2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

QueenJess

I am now putting my feet up after a huge amount of baking, gardening, washing and tidying.  The tlc carriage is re-stocked with hm banana drop scones (served with slices of fresh banana and cinnamon sugar) as well as a hm apricot and raspberry clafoutis with hm vanilla ice cream.  Enjoy!

Edit: I should say that my house is looking a fair bit tidier than usual after my daily decluttering and tidying.  Going to keep going and eventually I'll get there..  Since 2022 when I started tracking in earnest, I've decluttered 54,275 things (both physical and digital).  It definitely makes a difference and I'm finding there's less and less need to "organise" anything as it fits in.  I don't have anything in the garage anymore and all my plant related stuff for the house fits in a tiny wood box under the sink.  The loft is 2/3 empty, I use less than half the wardobe space, I have a few completely empty drawers (one in the bedroom and another in the library) and I'm close to fitting all my bathroom stuff into half the bathroom drawer.

I do still have areas to tackle.  More work is needed on clothes (mine and the kids) as we have too much, I want to basically empty the loft, more needs to be used up in the kitchen food wise as I still have overflow cupboards, the kids still have a bit much stuff in general, I need to deal with physical and digital photos, I have too much bathroom stuff and kitchen cleaning stuff to use up, my shoes to deal with and I need to start thinking about my library.  The latter is a tough one for me as I do love books, but I have some sat there taunting me as I never get round to reading them and some I know I will never read again.  I find getting rid of them really tough, but am thinking about what it would look like if it turns out the shelves are half empty and how I could put a nice plant here or there etc so it would still look nice.  It will be a slow process for me.  I will obviously still have a lot of books as I love reading and do read lots of them again and again, but I know there are lots I don't need.  I have got rid of the odd thing recently, but it really has to be the odd thing every few days.  I wouldn't be able to cope with a whole session in one go as that would be so overwhelming.  I find with everything decluttering (now all the easy stuff is gone), the best way for me is to do it little and often and make fast decisions.  As soon as I start hesitating and I am not sure, I stop and move elsewhere or finish decluttering for that time and try again later or the next day.

Sorry... too much wittering as usual.  Hope everyone enjoys the food

QueenJess

Apparently I was incapable of sitting still and I went through loads of photos whilst I was supposedly resting.  I really am stopping for today!

Digital:
11 - photos deleted

Physical:
1 - cleaning overstock used up
3 - books I don’t want (charity box)
15 - craft supplies (charity box)
97 - photos binned
127 - paper recycled
22 - photo pages (charity bag)

New total = 11,888

May/June mini clothes decluttering challenge = 191/200

TC77

@QueenJess that's amazing work! 

Trousers and 2 t- shirts from cs for me brought in but will wear. 
I have a couple of desks, one more sentimental stuff and random.  Putting like with like and mov ing few Xmas stuff into Xmas Bits, out broken stationery, found old stamps unused and a few things I will post for sale/ give away next weekend. Took things out od under sink cupboard, retired one cleaning toothbrush - how many does one need? Two plastic  storage boxes out , too much cleaning stuff so Box for donation hub who also take my empty jars. 
885

machasraven

hugs to anyone who needs them.
Today I decluttered a souffle with mini roast potatoes. I'm so happy to be able to do to it. Tomorrow I'm going to bake. I didn't get up until after 10 this morning - see Mrs SD I'm taking it easy . Tomorrow will be the same as I thought why sit and hurt when I can do all my games, forums and read chilling out in bed only getting up to get a couple of coffees.
I did tidy small parts yesterday and today as well.

crazybunnylady4

Evening all. 

Back to the paid stuff today. Feeling a bit better - the wrist rest and mouse rest from Amazon did wonders for me. Just as well I bought it as I spent another whole day on emails. My boss was very impressed by the amount I managed to do today so feeling quite chuffed Not sure the inbox will look as good when I go back on Monday & Tuesday tho!

Again, a not much to report day. DMum was out this morning seeing a friend; said friend drove her home afterwards and they stopped at a local shop to buy a rose bush (for DMums garden) and more wool (for me) - so I have more crocheting for my blanket to get on with in my downtime. 

Recycling done after dinner, DW x 1, Mum ran WM x 1 (towels) - I think she ran the dryer too...not sure. Folded them up anyway.  

New garden hose trolley arrived today - it needs assembling so have stuck in the garage until I can look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow. Absolutely hate doing things like that - wish it had come assembled!! 

Tomorrow will pop the bunny's run back up (it got folded up after the expedition to our back garden on Friday) and declutter his litter tray.  Also meed to make a shopping list and get a Mr T delivery booked for Monday or Tuesday as I wont have time later in the week. 

Busy busy busy beeeeeeeeee

vulpix

 Well knock me down with a feather, the builder and 2 joiners turned up at lunch time. My builder cut a channel in some stone in the back yard to aid drainage. Water seeps through the retaining garden wall from the stream. I was picking his brains about the stream so I will have a go at the poor mans version of what he would do myself. Basically a lot of digging.   The joiners bodged the bathroom door so that it now shuts  but said it needed replacing as it is badly warped. Went to bin monitor neighbour and retrieved the old door. luckily she hadn't chopped it up for her fire. The 150 year old door was replaced as the previous joiner said it was warped! The old door is much better quality than the new one. It is currently lay on the sitting room floor drying out, being outside for the winter seems to have made it not warped anymore. I will sand it and treat it and then it can go back on and the new door chopped up. I do wonder if it's the door frame and not the door that's out.

 A very nice afternoon spent with a couple of friends at an open garden. Only 1 plant purchased and it was one on my wish list. The garden backs onto Lyme Park. I know Mrs SD will be interested. It's where the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice was filmed. I must say my garden is looking lovely just now. The honeysuckle is in flower, lush.

 I have made a couple of bargain FB purchases. An Ercol school chair and a butlers bell box. I will renovate them a bit and will probably keep them a while before selling them on. 

 The only things decluttered are food stocks as DD2 enjoys her food and I enjoy cooking if it's more than just us, and wool. I am on a baby blanket now. I have made up a bag of ends of wool for Mum. She is down to dull colours in her charity knitting and needs a few bright stripes in them to jazz them up.
 When I can get at it I have realised that a linen table cloth I have kept can go. As I said I don't have a table. It will be a while as the back bedroom is chock a block. DD2 has had to crawl onto the bed!

 I do hope that things are easing for people.

 Vx

20122013

QueenJess said:

Apparently I was incapable of sitting still and I went through loads of photos whilst I was supposedly resting.  I really am stopping for today!

Digital:
11 - photos deleted

Physical:
1 - cleaning overstock used up
3 - books I don’t want (charity box)
15 - craft supplies (charity box)
97 - photos binned
127 - paper recycled
22 - photo pages (charity bag)

New total = 11,888

May/June mini clothes decluttering challenge = 191/200

Your post from 1 June 2024 was one of the first I have read, I felt very encouraged and I was about to reply  (re: overwhelmed)..and just a week later (see your post above) what a big difference you have made!  Well done ! Regarding your books, once you have more mind and home space, who knows you may get time to enjoy more things. I will aim to do some decluttering and treat myself to reading some of these motivating posts.

TC77

886 wooden coat hanger and 887 unsubscring from and 888 lots of emails.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Mini Mission in May

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

The rain stayed away 😊 DH had to fill the bird feeders yet again 😧 & I have been very lazy again 😉 Weaved in the ends of the ShArf & started knitting another one. I have also used odds & ends of yarn to plait more bookmarks - I now have 97 bookmarks to donate to CS. Dinner was wild deer pie, mash & green beans for DH & me, with DSis having a one person chicken & mushroom pie. Wudupa.

918 - 920 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, newspaper - recycled

921 - 923 Kitchen detritus, plastic packaging, lr detritus - binned

I will now try to catch up on Friday’s cheerleading, wish me luck 🍀 

crazybunnylady4, sorry to hear about the injury to your arm 😔 Hopefully a day or two of rest will help your arm recover 🤞Fingers crossed the the wrist rest will also help 🤞Pleased to hear that your DMumis enjoying her gardening & that Mac enjoyed his time outdoors 😊 Being the curious person I am, can I ask if you are naturally ambidextrous or did you need to practice? Good luck with the crochet but please don’t strain your arm any further 🙏

Florenceem, fingers crossed that MrF’s new hearing aids arrive soon 🤞 Sorry to hear it was another long & tiring day at the hospital 😔 Sending very gentle cwtches to MrF 🤗 & more robust ones for you 🤗 Sending positive vibes that when all the test results come in, the doctors will finally have a diagnosis & can start an effective treatment plan 🙏

QueenJess, excellent decluttering on Thursday & great work sorting out the window sill 👏 Well done on reaching your 50 target for Friday 👏

Excellent decluttering on Friday vulpix 👏 Perhaps you could upcycle the linen tablecloth into a top (which is what they did on Sewing Bee) 😉

TC77, new number noted 👏 Very disappointed in your DD1, she should have made a bit more of an effort 😔

Oh nannywindow - I just want to give you a huge hug 🤗 & wave a magic wand 😔 What a horrible thing to happen to your DDad 😢 but how fortunate that St John’s Ambulance were in attendance. Very prompt action should help with your Dad’s recovery 🙏 

Just got distracted whilst I was outside having a cigarette - mummy fox chasing her 2 cubs who had obviously been naughty & were screeching & barking as they ran around. The cubs are now in hiding & mummy fox is just standing around 😉 Back to cheerleading……..

weenancy, sorry to hear about your sister’s dog 😔 Even though 18 is a very good age, it still comes as a shock 😪 Very sorry to hear about both Di & her cat 😔 Just wondering if Di’s instructions from the doctor are written down? If so perhaps they can be made into bullet points that she can follow 🤔  Hopefully with the cat helping with the decluttering, Di will be able to get the cat into a carrier so that he/she can be taken to the vet 🤞Just wondering what happened to the young people who helped with the gardening last year 🤔 as I thought they were going to visit you a few more times. The weather this year is completely out of whack - although we have had a few dry days the sun is struggling to break through the clouds as often as I would like 😔 Though I think the 32C that has been forecast for you next week is a bit too hot 😉 Mid to high 20’sC would be perfect 😍 As to you not doing as much decluttering as you would like, you are so busy helping other people & working at the library that I often wonder how you find time to sleep 😕 Sending lots of cwtches 🤗 & am hoping that you are able to walk without having to use the rollator 🙏

GrannyKate, you might not think you are doing much decluttering but do remember that keeping clutter OUT is just as important & you are doing that 👏 Good luck with the house tidying & hope you have fine weather for the weeding 😊

EnergyShifter, sorry to hear that “Super-Cold” has wiped you out 😔 Although I am very pleased to hear that you intend to rest over the weekend 😊 Please remember to only do some light pottering & do spend lots of time in the TLC Carriage 🙏

Nice to see you oceanspirit 👋 Hopefully the medical appointments are all done with for a while 🤞 so you & OH can concentrate on resting & recovering 🙏 Good luck with your decluttering & dealing with frogs 🍀

I am flagging now, so I will post this & get an earlier night than usual 😉 Only 11 posts behind at the moment 😉

Cwtches to all 🤗 & I hope that everyone can get a good night’s sleep 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 923/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.85

weenancyinAmerica

Took Diane to her Book Club today at the library. Took in 9 books from home plus three library books returned. Prize this week is a free lemonade at one of our local fast food places - next week we get the meal to go with it. They also offered us another book - but we turned them down this time. I did check out four more books, but these I have to return.

I am using my rollator all of the time now. Sometimes I think the doctors are just treating me piecemeal and are missing the large picture. I need to do what I did when I was in high school and write everything down and see if the doctor will read it. It worked then (I needed thyroid medication). Maybe it would work again and even save them a lot of money.

Di's cat did come out and eat today. Other cat is eating for them both. Outside cat eats what he wants and then skunk comes and finishes it off. Skunk was a surprise the other day - roommates had to come in the back door. Only seems to come out about 2 in morning. What are roommates doing out running around after 2 in the morning? Not sure, except for one that has a job delivering meals which seems to go on most of the night. We could never set an alarm here as someone is coming and going at all hours. 

Will probably go grocery shopping after church tomorrow. Still working on kitchen floor and shelves. Cleaned out the car in preparation for shopping. Now have two large bags of cans and bottles to turn in. We usually wait until we have 8 or 9, but they are out in garage so not a problem in the house. 

Still waiting to see if I have a class this summer as I am on a waiting list. It is a remote learning class online so I don't actually go into the school. I can wait until fall to take the next class. Di has her chimes class - it goes on all year. 

They have revised our temperature downwards to only 22C by midweek. Can't seem to make up their minds. Much better all around. I am still trying to clean out the yard. The missionaries will come back if I ask them, so I might try it again. They are LDS missionaries and are supposed to do service hours every week for members and non-members alike. They also help out occasionally getting ready for our book sale at the library, but can't take part in the sale itself. 

Hugs for those who need them. And cheers for those making progress on their decluttering goals.