuff and if there were a fire or a tornado to take it from you, all that would matter would be family and friends.

    At least, that's the kind of talk I say to myself when I am purging. You're doing very well!

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    1. I do need to remember that it's just stuff. Future stuff will replace this stuff, I'm sure.

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  2. I have a magazine weakness. I would get sidetracked looking through those things:) I am with you on so many points here. I am constantly pulling things out and wondering why I keep them and trust me I was way more sentimental than my daughter was going through her old bedroom.

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    1. I used to really enjoy browsing magazines. What cracks me up is that in 5 (unremarkable) magazines, three different years were represented. I have no idea why they were together, but I do suspect I just swept them off some surface, stuck them in this box, and then didn't open it for 9 years! LOL I'm just glad I didn't move it to a new home...

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  3. Good job. Isn't amazing how our kids are not sentimental at all? Mine could care less about things I have saved yet, they get sad when I tell them it is being trashed or donated. Go figure. They don't want to store it but it's ok for mom to store it. I quit asking and just started getting it out of my house. Bet it will be interesting to go through the boxes with things from your side of the family.

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    1. I think mine are sentimental to some extent, but for the most part they don't want to hang onto things. After helping emptying their grandmother's home last summer, they are all very supportive of our getting rid of stuff now. If they are disappointed in anything I get rid of at this point, it's on them. I've giving them plenty of opportunity to take things if they want them.

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  4. I'm actually rather relieved that we no longer have a garage, although in the middle of winter when I'm having to shovel the car from a snowbank I think rather longingly of it. You're on a roll with what you're getting rid of!

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    1. Hubs doesn't want a basement because he's afraid we'll fill it. While I don't think we need to worry about that, I do want a bit of garage storage at least for some seasonal things. I have to say, though, snowy winter weather is when I'm most glad for our garage. :)

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    2. One thing I learned with apartment life is that I no longer can have much in the way of seasonal things. Christmas decorations are downsized more and more every year and the rest of the seasons come and go without any 'decorating' on my part. Even Christmas, because we now go to our son's, could be a whole lot more minimal than what it is. I'd be perfectly happy with just the nativity set and nothing else but DH seems to think we 'need' the tree and all the trimmings. One day I hope to convince him that it's nothing but a pain to set up, decorate and take down again.

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  5. Good going on the decluttering. It's hard when it keeps on bringing up distracting memories.

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    1. It's easy to get distracted sorting through memorabilia. Mustn't stop the momentum now, though.

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  6. Amazing the age of magazine collections. Good haul of stuff

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    1. It's a funny combination of years I've got there. I don't know why they weren't put in the recycling bag 9, 10, and 11 years ago. lol

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  7. The boys did a great job on their 4H posters!

    Keep going! Don't stop now. I am still working on the upstairs bedroom, but am slowed a bit by a wonky hip.

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    1. I hope your wonky hip doesn't slow you down too much. I keep hoping nothing comes along to stop me or slow me down. It wouldn't take much, I'm sure.

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  8. Gosh it's amazing what we keep isn't it, I have all my youngest sons stuff here and it's taking up so much room, I feel I can't touch it without his permission, maybe I should take a photo of it as you have done and ask him what he wants, it will take forever there's so much of it. You are doing so well I am really impressed. xx

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    1. Fortunately, our boys have taken most of their things to their own homes (whether it's an apartment or house). I think they're surprised at what I'm finding at this point that I ask them if they want. They've wanted very little of what I've taken a picture of and sent to them. I think seeing the picture is enough for them.

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  9. You are so inspiring! It seems this last few years I have found it very easy to let go of things that I couldn't before. Aging is all about letting go I guess and I'm so happy to do it now. I can't get rid of things fast enough! LOL! Except for my hobbies...lol!
    Is that a hula hoop in that one photo?

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    1. Not sure if the brand is Hula Hoop, but that's essentially what that ring is. I've been hanging onto it thinking it might be useful for some crafty purpose, but since imagining future crafty projects works against the desire to get rid of stuff, I've decided I can always replace the hoop if I ever actually think of that thing I can make with it. :)

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  10. Life has been so busy here and I have not done much cleaning out lately. I did help my mom clean out an area at her house yesterday and that felt good. My sister was there too and she is a ruthless declutterer! :)

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    1. I need a ruthless declutterer to help me see my things through their eyes. ;^)

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  11. Oh I wished I lived nearby, I’d have definitely taken those autumn leaves. My old host mother in Michigan sent me 3 garlands of them and I love putting them up each autumn. But if they aren’t your thing anymore I can see why you have got rid of them.

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    1. That is the danger of taking pictures of stuff I'm getting rid of and posting them here. :) Someone else will invariably love what I don't anymore. I do that too, when I see other's decluttering pictures. I saved back a very few autumn leaves for say, scattering on the Thanksgiving dinner table; and I have a fall wreath for the front door. I'm also now realizing I have a few green fake plants tucked here or there as an accent, but I may just get rid of those too when I begin to dismantle our belongings to pack for a move - whenever that will be.

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