[RedSpruce]

More likely they don't know how to use email, have a mailbox full of spam, and don't check it regularly like younger folks do. They're doing business the old fashioned way. Don't waste time waiting on them. Call tomorrow.

Actually received an email from them today. They’re out of the office until February 28th, at which point they wish to follow up with me. I took the opportunity to photograph, do a little lineage tree and write up the story on two pieces. That way I can maybe save them some time by sending them a pdf of information. If they think either piece is worth appraising, then we can arrange for an in person viewing. We’ll see how this goes.

No movement on the tea cups and saucers.

 

[Spirit Deer]

DLR, can you find clothes baskets that fit in that closet? Instant pullouts for relatively cheap, with handles on both ends. Or totes would work, too.

 

[dlrcpa]

SD I will buy something once I figure out what will work best. (The Amazon box is a test.) Those shelves are 20" wide and 18" deep. Thought about extending some shelves forward another 8" or so with boards (they are set back 15" from the door opening), the boards that support the shelves run all the way to the front wall, but just blank space from the shelf forward for 15". Thinking of hanging some sort of cleaning product organizer on the back of the door. There are 2 hooks near the top that are never used. The usable width is only 12" after subtracting out the interior doorknob placement. I see some ideas like removing the inside doorknob (which is useless since nobody would be inside that closet anyway.) Maybe remove the latch and put a fixed outside knob. The door won't open further because it hits the side of the toilet!
This lady had some amazing ideas for her "cleaning closet" that I can use in other places also. Love her trash bag dispenser solution.
Cleaning Closet Organization and Tips

 

[Spirit Deer]

Well, shoot. Can't use a pullout if the door won't open. That's an awkward little space but I know you will make the most of it. I think putting storage on the back of the door is a great idea.

 

[dlrcpa]

For the time being I ordered a Rubbermaid cleaning tote (holds 8 bottles/containers) for $18 and found some Command stick-on hooks to hang a few lightweight things just inside the door. Decided that a structured wire rack on the back of the door would make reaching in even more difficult than now, so ruling that out.
I can buy a 6" wide X 8' long board already primed for painting at Home Depot pretty cheap. That would give me 4 shelf forward extensions if I wanted. You can see the supports run all the way to the front wall anyway. Hubby is not opposed to this idea.

 

[Spirit Deer]

I wonder if it would be possible to make the door into a Dutch door, so the top section just clears the toilet. Then you could open the top all the way and have pullouts of some kind. Hollow core doors can be easy to modify.

Random thought. You know how I am. 🤣🤣🤣

 

[CPA-Kim]

I cleaned and sorted two hall closets today. One contained all my tools. I got rid of about half of them (left them for the maintenance crew) along with many other things I no longer use. Now I have ample extra space and I don't intend to use it. I also cleaned the laundry room and my two new laundry collapsable baskets arrived today from Amazon. I love my washer and dryer since they are both on pedestals and easy to access. I ordered some rubber mats for the tops of the washer and dryer and had two shelves installed so things are more organized and easy to access.

I gave away two large bags of "stuff" and threw away three contractor bags of things nobody will want.

It felt good to complete the remaining three rooms. Now, all my rooms and closets are cleaned and organized. I have one last donation to the church of some things that they can sell. As a treat, I'm ordering some new sheets from Lands End as a reward

 

[RedSpruce]

Listed a reference book for sale online. We’ll see what happens. It’s a specialized book and I listed on a specialized site. Might be everyone has it.

 

[RedSpruce]

No bites on the reference book or the china. I took the china off sale. I think I listed it on the wrong type of sites. They literally sell stuff for $5 or give it away. Still thinking how to deal more effectively with it. If it were cheap china I’d say sure, five bucks is enough. But it’s not. I think I still have to separate myself emotionally from it, and I’m not quite sure if I’m ready to do that yet.

I watched a YouTube video on downsizing. It was a lecture a lady gave to a group of seniors. She had some good points to make. But I lost interest partway through the Q&A. I’ll finish watching it tomorrow. She did help with how to decide what I want to keep in the china cabinet.

Downsizing video

Meanwhile, Hubby and I discussed furniture in the kitchen we could move to an apartment. We decided we needed a 2 BR apartment to start.

I also started looking, I mean really looking, at the books in the living room bookcase. There are about 11 of 30 odd books I would keep. Definitely time to downsize those. Most of them are field guides I will never use. Maybe some budding naturalist or biology student would be interested?

 

[RedSpruce]

Cruising the Internet last night. Found an online ebook on how to sell china.

Dishing It Out

I also found a major antiques dealer in my region. I think I’ll go direct to them.

 

[dlrcpa]

Scheduled a donation pickup for Monday. Hubby agreed to get rid of several bulky items from the storage room - hooray. I have a couple of empty boxes to fill up with smaller things before then. He also needs to make a run to the county recycling to get rid of my non-working printer and maybe some more metal scrap?

I have an idea to sew a hanging rolled-towel holder to go on the back of that bathroom door. Horizontal stacked open-end pockets to stuff rolled towels (the clean ones) into. Will test my idea out after I get a few other things done first.

 

[Spirit Deer]

I would make the pockets as flaps instead, with hooks or buttonhole tabs on each of the free ends, or at least one end, so the towels can be easily dealt with. It's not that easy to slide terry cloth in and out of fabric. At least line the pockets with something slippery like nylon. I like the hanging pocket idea though.

 

[dlrcpa]

Good suggestion SD, thanks. I have some lining-type fabric that can be used up. I plan to make the top shaped to go over a wire clothes hanger so it can be taken off the door easily to be replenished which will end up being my job.

 

[RedSpruce]

The Great Jewellery Redistribution is going well! 😂. Two nieces have picked pieces for themselves and their daughters. I have two nieces left to go. We’re having a big snowstorm right now, but next week I’ll send them off.

 

[RedSpruce]

One of the two nieces contacted me about the jewellery. She has until tomorrow evening to pick 1-2 pieces for herself.

Thinking of purging some bed linens, blankets and afghans. We have too many and some are quite ratty. Some just plain need replacing.

 

[RedSpruce]

Okay! Both remaining nieces have picked pieces. I will mail everything out this week. That ends my responsibility to everyone in the family. I still have a couple of expensive pieces to pass on, but we shall see. They were my grandmother’s. People will be upset no matter what I do with them. 😔

 

[Spirit Deer]

If no one wants the pieces, you're free to get rid of them. If they do want them, then you can send them. Either way, you don't have to keep them. No reason for anyone to be unhappy.

 

[RedSpruce]

If no one wants the pieces, you're free to get rid of them. If they do want them, then you can send them. Either way, you don't have to keep them. No reason for anyone to be unhappy.

Actually, @Spirit Deer , the problem is they all want certain pieces. But as everything was given to me, I reserve the right to give it to whomever I choose. I have purposely left certain items out of the photo files I’m sending for people to pick from…precisely to prevent upset within the family. I will quietly hand those off later.

 

[marthamfi]

finally did it ..cleaned out the cat basket. only size of sm wastepaper basket. think at min 60 jingle balls mice etc all good. in the donate bag and 16 to trash. plus finding some odds and ends that go somewhere else. kept what is of interest fur mice ping pong balls etc. still more toys downstairs too , they get them in the toy packs etc but like babies the box or twist ties are more interesting. put a toy on our big boy didn't find it at all went around with it until we took it off.

 

[bookwormpeg]

Red S I think you are smart doing it the way you are. Everyone gets a chance to pick from the pieces you choose. Smart. When my ex mil died my daughter was suppose to receive her jewelry but she never got it. His brothers four daughters took it all.... I was suppose to get her mink coat and her clothes ( weird but I knew why she did it.....she had money hidden in all her clothes....that mink coat probably had thousands in the lining). Long story short, I was told I was left nothing when I asked about the coat. They told me she must have given it away before she died...the ex and his brother and father told me they looked for the coat for three days and couldn't find it....but when I got a lawyer involved it came out that the sil took it.....and I surprised them all by having a copy of the will....if you could have seen their faces when they found out I had a copy of the will....priceless......it was a mess. I told sil to keep the coat, and I was even nice about it....I was taking the high road.... It was all about the principal of it. They were so dishonest about it all right down to their lawyer. ....I just wanted them to know I knew they stole from me and my children. How they slept at night is beyond me. That's why I'm giving my stuff away while I'm alive....don't trust wills....they are only as good as the people behind them....

Taking two boxes of books to a friend on Sunday. Also a huge throw and a smaller throw. Out of my closet.