Alas, I am behind on email again. For those merry few who leave comments, know that you are appreciated, and that I’ll do a massive reply binge soon. I would write this blog even if I had not a single reader or commenter, but as we all know, the interaction makes it all so much more fun. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you when soon will be as we’re packing our house size apartment so that it will fit into our apartment size house-to-be. There has been much culling over the last few weeks, with more to come. It’s been a good thing, this thinning of the stuff, and it has really gotten me thinking about the things we own.
For some of it, the decision to toss is a no-brainer. If the items are broken, missing pieces, or otherwise unusable, it goes. If it hasn’t been repaired yet, it won’t be, and it’s only taking up valuable space. For other items, the question of whether to toss/recycle/donate is more difficult. Will we use these things some day? Do we even like these things anymore? No? Then it’s time to go to a new home, goodbye.
A lot of gifts from holidays and birthdays past are falling prey to this one. I know people mean well, but please… I’d rather you buy me a single $8 paperback novel from my Amazon wish list, or bake me a batch of decadent brownies, than feel the need to give me a mandatory holiday gift. And, seriously? Some of it really is just junk, obviously thoughtless gifts of meaningless “$10 or less” seasonal products or dollar store detritus. That’s not what the holidays are about… it’s about giving from the heart (if you can and want) to those you care about. If the feeling isn’t there, trust me, I really would prefer the $2 box mix pan of brownies, they’re delicious and great as a base for an ice-cream sundae!
We're holding on to hope. Taken quickly while measuring rooms... the owner was home, obviously.
Then there are the things that you don’t use often, but are useful to have. I have quite a bit of cake decorating and candy making supplies that fall into this category. By quite a bit, I mean a medium sized box full, including all but the largest cake pan. My sewing supplies are also culprits, mainly in the form of fabric. I used to sew fairly often, before I took up fiber as a lifestyle. The big reason I stopped was a mixture of an ornery new “better” sewing machine and I got tired of pinning Ren Faire gowns on the floor. Unlike the cake supplies, this stash takes far more room than it needs to, and shall be ruthlessly cut. Sacrifices must be made, and some lucky Freecycle member shall be the better for it.
Saturday I knocked out three of these wash cloths in Peaches & Creme for a swap gift. Yellow is her favorite color. FO post later.
I’ve noticed that as the house is cleaned and put to order, my works in progress queue is also shrinking. While I have less time for fiber, it is my refuge when we’re not packing, tossing, or cleaning. I’m also being much more monogamous to the projects I have on the needles, especially the “oldies but goodies”, as is evidenced from the misshapen socks so recently finished. I’ve gone from 6 UFOs a month ago, down to three at the moment. And one of those three only needs finishing! It boggles the mind. I feel bad for Circe, the only time I’ve made to spin on her is when I’m at knit night. This drive to finish my knitting projects has left me no other room to sit and leisurely spin. I’m still working on the same bobbin I was two months ago!
I'm ready to be done with this now, please and thank you.
I really am intensely satisfied with how much I’m knocking out of the queue. I think it’s a wresting control out of anxiety and frustration thing. As mortgage deadlines and emails from an angry seller whiz by, what else can I do but focus on that which I can control? It’s either that or cry, and I have a thing about weakness.
