A trip to the dump, half the truck loaded with household garbage.  The other half with stuff set aside from my 100 things challenges.  Also a couple sacks to Goodwill.  I have been working outside a little here at my house and spent an afternoon at my daughters.  She wanted help getting beds ready after the tilling was done.  One bed was so fluffly, I went barefoot.  I felt like a rebel, the top was sun warm and then wonderfully cool underneath.  What a great day!

Sewing

I was sitting at my sewing machine table when suddenly the urge to re-arrange and clean drawers came over me!  Many times they remain open so that dust and lint settles on thread or becomes dust bunnies in the corners.  The tool drawer had accumulated too much non sewing items, so out they went.  I moved my threads to a drawer where they would sit up right, it's a bit harder to sort for colors so maybe a tray will help.  The drawer the thread was in I am keeping my pins, they will still be right beside my machine.  Also,  tools were spread out in multiple locations and now for instance all the hand sewing needles are in the same place, etc.  So far I am not too lost and may like the new arrangement!  I left the bottpm drawer and small cupboard for another time.  The drawer has patterns stored in it, all sitting on edge like files (it was built for this purpose).  The cupboard was probably for current projects but has a hodge podge of stuff now.  This was not on my 'to do list' but needs to be done once in a while!

My dad built 3 of these sewing tables when I was too young to remember.  One for my mom, my grandmother, the third don't know for whom.  I have had my grandmothers table since leaving home.  Mom's was loaned out and nobody knows where it is.  They actually look like a desk with drawers on either side.  He had cut a hole in the top to have the sewing machine sit in the table, the fabric would then be level between the machine and table.  The hole now has a wood piece cover, my machine sits on top of cover.  Mom and I both own Bernina's and the knee lever is a must for hands on sewing, so the modification is OK.  The table is a prized piece to me with generations of history of sewing in my family.

A couple weeks ago I bought 25 lbs of oatmeal and dry processed 12 quarts in the oven, this used approximately half the bag.  Nine quarts sealed, 3 did not.  I am looking to keep about 2 doz quarts rotating thru my pantry to cover a year.  The 3 unsealed quarts will be used right away to test the quality of the dryer grains in breakfast cereal.  The other half of the bag will be make into granola or cooked for breakfast.  Also not on my 'to do list' but may be a good thing to practice!

Keeping busy

I have had some productive days!  Yeah!  This week I have emptied 2 more boxes in the basement and redistributed a bin in a 3rd floor so it can be put to better use made bone broth from 9 chicken carcasses )from the freezer). Today I made a list (a short one) and  crossed off every line.  Library, vacuum,  wash canning jars that have been stored too long (with dust and bugs), repack my 3 new bins down to 2 (for now) and start filling the 3rd with canning jars.  One of the 5 pieces of furniture also went to Habitat for humaity.  Happy dance!  This year is starting out much better than my efforts of last year. 

More sacks of  'stuff' to the charity AND another 100 'things' out of the house.  Must have the garage sale this year, for sure.  I need the designated sale stuff out of the house, too.

Visiting preps and pantry

I went thru my preps and pantry,  and rotated everything older into the kitchen to be used.  Newer foods went into some tubs I bought just for this project.  I divided everything between 3 - 18 gallon tubs and added a fleece blanket to each and will also add minor first aid (I have a comprehensive first aid kit).   Also I am going to add composition notebooks and pencils.  I have to shop for some replacement foods and then comtinue to add items each month!  I am using tubs because they will be stored in the basement, my yarn is in tubs also and haven't taken on any bad smells.  So far the year is starting out good.

A positive start to a new year

100 items out the door challenge #8, delivered to the 2nd hand truck up the street, the garbage part down in the basement all tidy and waiting for the next trip to the dump. I am happy!  I am also determined to tackle my goals, it feels so good to simplify my surroundings (also hard).

2013 review

My successes (in a minor way) are few.  I completed 100 things out of the house only twice this year.  It is HARD to get rid of memories which I have done with some struggles.  The big pieces are still in the basement and the garage sale didn't happen.  Bummer!  I did get to the dump 3 times this year which is good since these trips are mostly downsize loads with little day to day garbage.  Goodwill trips  added up to approximately 6 trips (I keep a sack ready to fill at all times, if a decision to get rid of something is made then it goes into the sack).

'To Do' list (supports goals) for 2013

• To Habitat for Humanity X 1
• 100 hundred items out of the house x 2
• Save money
• Sort/clean out living spaces
• To the dump x 3
• Re-pack anything left in basement
• Have a garage sale

The skills list is also going to stay the same. That's right, other than reading an article on sourdough nothing was accomplished here either.  Living happily with thrift is actually something I already practice, getting others in the house on board is another problem which I can't solve for them.  Kombucha was brewed continuously but can stay on the list because I want to up the amount brewed and figure out how to do a second brew in the bottle.  Maybe a physical list is needed as a daily reminder.

New Skills to Learn in 2013

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

Christmas, 2013

We had a wonderful Chrstmas holiday with family!  Christmas eve was a major change up but very nice.  We spent the evening with a cousin, my husband, son and a friend of my son's.  We had simple dinner of roasted rack of beef, steamed vegies, coleslaw, and pumpkin pie.  And some good visiting.  Christmas breakfast was the usual.  Rolls, eggs, bacon, champagne and OJ (with a list of 17 people coming but 4 couln't make it).  And a wonderful time with family.  My parents stayed home this year and grandpa came (he is 95), we had 5 generation of family together.  It is such a joy to share this time with family.  My daughter did wonderful job of opening her home for the holidays.  The evening was spent with my brother in law and wife, my husband and son.  A simple evening with good leftovers from their Christmas eve dinner, visiting and working on a puzzle