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Decluttering support thread

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  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    This is what comes up when I Google "baker's table" - is that the sort of thing you mean? If so, I'd say you're just right wanting to keep it - I'd love one if I had the space (which I don't).
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Now I really want one - with the "drawers" for keeping flour in - how ingenious is that?

    Sadly, I still haven't got the space ... :cry:
  • Asking for my mother. She has a short cape made from mink, and doesn't know how to get rid of it. She doesn't want money for it, but she doesn't want to bin what was a quality, expensive item either.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Would a charity shop take it? Or failing that, what about having it turned into a teddy-bear?

    When we moved to Fredericton and my winter clothes were still in storage, someone gave me a fur coat to tide me over, but to be honest, even in a Canadian winter, I didn't find I needed that level of warmth. I ended up buying a lovely wool coat for $12 in a charity shop, and, being an idiot, I forgot to pack it when the house was cleared.
  • Not so many years ago, a specialist section of Oxfam would take furs - I think they may have sent them to countries where wearing fur was still acceptable. Or professional or amateur dramatic societies might take them for their stock of costumes? I know my sister disposed of some of our mother's items in both of these ways.
  • I was also thinking of people restoring furs, and things that are covered in fur. To do so authentically they would need real fur, and second-hand fur would at least require no further cruelty. The question, of course, is how to reach them.
  • The great coin count at the Image household is complete. I am about to tote them to the bank for a deposit of $600.00. It was a chore but very happy with the outcome. I have forgiven Mr. Image for his collecting although holding on to the promise he will not start again. The coins are heavy and may require several trips. No doubt the bank tellers will groan and say, "Oh no here comes that Mrs. Image and her coins again."
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    $600 in coins will be rather heavy! I hope you and Mr. Image can treat yourselves to something on the proceeds - maybe a few nice lunches (assuming your restaurants are open).
  • Plans are to add a window with a screen to our mini, evacuation, and camping vehicle which happens to cost exactly $600.00. This way I can sleep with air and light but no bugs. As it is a closed panel van, with windows only in the cab, it will also make it easier and safer to see when making turns to the right passenger side.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    That sounds like a very sensible idea!
  • HelixHelix Shipmate
    Ahead of a move, and with charity shops closed, I am pleased to find big "bins" for clothes and shoes for charity. All these clothes that I hoard and haven't worn for years but still can't quite get rid of ...
  • The good news, a local organization that cares for the homeless has requested donations just as other charity shops have put on the break. I will make a trip this afternoon. They are requesting mostly men's clothing which is what we have. I have been donating all along but Mr. Image has not. What a relief.
  • Our offer on a new mobile home has been accepted. Now the downsize starts for real. I so envy a friend whose home was claimed by the state for a new highway. She just took what she wanted and left the rest for the bulldozers. As she said with a smile," I did not even have to clean the oven. "
  • Golden KeyGolden Key Shipmate, Glory
    Helix--

    YAY for bins! Continued good luck to you.

    GI--

    Congrats on your new mobile home! Best of luck to you in getting it all set up and ready. And your friend should try to sell her story to Hollywood--sounds like script for a TV movie, especially that last line. Seriously.
  • We will be meeting with our realtor next week to go through the house so we can measure, measure, measure. That will be a big help in knowing what we can keep and what must go. The kitchen has no upper cabinets but does have a nice big pantry. I have a small two-piece antique display cabinet that I am thinking I will take apart, cut off the legs, and hanging the two parts on the walls for extra storage. I think it will add a bit of whimsy charm to the kitchen.
  • I have had a purge of my cookery books and gardening books, leaving only the trusty few. Most of the time I find what I am looking for on the web. That’s 2 big bagsfull to the local charity bookstore, with another 5 probably after that. Next I’ll tackle the shelves in the spare bedrooms.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Be careful you don't declutter your new cat!

    Well, you know - cats, boxes ... :mrgreen:
  • Good point. While she’s hiding under a bed I think she’s safe.
  • daisydaisy wrote: »
    I have had a purge of my cookery books and gardening books, leaving only the trusty few. Most of the time I find what I am looking for on the web. That’s 2 big bagsfull to the local charity bookstore, with another 5 probably after that. Next I’ll tackle the shelves in the spare bedrooms.

    I've done that over the past few years, disposing of my last cook book a month or so ago. When I do need a recipe, I check the ones I have saved on my computer or else look on-line. So the ones in good condition were donated, and the ones that were rather worn went in my recycle bin.

    It will be about a year from now that I move, but I've done so much decluttering and organizing that I think I'll be in pretty good shape, and I do a little bit more every day. (At least that's what I think now -- let's see eleven months from now!)
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I did quite a purge of my cookbooks when I sold the house in Fredericton, and just kept the ones I really like. I know many of the recipes are available online, but I rather enjoy sitting down with a cookbook and something nice to eat.
  • It is good to read cookbooks, they always have happy endings.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    Somehow my Christmas recipes which I thought were stored disappeared. Fortunately they are all by a NZer who is is still popular here. I walked into the library and there on the Christmas display was a book with the rum and raisin cake I always make for a friend, He isn't as talented at losing stuff as I am :wink: so I gave him a copy and told him if he lost it there would be no more cakes - nothing like having an incentive. :smiley:
  • It is good to read cookbooks, they always have happy endings.
    Love it!

  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    The spice cupboard is done - hurrah! :mrgreen:

    Today’s job, the utility room. :open_mouth:
  • Oh my goodness. This is a new ideal thread for me. Glad to be back. <3 Our apartment resembles that scene in Labyrinth with the Junk Lady.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Well done!

    The kitchen in the new château has a little pull-out larder thingy under the counter beside the sink, and the top rack is just the right size to accommodate most of the spice jars I'm likely to use, so I'm gradually filling it. It's a pure but happy coincidence that I happened to buy the herbs in Sainsbury's (round jars) and the spices* from Tesco's (square jars), so they can even be arranged logically!

    * except the saffron, but it can be where the herbs and spices meet ...
  • I have got a feeling that Christmas and the New Year could drag a bit here (ourselves and no others).

    So various family photos Will be corralled into the very many new and waiting albums!

    And that will be the final go at decluttering for 2020.



    2021 however ........

  • Just found out my son wants any of my cookbooks that I do not want to move, to read for their cultural interest. Makes his mother proud.
  • Any move we make is about 6 month down the road, I think, but this weekend I began to chuck (recycle) paperwork from the past 11 years. So many out-of-date leaflets sent to me by the trusting CofS which I did not find appropriate to distribute widely! Getting rid of things makes me so happy.
    Sadly Mr Cats, seeing what I was up to, asked if he could have the filing cabinet when it was empty as he needs yet another. I don't think he sees a move as a chance to de-clutter. In fact I think he would regard "de-clutter" as a dirty word.
  • But at least all His clutter would be corralled into the one place?

    Our clutter appears to have legs and move.....
  • Win-win, We have a wheelchair used for only 3 weeks by Mr. Image, and some more medical equipment nearly new from his last illness. Thinking should we move this or not. No, go positive he will not need these again, and the mobile home is not a place to be storing stuff. Today I saw a request online from a home health aid for any used medical equipment in good shape to give to patients on tight budgets. She is picking it all up Friday. So happy to be rid of it, and to give it to those in need.
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    Win-win, We have a wheelchair used for only 3 weeks by Mr. Image, and some more medical equipment nearly new from his last illness. Thinking should we move this or not. No, go positive he will not need these again, and the mobile home is not a place to be storing stuff. Today I saw a request online from a home health aid for any used medical equipment in good shape to give to patients on tight budgets. She is picking it all up Friday. So happy to be rid of it, and to give it to those in need.

    That’s really good.

    I have done all the kitchen cupboards this week. It feels good. :mrgreen:
  • wonderful to both! I am desperately seeking every thumb drive we own to be sure I have the most recent (alas, not very) backups to my newly deceased hard drive, soon to be replaced.
  • Another 2 book cases decluttered, with bags ready for a charity bookshop and another 2 for friends (I checked first!)
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Well done, Daisydaisy! You do know that books don't count as clutter, don't you? :mrgreen:
  • I read this thread to give me a nudge now and then. It helped today I am off to pack up the hall closets. Daisydaisy thanks for the nudge today.
  • Yet another reason to have children. Our younger son came today and with great glee packed up a car full of stuff he remembers fondly from his growing up years. We breathe a sigh of relief not having to move or dispose of it. I was surprised what was included on his willingness to take list. "Oh, mom can I have the blue bowl? I remember you always put those hard Christmas candy in it every year."
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I hope he has either a very big house or a very understanding wife/partner. Or both. :mrgreen:
  • He has a very large barn/workshop and his partner he is bribing by giving her a desk we no longer need but she disparately does. Or so he thinks.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Seems like a Plan. :)
  • Mr. Image and I have spent the morning laughing hysterically. We are going through boxes of old pictures. The hair, the clothes, the vibe of the '60s, '70s, and '80s are cracking us up. Who are those people? Yes, we are those people.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Nothing quite like going through old photographs to give you a good chuckle!

    "Would you look at those trousers?!?!?" :mrgreen:
  • Golden KeyGolden Key Shipmate, Glory
    And jacket collars--the shape and style thereof
  • CruntCrunt Shipmate
    I remember when I was in my 30s, my mum moved house and she gave me a pile of stuff that was either mine, or of interest to me. Included in that stuff was a picture of me and mum and dad at my 18th birthday party. Later on, I showed the photo to a friend who pointed out that I was wearing the same shirt as I was in the photo. It wasn't even a shirt I particularly liked (it was brown), but it fitted me well and it lasted well., so I just kept wearing it; I hadn't realised that I'd been wearing it off and on over 15 years, though.
  • Many of the clothes I wear are at least 15 years old. I still have a vest (waistcoat) my Mom made for me when I was in college almost 50 years ago.
  • Quite a few of my clothes belonged to my mother, and some of hers are older than me.
  • Going to deal with decluttering and cleaning living room coffee table today. Prayers welcome. The whole apartment has been like a mountain I stare at, getting overwhelmed, feeling unable to even begin. But it has to start somewhere.
  • @ ChastMastr, Sounds like a good place to start. We are moving and it is helping me to just do one area at a time, and not to feel overwhelmed by the whole task at hand. Each small step adds up over the week to be a cleared mind of relief. May each effort no matter how small bring you relief and hope for finishing the whole task. You are in my prayers.
  • @ChastMastr one bite at a time (as in elephants) - the coffee table sounds a great place to begin. My chaotic clutter got me down until I identified smaller area of the bigger picture. I’ve just tackled a small book case, next is under one of the beds. Prayers ascending for you.
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