Hoarder's Anonymous, Part 6

[Solo]

Well, here we are embarking upon part 6 of our epic journey of sorting out our homes.

We are a varied group of likeminded householders that are leading somewhat challenging lives; be that living with too much 'stuff' that we find difficult to deal with, houses that are falling apart (mine included), health issues within the family unit, wider family, or ourselves that makes sorting out our households challenging, to say the least. So...

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us for support, adding their own ideas to help others out, storage ideas, even tips on actually getting those items out of the house which sounds so simple when you say it. Encouragement abounds here, and we do not criticise. EVER! We even try not to criticise ourselves as it's not helpful to anyone.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't know where to start, can't be bothered but really do want to be bothered...think you are lazy, just need to see it in print here...we'll help. We'll virtually fist bump your achievements - small or large, and virtually hug you when the need arises, and if you want a hug, just ask because we are here for you. Here for one another because we get it - the highs and the lows, the art of washing up is sometimes our great achievement of the day, but it's still an achievement.

Welcome to thread #6 of Hoarders Anonymous - Carrying On Sorting It Out

HERE

I ordered hexagon templates online, I couldn't face looking for mine! I'm not pushing myself to do things that I don't want to! Just gotta get through this lockdown with my sanity!

But I did find a page of stamps yesterday that I had been searching for a month ago! I was so pleased.

I've done gardening today, dh cleared out a small section of gutter. I'm getting the green bin filled up for collection on Wednesday. I put a big load of veg peelings in my compost. I watered a few plants.

I went out for a walk, that was nice.

My smooth laundry routine has crumbled over weeks of damp weather. It just takes too long to dry when the air is damp. Today is brighter so I hung some towels out this morning and have another wash on now.

Very little progress to report but I’m reading a lot and slowly using up cupboard stocks.

nobody is dead or overheated. I did one load of washing, and kept us all cool. that involved a lot of negotiation with an autistic dc to get them out of the house to go to ex's all together as it was much to hot in the flat.

Lots more books sorted yesterday (and a few games). A fair bit into recycling but heaps in the selling cupboard. DH amazed me by getting rid of a few books of his own 😱

I did crash out though, having ALL the books on the living room floor was just so overwhelming. I kept taking breaks though and did manage a fair bit, including organising some of the books we are definitely keeping onto shelves. They’ve been in such a mess since we moved but I now have some categorised such as a science shelf etc.

When I got too tired (and didn’t want to risk burning out completely as I have a new online maths pupil today so I’m a bit nervous) we piled the rest of the books up in the corner of the room to sort later. I reckon there’s maybe 100 left to sort through (as well as working out how to store DH’s novels, as the Kallax shelves aren’t the ideal dimensions for small paperbacks!). Some of those I do know I’m keeping, but I don’t know what shelf to put them on 🤣

I’ve also sorted a load of DH’s stuff into two boxes (one for papers/magazines etc and one for general stuff) so he can sort through it all in one go.

Hopefully I can get on with more sorting after my lesson today!

Not keeping up with routines at all here but I did get rid of 4 more cardboard boxes!

I ordered new hexagon templates! They've arrived! I just have a lot of fabric and sewing accessories and they do need sorting out and I'd love to have them organized but it's a big job I'll do sometime in the future! Anyway finding my hexagon template just seems like a job I couldn't face doing! So now I'll cut up some hexagons and sew them together.

I got some laundry on today. I've ordered my fruit and veg.

I'm not doing much. I'm sick of lockdown!!

I did some sewing today. That felt great, relaxing and enjoyable.

I must sort out my compost tomorrow. I've got a big pile that needs to go outside.

I did some DIY painting today and a lot of weeding.
Created a lot of mess but at least I've moved forward from standstill!
Hopefully the weeds will have shrivelled up tomorrow in the burning sun and will weigh nothing when I get round to raking them. Ditto paint drying in a trice.

I’ve been caught up with end of term but I’m hoping to get back on track this weekend. I failed to get any teacher presents - why am I always so disorganised??

Well gone on the sewing, DownUdderer

My front garden now has lots of bindweed taking over (I think) which makes me agree maybe the herb robert wasn’t so bad, Nettleskeins

Hope everyone else is chipping away at the chaos.

I did one load of laundry today and hung it up. I've really been slacking off on laundry.

Miaowse ...getting presents for teachers was source of so much worrying ..I never knew what to "choose" and was worried the wrong present would be insulting. Ds2 was a brilliant selector of presents though ..he would just pick some outlandish vase or glass animal and say...that's perfect for Miss/Mrs and enjoy wrapping it, when I would never dare presume.

I've given up on the gardening for now, it's too hot and there are enough flowers to decieve me into tranquil acceptance of nettles and invasive grass.
Furniture being in wrong place and no one to lift it and the bed here being wrong size for mattress plus a lot of polyfillering is exasperating me.
I painted a wall with a grey wash yesterday.
Also dealing with elderly parents this week who have their own agendas so it is difficult to pace myself. One paintbrush at a time.

There is a water shortage here so we ve been told to do only essential laundry. Weather breaking soon which will help. But then it won't be drying weather . Meanwhile my veg have got their toes down deep into the soil so I'm not watering then either

Painted two skirting boards final coat eggshell
Picked up some bits of rubbish from kitchen worktop
Hung out three curtains which I washed on a 15 min cycle ..almost dry it is so hot
Moved a large piece of furniture round so room looks bigger
Strimmer a tiny section of vegetable patch edge
Noticed where the garden gloves had got to ..nettles may fall tonight!
But the secateurs have completely eluded me.
Weeded a tiny part of potato patch
Watered a few poorly seedlings that I had transplanted into flowerbed a week ago.
Now to get the roller out and do an coat of primer undercoat on one unsightly wall

Which means changing out of my Sunday frock (the skirtings just required agility)

Our weather has cooled so washing is taking longer to dry again, most frustrating.

You are very productive Nettleskeins! Hope the plants survive the heat.

Hung remodelled two curtains up (slightly unfinished ones (one needs hemming), but better than no curtains) They look so much better than no curtains!
Managed to work out to get curtain pole to stay up with wood glue and screws (old pole ...used to work till taken down for painting walls) that has taken me several days of thought. Was considering metal piping instead in existing brackets but I knew there was an easier solution than buying a new curtain track and fitting it.
Shook out rug
Cleared rubbish in kitchen
Swept floor
Assembled decorating equipment in one place not scattered around...

Hi all!
Not much actual decluttering going on here, focus has been on other stuff. I have added a bit more to the selling cupboard though. Still got some games and books to sort but finding it difficult to find the headspace when there is so much else to do!

Unfortunately we also need to bring in more books now that DS (home ed and will be technically year 8 in sept) is really stepping up the work. Trying to make really good sensible decisions about what we need but it’s also quite hard getting rid of other home ed resources that we haven’t used. It does feel a bit like we are letting go of his childhood and the hopes and dreams of all the other stuff I wanted to do with him (and DD1 before she chose to return to school). 3yo may be home ed from the beginning but we aren’t sure yet and that’s a whole other stress, so I’m really not sure how much to keep just in case. I’ve always found this sort of thing harder to declutter than others - even my own childhood stuff has been easier to let go of! A few weeks ago I happily got rid of a 60 year old board game.

Anyway we have at least got more space now as yesterday my friend’s DH, who had hired a van for something and had booked a tip slot, picked up all our stuff as he had loads of room in the van. So the decking where various bits of old furniture etc had been stagnating for months is now clear and looks huge 🤣 plus some stuff we were keeping indoors, like broken laundry baskets, the old Christmas tree branches and some tatty Kallax baskets have all gone. AND we got rid of the buggy!!! We possibly could have sold it - it’s a good brand but there were bits missing and it was pretty grubby from 3.5 years of use.

Good morning. Ok afternoon but I am just surfacing.

Not been on the thread for ages. Too hot to move last week and nothing that kicked out heat.. So today is shopping...needs the "Friday tidy" and lots of washing up.

Will read back as a reward for getting stuff done.

Well done for getting rid of even little bits of stuff. It all helps.

Well. Not done much. Started the washing up. Emptied the bowl of old stuff. Filled with hot water and washed and dried the first few. (Windows open so "flies might get in small batches of washing up")

Apologies in advance for many many posts of...just washed and dried...

I am struggling.

Can add:
Breakfast Ds
Drink ds
Track package and receive
Wash up some more and put more away.
Shout and flap a lot and evict fly.
Start to put new batches of elderflower champagne away in kitchen cupboard. (Got as many bottles fitted in as possible)

Kitchen cupboard needs emptying and sorting but not a priority at present so it will have to wait.

Cleaned the gunk out of the bath plug hole
Plunged the basin plug hole
Cleaned bath basin and surrounding tiles.
Sent some rubbish down with ex and some recycling
Took in shopping sorted sent ex away with his
Put fridge and freezer stuff away.
Cooked tea. (Late and used emergency frozen vegetables)
Finished the washing up and put all pots away
Put away cupboard stuff that was out as I could not find oil yesterday.
Tidied stairs
Put load of washing on (picking up the scattered laundry from living room and rewashing as had moths in. )
Fed boy snacks and drinks.
Cleaned the inside of the loo.

The house is messy in every single room! I am just about doing the bare minimum.

I'll get laundry on tomorrow.

Back home. Wiped worktops
Took rubbish out
Recycling
Opened some post
Zzzzzzz

I am exhausted and just not managing anything extra at present. The weather is wet again so laundry is backing up.