Tuesday DECLUTTERING!

[Heather B in MS]

Started laundry
Did preschool with Z
School started
Garbage portion of clean sweep done upstairs

[Sherry]

Good morning.

So far today:
* Ch. 1 - did 1st and 2nd floors.
* Sorted through box of stuff pulled from basement yesterday - shredded some, tossed most of the rest
* Lessons - seatwork and piano done
* Emptied dishwasher

To do:
* Finish lessons
* Outside time
* Vacuum living room and master bedroom
* Clean master bathroom
* Renew zoo membership
* Paperwork
* Call mother
* Make cookies - we were going to do this yesterday, but the butter was frozen

Question - Is your husband on board with decluttering? Mine says that it makes him nervous.

[CINDY LB OH]

Question: I was doing the clean sweep in the boys room. Their room is small and leaves virtually no room for a hamper that would sit on the floor. We just toss the clothes in a small corner, but of course you know where they all end up... all over the place. So I went searching for hanging hampers. Have you seen any at WM or Target, that are sturdy canvas vs. mesh? I found one on Amazon that looks good, but I don't have a big order right now.

So far:

• morning school almost done
• boys room clean sweep half done
• kitchen counter clean up half done
• table cleared and wiped down

[Heather W]

Nancy! It's always nice to have a great homeschool meeting.

• finished cutting out the presidents calendar and noted an error which I passed on to the creator
• started laundry
• folded two loads of laundry
• kids' laundry was taken upstairs and hopefully has been put away by each child- one left to do that
• printed today's math lesson for the middles- measuring angles
• kids getting started on math now
• revisiting notebook organization with the kids...some things have turned up missing. Sigh.

Off to chat with E13 and then he will be working on school. Bit frustrated at the moment that work is missing. Ugh.

[CINDY LB OH]

Good morning.
Question - Is your husband on board with decluttering? Mine says that it makes him nervous.

Yes, but he doesn't really participate except for the storage room and garage. So when I run across stuff that's his that I know hasn't seen the light of day in virtually years, and he has no idea that it even exists, I just quietly get rid of it. I know... sneaky... but seriously, he thinks he needs to keep these things (mostly papers/folders/notes) but really? Does he know I've thrown things away? No. I threw away a whole huge stack of stuffed folders 3 or 4 years ago, and he's never asked about them. He didn't even know they were there, or what would have been in them anyway.

[Cari]

How can it be lunch time already??? The day is getting away from me, DD15's doctor appointment really caused a loss of momentum . Hoping to get a bit more done before DD7's ice skating...

• CH1 ~ Clean sweep the upstairs. started
• CH2 ~ Collect a pile for the used bookstore tomorrow.

• Shower/Dress/Breakfast/Meds done
• Laundry (DH & DS11's stash) in dryer
• Load/run dishwasher done
• Table time w/DD7 & DS11 almost done
• Science lesson
• DD15 to doctor for sports physical done
• FIAR w/DD7
• Spanish
• Sonlight w/DS11
• Salvation Army drop-off
• DD7 to ice skating
• Pick up 86 boxes of girl scout cookies
• Dentist appointment
• Grocery store
• F/U DH's Rx done
• Empty dishwasher
• Dinner/Clean-up
• Sort cookie orders
• School logs
• Tidy downstairs
• Backpacks, lunches etc. for co-op
• Bedtime

Cari

[Heather W]

Ah the husband factor...

Part of my reason for doing this now(after owning the book for a year) is that our house is small and our stuff makes it smaller. We are looking at adding on or moving or whatever, but it's expensive and who knows what will happen. Our biggest blow was finding out if we want to do windows, siding and doors to our existing structure when we add the addition, then it will need to be brought up to current code. That alone will take most of what would have gone into an addition. What a STINK.

So, to make things less stressful and give us peace, I am hoeing out. Really hoeing out.

I'm holding on to that inspiring thought up there...what if all you owned was stuff you LOVED? What if you didn't pass by those several things you don't wear to get to what you will wear? Wouldn't that be something?

Is he on board? Yes. Does he think it will happen the way I describe? No.

Won't he be surprised....

[Gitel in nj]

Heather--code issues as in life safety and/or energy?

Be careful as to what a contractor tells you. In NJ (and most likely in NY) you do not need to bring anything up to code except the area you are working on. So, you would have to install energy effecient replacement windows and doors (but you can't buy any other kind at this point) and you might need to add insulation when you take the siding off--but I kind of doubt that. You should not need to bring your windows up to life safety codes in terms of egress when you replace them--although you might be required to add bars if they are too close to the floor inside and higher than 7' above grade (I think that is the height).
Also if your home was built prior to 1975 (I think that is the year) you will also have to deal with issues regarding lead abatement and disposal of these materials.


The new addition would of course need to comply with ALL state, local and federal building codes.

Call your local building department and tell them what the contractor told you. See if it is true or if he is trying to sell you stuff you don't really need.

[April Marie]

This Week's Challenge: We are on Day 2 of the Day 1 Challlenge.

this made me laugh this morning

[April Marie]

Lisa I've been thinking of you

me too