A package of clear page protectors
Like, 250 of 'em! Gone without a second glance to a fine new home, our church's choir - who will be singing their praises, even as I hum a happy tune, having made a little more room on our stationery shelf!
xo, LD
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
I can see clearly now. . .
A roll of clear laminating plastic
Many autumns ago, it was a ritual to find the most astonishing fallen leaves and encase them for posterity between two sheets of adhesive-backed clear plastic. Now, I guess it's time to pass along the fun - and so this bargain-priced, jumbo-sized, long-dormant roll is on its way to some young crafters. (P.S. We still have a couple yards left. . . just in case. . . shh!)
xo, LD
Many autumns ago, it was a ritual to find the most astonishing fallen leaves and encase them for posterity between two sheets of adhesive-backed clear plastic. Now, I guess it's time to pass along the fun - and so this bargain-priced, jumbo-sized, long-dormant roll is on its way to some young crafters. (P.S. We still have a couple yards left. . . just in case. . . shh!)
xo, LD
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Ten Things. . .
Thursday, Friday, Saturday - Saturday (phew!)
Something for every finger on my two hands!
Here goes: what went, when!
Sunday - a fill-in-the-date weekly calendar - easy to pass along, since I already have another, and if I really, really need another calendar, all I'll have to do is wait for the new year's junk mail to be delivered.
Monday - I'm giving away audio books, and I sure hope there are still people out there with cassette players!
Tuesday - More paperback novels are on their way to new homes. Read 'em and pass 'em along!
Wednesday - I purchased these flimsy plastic goblets in a moment of pre-party panic, when I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the drinking/glasses ratio.
Thursday - Icky sticky tape, too tacky to work properly: begone! Who needs the hassle?
Friday - Ditto for the dried-up glue sticks.
Saturday -And so, too, sadly, for the broken crayons of my children's youth. Sure, I know you can melt them in muffin tins, in a slow oven, to make wacky multicolored crayon patties. Or use them to add color to make-it-yourself candles. Or whatever. No, thank you - really! - been there, done that!
xo, Linda
Something for every finger on my two hands!
Here goes: what went, when!
Thursday - a very pretty mug that was just not my style gets to take a journey to a new home.
Friday - gone: a "gift with purchase" that ended up being a dust-gatherer instead of a treat (a metal "word sculpture" that says, somewhat ironically: Give Thanks).
Saturday - a tea light candle holder centerpiece thingy that I always envisioned gracing our dinner table, admired by murmuring guests as we quaffed champagne and spoke deep thoughts over a catered meal - no, no, no, no. . . ! (For one thing, to complete this elegant picture accurately, the candles would have to be tapers, held aloft by a number of glittering silver candleabra. You know, like at a princess' dinner table! And butlers. There'd be, like, a dozen butlers. Ah, fantasy!)Sunday - a fill-in-the-date weekly calendar - easy to pass along, since I already have another, and if I really, really need another calendar, all I'll have to do is wait for the new year's junk mail to be delivered.
Monday - I'm giving away audio books, and I sure hope there are still people out there with cassette players!
Tuesday - More paperback novels are on their way to new homes. Read 'em and pass 'em along!
Wednesday - I purchased these flimsy plastic goblets in a moment of pre-party panic, when I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the drinking/glasses ratio.
Thursday - Icky sticky tape, too tacky to work properly: begone! Who needs the hassle?
Friday - Ditto for the dried-up glue sticks.
Saturday -And so, too, sadly, for the broken crayons of my children's youth. Sure, I know you can melt them in muffin tins, in a slow oven, to make wacky multicolored crayon patties. Or use them to add color to make-it-yourself candles. Or whatever. No, thank you - really! - been there, done that!
xo, Linda
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Who am I? Where am I going?
Compasses
Doesn't everyone have three compasses in the same drawer that they keep pens and pencils?
Well, since I now know that the only correct direction to go is "the way of less," I've given away two of them. I have to keep one, though, to help me remember not to get lost in my stuff!
xo, LD
Doesn't everyone have three compasses in the same drawer that they keep pens and pencils?
Well, since I now know that the only correct direction to go is "the way of less," I've given away two of them. I have to keep one, though, to help me remember not to get lost in my stuff!
xo, LD
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Two Skeins Less
Yarn
Baa, baa, black sheep, yep, I do have wool, even though I don't knit. Back in their elementary school years, seems like the boys always had a need for bits of yarn, ribbon, and string. Not so often, any more. So, into the wonderful, bottomless High School Yard Sale Box go two barely-used skeins of yarn - one, a kind of denim color, and another, black with Halloween-like metallic threads. I hope someone will be happy to discover them, perhaps for their own grade-schoolers' crafts.
xo, LD
Baa, baa, black sheep, yep, I do have wool, even though I don't knit. Back in their elementary school years, seems like the boys always had a need for bits of yarn, ribbon, and string. Not so often, any more. So, into the wonderful, bottomless High School Yard Sale Box go two barely-used skeins of yarn - one, a kind of denim color, and another, black with Halloween-like metallic threads. I hope someone will be happy to discover them, perhaps for their own grade-schoolers' crafts.
xo, LD
Monday, October 6, 2008
Rain-postponed yard sale = more decluttering opportunities for moi
Wednesday - Monday
Scrapbooking albums, decorative flower pot, never-opened model paints, birthday party balloons, random picture frames, CD/Cassette player
Five more days of schtuff for the big box o' high school yard sale items!
Wednesday: A pair of decade-old scrapbooking albums that never did receive any attention at all. I'm tired of being nagged at by these unused acid-free fiends. (What evil mind invented scrapbooking, and why? The same one who introduced the concepts of "some day," and "You really should immortalize all you love, while proving how clever you are!" ?!)
Thursday: Are the flower pots reproducing down there in the basement? Because I don't remember buying this, or receiving it, and I don't really like it. But I'm sure it must be pretty to someone - especially, for the right price!
Friday: Somebody in our house must have bought these paints, for some project, at some point in time (I'm guessing, of course, that it was me!). The moment has passed, I fear. They remain unopened, untouched, and still fresh - perfect for someone else to use!
Saturday: Busted! A packet of "Happy 1st Birthday" balloons, laying (lying?) limply, uninflated but still flexible. . . ready for helium or hot air, in celebration of another infant, or - with scrawled-on additional digits, any other -1- age combo. Nobody here will be involved with any form of "1" birthday for at least two more years. . . so fly away!
Sunday: So many empty picture frames (sigh!). I'll release them back into the wild. The wild world of yard sales, that is.
And a bonus!
Monday: I was chatting the other day with a young mom who's about to take on teaching a music class to small children, and she was wishing she had a cassette player. Ha! Your wish is my command! 'Cause just last week, I was looking at a stray player hanging around in our basement, thinking, "This has got to get out of here. I wonder if anybody I know can use it?" Love it! Hugs all around!
xo, LD
Scrapbooking albums, decorative flower pot, never-opened model paints, birthday party balloons, random picture frames, CD/Cassette player
Five more days of schtuff for the big box o' high school yard sale items!
Wednesday: A pair of decade-old scrapbooking albums that never did receive any attention at all. I'm tired of being nagged at by these unused acid-free fiends. (What evil mind invented scrapbooking, and why? The same one who introduced the concepts of "some day," and "You really should immortalize all you love, while proving how clever you are!" ?!)
Thursday: Are the flower pots reproducing down there in the basement? Because I don't remember buying this, or receiving it, and I don't really like it. But I'm sure it must be pretty to someone - especially, for the right price!
Friday: Somebody in our house must have bought these paints, for some project, at some point in time (I'm guessing, of course, that it was me!). The moment has passed, I fear. They remain unopened, untouched, and still fresh - perfect for someone else to use!
Saturday: Busted! A packet of "Happy 1st Birthday" balloons, laying (lying?) limply, uninflated but still flexible. . . ready for helium or hot air, in celebration of another infant, or - with scrawled-on additional digits, any other -1- age combo. Nobody here will be involved with any form of "1" birthday for at least two more years. . . so fly away!
Sunday: So many empty picture frames (sigh!). I'll release them back into the wild. The wild world of yard sales, that is.
And a bonus!
Monday: I was chatting the other day with a young mom who's about to take on teaching a music class to small children, and she was wishing she had a cassette player. Ha! Your wish is my command! 'Cause just last week, I was looking at a stray player hanging around in our basement, thinking, "This has got to get out of here. I wonder if anybody I know can use it?" Love it! Hugs all around!
xo, LD
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
You light up my life
"Crystal Snowflake" outdoor Christmas lights
You know how awesome the after-Christmas sales are, right? You can buy stuff for pennies on the dollar? Shiny stuff? In bulk?
That's what I did about ten years ago, outdoor-lights-wise. I bought ten "Crystal Snowflakes" - giant white plastic folding snowflakes wrapped in white lights, for, like, $1 apiece. I convinced myself that they'd be a wonderful addition to a breathtaking display that I would put together someday. . . someday. . . some. . .day. . .
These crystal snowflakes, for which I had such great fantasies but so little ambition, have sat, in their boxes, stacked, unopened, in our basement, for ten years.
These are going to the high school yard sale. God bless the high school yard sale!
xo, LD
You know how awesome the after-Christmas sales are, right? You can buy stuff for pennies on the dollar? Shiny stuff? In bulk?
That's what I did about ten years ago, outdoor-lights-wise. I bought ten "Crystal Snowflakes" - giant white plastic folding snowflakes wrapped in white lights, for, like, $1 apiece. I convinced myself that they'd be a wonderful addition to a breathtaking display that I would put together someday. . . someday. . . some. . .day. . .
These crystal snowflakes, for which I had such great fantasies but so little ambition, have sat, in their boxes, stacked, unopened, in our basement, for ten years.
These are going to the high school yard sale. God bless the high school yard sale!
xo, LD
Monday, September 29, 2008
High School Musi. . . I mean, Yard Sale!
Tuesday - Monday
Some of everything!
All for the high school yard sale, to benefit the yearbook - two big boxes gone, so far! These are just some of the things gone away:
Tuesday: a video player. . . they say someone will want it, and be glad to buy it, so: hooray! That's opened up a nice gap of empty storage space - now, the goal is to not fill it back up again. . . to leave that nice clean stretch of breathing room unfilled!
Wednesday: a tiny tea set, very sweet, but not so beloved that it has to be hung onto into perpetuity. Now it's (I'm) ready for some child to take it home, play with it, and make their own memories.
Thursday: Barrel Full o' Monkeys and other small games. They were lots of fun, back in the day, but they've been sitting, unused, for too long at our house. . . now someone else can enjoy them.
Friday: water dispenser thingy - will it be "just right" for someone?
Saturday: Disney coffee mug: it's shocking how difficult it is to give away "name brand" stuff. . . but, geez, it's just a mug! I'm guessing that it will sell quickly, because of the characters on it ("collectible!"), and so it will bring a little cash to the Yearbook Committee, and so: that's a good thing!
Sunday: a very pretty porcelain dish - again, hard to let go of, but it's just not right for us, and could be perfect for somebody else, so here's the opportunity to do the right thing. . . right?!
Monday: a star-shaped cake pan. . . ooh, now there's an area waiting to be edited: all those storage drawers in the kitchen. . . full of what. . . now there's a challenge!
It's turning into a fun game to walk through the house, pick up random thingies, and add them to the go-away box. I hope the yard sale is a huge success - and I hope we don't come home with more than we gave away!
xo, LD
Some of everything!
All for the high school yard sale, to benefit the yearbook - two big boxes gone, so far! These are just some of the things gone away:
Tuesday: a video player. . . they say someone will want it, and be glad to buy it, so: hooray! That's opened up a nice gap of empty storage space - now, the goal is to not fill it back up again. . . to leave that nice clean stretch of breathing room unfilled!
Wednesday: a tiny tea set, very sweet, but not so beloved that it has to be hung onto into perpetuity. Now it's (I'm) ready for some child to take it home, play with it, and make their own memories.
Thursday: Barrel Full o' Monkeys and other small games. They were lots of fun, back in the day, but they've been sitting, unused, for too long at our house. . . now someone else can enjoy them.
Friday: water dispenser thingy - will it be "just right" for someone?
Saturday: Disney coffee mug: it's shocking how difficult it is to give away "name brand" stuff. . . but, geez, it's just a mug! I'm guessing that it will sell quickly, because of the characters on it ("collectible!"), and so it will bring a little cash to the Yearbook Committee, and so: that's a good thing!
Sunday: a very pretty porcelain dish - again, hard to let go of, but it's just not right for us, and could be perfect for somebody else, so here's the opportunity to do the right thing. . . right?!
Monday: a star-shaped cake pan. . . ooh, now there's an area waiting to be edited: all those storage drawers in the kitchen. . . full of what. . . now there's a challenge!
It's turning into a fun game to walk through the house, pick up random thingies, and add them to the go-away box. I hope the yard sale is a huge success - and I hope we don't come home with more than we gave away!
xo, LD
Monday, September 22, 2008
Skirting the issue
Three skirts, one pair o' pants
Real estate in my clothes closet is limited, so today I tried on all my skirts and pants to make sure they were earning their place! Turns out not everything looks good or feels good. . . I'll offer these "not-for-me" items to a friend, and if they're not her cup of tea, either, away they will go to the charity bin - maybe they'll find their way to whomever will love them best!
xo, LD
Real estate in my clothes closet is limited, so today I tried on all my skirts and pants to make sure they were earning their place! Turns out not everything looks good or feels good. . . I'll offer these "not-for-me" items to a friend, and if they're not her cup of tea, either, away they will go to the charity bin - maybe they'll find their way to whomever will love them best!
xo, LD
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Happy Feet
A pair of pumps
I wore last year's black high heels to church today, with a swishy skirt and a pretty top, and by the end of the service, my feet were killing me! Did my feet grow over the summer? My toes were in agony!
Coincidentally (if there is such a thing!), just the other day, at church choir practice, the alto to my left and I were comparing our shoes (Yes! We took our eyes off the director to admire our footwear!), and we discovered that her feet are half a size smaller than mine. She lamented that she had recently given away a pair of slightly too-big shoes, and would have passed them along to me, instead, if she had known.
Well, today was her lucky day, shoe-wise, because when she and I were among the last ones left in the church kitchen after Coffee Hour, I slipped off my shoes and gave them to her, right then and there. "These are very pretty! Are you sure?"
Absolutely! I walked to the car barefoot and happy, my freed toes grateful - and my shoe collection edited, too. Works for me!
xo, LD
I wore last year's black high heels to church today, with a swishy skirt and a pretty top, and by the end of the service, my feet were killing me! Did my feet grow over the summer? My toes were in agony!
Coincidentally (if there is such a thing!), just the other day, at church choir practice, the alto to my left and I were comparing our shoes (Yes! We took our eyes off the director to admire our footwear!), and we discovered that her feet are half a size smaller than mine. She lamented that she had recently given away a pair of slightly too-big shoes, and would have passed them along to me, instead, if she had known.
Well, today was her lucky day, shoe-wise, because when she and I were among the last ones left in the church kitchen after Coffee Hour, I slipped off my shoes and gave them to her, right then and there. "These are very pretty! Are you sure?"
Absolutely! I walked to the car barefoot and happy, my freed toes grateful - and my shoe collection edited, too. Works for me!
xo, LD
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Summer may come, summer must go
Two plastic tumblers
With the end of summer comes, I suppose, the end of frosty, cool, tall drinks.
I guess if I have to pitch something, it may as well be a pair of insulated cups that have developed near-fatal flaws: hairline cracks on their outer walls, not affecting the glasses' ability to hold liquids, but no longer festive-looking, by a long shot, now that I'm taking time to look. And, of course, frosty, cool, tall, summer drinks, by definition, equals festive - and so these formerly perky tumblers must go. . . with summer.
xo, LD
With the end of summer comes, I suppose, the end of frosty, cool, tall drinks.
I guess if I have to pitch something, it may as well be a pair of insulated cups that have developed near-fatal flaws: hairline cracks on their outer walls, not affecting the glasses' ability to hold liquids, but no longer festive-looking, by a long shot, now that I'm taking time to look. And, of course, frosty, cool, tall, summer drinks, by definition, equals festive - and so these formerly perky tumblers must go. . . with summer.
xo, LD
Friday, September 19, 2008
Four-day foot fetish
Tuesday - Friday
Shoes and socks!
Tuesday: a quick visit to the sock drawer, and a quick toss of some sad-looking socks. As the weather begins to cool, so do my tootsies, and I know my sandal days are coming to a close. It's going to be serious shoe time any chilly day now. . . so it's a good time to take inventory.
Wednesday: I pull out all my spring and summer footwear. . . it's a riot of sandals, slip-ons, mules, slingbacks, and flip-flops! First to go, anything that's used up; it's easy to see what's looking ratty, but it's not quite as easy to toss these beat-up pairs: they're so well-loved. . . sigh, farewell!
Thursday: Goodby to spring and summer, part two: today I try on all the shoes that are left behind. Away go formerly-stylish fashion finds, away go pinchy-toe never-worns, away go a couple pair that just don't make me happy. Maybe they'll be perfect for someone else? I hope so! The ones that make the cut are adorable, sexy, playful, wonderful, and comfortable. . . I layer them in a plastic tote, toss in a lavender sachet, and bid them au revoir 'til the next warm winds whisper!
Friday: Hello, fall and winter! I haul out and examine the leathery contents of my cold-weather-shoe tote with a critical eye, and discover that some of the shoes are just so past season to me; they don't croon that siren song that marvelous shoes sing (a pitch heard only by women, I'm told), so. . . away they go! The amazing, unexpected result and big bonus! - the ones that I love all fit on my closet shoe rack, exactly!
xo, LD
Shoes and socks!
Tuesday: a quick visit to the sock drawer, and a quick toss of some sad-looking socks. As the weather begins to cool, so do my tootsies, and I know my sandal days are coming to a close. It's going to be serious shoe time any chilly day now. . . so it's a good time to take inventory.
Wednesday: I pull out all my spring and summer footwear. . . it's a riot of sandals, slip-ons, mules, slingbacks, and flip-flops! First to go, anything that's used up; it's easy to see what's looking ratty, but it's not quite as easy to toss these beat-up pairs: they're so well-loved. . . sigh, farewell!
Thursday: Goodby to spring and summer, part two: today I try on all the shoes that are left behind. Away go formerly-stylish fashion finds, away go pinchy-toe never-worns, away go a couple pair that just don't make me happy. Maybe they'll be perfect for someone else? I hope so! The ones that make the cut are adorable, sexy, playful, wonderful, and comfortable. . . I layer them in a plastic tote, toss in a lavender sachet, and bid them au revoir 'til the next warm winds whisper!
Friday: Hello, fall and winter! I haul out and examine the leathery contents of my cold-weather-shoe tote with a critical eye, and discover that some of the shoes are just so past season to me; they don't croon that siren song that marvelous shoes sing (a pitch heard only by women, I'm told), so. . . away they go! The amazing, unexpected result and big bonus! - the ones that I love all fit on my closet shoe rack, exactly!
xo, LD
Monday, September 15, 2008
"Oh, tartar sauce!"
Ancient condiments
Let's see, I tossed a gritty bottle of wan pickled ginger, from the sushi-making fad of 2006; a jar of separated tartar sauce from the boys' fish-stick days (long past); two small jars of exotic mustard with about 1/8th of an inch of mustard in each, looking evil; and a big handful of packets: soy sauce, ketchup, duck sauce. . .
My refrigerator door is emptier now, and there's a real benefit to that, because now I can see that we have hot fudge and butterscotch sauce: yay! Sundaes for everyone!
Let's see, I tossed a gritty bottle of wan pickled ginger, from the sushi-making fad of 2006; a jar of separated tartar sauce from the boys' fish-stick days (long past); two small jars of exotic mustard with about 1/8th of an inch of mustard in each, looking evil; and a big handful of packets: soy sauce, ketchup, duck sauce. . .
My refrigerator door is emptier now, and there's a real benefit to that, because now I can see that we have hot fudge and butterscotch sauce: yay! Sundaes for everyone!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sisterhood of travelling capris
Two pair of too-big pants
Somehow, wondrously, I have lost a little weight over the summer (could it be the Greek yogurt, my new favorite food?) . . . so I'm passing along suddenly-sloppy-fitting pants to bless some other body. Where will they go? What adventures will their new owners find? I hope they're comfy! (Did I remember to empty the pockets?!)
Now that the seasons are changing, it's time to go through the clothes closet. I wonder what I'll discover there? Stay tuned!
xo, LD
Somehow, wondrously, I have lost a little weight over the summer (could it be the Greek yogurt, my new favorite food?) . . . so I'm passing along suddenly-sloppy-fitting pants to bless some other body. Where will they go? What adventures will their new owners find? I hope they're comfy! (Did I remember to empty the pockets?!)
Now that the seasons are changing, it's time to go through the clothes closet. I wonder what I'll discover there? Stay tuned!
xo, LD
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Land of icy mysteries
Freezer-burnt leftovers
Hmm, I think those chunky dark things are "meat" leftovers from a cookout; the plastic bag of ice chunks is some chicken picked off a deli roaster, once upon a time; and that package of frost-glazed pink items is maybe bits of Easter ham?
I guess I need to work on my reduce/reuse/recycling plan, by staying on top of what's been saved in the freezer - and to eat it!
xo, LD
Hmm, I think those chunky dark things are "meat" leftovers from a cookout; the plastic bag of ice chunks is some chicken picked off a deli roaster, once upon a time; and that package of frost-glazed pink items is maybe bits of Easter ham?
I guess I need to work on my reduce/reuse/recycling plan, by staying on top of what's been saved in the freezer - and to eat it!
xo, LD
Friday, September 12, 2008
Tea and triangles
Old tea and the box that held it
What a surprise to discover some old, old teabags in a plastic box in the way-back of the shelf that holds all my tea. Guess it's a good thing to nose around; speaking of which, there was absolutely no aroma left in these tea leaves! Now these sad leftovers are in the compost bin, decomposing their way to new life.
And it was exciting to find recycling triangles on the box and its lid - not all my old containers have that info - so off they go, on to a new incarnation, too.
xo, LD
What a surprise to discover some old, old teabags in a plastic box in the way-back of the shelf that holds all my tea. Guess it's a good thing to nose around; speaking of which, there was absolutely no aroma left in these tea leaves! Now these sad leftovers are in the compost bin, decomposing their way to new life.
And it was exciting to find recycling triangles on the box and its lid - not all my old containers have that info - so off they go, on to a new incarnation, too.
xo, LD
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Odds and ends
Wednesday, Thursday
Another glasses pair (not pair of glasses!); corn-eating set
Wednesday: Into recycling go another two "collectible" jars, this time two iced tea glasses. What a sucker I am for anything that appears to be "value-added" - in this case, drink the tea, keep the glass. Aw, c'mon. . . we already have a set of very nice iced tea glasses. . . we don't need to drink out of jars!
Thursday: Away to a new home goes a set of plastic corn-on-the-cob-eating paraphernalia: four yellow dishes embossed to look like corn, and matching pronged holders (there must be a name for those thingies). We have another bunch of those holder-thingies, so we're covered - and I think we'll do just fine eating our corn on the cob off of a plate.
Good news! There's a little more breathing room in our kitchen cabinets!
xo, LD
Another glasses pair (not pair of glasses!); corn-eating set
Wednesday: Into recycling go another two "collectible" jars, this time two iced tea glasses. What a sucker I am for anything that appears to be "value-added" - in this case, drink the tea, keep the glass. Aw, c'mon. . . we already have a set of very nice iced tea glasses. . . we don't need to drink out of jars!
Thursday: Away to a new home goes a set of plastic corn-on-the-cob-eating paraphernalia: four yellow dishes embossed to look like corn, and matching pronged holders (there must be a name for those thingies). We have another bunch of those holder-thingies, so we're covered - and I think we'll do just fine eating our corn on the cob off of a plate.
Good news! There's a little more breathing room in our kitchen cabinets!
xo, LD
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Taking a Stand
Plant stand
I put it out on the curb, and somebody took it!
Except for the puzzling question of why I purchased a plant stand in the first place, it's a win/win situation.
xo, LD
I put it out on the curb, and somebody took it!
Except for the puzzling question of why I purchased a plant stand in the first place, it's a win/win situation.
xo, LD
Monday, September 8, 2008
Half empty or half full?
Repurposed empty jars
One jar used to hold mustard; it's a stocky, thick bottle with handles, reminiscent of a miniature barrel. I used it as a little vase for tiny bouquets. A pair of jars from cockail sauce were just right as juice glasses for toddler hands, or vases that fit well on the narrow window sill above the kitchen sink. But, guess what? We already have tiny vases; we already have juice glasses. . . and they're better-looking, too! Let's use and enjoy the good stuff, and let the other stuff go. Off go these jars to the recycling bin. Positive move!
xo, LD
One jar used to hold mustard; it's a stocky, thick bottle with handles, reminiscent of a miniature barrel. I used it as a little vase for tiny bouquets. A pair of jars from cockail sauce were just right as juice glasses for toddler hands, or vases that fit well on the narrow window sill above the kitchen sink. But, guess what? We already have tiny vases; we already have juice glasses. . . and they're better-looking, too! Let's use and enjoy the good stuff, and let the other stuff go. Off go these jars to the recycling bin. Positive move!
xo, LD
Sunday, September 7, 2008
50 Pieces of the USA
Wooden map puzzle
A great big puzzle of the United States, all fifty of 'em, well-made of clear wood, and hand-painted, gone from dark storage in our basement to the playroom sunshine of a new home! It's a pleasure to pass along high-quality stuff to appreciative receivers - maybe a true heirloom is one that doesn't stay put (unused), but moves along from owner to owner, used well along the way. Could it be that inanimate objects are grateful to be well-used? Does it, in fact, animate them?
xo, LD
A great big puzzle of the United States, all fifty of 'em, well-made of clear wood, and hand-painted, gone from dark storage in our basement to the playroom sunshine of a new home! It's a pleasure to pass along high-quality stuff to appreciative receivers - maybe a true heirloom is one that doesn't stay put (unused), but moves along from owner to owner, used well along the way. Could it be that inanimate objects are grateful to be well-used? Does it, in fact, animate them?
xo, LD
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Hello, Doily!
Paper doilies
These are from that deep, dark dungeon: the Placemat Drawer! I'm starting to wonder about myself - why why why did I buy buy buy umpteen packages of assorted paper doilies, once upon a time?
I remember thinking that some would be used to make Valentines, and they were, a loooooong time ago, when my boys were little (they seemed to especially appreciate the geometry of the intricate designs). Some would be used for: what?! If I ever opened up a tearoom? (Disclaimer: I actually did have a teaparty for my birthday this year, and I did use, like, three doilies. Three, out of, oh, I don't know, a hundred? Two hundred?)
Bye, doilies! Okay, I'll keep maybe a dozen, and the rest are going to church, where they'll get used up during Coffee Hour hospitality. Nothing says "tasty and sophisticated" like paper doilies lining a plate o' doughnuts, lol!
xo, LD
These are from that deep, dark dungeon: the Placemat Drawer! I'm starting to wonder about myself - why why why did I buy buy buy umpteen packages of assorted paper doilies, once upon a time?
I remember thinking that some would be used to make Valentines, and they were, a loooooong time ago, when my boys were little (they seemed to especially appreciate the geometry of the intricate designs). Some would be used for: what?! If I ever opened up a tearoom? (Disclaimer: I actually did have a teaparty for my birthday this year, and I did use, like, three doilies. Three, out of, oh, I don't know, a hundred? Two hundred?)
Bye, doilies! Okay, I'll keep maybe a dozen, and the rest are going to church, where they'll get used up during Coffee Hour hospitality. Nothing says "tasty and sophisticated" like paper doilies lining a plate o' doughnuts, lol!
xo, LD
Friday, September 5, 2008
They Already Know Their ABCs
Educational Placemats
In my never-ending quest for clutterlessness, I find myself in the oddest places. Today, that meant the next-to-bottom drawer in a built-in cupboard behind a closed door in our dining room. That's the Placemat Drawer. And it's stuffed, just jammed with - among other things - 24 placemats: a pretty pair for every month (they're a practical decoration for the table in our kitchen) (yes, they are!).
Also, there are a stack of educational placemats, left over from dinner-table-time learning, when the kids were little. I guess since the boys (young men, now) know their states 'n' capitols, ABCs in cursive; addition, multiplication, and division tables; have an idea of who was president when, and have a basic Spanish vocabulary, it's time for these placemats to march on to a new home. (Bonus mats include the instruments of the orchestra and the periodic table of elements.)
Plus, embarrassingly, while these mats slept in that dark drawer, the world map mats and solar system placemats have gone obsolete! Entire countries have been renamed several times, and poor Pluto has been kicked off the planet chart, rendering those mats good for nowhere except under the dog's food and water bowls! (That's a good place for Pluto, anyhow!)
Enough dishing for today!
xo, LD
In my never-ending quest for clutterlessness, I find myself in the oddest places. Today, that meant the next-to-bottom drawer in a built-in cupboard behind a closed door in our dining room. That's the Placemat Drawer. And it's stuffed, just jammed with - among other things - 24 placemats: a pretty pair for every month (they're a practical decoration for the table in our kitchen) (yes, they are!).
Also, there are a stack of educational placemats, left over from dinner-table-time learning, when the kids were little. I guess since the boys (young men, now) know their states 'n' capitols, ABCs in cursive; addition, multiplication, and division tables; have an idea of who was president when, and have a basic Spanish vocabulary, it's time for these placemats to march on to a new home. (Bonus mats include the instruments of the orchestra and the periodic table of elements.)
Plus, embarrassingly, while these mats slept in that dark drawer, the world map mats and solar system placemats have gone obsolete! Entire countries have been renamed several times, and poor Pluto has been kicked off the planet chart, rendering those mats good for nowhere except under the dog's food and water bowls! (That's a good place for Pluto, anyhow!)
Enough dishing for today!
xo, LD
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Fever Pitch
Saturday - Thursday. . . I'm sick. . .
Panty drawer, magazines, books, more books, refrigerator, and pantry purges!
Saturday: Not feeling too perky today, but I have energy enough for tossing panties! (Not all of them, silly! Just the ones that deserve to go away.)
Sunday: Oh, dear, I'm sick. Got some flu thing, ugh. Today, I will take it easy. Plus, who would want to be near me? I'm sequestered/quarantined, so the best I can do, declutter-wise, is languidly flip through a stack of magazines (they just keep accumulating!), and (later, when I'm feeling more mobile), stuff them into the recycling bin. Could be worse!
Monday: Well, now I have a higher fever and my ears hurt and my sinuses are killing me and blah blah blah. . . I'm a slugabed, drowsing and aching, and I finally have the time to read several random books that I "always meant to get around to" and, then, away they go to the give-away bag. . . makes for a very weird Labor Day weekend.
Tuesday: and I do the same today, more books and recuperating. . . after trying to accomplish undone stuff, which results in me feeling so wiped out. I am lucky to have the time to space out (and make more space, even if it's just in the bookcase)!
Wednesday: Hooray! I'm getting better, but I'm not particularly ambitious. So I put my head in the fridge (so refreshing!) and pull out old jam jars. Some of them, I'm not even sure what flavor they are - were - (no labels - what's up with that?!, an aroma that is sort of sharp-smelling, and a color that is not tasty-looking) - yuk! Some things are easy to toss!
Thursday: Upright, almost clear-headed, and full of ambition, I give the pantry a semi-thorough going-through. Who knew we had so many packets of unsweetened Kool-Aid? And. . . why? It feels good to have a neat pantry with no mysteries.
Goodbye to the flu, goodbye to more stuff!
xo, LD
Panty drawer, magazines, books, more books, refrigerator, and pantry purges!
Saturday: Not feeling too perky today, but I have energy enough for tossing panties! (Not all of them, silly! Just the ones that deserve to go away.)
Sunday: Oh, dear, I'm sick. Got some flu thing, ugh. Today, I will take it easy. Plus, who would want to be near me? I'm sequestered/quarantined, so the best I can do, declutter-wise, is languidly flip through a stack of magazines (they just keep accumulating!), and (later, when I'm feeling more mobile), stuff them into the recycling bin. Could be worse!
Monday: Well, now I have a higher fever and my ears hurt and my sinuses are killing me and blah blah blah. . . I'm a slugabed, drowsing and aching, and I finally have the time to read several random books that I "always meant to get around to" and, then, away they go to the give-away bag. . . makes for a very weird Labor Day weekend.
Tuesday: and I do the same today, more books and recuperating. . . after trying to accomplish undone stuff, which results in me feeling so wiped out. I am lucky to have the time to space out (and make more space, even if it's just in the bookcase)!
Wednesday: Hooray! I'm getting better, but I'm not particularly ambitious. So I put my head in the fridge (so refreshing!) and pull out old jam jars. Some of them, I'm not even sure what flavor they are - were - (no labels - what's up with that?!, an aroma that is sort of sharp-smelling, and a color that is not tasty-looking) - yuk! Some things are easy to toss!
Thursday: Upright, almost clear-headed, and full of ambition, I give the pantry a semi-thorough going-through. Who knew we had so many packets of unsweetened Kool-Aid? And. . . why? It feels good to have a neat pantry with no mysteries.
Goodbye to the flu, goodbye to more stuff!
xo, LD
Friday, August 29, 2008
What Red Hatters Wear Before They're 50
A pink hat
Oh, you probably already knew this - but I didn't, until I was invited to participate: if you are a) a woman and b) between 45 and 49 years old, you can c) go along as a guest on Red Hat expeditions! But: you must wear a pink hat and lavender clothing, the Junior Miss version of a red hat and purple clothing.
And so, pink on top and lavender elsewhere, I got to go to the Boston Flower Show and a catered luncheon with a bunch of wild, juicy, lovely "older" women. It was fun!
Well, next April will bring my 50th birthday, and even though it's months away still, I'm saying buh-bye now to my pink hat. BUT I'm not rushing out to buy purple togs/red chapeau - not yet!
(It wasn't a particularly cute hat, so no great loss. Maybe it'll look sweet on somebody else, a pre-Red Hatter or someone who is more of a Hat Person in general. . .)
xo, LD
Oh, you probably already knew this - but I didn't, until I was invited to participate: if you are a) a woman and b) between 45 and 49 years old, you can c) go along as a guest on Red Hat expeditions! But: you must wear a pink hat and lavender clothing, the Junior Miss version of a red hat and purple clothing.
And so, pink on top and lavender elsewhere, I got to go to the Boston Flower Show and a catered luncheon with a bunch of wild, juicy, lovely "older" women. It was fun!
Well, next April will bring my 50th birthday, and even though it's months away still, I'm saying buh-bye now to my pink hat. BUT I'm not rushing out to buy purple togs/red chapeau - not yet!
(It wasn't a particularly cute hat, so no great loss. Maybe it'll look sweet on somebody else, a pre-Red Hatter or someone who is more of a Hat Person in general. . .)
xo, LD
Thursday, August 28, 2008
This Little Light of Mine
An oil lamp, minus the oil
I bought this glass lamp, with its pressed design and hurricane top (surely there's a technical term for that piece), prior to hurricane season shortly after we bought our house. The lamp and its giant economy-sized bottle of oil have been waiting, waiting, waiting, in our basement, ready to shine bravely in the darkness, for almost twenty years. We used it, I think, maybe once? Probably just to make sure that it actually worked. . .?
The oil (paraffin? kerosene? creepy stuff) finally went on a one-way trip last Hazardous Waste Day, and now. . . adieu to the lamp!
(We've got plenty of batteries, and even though we gave up our Halloween flashlights, there are more than enough flashlights remaining - without holiday motifs - for our next blackout!) (And do we have emergency candles? Oh, boy, we do, indeed! That'll be a post for another day!)
We're beginning to see the light!
xo, LD
I bought this glass lamp, with its pressed design and hurricane top (surely there's a technical term for that piece), prior to hurricane season shortly after we bought our house. The lamp and its giant economy-sized bottle of oil have been waiting, waiting, waiting, in our basement, ready to shine bravely in the darkness, for almost twenty years. We used it, I think, maybe once? Probably just to make sure that it actually worked. . .?
The oil (paraffin? kerosene? creepy stuff) finally went on a one-way trip last Hazardous Waste Day, and now. . . adieu to the lamp!
(We've got plenty of batteries, and even though we gave up our Halloween flashlights, there are more than enough flashlights remaining - without holiday motifs - for our next blackout!) (And do we have emergency candles? Oh, boy, we do, indeed! That'll be a post for another day!)
We're beginning to see the light!
xo, LD
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Hello, handbag. . . goodbye!
More purses/pocketbooks/handbags/totes
Continuing on the theme of "I only have two arms," I'm still editing my purse collection. . . ooh, the pain! But I've managed to tear away another two totes, a tiny handbag, and two pocketbooks! I hope their next owners will truly love them, and get a lot of use from them!
Ahhhhh! (One "h" for each purse less!) A little more clutter weight off my shoulders. . . literally!
xo, LD
Continuing on the theme of "I only have two arms," I'm still editing my purse collection. . . ooh, the pain! But I've managed to tear away another two totes, a tiny handbag, and two pocketbooks! I hope their next owners will truly love them, and get a lot of use from them!
Ahhhhh! (One "h" for each purse less!) A little more clutter weight off my shoulders. . . literally!
xo, LD
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Bye, bye, bag!
A faux Vera B. quilted bag
Pretty is as pretty does, but this pretender bag has been sent away to grace someone else's shoulder. Because. . . I only have two arms. I just don't need a bazillion bags. (Say I, bravely!)
xo, LD
Pretty is as pretty does, but this pretender bag has been sent away to grace someone else's shoulder. Because. . . I only have two arms. I just don't need a bazillion bags. (Say I, bravely!)
xo, LD
Monday, August 25, 2008
Candles in the Wind
A couple of pillar candles
A big blue one, and a stately white one. . . careful analysis shows that I already own enough candles to light Miss Haversham's wedding day for the next umpteen years. These ones can go light up somebody's else life.
xo, LD
A big blue one, and a stately white one. . . careful analysis shows that I already own enough candles to light Miss Haversham's wedding day for the next umpteen years. These ones can go light up somebody's else life.
xo, LD
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Aw, nuts.
Ancient Nutella
I meant to eat it, but there it sat, opened but mostly untouched, on a pantry shelf next to a revolving assortment of peanuts, almonds, and cashews. I liked having it on the shelf, because it reminded me of my time - a long time ago now - in Italy. But: I also never really acknowledged that I never really liked the taste of it. So there it sat, taunting me almost daily ("Don't be wasteful!"). . . for maybe a year? Time to acknowledge that I don't need it as a souvenir: I have other wonderful memories of Italy, tangible and intangible, and I definitely don't need any backtalk from my foodstuff. . . so there!. . . so long!
xo, LD
I meant to eat it, but there it sat, opened but mostly untouched, on a pantry shelf next to a revolving assortment of peanuts, almonds, and cashews. I liked having it on the shelf, because it reminded me of my time - a long time ago now - in Italy. But: I also never really acknowledged that I never really liked the taste of it. So there it sat, taunting me almost daily ("Don't be wasteful!"). . . for maybe a year? Time to acknowledge that I don't need it as a souvenir: I have other wonderful memories of Italy, tangible and intangible, and I definitely don't need any backtalk from my foodstuff. . . so there!. . . so long!
xo, LD
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Paper Chase
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Paper from conferences, old writing, and ephemera
Thursday: Workshops and conferences sure use up a lot of paper. I wonder if that will change as we inch towards using less of it? I am very glad to recycle a binful of folders, outlines, timetables, presenters' CVs, announcements, advertisements, etc., etc.
Friday: Happily for me and my decluttering, it turns out that a lot of my writing is (gasp) not worth saving. . . I'm really glad that Amesbury has unlimited paper recycling, because I just filled another bin!
Saturday: What an elegant and kind word, ephemera: it makes the most random pieces of paper trash sound like something special. And I suppose most of these bits and pieces are sort of special, since they seemed important enough to me to collect, hang on to, and move around. But, you know, the Internet is a pretty great filing cabinet. Most of the stuff I may need to refer to one day can be found just by searching online - and it will be up-to-date, too, which is more than I can say for all these stale scraps.
xo, LD
Paper from conferences, old writing, and ephemera
Thursday: Workshops and conferences sure use up a lot of paper. I wonder if that will change as we inch towards using less of it? I am very glad to recycle a binful of folders, outlines, timetables, presenters' CVs, announcements, advertisements, etc., etc.
Friday: Happily for me and my decluttering, it turns out that a lot of my writing is (gasp) not worth saving. . . I'm really glad that Amesbury has unlimited paper recycling, because I just filled another bin!
Saturday: What an elegant and kind word, ephemera: it makes the most random pieces of paper trash sound like something special. And I suppose most of these bits and pieces are sort of special, since they seemed important enough to me to collect, hang on to, and move around. But, you know, the Internet is a pretty great filing cabinet. Most of the stuff I may need to refer to one day can be found just by searching online - and it will be up-to-date, too, which is more than I can say for all these stale scraps.
xo, LD
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Just keep tossing!
(Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
Halloween flashlights, a dog bed, random baskets, old sheets and towels
Sunday: Into the giveaway box go two Halloween-theme flashlights! We have more than enough flashlights for our family of four, and these two will never be missed. Maybe they'll tickle the fancy of their new owners, and keep some tiny trick-or-treaters safe this Halloween!
Monday: Our little dog loves to snuggle into tight spaces, so I thought she'd love this little dog bed, with its sherpa lining and a little cozy roof, but she hates it. So why have I hung onto it? Maybe she'll change her mind one day? I think we'll just let her continue to make her own nest on the couch with pillows and throws. . . those are easier to clean, anyway.
Tuesday: A-tisket, a-tasket, too many freakin' baskets! I'm being brave and giving some away. No looking back!
Wednesday: A random tired old sheetset and a couple of worn out towels are just fine for our vet to use as post-surgery rags (and we already have more than enough rags in our basement stash). That's pretty cool, to be able to reuse these items!
xo, LD
Halloween flashlights, a dog bed, random baskets, old sheets and towels
Sunday: Into the giveaway box go two Halloween-theme flashlights! We have more than enough flashlights for our family of four, and these two will never be missed. Maybe they'll tickle the fancy of their new owners, and keep some tiny trick-or-treaters safe this Halloween!
Monday: Our little dog loves to snuggle into tight spaces, so I thought she'd love this little dog bed, with its sherpa lining and a little cozy roof, but she hates it. So why have I hung onto it? Maybe she'll change her mind one day? I think we'll just let her continue to make her own nest on the couch with pillows and throws. . . those are easier to clean, anyway.
Tuesday: A-tisket, a-tasket, too many freakin' baskets! I'm being brave and giving some away. No looking back!
Wednesday: A random tired old sheetset and a couple of worn out towels are just fine for our vet to use as post-surgery rags (and we already have more than enough rags in our basement stash). That's pretty cool, to be able to reuse these items!
xo, LD
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Lots of things every day! Yay!
(Sunday - Saturday!)
Canvas bags, plastic bags, old jellybeans, dog toys, an out-of-date planner, girly gifts, and a bin of math toys, oh my!
Sunday: Oh, how I love totes! But, really (sing it with me): how many do I really need? I bit the bullet and threw out two that were ickily stained from grocery trips with leaky meat packages - yuk, and set aside three to use as giveaway totes to fill with donated books at my next library visit. I'm working on this addiction. . . stay tuned!
Monday: Now that I've been using reusable bags for many of my shopping trips, my stash of plastic bags has dwindled nicely. . . but still, several dozen is way too many to be hanging onto, even for reuse as trashcan liners, etc. A bunch stuffed into one, tied tight, and deposited in the recycling bin at the grocery store: win!
Tuesday: Nobody ate them. It got hot. They melted into an attractive art installation. I threw them away! (Nope, I didn't even save them for some obscure baking project. They're gone!)
Wednesday: Our doggie used to love tennis balls, but these days she seems to prefer squeaky, chewy items. So - I tossed a handful of dead tennis balls, no good even for the most lackluster tennis player, and of no interest to our dog. That was easy!
Thursday: You'd think that this toss would be a no-brainer, but there I was, trying to come up with a good, practical use for an outdated planner. Oh, brother, I'm sure there must be an excellent one, but I'm going to save room in my brain for bigger ideas. Go, me!
Friday: As the mom and aunt of boys, I'm not sure why I ever purchased glow-in-the-dark glitter retro stickers and a pair of bubblegum-flavored lipglosses (lipglossi?). . . these are now living a happy life as a surprise gift for an actual, here-and-now little girl. There, that felt good!
Saturday: A big bin full of manipulatives and toys for little hands to play with while learning important mathematical concepts. . . sounds boring, but actually, this bin is chockfull of cute multicolored plastic cats and bears (to learn counting and sorting), tangram pieces, a dozen dice, and other appealing bits and pieces. This bin is off to a new home and a new life with a fresh batch of young learners; I'm kind of proud to be the provider!
xo, LD
Canvas bags, plastic bags, old jellybeans, dog toys, an out-of-date planner, girly gifts, and a bin of math toys, oh my!
Sunday: Oh, how I love totes! But, really (sing it with me): how many do I really need? I bit the bullet and threw out two that were ickily stained from grocery trips with leaky meat packages - yuk, and set aside three to use as giveaway totes to fill with donated books at my next library visit. I'm working on this addiction. . . stay tuned!
Monday: Now that I've been using reusable bags for many of my shopping trips, my stash of plastic bags has dwindled nicely. . . but still, several dozen is way too many to be hanging onto, even for reuse as trashcan liners, etc. A bunch stuffed into one, tied tight, and deposited in the recycling bin at the grocery store: win!
Tuesday: Nobody ate them. It got hot. They melted into an attractive art installation. I threw them away! (Nope, I didn't even save them for some obscure baking project. They're gone!)
Wednesday: Our doggie used to love tennis balls, but these days she seems to prefer squeaky, chewy items. So - I tossed a handful of dead tennis balls, no good even for the most lackluster tennis player, and of no interest to our dog. That was easy!
Thursday: You'd think that this toss would be a no-brainer, but there I was, trying to come up with a good, practical use for an outdated planner. Oh, brother, I'm sure there must be an excellent one, but I'm going to save room in my brain for bigger ideas. Go, me!
Friday: As the mom and aunt of boys, I'm not sure why I ever purchased glow-in-the-dark glitter retro stickers and a pair of bubblegum-flavored lipglosses (lipglossi?). . . these are now living a happy life as a surprise gift for an actual, here-and-now little girl. There, that felt good!
Saturday: A big bin full of manipulatives and toys for little hands to play with while learning important mathematical concepts. . . sounds boring, but actually, this bin is chockfull of cute multicolored plastic cats and bears (to learn counting and sorting), tangram pieces, a dozen dice, and other appealing bits and pieces. This bin is off to a new home and a new life with a fresh batch of young learners; I'm kind of proud to be the provider!
xo, LD
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Wooden it be nice to have no clutter?
Wooden paintable thingies that I never did paint.
Off to the resale shop went a boxful of wooden objets that I guess I had planned to sand, prime, sand, paint, and decorate someday. . . a couple of trays, some heart-shaped plaques (plagues!), etc., etc. I guess I need to learn to think things through, before I put something in my shopping cart (especially in a crafts store), so I don't have to think it later: "What in the world was I thinking?!" P.S. Bonus points! I included the paints, also never used, in my giveaway box!
xo, LD
Off to the resale shop went a boxful of wooden objets that I guess I had planned to sand, prime, sand, paint, and decorate someday. . . a couple of trays, some heart-shaped plaques (plagues!), etc., etc. I guess I need to learn to think things through, before I put something in my shopping cart (especially in a crafts store), so I don't have to think it later: "What in the world was I thinking?!" P.S. Bonus points! I included the paints, also never used, in my giveaway box!
xo, LD
Friday, August 8, 2008
It's a blast - my week all at once!
(Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, AND Friday!)
Candles, a beer pitcher, cutesy notepads, another batch of books, rags, and old soap!
Sunday: Tapers with a lean - not a pretty sight in any candlestick. And not worth saving to make homemade candles. . . been there, done that, and ready to move on!
Monday: Hmm, a relic from college days? Since we already have a lovely metal water pitcher, a beautiful glass Sangria pitcher, a cute glass dispenser for sun tea, and a porcelain milk jug. . . I think we can serve beer from their bottles straight into fancy frosted pub glassware (which we also have!). Cheers!
Tuesday: One word: goodbye! No need to be held hostage by notepads. . . really!
Wednesday: I'm so grateful to our public library for maintaining a fabulous re-sale shop: I've purchased some wonderful books for so little money, that I'm happy to keep that cycle going with donations from our house (some of which are books that I bought from the library shop: closing the circle!).
Thursday: There will always be worn-out clothing to convert into rags. . . no need to keep a mountain of them, especially when they so enticing to the mice who invade our basement seasonally.
Friday: Who among us hasn't dreamt of captaining a cottage industry centered on homemade soap? What, not you?! Then you won't be shocked, as I was, by how I simply threw away the scraps of old soap that were supposed to be turned into chic new bars. How about that!
xo, LD
Candles, a beer pitcher, cutesy notepads, another batch of books, rags, and old soap!
Sunday: Tapers with a lean - not a pretty sight in any candlestick. And not worth saving to make homemade candles. . . been there, done that, and ready to move on!
Monday: Hmm, a relic from college days? Since we already have a lovely metal water pitcher, a beautiful glass Sangria pitcher, a cute glass dispenser for sun tea, and a porcelain milk jug. . . I think we can serve beer from their bottles straight into fancy frosted pub glassware (which we also have!). Cheers!
Tuesday: One word: goodbye! No need to be held hostage by notepads. . . really!
Wednesday: I'm so grateful to our public library for maintaining a fabulous re-sale shop: I've purchased some wonderful books for so little money, that I'm happy to keep that cycle going with donations from our house (some of which are books that I bought from the library shop: closing the circle!).
Thursday: There will always be worn-out clothing to convert into rags. . . no need to keep a mountain of them, especially when they so enticing to the mice who invade our basement seasonally.
Friday: Who among us hasn't dreamt of captaining a cottage industry centered on homemade soap? What, not you?! Then you won't be shocked, as I was, by how I simply threw away the scraps of old soap that were supposed to be turned into chic new bars. How about that!
xo, LD
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Major Dome-o
Domed cheese plate.
Why did I think that I would use a domed cheese plate? Why? Why? If I'm going to serve cheese, I'll just put it on a plate or platter, and surround it with crackers, and call it a day. No dome needed. No special plate for the special dome needed. No fuss. . . no clutter! As Thoreau said, "Simplify. . . simplify!"
xo, LD
Why did I think that I would use a domed cheese plate? Why? Why? If I'm going to serve cheese, I'll just put it on a plate or platter, and surround it with crackers, and call it a day. No dome needed. No special plate for the special dome needed. No fuss. . . no clutter! As Thoreau said, "Simplify. . . simplify!"
xo, LD
Friday, August 1, 2008
So Long, Harmonica
One (1) harmonica
I remember buying this harmonica, almost. It was, like, 35 years ago. It cost, like, $4. It's actually quite beautiful and maybe even collectible, but - okay, I've had at least 35 years to learn how to play the thing, and have I ever done anything but make that horrible "hee haw, hee haw" sound with it? No? No. Case closed! Get out of my life!
xo, LD
I remember buying this harmonica, almost. It was, like, 35 years ago. It cost, like, $4. It's actually quite beautiful and maybe even collectible, but - okay, I've had at least 35 years to learn how to play the thing, and have I ever done anything but make that horrible "hee haw, hee haw" sound with it? No? No. Case closed! Get out of my life!
xo, LD
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Three Gates!
Baby gates, three of 'em!
Because we don't have toddlers anymore, and grandbabies are far in the future (one hopes), it makes sense to pass these along to those who do - have little ones, that is. So, off they went, to a new grandmother who can't wait for the day when her wee grandson comes to her house and just tries to go somewhere he oughtn't!
I wonder, when the day comes that we need baby gates, if someone will give us some? :)
xo, LD
Because we don't have toddlers anymore, and grandbabies are far in the future (one hopes), it makes sense to pass these along to those who do - have little ones, that is. So, off they went, to a new grandmother who can't wait for the day when her wee grandson comes to her house and just tries to go somewhere he oughtn't!
I wonder, when the day comes that we need baby gates, if someone will give us some? :)
xo, LD
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Trash day, take two, for this pair
Speakers
Not mine, not ours - this pair of speakers arrived at our home one trash day, under the arms of my son. Turns out these were not such a great find, but instead of going back out into the trash, the speakers lived a furtive life hiding out in our basement for about a year.
Routed out, reexamined and found wanting, they are back out on the street. . . and if nobody grabbed them for a third chance before the truck came, off they went to the landfill. . .
It's tempting to bring stuff home from the curb. We've found some great things, and it's a pleasure to keep useable items out of the landfill. But not all found things are good finds. Time to say oops and let them go!
xo, LD
Not mine, not ours - this pair of speakers arrived at our home one trash day, under the arms of my son. Turns out these were not such a great find, but instead of going back out into the trash, the speakers lived a furtive life hiding out in our basement for about a year.
Routed out, reexamined and found wanting, they are back out on the street. . . and if nobody grabbed them for a third chance before the truck came, off they went to the landfill. . .
It's tempting to bring stuff home from the curb. We've found some great things, and it's a pleasure to keep useable items out of the landfill. But not all found things are good finds. Time to say oops and let them go!
xo, LD
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
More from the Basement
(Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, too!)
Percussion, notebook paper, bouncy balls
Sunday: Off to a new home go a pair of cymbals, a little drum and its sticks, a rainstick sort of thingy, and a pan flute! Well, that's more than one thing, but we'll just call it "percussion" and send it on its noisy way!
Monday: You'd think a thesis was being written in longhand by the amount of lined paper in our basement cache. Forget about it! The rumpled pages are now in the recycling bin, and the bulk of the useable pages are sent to their new home, also. Keep that stuff circulating! Reduce, reuse, recycle!
Tuesday: The kids were bouncy ball freaks when they were little, and it's remarkable how quickly they (the balls, not the kids) reproduce. I put all the balls that would fit into an empty plastic jar (from my stash, yes - double points! It's the jar that looks like a teddy bear; it held animal crackers, once upon a time). I counted all the balls, wrote the number on the inside of the jar lid, and will donate this as a "guess-and-win" prize at the church bazaar later this year. So, the balls are still here, but they're contained (cutely) and they're on their way out. Guess how many bouncy balls? (121!)
One thing at a time!
xo, LD
Percussion, notebook paper, bouncy balls
Sunday: Off to a new home go a pair of cymbals, a little drum and its sticks, a rainstick sort of thingy, and a pan flute! Well, that's more than one thing, but we'll just call it "percussion" and send it on its noisy way!
Monday: You'd think a thesis was being written in longhand by the amount of lined paper in our basement cache. Forget about it! The rumpled pages are now in the recycling bin, and the bulk of the useable pages are sent to their new home, also. Keep that stuff circulating! Reduce, reuse, recycle!
Tuesday: The kids were bouncy ball freaks when they were little, and it's remarkable how quickly they (the balls, not the kids) reproduce. I put all the balls that would fit into an empty plastic jar (from my stash, yes - double points! It's the jar that looks like a teddy bear; it held animal crackers, once upon a time). I counted all the balls, wrote the number on the inside of the jar lid, and will donate this as a "guess-and-win" prize at the church bazaar later this year. So, the balls are still here, but they're contained (cutely) and they're on their way out. Guess how many bouncy balls? (121!)
One thing at a time!
xo, LD
Saturday, July 26, 2008
The box the mice got into
Storage box overrun by a mouse family.
And that sure turned out to be an easy thing to toss. Sadly, the storage container was purchased and filled and stored in the basement with the idea that the stuff within would be preserved.
Nope. Some mice got in, somehow, and chewed and nested and left the place a dump. So, off to the trash that all goes. Sigh. At least it was an easy decision.
How are you doing?
xo, LD
And that sure turned out to be an easy thing to toss. Sadly, the storage container was purchased and filled and stored in the basement with the idea that the stuff within would be preserved.
Nope. Some mice got in, somehow, and chewed and nested and left the place a dump. So, off to the trash that all goes. Sigh. At least it was an easy decision.
How are you doing?
xo, LD
Friday, July 25, 2008
Catching up on tossing out - and sharing!
(For Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, too!)
Candied citron, Easter candy, and groceries for foodbank
Wednesday: out from the cupboard goes a tub of candied citron (those little technicolor chunks that you find in fruitcake). I'm never going to use them. No one wants to eat them. Everyone in my family goes, "Huh? Those are food?" when they see them. All right, all right - I was thinking I would bake them into a festive biscotti - I have a recipe! - but I get the message. . . citron down the disposal, container into recycling, and a vow to make brownie biscotti instead. LOL!
Thursday: goodbye, leftover Easter candy. Yes, we have uneaten candy in our house! I imagine by now all the chocolates are grey and molten inside their shiny pastel wrappers. So long, little chocolate eggs and packets of jelly beans! This year, be glad that there's no compulsion to eat stale candy. Next year - buy less!
Friday: just saw a forwarded email from the local foodbank - they can't keep their shelves stocked with pantry basics, there are so many hungry families coming in to receive donations. Well, we have plenty, and then some, and there's more where that came from. Because we're blessed - our surfeit goes there today.
xo, LD
Candied citron, Easter candy, and groceries for foodbank
Wednesday: out from the cupboard goes a tub of candied citron (those little technicolor chunks that you find in fruitcake). I'm never going to use them. No one wants to eat them. Everyone in my family goes, "Huh? Those are food?" when they see them. All right, all right - I was thinking I would bake them into a festive biscotti - I have a recipe! - but I get the message. . . citron down the disposal, container into recycling, and a vow to make brownie biscotti instead. LOL!
Thursday: goodbye, leftover Easter candy. Yes, we have uneaten candy in our house! I imagine by now all the chocolates are grey and molten inside their shiny pastel wrappers. So long, little chocolate eggs and packets of jelly beans! This year, be glad that there's no compulsion to eat stale candy. Next year - buy less!
Friday: just saw a forwarded email from the local foodbank - they can't keep their shelves stocked with pantry basics, there are so many hungry families coming in to receive donations. Well, we have plenty, and then some, and there's more where that came from. Because we're blessed - our surfeit goes there today.
xo, LD
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
H.E. double Hockeysticks!
(Tuesday, July 22, actually!)
Hockeysticks - two pair.
Because the two hockey players in our family have grown at least three feet taller than they were the last time they used these hockey sticks to play a pickup game in our driveway. . . out they go!
Nobody wanted them, no kids, not even the guy picking through the neighborhood trash bags. Nor could I think of another use for them - our garden doesn't need any more stakes, for instance. I guess nobody could come up with a reason to keep them out of the landfill. Sorry, Earth!
I'm happy to report that the garage is looking a little emptier. . . one thing at a time. . .!
xo, LD
Hockeysticks - two pair.
Because the two hockey players in our family have grown at least three feet taller than they were the last time they used these hockey sticks to play a pickup game in our driveway. . . out they go!
Nobody wanted them, no kids, not even the guy picking through the neighborhood trash bags. Nor could I think of another use for them - our garden doesn't need any more stakes, for instance. I guess nobody could come up with a reason to keep them out of the landfill. Sorry, Earth!
I'm happy to report that the garage is looking a little emptier. . . one thing at a time. . .!
xo, LD
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Bye, Bye, Birdie (Clock)
(Monday, June 21 - really!)
Bird-song-on-the-hour Wall Clock.
Yup, it hooted, chirred, tweeted, or clucked on the hour, every hour - for the past ten years or so. This was a clock that, at one time in my life, I really, really wanted to have (oh, I don't know why! It just appealed to me.). . . and my in-laws, such good sports, gave it to me as a Christmas gift.
It delighted my kids and surprised our guests ("What? Oh, that's just the clock!") - once upon a time. Now, I don't know why, but the thrill is gone. The clock had fallen off the wall more than once and was battlescarred, not so very attractive anymore; and recently the birdsong was a little weirder than ever - for instance, the owl's "hoo hoo" had become more of a "hrr hrr," an irritated, angry sound. And hoo - I mean, who - needs to hear that, twice a day?
When I took the clock off the wall, I found the reason for this birdsong mayhem: one of the batteries had exploded! Eew! And so our poor, battered clock, once a treasure and now clearly trash, went right into the can.
Plus, I have to confess, this afternoon I ran into a pretty wall clock, on clearance, even, at Wal-Mart. Yes, I bought it! Oh, no! Does a toss count as a "declutter" if I replace it?
I'm not going to worry about that too hard - because something good happened when I hung the new clock on the wall. The wall looked different (duh!) - like it really needed a little something extra (besides a coat of fresh paint!). We have many nice pieces of framed art. . . stashed on the floor behind a chair in our sitting room. I chose one that was just right - and, on a roll, got a picture hanger nail thing and hammer from the basement, and, by golly, I hung that picture right then and there. And it looks good, too!
So I may have come out even on the decluttering, item-wise, but I came out ahead, stack-and-pile-wise. Sounds like enough of a small victory to me!
xo, LD
Bird-song-on-the-hour Wall Clock.
Yup, it hooted, chirred, tweeted, or clucked on the hour, every hour - for the past ten years or so. This was a clock that, at one time in my life, I really, really wanted to have (oh, I don't know why! It just appealed to me.). . . and my in-laws, such good sports, gave it to me as a Christmas gift.
It delighted my kids and surprised our guests ("What? Oh, that's just the clock!") - once upon a time. Now, I don't know why, but the thrill is gone. The clock had fallen off the wall more than once and was battlescarred, not so very attractive anymore; and recently the birdsong was a little weirder than ever - for instance, the owl's "hoo hoo" had become more of a "hrr hrr," an irritated, angry sound. And hoo - I mean, who - needs to hear that, twice a day?
When I took the clock off the wall, I found the reason for this birdsong mayhem: one of the batteries had exploded! Eew! And so our poor, battered clock, once a treasure and now clearly trash, went right into the can.
Plus, I have to confess, this afternoon I ran into a pretty wall clock, on clearance, even, at Wal-Mart. Yes, I bought it! Oh, no! Does a toss count as a "declutter" if I replace it?
I'm not going to worry about that too hard - because something good happened when I hung the new clock on the wall. The wall looked different (duh!) - like it really needed a little something extra (besides a coat of fresh paint!). We have many nice pieces of framed art. . . stashed on the floor behind a chair in our sitting room. I chose one that was just right - and, on a roll, got a picture hanger nail thing and hammer from the basement, and, by golly, I hung that picture right then and there. And it looks good, too!
So I may have come out even on the decluttering, item-wise, but I came out ahead, stack-and-pile-wise. Sounds like enough of a small victory to me!
xo, LD
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Once or twice a month!
A basketful of magazines.
They've gone to two places: to the recycling bin and to the "bookstore" at the public library, where they'll be sold for a dime apiece.
It used to be very, very hard for me to give up my old magazines. My collection included ten years of Gourmet, and many issues of Martha Stewart Living - each of them full of wonderful ideas. . . clever and beautiful, refined and lovely. No wonder they held such appeal to me, especially during the years when my kids were little and unpredictable and so dependent.
I suppose that those magazines were my alter ego, the me that used to be, and the me that I wanted to be (in my spare time, I guess). But I gave them away to recycling and to anyone who would take them.
And now I find that it's not so hard to do that with the magazines that show up in my mailbox every month. . . out they must go, after a couple weeks. More will be coming!
Even if practice doesn't make perfect, it does seem to loosen up old habits and help cement new ones, and I'm pretty proud of how I'm learning to let go of magazines. If there's something really, really compelling, I clip it and put it in a pile. . . that pile will be a toss, no doubt, on another day - wow!
And maybe one day I might even let some subscriptions lapse, and see if it's not the end of the world - my fantasy world, that is!
xo, LD
They've gone to two places: to the recycling bin and to the "bookstore" at the public library, where they'll be sold for a dime apiece.
It used to be very, very hard for me to give up my old magazines. My collection included ten years of Gourmet, and many issues of Martha Stewart Living - each of them full of wonderful ideas. . . clever and beautiful, refined and lovely. No wonder they held such appeal to me, especially during the years when my kids were little and unpredictable and so dependent.
I suppose that those magazines were my alter ego, the me that used to be, and the me that I wanted to be (in my spare time, I guess). But I gave them away to recycling and to anyone who would take them.
And now I find that it's not so hard to do that with the magazines that show up in my mailbox every month. . . out they must go, after a couple weeks. More will be coming!
Even if practice doesn't make perfect, it does seem to loosen up old habits and help cement new ones, and I'm pretty proud of how I'm learning to let go of magazines. If there's something really, really compelling, I clip it and put it in a pile. . . that pile will be a toss, no doubt, on another day - wow!
And maybe one day I might even let some subscriptions lapse, and see if it's not the end of the world - my fantasy world, that is!
xo, LD
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Pool toys walk the plank - arrrr!
Inflatable pool toys.
I made 'em walk the plank, right into the trash can. Why?
Because we don't have a pool! And none of my kids' friends, the ones who do have a pool, have any interest in inflatable noodles and beach balls! Nobody wants 'em, can't give 'em away!
Once upon a time, we had a pool. And so did my parents. Now our pool is gone, replaced by a garden, and my parents have moved.
And, so, mateys, I refuse to be held hostage any longer by some pieces of plastic and air. Avast!
It's nice to see a little bit of empty space opening up. The trick will be not to fill it right back up again!
xo, LD
I made 'em walk the plank, right into the trash can. Why?
Because we don't have a pool! And none of my kids' friends, the ones who do have a pool, have any interest in inflatable noodles and beach balls! Nobody wants 'em, can't give 'em away!
Once upon a time, we had a pool. And so did my parents. Now our pool is gone, replaced by a garden, and my parents have moved.
And, so, mateys, I refuse to be held hostage any longer by some pieces of plastic and air. Avast!
It's nice to see a little bit of empty space opening up. The trick will be not to fill it right back up again!
xo, LD
Friday, July 18, 2008
My first pitch!
Poster paints. And the plastic basket they were corralled in, too.
Eight plastic bottles, each filled at least 3/4 of the way with still-liquid poster paints, left over from my kids' early art-making days: hand-delivered to the craft closet at church, for immediate use by actual little kids (who are not teens, like mine are now!).
Why would I want to hold on to them? Easy: 1) one day, who knows when, maybe we would need them to paint a poster. Right? 2) these paint bottles represent how prepared and creative I was as an elementary-school-aged kids' mom - uh huh!
Why should I let them go? Harder: 1) face it, the kids' poster-painting days are gone, gone with their squeaky voices and requests for bedtime stories. Sob! 2) can I still prove to myself and others that I am still a prepared and creative person? A good mom? Probably. . . even without hoarding a clever stash of art supplies.
Oddly, the hardest thing to let go of, in the end, was the little plastic basket that held the paint bottles. . . my brain said, "Come on, keep it! It's useful!" That basket wasn't connected to my bittersweet pangs about my kids' growing older, nor was it attached to the image of myself as a Good Momma. This little basket was tied, instead, to my practical side, industrious, thrifty, and good at finding uses for things. Oh, dear. Give it up! Let this little basket be what it needs to be right now: a very good holder of poster paint bottles.
And so my first pitch is complete!
Phew!
xo, LD
Eight plastic bottles, each filled at least 3/4 of the way with still-liquid poster paints, left over from my kids' early art-making days: hand-delivered to the craft closet at church, for immediate use by actual little kids (who are not teens, like mine are now!).
Why would I want to hold on to them? Easy: 1) one day, who knows when, maybe we would need them to paint a poster. Right? 2) these paint bottles represent how prepared and creative I was as an elementary-school-aged kids' mom - uh huh!
Why should I let them go? Harder: 1) face it, the kids' poster-painting days are gone, gone with their squeaky voices and requests for bedtime stories. Sob! 2) can I still prove to myself and others that I am still a prepared and creative person? A good mom? Probably. . . even without hoarding a clever stash of art supplies.
Oddly, the hardest thing to let go of, in the end, was the little plastic basket that held the paint bottles. . . my brain said, "Come on, keep it! It's useful!" That basket wasn't connected to my bittersweet pangs about my kids' growing older, nor was it attached to the image of myself as a Good Momma. This little basket was tied, instead, to my practical side, industrious, thrifty, and good at finding uses for things. Oh, dear. Give it up! Let this little basket be what it needs to be right now: a very good holder of poster paint bottles.
And so my first pitch is complete!
Phew!
xo, LD
Just one thing. . . less!
Too much stuff!
It was trash day in our neighborhood, and my next-door neighbor, Kathy, and I were talking about all our stuff. . . the clutter that is stuffing our basements, our attics, our garages. . . big stuff, little stuff, from our kids' lives, our own lives, inherited stuff, stuff from who-even-knows-where. Stuff piled up, tucked away, "organized" - or not - in plastic bins, closets, stacks and piles. . . so many things cluttering up our homes and our lives.
Kathy told me about a plan she had come up with, but hadn't kept up on: to throw away one thing a day from her cluttered basement. To recycle, give away, or put into the trash just one thing, every day. Something as big as, say, an air conditioner, or something as little as, for instance, an empty shoebox. After a year, 365 things would be gone! Wouldn't that be a relief! But that hadn't happened. . . life got in the way.
But what a great idea!
And so my year of "one thing at a time" begins - today! My plan (will life get in the way?) is to get rid of one thing every day, and each day I'll tell you about that thing. Why did I bring it home in the first place? What does getting rid of it mean? Or - who knows what there will be to say about my clutter?
Thanks for reading! Do you want to join me? All you have to do is: toss One Thing at a Time!
xo LD
It was trash day in our neighborhood, and my next-door neighbor, Kathy, and I were talking about all our stuff. . . the clutter that is stuffing our basements, our attics, our garages. . . big stuff, little stuff, from our kids' lives, our own lives, inherited stuff, stuff from who-even-knows-where. Stuff piled up, tucked away, "organized" - or not - in plastic bins, closets, stacks and piles. . . so many things cluttering up our homes and our lives.
Kathy told me about a plan she had come up with, but hadn't kept up on: to throw away one thing a day from her cluttered basement. To recycle, give away, or put into the trash just one thing, every day. Something as big as, say, an air conditioner, or something as little as, for instance, an empty shoebox. After a year, 365 things would be gone! Wouldn't that be a relief! But that hadn't happened. . . life got in the way.
But what a great idea!
And so my year of "one thing at a time" begins - today! My plan (will life get in the way?) is to get rid of one thing every day, and each day I'll tell you about that thing. Why did I bring it home in the first place? What does getting rid of it mean? Or - who knows what there will be to say about my clutter?
Thanks for reading! Do you want to join me? All you have to do is: toss One Thing at a Time!
xo LD
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