Packing up

I am writing this from Mum's hospital room.  Yep, again.

This is her third hospitalisation this year.  I am waiting for the medical staff to finish their meeting with the nursing, physiotherapy and social work staff who are deciding Mum's fate.

As soon as a place is available she will be moved to respite care, pending a nursing home.  It's not going down well with Mum, although she's so sore and tired at the moment the fight isn't really there.

This morning before coming to the hospital, I started looking at the house with an eye to packing it up.  Fortunately Mum is a neat freak so it's not going to be a task like on the tv show "Hoarders" as a friend on Facebook imagined.  It's just going to be emotionally difficult and physically challenging.

The kitchen and linen cupboard look like the best places to start.  Fewer items of sentimental value and I cleared out the extraneous from the linen cupboard in January.  I'm going for easy wins in the first few days. 

The craft stuff, too, has to be dealt with.  Again, I've culled this fairly well in the last six months.  Moving things on will be easy enough - I know lots of people who can use craft supplies - but there will be things I want to keep such as the length of tartan in the family pattern bought in Scotland and a gift from a dear family friend (long dead); the Brussels lace bought for me by my grandmother for my wedding dress (poor deluded but well-meaning woman); and the vintage vyellas and batistes.  I can't and won't keep it all, but some of it will come home.

Green Tomato Sauce

We were the grateful recipients of several loads of green tomatoes this year.  Just as well, our entire tomato yield was 3 ripe tomatoes and a balancing amount of green ones.

I keep forgetting where we get our recipes from so this will be the first in a series of posts recording what we made, where it came from and any deviations from the original recipe.  I probably should have recorded yield etc, but I didn't.

RECIPE:  Green Tomato Sauce

SOURCE:  The Australian Women's Weekly Home Library. The Book of Preserves. Australian Consolidate Press, 1990.  p. 106.

DEVIATION 1:  used our own red wine vinegar instead of brown vinegar - softer, sweeter, more complex flavour as result.

DEVIATION 2:  in second batch added a couple of sliced green chillis. 

NEXT TIME:  Add more chilli.

12 in 11 April Update

This month I appreciate, very clearly, the value of thrift.

With one of the dogs requiring several surgeries and associated costs, having savings to fall back on was immensely comforting.  Doesn't make parting with more money than I've ever spent on anything apart from real estate any easier, but it is comforting.

I'm also glad of the extra discipline the 12 in 11 challenge has given me.  In order to replenish the savings, I'll need to be more careful than ever, and as op-shopped clothing is a particular indulgence of mine, this challenge is now an economic necessity.

QUOTA USED:

1 fine wool black jumper (Maggie T brand for the Aussies).  I know I'm a knitter, and that's what makes it possible for me to know that this fine knit in a quality brand was an absolute bargain at $4.  Mixes and matches with my work wardrobe for winter layers and cared for properly will see many more seasons.

Quota used 6/12.  Half my quota used in 4 months.  Sounds a lot but is less than I'd buy on a good op-shopping day normally.  I'm happy with my progress.

EXEMPT ITEMS ACQUIRED:

Last year I bought a man's wool and silk blazer at Salvos.  It fit well around the hips and was a good length in the body, but the shoulders were too wide and the sleeves too long.  I'm a good home dressmaker, but I'm know my limitations and resetting the sleeves in a lined jacket of this quality is beyond them.  I had a local tailor recut and reset the sleeves. The jacket cost me $25 plus  $85 for the tailoring.  $110 for a tailored to fit wool and silk jacket that looks great with jeans and boots to dress up a casual outfit.  Love it. Worth it.

Creating has been for other people this month and will continue for a while yet.

Thanks for all the fish

Thanks to everyone for the kind wishes. Rosie is out of hospital(s) and appears to be on the mend. We are waiting to see what the weekend will bring but are very hopeful.


I won't be around much for a while and the seven things challenge has been put on hold.

Mum's been in hospital and is out now but requires a little more care at the moment and another family member is very unwell and I need to be present for the family and not worrying about inconsequential things like my clutter.

Everything will be fine, I just need to concentrate on the family right now.

Back soon xxx

This is our lovely Rosie.  She's in need of your healing thoughts, prayers and wishes right now, having just had her second lot of abdominal surgery in a fortnight.

Seven Things Week 21

Calming down on the "ins" after the last couple of weeks.

IN
1 porcupine quill to use as a shawl pin GIFT
2 DVDS.  Popped in to buy a gift, ended up with a copy of Don Juan De Marco for $7 and something else for TOF.  Johnny Depp films under $10 are part of the collection development policy.
1 book.  Went to Lincraft for fabric dye.  No dye but ended up with Naughty Needles from the sale table for $8.  Impulse buy fail.

OUT
2 cup top coffee filter holders RECYCLING
1 glass coffee flask RECYCLING
1 plastic brooch RECYLING
1 old bag strap BIN
2 back packs OP SHOP
7 video recordings OP SHOP
1 skirt OP SHOP
1 jacket OP SHOP
1 pr jeans OP SHOP
1 shirt OP SHOP
1 riding helment OP SHOP

SIAA
2 pairs socks for gift giving.

IN 4

OUT 19

NETT OUT 15

SIAA 2

12 in 11 March Update

End of the first quarter and tracking a bit high.

With the change of seasons, though, comes a reckoning in the wardrobe.  I'm pretty ok for casual gear, but my work wardrobe was a little low and the going out clothes very patchy.  That's fixed now.

Also, the planned sewing didn't happen.  I need to get back into a routine with the sewing machine. I'm incredibly proud of my discernment in shopping, though.  I've brought home in three months what would have come home in a day previously.

QUOTA USED:

I picked up fine wool blend charcoal grey trousers and skirt. Quality fabric and well designed, cut and made garments.   The trousers (Lisa Ho) set me back $5 and the skirt (Basque - the Myer larger sizes label) $2.   I couldn't leave either behind at that price.  I have also culled a lot of tatty garments from last winter's wardrobe, so no nett gain; a nett loss in fact.

Then there was the black stretch satin evening skirt for $2.50.  I was missing a black evening skirt or pants. The purchase of this one skirt means I have five going out outfits. We don't go out much, but it's good to know I have options when we do.

Running total 5/12

EXEMPT ITEMS ACQUIRED:

GIFTS

1 dress.  TSS bought it for me on the sly but I was going to buy it anyway.  A black and white spotty sun dress in vintage style that fitted for $3, you bet it was coming home with me.  Although it's not outstanding quality, it is well designed and matched all the other criteria for inclusion in the wardrobe where there is a lack of fab and fun frocks.  I would not have been able to make this - no patterns and the fabric would be difficult to source and certainly not for $3.

CREATED
1 pair socks.  Created from the scraps of other hand-knitted socks.  C'mon- triple bonus points on this one?
1 pair socks.  Yarn recycled from jumper TOF bought at an op shop for $1. (I''ll get at least 6 prs of socks from this jumper).

OTHER EXEMPT
There was an attempt to buy new underwear, but bra shopping when Target had a 30% off sale ended in a mixture of rage and self-loathing.  Of course there was nothing left in my size in the one style they sell that I can wear in the colour I wanted (black - not exactly unusual).  Plenty of all the other sizes and one to fit in granny beige.  What does this tell you Target?  OK, not quite calmed down yet.  Nothing purchased.

My only pair of summer sandals died in January.  I replaced them with a pair from the Vinnies Monster Sale (brand new) for $3 and added a pair of new pair summer sports shoes for another $3.  I've decided to exempt these as they are replacements / necessary exercise equipment.

ADDED TO THE SAVINGS JAR
Nothing added and while I came close a couple of times I resisted all but the good quality gear that coordinates with the current wardrobe.

Seven Things Week 20

20 weeks!  Good golly.  Another big week for ins thanks to the Lifeline Bookfair and Vinnies Monster Sale.

This week the summer clothes were put away and the cooler weather clothes disinterred.

Naturally I took the opportunity to remove anything not worn over the summer and to reassess the winter stuff.  There is a small pile of items ear-marked for wearing in and abandoning in New Zealand and a very small pile for the dyepot to make them useable next season.  Not looked at yet - knitwear and accessories.

IN

• 1 pr fine wool blend trousers for work $5 OP SHOP
• 1 fine wool blend skirt for work $2 OP SHOP
• 1 black satin evening skirt $2.50 OP SHOP
• 2 Tupperware items $3 OP SHOP
• 1 bags - replacing 6 with 1 is not bad. $6 OP SHOP
• 1 pr sandals $3
• 1 pr sports shoes $3
• 12 vintage patterns/knitting mags $15 LIFELINE BOOK FAIR
• 10 books - LIFELINE BOOKFAIR

OUT

• 3 skirts
• 8 tops/shirts
• 4 prs trousers/shorts
• 2 jackets
• 6 hand bags
• 1 pr hiking boots
• 1 Tupperware container

IN 30

OUT 25

NETT OUT -5

Seven Things Week 19

Hmm, so the cross-border raid on the Goulburn op shops resulted in a few ins.

We did take the advantage of dropping off some outs at the Smith Family, though.  Canberra no longer has a Smith Family Op Shop (and I still miss it badly) so we can be assured of not accidentally buying back our own stuff, or buying back an something to present to the original owner (this has happened).  On that note, anyone shopping at Vinnies in Dickson - please don't buy me any knitting wool.

Also a week of ferrying dogs to vets, work and a weekend spent in family celebrations and support team for World Naked Bike Ride, Canberra - not much time to identify any outs.  TOF locked his wardrobe just in case, though.

IN
5 knitting patterns for the collection OP SHOP
1 battleaxe OP SHOP
1 Bodum coffee plunger OP SHOP
6 items Tupperware OP SHOP
1 dress GIFT
1 ball yarn GIFT
7 lots of buttons OP SHOP
1 scarf (Wallabies official merchandise) OP SHOP
2 shirt for TOF OP SHOP
1 pr trousers for TOF OP SHOP
1 mincer attachment for the Kenwood Chef OP SHOP
1 sausage filling attachement for the Kenwood Chef OP SHOP

28

OUT
1 hand bag

SIAA
1 pr socks

IN 28

OUT 1

NETT OUT - 27

SIAA 1

Seven Things Week 18

Another odd week.  I'm now required to work every second Saturday.  The upside is I have every second Monday off.  I may have spent rather too much time in op shops last Monday.  Then two days in the last weekend at a course in Sydney and no time to shop or cull.

We have a public holiday in Canberra today, so TSS and I are taking Mum and heading over the border to Goulburn who do not have a public holiday today.  I'm just the driver, though.  Promise to try to be good. ;)

TOF has done the traditional Canberra Day long weekend thing - he's gone to the coast.  He will be op shopping the south coast today - look out Bermagui!  I suspect there will be a problem with the "ins" in the coming week.

IN
1 Tupperware jug $2
1 cake tin $3
1 pastry container $2
1 hat for TOF $2
1 scarf for TOF $2
1 charm $5
all op shopped.
OUT
100 balls yarn 
7 tops

IN 6

OUT 107

NETT OUT 101

Seven Things week 17

It's all about the yarn again this week.  Craft supplies, particularly yarn, cause most of clutter here.  If it's not sitting around on chairs like a sulky teenager, it's taking up all the room in cupboards that could be used for other things which also perch on chairs and in corners waiting to pounce on unsuspecting visitors.

I just want to put it all away.

The assessment process for yarn is evolving.

I rarely knit for garments for myself and I prefer lighter weight wool to anything else when I do.  Mostly this is thinner wool (5 and 4 ply).  It is  may also be light as in not heavy - so my beloved Patons Jet with its alpaca content is safe for the moment.  Similarly, TOF doesn't feel the cold much, so should I ever knit him a jumper (and I am not saying I will, why tempt fate with the sweater curse?), I'd use a 5 or 4ply.

I went through the 8ply first and took out anything in colours I wouldn't knit for myself or the ones I love, dividing into jumper amounts and smaller amounts. A jumper amount is 20 balls or so.  If there was less than 20 balls, most of that went.  Some smaller amounts in good colours for accessories for TOF, Mum or I stayed, but most went. All they hand-dyed stayed. Some jumper amounts stayed just because I couldn't bear to part with them yet.  That's ok.  I'm allowed to keep stuff, I just need to make sure that I love it and/or can actually use it (sometime).

Then I went through the 5 plys and did much the same thing.  I was less rigorous with this category because TOF prefers a 5 or 6ply sock, so in this case I got rid of colours I wouldn't use.  I know I can overdye, but given the quantity of yarn, I don't really need to.  The charity knitters were very happy.

Novelty yarns were next.  Some of it was the muppet variety, others were lovely blends and textures.  There was an amazing amount of this still hanging around, although I'd obviously kept only certain colours and shades.  I think I intended a textured blanket in black, white and greys with this, but as I'd forgotten the exact plan, it was bagged up and taken to the op shop from where it disappeared within days of arrival.

This week the 12 ply and bulky yarns set aside for hats for the homeless etc.was the focus.  I've not knitted many of these in recent times but I'm not ready to get rid of all of this particular stash. Other assessments were mostly about colour.  This one was about feel.  I fondled it all and decided that if I couldn't stand the hand, the yarn went. It's not about softness, so much as whether I could stand to knit with it, some harsher outerwear yarns still feel good.  I haven't finished assessing this yarn, but so far it's about 50/50 keep and go.  All of this went to the op shop.

I've exhausted my usual, and a couple of new, yarn heirs recently.  As most of the yarn came from an op shop, it seems reasonable to send some of it back.  Any yarn given to me for charity knitting has been given to other charity knitters.

The cottons and sock yarns are quivering in anticipation.  It's their turn next.

IN

• 1 framed painting.  Landscape in oil. $3.30 TIP SHOP
• 1 metal rack to be repurposed as a mini greenhouse $3.30 TIP SHOP
• 1 clothes airer, large, new and solid (not small and flimsy like the ones in the clearance shops. $3.30 TIP SHOP
• pr gym shorts for TOF

 OUT

• 125 balls wool.  OP SHOP
• 1 leather purse - mouldy BIN

SIAA

• 1 more pair of green cotton sports socks HAND KNITTED
• 1 pair of pink and green socks from the scraps of the last 6 pairs HAND KNITTED

IN 4

OUT 126

NETT OUT 122

SIAA   2

Verdant

Football season has started.  We've  been to two Brumbies home matches so far.  Last night the only thing in the stadium more colourful than these socks in progress was the language of two blokes in front of us.

These are using up the leftovers of the socks I've been making since the beginning of the year.

So far I've made 5 pairs of green and one pair of pink socks.  I should finish these today and that will be the last of the pink (from an unravelled scarf) and the last of the  the lime.

Almost.

TOF picked up a jumper at Salvos recently.  It was completely knitted from lime green Bendigo Harmony.  It cost a dollar.  There's enough yarn there for exactly 10 pairs of athletic socks.  I'm going to try some longer socks and will overdye them.  Neither Mum nor TOF will wear the green.

I really do have a great job

when I can combine my love of knitting with my passion for documenting our community.

12 into 11 February Update

This month there has been a definite shift in mindset.

Look. Try on. Internally debate colour, fit, quality and usefulness.  Sigh with wistful resignation. Return item to rack.   And it really is resignation or realisation, not regret.

Early in the month there were a couple of additions to the savings jar but since then it's been quite easy to say "no". Including on a trip to fashion-conscious Sydney. I took the opportunity of the big shops and a free evening to go looking at new clothing. I tried on a several items and left it all behind. Not even close enough to put money in the savings jar.

Not that it has been a smooth progression. There was a point mid-month when I really couldn’t be bothered what I wore or how I presented because it’s not like I could buy anything to perk the wardrobe up.  Fortunately Nettie’s experience of a similar challenge last year helped me recognise the symptoms early. After a day or two, I gave myself a good hard shake and recalled that the challenge was about valuing what I have.  Then I went and polished a couple of pairs of shoes and groomed my eyebrows.  Much better.

There are other weapons in my arsenal to meet this challenge. I have sewing skills and equipment. It's not so hard leaving something behind in the shop when there is a pattern and fabric at home to make something close to or better than what's available in the shops.

So I have re-assessed the sewing patterns; removing the ones that no longer fit, or are essentially duplicates of each other or where I said “what was I thinking?”. They have been culled by about a quarter and fit into a drawer of the chest of drawers allocated to the sewing stash. A few goes at the 7 things challenge means the sewing fabric stash is pretty streamlined, but there is enough there to keep me in basics for this year.

That being said, I bought a vintage cotton sheet to make a summer skirt and/or blouses for $2 because I loved the colours and pattern and because the quality of the fabric is great. I am trying not to transfer acquistion of clothing to acquistion of potential clothing in the form of fabric. Sewing will be from stash before buying more fabric.

Enough navel gazing, though - let's see this month's numbers....

QUOTA USED:
None this month.  Current tally 2/12.

EXEMPT ITEMS ACQUIRED:

GIFTS

• 1 pair of black shorts from Mum who finally (we're talking months) got around to trying them on and found them too large
• 1 nightie  GIFT
• 1 rain jacket GIFT

REPAIRED OR RENEWED

• Nothing at all, I'm afraid.  Don't know where the time goes.

CREATED

• 2 pairs of handknitted sports socks

ADDED TO THE SAVINGS

• $7  Black voile shirt.  Tempting, I carried it around the shop for a while.  I don't need shirts to iron, I need cotton knit tops for work.
• $4  Black swimsuit - nicer than the cossie I bought in January. Very nearly caved.

Running total - $40

Seven Things Week 16

Wow, going away for work for a couple of days really puts a dent in this.  That and I forgot some of last week's ins.

IN

• 2 metal bowls to use as double boilers for melting and purifying beeswax.  TOF has a heap of beeswax from candlemaking, so I'm going to make some handcream, leather conditioner etc. The price of new double boilers is extreme, particularly as I will only be able to use it for the beeswax, so this seemed like a really good improvisation $2 TIP SHOP
• 1 Tupperware container (TOF can't help himself  when it's in good knick and a bargain at $2.50 from the OP SHOP)
• 2 thermals for TOF RETAIL SALE
• 1 pr shorts for TOF RETAIL SALE
• 1 Tupperware Rice cooker NEW (for the caravan)
• 1 piece pantry Tupperware  NEW (TOF's breaking in a new Tupperware distrubutor so we place a small order to compensate for all the replacements we get)
• 1 sheet $2 SALVOS
• 1 pr shoes for TOF $3 SALVOS
• 1 popcorn maker (for coffee bean roasting - based on experience these will break regularly.  We're buying them as we fin them second hand) $5 REVOLVE
• 1 set sock needles.  Sydney business trip souvenir. MORRIS & SONS

OUT

• 1 bowl - dropped and smashed - BIN
• 1 glass - dropped and cracked - BIN
• 9 mismatched socks and gloves (that's all TOF would let me get rid of at his house.  I need to work on this resistance) - BIN

SIAA
so close, but nothing finished this week - see going away for work excuse

IN 12

OUT 11

NETT OUT -1

TOF and I sampled the delights of Queanbeyan's four op-shops today.  All but the big Salvos Family Store had half price sales.

Little Salvos had half price on everything; Vinnies, half price on most stuff and Bargain Hunter, half price on summer clothing.

We didn't buy as much as you might expect.

A pair of brogues for TOF and a vintage cotton sheet which may or may not become blouses and/or a skirt next summer.

Still for $5 the lot from the little Salvos, we were happy.
 
Originally posted to I Op Therefore I am ACT.

Seven Things Week 15

Freecycle could be my undoing.  When someone offered a popcorn maker this week, it was on the proviso we take all the other kitchen stuff they'd decluttered as well.

It was difficult sorting through two large boxes of assorted paraphernalia, much of it new, and getting rid of it.  It was nice stuff and it was free!  However, we were pretty strong.  Some of the mugs are going into work so there is a nice matching set for guests, we've earmarked some items for friends who would like at least first refusal, some we binned and some will make it back to Freecycle and then to the op shop if no one wants them.

We ended up keeping a tea infuser (I have a lot of leaf tea and I can use the infuser for single cups, which is what I make at work so it's really a way of using things up), a pudding basin just because it's a nice thick china, a teatowel because it's a perfectly fine teatowel  and, of course, the popcorn maker.

We buy green coffee beans through Coffee Snobs and TOF has killed a few popcorn makers roasting beans. 


IN

• 3 lamb fleeces GIFT
• 1 rain jacket.  TOF got it for me for $1 with the intention of leaving it in NZ later in the year.  We're setting aside clothing for NZ with the intention of leaving it in an Auckland op shop so we have space for fibrey souvenirs.  The wine and Whittakers chocolate will come back on my hips. GIFT
• 1 jam funnel $15.90 NEW, RETAIL but not the $38 one local shop is asking.  Anyone wanting a stainless steel jam funnel o' bliss go to Butts 'n Brew at Kaleen shops
• 1 dinner set - TOF's china pattern, a partial setting for 4 (missing two tea cups and saucers) $20 at Vinnies
• 2 pieces fabric.  $11 Vinnies
• 1 knife.  Note to self.  Get a footy kit together and put it in one place.  We had to buy a small knife to cut up our cooked chook at the footy.  $7
• 1 tea towel FREECYCLE
• 1 pudding basin FREECYCLE
• 1 tea infuser FREECYCLE
• 1 popcorn maker to use for coffee bean roasting.  FREECYCLE

OUT

• 20 old jumpers (from the unravelling and felting stash) GIFTS and DONATIONS
• 4 bead containers GIFT
• 16 stencils GIFT
• 8 bags sequins GIFT
• 1 bag beads GIFT
• 1 Tupperware container DONATION

SIAA
another pair of hand-knitted sports socks - but this time in hot pink!

IN 13

OUT 50

NETT OUT 37

SIAA 1

Seven Things Week 14

Work is back into full swing and full on.  While I have fewer temptations, there is also less time for de-cluttering.   I'm not home until 7.30pm at the earliest after work and a couple hours of dealing with Mum's needs.  Motivation to do even more work can be low when I've been hard at it for 12 hours by then.

I'm countering the temptation to sit on the couch with a cuppa and my knitting by building in decluttering with normal activity.  It's slower than but ultimately more sustanable than the "must clear this room tonight" method.

So putting the folding away means removing everything from one shelf or drawer, appraising and following through.   I only have to do one container (draw, box, shelf) a night and there is always a cardboard box by the front door ready to receive the outs. 

Realistically this means 4 nights a week at the most and most weeks only three nights, but it all adds to up.

This week the camisole and singlet drawer got the treatment, as did the sewing patterns, a box of jars, bottles and vases from under the house and what I optimistically call my "going out"clothes.

IN

• 1 camel pack (actually last week, but I forgot) $3 GARAGE SALE
• 1 nightie - GIFT
• 1 jumper - GIFT (for unravelling and knitting into socks)
• 2 shirts for TOF $5 OP SHOP
• 2 tv series on DVD $2 OP SHOP
• 1 wheat pack $4 OP SHOP
• 1 cage to protect veggies from possums and my dogs FREECYCLE
• 1 belt sander GIFT FOR TOF

OUT

• 2 huge bound volumes of the Sydney Morning Herald (1856 an 1861).  These were a gift from an aunt about 30 years ago.  They lived under my childhood bed.  This week the perfect recipient for something that was really a burden turned up.  So tempting to count every issue out - GIFT
• 2 dinner sets - OP SHOP
• 22 decorative jars OP SHOP
• 2 Tupperware containers GIFTS
• 1 top - body-hugging green stretch satin, never worn in 18 months (wonder why?!) - OP SHOP
• 1 tapestry frame - OP SHOP
• 4 old software installation CDs and associated manuals - BIN
• 16 balls yarn - OP SHOP
• 19 sewing patterns - OP SHOP
• 13 singlet tops, singlets and camis - OP SHOP
• 1 framed print - OP SHOP
• 3 books - LIFELINE

SIAA

• 1 pr handknitted sports socks (again)

IN 10

OUT 86

NETT OUT 76

SIAA   1

White Elephant

This postcard from the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand Picture Library was a gift from The Shopping Sherpa on her last visit home.

It's from the early 1940s and is by Alex McLaren of Canada.  Most likely it is fiscal restraint propaganda from World War II.

Perfect.

Seven Things Week 13

Back at my place for a few nights this week as we're back at work, I've resumed caring duties for Mum and Junior is back at tech.

Yarn destash is at a difficult stage.  Firstly, it is hard to let go of stash.  Really hard.  Secondly, I've lost momentum from not living with it for 5 weeks, and thirdly, I've overloaded my usual recipients of stash. By that I mean people who respect the yarn and whom I trust to do the right thing by it.

To aid the decision making process I dragged several large plastic bins (120 litre bins) from the yarn cellar and left them where they had to be negotiated when I moved almost anywhere in the house.  Boxes were opened and closed; opened, partially examined and closed; opened, fully exhumed and closed; and finally opened and decanted into bags and boxes and loaded into the car.

I considered Ravelry destash but couldn't face it hanging around once the decision was made and the thought of having to deal with people over it made me want to cry, so this week I took yarn to the op shop.

I have not completely abandoned stash.  As I have found from previous attempts to cull the herd; stash has its own level, resents vicious pruning and has it's own way of getting back at me if I disrespect it.  To reassure it that I mean only to rid myself of that which would languish underappreciated and unknit, I have bought (on destash), bamboo blend sock yarn for ToF.

IN

• 1 ball sock yarn (more bamboo blend for TOF) RAVELRY DESTASH
• 1 pr boots for TOF (bnwt) replacing the outs from last week $17 OP SHOP
• 1 Rock 'n Serve $8 OP SHOP  a bit pricey but cheaper than new and ALL of ours are currently in use
• 1 book $3 OP SHOP.  TOF is trying out Iain Banks.
• 2 Brumbies members caps FREE WITH MEMBERSHIP
• 1 cheese knife. $4 OP SHOP
• 1 pr shorts - GIFT
• 2 calendars - GIFTS
• 2 bookmarks - GIFTS

OUT

• 1 pr trousers - fiddly and highly crushable.  I've worn them once this summer, gone to wear them twice and replaced them with something simpler.  OP SHOP
• 1 bookmark - GIFT
• 1 magazine - GIFT
• 51 items of baby clothes that have been hanging around for months - finally off to women's shelter. DONATION
• 1 drinking glass, smashed in the sink :( BIN
• 2 cd racks - OP SHOP
• 272 balls yarn DONATION AND GIFTS

SIAA
Nothing completed this week.

IN   12

OUT 329

NETT OUT 317

SIAA 0