How to Conquer Clutter?

 How to Conquer Clutter?

 

Not a statement or a how-to article, this is mostly an appeal for suggestions when someone puts a question mark behind a statement that seems to be a problem for many people: HOW can we rid ourselves of so much clutter? TWO cabinets in this house have blankets, quilts, sheets, and assorted pillows stuffed into them with the possibility that they may burst forth at almost anytime and spew their innards onto the floor! And all those blankets and quilts—and even the pillows—have been used thoroughly at one time or another. Is it time to give something away? Probably so. What about the “medicine cabinet” full of vitamins that were not taken long enough to matter. Should they be pitched? Let the trash truck haul the little rattlers off? Suitcases? Do you think the placement office for foster children might have a use for these pieces? Shoes that are no longer worn that are still in good shape? Recycle through one of those Faith Village places? Monday the housekeeper is coming to try to dig me out. Maybe she will help me get organized!

 

Sunday p.m.

Dredged out a box of vitamins and minerals and disposed of those. Still have a box of vet stuff for the critters from powder to stop bleeding to hot spot remedy that only works if it is applied every fifteen minutes after the dog has licked off the first applications. And haven’t even begun to open the doors on those extra little throws that are fluffy and furry and would be good to give to the Henrietta dog shelter where they don’t kill the dogs that have been there too long. Maybe tomorrow when Maria is mopping the floors in the back part of the house, the old woman can get a few things removed from this cabinet in the front room. Have my sewing machine set up—not plugged in, but set up. That throw on the leather recliner needs to be sewn up so it will stay on the back of the seat. It is too nice of a chair to let the dogs mess it up with their claws.

 

Got the feathers and some chicken poo cleaned out in the front coop today. The girls gave me four eggs today. See my smile! They are getting out there early and foraging for whatever they eat off the yard. Probably the reason no grass is growing out there!

 

Soaked in the tub this afternoon in hot water with Epsom salt and some smelly stuff. Felt better afterwards and took a short nap. Thinking that getting old has its privileges—naps being a major plus. Too lazy to cook this evening, so two cucumbers and two tomatoes with ranch dressing made din-upper. Two bites of that sticky brownie stuff probably offset any good the veggies might have done. Oh well.

 

Talking to Patty this evening about her parents: her mom left her with her dad when she was three or four. Her friend from childhood wanted to know why she had not ever tried to find her mom. Patty said that in the 60s, if a mom did not get custody of a child, something was wrong with the mom. So, she has no desire to find her “mom” since the woman her dad married was a mother to her. It is probably sometimes true that a person who has given up a child may not want to know anything about the child. As hard as that might be to consider, it is definitely a possibility. If it bothers me to know what a child has done even when staying connected to him, it might be even harder not having been connected to the child in the first place. Life is not always sunshine and roses for anyone, so those stories of the prince that was suddenly found to be living with paupers is pretty much a fairy tale.

 

Just a wee bit tired this evening. Still sore and getting gripey—well, MORE gripey. Have a couple of rugs drying out on the deck to bring in when it is time to shut up the hen house for the evening. Then may just call it a day and sit and read until it is time to go to bed. It is so nice not to have anyone expect me to do something tomorrow other than just open the door for Maria and let the hens out. Well, the dogs expect to be fed, but that is not a big deal. Will have to cook tomorrow for them and for me. Somehow, we seem able to go through the food around here. So far, Sylvia is the only one who has put on weight. Thompson runs it off or sits under a tree and barks it off! Squirrels! Good thing he can’t catch them.

 

Let us pray for peace. Nothing in the news will lift our spirits or give us hope for change. So, we know that the Father cares about us and those who need us. Let us give help where and when we can. And let it be with joy that we have been shown the blessings of love.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.