Good morning! How was your three day weekend? What did you do? Something fun? A little work around the house and perhaps getting the kiddies ready for school? Or did you get to relax?
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Image Here at Better Homes and Gardens |
I did everything I mentioned on Friday, worked in the garage, did some work around the
house, baked a bit and yesterday I did nothing!
OK not literally nothing, I did read a book, and a stack of magazines, played on Pinterest and on Facebook and just hung out with my husband and pup.
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Image Here |
I also came to the conclusion that I have too much stuff. Do you ever feel like that? I usually get these feelings a few times a year and then I have a purge. So I spent part of the weekend doing a little purge and now have to rent a U-Haul to take it all to the thrift store…OK, not really but I think I will at least have to make 3 trips. I have china, crystal, serving platters, silverware, chaffing dishes, and so much more. The good news is that someone will be able to buy it all and have at least 50 people come for a Holiday party!
Where does all of this stuff come from? Obviously that is a rhetorical question, I know I bought it or it was given to me. But I am merely thinking out loud, why do I hang on to some of these things?
The books I know I hang on too for sentimental reasons; they feel like friends. Then there are the things that people have given me that are special. But some of the other stuff, I look at and cannot remember where it came from or why I have it. That it not to say it is unattractive or useless but simply that I have outgrown it, or the life that went with it.
We no longer entertain as much as we did or on such a grand scale so I do not need all of the serving dishes and extra utensils and chaffing dishes. I work from home so I do not think I need many of the clothes I had when I worked in an office. I don’t really need 17 winter coats, even though I like them. Nor do I need two sets of snowshoes. So why am I “hoarding” all of these items?
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Image Herr at The French Laundry Blog |
I would love to know, as you age, do you feel as if you need more or less “stuff”? Or do we shed our possessions from other times in our life and acquire new ones to suit our lives now?
I am very interested in what you have to say on the subject. Are you are saver, pack rat, or are you a minimalist?
Whatever the case my friends, I hope you have a great week! Enjoy your day!

can't help it!!!
i almost peed my pants with the loaded car image.
that's how i feel about moving up to maine.
and what did i do???
i refinished my out door aluminum furniture.
(for 2 weeks- hard job)
xox
I decided early this year that I was going to downsize and only have things in my house that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE. It is such a freeing feeling to have SPACE to work and relax!
DEAR ONE, I wish you a relaxing and organized week. I know you probably have much to do, but take one day at a time. I am!!!
Today is the first day of school and I am not there. A quite nice feeling that I will hang on to for a long, long time. LOVE! Anita
Hello Elizabeth ~
Well here we are: September! Just like at the beginning of spring, I always get the urge to spruce up / declutter this time of year. Fortunately, I can sell the antiques at my shop 🙂 The rest I donate to Goodwill. Have a wonderful week!
Loi
We had a busy long weekend of running errands, ongoing house projects, going to dinner and having our son and grandson for dinner.
Your post hits home with me, too. My son, the extreme minimalist and our only child, teases that I better not leave him with all of my "stuff" to deal with when I die. I am fairly certain he isn't really teasing. We are always in the process of cutting back by donations, sharing and the occasional garage sale.
omygoodness!! I love that picture of all that junk on top on the car!! That is what I feel like my mustang looks like after I hit the garage sales on Saturday mornings!! Lovely blog!! Ill definitely be back for more!!
I love your blog. The last few days I've been getting the feeling some fall cleaning is coming. We are having some small home improvements done and I think it's a perfect time to throw out some of my stuff and clean up.
Elizabeth, I am currently cleaning out many rooms of my house and getting rid of lots of things. You just have to be ready to do it. I finally reached that point and it feels so good! In the process I am organizing the things I am keeping and find that my life is running more smoothly now. Enjoy all your new space!
And a Happy Weekend to YOU, my dear friend! I know, I have not been around as much, and I have missed you…I was hoping you hadn't taken off for Paris yet! 🙂 Want to make sure to wish you a Bon Voyage…. 😉
I hope your weekend will be just wonderful, and I can't wait to catch up on your posts!
We had a frantic first week of school..one of the more challenging aspects was getting used to waking up at 5:40! Yikes! This is after the luxury of sleeping in all Summer…
I think we're getting into the groove of it, and I'm liking that my day now begins so early…in fact, do you know, I de-cluttered and organized my linen closet today! What a wonderful thing that was (not easy, mind you).
I understand exactly what you're saying..I do think that fulfillment is coming less and less from things, yet the desire to be surrounded with only what you really love, perhaps that's a sign of wisdom and clarity? 😉 And it's so much easier to clean when there are less things to clean?!
That photo with the car is priceless…
Ok, on to your next ones!
P.S. Dear Elizabeth, thank you so much for featuring Loi's blog…so much inspiration, and what a sweetheart!