Bring Joy

 

How has your week been? 

We are knee deep in decluttering and the first phase of packing up a house we've been living in for sixteen years. I try to squelch the little whispers in my head that get overwhelmed by the process. I just wake up, do my morning routine (mostly journalling and praying), get ready, eat breakfast, meditate and then tackle the to-do list. I have a moving notebook where I'm capturing ALL the tasks.

I'm getting it done box by blessed box.

Yesterday I finished packing up the dining room (yay!). That room was 'easy'. The rooms with closets where I can stuff them from top to bottom are the challenge, remember sixteen years of stuffing closets. I'm finding the more I let go the easier it is to let go of more stuff. We are paying the movers by weight so that is a contributing factor as well.

I go through closets and boxes and have my internal questions:

'does this bring me joy?'
'is this meaningful to me?'
'do I want to pay to have it moved?'

That last question is what ultimately makes the decision. We are on our seventh car load of donations and we have yet another carload of recycling and more donations lined up. 


By the end of the day, I am sore and tired. I manage to knit for an hour or two while watching TV and relax a bit at the end of the day. I have my to do list written out for weeks in advance as well as a daily to do list so I don't forget the regular tasks.

Both Frodo and Holly seem to be okay with the mess. Holly loves the nooks and crannies made by the boxes, she is enjoying herself. Frodo is just regular Frodo wanting someone to sit with him if he is cold. He is lovingly predictable. 

 


Comments

  1. AsKatKnitsMay 28, 2021 at 8:11 AM

    While the "decluttering process" can be daunting (and really hard work) the end result just feels so good. Lighter, simpler, more purposeful! Have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. VeraMay 28, 2021 at 8:26 AM

    Wow! this seems to be happening so quickly. When are you moving?? Congratulations on all your decluttering (I am envious). Hope you can have a nice weekend with a little bit of relaxation thrown in.

    ReplyDelete
  3. BonnyMay 28, 2021 at 8:38 AM

    You are making real progress! It will be good to think of unpacking fewer and more treasured possessions in your new home. When we moved here 30+ years ago, John's company provided moving services and they even packed the trash in the wastebaskets!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MarthaMay 28, 2021 at 10:51 AM

    Looks like you are moving right along Karen. Here's to a productive weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  5. LeftycrafterMay 28, 2021 at 11:51 AM

    I shutter to think of moving from our place after 33 years. You are so wise to declutter and pack at the same time. When is the move to take place? Have you already purchased another home?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Deb J. in UtahMay 28, 2021 at 5:45 PM

    I totally understand what you are going through, because we have moved numerous times in our lives. It is a huge undertaking. I hope the entire process goes well for you. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. GraceMay 28, 2021 at 6:22 PM

    When is your moving date? Have you sold your house? They are going so quickly these days, which is a plus for you! My daughter and son-in-law bought a house this past week. They will only be a half hour from us! You know what a happy camper that makes me! : ). I will be busy this summer downsizing my mom's home to ready her for a move into an independent living community. So much is happening for both of us!

    ReplyDelete
  8. kathy bMay 29, 2021 at 3:42 PM

    Moving is a huge undertaking. Hope it will all be well worth it. When we moved. our friends owned the Dairy Queen nearby and gave us an endless supply of boxes. Hundreds! Its funny my old country farm house in the city had many more signs, knick knacks, and decorations. This house I try to keep very sleek . No big displays of neatly framed same sized photos. No coffee table books. I'm happier with less STUFF, ,except yarn of course

    ReplyDelete
  9. JaneMay 30, 2021 at 3:13 PM

    You are making great progress. Packing up to move is a big big task. It's nice that you have the time to declutter. I think it is way easier to get rid of stuff before moving then after. Take it easy though and don't pull any muscles in the process.

    ReplyDelete
  10. MaryJune 2, 2021 at 6:12 PM

    Your three questions are perfect - I can think of a few things that might pass two, but three?! My Holly gets stressed when she sees boxes ... your Holly and Frodo seem to know they're going with :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJune 14, 2021 at 8:17 PM

    You're doing a great job.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment


Your comments are welcome as long as they are relevant to the post and spread joy, thank you for visiting and sharing your ideas.

Popular posts from this blog

Weekends

Image
My weekend happily contained: -wearing the above woolens all at the same time without being hot -so many walks and taking in the changing leaves. -a leaf shower on Saturday-the wind swirled the leaves off the trees up in the air to float down -changing screen savers to autumn themes! -a craft fair where my husband and I say "we could make that", but we don't. -french fries at the craft fair -scrambled eggs and toast for dinner because we were lazy. -football season has descended in my house. he was in the front room watching whatever is on today -I sat in the family room and watched A Tree Grows in Brooklyn .   Now I want to read it again. -Oh! I finished the socks!! So I wound up about six skeins of yarn and have three projects ready -started a cowl for me in fall colors (I hope to finish before fall ends) -enjoying Spirits of Joy .  Hannah graciously had a one day free sign up for her birthday at the end of September which I luckily saw on Twitter.  Than...
Read more

Happy List

Image
  - neighborhood pumpkins - my oak trees showing off - new friends at 'school' - Tai Chi hour - lunch out with my husband - cold morning walks - an unexpected warm up - all the fall knitting (imagined and real) - wearing wool - browsing knitting patterns - sister outings - dark chocolate - blue skies - neighborhood dogs - the kids coming to visit next weekend - the to-do lists that I am creating - afternoon reading (possible snooze) - apples! - soups! - hearing the breeze whisper through the trees - setting intentions - giving myself grace when I need it the most - solitude - grandchildren laughing - Holly being Holly - Blue skies - phone calls from family and friends - the kindness of others - assuming everyone is doing their best - drinking water and staying hydrated - hot decaf green tea in a BIG mug - first sip of coffee - geese flying in V formation and honking all the way (delightful!!) - Focusing on gratitude - focusing on joy  What would make your happy list?
Read more

Knitting News

Image
  Good morning to you! How are you? I'm excited about my hat that I've been knitting enjoying the sea of stockinette stitches. When I first started the hat I thought it would be too small, now I wonder if it will be too big. Gah. I will find out soon I guess. I wish the photo about showed how beautiful the colors are in real life, you'll have to trust me on this! Below is my next knitting project, the habitation throw . I will definitely use the pink and gray, I'm still not sure about that purple, I might have a look-see in my stash and do another ponder about that color. I chose this pattern because I can use up some of my stash and I adore Helen Stewart's patterns. What are you working on this week? Also: I will probably not be posting this Friday and the following Monday because of my family visiting. I hope to be back next Wednesday (unless I change my mind).
Read more