The kitchen is next - ugh (tomorrow) - especially under the sink. Am I the only person who has just about everything stuffed under the sink? There's only me and him indoors at home now but I astound myself at just how much of a muddle it can get into. The trouble is it's a corner cupboard which has a separate partition for all my cleaning stuff which is fine. But I tend to push stuff into the corner part that I don't use often - however because they never see the light of day then the items concerned NEVER get used. Now, the question is do I throw them out with the idea that if I haven't used them for x amount of months/years I never will (but might regret it later) - or do I keep them and put them somewhere else? Which would mean of course that they would not fit in the new cupboard and therefore something else would have to take their place under the sink and not get used! Decisions, decisions. I've decided that it doesn't matter how large or small my cupboard space is - I WILL FILL IT !
So - after exhausting myself with such dilemmas I decided that it was THAT time of day to put the kettle on, so armed with some of the fabulous Christmas pressie books I received, I put my feet up in front of the fire, poured the tea and indulged in some spontaneous me-time. More decisions - these books were much wanted but as yet I haven't given some of them the benefit of any quality reading time.
In the end I chose the lovely hand-written book by Susan Branch "A Fine Romance" where she journals her long-awaited trip to England - a fabulous book which I haven't been able to put down and which ticks all the boxes on a chilly afternoon.
Mmmmm - a piece of cake would have gone down well - still there's always tomorrow - after the kitchen cupboards of course !
Bye for now
I think that we all have a cupboard or drawer or something that gets like that from time to time Patricia! Good on you for tackling it. Sounds as though your local charity shop will be getting a good load of bounty from you house after all this clearing out and sorting things round! Hope that you feel better for it. xx
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, that's exactly what I need to be doing. I sorted out all our cupboards last year but as soon as there's a space something else jumps in and fills it! It's a never ending task.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it!
I love to have a clean-out. I think the worst place for me is one of my kitchen drawers, where I stick all manner of random junk. I'm glad you've got some great new books to read, enjoy yourself!
ReplyDeleteOh I know exactly what you are going through - it is a constant struggle - every day more stuff comes into the house - I filled two bin bags last week as well - it's practically a full time job keeping everything de-cluttered. Like you I haven't really had time to sit with my Christmas books yet - where does the time go?
ReplyDeleteOh how i can relate to this post- It's just where to start that is the problem! I'm almost chomping at the bit to start decluttering before i have to move from my flat- but I have 6 months to wait first- and knowing me, I will throw something out i will later need! The Christmas bookls look and sound lovely:)
ReplyDeleteYou are good Patricia, I would have just sat down with the books and never mind the clearing out.
ReplyDeleteJoy x x
We used to de-clutter the kitchen once a year but now do it as and when it needs it. If we are not sure if we will need it later on, all that kind of stuff has a group photograph taken, then they go in a box in the attic. If you are not sure if you still have it, check the photograph. If it still hasn't been touched after a year, you really don't want it do you?
ReplyDeleteNow I feel guilty - that is exactly what I need to do, but at the moment I keep finding other things to keep me away from tackling tasks that really do require my attention.
ReplyDeleteIs the book by Susan Branch a facsimile of her writings and drawings? - it looks interesting.
I had a bit of a de-clutter before Christmas but - you've guessed - the spaces created then have now been filled. It does feel good though when you see those bags lined up to go to a charity shop. Your Christmas gift books look lovely just right for those dull afternoons cosy by the fire with a nice mug of tea:)
ReplyDeleteKitchen cupboards will always be there and always need sorting! So its a great idea to make time for yourself and just relax. The Dickens book looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
An excellent day - a bit of decluttering followed by a good book! I have been doing something similar, trying to tackle at least one thing a day for a tidy up. Already the pile for charity and the tip is mounting. The Dickens book interests me - we were watching Antiques Roadtrip today and they were in Rochester, which I remember fondly, and later at Battlesbridge, Essex. We got so excited having been there several times when our daughter lived in the vicinity. I have several antique pieces I lovingly brought all the way back to Australia! No wonder I need a good declutter from time to time!
ReplyDeleteI've been doing some de-cluttering too but very, very slowly as I tend to get distracted with other things. The book by Susan Branch sounds and looks very interesting, it reminds me of Edith Holden and her The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
ReplyDeleteI meant to throw out 'a thing a day' this year too - but I think I'm about 12 days behind schedule! Maybe I can do a big sort-out this weekend. Maybe!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for taking some time for yourself! As for the stuff under your kitchen sink that never gets used, I say throw it out. When we downsized to our cottage I looked at all my unused or little used cleaning products and decided I would never use 90% of them. I could either get rid of all of them, and then replace the 10% I do use as needed, or move a bunch of extra stuff to our new, smaller home. It has worked out well. I have only had to buy a couple of things I had previously owned, and this time around I purchased the smallest containers available. If that space in the corner of the cupboard is destined to get used by something, why don't you put a kitchen gadget you rarely use there - something like a turkey roasting pan or a special cake pan that only gets used once or twice a year? It would keep it from getting refilled with the kinds of things that are there now.
ReplyDeleteHI Patricia, hope you will enjoy the book by Susan Branch, I love it.
ReplyDeleteI think lots of homes are being decluttered at this time of year, I popped into our local sally army CS this afternoon and you should have seen the piles of bags and boxes waiting to be sorted. Annoyingly for them, one of them contained something (probably a childs toy) that was making a noise and they didnt know where it was coming from.
Our kitchen sink is exactly the same too Patricia!
Hello Patricia, I love your Susan Branch book, I think a lot of weblogfriends got it as a Christmasgift. A lot of success with the clearing.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Erna x
Good for you, Patricia with your decluttering. Enjoy your reading in between. It's a good time of the year to think about clearing things out that you no longer wear or use. I hate to give away my books, but I made a start at the end of last year and took some boxes of those I knew I would never read again to a charity shop and I must keep that up in 2014.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read the book" Falling in love with English countryside" as well Patricia! Sometimes I decide to throw away all things that clutter the cupboard, kitchen etc. I envy you, sitting near fire and reading. Life is good!
ReplyDeleteThat's what happens with cupboards, Patricia. We have space, we fill it! I'm full of admiration for your determination to de-clutter. You've earned your reading time.
ReplyDeleteMust be de-cluttering season. I'm attempting to do the same. Interesting Christmas book titles, especially the 'Dickens' one. I have enjoyed Susan Branch's lovely book. Wish I was as artistic and could write an illustrated diary of my trip to England last year:)
ReplyDeleteKeep up your good work!
Betty
What amazes me with de clutering Patricia.- Is, how much we accumulate .. living alone.. I never expected to have so much.
ReplyDeleteI de cluttered before christmas. Now the kitchen sink. Indeed i do the same. I now have bought large plastic containers without lids to put my detergents and cleaning products in.
I am a Dickens fan. I once made a trip to London, just to walk the paths that Dickens did. eat where he used to and so enjoyed it. I love his works. No one can tell a story like him. Many of which are based on truths from his sad life.
Some nice books you got for christmas there. Ideal for those cold winter days.
Here its very sunny and bright.. but a cold wind is blowing from the north.
wishing you a happy Sunday.. hugs val xxxx
Oh my goodness I'm trying to declutter and failing miserably I have hundreds of books and every week I attempt to take a few to the charity shop . I get a box ready I place a few into it and leave it at the door ready to be taken an hour later the books end up back on the bookcase because I cant part with them .It is so stupid and selfish .I will never read them again and yet I cant let go. I'm going to try again wish me luck
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia, I love Susan Branch books . . . they are books to dream too. I wish that I was there to help you clean and organize, then you could return the favor and help me. It's always more fun with a helper :)
ReplyDeleteAnd of course we would bake a cake to have when we took a break for tea:)
Come over and get your name in the hat for my latest Give-A-Way.
Don't work too hard,
Connie:)
I love having a good clear out, it helps to clear out my mind! I love the sound of the book too.
ReplyDeleteI just finished "A fine romance" a couple of weeks back and did a post on it (along with organizing, like you!). I love Susan's writing style. I also love a good clean out and know exactly what you mean. Hope you got everything done that you wanted to do. Enjoy the book. xx
ReplyDelete