2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

2Scratters

In between procrastinating I have been having small wins of stuff leaving the house. This has helped with a few little wins of recycling some money (I've no income till next year) which is keeping me gee'd up. Why do people mess you about when you are giving stuff for free 
We have been decluttering the freezers and at this time little meat is left in there but is surmounted by a large collection of fruit. This has generated some lovely desserts. Made one last week of stewed down pears no added sugar and 3 100g blocks of dark chocolate melted down and simple mixed together and chilled. OMG simply amazing I will next time put into either some mustard sized glass jars or other small vessels as it really is a tablespoon portion that is needed with the added real cream. 
There is space appearing in the old water heater cupboard which seems wierd but it makes me smile to myself as I realise I am winning at this. 


Hugs for those in the TLC

2 Scratters xx

vulpix

Lovely to see you Muddy xxx

Oh dear weenancy, I am sorry to hear about your accident. Absolutely let other people do this months book sale. You rest and take it easy.xx

 LiverpoolAnne, do you think house overwhelm is something teachers are prone to? I think the job is all consuming and something has to give. I know lots of teachers who have had to do this as they are so time poor. Probably applies to lots of working people actually.

 Mr V is in the sheds again, I know not what he is doing. He has had an epiphany. He has properly realised that you can't take it all with you, or any of it in fact.
 We have a massive shed split into two with 2 doors and insulated.One side storage, the other side a studio. We also have 2 half sheds, like bike sheds but larger. His half shed has tools, mine garden furniture and garden tools etc. The contents of the tool shed could in fact now fit in the storage shed, but lets not run before we can walk. He has gone from 4 filled to the ceiling sheds to giving me a shed and the potential to get rid of another one and being able to walk about inside the others.
 I am happy with the houses contents and feel so much better about how much is in the sheds. We have a manageable amount of stuff now and we will be able to find things and just discard as and when things are no longer needed. The trick now is to not bring things in. Erm,2 chairs we didn't need. What did I say? No more furniture restoration. I will probably get rid of them soon, I just enjoy doing it.

 Out today, wooden free standing towel rail

 Craft club for me this afternoon, Hope to pass on the stuff I have made for the Christmas tree festival and the Christmas fair.

 Laters Vx

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 10:00 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

Completely forgot to post yesterday & not because I was particularly busy 🙊 Monday was dry & chilly. DH dropped motorbike at garage for its MOT & to have new forks fitted. Came home on public transport which only took 15 minutes longer than riding to garage 🙂 I spent the day knitting & watching TV. Dinner was beef slices in gravy with mash & green beans. DSis & DH enjoyed it so much that they have requested the same again for Tuesday evening. Wudupa.

56 - 59 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, 2 newspapers - recycled

60 - 61 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

Tuesday: DH woke me at 12:30 as he & DSis were heading out on their monthly jaunt in the car. They are heading to the same place as last time - a ‘shopping village’ with lots of antique type shops - the name escapes me 😉 It is a lot brighter today with a forecast high of 12°C Straight into cheerleading as I have fallen behind again 😔

Duchess2, sorry to hear that both you & DH have had the ‘lurgy’ for a month 😔 This current virus does sound particularly nasty 😷 I do hope you didn’t have too bad a reaction to yesterday’s shingles jab 🤞

Moorviews, lovely cheerleading post & thank you for the belated birthday wishes 😊 I was very lucky 😊 Congratulations on completing the final bits & pieces of paperwork towards your retirement 🥳 No doubt you will now be busier than you ever were whilst you were working 😅😉 Enjoy your retirement 😊

Excellent decluttering TC77 👏 Hopefully the van load of stuff you are bringing from your dad’s will only have a temporary sojourn in your home 🤞 I imagine it will be far easier to re-home furniture this end as you know all the local CS & I seem to remember that your Dad’s house is quite a distance away 🤔 It will be lovely to see your friend on Thursday & you should be very proud at the inroads you are making in decluttering your home 🥹

Now, now vulpix ‘wagging finger emoji’ Having crafting projects at various stages of completion scattered around is NOT classed as “house is an absolute tip” More like a sign of how hard you have been working on reducing your craft stash 🥹 I went a bit green reading about the tea towels MrV brought home 🤢 Congratulations to you both on doing such a grand job of clearing the storage shed 👏 At this rate you won’t know what to do with yourselves next year as all the decluttering will be done 🥳 By the way, I won’t hold my breath re MrV’s retirement 🤣 as I am not sure he actually understands the ‘concept of retirement’ 🤣

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏 Good luck with ‘Project Kitchen’ 🍀

Liverpool_Anne, sorry to hear that Sunday was a day of enforced rest due to being laid low by the ‘lurgy’ currently doing the rounds 😔 I do hope you didn’t do too much yesterday & haven’t set back your recovery 🙏 Another lovely cheerleading post 😊

TC77, steady decluttering 👏 Fingers crossed that items will be picked up on time 🤞 Good luck with the cleaning & ironing 🍀

daisy_1571, ‘thrift’ is such a lovely expressive word  & apparently has been around since the 1300’s 🤩

Duchess2, pleased to hear that you had no ill effects (apart from the sore arm) from the shingles jab 😮‍💨 Hopefully yesterday’s relaxed afternoon will mean that you had plenty of energy for this morning’s walk with ‘doggo’ whilst DH was out fishing 😊 Good luck with the ironing 🍀

oceanspirit, excellent & eclectic decluttering 👏 Good luck with the frogs 🍀

Wow vulpix 🤩 you & MrV have been busy 👏 Congratulations on getting ALL of your crafting projects completed + some extra ones that you hadn’t previously listed 🥳 At this rate you won’t know what to do with yourself over the next few days 😅 Looking forward to seeing the photo of the completed Christmas chair 😊

Lovely to see you back Muddy_Walker 👋 Absolutely ‘no such thing’ as “terrible decluttering numbers” ‘wagging finger emoji’ Every item decluttered is a success 👏 & a step towards a clutter free home 😊 Pleased to hear that your Mum’s op went well 🙂 & now keeping everything crossed that the biopsy results come back clear 🤞🙏 Please take care of yourself & get plenty of rest 🙏 Hopefully the ‘lurgy’ will be gone soon as it does sound particularly nasty 🤞

I have come to a natural break so will post this & have a bowl of hm soup before returning with a final burst of cheerleading 🤞 I do hope that everyone is having as good a day as possible 😊

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366: 61/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £571.70

Florenceem

I didn't post yesterday - day flew by.
In the morning I was ironing items ready for photos while Mr F went out with parcels.
When he got back - I did my David Bailey and then wrapped more parcels.
Counting with C was the next job - took ages as we had a discrepancy - C had entered something twice!
While I was at SA - Mr F went into town with parcels for the post office.
He called in the community shop and brought home a punnet of strawberries - 20p - we had them with the last of the ice cream in the freezer so a bit of decluttering. 
Mr F went out in the afternoon laden with more parcels.
I spent time listing on V and wrapping more sold items.
I listed two children's Christmas jumpers - they went as soon as people could see them. 

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 10:00 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 hm soup was delicious 😋 Enough left for one more bowlful 🙂 I have used up the black & purple yarn - one shortish scarf knitted. DH phoned 15:10 - a disappointing trip as half the shops were closed 😔 He & DSis are having a hot drink & cake before they head back. DH phoned again @ 16:15 - they have stopped at MrS to pick up a bit of shopping & should be home in the next 30 mins - traffic permitting 🤞Traffic wasn’t too bad so took just over 35 minutes. DSis bought a few pin badges/brooches to add to her burgeoning collection 😉Back to cheerleading 

TC77, there does appear to be a different approach to package sizes depending on which branch of the Post Office you use 😔 I did have to smile at this “shocked at the dust and forgotten the true colour of some furniture” 😉

Ha, ha daisy_1571 😂

Duchess2, now, now ‘wagging finger emoji’ You are just getting into the swing of decluttering 😊 Remember even one item decluttered is a step nearer to a clutter free home 😊

suzeesu2000, sorry to hear that you are on your second bout of the virus 😔 so very well done on tackling the bathroom 👏

weenancy, I suppose we can all ignore the new (old) person until January 🤔 I am keeping everything crossed that some steady rain turns up to douse the forest fires 🤞Sorry to hear that you have been in the wars again 😔 & I will join TC77 in ‘requesting’ that you rest & that your only participation in the book sale preparations & the actual book sale is in a purely supervisory capacity 🙏

London_1, a ladybird in November 🤩 Your son-in-law Simon, might not be a whiz at DIY, but he is a great chef & a great organiser 👏 (I believe he arranged the builders 😊) It sounds like the building works are almost completed & you will soon be settled in 😊  

Liverpool_Anne, more lovely cheerleading 😊 & I especially like this “Muddy_Walker lovely to see you, you have indeed had a tough time this year and I think you should not beat yourself up if you don't reach your target. This is one of the things that make me wary of targets, if they are not achieved we tend to feel disappointed but instead I think we should look back and congratulate ourselves on what we have achieved and accept we did the best we could given the things life throws at us. Look after yourself first, hugs” A very busy & mostly successful Monday 👏 How bizarre that the dentist has moved with no forwarding address 🤔 😱 Fingers crossed for your ex colleague - hopefully he will act on the formulated plan & can start to feel a bit more in control 🤞

Excellent work 2Scratters 👏 That dessert sounds absolutely scrumptious 😋 I do hope that the next time you make it, you donate a few portions to the TLC carriage 🙏

vulpix, this “LiverpoolAnne, do you think house overwhelm is something teachers are prone to? I think the job is all consuming and something has to give. I know lots of teachers who have had to do this as they are so time poor. Probably applies to lots of working people actually” is an excellent observation 😊 I am very, very impressed that MrV is continuing the storage shed sort out 🤩👏 Any chance of photos of the 4 outbuildings 🙏 I do believe gold stars are in the offing ☺️ As to the furniture restoration, I really do think that you should continue as you love it so much 🥹 especially as you now seem more than happy to declutter the renovated pieces 😉 

Florenceem, I was exhausted just reading about how much work both you & MrF  got through yesterday 🤩 I do hope you had a quieter day today 😊

Dinner is on the stove - still have enough beef left for 3 more meals - it was a big joint (but at a third off it has been very MSE 👏 9 meals so far 🥳) The only difference tonight is that we are having green beans from the freezer rather than fresh ones 😉

See you later 👋 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366: 61/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £571.70

London_1

My son-in-law Simon is indeed a great cook, and does virtually most of the cooking .
We had a gorgeous shepherds pie tonight from the remains of Sundays lamb joint, and there was enough left over to do me a meal so I portioned it up and into the freezer it went.Half a leg of lamb has made three roast dinners and three servings, plus one for the freezer shepherds pies.
`The day was really sunny and warm again with a gentle breeze so two wash loads were done and on the line and dried by tonight. Made such a difference having a proper washing line again.

Tomorrow after my telephone appointment with my cardio nurse at 9.00am I shall be going off to Newport as I want to have a look at some light fittings for my new sitting room and also a wander around M&S.

 I have some envelopes to drop off at the CS, when I say some, I think there are around 70-80 odd and they are always looking for stationary bundles. I mainly email now, so really don't need to keep more than a dozen at most the rest can be decluttered I also have a couple of paperbacks to go as well

 I never like going into town empty handed and even a small bit of decluttering is better than none. I dug out a double knit cardigan from the wardrobe, and that can go as well as it literally drowns me now

JackieO xx

Florenceem

Yesterday I had sales on V of £42.30.
Today has been another day of working on V - sorting, ironing, debobbling and photos.
Mr F went out to post parcels.
We had heavy rain all morning so he waited until the afternoon.
My friend text to say that there were wet donations in the foyer at SA. I can't understand people donating stuff and leaving it in the rain outside by the hopper. 
We weren't needed to take in a food delivery tonight but decided to pop round and sort out the wet stuff as it would smell if left overnight in the building with no heating.
We brought home lots of wet garments and bedding - it is hanging on my washing frame and in the garage.
Someone had donated large bags of yarn - some of that was wet. I have damp yarn drying on my craft table.
I have been listing on V this evening. Quiet day for sales - £14.

vulpix

 Hi fellow passengers, Hows tricks?

 Mrs SD, There may not be big decluttering to do going forward but it is so ingrained now that I think there will always be a trickle going out or stuff being used up.
 I am that annoying person that always has a project or two on the go. Now I have cleared the decks a little of the outstanding craft projects I want to get one more done and dusted before December. I have nothing else in the pipeline after that. Oh, a friends daughter is having a baby in January so perhaps knit something for her. Checked today that she likes home made stuff, not everyone does. I sewed up a little jumper for baby V tonight.
 The Christmas chair which I have forgotten to photograph hasn't turned out as I expected. Didn't use the fur fabric I bought as it was too thick for the seat pad. The other chair still needs to be sanded. Not my favourite job so it will turn into a frog. The sheds will still provide plenty to do I am sure. I shall take a photo of the shed village for you, not very exciting though. The to do list has had a few things crossed off. They are not specific enough, they say things like " shed". which has taken weeks. Frog Friday, I shall make an effort to do at least one thing on the list.

 We have the dentist tomorrow in Nottingham. We were going to go on to Oxfordshire to visit my son and drop off a book case but they have cancelled. Their cat passed away last night from F A T E. I had never heard of it. They are very upset. The cat was so important to them during all their troubles over the years in becoming parents. The cat was like family and it's a big loss for them. They were lucky to have him and he was lucky to have them.

 Vx

GrannyKate

Just a quick post to say I am hanging in there.  I thought I was exchanging contracts yesterday but I discovered by default that my solicitor has agreed to exchange and complete on Friday despite my telling her not to do this as it is risky.  She has then gone on three days annual leave which I only found out from out of office message.  She never thought to tell me this on Friday when I thought we were discussing completion on Monday or Tuesday GRRRR.

Off to minute a committee meeting but need to warm up with some porridge first.

2Scratters

@Liverpool_Anne your support to @Moorviews and not to worry about what is not done is actually in my quote to look back and see what has been achieved   

My tbay sales are ticking along. Put a little smile on my face yesterday and actually decreased 1 padded envelope finally as it had been in balance for a week or so (there had been a few bits come through the front door of items DH need for GD's motorbike and some for DS birthday (even used up a card from the stash) which was on Monday so even his requested presents went out in a pre used Morries paper bag  )
Decluttered 4 tops of my mothers yesterday as they are now far too big for her. I am the one that has been decluttering and using up stuff they already have before purchasing more as they really don't have the storage space at all. This is where my own is very slow as am really focusing on the wrong one at this time. But here I am back on the wagon at the back of the train behind the TLC as it moves slower 
Oh jees I have made the font bigger and don't even know how I have done it. It looks like I am shouting.

Mrs SD there are some pears in the fridge and I will be making some more dark chocolate pear dessert to share. I did have to check it was safe first  

Have a good day all

2 Scratters xx