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Archive through April 16, 2004

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions: 2004 Aug - Oct: TVCH's Home & Life Organization (ARCHIVES): Archive through April 16, 2004 users admin

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Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Friday, March 26, 2004 - 6:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I got back from a business trip a week ago Thursday. I'm leaving again early Tuesday morning. Is it too soon to unpack the suitcase?

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 4:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for keeping this thread going, everyone.

We've just returned from a cruise (real luxury for us, but the price was very good) and while I'm delighted with the clutter-removing I did by sewing up no less than 5 (count 'em! 5!) nice summer tops to take with me, I'm aware that if I'd gotten to the Goodwill with that bag of "stuff" that I'd collected but wanted to fill a bag before making the trip down there I would not have had the cloth to make the tops without going out to buy more. At the time I was clearing clutter from that cupboard 10 days earlier, a trip was not in the offing, these were "short lengths" of fabric, and I haven't had time to sew anyway. Now that my house is pretty well fly-ed, the sewing time just appeared when I realized I needed some clothes for the trip, and I had a use for that fabric. I was so glad that I hadn't yet tossed it, but it's a little scary, tossing stuff that really there's an immediate use for. LK and I discussed this awhile back; how do you know what you can toss in your craft closet because this isn't the first time I've tossed stuff that I needed within a month or so. I think my new rule will be to bag stuff as though it were to be recycled, but put the bag in a storage spot for a bit and see if it's really clutter or inventory. We really don't have a lot of clutter; my problem is more that I never got around to cleaning anything because I never had time to do it all at once. Fly-ing is curing that.

I'm the one with the hubby that knew nothing of my new flyin' ways and I finally shared "the system" with him because I was planning to order the feather dusters and he handles our bills--he'd want to know what accounting category this payment went to. The result was most anticlimactic--he said that sounded like an interesting way to organize work, but really, he thought the house was just fine however I'd been doing it.

Ladies, this house was NOT fine! Guess he only had been looking at the middles of the room and never at the dust level that used to exist on the furniture and he apparently wasn't aware that I usually had no advance plans for dinner menus at all.

But I see the difference! For the first time ever, I unpacked my luggage as soon as I got home (no living out of the suitcase until I get around to unpacking it) and we came home to a clean, tidy house. It pleases me to have it so and that will have to do!

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 2:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Never throw away or give away fabric. Never, never, never. No matter how small or outdated the pieces are. I recently used orange polyester double-knit from the early 70's to line the grandkids trick or treat bags. I might give away craft supplies for a craft I no longer do and have no intention of ever resuming, but never fabric. No, no, no. Your soul needs your fabric.

On another note, I'm thinking of unpacking that suitcase tomorrow and not waiting until Monday. There might be something in it that has to line dry.

Sherrie
Member

11-23-2003

Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 3:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well Spinner, that is just about the very last response I was expecting. Just goes to show we are our own worst critics! (I got the dusters and they are everything that everyone says in their testimonials. I also splurged and got the timer. I use it all the time!) The cruise must have been lovely! Your idea about putting it aside just to make sure is a good one. I will share that after all of that decluttering I did at the first of the year and the big closet purge, I lost 25 pounds. So many of the things I tried on, said that I was never going to be able to wear again and gave to the goodwill sure would come in handy right now.

You know, your honey is really a very sweet man who loves you. And if you feel good that is more than enough reason to continue with Flylady. I agree that her system makes housework easier.

Purple: Good thinking about the possibility of something needing to be line dried. Have a safe trip and let us know when you get back so we can keep track of that suitcase

Lumbele: Are you still washing dishes or have you completed that and have now moved on to the painting? I know it must be a lot of work but very rewarding. And what a perfect reward for decluttering - a new kitchen!

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 4:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Purplecow, I see that you, too, are a fabric person! I don't want to turn into that person I read about some time ago who had so much fabric that she moved it all into one of those self-storage facilities, put a comfy chair and a good light in there and would go to "visit" her fabric and, presumably, pick out what she needed. I get a lot of fabric given to me by my mil; her tastes in fabric don't match mine and I've often given a lot of fabric away that I knew I'd never use. I'm pretty set on not allowing my fabric to take over more than the closet shelf (and a pretty long shelf it is!) I've allotted to it, but temporarily storing what I'm thinking of getting rid of is probably my best solution for now.

And, Purple, was there anything that needed to be dried in your suitcase? <G>

Sherrie, my DH is indeed a very sweet man; he's just a little blind to housekeeping matters, and it's a good thing that my casual housekeeping hasn't distressed him all these years. But it's distressed me, and finding the Flylady is a blessing for me, and that's reason enough to stay with it. I feel so much more energetic when I walk into a clean room!

I agree with you about the dusters, Sherrie. They really are good; much better than the little Walmart ones I started with. Besides, I'd like to support the Flylady's efforts on our behalf in some tangible way; I'm still in shock that there's no charge for all this information she's supplying.

And, thank you very much, the cruise was just lovely. We're already planning our next one, even though we'll have to start saving up a few vacation pennies <G> we both agree that no vacation is as enjoyable as the cruises we've been on. This time we watched the "last minute reservations" e-mails and when the price fell to a bottom-level price on with top-level cruise line out of a city we didn't need to fly to, we grabbed it. We had a 5-day advance notice, which was plenty of time to organize ourselves to go.

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 8:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I almost forgot, Sherrie! Congratulations on your losing the 25 pounds; that's a milestone to celebrate. Buy some new clothes, maybe?

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 10:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Purple, why bother? Just zip it up again for Tuesday.
Welcome Home, Spinner! Every once in a while I think that Flylady must have the necessary cash to replace stuff she ends up needing after all. Most of us don't. And you can always rely on needing something you had stored for ages and finally chucked out. I have an old suitcase full of fabric pieces. No way will I turf them. I go by the motto if it doesn't feel like a burden or makes me smile I keep it until those feelings change.
Your hubby's reaction is typically male - at least in my experience. My DH is generally a neat-freak. Whenever I was unable to do housework he always chipped in (helps when I am able, too), but there are 2 things that just don't register on his radar - dust and dirty floors. He would vacuum everything that is and isn't nailed down and can reach, but nothing would ever see a cloth, wet or otherwise.LOL Maybe your other half will eventually notice that he doesn't have to sneeze quite as much.LOL You just enjoy the fruits of your labours. We'll pat you on your back even if he doesn't. Besides, you are the one who notices and is entitled to do some patting yourself.
Sherrie, congratulations on loosing that much weight. How did you do it?
Dishes are washed, buffed and back in their rightful place. So is the rest of what was in our 12' wall unit. Oh Brother, does that thing hold a lot. While I was at it I decluttered a bit as well. The painting of the rest of the rooms is on the backburner. Need to tile the kitchen first and DH told the window ppl to come put the new ones in on the 19th. Ah well, he made sure they won't show before my b'day. Considerate man that he is.LOL
Speaking of saving some things. We have moved so often in our married life that I have oodles of diff.size curtains. Every once in a while there was one or 2 that would not fit the new place, but the one after. Those, too are in an old suitcase in the storage room, and as soon as I can get at it, I'll have some cute new curtains that will fit my new kitchen.
I brought some German linen when I came to Canada. It has never fit any beds here, but I had kept them anyway. A few months ago I sewed pillow protectors and oodles of kitchen towels from them. Since they are linen they were ideal for buffing up all my crystal. No fuzz. Only drawback is they need a hot iron after washing. But I'll have a lifelong supply of dishtowels and when this latest bunch bites the dust I'll just pull out some more linen and voila more towels of a quality that you can't buy here.


Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 2:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele, I think you're spot on about husbands and what they notice! And I agree with you on who we need to please: it's only ourselves, if necessary!

I'm sure you can do something with the curtains--curtains and rugs don't often seem to fit someplace new, do they? That's probably something I would have tossed; but not everyone has my impatience with having to rip something up to make into something new. I'm not good at that at all. The German linen sounds ideal for this new use you've made of it.

Oh, and Lumbele, I"m so happy to hear that I'm not the only one who worries about having to re-buy what I threw out! I'll confess to another "save" from that same bag that was headed for the goodwill (but is nearly empty now!): I'd tossed in a two-piece set of cosmetic keepers (for want of a better name)--one is a hang-up bag with little zippered pockets and the other is a narrow padded box with a mirror; someone gave them to me and since I have a good arrangement for such things in my bath already I'd tossed them into the goodwill bag. Then, packing for the trip, I started thinking. In the past (and we travel quite a bit) I've just thrown cosmetics/hairbrush/toothbrush, etc. into a plastic bag and tossed that into the suitcase. My new neat habits-self looked at that jumble and thought about why I'd want a cluttered suitcase like that, remembered about what was in the goodwill bag, and rescued the two items to live in my suitcase. The little box was an excellent fit in the tray under the mirror in the ship's cabin, and the hangered unit hung nicely from a towel rack, and I wasn't digging in the plastic bag all week. So that's another item I'm glad I didn't throw out!

On the other hand, when we decluttered our garage last summer of all the stuff accumulated over 40 years of marriage -- my original intent was to get rid of stuff our now-grown kids had left behind but I got carried away and we did the whole garage, I had no trouble throwing stuff away. I think you can tell what stuff absolutely won't be needed again and since I think you're right and the Flylady must just replace what she throws out and needs later but I don't want to, I'm going to use one corner of our clean garage to put goodwill bags until I'm sure. We'll see if it becomes a "hot spot" but I doubt it will--if it does I'll make a rule that only one bag can be there or something.

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 3:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
FINALLY. This really, truly, absolutely sucked.

D-Link is still trying to dodge replacing my wireless card by telling me that my "computer doesn't want to be wireless." EXCUSE ME? How dumb do they think i am?

Anyway, I reinstalled my wired card, refound the cables I had set aside for donation and FINALLY was able to get back online.

Still going to make DLink replace the crappy wireless card, though.

I also never realized how much time DH spends on HIS computer playing games and he doesn't/didn't feel the need to share so I could play here. (Go figure )

ANYWAY...I am back.

Now to catch up on reading! (First I had to get past the new format to find you guys!)

Decluttering here is going well. I cleared out a lot by the time Ostara rolled around. Still have some to do, but I will get it done and well before I leave on April 9th.

I ended up buying FlyLady's Control Journal, so I could definitely have something solid for DH before I leave. Not that he'll DO any of it, but I'll feel better.

We have our outside planted and are enjoying all of the growth. Pictures posted in the gardening thread. Dipo: I saw the Target planters, but I had more fun planting my own. I like (and have) three types of oregano, so I definitely wanted to plant my own.

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Monday, March 29, 2004 - 7:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Aren't you all glad to have me here? You're all doing a great job, but I make you look even better.

I did take the dirty clothes or of my suitcase and put them in the hamper. Unfortunately, they didn't make it from the hamper to the washing machine. So, I did what I had to do and went shopping . . . Really, I needed to anyway because I've gained a lot of weight since I quit smoking. Really. Now I've got two pairs of pants that need hemming. The torture never stops.

I guess if someone were giving me fabric that I knew I'd never use I might get rid of it. I've turned DD's old room into my sewing room so I have plenty of space for my fabric collection. Believe it or not, I've even sorted it and it's all in clear plastic storage bins so I can see what's in there. DS's old room is my office and studio. Both need some work, but there's nothing I can throw away. I just need to organize everything. Okay, maybe the barrel of Duplo blocks could go. And DD's formals and wedding dress. and DH's slacks, short sleeve dress shirts and clip on ties from before he retired in 1987. I could use the closet.

I'll be home until October after this trip, so I will definitely have time to get decluttered and organized. I will. I'm almost finished reading that procrastinator book.

LK, I have one computer with a wireless card and one without, but I bought my router when both computers needed cables. So I have a 50 ft. cable and I can go just about anywhere in my house while tethered to the router. I was chatting with someone online and was asked if I was now wireless. I said that I had a small house and a long cable.

Spinner, cruising is my favorite vacation. It's also the most economical, we've found. My favorite line is Celebrity. It still offers the old fashioned elegance and service. We've gotten so that we don't even leave the ship when we're in port (unless I'm out of perfume or there's some fantastic snorkeling available. We can drive to all 4 of the major ports here in Florida. I'd like to do the cruise through the Panama Canal one of these days. We've been advised to do that one in the Winter. I'd also love to do one of the Alaska cruises, but those are a little beyond our means right now.

So, leaving on a jet plane early tomorrow. Will be back a week from Tuesday afternoon. DH is staying home so I get to sleep in the middle of the bed with all the pillows, put my stuff on both sides of the bathroom sink and leave the TV on all night. Bliss!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Monday, March 29, 2004 - 10:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Welcome back, LK! Good to see you around again.

Bon Voyage, Purple! Have a great time!

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Monday, March 29, 2004 - 11:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I bought a small rolling carry-on (originally $14.97, for $2.97) for my travels.

I leave for Michigan on April 9th for 6 days, and decided that everything that I need to take will fit in the carry-on. Since I have no idea what Mom's plans are, I'm wearing one pair of capris on the plane, taking another pair with me, and packing a skirt. I'm taking enough tops to interchange without a problem.

I am packing all of my stuff in Ziplocks--I really don't want folks rummaging through my underwear.

My plan is to come home WITH clean clothes and to unpack that night. Since we have no room for the expanded suitcase (one reason I bought it is that it folds FLAT), I have no doubt that I will indeed get it unpacked quickly.

The battle still continues with D-Link. I really do not like these people. I don't mind the cable running through the house--except when I trip on it. Which is, unfortunately, way too often.

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Monday, March 29, 2004 - 2:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Welcome back LK!

Purple, I agree with you about the economies of cruising--and I don't care if I get off the ship in port or not either--unless there's good snorkeling. We should be able to cruise together just fine. <G> Our favorite line is Holland America for the same reason you like Celebrity--old fashioned elegance. I hope you have a good trip.

LK, trip wishes to you, too. I ziplock everything too; same reason.

My next declutter project will be the kitchen cabinet where I keep my larger pans. I'm using all of them, I think--I might get under there and find something that I don't remember, but it's way too crowded. Something needs to give under there.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 4:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Those of you who are on Flylady's mailing list may remember a few weeks ago she suggested making a pantry out of the linen closet. Well, her method gave me a good chuckle (one set of sheets on the bed, the other under the mattress) and I though "Yeah, right". But then it kept nagging at me. My pantry was in the basement, which meant every time I needed something I had to race down the stairs, because I would never remember to take those things up with me whenever I was down there anyway.
Guess what. I cleared out my linen closet and now have an upstairs pantry. This move also made me realise I have way too much stock. The baking reserves are still downstairs. Gotta make room for all that extra sweet stuff. So my grocery bills should be quite managable for the next little while.LOL
The linen wandered into these plastic zipper bags that fit under the beds. Couldn't bring myself to lift the mattress to store it.LOL

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 5:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good idea, Lumbele! Unfortunately, we have no linen closet on the same floor where the kitchen is--one of the upstairs closets could be a linen closet, but I keep sheet sets (we don't have many spares, either--no place to put them-- with other linens in the adjoining bathroom closet then tablecloths, etc. go in a pretty basket in the dining room. And the kitchen cupboards are woefully inadequate for groceries--barely room for basic kitchen stuff. So I've set up a pantry in the garage; on top of an old (long) aquarium table are some bookshelves and that's the pantry. It works pretty well; stuff that isn't going in the refrigerator is unloaded from the car to there, and the shelves are narrow; I can tell what I have.

I'm so glad the linen closet to pantry worked out for you, though. And isn't that great--that you have plenty of stock!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 6:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Spinner, I like your garage idea as well. We have an old fridge out there (mainly for drinks) and eventually the little bit of cupboard that was on the now new wall will go next to and above said fridge. That will hold all that unwieldy kitchen stuff like big Tupperware containers and such. Can't put food that can't be frozen out there. I live in Manitoba.LOL

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 2:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, yes, Lumbele, where you live sure would make a difference! I live in Los Angeles. Nothing's gonna freeze in my garage unless I put a freezer out there!

Sherrie
Member

11-23-2003

Monday, April 05, 2004 - 11:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele - that is a great idea for you! I can't imagine going down to the basement (I live in Los Angeles also). But I understand Spinner using the garage as additional storage since I live here and that is where we store overflow.

I also can't embrace the idea of putting my extra sheets between my mattress so I store one extra set in a cute basket and all other extra linen in plastic tubs under the bed (remember I am the one with only one closet for the entire house - cute rental cabin in Laurel Canyon).

I love Flylady and respect her system BUT I just had another one of those moments where I realized that I tossed out something I needed while I was in the declutter phase. This time in the bathroom - all those containers of product you don't use. It has been so dry here that my face is starting to get dry patches. I went in search of the moisturizer I had saved that was too heavy for every day use. It was gone...I am going to pay attention in the future and really think before anything goes. It really is a great concept that I just need to tweak. Running around looking for 27 items to throw out is no longer necessary for me.

Does anyone know when Purple comes back? Now that we know that Spinners husband is a very loving man but no fun to tease, I am wondering what is going on with her suitcase? It is the little things that keep me amused!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 7:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sherrie, ever since I started with the Flylady I have never done a 27 fling boogie. I am much too methodical and think if I had to race through the house grabbing 27 things to chuck out I'd end up throwing out stuff just for the throwing. And if I had to look for 27 things that really need turfing I'd need several 15 mins stints, not worth it. I'll do it during Zone week.
Yep, the lady gives great guidelines, but she definitely is not a religion.LOL

Sherrie
Member

11-23-2003

Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 1:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
If only I had your wisdom when I started!!! I am really going to practise my new motto "everything in moderation, everything in moderation...."


Catfat
Member

02-27-2002

Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 10:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OK, everyone, here is the ultimate "Saving Fabric" story.
Like all of you, I buy lots more fabric than I will ever use, I even buy fabric at yard sales from women who have enough sense to throw out their fabric. I even buy clothes that don't fit just because I like the fabric.
As some of you might know, I am an oil painter, usually painting large (up to 4 or 5 feet tall) pieces, usually women doing everday things, such as leaning out a window, hanging laundry, etc. Well, I have hit on a great idea--using up all these pieces of fabric as collage in my paintings as curtains, dresses, laundry, whatever. Maybe I will even do some self-portraits with me dressed in pieces of gorgeous fabric. I think some of these pieces can be left to flutter or drape.
OK, maybe you'd have to see it. This is going to be either really stunning or really tacky.
I'll keep you posted--wish me luck!!!
I even have a name for the series "Dresses I wear when I think no one is looking"

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 3:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cat, I LOVE it! Be sure to send us a pic of your work.

Sherrie, I got home Tuesday afternoon, but this is the first time I've checked in here. I had a weeks worth of Starting Over and All My children to watch.

Status of luggage: Computer/projector case open so I could remove computer. Duffle bag in living room, opened to remove toiletries. Red suitcase in the bedroom opened so I could remove books on Washington DC and MT. Vernon and mug with presidential seal for DH.

DH asked sweetly this morning if I would please put away my clothes stacked on the dresser and floor because he has to call the exterminator to make an appointment for the annual termite inspection. I think I can do that. I do have another excuse, though. I'm having surgery on Tuesday. I think I can milk that for a while. It's just a hernia repair, nothing serious, so don't be worrying. I'll be home, moaning on the couch, Wednesday.

LK, my luggage was inspected in both directions. I don't mind the inspecting, it's the tie-locks. I had to go to Arlington, TX last July. I missed my plane because I thought it left on Thursday (which is when I usually leave) but it left on Wednesday. Left without me. Delta was wonderful, got me on a later plane for only a $25. penalty. Anyway, I got to the hotel about 11:30 PM. I had to teach a class at 8:30 the following morning, so I jumped right in the shower. Came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, and found my suitcase tie-locked because it had been inspected. Now I had just been on an airplane so I had nothing in my purse that I could use to cut the tie-lock. If I hadn't been able to insert my car key and twist with all my might I would have had to chew the thing off. What were they thinking? Anyway, now I always carry a pair of blunt children's scissors, just in case.

Just thinking, I had better leave the house clean. If I die on Tuesday, there will be strangers in here . . .


Sherrie
Member

11-23-2003

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 11:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Purple - I am just catching up around here also after the holidays. Today was your surgery (unless it started a day early without you ) I hope that all went well and will feel better when you check in!

Very McGyver (not sure of spelling) of you using your keys that way! It is funny how "strong" we become when we get frustrated!

Um......the last line was a joke, right? Cuz you told us not to worry....should I be worried???

Cat - I also think that is a great idea and would love to see pictures!

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 9:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm BACK!

Lots of catch-up reading to do, but I did want to share that I arrived home at 11:25PM last night and unpacked and put away everything before DH and I went to bed at 1AM.
I didn't plan to, but as we were talking, it just seemed to make sense. Pretty scary.

Now to catch up on reading, and finish clearing out the stuff. (I'm down to 9 unsorted boxes and 12 sorted [books, videos, craft stuff, etc.])

From my trip, I have 35-pound and 39-pound boxes coming via UPS ground sometime next week, and I want to have THOSE boxes come into a totally cleaned out house.

Anyway, I'll catch up on reading and share my progress!

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 10:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm home. They did keep me an extra day because I was running a fever. I'm still having a little trouble getting up and down but I can walk almost straight up and finally lie on my side so I'm getting better sleep. I'm not allowed to drive, but I'm assuming they meant the car, not the computer. I'm a little stupid from the oxycodone.

Glad you're back, LK and especially proud that you've already unpacked. It's a good thing I didn't take a bag to the hospital (I thought I'd be coming home the same day, not two days later) or I'd have 3 bags to unpack instead of the two from Maryland.