Managed to enlist JiK to help declutter three (count 'em!) kitchen cabinets, throw out old spices, and get rid of unnecessary jars, bottles and miscellaneous containers. I got his "permission" to limit the number of coffee cans (only the metal ones) and jars we're required to keep. Dumped a BUNCH of old coffee cups (no way do we need 40 coffee cups for the two of us, and I certainly don't foresee that many people coming to visit all at once!). Cleared a good portion of the kitchen counters by consolidating and moving things to storage elsewhere. Cleaned the outside of the microwave, inside to be done tomorrow.

Still have the tops of the cupboards to clear off. There's a little railed shelf up there that goes clear across all the counters, and of course it's full of cups and miscellaneous. Some of them are keepsakes, but most are just "stuff." Out with them!

John put the 48 cans of cat food away and did a load of dishes.

I'd almost forgotten that the kitchen was one of the things I really really liked about this house when we bought it. It's looking better all the time, although I've now got to get into the bottom cupboards and get some more "stuff" off the counters. And YAY for John in turning loose of some of the "stuff"--it's a lot harder for him than it is for me, I think, since I really enjoy tossing things out and making flat surfaces look new.

In between the kitchen cupboards, I think I'll try to clear off my computer desk--one more time--so things will be findable on it for at least a week or two.

And yes, Liz, I can relate to needing more bookcases. But I also need more walls to put them on, as all the ones we have are full (walls AND bookcases, I mean). Now those may be a bit harder for me to turn loose of; I do like my books.

But you know, this is really kinda fun when you can see the progress...

Lin