Good morning Peggy, and all our challenge friends. This has been a great week. It has felt so good getting things out of the house that I no longer need. Here is my hope, that each day I will look for just one item , it may only be a piece of paper, out of the house. This has been an inspiring week, loved reading all the post and getting ideas from each of you. Its great opening closets and drawers and they are neat with no junk. I do have one more clothes closet that will be my project. If I can take out one item a week or day will be my plan. The time I thinned out to 20 pieces, it was good to open the door and see just a few items hanging. It gave me a challenge to figure out how I could change up outfits, sometimes just using jewelry, or scarves. Clothes are my problem area, I am in my seventies, grew up very poor, my clothes closet growing up was a nail on the back of my door. Years ago when I was working, felt I had to have a new outfit each week. So think that is when I felt the need to have lots of clothes. Peggy, I am right there with you the less clutter I have, the happier I will be. Today I have already pulled out two more outfits from the closet and have it ready for the thrift store. May find more things before the end of the day. Thanks to each one of you that has given me inspiration to continue on this journey.

One more pile today. I'm going to continue to the end of january.

Checking in - have been unpacking stuff that has been waiting for the bedroom closet. With the additional shelves on the sides they are now my linen closet replacement (don't have one in this house) so I'm pretty pleased with this. Now I can move our hanging clothing still in the trailer through the wash and finally home. Happy Happy!

And as the boxes leave here, the space is evolving. More items are finding where they belong or don't.

I watched another episode of Hoarders today - I know we are all on the right track. I understand the psychology on how things can get out of control when life wallops you, I understand how good it feels when you regain control again instead of letting items take over.

We are all different. Our belongings mean different things to each and everyone of us. I want to cherish what brings me joy, memories, are of practical use. Sometimes things change along with their value. Life changes. I want to change with it down the path where I can step freely.

Tonight will should be a better sleep not seeing items pushed against the wall because they had no home. Our bathroom feels like heaven when taking a shower because there is room enough not to knock things down, stub my toe.
Our kitchen will continue to be a work in progress until we get those cupboards but at least I can choose to have organized storage until then...and hopefully we can both keep it that way.

Instead of walking around something that should be put away, I'm going to start picking more up every day. That job is becoming so much less hassle as my space has definition. Clutter brings clutter. Space brings peace. Next week I think will be a great week to clean the windows again to enjoy the sunny days when they arrive. See the snow sparkle at night when it falls.

It all starts with one box, one bag, one item. We are doing this. We are empowered.

Please share your week with us, ups and downs. Are you feeling better now?

Until later, need a cuppa and think about dinner for later.

Cheers my friends,
Peggy

Peggy, thanks for this challenge. This week I have so enjoyed reading what everyone has done, and I have gained 6 inchs space in this room. I gained the floor space by putting the Ika Billy cases to gether .I was not sure I could do it and you gave me the confidence to open the boxs and lo and belold it was very easy. got some large night stands, and other large odds and ends to the used store. went thro shelves and cuboards . It is so nice that with the new Billy cases I now have things stored neatly and I din't have all the shelves and cuboards of differnt sizes taking up all the room. Still need to par down more, but things now have a place, book cases have empty shelves and best of all others who need that book or radio and dish can use and enjoy it. So thanks again for getting me going.

Well as you all finish --kind of_- in about a month or so I will be starting. Way too cold to clean and take stuff out, except to inside porch in bags which I have done. Waiting for snow to go away, and right now our Thrift shops seem to be full of winter stuff and Christmas stuff so much is getting tossed. Will wait until the do their cleaning first.
But do plan to put items in new glassed shelf cabinet. That I can do even with the snow.
Thanks for being helpful and positive
Marie

Got some more sorting, organizing and filing done.

Added some more to the waste basket.

But ... haven't got the second box out yet.

Did get some empties out of the way, and some were emptied and moved out.

Still have quite a lot to do, but have a good start on it ... and more motivation.

Even have some of Jasdip's stories organized ... for retreading, later, possibly?

I've taken some to the Ole Guys' Coffee Club, i.e. "Romeos" - Retired Old Men Eating Out", they say.

Another more or less retired clergyperson/consultant brings some, with illustrations, and in colour, yet ... and some of his are really funny, too.

I'll have to bring a few here, that don't depend on illustrations to make their point. The trouble is ... with the good ones, one needs to grab them quickly, after they've made the round!

Have a joyful weekend, everyone.

ole joyful

Peggy, thank you for being our leader for this challenge. Would have never just taken this on my own to start getting all of these items out of the house. Just your suggestion, and reading all the post from everyone kept me very motivated. It feels wonderful knowing our home is much thinner now. I plan on continuing to strive each day to continue with the same pattern of keeping only items that I need and use. My main challenge will be only keeping clothes that I will wear and not just hang in the closet. Our high ceiling are both good and bad. With 12 foots ceiling, I had rods placed at the ceiling level and have a device to get them down very easily. Makes for lots of closet space, but think I got a little carried away with clothing that I never wear. This morning I took two outfits out for the thrift store, and this afternoon, went back in and have three more shirts in the bag. This will be at the thrift store in the morning. My thanks to each of you as we encouraged each other to clean up clutter. Had a wonderful week and feel very good knowing that I was able to get things accomplished. Peggy, you rock.

Welcome to Saturday everyone. A great weekend to rest, relax and feel great.

Take a bow!

All of us have given our best this week. Little or a lot doesn't matter. It's all about attitude, champions at heart, teamwork and just getting off our buns and taking action instead of just dreaming or letting the feeling of it's too much to handle float around our heads.

Some of us will be carrying on or starting later to do this. I will be carrying on. It's slowing down for me now because of no kitchen cupboards yet, craft room waiting for new closet system. But I can see the items waiting that have been sorted are things I can use, and have a purpose in my life. I actually have room now to display a few things for enjoyment.

It all truly begins with attitude. Believe in yourself. You can apply this anywhere. No job is so big when you start small, be persistent. Do what you can manage. When it overwhelms you walk away, take a break and let yourself appreciate what you have accomplished. We didn't hire a van and bring all this stuff home in a day, did we?

One box, one bag, one item. That's it, that's all.

Thank you for joining me - you helped me reignite my motivation (I was getting tired of it all). I feel great and my coffee is wonderful.

Take another bow, don't be shy to brag a little.

You deserve it!

Hugs to all of you,
Peggy

Did some more after I went home from the library last night, late supper ...

... and had to stay up to burn it off, of course (rather than letting it go to waist).

Have papers of various kinds scattered all over the kitchen, too slow to deal with them when one's half asleep ...

... had errands to do this morning, and short of time when I arose late ...

... so the kitchen mess was undisturbed.

It awaits my return, later this afternoon.

I can see the floor in more places.

Found some treasures that made me smile, also.

Looking foward to breakfast with a measure of anticipation.

ole joyful

P.S. One of the privileges of retirement: one can set one's own chedule.

o j

o j, isn't retirement wonderful, you can make your own rules and schedules