We dodged a bullet last night. We were supposed to get a coating of ice, but as far as I can tell, we didn’t. When I heard the school bus arrive on time, I knew, without even looking outside, that it hadn’t happened. It’s been very cold here from the moment we came back from Paris, much earlier than usual. We usually don’t get this kind of warning in mid-November.
I reorganized and purged lots of the stuff in my dresser yesterday. I have to be in the right kind of mood for that sort of thing and I was. I pulled a chair up to the dresser and started pulling things out, making keep piles, making discard piles. It took me a couple of hours, but I’m very pleased with the results. Because we have so little storage space, an oddly shaped bedroom closet (which we share, by the way) and never enough storage for sweaters, jeans, etc., I think I just give up until I reach the point where I can’t stand it any longer. That happened yesterday.
I have a whole list of things I need to attend to.
It’s the eternal problem with a small house, especially a small house that was built in 1891. Not enough storage space. It feels like I’m always thinking about how to create storage here. It’s never-ending.
As they say, it is what it is.
Today is for grocery shopping, more work around the house, and, if I can find the time, more reading.
Happy Monday.
So, I live in Coastal Virginia. It NEVER snows before Thanksgiving (usually, not even before Christmas). Last week, flurries and ice. Brutal cold (for us) since. Hmmm, no climate change?!
Exactly.
Thanks, Tina-Marie.
Claudia, I also have little storage. I know one problem my family and I have is hobbies…hobbies that take a lot of storage space for items for our sewing, knitting, needlework, card-making, art, cooking and baking… I still have much of the music memorabilia, and thousands of CDs and vinyl my husband collected. I do purge regularly, but I need to realize that I need to send out more than I bring in and not vice-versa!
Yes, I should do the same thing, Wendy!
Living in a small space is definitely a challenge when it comes to storage. I have become very creative, but I gave away a bunch of clothes when I moved to Atlanta. I’m like you. I have to be in the right frame of mind to do it. xo Laura
When I’m in a ruthless enough mood, I get rid of a lot of stuff, Laura.
Well done on the drawer purge! You’re right– one has to be in the right mood. Glad you were!
Finally! Thanks, Jeanie.
Yes, and then if you try to get creative with furniture-storage pieces, the extra furniture for storage then also takes up even more room. A bench seat with a pull-up top for storage under the seat; an ottoman that’s hollow inside for storage; a coffee table with storage underneath; etc. But all can also get in the way with smaller square footage. My husband got tired of tripping over the coffee table! Older homes notoriously have little closet space. I know how frustrating this can get! When the homes were built, there were no objects like microwave ovens, Keurigs, blenders, big refrigerators, stereo/music units, television sets, desk computers, king-size beds; washing machines and clothes dryers. People in the really-olden days didn’t even have a lot of clothes or linens or towels to begin with, right? They didn’t even have indoor plumbing! It’s hard to put 21st-century living into a 19th-century home.
Good job for what you COULD get done, Claudia!
Our closets are built into the eaves, so I have to crawl in them to rearrange all the stuff we have in there.
Thanks, Vicki!
yes, congrats on the sorting and tossing. i, too, have to feel a certain way (and have plenty of time) in order to make those sometimes-hard decisions. and ordering the framing on that print from paris; it’s lovely!
glad you avoided some ice.
hope you’ve been able to do some reading and that don is feeling 100% better!
here it’s been a bit warmer (45 degrees or so) lately and dry. as much as i love rain (a lot), i am okay with having as little precipitation in the winter as possible. haven’t had enough time to read much, but have been able to fit in some time to knit. my sister just taught me how to make a cabled hat a couple weeks ago and i am enjoying that so much!
hope you and don and everyone here has a nice night.
kathy in iowa
Don is pretty much back to normal. Still a bit of coughing, but much better. Enjoy knitting your cables, Kathy!
Yes I understand the storage problem
Taking out winter clothes and putting summer in totes to the basement
I didn’t realize your cottage was so old
You are blessed that you have not had to do much upkeep
With our home it is always something
This summer wood rot and painting
Last year a new garage door
But I am thankful for this weathered shingle home
We have no usable basement, so we can’t do that kind of thing, unfortunately.
We’re probably going to have to get a new roof in the next couple of years. And our door frames need replacing. Believe me, we have our share of upkeep! Thanks, Linda.
The roof’s a biggie. A lot of stuff is more expensive in SoCalif (this I know, from once living out of state for awhile) but I’d thought I was choking with a quote of $8,000-$10,000 (from about five years ago) and then my roofer told me last week, nope, figure conservatively on $12,000-$15,000 (and we’ve basically got a flat roof on a one-story box home). So, I know I have to put away a minimum of $400/month for the next three years to pay for this expense (and probably because I need mega fire retardant protection with the shingles, I’ll be on the high end of a final quote). But it’s nothing like what cost us on our little vintage cottage from 15 years ago when the initial quote, til we (desperately) negotiated, was $50,000 (due to its peaks and slopes).
Sometimes I really, really wish I was renting again, to not have the worry and continual expense of home maintenance and yard maintenance (in my case, also hillside maintenance). Especially an old house can just absolutely drain you, financially and emotionally. There’s just hardly a time when you don’t have to be thinking of the next thing to be done, and there’s always a next thing. My very-experienced contractor’s main guy/supervisor took one look at our cottage back in the day and said, “You’ll never not be working on this house the entire time you’ll be living here; that’s just the way it is with older homes.” And, of course, he was right. The one I’m in now is 30-odd years ‘younger’ than the cottage, but it’s still…old. She’s got a lot of aches and pains, just like me (we’re about the same age).
Of course it’s all in the balance (balance in all things), but I feel like too much of my life revolves around what a house needs, rather than what WE need. That we service the house rather than it servicing us. It’s a choice.
I understand! Though I don’t want to be renting. If we ever sell this house, we would most likely rent, though.
Thanks, Vicki.
Well…you beat me to the dresser clean out….I still have that to do. Feels good doesn’t? Lots of things to do around here, too. I’m officially in holiday mode. And my lists keep getting longer and longer. There’s lots to do, so sorting and ousting (great word), is going to have to wait til after the holidays at this point.
Enjoy your evening! ;)
It does feel good, Donna!
I am not yet in holiday mode and probably won’t be until mid-December. Good for you!
I know what you mean. We have a small house and there is never enough room. We have to start sorting and discarding,too. The trouble is we are all rat packs.
Marilyn
As am I, Marilyn! Thank you.
I need more of those days where I purge things!! This little duplex has gotten too full. Time to evaluate my stuff and collections. Some are packed away and it might be time to sell them. Sad but true. Hugs!
I can’t part with my collections, but I can part with books I don’t need to hold onto and other ‘stuff’ that has accumulated over the years. Thanks, Linda!