2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Brambling

My name is Brambling and I have a book problem!! A large bag of books were dropped off at the second hand book shop in Petworth House whilst volunteering and four books somehow found there way home 🤨 I don't need more books I have plenty on the 'to read piles'.  I think volunteering at their second hand book shop may have been a mistake 

I did give my sister three items which were sitting in my table, she did leave muttering that three items would need to leave her house now, she is also decluttering. 

weenancyinAmerica

@Brambling - You can never have too many books. You need books on so many different subjects as reference, books to read when you are happy, books to read when you are not, books to read when you are sick and need to stay home, books for memories, books to make memories, books others recommend to you, and books that are "just yours alone". You can never have too many.

Brambling

weenancyinAmerica said:

@Brambling - You can never have too many books. You need books on so many different subjects as reference, books to read when you are happy, books to read when you are not, books to read when you are sick and need to stay home, books for memories, books to make memories, books others recommend to you, and books that are "just yours alone". You can never have too many.

I must remember this excuse the next time someone comments on my overflowing floor to ceiling built in shelves in the spare bedroom 🙂 

Dizzycap

Morning all

@ Florenceem - great job with the table top sales. £300 is far better than nothing and especially as it's so quiet at the moment xxx

@ weenancyinAmerica - I gave up watching the news on TV 2 years ago. All negative and so much biased reporting along with misinformation is it any wonder people become uninspired or get depressed?

Decluttering Sunday Begins:

Woken up nice and early by babyface who needed a drink followed by her bouncing and fruit looping around the bed, down her ramp, thundering down the hallway with fruit loops around the lounge and kitchen before coming back to bedroom to ask to go out to the loo, back in and promptly grabbing her swan toy and throwing it around while I headed back to the bedroom followed by mad max daxie girl with swan in tow throwing it around on the bed for 5 minutes and then conking out on the spot with toy in mouth snoring, snorting, and piggy grunting her head off with crazy waggy tail Someone's happy & feeling better Babyface rolled over on her back about half an hour ago so I had a good look to see that all was ok and there were no split stitches after her antics and all is looking fabulous.

I've left babyface slumbering while I declutter a mug of coffee and clean her bunty bed and put fresh bedding covering on and comfy light fleeces for her to bury herself in. Washing machine on with a load of babyface washing and will  peg out on the line as soon as its finished as it's another warm morning

TBH, I'm far too tired and fatigued to do anymore decluttering listings at the moment and as things appear to be on the quiet side for the last 2 days, although I've got some eby auctions finishing today, I'm taking advantage of some quiet time myself and pottering about when I can xx I'm off to have a shower while I have reduced pain before another mug of coffee and a start decluttering the pile of paper mail for the week by which time the washing should be finished xxxx Toodle-pips for now xxxx

EDIT: Happy Mother's Day to All Clocks forward an hour (there's always someone who forgets, and it's usually me! )

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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

Saturday continued: DH went out for a walk & got back just before 18:00 so he could watch the MotoGP qualifying races. I have spent the afternoon catching up on paperwork as I hadn’t dealt with any of my non urgent mail for over a week 😕 I have made a big dent which has resulted in

580 - 583 Newspaper, 2 booklets, 1” paperwork - recycled

584 - shredding 0.5” - binned

I also went through my emails & reduced them down from 100 to 50 🙂Dinner was leftovers - cottage pie for me & lo bolognaise sauce with freshly cooked conchiglie for DH & DSis 😋 Wudupa.

585 - 586 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled

587 Kitchen detritus binned 

Back to the cheerleading of Friday’s posts:

Lovely cheerleading vulpix 😊 How delightful to see baby lambs ☺️ Love the idea that you have knitted half an adult jumper just so you didn’t have time to finish the Izzy toys 😂

Great decluttering Willowtree222 👏 Yippee to a couple of sales 🥳  & hopefully there are many more to come 🤞

London_1 ,that is a big difference in prices 😧 Sounds like you had a wonderful time shopping & always nice to have the time to find the best prices 😊 It will be lovely to see Ben & not long to wait either 😉 It sounds like you are looking forward to doing some cooking now that your son in law is starting work 😉 Fingers crossed that your DD will be able to reduce her hours prior to retiring completely 🤞Hope the good weather continues over the weekend 😊

Dizzycap, very pleased to hear that babyface is recovering nicely 😊 Poor Mr postman - no greeting from babyface 😉 & he missed seeing you as well 🤔 

Florenceem, hope the table top sale goes well 🤞 & how great that DGS J will be helping you 🥹 Really cannot understand how an OT could possibly think that MrF is ready for discharge & have the audacity to even mention it to you 😡 

Great work Crazycatlady2 👏 

Great decluttering & using up QueenJess 👏

Love chatty & supportive post sqwiffy 🥹 Re This “………. I'm also stacking up emails too! Perhaps I need to do a Stacey Solomon and tell myself to get rid of at least 50% of everything? I'm going to have to work quicker or smarter. I haven't even figured out how to put all the little things at the bottom of my page, I'm that rubbish at this technology stuff 😆” now, now it is just practice that is needed 😉 as I see you have already ‘trialled’ a short message 👏

Dizzycap, so pleased to hear that babyface is recovering so well 🥹 Although it sounds like she is now feeling well enough to keep you on your toes trying to prevent her doing too much 😬 

So much for going to bed earlier 😉 I will try harder tomorrow night. Don’t forget that the clocks changed so one hour’s less sleep 😉 Sleep tight 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 587/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

TC77

@weenancyinAmerica and @Brambling I generally agree about books and think you.can add books you can lend or give to friends.
However, I brought so many back from my parents and just before that bought lots 2nd hand when dd2 decided to study English a level and at uni and now have 3 copies of some books- useful if I suggest my book club reads one. I do get book club books out of the library when I can including when I can't find my own copy!

Someone my house has become incredibly  messy, I got out boxes of cables to sort, clothes and there are papers everywhere so every surface covered. Deciding homes for things I find quite challenging so going to focus on one small pile at a time. Did think of posting before and afters but far too embarrassed. 
Dd1 and 2 have noticed improvement in Feb but need to recover and improve so dd2 tackles her stuff before she goes to australia. She's already stressed about all current uni and her year away so have 2 weeks before she's back but I'm working so hence need to shift myself now! 
Hope to report back positively. 
Good.news about babyface recovering ..

charlies_tribe

Good morning!
@Dizzycap in so glad to hear Babyface is making a good recovery after the operation. 
@vulpix congratulations to you all on a new grandchild. I hope everything progresses okay.

There was so much i was going to write but I've now forgotten. I'll probably remember later when in the shower or something. 

Very slowly working through things. I've got a doctors appointment next Saturday so hopefully they'll sort my lack of energy. Need to go sweep the floor and clear the worktop as shopping is due to arrive any minute. 

299  Work boots (whats left of them) binned
300-315 16x baby utensils/pots
316  Phone box
317  Phone case
318  Phone screen protector
319  Portable fan
320  Papers
321-322  2x boxes
323-324  2x tea towels
325  Pjs with a huge hole in

Moorviews

I’m glad we have such a beautiful sunny morning for the going forward of the clocks  🥱 

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger - thank you for my gold star! 

@diminua - Millie is very cute 🥰 
@vulpix - love those dolls 😍
@GrannyKate - that’s an amazing room transformation and looks lovely! You have been working so hard on your new home and I admire your energy 👏
@Dizzycap - hopefully babyface won’t throw caution to the wind now that she is feeling a bit better. It can be difficult restraining that enthusiasm during convalescence!
@Muddy_Walker - well done for persevering with crochet despite feeling so unwell. It looks great with the different colours coming out and is going to be a lovely scarf. I crocheted one that the moths have got at unfortunately. If I can think of how to secure the wool then I don’t think it will show when I wear it. It’s annoying after putting the work into making it so I don’t want to give up on it. 

@Florenceem - I have my fingers crossed for the rehab place. 

@Brambling - I wouldn’t like to count or own up to how many books I have and I have let go of a lot too. 

@Soontobeoap - it’s okay to let the craft stuff go if it is too much. The CSs seem to like receiving it I find. Crafting should be a joy for you but it sounds like that is getting lost and you are feeling under pressure. 

@sqwiffy - well done for all that catching up and cheerleading 👏 

I have actually removed five dresses from my wardrobe but need to work out if I want to make skirts or tops out of them, or just let them go. Charity shop bag has been dropped off and gratefully received. I will be seeing my DC and DGC today but missing my own DM and DMIL at the same time. I think I will give our mother’s roses a bit of TLC if I get time today. Hugs for anyone who would like one 🤗 

CRANKY40

Good morning folks 😊

Dizzycap your garden is beautiful and I'm glad that babyface is feeling better. That must be a weight off your mind. It's lovely of your mum to come and help. 

vulpix your dollies are lovely but the sheep is my favourite.

Muddy_walker I actually found a turtle quite hard to crochet. My first ever amigurumi was from the Utube site and was very thorough and slow enough to follow Here's the link if you're interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVARsKUe1NE&t=717s  I love your scarf colours - it will take a while though as the yarn is so fine. Cheap double knitting yarn is good for starting amigurumi. I started making small things as despite being able to crochet for 50 years I couldn't read a pattern. I can now 😊

Mothering Sunday......breaking mothers hearts all over the UK. I've banned it from our house for it just being a commercial monstrosity these days. It's true origin is that today you are supposed to attend a service at the church where you were christened - your "mother church" as it were. DS and I went in M&S last week (for a look, not a buy) and there were so many very expensive bouquets of flowers that we were surprised. I expected just a few extra flowers in the normal display but these had overrun into the clothes section.

Anyhow...on the decluttering front Thursday was 10 things out, none Friday as we went out and yesterday was only 5 as I was very tired after DS appearing at 2:30 in the morning from his night out. His phone had run out of battery so he couldn't get an uber and he'd lost his friends. He eventually managed to hail a black cab but he was cold and a bit upset when he landed home. Today is yet to unfold. Most of our junk is from things just being stuffed in drawers and cupboards because I didn't have the bandwidth to deal with them at the time. There's a bit of ADHD procrastination in there too.

Take care all of you 😊

vulpix

Wee Nancy,  I stopped watching the news on 9, 11. So much better for my mental health. I listen to 3 minute radio news. Just time for the pertinent facts in 3 minutes.

TC, shirts with trousers, very Meghan Markle. I always think she dresses well. Ask me round, I'll come and do a gentle SYLO with you.

Muddy, I didn't realise your  lovely scarf wool was all in one ball! I can't read a crochet pattern but if there's a picture, I can copy the pattern. I am thinking of making a Virus pattern blanket next. Well after I have finished my sons jumper. It's grey with coloured flecks. I am starting to think it looks like I am making him a school jumper. 

I shall not be making any more Izzy dolls. Very, very easy to knit though if anyone fancies them. I may have to undo the pigs face as I am not happy with it. Pigs and sheep are DGS's favourite along with Paddington. The cat is a very rough approximation of their cat. I made them to put in an Easter basket so it isn't too much chocolate. Passes the time, dunnit.

Visiting Mum shortly. Along with some nice soaps and chocolate Mr V has had an old video of my Dad put onto a DVD.

Packing today. We are off in the morning.

Bon voyage, Vx