Making hay while the sun shines!

**canadian gardener** · 09-24-2004, 10:34 PM

While my computer was being a pain, I spent a very very productive week.

Heaving and tossing and generally getting into stuff and cleaning. I love it, I'm on another roll.

I loosened my hold on some things I used to hold dear last year when I got rid of my grain grinder and some other kitchen equipment.

I had time to think and realized the time for me to use those things is gone.

Now I've taken another drastic look around and realized that I'm unhappy with the book level in the house and need to pare it down.

I'm down a garbage bag of clothes that ds dejunked, and next Thursday the charity van is doing a pickup at my house.

Gotta love it when you can just get the junk to call it's own taxi so to speak, and drive right out of your life.

I kind of feel like I did wiht the garden last year. Batten down the hatches, let's get this place streamlined. I am so grateful I heeded that inner nudge about the garden and this year, I've not done a thing out there, but it's looked so nice all year long.

I want to do that with my house. Get to the point where housekeeping is super streamlined and simplified.

I have dh finishing the gyproc work in the bathroom, walls are going UP! I want to tidy up and finish my projects.

I have a wall to wallpaper still in the living room, an entryway, hallway and a bathroom to paint, and I want to paint the doors and trim in this house.

For the first time in over 7 years I feel like I have the energy to do stuff.

Anyways, just thought I'd share my fun week.

**canadian gardener** · 09-24-2004, 10:36 PM

LOL I should explain the title. I don't know about elsewhere, but that phrase means, get going and do what you can while conditions are favourable.

It's common where my dad grew up, near here in the Cariboo area of BC

I believe other locales talk about that concept by saying things like don't waste daylight.

**PrairieRose** · 09-25-2004, 10:40 PM

Margery, it does feel great to start going through stuff. I'm doing that bit by bit around here too and like you, I want my housekeeping to be much more streamlined. I'm thrilled to hear that you're having more energy now. That medicine must be helping. You GO girl!

**captclearance** · 09-25-2004, 11:46 PM

Good for you !!!!!!
I'm sure it will make life much easier for you !!!
Keep up the good work !!!!

**canadian gardener** · 09-25-2004, 11:50 PM

The meds are really helping a lot! I have way more kick than I have in over 7 years that I can remember. I feel like I did before my health broke down.

**simplemom** · 09-26-2004, 08:26 AM

Margery, I'm so happy you've found so much energy!

I want to do like you:

---Get to the point where housekeeping is super streamlined and simplified---

Your post inspires me! Thanks!!!

**Katybird** · 09-26-2004, 04:32 PM

You have inspired me. I want to thank you. I am going to be getting rid of things that I thought I needed to save and I am realizing that these things are not heirlooms or mementos that that they are clutter. I can take a memorable picture of things that I need to keep a memory of and that picture can evoke those same memories that I would have if I still had the item cluttering up my house. I saw the same thing last night on clean sweep, a gentleman had a 1965 vacuum cleaner that he had gotten from his family, it evoked memories of his mother and his siblings by seeing it, they photographed him with it and had it framed and the pic evoked the same memories without having to keep the 40 year old vacuum around.

**canadian gardener** · 09-27-2004, 01:01 PM

Kathy you are incredibly right on the money there!!!!

It's not just Clean Sweep (I don't get it but I LOVE watching it at my fil's place).

I remember Don Aslett recommended that in his Clutter's Last Stand. He was dealing with a lady with a collection of pencils (huge) that her dead son kept.

He advised her to miniaturize it by taking the best and making either a shadow box or using the best of them to frame a picture of her son, and giving the bulk of the collection away.

He then went on to explain that things of great emotional significance that we want to keep can be miniaturized in that way. Putting photos of us holding them, or using shadow boxes to form a picture on the wall with several of the very best, contained away from dust or fingerprints.

Easy to clean and care for and much much less space.

Someday I plan to do that with the smocking that my mother did. Cut and frame the work with a photo of her.