Since then everything has pretty much stayed in the cupboards in the same place that it was put into, and although I've sorted a couple of times the contents of the cupboards have been pretty much the same. So ... I thought what better time than on a cool and blustery June day, one year later to have a proper empty out, and a good ... but slightly late ... Spring clean and look at anything that hasn't been used in that time frame.
Then I had a brainwave 😁
I have never been able to reach the top shelf properly, hence there being so little stuff kept up there. Until very recently I have not been able to manage even the two levels of my little kitchen steps. So what was on it had to be clutched at with fingertips, so I always ran the risk of dropping a jug on my head. So while I was wiping out the cupboard I noticed that there was one more set of shelf support holes about three inches lower, and after checking I realised that my little wooden boxes would fit into that gap.
So with Alan's help I lowered the top shelf, then I put some of the bitty bits into the boxes and finally had a top shelf that I could reach safely.
Result!!
So now I have everything that I use, easily and safely accessible with no more moving things to one side to reach other things, and I know the cupboard is nice and clean as well as being calm and simple to look at when I open the doors ...and yes I might have opened them a couple of times since I finished just to peek inside. 😃
Sue xx
Is it really a year? Goodness!!
ReplyDeleteYou're stronger than I (that's a compliment, by the way!). I find it incredibly difficult to get rid of stuff I don't use. It's not the stuff, it's the memories (which is silly, I know).
I think I have the same little slow cooker - it is brilliant for one, isn't it? I'm sure someone will snap it up.
xx
It's gone so quickly hasn't it, and yet so much has gone on in that year.
DeleteI do have a lovely wooden box that a 'Our New Life in the Country' blog reading friend made me when we moved onto our first farm. That is full of lots of small but precious items that are full of memories, but apart from that I can let go so easily now. After all when I am gone they will be of no use to my sons, they hold no memories for them and they will just throw things away. At least this way I know they are going to people who do want or need them.
I've never used the slow cooker so I don't know :-)
Better out than in! Ours goes into the attic, supposedly for a year before moving on.
ReplyDeleteI've never had an attic or loft space with stuff in ... well except for lots of insulation ... and of course there's no attic or loft here as the underside of the roof is my ceiling.
DeleteWell done. Though I treasure my slow cooker, which is the One Pot, so also has a pressure cooker mode etc. I must gird my loins to go into the Utility room cupboard to sort out as everything got bunged in there when we arrived 18 mths ago and hasn't been revisited! I have ALL Eldest Daughter's camping things which she has no space for, an inflatable mattress of hers for when she and boyfriend camp out in the summer house (she has a bedroom, but I will leave the "why the summerhouse?" to your imagination!!) There are far too many "useful plastic containers" - but I have stopped putting every ice cream container we've ever bought in there . . .However, currently in redecorate the kitchen mode . . .
ReplyDeleteSummerhouse? Oh to be young again...lol...;)
DeleteIf I do have to move again for any reason I am determined it will be the easiest move EVER!! I have decided that I will no longer save 'usual plastic containers' for anything. I have a number of glass storage jars that I can use instead of plastic, but I am even keeping their numbers to the bare minimum.
DeleteWhile you are redoing your kitchen you could be a bit ruthless in what makes it back into those lovely new cupboards ... go on I dare you ;-)
If you drilled a finger-sized hole in the side of the wooden boxes they would be easier to get down. Well done on the decluttering. You've inspired me to do the same.
ReplyDeleteI did think of doing that at first, but the things in them come right to the edge so there's no room for a finger ... haha. Now I have decided to get a couple of little 'shell pull' type handles for them. But you never know I might find something suitable during my sorting out.
DeleteLooking good.
ReplyDeleteI've recently got rid of a few bits not used in a year - but need several of some things now I have the dishwasher which only goes on every other day or so.
Yep, I should imagine that if I had a dishwasher I would need to own more than two cups and three wine glasses!!
DeleteGosh, I can't believe how the last year has flown! Your kitchen is certainly looking good now, so neat and tidy. It's been 9 months since we moved to the bungalow and I could really do with sorting out cupboards too. Things just got shoved away and some things haven't moved since. Time to declutter again I think ;)
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that this is the final time I declutter as once you get down to the bare necessities there's nothing else to get rid of is there ... hopefully ;-)
DeleteIt's nice to feel well enough to have a bit of a Spring clean as well, even if it is literally one area at a time.
Looks good. Regine
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Thank you. xx
DeleteI love when I have tidied and cleaned the kitchen cupboards. We are having a hot but damp day here today and I feel exhausted by the heat. I really must tidy and declutter the cupboards as they are annoying me greatly. I’ll wait for a cooler day. Catriona
ReplyDeleteOh gosh yes, I couldn't be bothered to do this if it was a hot day, it's pretty chilly here today and after a brief dry spell the rain is back. A good sort of day for sorting another couple of drawers out.
DeleteOh my goodness, I think we could start a junk shop with all the stuff we should get rid of and unbelievably just a few years ago we moved onto a narrow boat for a while so had to clear stuff out ruthlessly!
ReplyDeleteBecause for the moment we have loads of storage space we are filling it and like you mentioned, when we are gone no one else in the family will want all this **** ........we really will have to sort it - tidy house tidy mind?!
Ps I love green too whereas some folk think it's unlucky don't they?
Alison in Wales x
How wonderful that you moved onto a narrowboat, something that Alan is very tempted to do, how that would work with the amount of office space he needs I have no idea!!
DeleteBut yes we do grow to fill our spaces don't we. When we had our first farm house we had four bedrooms, I imagined a couple of bare empty rooms ... yeah, that didn't happen we acquired so much stuff!
Green is the best colour in the world ... well most of nature seems to agree with me :-)
"Buying things just because they're green"!!! Me too! I think I still have a green tupperware celery holder somewhere...I'm back. I washed and cut the celery, put it in the holder, decided to use some in the dinner, then went out and cut some basil and green onion for dinner too. Thank you for helping me with my green stuff!
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad that I am not the only one. I am currently coveting my sons new front door ... yes it's green. It's a shame my front door is in such good condition :-(
DeleteThat looks terrific! I envy how organized you are. I am still in my home where I raised my children and they come for visits so it is nice to have room for them and stuff to feed them with but that means I have a LOT of crap that I don't use often! I will need a big dumpster to clean out this place some day... I am so jealous! :)
ReplyDeleteWell my boys come about once a year, so if and when they do it's usually Alan who makes a cuppa for everyone as he has milk in his fridge and all the cups necessary. I make the food, or we go out and eat as a treat for them. I decided a few years ago that keeping spare things and spare rooms for such rare visit made no sense. If they want to stay overnight for any reason I can book them in a local B&B.
DeleteCan’t stand slow cooked food where every component so strongly absorbs the sauce/ gravy that it tastes the same. I do have a slow cooker but it’s used solely for keeping the gravy hot when I have the family for lunch (14 of us)
ReplyDeleteI just don't eat the sort of food that needs more than 20 or so minutes to cook, so I have no idea why I bought it really! There's 1 of me.
DeleteOK so now I feel inspired to empty and clean my buffet row of kitchen wall and base cupboards. I really like those turquoise blue tea cups. Well done on the ration challenge and good luck with more decluttering as you are able to get to it!
ReplyDeleteThey are nice cups, I used them all the time when Iived in the Van, but then I bought the other two and they are a much better size. Thank you. xx
DeleteA whole year already. Sheesh, time really is speeding up.
ReplyDeleteI am embarking on a similar declutter because all the items coming out of my current van will just not fit into the new (smaller) one. I was feeling quite daunted but seeing how you are tackling a similar job has helped loads, thank you. xx
I know!!
DeleteYou do have to be a little bit more careful with the van contents though as you might need tool like things, but I guess only two of everything else ... plates, cups, cutlery etc.