Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 09:14 AM

Doublewide kitchen junk and chargers drawer reduced to one small box yesterday. Another similar effort planned for today.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Apr 18 - 07:46 PM

We have had all the boxes needed except a few with dividers, which were found in abundance at the local liquor store.

PA PACKATHON

Now that the boxing-up is nearly done, we're reclaiming the LR, and none too soon-- the Stanley Cup playoffs start tonight! Thr card table is stowed; the LR floor needs to be cleared of spilled shredded paper; and warmer days impending.

So I gathered a few back-porch things to move to the front porch. And that means a cleared-up sitting porch, to enjoy together before I head south.

As breaktime during hockey games we can work together to empty/move around/preload a few big pieces of furniture. Some stay for use here, and some go out to the porch, Ohio-bound.

I cleared the office corner of about a 1-inch layer of spilled shredded paper, where I've been packing all the fragile/framed stuff... while I ran laundry because it'll be a hockey night in front of the TV.

Thursday's goal after a pte-Vestry chat w Hardi about next steps to pre-load stuff to the porch-- I'll fill the armoire cavities and start tarping of same (he took that out of LR before going to work, to surprise me, along with two enormous boxes. After I fill in the armoire, I'll empty the counter section of the big 2-piece hutch were passing on to my son (and put away groceries now on the kitchen island). So that, Friday or Saturday, the hutch can be swapped for the brown shelf now in the weight room, which he sked for Friday emptying.

That brown shelf will become the repository for the canned/dry goods now in a pantry I'm taking.

The hutch, when it goes to the porch, will block the armoire, and I have a plastic tarp I hope will cover both. Then the hutch cavities will be filled with cargo.... and succeeding furniture placed in front of that... and filled and covered... and so forth over the next several days.

In Ohio, housemate Tyler is cutting a wall so my antique dresser will fit upon arrival, and the driving crew confirmed dates with me today. Last night, my Ohio BIL said he might be able to join the unloading crew, and I'm checking with other committed or potential crew as well.

Time for HOCKEY! GO PENS!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Apr 18 - 07:30 PM

Oops. I forgot to share. Down 0.4.
It's not much, I know but it IS going in the right direction! :)

Yesterday I celebrated my 50th birthday, including lunch out at a Mexican place...I'm pretty sure the scale is going to go in the other direction this Saturday. LOL Oh well....it was my birthday! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Apr 18 - 01:00 PM

To save on fussing with other shipping materials I'm using the cornstarch peanuts that I got from huge boxes that were shipped to my ex. I have enough to last quite a long time. The boxes would probably be handy for what Susan is doing, but shipping boxes isn't helpful (a friend asked me to do that once, and when he saw what a lot of trouble it is he resorted to looking in the recycle bin in his apartment. I do the same, checking the village recycle bins for the size boxes I need.) Do you have any nearby organizations or businesses that would let you harvest good boxes for these specialized uses?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 05:14 PM

It did all fit into the big box, including the mirror in a cardboard sleeve (there's room to wrap it in a pad also). The barometer will also fit in-- right now there are slabs of Styrofoam keeping the contents tight.

The base is lined with a big slab of Styrofoam that was made to fit tight. There are two rigid cardboard "rails" along the sides to keep boxes centered, with space to fill with pads.

The box can't be MOVED with the frames, etc. in it-- but it will HOLD them all, in the truck.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 01:52 PM

FRAMES DONE!

All that remains (besides mirror) is putting them into the pre-cushioned box. I've lost track how many boxes are multi-frame boxes... hoping the mirror may also fit.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 12:53 PM

PA PACKATHON, GALLERY EDITION

It turns out at this stage that I can't even think how to pack things until I actually see where they should go. This AM it was 5hrs sleep last might, then being insistently woken up 'seeing' our framed icons by the laundry in Ohio! Then it became seeing my flying duck up on top of our PA china cabinet, flying over to an Ohio LR corner shelf (it's now packed in a tall Rubbermaid bucket box!), and Hardi's barometer (since I'd already seen its spot a few days ago). And sconces. And saucer hangers plus barrel stave with duck.

All were carried out to the porch's box stack as packed, except the barometer and a patina'd rooster to go into large box of other framed items I'll pack later. Needed brekky so stopped. Now need water and laundry break!

Later, I made one trip upstrs to assess linens, gather art to pack, put risers into dresser, and carry down a load of linens/rags. Another trip soon for two more (small) icons, to pack together with large icon brought down. Ouchies-- backwards on steps not fun anymore.

... Second trip upstrs done and small/med icons packed-- one icon to go. In fact I thought I was done w frames til I sat to rest from a messy job that went way too long, and saw two I'd missed. Aaaaarrgghhh!!! Hope the last good box fits!

For framed items, that leaves my large oval mirror, which I may just wrap into a furniture pad, day-of. There are several art pieces I'll leave in place til The Big Move, and a wall full of family fotos also going last. All the packing materials from this load's frames will come back to the attic for that last round.   

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 11:05 AM

Downsizing the containers that I use for some foodstuffs. At one time I baked a lot of bread, rolls, pizza dough, muffins, and more, but now I don't so much. I have large nesting Tupperware containers in a cupboard that are slowly being replaced by tall and much slimmer acrylic storage jars with robust silicone seals. I found three more of these jars at a thrift store ($2 each, vs about $15/$20 each at The Container Store) and this weekend will swap out some contents. I don't know if I'm ready to let go of those great Tupperware canisters yet, but I'll put the nested set into the pantry and think about it. I got rid of a lot of other Tupperware containers because I don't know what kind of plastic or chemicals are in them. These should probably go the same way. I have an antique Hoosier kitchen (also called a Kitchen Queen) that houses many of these jars, but right now the doors don't close. I aim to streamline the contents and clear the counter top.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the Hous
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 08:37 AM

The entire contents of a large cabinet have gone to the church for the spring variety sale, along with a substantial quantity of embroidered linens that I have never used over more than 30 years of having custody of them. Next Tuesday, the cabinet will depart for the same destination -- I made the arrangements yesterday. We still have a superfluity of framed art, but by next spring, when the variety sale comes around again, the rest of the house should have been painted and final decisions made about most of it.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of the ugly walls of our basement TV-watching space.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 08:28 PM

One baby quilt made and a receiving quilt too.....that's more fabric that's made it's out out of my sewing room! Yes! :)   

On the horizon......all of one specific size of clothing is headed to Sally's. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 01:33 PM

Montreal:

Once stuff is at the mill: I hope to be able to find things that might be needed or will actually suit the new home and forget the rest exists! We dropped off a car load yesterday and refilled the car this am for my next excursion. I told R, "That black cabinet is ready to leave (permanently)" "I have stuff in there!" "Yep. it is in this box here, which I will label." "OK. I will see it again sometime - or not."!!

The cabinet is not gone yet - too large for my car, but a small table which came out of the trash has gone out for someone to pick up. Also a monitor of some sort which was taking up one chair, went out and was picked up almost immediately! (This is a pretty busy street!)

Net win: I was able to clean the lovely Victorian table and I can see most of it! R has been reminded that "Those boards are the shelves for the buffet." A huge (30x40inch) picture of a WWII fighter plane is tucked over there - blocking part of the table until R has time to take it to the plane museum, courtesy of the son of the (94 year old) fighter pilot. And I can get to the palm to water and care for it!

Yesterday's excursion also netted us two lovely stand lamps (we will need a bunch) and a small iris print- with mandarin ducks, and another dozen books, of course. Also a grand plywood wood box for the back deck of new house (very useful!) and a nice wood plant stand - both from someone's trash. Also supper with Geri, and dessert (our fav cookies) at her house to help her think about how to brighten her huge dreary LR, and K. She needs help; I suspect R will be going down there soon to initiate some of our ideas. A ladder and a bit of expertise is needed - the sort he does very well. I do not do ladders any more.

It was a fun day and I am happy that he is beginning to accept the concept of getting non-essentials out of here and then choosing what goes into new home. I am trying to dead up to getting the contents of the dreadful (imo) dining china cabinet packed up and gone, along with the cabinet - "get Chrissy to put it on E-bay" --?? Also the table and chairs that go with it, which are around here somewhere. My theory being that the less there is to move, the easier the move and the less tripe will land in new house. Rather like S's well-planned move.

"Don't you owe Merle something?" elicited a conversation about a beautiful wooden circular staircase he had bought from Merle (next door neighbour at mill). "Could we use it to the basement?" in place of dreadful steep one there. Or maybe to the attic? As he is determined to get to the attic! There is plenty of house without the attic, but.... It could well be put into the to-be Bath room which could put it up to the highest point in the attic. It bothers him that there are two lovely stained glass windows up there that cannot be easily seen. And "lots of room!" Do we really need more room? well...

"moving" right along here! Need to be clear of the back cabinet to get to the shelves hidden behind it - stuff which has not been seen since we placed a full sheet of drywall across to keep Frick and Frack out - in 2010! Or maybe not... There seem to be couple doors there now... Onward and upward! Fools rush in... (My second son was born on April Fool's Day, I told him, at an appropriate age, "if anyone gives you a hard time about having a birthday on AFD, just tell them, YEP, I was born on AFD! Mother was the Fool!" How appropriate! I have heard him use that line.) R's dad's b-day also!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 12:50 PM

PA PACKATHON, ETHICAL PLASTICS EDITION:

I made a firm commitment not to put our money into any more plastic than absolutely required, which we tighten up all the time as able. We re-use as much as possible, and then recycle. For this move I've only bought tape, because that commitment includes packing supplies. I just found a haul of someone else's Styrofoam purchases right in our attic box repository: inside a box almost too big to deliver down the stairway to the old MudDorm. A box of that size was on my grab-list, but I had not known THIS was waiting!

The enormous box I found is a treasure!!! Super-heavy cardboard, with additional flat cardboard in it. AND not only filled with Styrofoam I can cut-- it's not even foam for which WE ever paid into the genocidal plastic industry!!! The box and foam originally cushioned a ceramic cooktop and its exhaust fan assembly....

That box will hold all the individually-packed framed art, standing upright, on edge! :-) (And come right back to PA with its Styrofoam, for the September packing job!)

From the Ohio garage, I have one "found" commercial frame-packing kit, which one of our former housemates must have left in our garage; I'll study that and make our own from the cooktop Styrofoam.

I also threw/pushed down additional packing materials from the attic box repository. (We began collecting all this free cardboard around the time we bought the Xenia house.) Then I grabbed a big gym bag of tarps, for furniture wrapping; more were left in the attic for Hardi to get-- I can only do one trip up there a week at present, and warm but rainy weather is due shortly. I also took pix of the stuff I'll want next, if I need more cushioning material.

My plan for frame-packing is to line each pizza (or similar) box with brown paper, to help control the shredded paper which will supplement the corner foam. I'll cut old pool noodles to gently cushion the glass, and use flat cardboard between pictures for the boxes deep enough for multiple frames.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: pattyClink
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 07:54 PM

Yes, traveling all the time, Mississippi right now.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 01:14 PM

What part of the country are you in now, Patty? Is that the delivery difficulty, you're travelling?

Weather is still cold today, not quite as chilly overnight but it isn't showing any inclination to improve. More work in the house (to the benefit of the house!)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: pattyClink
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 11:53 AM

CCleaner sounds like a good idea for photos. I do keep a backup set on an external drive, but it would be good to clear up excess copies.

I don't have a friend's address within about 50 miles of here. I thought it would work to do General Delivery that time because it works fine on smaller parcels and is convenient. On big or expensive items, I'll usually wait til I'm visiting relatives to get a shipment sent to them.   

The struggle to 'throw things over the side' continues. Yesterday in an effort to pare back, I decided that heavy shirt in dark colors needed to go in storage for a season. This morning it's 35 degrees. Sigh. Some people swear they don't need very many clothes to travel in an RV, but geez I've been in a million kinds of weather, and I've used everything in the closet, and haven't even ventured north in cooler months.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Apr 18 - 05:08 PM

PA PACKATHON:

Hardi got inspired, this morning, to finish clearing the garden room and vacuuming its rug, which is going to the Xenia library. He disassembled the potting bench we'd cobbled together up there; two 8" lengths of 2x8 came down, and went to the ramp for Xenia. He brought down a box of books we'd decided to donate, the huge Aerogarden box, and other packed items from the upstrs landing.

To make room for those in the DR, I packed the packing materials stored on the card table I'd used to pack DR stuff, and we moved that card table back to my LR office corner for Monday's picture frame packing. Getting close to done with packing! Then we're on to other prep work to gather Ohio items-- time to check my list-- and repurpose some furniture for his use while I'm away.

The first box of framed art is packed. All pcs were cleaned and measured first. Measurements are in an Artwork Planning album w pix/memories. Small box of bulkhead knicknacks packed. Good planning conference with Hardi. NO MORE PACKING this weekend!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 18 - 02:42 PM

Yesterday was in the high 80s and I worked up a good sweat shaping the new beds in my garden. Overnight it dropped nearly 60 degrees as a cold front pushed into the region; this morning I consider myself lucky I seem to have dodged the bullet of frost damage to my bedding plants still on the potting bench beside the side door.

Clearing duplicate files still; I use CCleaner and I got rid of a bunch of duplicates but the computer slowed down so a crawl so I restarted this morning. The scan is running again, but there are a lot fewer items there to be in the results. It shows all of the duplicates and lets you select all but one to delete. Now that I know where some of the duplicates are I could in theory just delete the folders, but there are a few things in the folders that are not copied anywhere else.

Tomorrow warms into the 60s so I may start planting. For now, I can mix up stuff and pour it over the beds. First, use some liquid organic fertilizer and add BT to drench where I will plant because otherwise the cutworms in the soil will lop off the tender new plants at soil level.

Now to eBay listings.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 18 - 12:05 AM

I put shelving in the storage locker I rented when I worked on my Dad's estate, it was a big help. Most of the shelves are around my garage walls now.

Do you have a friend with a more traditional form of address who would receive parcels for you?

After my last post I went out with the hoe and blocked out the general shape of beds for the garden. I don't put in solid edges, I just bevel the soil at the edges. I came it because it looked like rain, but I think it missed us. Fingers crossed it won't freeze, the bedding plants are slightly protected where they are right now.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: pattyClink
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 10:51 PM

Acme, sorry your shipment went astray. I've had a few snafus with online purchases lately. Keep trying to buy a slightly older model trucker's GPS, kind of need 'new' so I can register for the road updates. One seller on Amazon sent me a used unit (grubby-heavily-used) as New, said there were no new ones left (then why list 6 on Amazon?). Then an Ebay seller cancelled my order claiming 'sold out' (then why list?) I imagine was too scared to ship to a General Delivery address. I can understand the reluctance, except I had a really good seller and buyer history which should have been checked. Oh well. Wasted time and effort. Both channels are so handy for smaller items coming General Delivery, but it seems anything valuable it's a big mess due to scams on both sides.

Had a blast traveling the Southwest this winter. My poor old guitar died in the desert air, but got 2 new, smaller, sturdy ones that will travel better.

Back in Dixie, where the whole place is like one giant floral arrangement, mid-March to April is such a great time to be here. Had to come before it gets hot to reorganize what's in storage. Protip: if you do ever have to set up storage units, put in metal shelves first, it really helps. Hopefully I can empty and cease paying for one of the units just by getting the stuff better stored, and hopefully a bit of purging before getting back on the road. Next swing through, I can do some of the shredding and purging that remains, rather than spinning my wheels figuring out what is where. That's my plan. The rain and the IRS seem determined to bog me down, but that's part of spring too, I guess.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 10:26 PM

PA PACKATHON WEEKEND EDITION:

After brekky and Hellboy with Hardi, I moved ramp rail-stored items down to the porch and moved a shelf already there for less weather exposure. Hardi came out to see and offered help, so he set more items stacked in the ramp up onto the rail, which I delivered down to pallets placed ydy. Then he emptied the LR of packed boxes, and set them on the rail. From the ramp i just lifted them across to the top of the boxes id stacked with care, to top the now-tall stacks of boxes.

Amazing pile out there now! Most-fragile items will ride inside furniture cases, placed during loading of the cases.

Later we took about a dozen art/decor items down from the kitchen bulkhead where I'd put them up almost 25 years ago-- they're waiting to be cleaned and packed. Then I took fotos of the ground floor's remaining pictures for planning, and uploaded all of the above to FB.

Pizza supper netted two pizza boxes, to pack framed art. More pizza planned for tomorrow.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 06:18 PM

Good luck keeping the clutter out of the new house, Dorothy. Once it's at the mill will you be able to donate it from there? Sell it?

The garden has been tilled and the beds will soon be shaped (beveled sides on raised beds and I'll put down cardboard covered by mulch for the paths between). A load of mulch picked up from the bunker where the city parks department places it for free use. It's 88^o right now but supposed to dip to 39^o overnight, so I'll wait until tomorrow to plant, keeping a cover over the plants I have ready to go in so far. Here in the creek bottom sometimes we get frost when no one else does. It would be a shame to lose all of my potted seedlings.

eBay listings did a little backslide this week, one item went missing in the mail system of an Eastern European mail system, probably pocketed and never to be seen again. Note to self: don't ship to those places. Another one messed up her eBay account by not updating her address and the parcel came back. She didn't have enough in PayPal to pay the paltry postage (again), so she opted for a refund. This house seems to be loaded with boombox radios and I've realized that the better brands still sell on eBay, so that's my next venture, finding the boxes to fit them.

This is the weekend I'll finally shampoo that carpet in the den, and get the furniture put back where it belongs. The table that goes on top of it is covered with various projects, some will be finished, and one stack of stuff is for Goodwill. And what I need to do is find a good place for the carpet cleaner and the vacuum to live when they're not in use, they seem to migrate to the front room, but that's not a great place. Maybe move some of the clutter beside my dryer and make a berth for them there.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 12:00 PM

Montreal:

Yes, Charmion! The wind has been at the scary level! No damage that we know of in Montreal but the news from your area had me concerned. Glad your house still stands - some are not! A mite chilly here,also.

Glass front book cases would be so nice! For hundreds of books???!!! Oh, well!

modem for internet connection died and it was a project getting that sorted. Lack of knowledgeable people had me to 3 parts of the city and a couple hours of tech support and - wow!- customer service - to get phone numbers for places that might give help rather than insisting on me letting them do what what just took the last place an hour! Now that I am back on line, Telus will be hearing about that witch. Finally connected by phone with someone knowledgeable and helpful. I told her I would be there. I tried but could not find a place to park. So tried again the next day. "You were coming yesterday." Well, apparently there is free parking but she could not tell me how to access it! That is good info to find out for the future. In the meantime... I had to buy a new modem as the old one was to be sent for repairs -NO ONE in the city had one as it is obsolete; I got it in November! Life remembered 50 years ago seems to have been much simpler??

A biggy out of this episode is the unhappy fact that walking about 5 blocks with computer case on my shoulder all but did me in. I stopped to lean against posts a few times and wondered what I could do if I could not get there. Arrived, breathless for a few minutes. Managed to do the return trip OK. But totally appalled by the incident. Later went for groceries and had no problem but it was only a hundred yards. Bringing in the firewood is so much easier! Up and down stairs a dozen times a day is not enough...

Had a bit of a heart to heart with R this am about our respective views of CLutter. I want to take every non-essential item down to the mill; he does not want to move things twice. I hope much of it will never make it to the new house! This is going to be a a LONG 7 months...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 11:48 AM

Aww, you jinxed those grilled chicken plans? Who knows how far back the offense went. It might not be the down comforter, it might be when you packed away a few sweaters or hung up the snow shovel. :)

The garden is getting attention today. A friend is coming over this afternoon to till it, so I need to hustle and run the mower over the spot one more time so he doesn't have to fool with tall weeds also.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 10:25 AM

Oh -- further to the changing the bed quilt phenomenon: I took the eiderdown off the bed last Thursday, and guess what? It's been snowing in Stratford since Tuesday! A big windstorm blew through here on Wednesday, with gusts powerful enough to knock our gas barbecue flat on its face.

Darn it. I had visions of spatchcocked chicken dancing in my head, and hopes of outdoor cookery within the next couple of weeks.

Obviously, Mother Nature doesn't approve of early eiderdown removal, at least not in Perth County. It's all my fault.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 10:20 AM

Two 3-cube boxes of crockery and glassware went to the church yesterday, along with a stack of framed art. (My back is talkin' to me, and not with love; I heaved a 3-cu of heavy earthenware off the floor in less-than-ideal style.) I still have a bin full of antique fancy linen to go -- items that will probably sell to bed-and-breakfast operators with fancy Victorian houses -- and another plastic crate of stained-glass window ornaments that do not suit this house. Plus some clothes.

The dining-room china cabinets have actual space in them. Space is good. The cabinet in the basement is empty. Maybe I can get it out of the house sooner rather than later ... !

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Apr 18 - 02:44 PM

In fitness, a 'rest day' isn't a day to crash-- it's a day to walk your workout back to a maintenance level before resuming a training level. So it is with the week's packing rhythm, as I contemplate the rest day/church weekend. I'm thinking what small NON-packing tasks I can incorporate into the next few days to facilitate a return to messy shredded paper on Monday.

I'm about to prep a divided box for knicknackery I'm sure to come across as I recheck each room for artwork (lining the base with shred). But most of those types of fragiles are packed.

Today marks the transition to packing the framed art. Some of the upstairs art is now downstairs, and some packing materials for them are gathered. Today I customized boxes and other cardboard, to pack my mom's family barometer into a box a bit too tall for it.... the box is about 5x16x48".

I took a smaller box and cut it down to cradle the lower, round part-- taping the plastic-wrapped, padded barometer into place. Then I slipped all that into the box, putting an open egg box over its head (and wishing I had a spare banjo case!).

That left a handy compartment for one framed piece, which I wrapped with a small mirror that just fit inside the edge molding of the picture frame-- taping all that together to preclude shifting. Two hollow plastic legs left from an old shelf took up some space, and gave strength and rigidity to the long, shallow box. I wrapped that framed item with a thick, paper leaf bag, and cushioned that with a bit of shredded paper.

It took over an hour, but it was worth it. It will hang in the hallway alongside Hardi's rectangular barometer, framed by the archway that leads to the hallway from the LR, which is also directly ahead of the front door entry area-- to remind us how we started blending our households 25+ years ago. Our framed wedding invite and a framed St. Francis prayer will complete the composition.

The rest of the framed art requires a weekend of pizza for the remaining boxes needed. I'm not taking ALL the art on this trip-- just one of each size for layout planning, since the art will be rotated seasonally.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Apr 18 - 06:13 AM

PA PACKATHON:

Poor sleep interrupted by several fine notification's of "urgencies".

Came down to tend notebook backups, shred, packed a sm box: Vigil bell, glass cross, Turkish coffeepot ("samovar" but isn't), in the Tippy Cow box.

Found another item for my son, but not sure where rest of set went-- one centerpiece Southwest kachina image on ceramic tile, still on the garden room wall from that room's former office setup. More (the smaller ones) may be in drawers-- not going to spelunk for it on this trip.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 18 - 10:23 PM

Thompson, I had two spare metal fence posts after work was done at this house so I set them in concrete and built myself a four-strand clothesline. I understand your glee at having the use of one with special features! I find hanging the laundry to be peaceful; the process of standing back there behind the greenhouse, surrounded by (not under) trees, hanging sheets and clothes. The dogs are usually hanging out nearby enjoying my company and I'm listening to birds and neighbor's wind chimes. I like the process of reusing available materials (a portion of my fence was removed to put in the new garage so I sledge-hammered off the old concrete footers, and I had a cedar 2x4 piece of lumber to cut into two and mount on the fence brackets. All I needed to buy were the heavy duty hooks for the cedar, the metal rope channels, and the nylon clothes line.)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Apr 18 - 02:49 PM

PS of course now that those nice flat boxes are empty-- framed artwork! Maybe two in some boxes, of which I have three.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Apr 18 - 02:47 PM

PA PACKATHON:

How I'm doing fragile items has been fun. A set of items I'd bought last fall came shipped in large, flat, square boxes with brown paper squares and rectangles for padding. The packer was too lazy to crumple these so they used about 8x too much paper, and I got a zollion pristine flat pieces. I've used this all up today wrapping and cushioning boxed items.

I'm lining the bottom of each Fragiles box with shredded ad papers and seed catalogs, and I just shred a fresh batch for each box before gathering up its planned contents.

In Ohio, all this paper will be used for gardening projects. In fact the shredded paper is so pesky that all those boxes will be unpacked outdoors because if the PA floor is any indicator, I won't want that stuff I'm the house at all!

Two divided vodka boxes are packed. One is antique stemware and a few bar glasses to finish using up the space, plus 2 decor coke bottles. Most of that is earmarkrd for use, not display, and will go into a kitchen cabinet. The other one is glass decor/serving items for the china cabinet plus two mason jars for the kitchen counter.

Two cube boxes are packed for display in the china cabinet, which is shaping up to hold our pretty, mismatched serving items and small knickknacks. Tureens, sugar bowl, wax angels, Monica plaque, small plate stands (easels). One more lg box to pack w pasta bowl and platters, after Hardi gets my mom's platters down from the DR wall.

I could just about pack the glass shelves inside the china cabinet now. Or I could pack the two standing crosses headed for the Five Madonnas shelf, next. In a divided box.

I've definitely decided this is my last move. It's fun to solve all these packing challenges with no outlay for materials but its getting old!!! If and when I have to be moved out into assisted living, the kids are gonna have to do the packing, while I point!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Thompson
Date: 03 Apr 18 - 03:21 PM

Hired someone to fix the broken tiles on the roof where the birds always nest. Got in just before they started nest-building. And now they're tidying out a former air outlet in the neighbouring house, so we can see fluffy little sparrows flying busily in and out with material in their beaks as they ready their spring nursery.

The handiest in the family put up a new clothesline, with a handle and a pulley so the drying clothes can be raised high off the ground. So cool, and so efficient!

Deployed a series of new dust-free glass-fronted bookcases; mind you, I now have to find places for the things that were living where they were, but at least it disciplines the books.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Apr 18 - 02:54 PM

Yes, Vashta, 'tis the season to change the counterpane. I took the big duvet off the bed on Thursday last, and now I'm just praying it doesn't turn wicked cold again as spring in Ontario is wont to do.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Vashta Nerada
Date: 03 Apr 18 - 02:03 PM

Last week I put up the duvet-covered down comforter and folded the extra wool blanket. Overnight I realized the quilt wasn't enough so I rounded up a lap-sized afghan from my office chair to throw over the foot of the bed. Soon it'll be time to put them back in their under-bed zipper case but for now it's just the extra bit of warmth needed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Apr 18 - 10:59 AM

PA PACKATHON

Moved all 9 purge/archive/final pack boxes to guest room for cold-weather work after ensuring clear labeling. That just leaves a round of book purge in the garden room before we can vacuum and roll its rug for this trip.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Apr 18 - 02:56 PM

Montreal:
A nice quiet trip on Easter morning - amazingly little traffic of highway! Dropped off a feather bed and a lovely quilt at the mill for storage until "the house". Unloaded kiln, boxed pots and placed in car until I get to shop that will take it. Arrived in Montreal to find ---I would weep if it would help!. The LR Full of boxes of books. newly acquired. The K floor littered with tools and the sink full... This after tripping over the electric cord trying to get in the door.

I rather lost it and when he complained told him he had a lot of nerve complaining about me being grumpy when he should darn well have known... OH! He cleaned up the tools and the dishes and the books are now piled in the stairwell until he can get them to the library at Beaver - I am NOT carrying boxes of books. There is still a box of pictures/frames on the ugly sofa and other assorted clutter that I can work around. Tomorrow is trash day and I shall collect boxes to clear a not-to-keep cabinet and whatever else I can manage. All small stuff to go to mill for temp storage. Of course, there will be culling in the process.

R has a friend/tenant who enticed him to an auction last week - so hard to do! She, however, is selling the stuff on E-bay or Kijiji; they have a 50/50 deal. YAY for Chrisie!!

He is hoping we can connect with the owner and see about moving plants from here to there sooner. I had a fun time, clearing the small but burgeoning flower bed at the mill. Lots of lovely things starting to show - dwarf purple iris, red achillea/yarrow and more. Lots of separating needed. I moved a whole lot of hen and chicks to a different, unplanted as yet area to give them room to grow. And exposed iris rhizomes so they will bloom well. That bed is in front of a south facing 4 foot concrete wall backed by soil so well protected and lots of warmth. Beaver had nothing showing before I left, even on the south side of house. There was still a foot or more snow in the yard. The mill and Montreal only have remaining piles here and there.

AS for fitness... I am just going to eat and try to be careful. Fed up with restrictive diets so I end up eating all the wrong stuff in the end! I need to strive to get more exercise as the wood season ends and even a couple days of not needing to carry wood makes a difference! The ankle is still iffy: needs compresses occasionally and certain activities - pressing on clutch! - cause discomfort. The trampoline here seems to be ok. So moderation on that. I have gotten good on stairs! Finally!! So I don't mind going up and down here more frequently just for the exercise - no stairs at Beaver. May the gardening season help!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 18 - 12:37 AM

Damn. Found a tick on me as I was getting ready to shower - it hadn't completely dug in, but it made a mark and it smarts. And of course this creeps me out enough that lots of stuff went into the washer after that, even the bag that lines my laundry basket (where I had dropped my clothes right before I found the tick). I'm going to have to get the big container of beneficial nematodes and next time it rains give the yard a good soak, especially under the pine trees, that are probably where they've established themselves. They have a stage in the ground so that's where the nematodes come in. The dogs are on Revolution every month, but I may get them extra tick collars.

Productive weekend, in general, though there are a few things I planned that I didn't get to. As usual. Lots of cooking today so I have a variety of foods to take for lunch. I swung by Goodwill but it was closed, and though people had decided to leave their stuff piled outside their door I left mine in the car and will take it by when the store is open.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Apr 18 - 02:23 PM

Fitness... yes... and there are so many kinds of fitness. There's one I should also acknowledge openly that I've only referred to nebulously before-- declutterung while aging?

In the parishes we've served aa well as in my extended family, I've seen how decluttering and/or poorly-conducted moving can seriously disrupt functional mental status. The disorientation can take a person-- especially an older person-- right off their stride. The cascading effects of that can lead to early demise.

From the outset, I planned our retirement home and process with this knowledge in mind. And (here's the open disclosure) in my case I have a potential Alzheimer's future to plan for. So items that anchor my memory are really, really important. My particular variety of thyroid disease has given me many sporadic glimpses of that future. Fortunately my family history is very late onset dementia, so I look forward to a decade or more of independent living-- and science may come to my rescue at this rate!

But in terms of our topics-- my mental wellbeing is worth shipping these low-value memory items to Ohio, and the process of doing/managing all that keeps my brain active as well.

I still don't know when Hardi's retirement will necessitate The Big Move, but it's a real gift to have had these years to do as much of it as possible, as gradually as possible. At this point, the PA house will look very minimalistic when I pull onto the road April 27, essentially containing a bare LR set and BR set, and the woodshop/garden tools that will be in use to maintain this old wreck until we're gone. About a full cargo-trailer-load, by then.

I've begun conversations with the landlord family regarding the house itself. We've lived in it longer than anyone since it was built, so we have some info about it that the landlord himself does not know-- in addition to details from the 2000 fire here they'll need to know. Like: sure, it's about 5000 square feet. But only one BR and the narrow nursery-sized bed room are actually habitable, due to wiring never fixed after the fire and rotten windows in another "BR" that's still set up as a kitchen. (And I know the exact spot where the post-fire contractor drywalled right over the place where re-wiring would be fished.) They're going to have to decide whether to bring this house up to code, or tear it down.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 18 - 11:53 AM

The computer backup hit a snag, meaning I have to figure out what program might be interfering. The Microsoft knowledge base offers little help. I looked through programs I don't use and uninstalled them, then I'll reboot the computer before attempting again.

Yesterday I ended the month by not going anywhere or spending anything. This morning in twitter I noticed this link to 6 money-saving tips your grandma used that are way more effective than any budgeting app. (I have a friend whose son put her on the envelope system for her bills and it is working.) Today I have to go out, dropping off things at Goodwill then a couple of modest purchases. I mined the freezer yesterday and am continuing to draw down those resources since every spring the garden produce starts to stake a claim on space. It's best if I've used up last year's produce first. With the stuff in there right now, I'm thinking about making a tamale casserole for this week to use up frozen beef, corn, tomatoes, peppers, cornmeal, etc. Time for the cornmeal to come out of there anyway.

Our topics are Decluttering and Fitness - I haven't reported on fitness for a while, but this time of year I get out more, gardening, mowing, and walking the dogs. Financial fitness - that's front and center, and I'm continuing with eBay.

I've been thinking about Mary's remarks about replacing possessions - there's a lot of stuff here that can be put back into service before making new purchases. The re-distribution process can be a full-time job, as we see with Susan and Dorothy.

Keep up with your work, everyone, and if there are any lurkers who'd like to share their success stories or ask questions, we welcome your participation!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Mar 18 - 06:04 PM

PA PACKATHON WEEKEND 'PAUSE':

Easter eve, Saturday 3/31

6 hours sleep ÷ 1.

The three good chairs on the 'loading dock' are now fabric-covered to protect them against bird poop yet permit continued airing out. The white shelf has stayed dry. My paper shredder has been found, and newsprint shred for packing materials is in progress for the last round of fragile items-- I've used up all bubble wrap on hand and refuse to buy more. I'm saving lasagna paper (dbl bed sz sheets) for framed art to set into leaf bags and then stand together in a huge box.

In keeping with weekend rhythm, I've continued NOT doing any packing to disrupt the main floor-- while doing self-contained, small tasks. And we watched some silly TV this afternoon.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Mar 18 - 04:13 PM

I've rooted around in the greenhouse and garage and found a few simple ways to add pots to that front patio. A heavy duty plastic saucer was languishing in the greenhouse and is now under a matching pot, and I found two pots nested together, both faux terracotta, that when arranged that way offer about 1/2 inch of standing water for the inside pot. Any more than that and it drains from the outer pot. That makes four out there so far.

I have hoses and attachments in place and I repaired a watering can (there's a song in that!) that will stay on the front porch for the various pots. The weeds were pulled from a few of last year's pots by the driveway and I'll figure out what gets planted soon. If I'm patient I can end up with nice flowers from seeds; if I want to spend a small fortune I can buy a whole bunch of bedding plants. I'm aiming at the patient approach right now, considering the other things I can do with the cash. :)

Rearranging the sunroom is a regular activity; today I moved pre-packed eBay items onto a trolley that used to hold (among other yard and garden things) a huge bin of bird seed, but I stopped feeding the birds when the seed on the ground attracted rats and mice. A neighborhood cat seems to have dispatched the remaining rodents, thank you kitty! I have a few more items to test and list this evening as I work toward the goal of clearing out previous thrift store purchases (that I knew I could sell for more online) and the household items that will either be sold or donated.

I'm thinking about ordering a custom tea mug because I can't find the exact message I want in the ones already online, and found a few sites that offer good prices, but I can't tell if they are simply printed or if they are glazed or sealed in such a way to make it durable. Have any of you done specialty mugs before? What were your thoughts?

Computer backup is running now, it hit a snag last night. I intend to research the prospect of putting an external drive in the closet with the router, that has a USB port, and might be the perfect place for the backup drive to live. Out of sight in case another burglary happens, there to come to the rescue with all of my data.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 31 Mar 18 - 12:07 PM

Thanks Maggie.....it's amazing how much space that opened up!

I did well this week at WW. Down 2.2. I was hoping for more (you know, like 120 pounds...LOL) but this is a nice healthy start and I feel good about it!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Mar 18 - 11:06 AM

It's nice to have an organized sewing room - and ironing is such an important part of making sure the project turns out looking good. Congratulations on the big bags for donation!

I'm looking around for ideas for saucers under pots that will go on the new front patio area. They don't need to match the pot or each other, they need to be sturdy, wide enough, not too deep. The ones you buy can add up if you buy several, and they never seem to last as long as the should. I'm looking for containers I can recycle, lids that have enough depth to hold a little water (I don't want to drown plants). I'll put mosquito dunks in them to keep from growing mosquitoes and gnats.

My goal is to have attractive plants in what may possibly be funky pots, something that won't be bothered. My next door neighbor had someone back up her driveway and steal large fancy potted plants, so we're both a little cautious about putting out anything too tempting to opportunists. I have a lot of work to do out there still, and a concrete path to finish now that it's warm.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Mar 18 - 07:51 PM

I had today off, HOORAY! I spent half of it sleeping which I really, REALLY needed. The rest of the day was spent with my family and in my sewing room. I packed up two 33 gallon bags that are destined for Goodwill (and out of my space already) and one bag of trash.....mostly thread and snippets of trimmed fabric edges that aren't useful. I found that I have more interfacing than any one person should have.....I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it all as it really is a space hog and unruly to store. Then I spent some time looking at the fabric I have and settled on my next project. I have two sewing retreats coming up and I like to have everything ironed and cut before I go so I can just sit and sew while hanging out with friends. I find that I need quiet to concentrate on what I'm cutting....so tonight I ironed the fabric for my next project and will do some cutting tomorrow. It's not a huge project so I anticipate being able to have it all cut in one sitting. :)

Tomorrow is my first week weigh in. I think I did reasonably well and am looking forward to seeing everyone.

Happy Friday Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Mar 18 - 04:44 PM

PA PACKATHON, OFFICE PURGE CTD

All this without disrupting my earlier clearing efforts....

The office corner purge went farther in the last hour. Gone are several piles of now-obsolete paper, which resulted in a nearly filled recycle bin from the last few days plus today; also a full LL box. A tray table and a plastic drawer unit now stand where the cubbies stood. Autoharp items were consolidated with the harp. Climate Change items were grouped into the drawer unit, along with misc Sat nite/folk music items to address in September.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Mar 18 - 10:42 AM

PA PACKATHON, REDIRECTED EDITION:

For Tyler to cut grooves to slide in my antique dresser (and to occupy his mind/hands on a positive focus while he's between jobs), I'll need to pull the dresser away from the wall to get accurate measurements of the heights of the moldings requiring the grooves-- ON THE RUG. To prep for that, therefore I just spent a productive half hour further purging the office corner, removing the second cubby to the ramp, and setting up one catchbox for tech items bound twds the LL office corner.

This resulted in moving another paper pile ready to purge onto a tray table, which is now moved beside the desktop (near chair and light), without disrupting ydy's clearing up of the downstairs. There's also space to set up the Parish catchbox now, on top of the printer they're getting back.

It occurs to me that this is all drawing upon the MIL-visit-prep skills I learned during the decade or so of her visits-- clean/organize YES, but within PUR ongoing goals/house priorities, not to imagined standards of HER cleanliness needs. Use the desire to make the house nicer for her as an opportunity to move US forward.

I hope my DIL preps that way when I visit HER (and have told her so)!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Mar 18 - 07:46 AM

PA PACKATHON PLANNING:

Last night I spotted a simple office corner fix that will facilitate LR packing, but I didn't have the muscle power left to do it-- maybe later today.

It's too dark in the DR to pack effectively. The next step there is setting up "catch" boxes for each destination room/garage spot.

There's misc upstairs to bring down for those boxes, but poor space up there for a duplicate set of catch boxes. The upstrs work this coming week should focus on art and furniture. The rest of the upstairs (books, photos, and misc to further purge) is for September work.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Mar 18 - 08:59 PM

Whew! The front entry area is cleared including a black plastic bag full of garden fabric that has bounced around the house all year-- now repurposed for workshop hankies and cleaning rags. Found a flannel sheet that's probably a king or queen, to make an excellent draw sheet for the camper. And a crib sheet for the portacrib I'm taking. All those will be boxed for their destination spots-- next week.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Mar 18 - 06:55 PM

mg, if you're not beset with lots of items I'm happy for you, but what we're packing are memories to enjoy now that we can foresee having time and space for a social life. And two professional offices. So far, every item I've boxed has not only a destination room but a spot in that room envisioned. No chaos is being sent to Ohio! :-)


PA PACKATHON, STREP THROAT EDITION

Planned packing today was five Madonnas (now that a designated shelf has been identified for the collection), and carrying out one desk cubby unit, then sliding a nearby item over to hold the printer until its box turns up. I thought I might also pack more from the china cabinet today, but expected that a noon fone conference and amoxicillin naps would compete.

But what actually got done in addition to the naps and fone conference:

The Madonnas went happily into an egg box. Two marble eggs and other knicknackery went into a divided Labatt box w a cast iron nutcracker on a red base and a silver wassail cup with a wooden handle. Some now-designated-everyday glassware went into a divided Miller Lite box. I'm waiting for one of the heavy, divided boxes the church's sanctuary lamps come in, for the good glassware, inside a larger box that will also hold the good china.

Those sealed, the packing peanuts were gone. Then after supper, one deskside cubby unit (and all but one of the boxes packed of late) were set out on the ramp to reduce LR chaos, and I could actually foresee getting our LR back. I also emptied the drawers of the side table I'm taking, and felt ready to pack two large, very fragile clocks into the amp box.

Before Hardi left to conduct tonight's Holy Week mass (they're nightly this week), we had a strategy talk about the Most Fragile boxes-- result: they'll travel safely "crated" in the closet case that used to house the mini-fridge.

Then after he left, I packed that "Rumble" amp box (left unsealed to air out the fog-dampened lasagna paper). That's cushioning the steeple clock, the domed clock, a small silver candy dish, a silver-rimmed glass relish bowl, and a covered, 3-section glass relish dish.

Hardi will be the logical person to unpack this box during vacation, and choose where the clocks may live. The steeple clock is nearly as tall as the box, so it can't be on display in the china cabinet. :-( The domed clock, if it fits, will make a good display item in the china cabinet-- which will house decor, now that we've decided to USE the remaining china!

The card table and most of the packing supplies are now in the DR, out of the main drag. The rest of the front door entry area can be cleaned up tmrw (or later tonight if I get ambitious). Time for the weekly break from packing for church stuff (including Easter)!!! Until I get a better divided box, the rest of the china cabinet will have to wait, so next week the upstairs packing resumes.

The dnstrs Goodwill bag has been relegated to the desk zone where the cubby had been. The trash bag is with the card table. There is also a tiny box for miscellaneous items that are boxed with their destination-room stuff, as new boxes for them shape up. I refuse to take "miscellaneous" boxes!

The conference call with my SURJ chapter-coach was superb. No assignments and all doors open.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Mar 18 - 08:22 PM

Beaver:

I have lost count of the number of times I have moved household! They say 10 moves equal one fire so, although I consider "move" a "four letter word", they certainly have cut down greatly on the amount of stuff I have accumulated - still too much! As I embark on yet another new beginning: there is stuff stored at the mill which I will go through After the big move and see what still fits my life. I believe there are things I have not seen since they were packed on Whidbey; that does not mean there is nothing precious there - maybe. We are fortunate that we can move only that which we really want into the new house. I intend to remove as much as possible to the mill before hand as well as sort out with R - Do you really want this/these????? He has an ugly china cabinet (he loves) full of china and stuff I detest... And an ever increasing collection of glass vases - I like two... I am rather counting on him treasuring this new home enough to let go of stuff that does not suit it. I am only dealing with kitchen stuff and household pretties - obtained 4 lovely valances at the thrift shop this week and an elegant glass pitcher - for which I have been on the lookout.

Going back to Quebec on Sunday, perhaps Saturday if snow is threatened, with a load for the mill and will add to it and deliver on the next snow-free day. Also taking portable wheel and clay so I can work there if it is warm enough. Leaving a wheel here so I can work here when I get back. Have managed to get none done in this two week stay. Maybe tomorrow...

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 18 - 07:51 PM

Mary, you were probably occasionally at my father's house for the Song Circle meetings? The house was 800sf and packed to the gills - he loved to entertain and had lots of kitchen gadgets and serving containers and flatware. His shed across the road was 2500sf and he had two tall upright freezers and the box for every electronic/music device he ever bought. I spent quite a while matching boxes and owners manuals (filed) to the devices, and family members carted those things away happily. Mostly, happily, anyway. I kept household items and his music collection. But I'd dealt with other family estates, from his side of the family, and they were all not hoarders, but they always knew things would eventually have a use.

When I moved into this house I took everything of mine out of storage (I'd been in an apartment for a couple of years) and stuff from my parents' estates out of storage. For a while there were a couple of rooms here packed tight with furniture and boxes of stuff. I hadn't intended to keep all of it, but over time the things I thought I'd sell have become less popular and other things have become trendy (all vintage or antiques). I'm slowly moving things out via eBay, a few things went via Craig's List (but that is a dangerous place, I won't use it any more - no one wants to consider the price you're asking, they don't turn up when they say they will, etc.) I used to donate some things and take a tax break, but I don't have enough deductions to itemize any more.

Every now and then when I'm reading through this list I think of the backpack you must live out of. :) I have duplication of stations (music, TV, computers) all over the house so I can plop down anywhere and work and listen or watch while I work. But in other things, I'm paring back and recycling, selling, donating, or discarding. Something Dad never got around to. I did a pretty good job of filling a 30-yard dumpster with stuff that came out of his house and shed before we ever divided the rest amongst family members. I don't want my kids to have to do that.

When it came down to it, Dad really loved entertaining people, music, and reading. If he'd given it some thought I think he could have gotten rid of a lot of stuff and kept the books, the chair and the good reading lamp, the computer and music devices and instruments, and kitchen stuff. That alone would have made his house comfortable without being crowded.