My weekly round up.............
The Brutal Cleanout /This past week we have been ruthless in cleaning out our house. We've packed the SUV with donations, dropping them off at Goodwill. Over 8 motorcyle jackets, helmets, gloves, motorcycle luggage, books, cases, lamps, clothing etc. It was spurred by our looking at a few homes for sale and realizing what a huge job it would be to move.
No, not moving yet.... just reconnaissance and planning.
📚 Books / I've finished In Shetland by Tom Morton and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, ( Click on the book title to take you to my Goodreads reviews if interested.)
Right now I have hit a reading slump. I couldn't get into The Favor by Nicci French, nor Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea nor An Isolated Incident by Emily Maguire. I'll try The Chateau and The Lost Vintage next and hope they spark an interest. 📚
Watching / Finished season two of The Indian Doctor and are trying a series (new to us) called Madam Secretary. We've only seen a few episodes and it's due back to the library in a few days so, may check it out again. So far we like it.
In the kitchen/ Last week it was about the couscous meals and some vegetarian fare. While we have lost a bit of weight from eating well and doing more walking, sometimes you just want a meal that's not on the weight loss agenda. Know what I mean?
Persevering.............
That's it from my neck of the woods. Hope all is well in your corner of the world.
Linking with
Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon
Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday
I've been going through things and taking them to our neighborhood Thrift Store. When we moved here I got rid of so book/book cd's, kitchen stuff, furniture, exercise equipment, ocean/lighthouse stuff from tables to light switches and so much more. Even with not bringing all of those things I still have too much stuff. We've already taken off a few truck loads and still have a few more to go. That's what happens when move to a house 1/3 the size of the one you've been living in for 20 years.
ReplyDeleteVicki, we have been in this house for 30 years so, a similar situation. The real estate guy we are talking to said Start Now! when downsizing. Was he ever right!
DeleteMy sister's getting her house ready to sell, and, oh my, no, I don't think I want to do that. We are, like you, culling, culling, culling, and that will help for those who have to clean up after we depart this life.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts about In Shetland. The link for Small Things didn't seem to work for me, though. I hope you are able to get into something good soon. I'm in the opposite situation; I'm reading eight books right now. Crazy.
Deb, that was one of our thoughts when we started the culling. It would be hellish for either of us or our son to deal with so much superflurous things. Books, clothes, you name it!
DeleteThanks for letting me know the link for the Keegan book did not work. I fixed it.
I feel ya. My Mom was a minimalist and a neat freak so WHY do I have carload after carload after carload to take over to Mission of Hope???
ReplyDeleteJinjer, it's amazing the stuff that gets stored and then forgotten. We are still hauling away and so far no plans to move quickly, but we'll be ready!!!! If the day ever comes....
DeleteIt is VERY smart of you guys to get started on that NOW. Keep going! Together we can do this!!!!
DeleteYour clean-out/purging of household goods reminds me of one of Ann Patchett's essays about doing the same. They weren't planning to move, but wanted to make an effort to not leave a big house full of junk for someone else to deal with after they pass away. I did quite a bit of culling in January, but need to get back to it next month. My problem is that we live with my mom and she has a lot of kitchen items that she isn't ready to part with, even though they haven't been used in many, many years... I won't even get into my husband's issue of not wanting to part with any clothes, whether or not he ever wears them. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've had a good month of reading, but no 5-star books this month. I just finished a mystery and am can't decide what to read next.
I'll give Madam Secretary a try when I finish New Amsterdam. That's my solo show every evening. My husband and my mom and I are just now starting London Kills, which is pretty good, so far.
Have a lovely weekend, Tina!
Les, the kitchen items were difficult to get rid of but...some are gone. I realized what I *needed* stayed and I have to say, afterwards there wasn't regret. Same with books. I can't tell you the number of times I've tried cleaning out a bookshelf and think, I will hold on to this one because I might read it. Nopoe, gone now!!! I'll use the library of buy a Kindle book.
DeleteWe watched three seasons of New Amsterdam and then I read the book it was based on. Had to turn in Madam Secretary but I'm back on the waut list again.
Annika just came in so I will pick that up soon!
I did the same with a lot of books when we moved to Oregon, and I'm trying to being more selective about which books I want to keep now, but I did get rid of a lot in 2017. Of course, my bookshelves are full, once again.
DeleteI had no idea New Amsterdam was based on a book. I may give it a read somdeday. Enjoy Annika!
Thanks, Les!
DeleteI love that Ann Pachett article and actually have it book marked on my mac book. A really good series that starts off with going minimalist is by Meg Wolfe. She used to have a blog but I don't think she does any more. It's a good series and always gets me wanting to get rid of more.
DeleteIt's always amazing how much stuff we accumulate. My husband throws away basically everything that isn't nailed down and we still have so much stuff. I know what you mean about wanting a meal that isn't on the weight loss agenda. Sometimes I just want to eat something without thinking about the health values of it. I hope you get out of your reading slump. I read The Lost Vintage years ago and enjoyed it though I don't remember much about it. I read a memoir by that author as well and really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, well my sweet husband said Let's get a pizza last two nights ago and i was in heaven! After the disappointment of house hunting the pizza was just the ticket!
DeleteHoping to get out of my reading slump, maybe i am just distracted right now.
I know that one of these years we’ll have to take all the boxes out of the eaves closets in the attic and revisit things from decades ago. And then move down one floor at a time and deal with closets and rooms full of stuff. But not now!
ReplyDeletebest…mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mae, we will be 67 this year and while we are still healthy and able to climb the steps (knock on wood) we don't want to leave the "cleanout" for each other to deal with. Also don't want the burden of 30 years accumulation from this house to fall on our son. We are also in the mindset for a change of scene.
DeleteYour house purging seems to have struck a chord. We moved to a smaller house 3 years ago and got rid of SO much stuff! And still have SO much stuff. At 70, we talk often of not having our kids have to deal with SO much stuff and I get rid of a little here and there, but not nearly enough. Is this the year??? Maybe.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the reading slump will turn around - it doesn't help when you pick up multiple books in a row and nothing grabs. I know you'll find the right book.
Have a terrific week.
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/sunday-post-39
Terrie, we'd like something smaller and definitely no second story! We used to run up those stairs to get to the second floor. Not anymore :0
DeleteI have The Chateau to read and wonder if you liked it. I'll get to it one of these days.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it feel good to get rid of extra stuff in the home? We went through a phase like yours a couple years ago, and are ready to move, almost, if need be!
Have a good week.
Harvee, I am attempting to start The Chateau this upcoming week. I'll let you know.
DeleteWe should get back to Madam Secretary - we watched it when it was on TV but somehow let it slip on by. So many shows to catch up on, like NCIS (we're just starting the Ziva years, lol).
ReplyDeleteLyn, Oh I remember the Ziva years! Once we canceled Direct TV about 10 years we haven't been able to catch up on any shows and I don't know about new ones unless bloggers mention them. Then I check our library.
DeleteI read Marie Kondo's book last year. I did really great with my clothes closet and books, but I bogged down when I got to papers and sentimental stuff. I'm hoping that spring will bring some cleaning energy.
ReplyDeleteJoy, I had that book from the library as well! It's the sentimental stuff that is hardest,
DeleteThere is something about this time of year that make a person want to clear things out. Sorry you are having a reading slump - those are the worst. I loved Madam Secretary. Hope your weekend is a good one!
ReplyDeleteGretchen, it's not just a Spring cleaning binge this time. We want to move away from the area we live sooooo much. A real estate agent said make it "move in ready" for better success. So...the purge begins.
DeleteCongrats on all the cleaning. I really need to do that myself. But it sounds like work. And reading is much more fun.
ReplyDeleteMark, that's a funny comment! I agree, it's been a lot of work!!
DeleteIsn't that funny! I tried 3 books this week before I found something that a bit of my attention. Perhaps because I've concentrating on getting kitchen organized for remodel and you because you were decluttering!
ReplyDeleteJackie, I think we are of the same thought patterns lately!!
DeleteShetland looks good. Been interested in that locale since watching the show a few years ago. And good luck with the recon. We've been doing a little of that too, thinking of moving...
ReplyDeleteGreg, are you planning to leave Michigan?
DeleteWe've had a couple of moves since 2019... and it is SO MUCH WORK!! We, too, had 30 years of accumulated possessions to deal with when we left NY. It was tough to go through everything, but really felt liberating to get rid of so many things we no longer used. Have you decided to look around Jax? Good luck with the process!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, it has indeed felt liberating to take carload after carload to Goodwill. I haven;t thought about Jax even though our son would be there eventually. We had been lookign at a great neighborhood easy of us- so quiet and nice houses and cable! And sewer! But that didn't work out. Now we have been looking south but will table it for a bit as we get the house painted, ready for whenever we figure things out.
Delete