A good way to start . . .

. . .  the new year!
I did a '100 things to purge from the home' weekend challenge! The 6th one.  It's fuuny, when down to the last few items to look for, I must get a bee in my bonnet because my keep boxes get revisited and purged some more.  All good because I can't keep everything!  I have decided not to do the sack a day which sounds like a good idea but the daily motivation was not there.  It is amazing the amount of stuff that accumulates over the years and with the moves every 7 - 10 years the unpacked boxes have grown, these are what I have concentrated 75% of the purges from.  I get excited after each challenge (rushing out to deliver the goodwill sacks).  Yeah!  The dump runs have to wait for a truck full (went last week) because it's wasteful otherwise (I have a list of bigger items to go on the next run),  generally most everything goes to the goodwill.

This is not always the easiest process.  I have let go of many things that would have a good use in the future.  What is even harder is the things that are in the toss pile that get taken back out, by my husband ("it's useful to me").  After years of sitting in garages and basements much of our stuff is mildewed, had rats or mice in the boxes (these have been OLD houses) or become junk thru non-use and becoming outdated.  Some I have hid under piles but most of the rest has been mine.  A did go thru the "can't decide, set aside pile and to goodwill more stuff did go!

Anyway, my basement is a mess BUT progress is being made!  I am feeling lighter and daylight can be seen.

Review 2012

On my to do list, the dump runs and sacks hauled to the goodwill were a huge success!  Only three out of the six were successfully worked on: sort and clean, sort basement, 100 items (thrilled with this one).  This list will stay the same.

'To Do' list (supports goals) for 2012

• Save money
• Sort/clean out living spaces
• Sort basement for the dump 
• Re-pack anything left in basement
• Have a garage sale
• 100 items out of the house x 5
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The new skill list was a bust!!  The only accomplishment is the kombucha!  The rest will stay on my list.  I love to learn new things but I think 2012 was a "in a rut year".  I need to work on this.  On the positive side, I enjoy helping my grandgirls to sew, they are so eager.  Devoting more time to their projects needs to be more consistant though.    Also going to try 30 days, 30 sacks = declutter, simplicity.  A different appoach from "One hundred dollars a month" blogger.  Hopefully this is more productive to pick a smaller are like a closet or a corner of a room.  The 100 items was a push to see stuff and I would overlook those I really don't need.

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New Skills to Learn in 2012

• Cheese
• Kimchi
• Kombucha ( keep up on the brewing)
• Living Happly with Thrift
• Master Recipe List
• Root Vegie Kimchi
• Sourdough (delve deeper)

Holiday Magic

I spent the afternoon with E. and the grandgirls.  We made chocolate and peanut butter fudge.  They so love to "help".  I have not made Christmas candy or cookies in years since my kids left home and my husband became diabetic, he allows himself too much surgar without having the mass amounts I used to make for the holidays in the house.  I had fun sharing the kitchen with my family, it brings the holidays alive!

Season of busy

I have been working in the basement again gathering another 100 things to get out of the house.  This is the 5th set I have done!  Yeah, progress!  Alas my basement looks like a hurricane swept thru.  A garbage run would be a good start for the next set and the back corner will be completely cleared.  The truck is not running right now or a trip would be scheduled immediately.  Unfortunately, my kitchen table is a mess. Again.  I must try to clear it and the dining room table (college study area, mess).

I have been sewing a LOT!  We had two more 24 hour sew at my daughters,giving support and getting a lot done.  A homemade Christmas this year and yes, a bare minimum spent in the (box) stores.  I am so thrilled to keep the commercialism out of the holidays this year.  After the holidays some pictures will get posted (in case the curious want to peek).

Getting Away

My husband and I went to Ocean Shores for 4 days.  Stormy weather, unstructured days, a soaking bathtub is my idea of heaven.  The coast was hit with a moderate storm that kept me glued to the windows all morning with my tea, the book I brought forgotten, unopened.  Waves crashing up over the rock wall, Pelicans in groups heading out to sea in the a.m. (drafting each other like the geese do).  Also, deer everywhere we went.  On the third day it was decent enough to walk the beaches.  The a.m. was windy with dampness trying but also failing to soak thru us, watching surfers and sea lions.  In the afternoon, on another beach, we had a slow and meandering walk, enjoying the ocean sounds and smells.

Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area, Protection Island (a cape)  Ocean Shore on the horizon

Friday was spent with my daughter and a friend sewing for 24 hours.  Good company, very productive (Christmas gift making), and a movie till 2 in the morning.  Fun!  This week I have finished one of the projects to make way for the other that I cut out (baby doll carriers x 2 for the grandgirls).

A gray day ...... still beautiful!

Waiting to leave one of the most beautiful places (to me) that I visit regularly!

An Apple a Day . . . . or Fifty!

Since 8 am, I have been processing apples for winter storage.  First job was to hang apple peels and cores that I boiled last night, to drip for jelly (which I just finished, it's 9 pm now!).   Then more had to peeled for apple pie jam, trying out a new recipe.  Then MORE had to be peeled to load up the dehydrator again.  The peels were put in a pot to boil and sit overnight, in the morning I will make another batch of jelly.  All this from 3 bags of apples (only half were used), so the rest can be made into apple sauce in pint jars.  I am tired!  BUT, what a good addition to my pantry.

7 pints of applesauce, apple pie jams, apple peel jelly, dry apples

The best part of Monday was the help my 4 yr old granddaughter gave me.  She used the apple peeler with my help and ate a slice out of each apple we did.  She also helped me to arrange apples on the drying trays.