Decluttering Time!

What is it with me, Christmas and Decluttering? These two things always seem to go hand in hand of late... and I'm... enjoying (?) it.

Jeez, I've just turned into a full-blown adult, haven't I? Yep, I did... I'm enjoying throwing things out, organising my home and love going into $2.00 stores and finding containers to use for my pantry, cupboards and storage around the house.

Woah! I'm getting ahead of myself!

Yesterday, I dropped off my latest lot of decluttering - and felt damned good about it! - at Vinnies, and found myself looking around at the shop. Well, I was looking for a Lazy-Susan to put in my pantry to use for my herbs. I hoped somebody out there was going to throw one out - as sometimes, people get tired of them. And I found one that was a real blast from the past! It was a lovely 1970's cracker platter! Isn't it just gorgeous? And I love the lid too! So, for just $10.00, I scored a retro piece I could not only use for crackers, but also use to store my large bags of herbs at the back of the pantry until I need them.

Then, today, I looked at my Tupperware cupboard and wondered just how the hell I was supposed to find anything in there! So, while I was out, I bought 2 plastic office trays and 4 baskets with handles at Variety1 and organised not only my pantry but also my Tupperware cupboard. In one tray, all the lids lived in it, in the other is where the bottoms were all stacked. If the bottoms are too big, they are next to the tray on the right... easy-peasy! 
The pantry got a right clean-out and I organised all my tinned goods, pasta, anything in bottles, chips and some of the stuff in the bottom of the pantry too... it's all looking great so far. I still have to work out some little things that haven't worked in there, but it's all just teething problems really.

The good thing is that I have a bag of rubbish I've tossed out from the pantry of food I've either opened and forgotten to eat, or food that's expired and got shoved to the back of the pantry... how good is that? Now, to work on the fridge! I've got some of it organised, but not all of it! Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday - the day of not much else...

Yesterday, I got a lot of things done around the place. Today, I went out with a boot/trunk filled with things to give to the local charity store and came home with a 1970's lazy-susan cracker dish... okay, it was one thing, and one thing I had been searching for for a while.

I pulled it apart took out the insides and cleaned it up, then pulled out all my herbs and spices and cleaned up the shelf, put the lazy-susan platter part at the back and filled it with the bulk herbs I've been using and tossed out one big container that's been bugging me... and over-loading my pantry. Now, it looks more organised than ever!

I've been online for about an hour or so, and I still have a few things to get done around the place; but they won't need to get done until tomorrow morning, after my stitches come out from my surgery. This is good because I've already done a lot of the big stuff, I just have to do the little stuff... like moving a few things from the laundry and cleaning up the floor after the machine has been moved... and seeing if Dad can take the dryer with him (which doesn't work; actually it's a fire hazard because the timer on that doesn't work either, and so it doesn't have a cool-down on it and keeps getting hotter and hotter until it triggers my smoke alarm... and yes, I don't use it anymore for that particular reason).

Anyway, it's going to rain soon, as I've caught two cockroaches and two little spiders inside the house... I just hope we have a good lot of rain because it's been so dry lately. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Day Tuesday

Today, I never thought I'd get out of the house... seriously! I ate a late breakfast and had to figure out what was needed in the pantry - as I didn't do a proper shop last week - and then I was off to get the rest of the Christmas shopping done, and a 'supply run' for the pantry to tide me over until next week.

Well, I checked the mail (yep, found my PO Box key - finally, as I had mis-placed it) and collected a parcel. Then, I was off to Spotlight to find a few things there - which was great! I got talking to a lady there about famous people and writing and publishing. She helped me with a few things and I informed her about InHouse Publishing at Underwood... we both won about that today.

Well, once I was finished there, I went to Logan Central Plaza and bought some smaller things for my family for Christmas and then did the top-up, supply run for the pantry. Then, I was off home! I was back home by around midday with a few bags of goodies. 

Once everything was unpacked, I unloaded the new set of shelves I had found yesterday at the back of the complex and moved it to in front of the storage facility. I have to move to next to the stereo for the next few days, as the new washing machine is coming through on Thursday, and I have to clear things out for Dad.
I also have to put things away for the Christmas Tree to come down. Before I pull that down, I'll put some decorations up around the place so it looks lovely. I already had the streamers out the front and the solar lights out in the back yard... now it's time to make the house look festive. 

Well, I have a few hours of work ahead of me. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Organising, Organising!

Yes, I had to say that twice to get myself going, motivated and my mind into what I have to do over the next few days. 

Next Thursday morning, I'm off to hospital to get the sun cancers on my arms cut out while under twilight. It's going to be painful and annoying, and I won't be allowed to pick up or do anything much for a few days. So, I'm cleaning up the house so my Mum can stay with me.

It's been a rough week last week with my car. But I'm slowly getting back into my old self since those selfish little grots helped themselves to my car - yes it was unlocked, but didn't give them the right to look through it. I live in a secure unit/townhouse complex and I was home at the time. I thought I had done all the right things. It really could have happened to any one of us here.

Anyway, over the last few days, I've been working on the house to clean it up, making it tidy for the time my Mum is staying here. I want her to be comfortable enough to do whatever she wishes without having to clean all the time. 

So, I bought the new dish drainer and cleaned the kitchen up - which was a great thing. The cupboard doors are now nice and tidy too. All that needs to be done now is the floors there and that's all finished. 
Then, I went around and got all my laundry done yesterday - well okay, most of it. I had to do the towels today. Tomorrow I'm doing my hand-washing early in the morning and it'll be dry by the time I go out to my volunteer work. 

I'm going to fix up the office and put away all the books from downstairs and in the office, tidy it up and make it look and feel tidier (as it's gotten a little out of hand since the last time I cleaned it up). Then, I'll be putting away my duvet and blankets from Winter, putting away the rest of my clothes and hiding the Christmas gifts; as well as putting away craft gear I'm not currently using into my wardrobe. 

This will all take a few hours today and some time tomorrow. Sunday is out as I'll be chilling out while it's raining... I don't like doing housework while it's raining. I like to read. 

Well, hopefully that'll all get done and finished before Wednesday afternoon. Yep, I'm just busy organising things... what about you? What have you been up to? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

NaNoWriMo

It's been a busy month already as my car broke down, I've not been well last week (but am better now) and we've had our first storms for the Summer. 

And the best thing is that National Novel Writing Month has started up and this year I'm taking part! So far, I've written more than 6,000 words and most of that is on my phone - which my Dad seems to think I'm fiddling around online with. He asked me yesterday if I've got FOMO... and that was only because he'd only just learned about what that meant in the newspaper that moment. I said no, that I was writing a book for NaNoWriMo (which I had to translate for him). He doesn't understand why I was writing it on my phone, and doesn't understand why people would be challenged to write a 50,000 word book in a month; but I guess that's just him. Being a writer, I love the idea to be challenged this way.

Anyway, not everything is about the written word. I'm also cleaning up the house for next week, and so far, I've conquered the kitchen completely! 

Yay!

I bought myself a new dish drainer and it's completely changed the way I wash up and how everything dries out. It's a double-decker one I bought from a kitchen outlet store where you buy all the bits to build a kitchen from scratch - it's an amazing place on Compton Road - and I have been saving up money for this for a few months an I am happy to have been able to afford one that cost around $50 and is sturdy enough to last me around a decade. My last one was from IKEA and it lasted me around a decade too, but I'm going to scrub that and recycle it for something else.

Anyway, the only things that need to get done until next week are the bathroom and toilets, the floors downstairs need vacuuming and washing and the lounge room needs to be tidy; as Mum might need to sleep on the fold-out. I also have to make sure the sheets for the fold-out are clean too.

Mum is coming here to help me over a few days later on this month as I'm going into hospital on 26th, November to get some sun cancers taken off my arms. It'll be day surgery and I'll need somebody to take me there and back home... also it'll be just a matter of having somebody there to help me with laundry, a bit of shopping, washing up and putting out the rubbish or heavy lifting around the place... nothing too much; until the stitches heal in the first few days. I'll be going under Twilight as these aren't as bad as my Melanoma was in 1996, but there's more than two of them, and they have a blood supply, so they will take time to do.

Otherwise, I'm hoping to get some things done this week, like find a new washing machine - seeing mine has had its day. The timer is broken and if I stop and start it, I'll just break the gear box in it. I've said to Dad it's not worth fixing as I've already spent over $250 in getting the service guy out over the last couple of years here - spending another $100 on it isn't worth it. Besides, the last guy who was here looking at it, advised me to just get another machine when it stuffed up again; that it was on its last legs. And when you think about it, my washing machine hasn't failed me since I bought 13 years ago. I've used it weekly - sometimes more - to do my laundry and it's always done its job no matter what. It's been a good little machine; and it's the timer on it... I can't complain about it breaking now, why would I? And what is the cost of another washing machine? $500 - $600? If I start fixing it now, I'm going to putting money into a machine I could be spending on a new machine.
But until we get a new machine, I'll be going to my parents' house to use theirs on a weekly basis - which is a bummer as it's taking me out of my routine of doing my laundry here. Yesterday was funny though: I showed up at their house at 7:45am and they were still in bed. Dad did say to be there early so I could get it all done - which I did - and he asked how many times I do laundry, I said weekly and he said, 'Oh, okay, you'll have to come here every week then.' I just hope not for too long.

Yep, this is has been my week; and the reason why you haven't heard from me for a few days. So much going on and not enough time to tell you all. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

No News - Good News?

There's not much going on at the moment. I've been busily stitching away with a new project at my Craft Group, the Agave next to my car port is finally flowering after around 20 years of being in the same spot and I finished up my niece's 16th Birthday Present... now, I have to search around for an appropriate box to put all her pressies into.

Otherwise, I haven't really been all that busy. 

Last Saturday, we had a lunch at Mum and Dad's house with the whole family. It was great. Riley and I talked about all kinds of stuff, from art to writing. She's been looking in on my Flash Fiction blog lately and loves what I write; but enjoys my poetry more than anything else. She asked me why I don't write poetry anymore.  I don't know why I don't, I guess I have to have the feel for it to write it.

Anyway, Mum gave me her Corning Ware coffee pot... and what a lovely pot it is! I love many things from the 1970's. It was a daggy decade of our times and I totally enjoy what came out there. So many bad things came out of the 1970's - like Fondue - and so many good things came out of those years too - like Corning Ware. 
This range of cookware will last you a lifetime if you look after it. And Mum has looked after hers. I found all her Corning Ware at the back of the cupboards and they looked brand new! So, I'm doing out my cupboards to fit the rest of it all into my kitchen; so I can use them. I don't want the set split up, and I will take care of it all too.

My garden has been flourishing since I fixed it up... and so just before the first lot of rain and storms, I put out some fertiliser into the pots and watered it all in.  Two days later, it poured rain, making the garden look better than ever! I'm looking forward to a great Summer of flowering Agapanthus lovely new plants around my postage stamp backyard... I just hope I have it all done up by next Winter - or just after - so it looks so much better for next Summer.

Well, so much for not having anything to say - there was plenty! Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Life Changes For the Better

A few years ago, I started on changing my life for the better; it began with cleaning out my townhouse. I didn't really know where to start, so I looked up Peter Walsh on Facebook and looked at what he was advising people - and I started taking on his challenges to clean out my house.

I threw out so much rubbish and gave away so many things to charities around my area - and I don't miss any of it!

Then, I had to start on getting into doing things that made me happy... and I didn't just mean getting a good night's sleep and drinking green tea every night; this was where I had to find out where my Happyness disappeared to.

Yeah, I wasn't happy with my life.

I thought I was, but I wasn't. 

So, I traced back to the last time I was truly happy... it took a bit of digging around (okay, not a bit, a lot!), and I found I was happiest when I was in my late-teens! The things which made me happy then were books, reading, writing, music and cooking and gardening; which surprised me as they are just basic, ordinary things.

Who would have guessed that the ordinary, plain things in life would make somebody like me happy... I really didn't. So, I got into making my place - which was starting to look good by this time - into a home. I really didn't feel as though my townhouse was really my home.  It wasn't personalised with anything much which said it was my place.

I didn't have a front garden where I had done it all myself.  There were no photos on the walls of my family. I didn't have anything up-to-date... a lot of my things were old and outdated - except my stereo system and home office desk; but that didn't really matter. My place wasn't really my place... it honestly looked as though it was a rental.

But the changes I wanted to do around my house were huge... and to make them I had to start small. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. To make something big happen in your life, you have to begin at the smaller end of the scale: get the photos of your family on the wall, work on the plants in your garden, sort through a few more drawers in the spare room and throw out more junk - one room at a time.
And you know, it's true when you start small, things just seem to snowball. I started with looking at my bedroom... and knowing I needed a new bed. But then, when I looked through the catalogues, it wasn't just mattress I was looking at, it was the whole suite I was looking at - and I was dreaming of upsizing too!

So, I did out my wardrobe and organised that first. I know that doesn't sound like I was working towards a new bedroom suite, but I was. I had to have everything organised enough to make sure I wanted the size of the drawers I needed - and you know something? I haven't looked back. Once I organised the bedroom, the rest of the house kind of followed it. 
I searched for a year to find the exact hall table I wanted - a full year! - and even though it's about 20cm too long, it's just right for what I need it for. I love it! It holds all my family photos, two terrariums and all the hooks, chargers and some light bulbs I'll ever need in the drawers.

And I started small... really small. And it's taken me over 3 years to have the house anywhere near what I want it to be.  Okay, it's got mess still, but not as bad as it used to be. I have art gear everywhere still, and yet my painting projects are all in one area because I built a work bench for my hobby business this year.

So, life changes are for the better when you start small - tiny - and they could be eating better, starting to walk every day instead of driving, reading three chapters of a book you've been looking at on the shelf for the past three months.  It can be anything, but it'll be small to start with... and it all begins with you making those changes.

I did; and I'm still doing those changes every day, every week - and I'm a better person for them. Compared to five years ago, my life is a total opposite today. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Home Office Clean Out - Yet Again!

Now, how many times have I cleaned out the office here at home? Um... (counts on her fingers)... I don't keep track, but I know it's the one room which quickly turns into a junk room in my house.

Well, not anymore!

I have had the great fortune to have found a gorgeous chair in my unit complex and I'm currently fixing it up. It's taken me two days already, and three coats of stain, and the chair looks almost brand new.

Exactly why people throw out good furniture which only needs a touch-up of stain and a bit of polish is beyond me.  I saw its potential and loved the style of it - and have always wanted a chair just like this one in my home - and pounced on it immediately!

Now, the office is undergoing some very permanent changes. I've moved things around in the wardrobe so my vacuum cleaner, ladder and other things will fit completely (and yes, the doors close on it).  Around 15 handbags are destined to be given away at Vinnies, with a few going to some relatives, while another few are going to still find a home with me. I've emptied out two tiny milk crates and I'm happy to report I've rediscovered a piece of floor which hasn't been seen in around five years.

Five years!

Now, that's progress!

I also found a piece of artwork I made called 'Opening Night' which I have yet to hang on the walls here.  I'll have to find some more hooks for the walls here and hang it by the window hopefully... it ought to be good; as my office isn't only for books, it's also an art gallery for book-related art.  This will make this room very quirky and unusual, and this is what I want it to be.

I'm so happy this is happening the way I have been hoping.  It's been a busy day with a bit of work on the chair this morning, and work here at home this afternoon.  Dad's proud of me and how I'm dedicating myself to the chair; however, once that chair is finished - over the next few weeks - I'll be working on the bath table I've had at their place for the bedroom.  Once that's done, I'll bring that little thing home, set it up in my bedroom, get rid of the chair in there and put it where the chair used to be. It will be the first thing you see when you walk into my room by the window... it will set the feel of my room.

So, after this room is clean and tidy, and I have cleaned the carpet here properly, the chair will have returned.  Then, I'll return to my parent's house to work on the next thing that I've left there in the laundry to bring it home.  I have the jug and basin kit... and soon it will be all put together. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

One Busy Morning!

Man I've had a busy day - and it's only going onto 1:30pm.

This morning, I shifted the coffee table from my living room and into my kitchen, after putting everything on it onto the kitchen table.  The terrarium had already been moved to get more light into it from the back kitchen window, so it didn't need to be moved anywhere, and so I had it all moved and I vacuumed the living room floor - sneezing the whole time.
Then, I shook the Preen Cleen Powder onto it, broomed it in and then set my phone's timer on for 20 minutes and went outside for a read on my phone with an ice coffee.

I had to do this three times before the carpet came up nice and clean... but man!... did some dirt come out of that carpet!  I am amazed at how clean my carpet really is!  I thought it was clean before I Preened it... now it's even better - and I'm not sneezing!

This is some great stuff!  I don't know what's in this stuff, and I really I don't care, but it worked so well!  It did wet the carpet, but not very much... so seeing the temperature was nice and cool today, I found it dried in the 20 minutes required.  So, if today was a hot day, it would have taken longer.

After I finished putting everything back - and throwing out two more bags of rubbish into the bin - I got in and washed the kitchen floor with Pine-o-Clean. It's a new floor-cleaning product they put out that doesn't smell like vomit; instead it smells like pomegranate.  It's a lovely smell and doesn't make you make you want to puke... this is a good thing.  And now my kitchen floor is nice and clean; and I want to get in and wash it every week because of the smell of the floor cleaner... now that says something about the product!

While I was waiting for my kitchen floor to dry, I went out into the backyard and pruned the Large Leaf Jade.  It's been looking very straggly and so I did a bit of trimming and turned it around so the back of it can see the sun in the afternoons, and it'll grow.
Then, I shared my cuttings with my back neighbours who are from overseas.  The man wasn't sure what to do with it until he saw it was a cutting and took it inside to his wife, who was thrilled I had given it to them.
I found a few more cuttings that looked okay and took them over to Sheryl's place at unit 42 and she was happy to take some too; as her Mum loves gardening and gardens.

Anyway, I got a lot done this morning... and now all I want to do is chill out on the computer for the next hour or so and not worry too much about my hay-fever.  I haven't sneezed much since doing my living room carpet... so I may do it every few weeks just to keep it clean, and to keep my health good.

So, how has your morning been?  Busy-busy like mine?  Or just average?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Easter Long Weekend

It's been a weird weekend for me... and a wired one too.  I've been unable to sleep over the last few nights; and it's because of the full moon; and the lunar eclipse.  So, I've been getting to sleep around 2am... not a good time to fall asleep.

But my sleeping patterns will work themselves out soon as we move into Winter; as this time of year has always been a bit weird for me.  Yeah, I always lose a bit of sleep in Autumn; and during the change in seasons and there's never a good reason for it.

Yesterday, I was out and about at Thorneside having lunch with my friends there, cooking a stir-fry for them all.  It was great to catch up with them; and even provided a cheesy corn-relish dip... very nice. All of it went down well with everyone - even Will who is allergic to most things.  
It was supposed to have rained over the weekend, but the weather turned out to be sunny and warm - which was perfect.  It was an exhausting day and I arrived home after the sun went down; after dropping Will at the Eight Mile Plains Bus Station and dropping in on Mum and Dad too... it was a very busy day, and I just wanted to chill out for a bit; you know?  When I got home I put on a dvd of 'That 70's Show' and escaped reality for 2 hours.  It was nice to enjoy a fantasy for a while.

Anyway, I woke up this morning, looked outside and around my bedroom and knew it was time to get rid of some of my junk in this room... so the first thing I wanted out of my room was my old sewing machine.  But that thing weighs 75kg!  Way too heavy for me to carry down a flight of stairs; so I've asked Dad to help me take it to the back of the unit complex to be tossed out... I'll keep the step as it's decorative and the bits to use in an art piece and I'll have more room in my bedroom.  As for the chair in the room?  Well, I'll see what I can do with it, I might remove it and put a table in its place - one that's at Mum and Dad's place right now I really need to work on - and then I'll bring it home where it belongs.

I have a few other things to get rid of, a large painting to work on for the bedroom and really make it tidier than it has been... yes, this room has been neglected over the last year.  I have been meaning to clean it out but it's not getting too bad, just ignored.  However the home-office isn't looking much better than it did from the last time I worked on it.  Yep, still a junk room.  And yes, it does need working on... serious work on it, more than just one day's lot of work.

Well, that's been my weekend.  I've been busy, unable to sleep and trying my best to work out my house - again! - and kind of succeeding with it.  So, how has your weekend been?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wet Weather Spurs Big Clean Out

Yep, when it's raining outside, and there's not much going on in the garden, I get in and do a lot inside my house.  

This weekend, I've been busily working away in parts of my house to make them cleaner, tidier and more appealing to me and anyone else who happens to visit.  

First off it was the bathroom.  I looked around and started putting away my hair bands and bits to clear up the bench space for Winter.  Then, I went through my medicine cabinet and found there was so many soaps and yet I never used the hand-made ones.  So, I took them up and put them to one side for Mum to look at.  

Then, it was downstairs for me to go and I started on the lounge.  First I folded up all the towels sitting around, put away all the bags I wasn't using and then sorted out the receipts, put away the plastic bags and went through all the books, notebooks and anything else that was sitting around - ie: rubbish that needed throwing out - and the next thing I knew, it was tidy.  I then cleared the coffee table off and spray-n-wiped it, put the terrarium back on it, polished up the silver heat-proof thing for the teapot and the two large stone pieces and went through the part underneath and made sure there were only 3 things under there (the index of my dvds, my Christmas Box and the green box of things that sit around the coffee table). 
The knee rugs were next to be sorted out and organised.  I folded them up and put them over the back and one arm and they looked nice useful.  I lined the back of the lounge with the cushions and then I threw out last week's paper, anything else that wasn't needed went into the bin, and before I knew it, the lounge was tidy.

But, the kitchen table was messy... darn!  I can't seem to win!

So, I looked into that, and it seems that there were only a few things that I have to look into to clear that table up.  There's two recipe books I'm copying recipes from one to the other, all my bank statements are piled up and need filing and I'm looking at saving up for a shredder to shred all my receipts from shopping... I have a lot of them in my purse I don't need.  

Otherwise, I've gotten the piano nice and tidy, the credenza looks good and the work bench has been a life saver since I built it.  The one place I can't seem to get straight is my home office... no matter how much I work on it, it's a mess.  Well, I guess we all need something to work on on a permanent basis, right?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Storm Watch

Over the last few days, Cyclone Marcia has been carefully watched by the BOM here in Brisbane and Australia as it's traveled over the Coral Sea.  

Now, to start with, there was one other cyclone they were concerned about, but it's not as worrying as Marcia... which is about to make landfall early tomorrow morning around Gladstone (which is about 4 - 5 hours north of Brisbane) as a category 2 storm.  It'll carry with it wind and plenty of rain with high seas as well.

We have had something like this before a few years ago, when I first moved into my townhouse; and it freaked me out - along with my friends overseas.  Now we know what to expect, I want my friends to not worry.  This storm is just something we live with in the tropics.  I mean, one New Year's Eve, we had this type of storm occur during the party and we hunkered down and still kept the music going until the lights went out... yeah!  Great fun with the howling winds, sideways rain and all the trimmings to go with it.  
I also remember when it occurred not long after that here in Brisbane and I was expected to be here at home and had to go out, and one of my friends overseas had called me to see if I was okay - or if my house had been knocked down - and I came home, to her panicked questions on my answering machine.  I phoned her straight back (fortunately it was midnight and off-peak time).  Man, she was so relieved to hear my voice, and that my house was okay, just it was windy and wet and cold.

Now, it's about to start and I'm not worried.  I have enough food.  I've got enough books to read, enough paintings and work to keep me occupied and I have my living room to clean out as well.  Yep, I have things to get done this weekend which will definitely make sure I'll have something to do while it's raining outside, trapping me indoors.  So, what do you get up to when Mother Nature takes a turn for the worst?  Do you do what I do and jump into reading, work and decluttering?  Or do you take a seat and watch it all go by, making it a spectator sport?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Let's Get Organised - 2015!

Okay, this has been a bit late in coming, but I'm right into it this week; along with other things as well.  So far, I've been onto Peter Walsh's Facebook page and watched all his Youtube videos and have listed down the ones I really need to get done - and not worried about the ones that I have still got working from last year.

So far, I got three of the things on my list done and dusted!  Yay!  How cool is that?  Okay, there's more things to get done, but I mean, I'm not going to rush this and I'm damned proud of how far I've come in the last two weeks.  I'll tell you how far I've come so far:

I've created a Donation Box - which I've filled up once and taken to the Life Line Super Store; and it's now on its second filling, ready to be taken there again.  I'm noting down how many times I fill up that box as well, so I keep track of how much stuff leaves the house.

So far, I've thrown out three big bags of paper rubbish into the wheelie bin; that was just in the last two days.  This is something I'm very proud of myself about... the bin is half full and I'm hoping to get it filled up completely before Tuesday night - which is bin night.

Then, I've organised my work station area so I can pack up everything nice and quick in readiness for the upcoming work bench.  Dad is as excited about building this thing as I am.  He asked me how much leg room we have with my budget and when heard it was a little over $100, well, he was thrilled - and surprised - that I have that much money saved up.  We are looking forward to getting it in the back area so I can have my shelves up, all my craft and art thing in one space and my living room can be cleaned up properly.  

I've gone through my table linen, and I've found a place to put them for when I need them.  It's good to have them in a spot where I can grab them when I need to put them out.  I also have a few other things - like aprons, hot pot holders and covers for salads - hanging up on hooks near the pantry instead of in the drawers where I can't find them.  

So, there you have it, my first two weeks of my Let's Get Organised for 2015.  It's been great and busy and I'm feeling good about this year too.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Lazy, Rainy Sunday

I've been home a week, and last night I slept a full night without any breaks... it felt great to be able to be comfortable and just sleep.

But yesterday,I got a lot of work done. 

The Christmas Tree and the decorations was put away.  I pulled out the 3-stack set of drawers I'm going to use for my art area and I got some laundry done, dried and pulled in too.  And the lawn was fixed up around the edges as well.  Also, the donation box for this week is almost full.  

I'm so proud of my work from yesterday.  

Today, though, I woke up to my alarm at 7am (yeah, I was awake before my 6am one), and just snoozed until 7:30am before getting up and readying myself to go out and get the paper and some milk.  

There's still some chores to do today... not too major ones, but ones that I need to do before Wednesday.  I have to get the shopping list done up today, put out the rubbish, clean up the living room and go through a few piles of paper and throw away and file what I need.  Then, I can relax and see what I'll be doing for the rest of the week.  I am looking forward to getting myself sorted out for my new workbench... and I have looked at my finances and found I do have the funds for it (yay!).  This is going to be a fun thing to get done with Dad.  I can't wait to have it installed in my home; it'll look great!

Anyway, what are you plans for the coming week; and year?  For me, you've seen my plans for the week.  As for the year?  Well, I'll not plan too far ahead, enjoy my life in the moment and hope and plan my home to make it as nice as possible.  Yeah, that means to keep on cleaning it out more in my spare time.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Bright'n'Early!

I was up nice, bright and early at 7am this morning to get in and do some chores around the place before the heat of the day set in.  

First thing to do was some laundry - okay it wasn't much, but I thought to get it all dry before the showers this afternoon.  But as it was all going in the washing machine, I thought to get out into the garden and water the lawn and plants, as the cicadas started to sing through the air.  I love it when that happens as then you know it's going to be a stinking hot day... they tell us through their pitch.

Once the garden had nice drink, I heard the machine stop, and the washing had to be hung out.  Then, I got breakfast under way, with the radio going and the cordless phone off its charger and within reach.  I had a few things to get done today - and one of those things was to pull down and put away the Christmas Tree and decorations.  I have to do this before 12th because it's tradition for me to get the tree down before 2 weeks into January... otherwise I'm completely out of whack for the rest of the year.

As I got down the plastic boxes and added the new decorations to them, I pulled out the 3-set of drawers from wardrobe in the home office to remind me to get it cleaned out, cleaned up and ready for the next few weeks - ready for the work station at my back door.  I have already started pulling apart my work station in readiness for its tranformation; and I'm already saving money to buy the lumber for it too.  I can't wait to get it pulled together with Dad helping me at their house (where he has all the equipment).  I've wanted this work station for almost a year now, and now it's going to happen, I'm so excited!  And I have people who want the bookcase too - my next door neighbours, they'll be putting their blu-ray collection into it!  They're excited they don't have to go looking for another bookcase; that it's coming to them for nothing.

Well, I got all that done before 9am.  I made myself a drink and headed upstairs for my time on the computer and found Chuck Wendig had put out our first Flash Fiction for year.  Unfortunately I have to mull it over for a few hours because when I got the computer fixed up, Word for Windows wasn't installed onto it.  So, I have to wait for the neighbour's girlfriend to return home to find the disk to put it on (as I can't find my copy of it - I think Mum and Dad have it and forgot to give it back to me).  Well, that's all I got done today. There's going to be more done tomorrow around the place.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Let's Get Organised - 2015!

Okay!  It's been a year, and I've been cleaning out my place on a regular basis.  Last year I joined up with Peter Walsh's Facebook Page and it's done me good to clean out parts of my house, sending what I don't need or want off to get donated.

Otherwise, if it can't be fixed up or used by another, it's tossed in the bin.

This year, I have a box for donation stuff.  It's labeled as such, and I have been putting donation stuff in it.  I'm doing well too!  I'm very proud of myself!  So far, I've put in some metal filing things a neighbour gave me - and I thought I'd use them but didn't - and they have gone in there.  There's been some glasses cases, sprays I don't use and other little things I don't need.  There will be more to fill the box before the weekend it out; as I need to empty out my set of drawers in my wardrobe and clean them up for the new art area I'm creating this year with my Dad.

Then, there's my living room.  It's still a mess and I'm hoping to get through it and it will look better than it has done over the last year... I hate to say this about it, but it has never looked tidy - ever.  So, I hope I can clean it up completely this year.  My office the same way too I'm afraid.  It just doesn't seem to get tidy enough... oh well... I guess this is why Peter Walsh has so many fans. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Early Morning Chores

I woke to my alarm at 6am and snoozed to my 7am alarm.  Soon after I was up and about stripping the bed and putting on the laundry while I was outside mowing the lawn and clipping the edges. 

This was my second time out in the garden to work on the lawn this week; as we had had some pretty heavy rain and it had grown again.  But I didn't want it growing so much my mower couldn't get through it.  This time around, it was easier to mow and I got out my hedge clippers and clipped the thick grass which had grown around the edges of my lawn.

Before long, the large Queen-sized blanket was washed, but it didn't fit in my washing machine.  So, I asked my next door neighbours if I could put it into their machine to spin it... and they said yes.  Soon enough, all the sheets and blanket was out on the line; and the sun dried them off nice and quick.

Just now, though, it began to look like rain.  So, I thought to go and check the laundry.  As I stepped outside, the first few drops began to fall!  As quickly as I could, I pulled everything in; and it really began to come down!  How fortunate was that?  Now, it's just settling in and I've got all my laundry dry - including the blanket.

I've also started out cleaning out the house again.  Yes, this month I'm getting into Clean-Out mode in the house.  So far, I've cleaned out the corner next to the pantry and it's staying the way it is permanently.  Then, I found a good sturdy cardboard box and wrote 'Donation Box' on the sides of it, where all the donated things are going into it. When it's full, I'll cart it off to the charity store, empty it and then bring it home to do it again.  I got this idea off the Peter Walsh Facebook Page... what a great man he is.
I also have clean up the set of drawers in the spare room wardrobe in preparation for the new Crafty Pegs/Art Area Work Bench.  It'll be one of the things that are added on to the bench while it's being built.  I can't wait to get it worked on and produced after Dad gets home soon.  But if I get the drawers looked after beforehand, it'll work out better and easier than if I never did it before. 

This weekend, I'm hoping to get my house looking normal again; you know, put away the Christmas decorations and make the house look like it normally does all year around.  While I'm doing that, I'll get in and clean out some of the places around the house and donate and throw out what isn't needed.  Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.