Follow the Yellow Brick Road 2023

savingholmes

From what you've shared you've also done some things in the garden. It's not all decluttering. But if it makes everywhere feel more liveable that's a good thing.

SandyShores

Thanks @savingholmes, the garden feels really lovely this year.  The structure is there, and I just need to add a few more plants and possibly some raised veg. beds.  The more established plants are really coming into their own, and the newer ones are surviving and I can picture how it will all look in two to three years when its a really established garden.  You wouldn't think we had a lot of clutter, and we don't really.  But I'm on a mission to organise everything and be as minimalist as possible.  I find having clear spaces relaxing, its easier to clean, and we are definitely hanging onto stuff we don't use so its time to pass it on.  We aren't getting any younger and I don't want anyone to be left to clear our carp up.  But it is actually amazing how much detritus seems to be hanging around, and the more I tidy up the more I seem to spot.  Never ending 🤣.  I don't think my work will ever be over - which is probably a good thing in a way. 🤣🤣

savingholmes

I'm with you on the more decluttering you do - the more you notice what's left. I still have a ways to go.

Glad your garden is bringing you so much pleasure. Mine is really coming on.

SandyShores

Decluttering/organising has taken a back seat for a couple of weeks due to general life, work and travel.  Keen to get back to it though and do the two final main areas that need a declutter as well as organising.  I've managed to give a couple more items away though so progress is being made.  Visit to the parents this weekend so probably won't be able to do any more until the end of July and August when I've got a few days off and will use them wisely.

The garden is bringing lovely growth every day, lots of roses and rose buds.  I'll definitely be spending more time out there in August and September.

LadyWithAPlan

You sound like you are living the principles of my new favourite book ‘the gentle art of swedish death cleaning ‘ - it’s for any age and certainly not only an end of life thing - in terms of living clean and not leaving stuff behind to stress loved ones 

I agree @savingholmes the more you de clutter the more you see there is to do! I have got rid of maybe 1000 things from unused eye shadow to papers to excess furniture in the last month and still there is loads to do 

SandyShores

LadyWithAPlan said:

You sound like you are living the principles of my new favourite book ‘the gentle art of swedish death cleaning ‘ - it’s for any age and certainly not only an end of life thing - in terms of living clean and not leaving stuff behind to stress loved ones 

I agree @savingholmes the more you de clutter the more you see there is to do! I have got rid of maybe 1000 things from unused eye shadow to papers to excess furniture in the last month and still there is loads to do 

Looks great LaPlan, its definitely what I am doing.  Did you know it was a tv show too, I think there are some bits on youtube.  I like the idea that while you are putting your home in order you are also 'reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life'.  I've had a few huge clear outs as we've moved homes three times in the last 15 years.  I've only regretted getting rid of the odd item, and even then I probably did the right thing in moving them on because we had no room for them.  Now we are in our forever home, I want to declutter but then add some touches that remind me of the life we've lived.

I've decluttered a few things today and managed to get MrShores involved with sorting his tools and stuff.  There's still quite a bit of selling and sorting to do, but it feels good to have made a start.  Also managed to sell an under-utilised garden item for £30 today, which is always a nice bonus.

savingholmes

Always nice to have a sale. Really must list some things myself.

Glad you have lots of cheerful roses to keep you company.

SandyShores

Another sale today, being collected tomorrow.  Yes always good savingholmes.  I've got a few more items listed now so fingers crossed - its as much about creating space as the financial returns

I'm in the middle of organising the shed/garage and its not easy.  MrShores is not organised at all, his idea of storing things is throwing everything in random boxes and places.  And his idea of tidying is just chucking everything away.  He applied the same logic previously to all purchases and budgeting so you can understand why we were in such a financial mess.  Today he was talking about having to buy a tool for a job that needs doing at home.  I'd found the same item while I was tidying - "Oh, where did you find that?" says MrShores when I produced it off one of the shelves!!!!  A few weeks ago I was sent out to the hardware store to buy a small box of a certain item he needed.  Only to find two boxes of the damn things in the shed a couple of weeks later!  We've also got two packs of cable ties where he'd obviously bought a pack, used a couple, then hidden them.  And then repeated the same thing again.  

I've taken control of the storage area now, and its at that messy stage before it becomes re-organised.  Its not been helped by Mr Shores suddenly dumping more stuff on the shelves - honestly, you have to laugh or you'd cry.  You'd think he was trying to sabotage me (I do wonder if there is some weird psychology at play here).  But, I've started and have the full plan in my head so nothing will stop me now.  MrShores is avoiding me whilst I'm on task, as I keep asking him difficult questions, like 'what's this' and 'do you need this' and 'why have you got 6 packs of these but they are expired' 🤣🤣🤣.  He'll love it when its done though - as will I.

I just need to buy a bit more useful storage - thinking foldable crates for now as I've run out of my free options at the moment.  I've got a pile of stuff on the floor to get rid of - recycling, selling and giving away.  Then it will just be moving stuff around and adding hooks etc. to get things off the floor.  I love it when a plan comes together

The roses are lovely, one of them is going into a second bloom again, the other two aren't but its their first year so we'll let them off.

savingholmes

I think family members often sabotage. I'm as bad though... 

Well done on the continued clear out and organisation. Great news on the sales.

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes, yes family members seem to know our weak spots. 

Sale collected today, and another two pending collection.  A trip to the tip is planned over the weekend with some non-saleable stuff.  There's only a few smallish items still listed, and I've one large item yet to list (and sell) - then I'll be able to start the exciting bit which is re-organising.  It means I can then move onto the last area for decluttering.  I need to pop out and buy those crates too but might be a weekend job so I can trawl around B&M, the range etc.