I have continued to declutter the living room. I think. Maybe all I’m really doing is spending my life dragging furniture up and down the stairs while I trick myself into thinking I’ve made more room somewhere.
Poor Hubby went somewhere last evening and when he came home later there was a ladder, an antique suitcase, a desk, an end-table and various other items like photo albums and sewing scissors blocking the walkway through this room, which runs right behind the loveseat.
In fact, this is the route he took to get where he needed to go.
It did not look like an easy task when he squeezed around the ladder and then sucked in his breath to make his way between the loveseat and the record player. At this point we made eye contact, but I must have looked unstable or something because he didn’t say anything.
I must have looked extremely unstable — or maybe it was the sharp sewing scissors and crochet hooks laying around where I had dismantled the craft desk for the 108th time in our marriage — because he offered to carry something upstairs.
I am pleased to say that there were no arguments and that the craft desk is now upstairs where we will set up shop again in Michaela’s room. When I think of the work ahead — organizing all the craft things in her room — I think I’ve created a new word. Recluttering. Sometimes I declutter. Sometimes I reclutter. I suppose since I did carry three bags of stuff out to the van last night for Goodwill donations that I did do some DEcluttering, but putting that craft desk upstairs was a major REcluttering move.
Thank goodness my marriage is holding out.
Really, though, I’ll tell you a secret. Sometimes I get discouraged with my house. The rooms ARE oddly shaped. And I DO have places where the once-fashionable blown ceiling is peeling off and looking really ugly. There have been times over the last century where the roof has leaked — think hurricanes (it’s stood through quite a few) — and there are dark spots either on a ceiling or wall. Sigh. And the closets? Horrid. The carpet? Gross. The bathrooms? Outdated and tiny and totally in the wrong places. Let’s don’t even talk about the coal dust that wafts down from the corners and in the closets OR the old dysfunctional windows.
Last night when hubby saw how distraught I was over this craft desk of mine, he put his arms around me and said, “I’m sorry. You think you see a shooting star, but then when you get to it it’s just a broken piece of glass in the sand, and the sun’s not even shining on it right anymore. ”
Awwwwwwwwwww. Either he’s got a heart of gold or he knows just exactly what to say to keep me from letting go of the tiny thread I’ve been hanging onto.
THEN he said, “But I look at you and our four babies and know I’ve got something better than ALL the stars.”
Where are the tissues????
And I know I really cannot complain. I have more than I deserve and I like being content. It’s just that sometimes I get tired. And you all know that most of the time I love my old house.
So this morning for school we’ll be spending a couple of hours organizing the craft area upstairs. Then, inspired by Angelo
Lynn
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
I was doing a bit of Re-cluttering this weekend as well.
Your DH is a good man!!
Lynn~ Lis in MA from the FIAR boards here. I just received my first BLOG award, and wanted to pass the same award along to you.
Blessings, to you, lovely lady!
Lis
Just noticed you use John Saxon’s math books. Excellent choice! They still remain the best math book on the market today.
I am a retired high school math teacher who taught using John’s math books from algebra 1/2 through calculus for more than a dozen years in a rural high school.
After retiring, I wrote a book on how to sucessfully use John Saxon’s math books, and just recently, I added video DVD math tutorials for algebra 1/2 through calculus.
Please visit http://www.usingsaxon.com.
Art Reed
I know exactly what you mean, Lynn. Our house is tiny and well worn, too.
Our ceilings sag here and there and my hubby wants to re-do the bathroom in the worst way. But, it does keep us dry when it’s wet and warm when it’s cold and it has definitely kept us close as a family.
I’m looking forward to some spring cleaning in the next few weeks!
Happy day,
Liane
I love your new word…reclutter! That explains my house, too.
We loved Angelo! Please post what you’ll be doin with it!
Michele/ivy
Dear Lynn,
After reading about your adventures in Decluttering-Recluttering I can’t help but smile a little.:) Now, know I am not laughing at you. It is more like laughing with you.:) I am plagued by the “nesting” gene as well. It seems I am always tweeking some corner of my little world. I use to think when we had the big home(3600 square feet) it would be so nice to have a smaller place. Easier to keep up, less space to maintain etc. etc. But, I think it’s harder to keep a small space because I have never been real good at maintaining “everything has a place and everything in it’s place.” That used to make me feel bad. Creative people need space! And I love to have things around me that inspire creativity. That may be in the way of artistic creation, cooking and baking, plants and gardening, writing, well you get the idea. So, I shift and move as I grow in these pursuits. And when the spirit moves me I sort, rearrange, and change with the knowledge that accepting the limitations as a blessing and work within those limitations. It can be an opportunity to learn and to grow.
And at the end of the day I can sit in my little love seat and hubby in his chair and know that as long as I have that each day all is well.
So, Go ahead, Be creative Declutter-Reclutter and take a moment to enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Diane
PS. For whatever it’s worth I think your livingroom looks very cozy and inviting!
Dear Lynn,
Ah, the joys of squeezing into small spaces! Our last home had 1100 square feet (With four children), and this one has about 2000 (With five children). We thought there’d be space to put everything, but then our parents decided that since we had more space, we’d want more stuff! EEKK! I guess it comes with living a creative life. I’d much rather be cluttered than have no pictures on the wall and no books stacked all over the house! Not to mention the sewing, craft, herb, etc. stuff!
Your husband was very sweet to make that comment.
Love,
Marqueta
Dear Lynn,
I too am laughing with you; it seems we may really be neighbors. Our well “worn” home seems to be whistling in the wind as some more roofing shingles land on the sidewalk. I shift things around often and find it to be rewarding in some odd way. One of my strong beliefs is never ever ever purchase mini blinds again.
Love,
Susan
Lynn…so is the star shining again? Make sure you post another picture of Princess’s room so we can see the new craft space!
Angelo was a free book from last summer’s library sale so I look forward to rowing it at some point.
Heather
Kate, he is a good man!
Lis, thank you so much! I’ll be by.
Mr. Reed, we enjoyed looking at your website and will be looking even closer. I really like the instructional DVDs you have to offer.
Liane, you are right about a house to keep us warm and dry. That is so much to be thankful for!
Michele, I love the way you put that! That “explains” your house. LOL.
Diane, I agree that it takes more discipline in a smaller space. I think it takes more discipline to live simply. Thank you for laughing with me! And it goes take space to be creative!
Marqueta, you hit the nail on the head for me! I love being creative and having herbs and books and papers around. I think it’ll always be that way here. I just try to keep it organized enough so that we all can enjoy it together and have people over without feeling like hiding.
Susan, thank you for laughing with me! And I am TOTALLY with you on mini blinds. Never again. I tried cleaning a set once and they are now in the landfill. Unfortunately.
Heather, yes I think the star is still shining! LOL. Poor hubby, I think he feels bad that he cannot do more. We have so many hopes and dreams for the house, but alas the years fly by and there are medical bills and car emergencies and it never fails — if we find the time and money to do something, another home emergency will take its place. But it’s okay. So yes the star is still shining and I think Michaela will love her craft area. Me too. Pictures soon. I promise.
Lynn
This made me laugh, admire and feel envious all together. Reclutter is my new word, keep up the good work, Eleanor