Home

[rnmom]

Hubby went back to his mom's house a couple of days ago and helped her go thru some more things. He did bring more stuff home, a couple of coolers, 2 briefcases, some other small things, I'm not sure of everything. I'm glad he's helping her, but he's bringing more stuff home, which doesn't thrill me.

He did come back here and grabbed the few donations that we had here before making another trip to the donation center so those few things are out of the house at least. I just keep telling myself it's still better to do it a bit at a time now rather than have such a massive job to do when she's gone. 

He also took his mom an extra microwave that we had here in the basement because she didn't have a working microwave so we got that out of here. 

[magicmoodz]

---

@rnmom wrote:

---

@RedTop wrote:

The last truckload of stuff from the main rooms of moms house went to the dump this morning on FREE dump day!  What a lucky break with our timing, as my husbands truck was loaded down with 6 kitchen chairs and numerous bags.   Free dump day is a huge success here, so my husband and daughter were 4th in line at the gate before 7:30.  

I just shake my head over some of the things Mom had sitting on shelves and stuffed in drawers.  I found the quilted peach bedspread and matching curtains that were in my bedroom here in 1984, and went to her house by 1990.  She still had the cotton bedspreads that covered my brothers twin beds when they lived at home!  

Going thru this experience again makes me want to get a dumpster and empty half this house to keep my girls from having to purge my stuff!

---

@RedTop - I have sometimes wondered what my family would think if I dropped dead tomorrow and they were going thru all of my stuff. I guess it won't matter because I won't be here, but the thought has crossed my mind

---

@rnmom 

This is one of my fears. I can't bear the thought of someone going through my underwear drawer. Everything is clean and neatly folded, but still...

One of the drawbacks of not having children😢

[magicmoodz]

1

---

@rnmom wrote:

---

@aprilskies wrote:

Well, I made an effort to either declutter or organize some and was not successful with either. I just didnt know where to start. Crazy. 

Yes, I have a half a mind to bring in a dumpster too and just get rid of everything but the basics but know I wont do that just yet. 

I think I need to go back to doing one section at a time.  I get distracted and sidetracked and then it becomes overwhelming. I am going to organize my office at least and have it streamlined. It feels so good when it is not cluttered. 

---

@aprilskies - I think that is a good idea. Start in the area that is bothering you the most and work in there. Plan for a set amount of time and when that time is up you can decide if you want to stop or keep going. At least something is better than nothing. 

---

@aprilskies  I think @rnmom  offers solid advice. Don't even think about a whole house in need of cleaning/decluttering. Rather take it room by room. And if only a small amount of time, set realistic goals allocating 15 minutes to complete one goal.  

I am a very compartmentalized person and cannot start one project in the kitchen, get sidetracked and move on to do something in the bedroom. I must stay focused on completing a "job" and I often set deadlines. I derive self-satisfaction when I meet those deadlines. I know it's cheesy, but it works for me.

Anyway, please don't beat yourself up if you aren't accomplishing as much as you would like. Just keep plugging along and remember tomorrow is another day.`

[magicmoodz]

@Roscoe the Rascal 

I am very sorry for your loss. I so admire your strength.❤️ 

[magicmoodz]

---

@rnmom wrote:

Hubby went back to his mom's house a couple of days ago and helped her go thru some more things. He did bring more stuff home, a couple of coolers, 2 briefcases, some other small things, I'm not sure of everything. I'm glad he's helping her, but he's bringing more stuff home, which doesn't thrill me.

He did come back here and grabbed the few donations that we had here before making another trip to the donation center so those few things are out of the house at least. I just keep telling myself it's still better to do it a bit at a time now rather than have such a massive job to do when she's gone. 

He also took his mom an extra microwave that we had here in the basement because she didn't have a working microwave so we got that out of here. 

---

@rnmom 

The silver lining is at least you don't have to go to her home and sort through her belongings. 

Somebody needs to stay home with Tucker!💕

[rnmom]

---

@magicmoodz wrote:

---

@rnmom wrote:

---

@RedTop wrote:

The last truckload of stuff from the main rooms of moms house went to the dump this morning on FREE dump day!  What a lucky break with our timing, as my husbands truck was loaded down with 6 kitchen chairs and numerous bags.   Free dump day is a huge success here, so my husband and daughter were 4th in line at the gate before 7:30.  

I just shake my head over some of the things Mom had sitting on shelves and stuffed in drawers.  I found the quilted peach bedspread and matching curtains that were in my bedroom here in 1984, and went to her house by 1990.  She still had the cotton bedspreads that covered my brothers twin beds when they lived at home!  

Going thru this experience again makes me want to get a dumpster and empty half this house to keep my girls from having to purge my stuff!

---

@RedTop - I have sometimes wondered what my family would think if I dropped dead tomorrow and they were going thru all of my stuff. I guess it won't matter because I won't be here, but the thought has crossed my mind

---

@rnmom 

This is one of my fears. I can't bear the thought of someone going through my underwear drawer. Everything is clean and neatly folded, but still...

One of the drawbacks of not having children😢

---

@magicmoodz - I don't know which would be worse though. If it were a stranger it really wouldn't matter what they thought because they wouldn't know you. If it's a spouse or kids then they will always have the memories of whatever they see. 

There is just no good way to deal with someone's stuff after they're gone. 

[gidgetgh]

Continuing to take things to consignment and Goodwill

I have my purses down to 17 now.  I hope I can keep the total that low, or at least under 20.   How many purses does a person really need.

I have gone through my clothes 50 zillion times. Nothing to donate or consign right now.

[Snoopp]

I swear I am getting into the pantry today to see what can be thrown.  I need to do a little organizing in there and want to see if I have any expired items.  This must be the magic pantry since even though I take things out and don't replace, it still remains full.  

[lynnie61]

@Snoopp   Before I moved (first time in 34 years), we really started to work hard on getting the freezer and pantry back to manageable.  The pantry is already near full.  I use and rotate, but it's near full again.  I don't buy tons ahead, but really hard for me to be to start a recipe, when I realize I don't have enough ingredients.  I know I could cook at least a month, if not more, and not purchase a thing.  Our family was always like that.  

A friend only buys what they will use this week.  She basically has no pantry.  She likes no excess at all.  Works for them.  

[lynnie61]

---

@rnmom wrote:

Hubby went back to his mom's house a couple of days ago and helped her go thru some more things. He did bring more stuff home, a couple of coolers, 2 briefcases, some other small things, I'm not sure of everything. I'm glad he's helping her, but he's bringing more stuff home, which doesn't thrill me.

He did come back here and grabbed the few donations that we had here before making another trip to the donation center so those few things are out of the house at least. I just keep telling myself it's still better to do it a bit at a time now rather than have such a massive job to do when she's gone. 

He also took his mom an extra microwave that we had here in the basement because she didn't have a working microwave so we got that out of here. 

---

@rnmom   On the bright side, he is helping her really reduce, and would be so different if nothing was started when she passed.  I'm having some issues.  My father moved to independent living, and sometimes asks about certain items.  Although I have cleared a lot out, I also don't want him thinking, I dumped his whole life of "things".  Some is repacked and at least in the basement.  I moved back to my childhood home a few months ago and I'm just taking it a day at a time.  His 60 years of stuff, moved my 35 years of stuff.....it's a lot to deal with.  Then my SO's father passed, so we had some of that come here too.  

When I hear of some people's collections, I'm glad I never really started collecting some things.  It's a process for sure.