Bathrooms

Yesterday I gave the guest bathroom a quick cleaning before my guests came. If it's one thing about guests, they invariable have to use the bathroom. But it needed cleaning anyway. Don't they always?

Then my boyfriend helped out by doing the dishes without being asked, which kept me from running away from home.

My friend that visited is the one I mentioned earlier that is remodeling her bathroom. I can't wait to see what she does with it. She said she wanted to have one truly remarkable room in her house that people could ooo and ahh over. She's a busy school teacher and a graphics artist, so it's going to be a long term project.

Unexpected Guests and Cleaning Snafus

I was so proud of myself today for spending an hour straightening up the living room and putting away finished art items. Then tonight my boyfriend said two friends were coming over tomorrow.  Well, I may have cleaned up a little, but no where near enough to be entertaining company.  And I didn't want to chuck my days schedule out the window and grab the toilet brush. And tomorrow's not a good day either because I need to work on my paying work before they go on holiday for Christmas.  In other words if I don't send them videos on Monday and Tuesday, I won't get paid for a week or two or more. So which do I drop? My paid work? My housework? Or my social life, which is slim as it is? So instead of doing anything useful I've just been staring into space like a deer in the headlights. I'm even more puzzled that though my boyfriend invited them, he shows no signs of cleaning up for visitors whatsoever.  He just says they are friends, and they won't care, so why should he. That puts even more pressure on me.

Back to the Desk

Yesterday I bit off more than I could chew work wise and got nothing done in my house. Today I was trying to put lotion on my back and managed to get cramps across my back from shoulder to shoulder.  Ouch, that hurts. If I feel better later I'll get back to the uncluttering tasks.

I made some headway on my desk by getting the Christmas cards sent. I've got to break the habit of randomly leaving things on my desk. Right now as I look around I have a knitting loom, 2 hats, a tape measure, four faux candy canes, my camera case, my last 3 Etsy projects that I listed, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.  And if I don't clean off at least one spot for my cat to sleep, he'll just keep knocking things off until he has a clean spot. Sometimes I think I should put velcro across the desktops and stick things down so Wallop can't knock them off. I don't need any help messing up my bedroom. I'm doing just fine by myself.

Sewing Clutter

I got two loads of laundry done yesterday and one put away completely.  The other is still out in the garage, but it's raining so it's going to stay there.

I got a lot of dishes done.  I also got the tallest rose trimmed and some of the gourd vine trimmed off the sidewalk and gates.  If I do stuff as I see it I won't get so far behind.

I also cleaned and refilled the hummingbird feeder, because even in Dec. I still see a hummingbird now and then.

In Etsy chat last night I found a sewing buddy. She's going to work with me so we can motivate each other to get more sewing done. I have piles and piles of sewing, tons of patterns and boxes of fabric everywhere. Organizing it all is a nightmare. Well, every domestic problem has a solution so I'll have to come up with something.

My Dresser

I have a new rule for organizing my dresser.  Only clothes that fit me right now, today, this very minute, are allowed in my dresser. Everything else goes either in the keep and repurpose pile, the give away/sell pile or the trash heap. That will save me time when I'm getting dressed, and leave enough room for the clothes I actually wear.

Off to the laundry

I think mission number one is to do the laundry. I have a big pile of costumes I need to wash and sort out, plus blankets and regular clothes. How can two people wear so many clothes?

A Place For Everything Master List

1. Books- All books go on bookcases.  Which means I need either less books or more bookcases.
2. CD's- All of my CD's go in the folding bin on my bedroom cubbies under the window.
3. My clothes- dresser and closet (if I can ever move enough boxes to get into the closet.
4. Crafts that are finished and for sale: Appropriately marked bins
5. Crafts that are in progress: Not sure yet
6. Make-up
7. Musical instruments: I need to make a special area for these
8. Hats: Upper shelf in hall closet
9. Holiday decorations: Appropriately marked bins in the garage
10. Tools: By rolling tool cabinet which is currently in the dining room but shouldn't be
11. Yarn...all yarn must be contained and cat proofed.

Well, that's a good list to start with for now. I'll let you know how it goes.

Neat and Tidy Are Not Cities in Asia

When they were handing out clean and tidy DNA I didn't get any. None, zilch, zip. I hate cleaning, tidying up, fussing about. If we were talking odd couple I'd definitely be Oscar. Only I live with another Oscar. A bad combo as far as neatness goes. So now I either drown in my own clutter, or learn to be different.

Thus I made this blog, because I figure a lot of you are in the safe boat, and there is too much stuff in the boat to turn around.

First Post

From now on I'm going to imagine I'm my own fairy godmother and work on uncluttering my house.  And now that I've named my blog I find out declutter is not a word. How about de-clutter. Nope. Sigh.