2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Jettison Junk in January

2. Sort out sleep patterns - target bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 9:00 a.m 

3. Deal with mail & email on a daily basis

4. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

5. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter

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

Whilst we were sat outside enjoying the sunshine (DSis joined us) we heard the woodpecker - it was in the olive tree. DH & I were lucky enough to see it as we were in a prime position 😊 DH helped me prep the vegetables then was ‘allowed’ to go to his office & rest whilst I cooked dinner 😉 Dinner was roast pork with crackling, roast potatoes, carrots & leeks + cabbage & broccoli & Yorkshire Puds. DH made gravy from scratch. A delicious meal & the weather had cooled down enough for it to be a perfect meal 😉 Wudupa.

802 - 804 Kitchen recycling, magazine, drinks cans - recycled 

805 Kitchen detritus binned 

Steady decluttering TC77 👏 With the 7 items mentioned in your post your new total is 754

Brie, 1920’s chic sounds perfect 😍 I do love the idea of someone strolling around in a silk robe with the dragon on the back 😊 Also thanks for the useful information 👏

Nice to see you Pennypincin 👋 Sounds like you have been quite busy with both decluttering & tidying 👏 Also very well done on needing smaller jeans 😊 I have added China to the list of destinations for the EDT,  now that the Teleportation Device has been proved to work, the world is our oyster 😊

Floss, you & me both 😅 However, you should remember that the EDT is a magical place 😉 Whilst you are aboard your body shape is the one that you were happiest with & so you can dress accordingly. I work on the basis that aboard the EDT my body shape is the one I had at age 28 when everything was still quite firm & I was reasonably fit 😅 

TC77, everyone is getting so excited 😊 Feeling a lot of pressure to get it right 😱

machasraven, I think satin will do nicely until someone else steps forward who owns a silk robe with dragon 😊 The rest of us can then play spot the silk or satin robe 😉

Oops, fell asleep on the sofa so will post this & head to bed to get a couple more hours sleep 🙊 

MrsSD: I AM A ⭐️ - 🥇 🎖️ 💐 🌟 🏅 💐 🎖️ 💐 ⭐️ 💐 💐 🥇 ⭐️ 

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 805/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £166.85

GrannyKate

Early start as DGS4 has a school trip.  It is cooler this morning which is probably a good thing as they have 1hour 30 mins coach trip.  He has been up in the night as his hay fever is so bad and that affects the asthma.  Once it was a bit cooler yesterday I did some gardening. Several bungalows I have looked at have sold this last week - one only on market a few days and the other 7 months.  Hope mine moves soon.  DSil got a job last week after being made redundant before Christmas which is good news. 

575 Potted up tomatoes and cucumbers
576 Some garden pots etc binned
577-578 Front and back lawns mowed
579 Large acer trimmed with electric (cordless) hedge trimmer (checked no birds nesting first) - I'm getting very brave.  I had to get DS2 to do top

weenancyinAmerica

I do agree - since it is a virtual trip, our bodies can be any shape that we want for the trip. Will make it much easier to plan outfits to take as they don't cost any money either.

Today took roommate Di to church. Her church is done in Vietnamese with a translation over earphones in English! It was the first Vietnamese Methodist Church congregation outside of Vietnam (over 44 years old) and has now taken over the church entirely. Only a couple of English-speaking members left. 

We went to the library for a couple hours and since there were two younger members to help us ended up staying for 4 hours. Okay, they are in their forties - but a lot stronger than we are (me at 76 and Di at 65). We accomplished more today than we normally do in two weeks. 

Then home to go to the grocery store. Quick trip for three of us (G went along).

Got home and worked on agenda for tomorrow, cards for our graduating seniors at the library (learned how to make them in Publisher class). Printed all of it out. 

Worked on reading a book - will finish it in another 15 minutes. 

Waiting to hear the weather report for the next couple of days. Rain in the forecast. Oh well. Maybe that is why everything hurts. 

charlies_tribe

An absolutely gorgeous weekend here. DH has been super busy in the garden even though I kept telling him to take a break or wait until it cooled a little. But the 6x6 m box is in and soil taken out until roughly level and its now full of 3 and 1/3 of the bags if stone. DH wakered it all last night and the rest can go in this afternoon if he can move when he gets up, his shoulder was agony last night. Hopefully there's enough stone to fill it and the pool can go up next week, in time for half term.

I sorted through the other 2 boxes and have another pile of pens for the bin. I have realised I will probably never have to buy any pens or pencils ever again.
This was trays 2 and 3, 1 was the most overflowing butI didn't photo that.

QueenJess

@charlies_tribe I used to love stationery as a child and had lots of it. Even though I’ve only really been decluttering the past 5 years or so, I realised as a teenager that I should actually use up things before I bought anymore. I did actually start using up things (bit easier as I did art GCSE so lots of opportunities). It did take a very long time, but it did cure my overbuying. 

Not sure why I never extended that to the rest of my life 🤔

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, as predicted all I got done yesterday was putting the shopping away and 1 LDFPA . I had a text conversation with my dnephew who is currently in Hawaii taking a few days break on his way from Japan to LA . He sent me a picture of the local beers he is enjoying I mean of all the things to see in Hawaii and I get pictures of beer . It was quite emotional at the footy but in a good way so that was ok. OH used some of the shopping to batch cook some chicken curry so that is in the freezer, some is apparently coming on holiday with us and a veg version will be made today for me but I will have to be involved with that as I make it with individual spices due to the chilli allergy . I will provide a recipe as I have a union thing to do today and I have promised ln I will do a couple of her big pots today . The kitchen is naturally a mess which I am ignoring

@Vulpix I hope your dil is recovering from the shock. I must admit I am not fond of rats but, not wanting to freak people out, they are everywhere and they do say you are always within a few feet of rats as they live in the sewers so I have come to terms with their existence . My dsis has them in her garden as they come for the bird food and she has a big pond so they come for the water.  Water is the main attraction for them so if your ds can find where they drink he should be able to go some way to eliminating them. Of course if he lives next to a canal he's got no chance , though there are ways to rat proof the house . Looking at the pile of things Mr V is getting rid of I must admit to storage box envy, it might be clutter but at least it's organised, I just seem to have bags and cardboard boxes . Mr V has obviously taken on board how much work you have had to do to clear your Mum's house and doesn't want your children to have to do it

@Florenceem I hope your glasses turn up soon

@machasraven Re the orient express, I have a robe with a dragon on as well we can take turns to waft up and down the corridors and confuse everyone

@charlies_tribe wow that's a lot of pens . I thought my stash was big, being a retired teacher I am a bit of a stationery hoarder, pens were always being "borrowed" , but looking at yours I realise I am an amateur in this art though I think it will still take me a few years to work through mine

@QueenJess yes I agree the trick is to use things up . I have applied this to a few areas, pens, note pads, hand cream, soap, perfume, wrapping paper and gift bags, food and clothes. I have been quite successful in these areas but when there is so much to start with it does take time and then there are the gifts that come in that are lovely to get but sometimes add to the stash

Right time to stop procrastinating and get on with something . Hugs to everyone who would like one

748 shopping put away
749 LDFPA
Take care everyone
749/2024

Wednesday2000

At uni I lived next to a canal and used to see rats as big as cats! I'm vegan so obviously I don't want anything bad to happen to them, but I also dont want them anywhere near me!

I have a Jack Russell Terrier so I am probably very safe. My cat brought in a mouse at my old house as we heard it squeaking and my dog smashed through the baby gate we had on our bedroom door and ran downstairs and must have eaten the mouse in two seconds. She took the gate off the wall as she was so strong and fast.☺️😂

vulpix

 Thank you for your help Brie.x I am going to visit my Mum after the Estate Agent has been and see where she is up to. I looked online for similar for Halifax. no option for a home visit but at least there is a phone line to call. My Mother is trapped in that bungalow unless 2 people can carry a wheel chair down some steps. They are not regular steps, very high and narrow, dangerous. I struggle to walk up and down them. It wouldn't be beyond my brother who is 10 years younger than me and my Nephew who is 30 to get her out and take her the 10 miles to the branch but we all know it won't happen.

 So I received a picture of ratty this morning. He / she was chillin in the bathroom. What I didn't know was the water board had been last week and put bait down and blocked up holes as the rats were in the bathroom ceiling. Obviously they are displaced now. I have told DS that ratty will not be alone! It is an ancient cottage and next door has a room above their bathroom,complicated as the neighbours claim to not have a rat problem. There's always something isn't there.

 We can now close the back door. The paint instructions said 16 hours to dry. I will give it a second coat and mix in a touch of black to tone it down. It isn't green ,it's GREEN.

 Mr V ,true to his word has been in the studio all morning. He even took one of his beloved flight cases to the tip yesterday and thrifted some big plastic boxes. He is of course retired, oh how they laughed. He is reducing his kit down to the bare essentials and probably a spare of everything. He is getting rid of all the huge heavy stuff. He is too old to be lifting it in and out of the car, setting it up etc. If anyone should need an extension cable, we could plug you in from here and be able to reach wherever you are in the country and probably even weenancy in Calafornia. He has just taken our neighbour who is blind to the dentist in the next village. He has toothache. Mr V has emptied the car of all the kit used last night and to be used Tuesday night in case the gorgeous guide dog is going. I think his teeth are fine

 Tried a much bigger shade on the black lamp. It looks great. The problem is the lamp is too modern for the table.

 Have your glasses turned up Florenceem?

 Fingers crossed for a sale soon Granny K.

 Better get a wriggle on.

 Vx

Floss

vulpix said:

... I have told DS that ratty will not be alone! It is an ancient cottage and next door has a room above their bathroom, complicated as the neighbours claim to not have a rat problem...

They don't have a rat problem because your DS's home is the rats' accommodation! Seriously though, I'd be tempted to tell them water board the rats are accessing via the bathroom ceiling 😉

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Jettison Junk in January

2. Sort out sleep patterns - target bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 9:00 a.m 

3. Deal with mail & email on a daily basis

4. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

5. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter

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

Monday is another lovely, sunny day but with a stiff breeze. A perfect drying day but I don’t have a full wash load 😔 Not sure what today holds apart from finishing the scarf I am knitting, having a bath & packing for our trip to Cornwall + keeping up with the cheerleading 😉 DH has got the strimmer out of the garage & is tackling the back garden - even though he had decided yesterday to leave it until we got back from Cornwall 😉 I have left him to it - as long as he is happy I am happy 😊

806 - 808 Glass bottle, 2 cardboard boxes - recycled 

daisy_1571, I like the idea of a murder mystery evening but there will also be after dinner music & dancing 😊 Although I don’t think I am or ever was likely to attempt the Charleston 😅 Poirot has been ‘banned’ so I think it only fair that Miss Marple is also banned (as well as any other detective) - we will have to rely on the combined power of declutterati brains 😉 Love the piccies - Margaret Dumont is a rather formidable looking character as well as being very attractive 😊

QueenJess, you might have been knackered after a day out with the kids but you still managed a good deal of decluttering 👏 I am not a fan of online shopping, well not really a fan of any shopping 😂 Although I suppose the benefit of online shopping is that you get to try on clothes in the comfort of your own home. Although against that shopping on the high street gives you a chance to feel the material & look closely for any flaws. Thank you for sharing your thought processes & ideas on decluttering - always so well & succinctly expressed 👏 

vulpix, another busy day 👏 Excellent work using up paint & upcycling the stool 👏 As to MrV, he seems to have caught the decluttering bug - long may it last 🥳 In order to encourage him further I am awarding him a Gold Star ⭐️ Hope that Ratgate gets sorted quickly 🤞

GrannyKate, great work in the garden 👏 Congratulations to DSil on the new job 🥳

You have been busy weenancy 👏 Very pleased to hear that there are younger library members to do the heavy lifting 😊 & hopefully they will visit more often 🤞 I am keeping everything crossed that the forecast rain bypasses you & that everything stops aching 🤞

charlies_tribe, I am ‘wagging my finger’ (I really miss that emoji) at your DH 😔 It is all very well working so hard but if he injures himself he won’t be able to do anything 😔 Excellent work sorting out all the pens & pencils 👏 I think we can safely say you are SABLE in that area 😅

QueenJess, I can see from your post that you were a declutterer even as a child 😊 

Lovely cheerleading as usual Liverpool_Anne 😊 Loving the idea of you &  machasraven ‘wafting up & down the corridors confusing us all’ 😊 We might have to incorporate that into the planned Murder Mystery evening 🤔 Sounds like yesterday was a great day & I hope everyone enjoyed the mosaics 😊

Wednesday2000, I seem to remember reading that Jack Russell terriers are particularly good at despatching rats 😉 

vulpix, everything crossed that a ‘reasonable’ customer friendly solution can be found 🤞Also hope that Ratgate is sorted quickly so that DS & his wife can return home 🙏 Sending positive vibes that you can tone down the GREEN of the back door 😉 More excellent work by MrV 👏 It would seem that his decluttering mojo has well & truly arrived 😊  Now we just have to get him interested in helping you out with the garden project 😉 Just wondering if you have a more modern table anywhere in the house that could accommodate the up-cycled lamp 🤔 

Well said Floss 👏

As it is so hot outside, DH has discontinued the strimming until it is a bit cooler 😊 The back garden is already looking so much better 😊 Can anyone help in identifying this plant?

MrsSD: I AM A ⭐️ - 🥇 🎖️ 💐 🌟 🏅 💐 🎖️ 💐 ⭐️ 💐 💐 🥇 ⭐️ 

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 808/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £166.85