My blogs are seamlessly merging into each other in my head at the moment as the current Challenge over on my challenge blog is to get Down to Basics.
It started off as a foodie Challenge, emptying the food cupboards gradually as we chomp our way through them in a bid to restock with a more basic range of the simple, healthy foods that we both love. We're doing the Challenge both at the Van and at home here in Wales ... where I am all this week.
But with the first sale of a large item from the house the Challenge is morphing into an even bigger Down to Basics challenge as I clear and clean my way through the house. Having just what we need at the Van has highlighted even more the excess we still feel we have here at the house.
So with the car boot sale season in our area now in full swing we are cleaning, sorting, tidying and clearing out all of the excess with a plan to sell or donate everything that we don't need or use.
Over the weekend I listed and sold with his permission I hasten to add, Alan's little used massive treadmill running machine, it sold within 24 hours and it's left a lovely clear space in the conservatory. So this morning the whole room has been thoroughly Spring cleaned and now feels and smells lovely and fresh.
It is very satisfying to see space and have room to move around, so all I am going to add to this room is the small armchair that we currently have in the workshop. Mostly because I am a big softy and I know Ginger will love to sleep on it out of the reach of a certain little puppy.
I am just waiting for the floor to dry on the other half of the room and then I will put the new tablecloth on the table, bring in the plants that are sat outside in the sunshine and put the rest of the room back together.
It's addictive this clearing out lark ... I wonder if it will continue when I look through the bookshelves as I plan to clean them tomorrow?
Sue xx
Wonderfully cleansing. I did something like this when I moved from my large farmhouse to this smaller bungalow and I found it very liberating.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's just that isn't it ... liberating :-)
DeleteIt does rather become addictive. I thought that I'd already cleared all the books that I was willing to give up - but - with the church book sale coming up in a couple of weeks I decided to have another look - so far I've taken in 9 more books! I've also started filling up a bag with odds and ends of household and decorative items - they are going to a friend for her churches car boot sale! It's lovely to have breathing space isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking we've sorted as much as possible, then a few months later I realise there's more. I guess it's an ongoing job.
DeleteYes, I love the breathing space, I keep walking into the conservatory and just standing there!
You are so right about that. Good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm enjoying this journey ... at both my locations.
DeleteIt's madness the amount of stuff we accumulate. I joined an online 40days/40bags challenge last year, in an attempt to clear out a bag of stuff each day. Some days the 'bags' were only a couple of items but I managed to get rid of 3 large suitcase-worth of clothes & things; was v cross at myself for wasting all that money on things I didn't need (esp handbags?!). Keep going, you're doing a great job!!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to join in with a challenge isn't it, it really focuses the mind.
DeleteI did the 1-31 Challenge last year, I can't remember what it's properly called ... but you get rid of one thing on day one of the month leading up to getting rid of 31 things on the last day. I managed it quite easily, I was surprised, in fact I think all the things are still in a box waiting for the first car boot sale this week.
I still find things that I am willing to give up. After three years of decluttering you would think I was done. Nope, this simplicity thing is definitely a good thing.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Yes, it really is an ongoing thing isn't it :-)
DeleteClearing out and sorting things isvery cathartic. I like to reduce clutter but I'm not a minimalist.
ReplyDelete