This will be easy for me now that two of three kids have moved out. I have been purging, decluttering, and organizing for about 13 months. Not non stop Or I'd actually be on top of the stuff already. I'm asking myself when I'm purging, Will I ever use this again? do I need more than one or two of this item? If I get rid of it will I have to get a replacement within 18 months? Where can I put it- that is as close as possible to the place it's to be used. And if I'm stumped and not sure whether to keep something emotional, I'll ask myself if my family would enjoy it once I pass away. If I think they wouldn't care eitherway, it goes, because I'm not taking anything with me. My biggest battle isn't letting go of stuff but what to do with the items. I live in the country, so no free on the curb drop off. I am on a few facebook "items for sale" sites, craigslist, Amazon and Ebay. That all takes time though, so things wait till I get to them. Most all the clothes go to a local charity but I just can't toss perfectly good items. Old, well used, dysfunctional item, yes those go into the trash but the ficus tree is still in the basement with hopes someone will love it again one day. Ok, that will be one of my 15 items out of the house this week. I'd like to do this with you too.

I did pretty well. 1 old desk, two end tables and a bookcase are waiting for DH's son to come and see if he wants them. But they are cleaned up and stacked by the door, so they are ready to go out one way or another! I cleaned out Office Cabinet #3. 18 rolls of architectural prints from jobs we did years ago. They are in the shed waiting for a post-rain day for a bonfire. It was tad too dry and windy. I cleaned and re-organized the pantry. I actually didn't throw much away (we were pretty good about using up older food), but I can find stuff now! Like a 15 lb. bag of rice that I forgot about. And three liters of red wine vinegar. Guess I couldn't find the first two, so I bought another one. It doesn't go bad and I use a lot on summer salads. 3 ancient wooden folding chairs that collapse if you look at them are in the "waiting for bonfire day" pile. One set of dishes is washed and boxed up. That is going to DH's granddaughter, so she will have her great-grandmother's china. One huge box of paperbacks. A neighbor who volunteers at the library saw them and took the whole box. Two huge contractor-size bags of junk went in the garbage. This week is recycle week! So there's two cans waiting for them. A bunch of old glass jars mostly. I used to use them for dry goods in the pantry, but I've started using canning jars instead. They look prettier on the pantry shelves, and I have cases of those, too. Might as well store the canning jars full rather than empty.

I started in the kitchen because I knew I wouldn't have much sentimental attachment to that stuff! Pantry cabinet before and after. Discarded a bunch of out of date products and discovered we have 8 cans of baked beans! The whole top shelf is now empty. I also went through the cabinet above the pantry where I have cookbooks and misc. stuff stored. Threw away a lot of recipes clipped from magazines that I never used and discovered a box of powdered banana daquari mix from 1994. And I cleaned out the drawer under the oven and trashed or donated items from it. Now it is nearly empty. Here is my car loaded with stuff that is good enough to donate. I guess I forgot to pack my discarded cookbooks. Marcia

Well, that box for Goodwill was overflowing when I finally dropped it off yesterday afternoon. The bike carrier rack for the back of a car is unfortunately still here, cause an old bike buddy called and asked if I still had it. But, when he was in town we didn't connect.... and thus, it is waiting for his next drop in. I have given all the work shirts and the hair nets I still have to Sylvia. She is the only one wearing a small top. Now the pants are another matter. I am not sure, those will fit anyone from my work crew, but will take them with me on Monday to the last meeting I have to attend. Then I will have two empty shelves, till Allison gets here and we put her stuff there. ;) Moni