I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the ACT, the Ngunnawal people. I acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Seven Things Week 13

Slow down is the new normal.  This week I resorted to one of the easy wins identified at the beginning, the picture frames we rescued when Richard's parents moved into retirement living earlier in the year.  I wasn't saving them for a slow week, as such, but the ramped up socialising and end-of-year work frenzy meant I didn't really have much time for other areas.

I did do some hard thinking over some clothes in my wardrobe.  I'm delighted to report there is breathing space in the hanging part of my wardrobe now - everything is not jammed in as it was.

IN

1rainwater tankswap
really it was a gift but we'll call it a swap because we brought it home after delivering pavers to a friend
4weightsThe Green Shed
these are actual weights that go on a weightlifting bar, but they are the smallest - they will become my patten weights.  I've wanted pattern weights for a long time, and was to pick these up for 50c each second hand.  I need to brush the surface rust off and give them a coat of clear varnish before I can use them.
5




OUT

1glassbinthe ceramic floor claimed another victim
2jacketsop shop
I did a try and evaluate session in part of my wardrobe and several items did not make the cut.  These were very difficult decisions.
2dressesop shop
They no longer fit my needs
2pairs of trousersop shop
Just didn't fit right
2cardiesop shop
I wore them but I was never happy with them
1bookgifttis the season for Secret Santa gifts
110paversswap
really they were gifts but as we were given a rainwater tank from the paver recipient the day we delivered the pavers, we can call it a swap
43picture framesThe Green Shed
Rescued from Richard's parents when they moved earlier this year.
2sets of metal drawersBuy Nothing Community
I brought these home a few weeks ago, we kept what we could use and now I'm sharing the joy
1wooden dollbin
she was our car mascot, having from the rear vision mirror.  Her ribbon rotted and broke.  She is so faded, it was time to release her.
166




NETT OUT 161

TOTAL OUT SINCE total out since 27 August 2018 = 4233

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Seven Things Week 12

Wow!  3 months of being accountable, and there were many more months of decluttering before this.

I really struggled this week.  I'm in pain and I'm tired and the easy stuff has all been done.  In some areas I am now on the second or third pass.

Initially, in every area of the house, there are things it is easy to get rid of. With some areas I would race through the easy stuff then shy from the hard decisions when the easy wins were had.  My heart would cry nooooooooo!  In some cases I ploughed on but it often resulted in a resistance to declutter anything at all, anywhere.  The oppositional child reaction.  So in order to maintain momentum, when I hit a really tough emotional response, I move onto to an area where the emotion isn't as deep.  It is an exercise like any other, as I practice I get stronger and everything gets easier.   The later passes have been much easier.  This works for me, it is certainly not the advice in the decluttering literature.

Also, honouring the impulse to create last weekend, even though the things I sewed were small, helped a lot.  I gathered all of the fabrics of the type needed.  I used the ones that appealed to me the most.  This week, looking at the ones I shied from I figured I'd already made the decision and offered them to friends first and op shopped the rest.  I guess it's Marie Kondo's "spark joy" concept, but I needed to demonstrate it.  Just holding the stuff isn't enough.  My thought process are "Every piece of fabric is useful, right?" and "I can totally make something out of that!" These things are true but when given the opportunity I chose not to use certain fabrics.


IN


2stencilsEbayordered in a moment of Bullet Journal envy
1paintingop shopForgot to list this from a couple of weeks ago.  
1calendarEtsy

1washing basketThe Green ShedForgot to list this from a couple of weeks ago.  


OUT


27Fowlers Jarsbarteredhoney and veg - great deal
1t-shirtop shopstained and ill-fitting
3dog harnessesop shopnone of the neighbours wanted these recent eBay mistakes so off to the op shop.
4Tupperware cupsop shopand as I had to take the dog harnesses to the op shop, I decided that everything else could go there as well and I didn’t have to bother listing for Buy Nothing.
2Tupperware mugsop shop

4draw string bagsop shopProjects bags for knitting that I don’t like or don’t use
6topsop shopI will end up with a capsule wardrobe in the end, I suspect
4dressesop shop

8pieces of fabricop shop

3key ringsop shop

13doiliesop shop

1pair of pantsop shop

47dvdsbindownloaded, dodgy burned discs.  We have been through our DVDs at least twice in the last 2 years and yet I still find more.
1pair of socksbinhandknits with an irreparable hole
1phone charging cablebinthe cheap ones die so readily
1quick-unpickbinBlunt and had lost the little ball from the end.
2vintage linen teatowelsgift

36doiliesgift

5pieces of fabricgift

169




NETT OUT  164
total out since 27 August 2018 = 4072


Sunday, November 11, 2018

Seven Things Week 11

A definite slow down this week. My pain levels are very high and as Dora has been waking me in the night for comfort (she is not well), sleep has not been great.




So it was easier to deal with bulk stuff from the garage than in the house.  We have a HUGE supply of Fowler's Vacola preserving jars. We don't bottle as much as we used to so don't need the large jars anymore. We offered up our larger jars on a Facebook barter group. The group is largely home growers and makers so we've been swapping our jars for produce.  We have a lot of eggs, now (and into the future). It's been a really positive experience.





I also got into the sewing room this week.  While there is still much to declutter and reorganise, the need to create could not be denied.

IN


3dog harnessesEbayWhen preparing to evacuate we realised that we needed harnesses for the dogs in both cars.  These rarely come up second hand and our need is fairly urgent. Unfortunately these are too small, so I will have to find a new home for them soon.
2dog seatbelt extendersEbay

5





OUT


2blanketsBuy Nothing CommunityMore souvenir stuff that we get as members of football clubs.  I’ve asked them to not send me the member stuff this year.  It’s better for all of us.
1decanterBuy Nothing CommunityA hideous wedding present.  A glass and silver plated duck that one of my neighbours loved so much she sent her husband to collect it immediately before anyone else could get it.  Each to her own.
56cloth unpaper towelsBuy Nothing CommunityI made these out of flannelette pjs in the free bins at the Green Shed.  I love them, but have more fabric than I need, so I decided to offer them to the neighbours.  There was much demand.
42resuable makeup wipesBuy Nothing CommunityNot as popular as the unpaper towels, but I could have given away many more than I had.
1keyboardBuy Nothing CommunityMy work iPad died.  I’d bought a keyboard to make it useable while travelling.  The keyboard still works but is excess to our needs.
3pairs of trousersop shopTOF did the hard thing and gave up some trousers. 
10pairs pantyhoseop shopI may be a librarian but I am never going to wear sheer beige panythose.  Ever.  These are all new and in packaging.
92Fowlers JarsbarteredBartered for food - mostly eggs.
32wall hooksgiftWe bought a bulk lot of removable wall hooks to hold up the bunting that was wall decoration for our wedding.
7saucepansrecyclingPretty sure these pans came with our touring caravan.  They were in such terrible condition the only use for them was metal recycling
8pieces of fabricused upI made some Christmas presents out of stash 
254






NETT OUT  249
total out since 27 August 2018 = 3908

Sunday, November 04, 2018

Seven Things Week 10

This last Friday we prepared to evacuate our home in the face of an out of control bushfire that was (and still is) 8 kilometres away.  Ours is among the first houses in the direct path of the fire. That tends to concentrate the mind about what is important.

I packed the dogs, medications, our laptops and vital personal documents (certificates and passports) and enough undies for a week and a couple of changes of clothes and shoes each.

And then I turned to the inessential but important things.  For me it was our wedding photos, my jewellery and family items - my great, great, great  grandmother's chest brought out from Ireland in the 1850s, my great grandfather's WWI diary, the recordings my father sent to my mother when he was serving in Vietnam, the recordings of family funerals, and some other family desiderata.

And then I packed a set of interchangeable knitting needles and a 2k cone of lace weight organic merino and cashmere.  Because I am still me and I had the time and space.

It all fitted into the back of our 19 year old Corolla with quite a lot of room to spare. 

So that and my husband (whom I left at the house to put out spot fires), are the things I value most.  Useful to know in this latest journey of decluttering.


Snowie (front) and Dora ready to be evacuated

A poor photo (I was in a hurry), of a not full boot of a 1999 Corolla hatchback

IN

1SarongThe Green ShedI really love the free bins at the Green Shed
1suitcase wetpackThe Green Shedno more totally wet suitcase from my swimmers while I’m travelling - more from the free bins
1insulated lunch bagThe Green ShedI probably didn’t really need to bring this home but it was cute and free - I’m not perfect

OUT

80balls of yarndestashgetting rid of yarn is really hard
3pairs undiesbin
last of the ASOS cheapies - lesson learned
14paversgift

5topsop shop

1pair trousersop shop
They were fine but I would have need to buy or make tops to go with them.  Easier to let them go than create more things.
180reels of nylon bindingBuy Nothing Communityno tomato plant will go unsupported this year!
5dressesop shop
Try them on and if they don't fit well, they go
35sewing needlesPaper and the WorksHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
4sewing needlesbinHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
1lip balmbinHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
3pencil toppersbinHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
10hair clipsop shopHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
5decorative tinsop shopHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
3pin tinsPaper and the WorksHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
1knitting needlePaper and the WorksHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
32stitch markersKnitters GuildHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
1thimblegiftHot afternoon declutter of my knitting tools trolley
8buttonsused on a knitted garment

153balls of yarnKnitters GuildIt’s a lot easier to give it away than it is to sell it.  I value my time.
10shirtsop shopTOF succumbed to my suggestions (nagging is such an ugly word) that he look at the shirts he didn’t wear last winter
2loomsPaper and the Works

6craft booksPaper and the Works

562




NETT OUT 559
total out since 27 August 2018 = 3658