Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Sorting, Combining & Chucking

People are going hungry in parts of Kenya. If you can pray or help please read about it here.

I spent a few hours on Monday night going through mom's photos (the few that I brought back with me, the rest are with her) and my dearly departed sister's photos. I got rid of  a few photos and some papers but need to go through them once or twice more to decide what papers to keep for her children.  As for the photos, I hope to make a keepsake album or two for my nephew who is now a young man.

I then spent the entire day on Tuesday going through all my craft and sewing items. Well almost all of them. I didn't go through my tole painting supplies as they don't take up much room and are in a small plastic container. I was sorting and cleaning as I went along and trying to make room for some of mom's things that I brought back to my home.

My condo doesn't have much storage space inside so I had to cull some more towels and odds and ends,  in order to make room for other things. I would likely have been getting rid of these things anyway in my regular decluttering exercise.

Odds and ends for giveaway. I will add to it as I continue going through the apartment.
I also decided to discard my trusty shower curtain. Would you believe I've had the same shower curtain since 1989/1990?!!!

It is hard to see in this photo but this shower curtain has all kinds of colours in it: peach, beige, pink, green, dark and light blue, white, gray, pink and black. I think I kept the curtain so long because it has so many colours.  All I had to do was change up the towels and the bathroom rug for a different look now and then.
I've temporarily replaced my shower curtain with this all blue and white one which belonged to mom.  She hardly used it and it had been packed up for a few years.  Though I do like the colour blue this isn't the curtain I want for the long-term.  I've been meaning to do a minor change in the bathroom but haven't got around to it yet.
My bathroom redecorating will likely feature the colours in this floral wall art; a gift to me by my nephew.
In my sorting and cleaning today I had to remove virtually everything from their containers and repack things as I went along.  My living and storage space is limited with all the supplies I already had.  Now I was adding some of mom's supplies, especially knitting needles, a few sewing supplies, all her beads and leather and all the material with Native American designs.

I saved all this stuff because I want to take up beading once again and perhaps make some quilts with the unique material she had. At least the material is unique in Canada though perhaps in the USA it would be much easier to find.  It would be shame to get rid of all this crafting material since mom kept it so long.  Moreover, if I needed to buy it again it would cost me a small fortune.

Perhaps I can gift my nieces and nephews with some of the craft items once I make them.  Or perhaps I can even sell some of them as unique gift items if I have enough of a stash. Whatever the case, I will certainly be busy for awhile once I start making things!

My crochet threads are now all in a basket in the front room for easy access.  Thankfully mom never crocheted with thin cotton yarn or I would probably have kept some of hers too!
My knitting yarns are all in a big plastic tub rather than spread out in different carry bags.  I didn't bring back any of mom's yarns with me. I figured I had enough to keep me busy for awhile.
This is one of the carry bags I had my knitting in. I now use it to house all the knitting needs, crochet hooks, stitch counter, needle gauge, stitch holders, etc. I inherited a few knitting needles from mom but gave all her yarn to a friend who was helping me pack. She will give the tub of yarn to an avid knitter.

These are the fabrics I've inherited. Since I only have room in my closet for one tub of fabric, these additional fabrics will go on the top shelf in another of closets.  I'll be making a bit more room in that closet when I get rid of some linens, blankets and pillows.  I've place two large, thinner tubs containing leather and beads on the floor in another closet.
The other things I brought back were plastics for food storage, a few pots, a juicer, a meat slicer, a dehydrator, some large plastic bowls, a spice rack, food and supplies like laundry soap, paper towels, some matalesse coverlets I had bought her some years back and a pendleton blanket. These things will all be put to good use and except for the food (for which there is no room in the cupboards), the other things have been put away.  

I think one of the hardest things for any one who has to go into a nursing home, is the loss of all their possessions. I didn't have much time to give things away but where I could, I did. I know it helped mom to learn that some of her things didn't simply go to waste and that someone wanted them.

I didn't actually intend to do all this sorting today but I am sure happy that I did.  I have now cleared a path in my bedroom and in the front room and things aren't overflowing everywhere. I ended up chucking about 3 small bags of garbage and emptying two 3 small boxes, two larger boxes and two big, plastic tubs in addition to putting together at least one basket for giveaway.  On Wednesday I plan to carry on sorting through a box of family personal papers. Things I need to save for my nephew and his sister.  Once I get through this, I can get back to sorting my own papers. I still have a lot to discard but it is pretty well sorted now and that will make it a bit easier to go through.

18 comments:

Colleen said...

Good luck with your sorting and decluttering. I am constantly trying to do this too as I feel it's very important and freeing!:)

I wish you luck in the venture ahead!
Have a wonderful day today.

Joyful said...

Thank you Colleen. Good luck with your decluttering also. Sometimes it does seem like a never ending job. Have a great day!

Diane said...

I need to do the same but with bit and pieces in two houses what ever I want is always in the 'wrong' house!! Diane

Bossy Betty said...

Lots to get through! My sisters and I sorted a separated my mom's pictures lately, There were literally over a thousand. Hope you have a happy and productive day today!

Joyful said...

Diane, that must be such a challenge!

Joyful said...

Bossy Betty, it sure is a lot to go through. Fortunately I sorted through most of the stuff when it was still at mom's. I know my mom has over a 1000+ photos - easily. You have a happy day too!

Inger said...

Looking back, I cannot believe that I went to Sweden in a rush on so many occasions to go through things left behind by my parents, my brother and my sister. It makes my head spin and puts my current situation (mess) in perspective. Thank you Joyful for this great post.--Inger

Joyful said...

Canyon Girl, thank you so much for stopping by. I know you are dealing with your own sorting, combining & chucking (f your husband will). I was actually thinking of you as I wrote this post and thinking that we are going through similar motions though maybe different e-motions. Good wishes on your continued journey. Hugs and have a great day.

The Professor's Wife said...

I can't wait to see pictures of some of the things that you make!

Joyful said...

The Professor's Wife, thank you. I will be posting some photos of the things I make along the way if they aren't the same old, same old, lol.

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Hi,
Thanks for stopping by my blog . I am glad things are settling down with your mother's move. I am in dire need of decluttering my home . I am working on it and this year I am determined to to complete the process.
Blessings,
~Myrna
ps, I love your photography & the quilt is beautfiul !

Joyful said...

Thank you Myrna. It has been a lot of work and I'm very tired but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Best wishes with your decluttering :-)

Jan said...

Hi Penny, you make such great use of your space, you are very disciplined!
Great potos as always.
Blessings,
Jan

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

So happy to hear that you feel good about all your sorting accomplishments. Can't wait to see what you'll crochet. :)

Joyful said...

Thanks Jan! It is challenging living in a smaller space when you have so many interests/hobbies that need room, lol. But hopefully with my current desire to simplify, I will make use of much of these materials, rather than let them lie around for years. Also, now when I read my books, I will get rid of most of them rather than keep them.

Joyful said...

Thank you Heidi! I can't wait to get back to crochet. I love to make doilies :-)

Joyful said...

So happy to hear that you feel good about all your sorting accomplishments. Can't wait to see what you'll crochet. :)

Joyful said...

Hi Penny, you make such great use of your space, you are very disciplined!
Great potos as always.
Blessings,
Jan

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