Today's post will be about a slightly different kind of simplicity...one for which there will be no pictures. ~ For those that love pictures there will be a number of them in the next few days, as I finish cleaning out my craft room. I'll post them all together as soon as I'm done. ~
Anyway...today's post will be about simplicity in social media.
I had already given this subject some thought when I quite by chance...my brother sending me an invitation...got involved in Klout. I made the mistake of signing up for it. The problem is I have a very competitive personality. When I play a game I play to win and for me social media can become a game. Klout is the ultimate in game playing in social media. So just at a point when I was hoping to minimalize my involvement in it, I was suddenly getting pulled into greatly expanding it. That lasted about a week. I even went so far as to put the app on my phone so I could keep track of my number on a constant basis (I told you I was a little crazy about this kind of thing). The good news is that I caught myself before I really went over the edge, disconnected from it, and removed the app.
I've also decided that I need to keep my social media involvement down to only Twitter and Facebook. I don't count blogging as social media although I'm sure there are those that would disagree....their problem not mine.
For the last few years I have gone on a Facebook vacation for a week, which I haven't done this year...yet. I'll know when the time is right.
But for now, apart from leaving Klout, I've simplified by removing the other three social media outlets I had been using...and I'm amazed at how much I like the change. It's really nice not having people know where you are, and what you're doing, every hour of every day.
I wonder if Pinterest counts as a social media outlet??
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
And The Kitchen Progresses....
Today being Sunday I didn't have a lot of time for getting things done.
I did however do something that is going to make not only me happy, but my family as well.
Since we moved in here I've kept the baking dishes and pot lids in the oven. The cabinets on either side have been filled with many other cooking vessels, storage containers and gadgets. Many of these were removed recently when I cleaned out the other kitchen cabinets.
Today Hubby and I pulled all the pots and pans out of the cabinets and went through them. We decided on which to keep and which to throw away. The result was less to store and we put them in the bottom of the two cabinets that will hold all we really use to cook. The more often used in the front and the less used in the back. This left a large pull out shelf for the baking dishes and pot lids that had been in the oven...and had to be removed every time we used it. Yes, that was as much of a pain as it sounds.
So now things are in better order, there's less to deal with, and using the oven and broiler is simplified...mission successful!
I did however do something that is going to make not only me happy, but my family as well.
Since we moved in here I've kept the baking dishes and pot lids in the oven. The cabinets on either side have been filled with many other cooking vessels, storage containers and gadgets. Many of these were removed recently when I cleaned out the other kitchen cabinets.
Today Hubby and I pulled all the pots and pans out of the cabinets and went through them. We decided on which to keep and which to throw away. The result was less to store and we put them in the bottom of the two cabinets that will hold all we really use to cook. The more often used in the front and the less used in the back. This left a large pull out shelf for the baking dishes and pot lids that had been in the oven...and had to be removed every time we used it. Yes, that was as much of a pain as it sounds.
So now things are in better order, there's less to deal with, and using the oven and broiler is simplified...mission successful!
Friday, September 7, 2012
What A Mess!
I was hoping I could do this process in an orderly fashion and get one thing done at a time. It's not working out that way. Nothing seems to want to be done all at once so everything is pretty much all over the place. I have pictures I'm going through, art supplies I'm deciding on keeping or getting rid of, furniture I'm cleaning out and donating and that's just in one little corner of this room.
I know it's all going to be worth it when it's done, and I'm going to be very thankful to have it finished.
My sister gave me a great piece of advice yesterday. Sort and throw out the pictures you don't want before you start scanning. I narrowed down the one's I'm going to be keeping by at least a hundred this evening alone.
I've packed up one box to go to my niece's full of art and scrapbooking supplies, and given away two large organizers with drawers. I've disposed of my old DayRunner and have totally switched over to my phone. My address book will be next to go.
Tomorrow we move the scanner next to my desk so I can start putting in pictures. Slowly, very slowly this will all start to feel much better. A journey indeed...not just a destination.
I know it's all going to be worth it when it's done, and I'm going to be very thankful to have it finished.
My sister gave me a great piece of advice yesterday. Sort and throw out the pictures you don't want before you start scanning. I narrowed down the one's I'm going to be keeping by at least a hundred this evening alone.
I've packed up one box to go to my niece's full of art and scrapbooking supplies, and given away two large organizers with drawers. I've disposed of my old DayRunner and have totally switched over to my phone. My address book will be next to go.
Tomorrow we move the scanner next to my desk so I can start putting in pictures. Slowly, very slowly this will all start to feel much better. A journey indeed...not just a destination.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Antiques you say!
Today I was talking with hubby about a few of our pieces of furniture I was thinking we should do away with. He said that he'd seen a number of them on eBay and though that we should try to see if we could sell them. So it looks like we're going to be looking for an antique store this weekend to see if they'd like to buy our chair and table.
The good thing is that most of the places I can think of are in the vicinity of my siblings and nieces who I want to give a whole lot of scrapbooking supplies to. A way to kill two birds with one stone. I really hate that phrase!
That said I started working my way through my "craft room" today. In reality it's a small dressing-room off our bedroom. But it's crammed full of craft and art supplies, books, papers, pictures, and anything else that needed a "temporary" home for the last year. I have to start early tomorrow morning and get down to some serious work on it.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Walden
As per someone's advice I am reading Walden by Henry David Thoreau. It is described as a book very much about living the simple life. I read it in high school, but at that time was not in a position to appreciate that aspect of it. I have always loved the opening paragraphs...and am looking forward to rereading it now with new eyes.
Yes, I'm reading it on my Kindle.
Sherlock, Bilbo and all my other friends....
>>>>I accidentally deleted this but had it open in another browser so I could put it back in...it's no longer in order, but at least it's here <<<<<<
The time has come to start thinking about "real" versus digital when it comes to some of the biggest clutter culprits of all....books, music, movies (and TV shows), pictures, etc...
What am I going to do with all the DVDs, CDs, photos, books and papers that I've acquired in my 50+ years on this earth.
I'm only looking at the tip of the iceberg right now...I have boxes and boxes of them packed away, that all need dealing with. I don't want any of the boxes to remain when I'm done.
The books are probably the easiest. For one thing I had already started converting them to digital with my Kindle last year. Most of the things that I want to read are now on there (except for my Bible which I prefer to keep in written form), and all that I now buy, I buy for the Kindle. Hubby and I used to spend at least one afternoon a weekend at a bookstore and come home with a bag full. I miss those trips, but all the Borders alas are no more, and I can't stand that long anymore anyway. So books are easy. I'm planning on giving them to either people or a thrift shop.
The cookbooks are a different story to be covered in another post.
Pictures are going to be very time consuming, but I've decided to go digital. My printer has a scanner and so I'm planning on going through the hundreds and hundreds of pictures I have and put those I want to keep on my computer. This will necessitate getting a back up service, but it will be worth it I'm sure in the savings on space and clutter. Also if I should ever decide I want to do anymore scrap-booking I can do it digitally.
Hubby and I are still in negotiations about the DVDs. He's of a mind to keep them in real form, I'm not sure. Any more we buy from now on will be digital.
CD's are fairly easy. Most of them are already on our computers and iPods. Most of those can be donated.
It all sounds so easy...I have a feeling it's going to be a little more difficult to execute.
The time has come to start thinking about "real" versus digital when it comes to some of the biggest clutter culprits of all....books, music, movies (and TV shows), pictures, etc...
What am I going to do with all the DVDs, CDs, photos, books and papers that I've acquired in my 50+ years on this earth.
I'm only looking at the tip of the iceberg right now...I have boxes and boxes of them packed away, that all need dealing with. I don't want any of the boxes to remain when I'm done.
The books are probably the easiest. For one thing I had already started converting them to digital with my Kindle last year. Most of the things that I want to read are now on there (except for my Bible which I prefer to keep in written form), and all that I now buy, I buy for the Kindle. Hubby and I used to spend at least one afternoon a weekend at a bookstore and come home with a bag full. I miss those trips, but all the Borders alas are no more, and I can't stand that long anymore anyway. So books are easy. I'm planning on giving them to either people or a thrift shop.
The cookbooks are a different story to be covered in another post.
Pictures are going to be very time consuming, but I've decided to go digital. My printer has a scanner and so I'm planning on going through the hundreds and hundreds of pictures I have and put those I want to keep on my computer. This will necessitate getting a back up service, but it will be worth it I'm sure in the savings on space and clutter. Also if I should ever decide I want to do anymore scrap-booking I can do it digitally.
Hubby and I are still in negotiations about the DVDs. He's of a mind to keep them in real form, I'm not sure. Any more we buy from now on will be digital.
CD's are fairly easy. Most of them are already on our computers and iPods. Most of those can be donated.
It all sounds so easy...I have a feeling it's going to be a little more difficult to execute.
Rather a slow day ~
I had a rather slow day today. I went through a lot of papers, cards and mementos and threw out the one's I didn't want to keep. I started the pile of scrapbooking and art supplies I'll be giving to my nieces.
I wrote to my pastor about the proper method to deal with the 80+ Bibles that I have. I will be giving many away to churches and charities but there are some that will have to be done away with, and I am not comfortable with just throwing them away. We shall see what he says.
My son's girlfriend knows of a used book store in PA, and says that she will take many of my other books up there. She'll also get first look to see if there's anything she wants to keep as she's an avid reader. I'm happy to say that she may also take some of my art supplies and will help me to organize as I figure out what to dispose of and what can be donated.
I found some very interesting videos on simplicity online today. They were about more simple living but also the spiritual aspect of it. I have to say I agreed with his assessment that the more we own, the less room for the spiritual we leave. Jesus spoke of selling our possessions and giving to the poor; St Francis began his life for Jesus by giving away all that he owned even his clothes and starting out with nothing. I find the more I give away and throw out the better I feel. I don't know how far I'll get with this, only time will tell.
I wrote to my pastor about the proper method to deal with the 80+ Bibles that I have. I will be giving many away to churches and charities but there are some that will have to be done away with, and I am not comfortable with just throwing them away. We shall see what he says.
My son's girlfriend knows of a used book store in PA, and says that she will take many of my other books up there. She'll also get first look to see if there's anything she wants to keep as she's an avid reader. I'm happy to say that she may also take some of my art supplies and will help me to organize as I figure out what to dispose of and what can be donated.
I found some very interesting videos on simplicity online today. They were about more simple living but also the spiritual aspect of it. I have to say I agreed with his assessment that the more we own, the less room for the spiritual we leave. Jesus spoke of selling our possessions and giving to the poor; St Francis began his life for Jesus by giving away all that he owned even his clothes and starting out with nothing. I find the more I give away and throw out the better I feel. I don't know how far I'll get with this, only time will tell.
Kitchen Decals....and then there were none.
Our kitchen with and then without the decals I removed on Monday (promising pictures which I've now delivered)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Sherlock Holmes ~
Monday, September 3, 2012
Decals, Drawer And An Under-sink Disaster
OK, so today didn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped. I'd had delusions of grandeur about getting everything I wanted done while Hubby was home for the day. It didn't work out that way.
I did get the large drawer in the hutch cleaned out. I threw out old place-mats craft supplies, cards and old flatware that had rust issues which I haven't used in ages. I kept the menu folder..with only our favorite places in there...the power cords for my phone and Kindle, and a picture of my daughter she'd made into a Christmas ornament when she was a Brownie.
I also tackled the decals I had plastered on our kitchen cabinets when we moved in ~ made from Victorian "scrap" bought at a reenactment village nearby using a glue stick. I put them on really well. It took about an hour to soak and scrape them off. Hubby wanted to go and get a razor blade but I was afraid that would gouge the doors. They finally came off, and the cabinets look no worse for wear...you can't even see where they used to be. I took before pics but not after ones...I'll see if I can post them tomorrow.
Then the real mess happened!
I had wanted Hubby to get under the sink and throw out everything under there. I figured we'd make a clean sweep of it. Unfortunately it looks like we've had something leaking under there for some time. The wood is totally warped, there's a puddle, and the stuff down there is disgusting. We're getting someone in tomorrow (hopefully) to deal with it all. In the meantime we're not using the sink. It's a real pain not having a sink in the kitchen! Hopefully they can get it done in one day.
>>>>>>I forgot when we loaded our truck up with the bags and boxes of garbage we'd collected for the dumpster we also got rid of the old bundles and bags that had been living in the back. So now the only thing back there is a slide projector that has to go back to my sister the next time we see her. OK, so maybe we got more done today then I thought.
I did get the large drawer in the hutch cleaned out. I threw out old place-mats craft supplies, cards and old flatware that had rust issues which I haven't used in ages. I kept the menu folder..with only our favorite places in there...the power cords for my phone and Kindle, and a picture of my daughter she'd made into a Christmas ornament when she was a Brownie.
I also tackled the decals I had plastered on our kitchen cabinets when we moved in ~ made from Victorian "scrap" bought at a reenactment village nearby using a glue stick. I put them on really well. It took about an hour to soak and scrape them off. Hubby wanted to go and get a razor blade but I was afraid that would gouge the doors. They finally came off, and the cabinets look no worse for wear...you can't even see where they used to be. I took before pics but not after ones...I'll see if I can post them tomorrow.
Then the real mess happened!
I had wanted Hubby to get under the sink and throw out everything under there. I figured we'd make a clean sweep of it. Unfortunately it looks like we've had something leaking under there for some time. The wood is totally warped, there's a puddle, and the stuff down there is disgusting. We're getting someone in tomorrow (hopefully) to deal with it all. In the meantime we're not using the sink. It's a real pain not having a sink in the kitchen! Hopefully they can get it done in one day.
>>>>>>I forgot when we loaded our truck up with the bags and boxes of garbage we'd collected for the dumpster we also got rid of the old bundles and bags that had been living in the back. So now the only thing back there is a slide projector that has to go back to my sister the next time we see her. OK, so maybe we got more done today then I thought.
Baker Street
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Tossing Baking on Sunday Evening....
I must be motivated since I spent my Sunday evening cleaning out a kitchen cabinet.
Hubby and I were going to sit and watch Leverage this evening, but I found I couldn't sit still. So I thought...why not get rid of some stuff! I pulled everything out of the cabinet that once held a lot of storage containers, mixing bowls and baking pans and went through all that I'd jammed in there over the last 14 years. (How long we've lived here) I've hit the point in my life where I'm no longer baking. *Baking is just one of the things that I've decided that I'm not going to do anymore...hence giving away my KitchenAid mixer last week*
I threw away everything in that cabinet but the mixing bowls, one cookie sheet, one pizza pan, one pie plate (for making Pillsbury cinnamon rolls...no I don't count that as baking, more like survival) and a shredder. I can't wait to get to the other cabinets tomorrow.
I think this is the first time in 30 years I don't own a loaf pan!
Hubby and I were going to sit and watch Leverage this evening, but I found I couldn't sit still. So I thought...why not get rid of some stuff! I pulled everything out of the cabinet that once held a lot of storage containers, mixing bowls and baking pans and went through all that I'd jammed in there over the last 14 years. (How long we've lived here) I've hit the point in my life where I'm no longer baking. *Baking is just one of the things that I've decided that I'm not going to do anymore...hence giving away my KitchenAid mixer last week*
I threw away everything in that cabinet but the mixing bowls, one cookie sheet, one pizza pan, one pie plate (for making Pillsbury cinnamon rolls...no I don't count that as baking, more like survival) and a shredder. I can't wait to get to the other cabinets tomorrow.
I think this is the first time in 30 years I don't own a loaf pan!
The Start
I've decided to embark on a new way of living. A way that has at it's core simplicity. And I'm going to take you with me.
I'm sure that I'll make mistakes along the way, but no path worth taking doesn't.
Some who know me may think I have a fairly simple life right now. My kids are grown, my grandkids are children and not babies anymore. I have been married to the same man for 32 years (33 within the month). I have no career, but have taken care of both our parents at different times and have had many jobs that allowed me to raise my children along the way. I am handicapped now, but hope not to remain that way...I'll get into that later perhaps.
This is not just a trip to a simpler exterior life...but an interior one as well.
Much will be discarded along the way, but the good and the necessary will remain.
I'm sure that I'll make mistakes along the way, but no path worth taking doesn't.
Some who know me may think I have a fairly simple life right now. My kids are grown, my grandkids are children and not babies anymore. I have been married to the same man for 32 years (33 within the month). I have no career, but have taken care of both our parents at different times and have had many jobs that allowed me to raise my children along the way. I am handicapped now, but hope not to remain that way...I'll get into that later perhaps.
This is not just a trip to a simpler exterior life...but an interior one as well.
Much will be discarded along the way, but the good and the necessary will remain.
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