Becoming a minimalist after hoarding is not the easiest thing to do, I was given something by someone who has passed away and I see that person when I look at the thing.
But.....
I know good and well the person would not want me to keep "anything" that is nothing more but a rotting mess that interferes with my life now.
So, I continue to get rid of "My Hoard." Whether I was allowing people to dump their junk on me, to rot, or if it was something of mine, its still my hoard to deal with. My hoard to get rid of.
I also work three jobs :) and I have to do the cleaning here at my own home, so I am splitting work. I don`t like to do things this way but I am managing while I do not have a choice. In a perfect world I would go in and cleaning it all out in one day, be done and move on..... But that is not how life works for me right now.
How am I dealing? Read on.
Tuesday - fixed dogs fence at home. The dogs escaped!
Wednesday - The old home place, took the table and chair out, a bathroom sink, several boxes, one wall completely cleaned, scrapped and ready to paint. Filled the trash can all the way to the top. Got rid of two boxes of books.
Thursday - Took out old pine wardrobe the bottom was rotted out, took out sewing machine. Put together 2 metal shelves and one plastic. Painted one wall, 2 coats of white paint.
Friday - This was the day to get most of everything gone. One truck load to the dump, one to my uncle (scrap), one to a tenant and one to donate. I painted the floor where the selves were going. I mowed 1/2 of the grass.
Saturday - I cleaned out the area by the front door, took it all outside. removed the side table and set it out in the yard to be hauled off. I painted that wall one coat and the floor, I ran out of floor paint. Outside I gave my sister some of my dads stuff and threw some away, another tub was fall decor, I threw away a stuffed animal and will donate the rest. I also got rid of an old duffle bag and another old canteen.
Sunday - Added another shelf.
Monday - April 1st.
Filled the trash can half full with more junk. painted the second coat of white on the one wall by the door, set up the other shelf. Moved all the lumber that is left over and stacked it properly off the floor. Swept the section, somewhat. The room is ready for the other half to be removed and cleaned.
I worked for another week on two jobs so I had to allow this place to sit till I got more time, however, I got so much accomplished. I am proud of myself.
April 2nd. Tuesday through Sunday April 7th.
So for the first week of April I tackled home,my home for now. I am thinking about moving so it was time to concentrate on this place, I have gotten to comfortable here.
I totally cleaned out an entire room! Well, not the bed, nightstand, or dresser, but all the other stuff in the room.
BUT! that is not all, I also cleaned out the jam packed full closet!
Cleaned out my own closet.
Cleaned out the lower cabinet in the kitchen.
And I took all the house plants and tomato plants I had started inside to plant next week.
I vacuumed and mopped, dusted and wiped things down.
This place looks good and smells better.
Now, this last week? What have I been up to?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing!
But that is how life works for me. I am a caregiver and sometimes all of his appointments fall on the same week. I take him to several specialist and for blood work and tests, then back to the primary care doctor.
So..... that means I am back and ready to get busy on this lifestyle of minimalism. I will make a list and get busy, doing the easiest first and working my way down to the hardest.
How about you? Getting it done?
By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry
I am always amazed at how much you get done. You have inspired me to do the same and I have been getting rid of stuff that I don't need anymore. It's been a long week of cleaning and looking for a new place. My search goes on. I hope all is well.
ReplyDeleteYes all is okay here, moving will make you think twice about keeping junk.
DeleteKeep going! There are a lot of people pulling for you to succeed!
ReplyDeleteYay! My cheering squad :D
DeleteI will get`er done or bust a guy, as they say.
It's good to detail your progress here. Too many of us look at what is not done and get discouraged. You are doing great.
ReplyDeleteNo, I cannot look at what is left to be done or I will fall over just thinking about it.
DeleteI am just getting it done as I can, its hard sometimes when you have someone sick at home. But I do not stop because of sickness.
You certainly have been busy. Way to go.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am working hard this year
DeleteSynchronicity...I'm not tossing, but moving stuff out of barn before it falls in, and this weekend I came to a barrel of souvenirs parents put away right after brother died. All well preserved because he'd carved so many cedar pieces, smelling cedary rather than moldy...but who stores the seeds someone meant to plant in 1982? Or the TOOTHbrush? I kept a lot, but some things really wanted burning.
ReplyDeleteI think what told me to go ahead & burn was the bag of his Native American Pride stuff. I remembered that in some traditions people carried around a bag of useless personal souvenirs for 1 year after a death, and then on the jahrtzeit they burned it.
Yes I agree it was time to burn that.
ReplyDelete