| Author |
Across the Fence:  The neighbors think I am crazy now..  |
|
|
catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 09:55:18 AM
|
I have the back of my Jeep, including the area around Charlie's carseat PACKED with stuff to donate. I left room to be able to see out. I was out there about 30 minutes, configuring things to fit.
Then...I carried 8 bags of trash to the dumpster. One lady asked me if I was moving and another wondered what I was up too.
Little do they know, I still have 2 more bags of donate I am filling and 4 bags of trash to go out but now I am so embarassed,  , I am going to wait a few hours!!! 
Now, add to the fact that I opened all the windows and just cleaned them all down with vinegar and now my big fluffy down comforter is hanging outside on the porch, along with my bathroom rugs.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
|
Edited by - catscharm74 on Jan 14 2009 10:25:17 AM |
|
|
Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 10:26:35 AM
|
Yeah, our curb has looked like we were being evicted every trash day since Christmas. My husband finally decided to go through all his old school books and paperwork, and we put out at least 5 boxes of recyclable paper at once.
Don't be embarrassed! Maybe some of your neighbors will be inspired to declutter too. |
 |
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 10:29:09 AM
|
ROFL!! You too? I filled out huge dumpster yesterday and I still have more things that need to go. Unfortunately I donated everything that I could back in June when we moved so most of this stuff is stuff that is just plumb wore out!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9093 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9093 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 10:29:36 AM
|
I really think the Month of Jan. as become what used to be spring cleaning.
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 10:46:33 AM
|
I can imagine all of us secretly crawling to the dumpsters to get rid of our stuff!!! LOL...hiding behind our aprons... ha!!! ROFL!!!
I hate to clean when it is warm and around here, warm comes in February!! I like January because I am out of school until next week, IF I need to replace something, I can get it on a good clearance sale and I like to start my Spring all fresh and perty!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
|
|
|
|
catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 11:55:30 AM
|
Ok, so I acted casual, like I was getting some sunshine and slinked over to the dumpster with 4 more bags of trash. Then I skipped back to my home. HA!! I am getting silly about this whole thing. : )
Good news is I really just either donated about 30% of what we own or trashed all the garbage. It is so freeing!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
|
|
|
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 12:02:35 PM
|
Tell your neighbors to mind their own business!! or tell them they can have anything they want if they want to go garbage picking!!!! hehehehehehehe Good for you , it is freeing to not be bogged down with stuff... It is a nice feeling..
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
|
|
|
homemom
True Blue Farmgirl
1593 Posts
Ruth
Warwick
RI
USA
1593 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 12:14:59 PM
|
I have been purging and my daughter, too. We have filled our huge barrels every week. Our paper recycling is picked up biweekly and we can hardly wait until it's empty to refill it. Since we homeschool there's always a large accumulation of paper.
I have a giant pile in the basement waiting for spring to have a yard sale. I want to buy a new bookcase with the money so I can get rid of our old, falling apart school desk.
Ruth
Ruth
Living the farm life in my heart.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Ruth
http://farmgirlinmyheart.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 12:15:33 PM
|
I have been seeing lots of posts lately telling the tales of everyone "downsizing" and "purging" and "wondering how we ever accumulated all this STUFF?" You would think with the economy the way it is that we would all be wanting to keep all our stuff...for security or something....so, what gives? Why are we all feeling this need to "downsize" and re-evaluate?.
Thankfully after years of "downsizing" of my own, I finally have around me all the things I love to look at and enjoy using every day. And the rule these days is..."if something comes into the house..something has to leave."
Wishing you all good luck in your endeavors...believe me, it's a refreshing feeling...
and as far as your neighbors are concerned....just let them keep on guessing...lol.
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 12:16:57 PM
|
Unfortunately, we live in "garden apartments" which are huge but we have a lot of older people who like to know everyone's business. They sit on their porches and wait for the action to happen. I learned not to go to the mail at 3:45, because that is meeting up time for gossip!! LOL
I don't mind them watching. I think I am getting annoyed because I keep getting interrupted. HA!!! : )
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
|
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 12:22:00 PM
|
I bet if you took them a platter of cookies and tea and told them they could come help after they were finished...they would either run from the work or take you up on it. Then maybe they would find a treasure in your stuff and you wouldn't have to haul it to the trash....lol...I can see it now! What a hoot!
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 12:22:31 PM
|
I think that with all the stress in the world right now- the last thing people want is stress at home and it have been proven that a cluttered house gives more stress to the vast majority of people. I am looking around my house and seeing things that just aren't me so I might be donating more things that I realized- Not huge amounts because we already did downsize, but some.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 12:28:47 PM
|
Alee- totally relate on the "now me or us" catergory of things. Then there is the haven't worn it in over 3 years, not because of weight but because it didn't fit right, wrong color, trend now dead issues or the fact that the stuff is not my style of decore. I am taking it all to the Goodwill in San Antonio next week. The last time I went, the lady was so nice, she got me a bin to put everything in and helped me unload my car and then asked if I was military, because she saw my stickers on the Jeep. She gave me a hug. So I decided I will return with even more for them. Blessings come in small packages and she was one to me, so now, I return the favor.
It is funny, when I leave to go out, a lot of people leave their garage doors open and I am amazed at how packed to the brim their garages are. Now, some people are building homes, so I understand that but others are pretty much going to be here until...well...the end. We had a community yard sale and the people across the street were trying to sell broken stuff for a lot of $$$, when honestly, it all needed to be trashed. I really worry about becoming that way. My parents are like that and I am leaving the "cleaning out" to my brother and sister, if and when that day comes. It honestly scares me!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
|
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 12:32:59 PM
|
That's where the conscious effort to not bring unwanted things into your home becomes so important...
In 1981, the house I lived in burned to the ground in the dead of winter. I was a broke college student and all I had of any value was my car and the bag of clean laundry in the back seat. So for the next two - three years, I kept everything...then I met my husband and moved into his farmhouse. For the next 15 years, I still kept everything. Finally I had had enough and the purge began.
I love where I live. It is my oasis from everything. We all need an oasis, I believe...
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 2:09:48 PM
|
Well, I don't think there's anything crazy in trying to declutter but...
Ladies, I've found in life, that once you accept that some people will think you're crazy, then life gets easier for you. Yep, you can bet this weird haired girl from NY won't flinch when someone says "wow, she looks crazy." I just say: "You JUST NOW noticed this? Wow, you've missed out!" 
...I mean, Heather, think about it, you are providing an entertainment service to some people that CLEARLY have nothing better to do. Shoot, you should charge for that as a community service!! 
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
View my work:
www.bigtownfarmer.com
And *NEW* Blogs:
Life: www.wildatheartfarm.blogspot.com
art/dolls: www.wildatheartart.blogspot.com
herbals: www.wildatheartherbals.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
crafter
True Blue Farmgirl
2313 Posts
lori
Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
USA
2313 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 2:32:03 PM
|
I need so much help with the decluttering. Any helpful hints and advice will be much appreciated. My little house doesn't have much storage area and I have a REALLY hard time parting with treasures (at least in my eyes)
Thanks for the support and help in this challenge.
Lori
Have a Country Day |
|
|
|
happydaze
True Blue Farmgirl
136 Posts
lorraine
atlanta
ni
USA
136 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 4:08:49 PM
|
| Good for you. I agree January is the best time for Spring cleaning. When Spring finally gets here, the very last thing I want to be doing is cleaning house.I really need to declutter too. Maybe I'll start soon. |
|
|
|
graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2009 : 7:29:54 PM
|
I got bit with the downsizing/purging bug too and got up two days after Christmas ready to go, unfortunately with the weather the garbage hasn't been able to pick up so I couldn't start with garbage, I couldn't get my car up the driveway for a while, when I did I filled the trunk with newspapers for the recycling in town. Now, because of the weather, nobody has emptied the newspaper recycling stations, they are all full, so I'm waiting so then I can fill my car up with the stuff for the Goodwill. In the meantime my house is more cluttered than it was before because the stuff for the goodwill is all stacked in boxes:( Oh well - it is boxed and ready to go....
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 12:40:03 PM
|
You have to learn to let go...it can start with something as simple as cleaning out 1 drawer. It's overwhelming when you have to contemplate doing a whole house. Just start small. You have got to be ruthless sometimes. If you haven't used it, looked at it or worn it in over a year...it's time to go...it's a daunting task, but it's doable and you'll feel so much better afterward! I promise.
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
|
catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 1:00:59 PM
|
Yes, this has all been a process. This has been the final big purge for me. I know who I am not and my life priorities are in order.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
|
|
|
|
catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2009 : 2:54:31 PM
|
Only 4 bags of trash today. Can't believe the garbage load. I am really going to get aggresive and try to cut WAY down on packaging, starting with what I bring into this house. I am trying hard to buy bulk items, even fruits and vegetables and eliminate most pre-packaged items, though I AIN'T given up my Blue Bell ice cream. : )
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
|
|
|
|
harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2009 : 09:35:29 AM
|
consider your Blue Bell Ice Cream your reward....lol....
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
|
|
| |
Across the Fence: The neighbors think I am crazy now.. |
|
The neighbors think I am crazy now..
