Not quite a horder - decluttering

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I've been lurking on this thread for a long time.  Started decluttering with paperwork in Feb 2013 & was getting ready to announce the 13 bags shredded, but the darn cancer came back.  So after a year in treatment, I'm starting again.  I've been cleaning closets all week.  Took 23 bags & 17 hanging suits & skirts & pant suits to the thrift shop that supports battered women.  I gave a bunch of tops & sweaters to a neighbor who has gone back to work, and have another 8 boxes ready for the 40 yr old daughter of a friend who can wear the larger sizes - everything from tops to exercise clothes to 5 different sizes of bras.  (Yes I tried hard to find a bra for my new body in 2011 & 2012.  Now I just wear camis.)  I don't plan to get rid of the size 12 pants even though I'm now a 6 because the weight loss was all due to chemo.  Who knows what I'll be next year!!  But I did get rid of the size 14s.

And I took 5 bags of books to the used bookstore.  Those that they didn't want stayed in my trunk to go to the library tomorrow.

Hope I can keep the momentum.  I'd love to more on to the kitchen when I finish dressers & closets.  Thanks to all of you for the inspiration.

Wren - I'm impressed too until I look in the closets & realize that has to be jjust a first pass.  When I got divorced, I took over the ex's closet space.   Then my son went to college & moved away so I took over his space.  This meant I never had to sort or switch summer for winter/ etc.  And I brought home a number of my Mother's dresses when she died & had them tailored to fit (wore one once).  When I started my first "post retirement job", we had to wear casual jackets so I acquired a number of those.  And of course I had to have tops to match - not the white dress shirts I'd worn w/my suits for so many years or the sweaters for the wool skirts.  Since I don't know if I'll go back to work next year, I'm dithering about the jackets - all of which are too big, but they are the size I've worn all my life for jackets so...

You won't believe the socks.  I think they multiplied in the drawers just like the T-shirts did.  When I got to the bottom of the T-shirts I'm embarrassed to admit there were 40.  I'm afraid to even count socks.  White socks, white ankle socks, trouser socks, knee socks, flannel lined socks, gold toe socks (white & black), special socks for Valentines & St. Pat's day,  thin socks for flats, thick socks for tennis shoes - and on & on.  The more i I get rid of, the more I want to clear out.

Minus Two, 

Standing ovation for you!!!!!!!   Keep the socks, just don't buy anymore.  I agree on the jackets.   Good job!   

Wren I know what you mean about colors. When they go warm I just am out of luck.   

Ginger

Blessings, I think you're fooling yourself if you think the oldest SIL will actually get rid of anything.

When my Mom (actually grandmother who raised me) was dying, she told me to go thru a trunk in the garage. It contained clothing worn by my mother who died in 1945. They gave me a necklace of coins that were in her purse when she went to the hospital. I haven't worn it. Mom not only had my wedding dress from 1959 but a big net heart filled with the bows from my wedding shower under her bed.

Minus Two- You are amazing.  Wow!  I wish I would have lost weight on chemo but I gain 20lbs due to all the steroids and benadryl they had to pump in me to keep me doing chemo. 

Wrenn-Good idea with the folder.

I was going to work on this today, but my lower back is killing me I guess so my 2 p.m. nap is schedule. 

I don't know what has gotten in my lately but I"m all about cleaning and getting rid of stuff. 

I managed to get 8 boxes down from the attic today before my legs gave out.  One of the boxes was towels saved - saved for a ranch I owned w/my ex-husband 20 years ago.  Jeez.  Anyway I washed all those & went through the old towels piled in the garage for spill emergencies & went through the linen closet.  Just got back from taking 53 towels & wash cloths to a guy who works with the city animal shelter.  He is so excited on behalf of the dogs & cats.  

While I was in the linen closet I pulled out 21 pillow cases.  They never wear out as soon as the sheets do they. But now there's only me, myself & I living here and using the linen - so the 10 pillow cases I kept should be adequate even if DS & DIL come to stay a week.

Also had boxes of extra sheets in the attic and culled the linen closet for those.  And a box of saved baby clothes.  My son & DIL have been together 13 years and have long said they will not be having children, so what am I saving this stuff for?  The nurse at the oncology center is having another baby 8 years down the road from her last one.  Since she gave everything away, I've washed a bunch of baby things to take her.  And a box labeled "linen & lace" that I haven't dared to open yet.  I know what's in there but can't let the emotions about my Mother's & Grandmother's hand made stuff get me side tracked.

Now need to tackle the blazers and get back to the socks.

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Minus Two, Good for you giving those towels to the animal shelter. I volunteer at a shelter and we use towels constantly. We have 2 washers going full time and a huge dryer. 

minustwo - Whoo hooo!!!I am staying at my cousins while they redo my plumbing in my house but when I get home I have several boxes of older towels for the animal shelter. 

Salvation Army picked up another bunch of stuff today - 15 boxes of china, linens, household items, etc. & huge bags of clothes along with several lamps.  The socks became a horror and a major sticking point that tripped up my forward progress for almost a week.  I'd put them all on the bed in the morning and move them to the top of the cedar chest at night.  But i was determined.  Finally gave away 29 pair and put another 20 in zip lock bags out of my drawer.  If I don't need them in a year, it will be easy to tell.  Now I'm working on the purses & the coats.  Taking a break for Herceptin infusion tomorrow and lunch out with my SIL Thursday so I hope I don't lose momentum. 

Must start on paperwork blizzard before my son comes the middle of June since that's spread all over the kitchen cupboard & table & my desk.  Unfortunately mostly medical stuff so hard to throw away.  But son has promised to participate in a slide show extravaganza and help me weed through 20 boxes of carousels.  Also he will get lots more stuff down from the attic for me that I can't lift or move.  And at age 44 he will laugh at his old cub scout uniform that I found last week.  Happy sorting ladies.

Minus Two that is fantastic!

Much smaller but I cleaned out a pantry--it had all sorts of old things in it--not so much old food but old batteries, too many flashlights (kept the four that worked best), old baskets etc;. I was so lucky as a friend came over and helped me with the task.  It is a pleasure to look into my neat pantry which still is well stocked, even having thrown out four trash bags of stuff from it.

Right now, I'm feeling like barring the door if anyone comes.  I've spent hours and hours getting the garden in shape, while everything in the house lies where it falls.  This time between winter and summer is the absolute pits--so much to put away, so much to take out, no way to keep up with it all, and most of it in the front entry  One good thing--there are five Fridays in May, so I'll get paid five times.  Now if only there were more of that kind of clutter!

I have winter blankets piled on the spare bed and am trying to find places for all the winter clothes which take up so much more room. Who wants to stay inside and clean when it's nice outside? Not me. It's supposed to be cloudy, cool and rainy this weekend, so perhaps I'll get more done then.