2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

~FlowerPot~

Helloooo declutterati,

I am trying to nudge things along. The garden is slowly being tamed by my lovely gardener, 2 hours a week is just nowhere near enough though! We have a large, huge garden and I just cant get on top of it. But chipping away when DD lets me go outside, the pupster is still on rest so cant be let out in the garden to run around so someone has to be around him most of the time. Also spoke to one of neighbours at the bottom of the garden and it turns out that little rascul pupster has been wondering into their garden!!! I need to find out where exaclty hes been getting in!!!

1 bag to the CS which was DDs clothes and 2 blue cushions. ALso sorted a frog and thought a little more about that huge toad i started, will leave him for another day!

Will be off to see the barbie film later with DD, there so much hype about it, not sure what I will make of it. But i do know that I would never be tempted to go and see it if DD didnt want to go!!

Love Flowers x

Brie

the better wheelchair and ramp were collected yesterday but not the lesser wheelchair or the rollator.  And she got it for free rather than pay the £50 I'd suggested.  I wasn't home at the time (last art class til Oct) so the OH was left to deal with her.  He said she felt bad about wanting the better one but wasn't sure what to do.  He told her to go ahead and take it as it was out of our way and going to a good home.  And then she left a note on freegle to say he'd been charming !!  (he can be when he wants to be!!!).  So the other 2 items will be loaded into his tank and dropped at the local chazzer - they seem to have quite a bit of similar kit so won't grumble I think.  Maybe the clutter magnet table can go to them too at the same time.

And yes there is now room for the toy car actually in the carport!!!  There's still more to dump - 3 large rucksacks plus a picnic backpack, numerous old tins of paint, old shelving that is slowly crumbling due to being out in all weather for 5 years. etc etc.  Get rid of all that and his tank might fit in there instead!!! (but it would be snug to get in and out as the doors swing so wide)

Meanwhile - problems on the coin disposal front.  Got to the bank, long queue.  Was stood there with my big bag of coins (mixed in a back, not separated, counted etc).  And saw that the coin deposit machines were out of order.  Ended up having a nice chat with an older lady working there who said that engineers had been called but they didn't know yet when the machines will be fixed.  Realistically I doubt they will be because the branch closes permanently next Tuesday so why bother to repair anything???  I wished her well with her redundancy (she was pleased about it) and then went to the Barclays next door but they didn't have cash deposit machines so I'll either have to use the coins at the self serve tills (grrrrr) at Tasco or travel a ways to one of the few remaining big branches.  

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks to include MMiM - do this before I go to bed

2. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ I have an acronym - I.R.I.S. being Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off 

3. Implement a new sleep/wake up regime - start going to bed earlier (target before 2:00 a.m.) get up earlier (target by 9:00 a.m.)

4. Deal with ‘Urgent’ daily mail immediately & the rest at the weekend

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. If I spot a mini task deal with it immediately e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

7. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

Tuesday is a brighter day as the sun is actually visible 🙂 Only got up at noon & have a bit of a headache 😔 DSis is up & dressed to go out but is, as usual, shilly-shallying 😉 I am on my 2nd cuppa & headache is gone & have dealt with today’s mail - two charity requests (donations made) & a bit of filing. DH has just gone in to the garden (14:00) & I am about to follow to pick rhubarb. DH has emptied the remaining 3 potato bags - a very poor crop (850g pic1) I was more successful with the rhubarb 🥳 The shop bought crown has provided 350g of thin sticks of rhubarb (pic2) BUT the crown from my DBiL has provided what I call ‘proper’ rhubarb 969g (pic3 & 4) DSis finally left at 14:20. The weather is lovely now - bright sunshine & warm 22C ☀️ DH has also strimmed the back garden & put weed killer down on the front path + successfully got on & off the motorbike on the drive 🥳 He can pick his foot up now to put on the footrest (without my assistance) 🥳 I will now “allow” him to go shopping 🤣 There is a full wash load in the wm which I will hang out on the whirligig to dry 🙂Just started frog 3 - left a message for my cousin R & will call her back tonight - reminder set as I am prone to forgetfulness 😉 Still no reply from DB 😔 

1731 - 1733 Metal tin, cardboard box, paper packaging & envelopes - recycled 

1734 - 1735 Large bag of office rubbish + broken keyboard

Wednesday2000, hope you are having some summer weather today 🤞 Rather depressing to start your winter prepping so early 😔 Excellent decluttering & sorting/tidying 👏 You can still take an ‘after’ photo just so you can look at it & admire your handiwork 😊 I can quite understand your feelings towards moths - my heart drops whenever I see one 😥 Fingers crossed that the council quote for removing bulky waste is a reasonable one🤞 Please remember to take before & after photos of your oven 🙏 I would be grateful if you could post the ‘after’ photo 😉 The before one is for your eyes only 😂 Can I ask if you are using a local or National company? Getting my ovens cleaned is one of the many frogs I have yet to tackle 😉 

Lovely to see you Deni_debt-free_dreamer 👋 At least some of the RL stuff has been enjoyable - DD2’s graduation & festival attendances 😊 Great news that DD1 is still managing to sell some of your clothes on V!nted 👏 Sounds like it might be time for a drop off at the CS 😉 Well done on continuing to support your library & resisting any urges to buy books 👏 Fingers crossed that the sun will appear after you have finished work 🤞

Excellent decluttering Moorviews 👏 Something quite satisfying about visiting the recycling centre rather than having stuff collected 😊 

Excellent decluttering Dfw38 👏 Fingers crossed you managed to sort out the linen cupboard before taking the dc out 🤞Hope the weather is lovely 🙂

~FlowerPot~, how nice to see you 👋 Sounds like the garden is coming along nicely albeit slowly 😊 Sorry to hear that pupster is still under house arrest 😔 but fingers crossed he will be allowed out soon 🤞although only after you have blocked his access to the neighbour’s garden 😅Excellent decluttering & dealing with a frog 👏 Hope you enjoy the film with DD🤞 I gave up going to see ‘hyped up’ films after I went to the cinema to see Jaws 🤣 

Brie, great decluttering 👏 A bit cheeky of the woman to not even offer at least a token payment for the wheelchair 🤔 Although she did have the good grace to call your OH charming 😉 Once the carport has been emptied of the rollator, wheelchair & clutter magnet table I would move your toy car straight in 😉 Hopefully the rest of the clutter will soon be disposed of 🤞 Sorry to hear about the problems with coin disposal 😔 Perhaps you can have a nice day out when you go to the bigger bank branch - maybe lunch out & a bit of TLC 😊 

16:20 wm finished & laundry hung out. The good news is that a combination of sunshine & a strong breeze should see everything dried in a couple of hours 🤞

See you later 👋

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟 💐🏅💐🏅💐💐💐🏅💐 ⭐️ ❤️🏅🍾🏅 📣🦸‍♀️💐 ⭐️ 🏅 💐 (✨✨ aka platinum stars)

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐,  perseverance medal 🎖️, 🥇 🏅🏅 😇

Decluttering Target 2023: 1735/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £299.00

Florenceem

I popped to SA this morning while DGs J was here painting - he will be back tomorrow.
Had the rest of the day at home - made 5 more dog Christmas stockings.
About to trace and cut out 5 cat fabric stockings.
I had a play with the sewing machine that arrived yesterday - I think DGd M will love it.

weenancyinAmerica

@Brie - I used to pay all of my bills in dimes (cashed my checks that way). Really made me think about what I was paying out, because I didn't want to spend all of the dimes. Any left over got to be used for making photocopies for my family history research. I also once covered a box I was mailing in 1 cent stamps (240 of them), but that was when I was upset they were raising the postage rates yet again. 

Dealing with a few frogs here. Need to clean up spider webs today and work some more on the kitchen. Little by little getting it cleared out. Refrigerator is too cleared out - we all ran short of money this month, but get more tomorrow. Ran out of milk yesterday and cereal at the same time. Had all of 91 cents left in my food budget yesterday, so cut it really close. Everyone else ended up using up their food budgets also (while two of them, the other two apparently have just been using the three of us to pay for most of their food this month). 

Still trying to get everyone's finances straightened out. Health problems getting in the way most of the time. 

Looking forward to my birthday - next Tuesday. Sisters are taking me out for breakfast. And then 2 roommates, a friend, and I are going to a baseball game courtesy of the city (for volunteer work we do). Get to use the city's room at the stadium (even has it's own restroom).

Other than that most of the days are cleaning house, working at the library, and helping other people with their family history. And trying to finish a book I have been working on for almost 60 years! 

We are just beginning our hot summer weather. 30C expected every day this week. Good luck everyone. Keeping my eyes and fingers crossed for JackieO.

TC77

Gosh so much going on. Arrived home last night with boot full of things from my dad's:(
A bookcase, books, step ladders and some things I'll have to remind myself about! There was a bag taken to cs  and stuff for tip. On way home from.. work and aim to spend 30 mins decluttering!

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks to include MMiM - do this before I go to bed

2. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ I have an acronym - I.R.I.S. being Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off 

3. Implement a new sleep/wake up regime - start going to bed earlier (target before 2:00 a.m.) get up earlier (target by 9:00 a.m.)

4. Deal with ‘Urgent’ daily mail immediately & the rest at the weekend

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. If I spot a mini task deal with it immediately e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

7. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

DSis got back about 17:45. I have washed & chopped the rhubarb. I think I will probably blanch it before portioning it & freezing apart from one portion for an apple & rhubarb crumble tomorrow 😊deadheaded the dahlia. Phoned cousin R (on time) but phone was answered by her DH N as R is out with friends. I had a short chat with N - everyone OK & I will phone R tomorrow evening - reminder set 😉 Still no word from DB 😔 DSis is fending for herself tonight whilst DH & I are having the lo cheesy pasta baked in the oven for our dinner. All the washing dried & I managed to get it in before the rain started - although it was only a brief shower 😮‍💨 Everything folded & waiting to be taken upstairs & put away. Wudupa.

1736 - 1739 Kitchen recycling, glass bottle, drinks cans, broken spray bottle - recycled 

1740 Kitchen detritus binned

Florenceem, your DGS J is a star 😊 Sounds like he is really cracking on with the painting 👏 You have been busy again - 5 more stockings 👏 I am now a full time lurker on the crafting thread just to see your makes 😊 Will you be giving DGD M lessons? 

weenancy, you minx 😂 paying in dimes & posting with 1 cent stamps 😂 Great work dealing with ‘frogs’ or should that be ‘spiders’ 🤔 Sorry to hear that you have decluttered all your groceries 😔When you restock you might have to start locking food away if 2 of your housemates aren’t contributing 😔 Sounds like your birthday is going to be lovely weenancy 😊 I will keep my fingers crossed that it is a dry & not too hot day 🤞I see you are keeping extremely busy as usual 👏 Hopefully this year will be The Year that you complete your book 🤞- I have every faith 😊 Just wondering if you are still persevering with your female roommates training 😉  I will join you in crossing eyes & fingers that  JackieO has had a successful operation & will have a speedy recovery 🙂 

You sound invigorated TC77 😊 Hopefully the decluttering of your Dad’s place is going well & you have only brought back items to donate to your local CSs 😉 Good luck with your decluttering session 🍀 

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟 💐🏅💐🏅💐💐💐🏅💐 ⭐️ ❤️🏅🍾🏅 📣🦸‍♀️💐 ⭐️ 🏅 💐 (✨✨ aka platinum stars)

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐,  perseverance medal 🎖️, 🥇 🏅🏅 😇

Decluttering Target 2023: 1740/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £299.00

oceanspirit

2 frogs completed.  Also did a little bit in the garden each day over the past 3 days.  More food stocks used up.  Need the kitchen fully tidy for boiler service to be done on Monday.  Trying a new company as previous one seems to have disappeared.

Florenceem

MRsSD - yes I will be giving M lessons - DDil said they would get her a sewing machine if I would do a lessons voucher for her as a Birthday present. DDil isn't sewing machine savvy - I researched and chose the sewing machine for M. I will teach M to control the machine in the way I was taught. I will draw exercises on interfacing - straight lines then sewing without the full lines but keeping parallel then points and finally curves and circles. Of course first I will teach her the parts of a sewing machine and what they do plus threading, winding spools & changing a needle.
Waiting for J to arrive for more painting.
Really heavy rain during the night.
Today's SA outing is cancelled - officer is unwell.

daisy_1571

https://tamingfrenzy.com/help-much-stuff/

I've been reading a couple of pages from this site.  I particularly liked the note below but there seems to be quite sensible advice on several pages

1. Is this item useful? Even it the item itself is useful, are YOU ever going to use it? Many of us hold on to items because we figure we’ll need them one day. We justify keeping things that might be useful when the truth is that if we have too much stuff, we probably couldn’t find the item when we need it anyway. And just because an item could be useful doesn’t mean it will be useful to you.

Daisy xx