2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, 

@Vulpix I hadn't thought of the co op and there is a small one quite near so I might pop there today along with the last sm I can think of as it is rain all day today . Burry made me smile

@Mrs SD I hope Mr SD has recovered from the fall. I don't see the doctor for the jab, I go to a local treatment centre and see a nurse, it is the sort of clinic where they deal with all sorts in the day so probably couldn't organise to have everything plus of course there is the prescription costs . Luckily I am too old to have to pay now . I had to google the pie dish and now I want to know how they cooked it . I hope you can dodge the rain today

@Crazycatlady2 I hope you find some good reasonably priced trades to do the work. When I had my windows done I found a local firm rather than the big advertised on tv firms were much more reasonable. I imagine it will be quite a difficult move as you will be trying to declutter both houses to be able to have room for your things to fit in the house while dealing with a lot of sentimental things in the new house. Maybe when you get the loft done you could get it boarded out as well so things you don't want on display but DH can't yet let go could be stored until a time DH feels ready to deal with them. When my dMum died I really struggled to let a lot of things go and did just put them in the loft and over the years I have come to terms with it and have been able to move things on but it did take a while. I have a friend who moved into her DHs childhood home to help care for an elderly aunt who was living in the cottage next door. She put all her furniture into a barn on the property and 15 years later is still living with that situation as she can't bring herself to get her DH to get rid / move on furniture and contents from the house. When dealing with emotional things it is very hard and especially just after a death.

@2Scratters your car sounds like mine . I have a whole ecosystem growing on mine but although OH thinks this is disgraceful I am not in the least bothered . One day I will put the jet washer on it but it isn't a priority and I don't have any car products, I just use washing up liquid . I can relate to the bottle of conditioner, I find myself torn between wanting to be MSE and use the last drop and just wanting to get the bottle out . 

Yesterday was a good day. The sun was out but it wasn't too hot, gentle breeze so 2 LDFPA and I cracked on with the garden so 5 bags of garden waste to the tip along with a box of dead batteries that has been accummulating for over a year . I dealt with a banking thing, kitchen recycling binned, a cardboard box into the recycling and I have uu the wax melts I got as a leaving work present. As I wasn't overly impressed with them and prefer scented candles or essential oils in water, much less messy the burner is in the cs bag. I do have another nicer one if I want to use essential oils, not counting until it has left the house . Finally I have uu a note pad , an A4 pad from the pile of headed pads accummulated from various union things where you take notes and use maybe 2 pages then take the pad away and keep it in the file for ????. I have previously sorted these files and am working my way through these pads but it's slow going as I feel I have to fill the page . Today I am shopping . The hunt for the spray starch continues and I need to find a nice plant to go in the plant pot bought previously for a friend's birthday as we will be seeing her on Sunday. Also DH came home with a big box of apples one of the pupils was giving away so they will need checking over and probably turned into baked apples or crumble as OH has a reaction to raw apples but can eat them cooked.

Hugs to everyone who would like one

1172 & 1173 LDFPA
1174 - 1178 garden waste
1179 dead batteries
1180 banking thing
1181 kitchen recycling
1182 cardboard box
1183 note pad uu
Take care everyone
1183/2024

oceanspirit

2Scratters, definitely relate to the feeling of needing to get things out when they start to feel clutterish ie nearly finished things.

Only a few things into recycling bins from one of the kitchen shelves.  Was hoping for more yesterday but too tired and didn’t manage the freezer cooking that I had planned.  Have managed 5 days in a row of green smoothies for breakfast, salads for lunch and veggie based meals for the evening so feeling very pleased with that.

QueenJess

@2Scratters yes to the using things up and it's especially annoying with things like shampoos and toothpaste as even when they look like they are at the end, they seem to last forever.

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger it is harder to find things as you go through every round and I'm now instead of asking if I like/use an item, I am trying to challenge myself as to if I would be happy without the item and can use an alternative.  That's most helpful in the kitchen where the cupboards stress me out as they are too full, so I need to find a way to cut down whilst still having everything I need since I cook/bake from scratch daily.  However, some days it is easy and others it feels impossible - it's just a rough aim and I won't hold myself to it everyday.  It's just a way to keep thinking about it

Tackled a bit of the kitchen baking cupboard this morning.  Finally decided to fix the annoying problem that not quite everything will fit in one of the jars as I have a large cookie cutter (which I use and want to keep) and a few other bits.  Bought myself a new jar which is wider and actually fits it all in and now my cupboard looks much less rammed in already.  Also got a few more tiny jars as I have a vague plain to sort out and store all the different seeds I seem to use in a smaller space.  Not getting rid of the other jars yet as I'm just pending until I finish reorganising some more of the cupboards in case I need it.  Sorted out a few more bits in there and then hit a wall, so decided to stop for today.  

For some reason I have a tin and a huge bottle of black treacle.  Why?  I never use the stuff... anyway, that's on the list to be used up and I have some rye bread proving as we speak.  I think malt loaf will also be on the list to make for snacks next week, which will make a small dent in the very full bottle.

I did rummage through some other cupboards and I still have lots of things that need using up.  It's going to take a long time to use it all, but trying to look at things that need using up before I do any cooking.  Once things are used up I will see if I can get by without them.  For example, I rarely use self raising flour, so when it gets used up I won't replace it and will just make my own by stirring baking powder into plain flour instead.  It should be fine for the rare occasion I actually need it.  There's probably lots more examples of that which will save me room in my tiny baking cupboard.

Anyway, enough waffling... off to make some butternut squash soup for lunch with a courgette and cheese muffin I discovered lost at the bottom of the freezer.  More cupboard and freezer discoveries tomorrow!

Stuff in: 5 (1 Xmas present, 4 kitchen storage jars)

Physical:
10 - cake candles too short to use (binned)
4 - cookie cutters I never use (charity bag)
New total = 14,779

August In: 61, Out: 410

vulpix

Hi, we love the ugly house. It's grim and needs a lot of work. We just need to sell ours.

  We have another viewing on Saturday. I need to get my finger out then.

 1.) finish the quilt and put everything away.

 2.) make up the spare bed as DD1 is coming Friday night. Have already sorted evening meal for us. Move everything ready to take to my son's next week off the spare bed. Mud kitchen stuff, Birthday gifts. Probably into the black shed. (car )

 3.) Get my act together and sort clothes and a bag for tomorrow as I am going to Southport flower show with craft club     ladies.

Mr V away for the night Friday and working Saturday morning. DD1 going to a wedding on Saturday.

 I have sorted some makeup as I noticed a collection point in the supermarket. Into the black shed till next time we go.

 I bought some new black trousers and 2 bras from Tesco with reward points. Very MSE. I am on a buy new to me this year but not bras or black trousers. Black trousers that have been washed a lot are not the look I am aiming for.

 I just don't have time to find more things to go at the moment.

 Vx

Crazycatlady2

Spent most of day on phone but I've come to end of my informing people list now....sure I've forgot something though 🤣

Bins gone out full and got plenty to go in next time already 🤣

Decluttering fish from a pond tomorrow and bring my file folders here to get paperwork in better order as I've now got 7 people's here 😱

Happy_Kitties

@vulpix it is very kind of you to say about the charity donations I do. I inherited some money which came from a very bad situation. I have been determined that from bad must come good and I am a demon bargain hunter! Plus I know the charities I support really well and I know items either go directly to raise funds or go to genuine need. It’s just the temporary storage of them. which leads me onto 
@MrsSD no space seen as yet with the latest parcel out but the next two months will really see a lot of upstairs empty. DDs bedroom has been taken over with items. I can then tackle the bedroom and give it a good clean. Shoeboxes are not far off ready to leave now aswell.

Generally I have  household items sorted that need to go for a tip tun and items that need to go to the CS…..I just need to get my ‘arris in gear!

Floss

@vulpix wear waterproof footwear as it has been raining all day up here.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks 

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

Didn’t sleep particularly well Wednesday night - only in 1.5 to 2 hour chunks until I got up @ 07:50. What a difference a day makes - Thursday we woke up to rain & it continued to rain until 11:20 (when it was dry for 45 minutes) then on & off for the rest of the day. We fully woke up & went down to breakfast at 08:45. Both had a Full English although I didn’t quite finish mine 😔 Back to our room, picked up our bags, coats etc DH paid the bill, We packed the bike then DH headed off to get petrol leaving me in the dry 😊 I chatted to the new landlord & then the housekeeper before DH arrived back. He gave me waterproof over-trousers to put on as it was still raining & we headed off about 10:25. Although it was raining it was still reasonably warm so the day was not too much of a chore. We stopped about 14:30 & had cappuccinos & shared two saucer sized biscuits - a chocolate chip cookie & an hm jammie dodger 😋 Came across the Humber Bridge in a gale force wind & checked into the Hope and Anchor, South Ferriby - a new to us room called Pebbly Beach 😉 DH made coffee, then we each had a shower & got changed for dinner. Went down at 19:15 & after testing all 3 ales I settled on Guinness & DH settled for Moretti lager. We dined in the restaurant. DH had salmon with treacle & pickled beetroot & cucumber with surf’n’turf - Tiger prawns & fillet steak 🤤 + chunky chips to follow, whilst I had chicken liver pate with caramelised onion chutney, silver skin onions & toasted bread followed by a flank steak (with an overly powerful mustard sauce), salad & chunky chips. Whilst 3 of our 4 courses were delicious, one course outshone & was even better than anything we ate on Wednesday night 😂 The chicken liver pate dish was sublime 🤤😋 The restaurant was packed but service was good. After a leisurely dinner (over 2 hours), I paid the bill & we retired to our room (21:45) DH is struggling to stay awake, whilst I have just gone outside& had a final cigarette DH is now awake 😉 but we are both in bed having packed our bags. Today’s wildlife - sheep, cows & dozens of young pheasants - some behind a fence & a larger number running around in the road 😅 + 2 swans & a large number of seagulls. Now ready to catch up with the cheerleading 😉

vulpix, DH seems to be OK although the ribs were aching a bit after wrestling against the wind as we came across the Humber Bridge 😰 Apparently a couple of even bigger pies have been made since 1964’s 6.5 ton pie including a 12 ton pie made in 2000 🤩 No real clues as to how the pastry was cooked though 😉😉 Looking forward to hearing from your DIL about next Wednesday 😊 Hope you managed to finish the quilt in between making plans for the renovations of ‘the ugly house’ 😉

Crazycatlady2, just thinking that if !!!!!! hole is what your SIL thought of the house then there cannot possibly be anything of value to her inside 🤨 So sorry to hear that she is being so obnoxious - your husband & you can well do without the aggravation 😔 Although I am pleased to hear that you & DH have reconnected with his niece & nephew 😊 Asset rich, cash poor 😔 Hopefully you can get a reasonable rate on any monies you need to borrow 🙏

Excellent decluttering 2Scratters 👏 Especially impressed with the car cleaning & managing to finish off so many cleaning products 🥳 More excellent work in the garden 👏 As a celebration of working so hard, I am sending you a Gold Star ⭐️ 

Apologies for not catching up as I am nodding off & struggling to concentrate 😔 Sending cwtches to all 🤗 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1344/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £303.85

vulpix

Whilst looking for what to wear at the flower show I ousted a skirt and a cardigan.

 Thank you Floss, think it will have to be walking boots. It has rained heavily here all day too.

 Happy Kitties, what a marvellous thing you do, 

 Mrs SD bet those pies had a soggy bottom! DIL has run with the Greenwich trip. Will pm you when I have got a few minutes.

 I have done the tidying, and half the sewing. I am getting a blister on my thumb from hand sewing the bias binding. Glad of a rest from it tomorrow.

 Vx

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,

@QueenJess I also have a tin of treacle lurking OH uses it for the christmas cake so I will have to find something to do with it or it will be there for years . Malt loaf sounds like a winner

@Vulpix I am sure you can turn the ugly house into a beauty . Good luck with finishing the quilt and have a lovely time at the Southport show. I thought about going but I am always tempted to buy plants at that show and the garden just isn't ready for them yet

Yesterday was another rest day after the shopping so no numbers to add. I have finally found the spray starch at sainsbobs. Not a shop I usually go to but it is quite close so although I was tempted to get a few tins having spent so long looking for it I resisted and just got 1 . After that I headed off to the garden centre and got an amazing pepper plant to go in the plant pot. It has a massive pepper on it already. I will be potting it up today and will try to get a picture. I was a bit limited plant wise as this friend has just got a new puppy and I was considering what the puppy might have a chew on. In my youth I worked in a vets and we had a few puppies brought in who had eaten various plants .
I also took the easy way out and ordered a book for nephew's birthday. It will be arriving on Monday and will be posted out with a card hopefully the same day. It will be sent to my sister's house as he is still "homeless" but is currently in Bequia visiting Dniece before going back on tour. At some point he will visit his Mum . I checked over the apples and tried one, very nice, they look like pink lady but have a sharper taste so will be nice in a crumble
Today as it has stopped raining finally I will be potting up in the garden and might tackle a bit more chopping and a few baked apples might find their way into the oven

Hugs to everyone who would like one
Take care everyone
Still 1183/2024