Week 5 October 2014

I'm not doing a very good job of keeping up with this blog . but actually, I'm sort of in limbo right now.  I haven't been able to do things quite as listed.
The pantry has not yet been done .. I cannot do it until I have help, because I cannot read lables.  I made some small changes in the front coat closet that made a huge difference, so that one isn't much of a priorty (not much else can be done there).  I included the front hall .. but I'm waiting for one more decorative shelf to be hung before I can finish.
I did clean and organize the linen closet, and my personal closets.
The Halloween decorations are up since my niece is crazy about Halloween.
Since I can do so much less decorating than in the past (and since I'm forced to keep everything in storage which means I have to get someone willing to take me there to retrieve things and then take the empty containers back), I likely won't be putting anything up until Thanksgiving.  
It's been less than 2 months since I moved here, so it hasn't had time to get out of control.  And honestly, it's so small, it's absolutely essential that everything have a place to live.  We're mostly there.  My room is a work in progress.  I don't even have curtains up yet, but hopefully in another few weeks that can happen.  I also have some ideas, greatly helped by my sister, for making my corner (where my chair sits) "special".
Sometime in the next few weeks I will get pictures of the fall decorations and upload them here.

Sept/Oct 200=14 (week 4)

I'm not very good at keeping track, but I am doing well so far at working on the schedule I made.  Monday, Sept. 29th starts week 4.   My general plan for that week originally was to work on the front hall and closet and to put up Halloween decorations.  I had "extra" time this week, so I worked on the front hall a little.  I took out one bucket of things that can go to storage, and that made a big difference.  I will postpone doing the rest of it for now.  I can't get the shelf in the hall organized yet because I have to wait until my BIL puts some small decorative shelves on the wall (it's a cinder block wall and needs special screws).  Since I don't know when he'll have a chance, I'll just rearrange a few things.  Also, I've already done most of the decorating (to please the niece I share this apartment with, because she loves Halloween as much as I love Christmas).  

I am shifting around the order of the closets to be worked on now.  I need to do my own next.  With my loss of vision it is important that my closet be very specifically organized.  It was before I moved; but my clothes got totally jumbled u in the move.  So this week's focus will be to take everything out, get it in the order that most helps me find things and get it back into the closet neaty.  

I had planned on a short visit from my DIL; but she is not feeling well so that will be postponed.  Other things to get done this week will include a trip to the library to get software downloaded so I can get audible library books on my Kindle; finding out about a senior's group at church; and getting involved in a VIP (Visually Impaired Persons) sewing group.   My goal is to get busy with activities with people my age andor with whom I have something in common (VIPs).  I've done the bulk of any unpacking I can do.  The closets still need tweaking and organizing, and the kitchen could use a bit of organziing as well.  None of that will take much time.  I seem to have way too much time on my hands just now!  I guess it's too early to start Christmas decorating! :)

Week 2 2014

I GUESS THE WEEK “TECHNICALLY” Starts on Monday; but it will be a busy day, and I’m actually done with everything on my list for this week.  I have a lot left to do I guess, but things are in much better shape now, and I’m feeling like I accomplished what I needed to for the week.  I’m actually a little ahead.  I went on and put out some of the Halloween decorations.  I figure I’m always ready to put my Christmas out way early … so since my niece loves Halloween, it’s only fair to put out things for her early so she can enjoy them longer.

I do still have some things piled up in a corner; but, they are things I just don’t need to deal with soon.  A lot of it is fabric.

Next week I still have working on my room on my schedule.  There are 2 doctor appointments that will take up most of Monday and Wednesday.  That plus laundry and groceries will take a lot of my time.  The following week is for decorating .. most of which is done; and starting on the hall closet.  But I might be out of town a night.  I think I will go on and start on that closet with my “extra” time this coming week.

Is anyone out there? J  Are you following HGP or any other plan?  Write me   … olgramy@hotmail.com .. let me know how you’re doing!

2014 Week 2

It is now mid September.  I am moved, in and mostly unpacked.  Or at least, there is room to move around! LOL!  I still have much to sort and organize.  However, it is time to be working on my own version of a countdown. I would dearly love to participate with “The Grand Plan” (email group), but I know I just can’t handle the volume of email that involves.   I’d love to at least have a “byddt: that would work along with me and we could support and encourage each other.  But alas .. no one in my world is in the least interested.  So, I will slog along the best I can.

Here is a quick overview of my own plan:

Week 1 .. continue unpacking in my room.

Week 2 .. (current) .. take care of business dealing with change of residency, banking, etc.

..and continue working on my room

Week 3 .. eye doctor appointment and continue working on my room

Week 4 .. clean out front hall and closet; put up Halloween decorations

Week 5 .. clean and organize pantry; class reunion

Week 6 .. clean and organize linen closet

Week 7 .. plan and do prep for Halloween party;  complete any areas tackled so far if not done

Week 8 .. final prep and cleaning; Halloween party

Week 9 .. pack away Halloween decorations (leave up fall); work on organizing my closets

Week 10 .. begin sorting Christmas decorations

Week 11 .. pack up all fall and other decorations; Meadow Lights and Christmas parade on weekend

Week 12 .. give whole house once over deep cleaning; Thanksgiving (where we will be not yet determined); begin decorating on weekend

Week 13 .. complete decorating; begin baking

Weeks 14, 15, 16 .. enjoy the Christmas season!

This apartment is very small; and so is my budget.  Things will be drastically different this year, but I will do the best I can to make the most of what is.

Half year Update

I haven’t updated in a long time.  This has not been the best year in terms of my decorating.  So, a quick update in case anyone checks this that isn’t aware of what is going on in my life:

My husband was on hospice from July 2013 until he passed away in March 2014.  While I had a degree of help from family and from hospice, I was primary care giver .. and that didn’t leave me much time or energy for much decorating.  I changed out candle colors, but not a lot more.

At the same time, I have been losing my vision.  I am now legally blind, so a lot of things are much more difficult than they once were.  One thing that particularly gives me trouble in decorating is I have a hard time distinguishing a lot of colors.

Anyway, things will be changing dramatically.  In August I am moving to an apartment in “the big city” which I will share with a niece.  There won’t be nearly as much room for decorating (any holiday) as here .. but hopefully with less stress I can get back to making things as pretty as I can. 

I won’t have space for the full size white tree that has stayed up for years now .. that makes me a little sad.   But fortunately, my niece feels like it wouldn’t even look like “my” home with no tree .. so we’re both OK with a table top tree that I can change out with the seasons.  And I think she will be amazed at how many trees (not all 30 of course) I can fit into the apartment at Christmas, without blocking anything.  I am looking forward to that challenge!

Since I’m in the middle of sorting, purging, and packing, not a lot is getting done this summer.  I do have blue candles on the mantle.  I will hang my patriotic wreath by the entrance door for most of the month.  (during times I’m not home I will hang it on the street facing door that we don’t use). 

One of the things I have maintained up to now was keeping my dining table pretty.  Unfortunately, I’ve sold it (won’t need or have room in the apartment, niece has a dinette set).  Once I move I will get back to a pretty table. 

I won’t have room for my vast collection of dishes and glassware.  Some will go into storage; and some will get sold.  But I will be keeping enough to use as well as be pretty. 

I know, not much of an update.  But best I can do with all that’s been going on this year.  Hopefully all will soon be settled and I can again focus on Christmas.

I forgot to take a picture of my "green table", but felt the need to change it up to something "happy and sunshiny".

End of January 2014

It is the end of January, and I’m close enough “on track” to be satisfied.  About 95% of Christmas is neatly packed away.  I didn’t ack as organized this year; but considering (1) it’s very difficult to see what I’m doing and (2) I had absolutely NO help this year, I’m very pleased with my progress.

The main “goal” for January was to get the attic clean before taking Christmas up .. and that got done!  I did have hired help for half a day with that, but oh so worth it.  Not only did she help me go through piles of random stuff that had been just shoved up there, but she also took away all of the bagged trash as well as a lot of items to be donated.

Once the last of the Christmas stuff (meaning one last tree, and a few boxes that need to be “in front”) is properly stowed away, I’ll be able to go in and out easily, access all of the rest of the seasonal decorations, and even have a cleared off wrapping station  OK, I don’t exactly *need* the wrapping station .. but who knows, I *might* want to wrap a gift at some point! LOL!

As a last minute decision, I changed out the dining room table.  Several weeks ago I had put away the Christmas china, and used my “good” china instead.  Today I removed the festive gold tableecloth, the gold chargers,  and the fancy wine goblets.  I put all of the silver pieces on a shelf (recently emptied by culling out books).  I  used a pretty vintage tablecloth with a gray background.  I put the dishes back, but instead of the wine goblets I used some thumbprint water goblets.  I bunched a lot of white and silver candles in the center; and I will go back and put the silver S&Ps back on the table.  Ta DA! J

The only thing I planned for February is Valentine decorating  and getting a mini-vacation.  I think I might succeed! J

A new year, a new start

I did not do nearly as well as I had hoped and planned for 2013.  But, it could have been worse.
The up side: early on (late summer) I got a very good start on deep cleaning most of the house, and a lot of serious purging.  I did have decorations up.  Everyone that matters to me got Christmas gifts.  We had a lot of good family time, but in a way that didn't overwhelm DH.

It is now January 2014.  The decorations are mostly still up .. partly because I just like them.  Partly because I haven't gotten the upstairs cleaned enough to put things up.  I have help coming to do that.

There are many things completely out of my control, so my challenge for this year is to find ways to accomplish what I need within the limits of DH's health and my failing vision.  One thing that will be important for me to remember is not to let myself get overwhelmed.  Don't plan too much, don't epect too much.  And be happy with whatever I manage to accomplish.

I do have a vaguely defined goal:  
January - clean attic, put up Christmas
February - put up Valentines, get a break
March - put up St. Pats, front bedroom and hall
April - put up Easter, clean back hall and den
May - put up spring, clean porch
June - put up summer, clean guest room and bathroom
July -  ut up patriotic, clean my room
August - put up late summer, clean living and dining rooms
September - put up fall, clean kitchen
October - put up Halloween, whole house once-over
November - put up Thanksgiving, begin Christmas 

Of course, there's not telling how well I'll be able to stick to this; but I'll try anyway.  

For now, my white tree  (that stays up all year) is now *winter*.

Final Countdown Week 2013

It is now just under one week to Christmas Day.  I am not where I wanted to be now; but considering all the unexpected circumstances I’ve been dealing with, it’s not too bad. 

I am happy that I got started early with going through the house room by room.  While there will always been more purging to do (especially with losing my vision – not much point in keeping a lot of things, such as books).

I did not get as much done as in previous years; but considering that the more problems I encountered, the less help I got from the ones I had most counted on .. it’s not too bad after all. 

My biggest problem at this point is with shopping.  I did not “plan ahead” to not be able to leave the house, or to not be able to drive.  For that matter, shopping is no longer fun when I can’t see things; and shopping on line just isn’t possible at all.  I used to prefer waiting; but clearly my priorities in that regard have to change.

Also, in the past I started just after Halloween to get decorating done.  This year I waited until after Thanksgiving since I had a big crowd here for that.  Since I did less .. and since I’ve had extremely limited chances to do “holiday things”, it’s worked out OK.  I’d like to think for next year I’ll go back to decorating early.

The truth is, I have no clue what will be my situation by next year.  I hope I will still be here in this house I love.  And I hope DH will still be here with me.  But in truth the only thing I can pretty much count on is that my vision will not be improved (and will most likely be a lot worse).

That being said, I need to revise my whole plan and start in January.  My original plan was a room a month, and I need to go back to that. 

This year there will be no piles of pretty packages.  There will be no big Christmas dinner.  I expect (I hope)  our grandsons will come by sometime in the evening; but that depends on what time they get to their dad’s house (might be too late to come here).  In the end, it will most likely be just another day here.  But it will be one with pretty lights anyway. J

Early December Update

I am very happy to report that while I won't have anywhere near as much as past years, I will have Christmas decorations.  I see very little hope of anything in the yard.  But a friend came over for a few hours yesterday to help me inside.
I had managed to get all of the fall decorations packed and upstairs; and I brought down the boxes of linens and had those in place.  She helped me bring down 7 bigger trees (4 and 5 feet), plus a few smaller ones.  Two of them need lights replaced (on half the tree), but that's not bad all things considered! LOL!

Today I have the rare opportunity to get away for a whole day!  It was supposed to be for a parade (with my DGD in marching band); but it's pouring rain and the temp is dropping rapidly .. so the chances seem very strong that the parade will be cancelled or postponed.  Since care for DH has been arranged, I still get the day with my DIL. :)
Tomorrow I hope (rested and refreshed) to begin "filling in".  Oh, nearly forgot, the friend also helped me unpack and *place*  a box of Nativities.  I still hope to bring down some of the nutcrackers and some of the snowmen.  And I may also bring down a few Santas  It's going to depend on how DH is doing (how much of my time is spent caring for him ... he has good days and bad days, and no way to plan ahead for that).  Except for the trees that were never undecorated, they are "naked" .. and may stay that way.  I can't see well enough to really do much about decorating them.  And since what I mostly see are the lights, I'm quite happy with them just having lights! LOL!

I will post pictures when I get a chance.

End of November

It is now past Thanksgiving, and the end of November.  And for the first time in many years, not the first thing has been done for Christmas decorating.  In fact, I haven't even acked away fall yet.

There will most likely be nothing at all outside, as there's no way for me to do that (DH cannot be left alone, or at least I must be within hearing of him).  I just don't think I have either the energy or the ambition to do much inside.  

But at least my hosue is (relatively) clean, and I'm much closer to being organized than ever before.  So that part of my lan, at least, is a success.

Hopefully over this coming week I will find a bit of "spirit" and get things done.  And next weekend I *might* get to go to a Christmas parade (that my DGD15 will be in with her school marching band).

I can do no shopping any more - it loses it's draw for me when I just can't see much.

I can't do the outside stuff at all this year, since I must be at least within hearing of DH at all times.  And many people, instead of offering to help, tell me it's not important.  The fact that they are so unconcerned with the fact that it matters very much to me is very depressing.  So I guess they're right.

At least Thanksgiving was a success.  The house was clean and nicely decorated.  There was plenty of food for the 20 eople who were here.  I believe everyone, even DH, enjoyed the day.

3rd Week of November

I know my posting on this blog has become very eratic, even though I started it (this year at least) with the best of intentions.  Seems my life is too unpredictable these days.  I just muddle along the best I can.

However, despite my getting "off" my own Plan, things have come together fairly well.  I have given some degree of attention to every room, and a bit more to the areas most in need.  There is no room in my house I'd be embarrassed for anyone to walk into (although the back bathroom is "iffy", but that's because that's where the litter boxes are! LOL!).

I have sent many many boxes of "stuff" out the door to be donated somewhere.  I've forced myself to part with an awful lot of books -= and have more to go - because my vision has gotten so bad I can't read them.  There will be some I'll keep, in hopes that someday there will be such a thing as a person who actually has time to sit down and visit with me, and go through  (or just read aloud) some of them.  Same thing goes for notebooks.  I seem to collect them!!  I sent an entire box full .. at least 15 ... out the door.  I kept 4 or 5 big fat ones, in hopes of either getting someone to go through them with me, or being able to pass them on to someone who will appreciate them.

I also took on purging a huge amount of paperwork.  When I had sorted it down to about a quarter of what I once had (and hope I didn't throw out anything that was actually important), I had a niece help by going through what was left.  That pile is now about a quarter of what it was - much more manageable!  All of that purging allowed me to clean and organize the storage system in the closet behind my desk.  And, I no longer have piles of papers and other *stuff* on the floor!  

The outside of the house is a different story.  There are still dead plants on the porch.  The door that fell off it's one hinge (bathroom linen closet) is still on the porch.  One "bookshelf" (actually, the top section of a china hutch) that I completely emptied is on the porch.  My Halloween cat and pumpkin are still there.  Because my husband can't be left alone (I don't even like to be out of range of hearing him), I can't take those things to the barn and no longer have "help" with anything.

Today, I'm "cheating".  I'm hiring a housekeeper, just for the one day.  She will clean everything front front hall to back hall (and I will do those areas myself) and she will do an excellent job.  Then I will only have to keep up with manntenance ... I have company coming Saturday night, then a fair sized crowd (14) coming for Thanksgiving.  And then it will be time to start decorating!!

This is the first year in many years that I have waited until Thanksgiving to start Christmas but it's a very unusual year for me.  With DH's declining health plus dementia, and my own failing vision, things have gotten both more complicated and less so at the same time.  I can never go anywhere, so most of the time it's just me here .. no reason for the house to not stay clean once I do it.  But until at least January, I have to refrain from finding some other areas to purge and organize!

2nd Week November 2013

I've completely lost track of what week number it is, but it doesn't really matter.  The end result is what counts, right? )

I've actually worked, to some degree, in every room.  Some more than others; but I've not just ignored any room (as I've ended up doing in past rotations).  This week I'm mainly back in my computer room.  With my failing vision, I realize there are an awful lot of things in here there's no need to hang on to (like years worth of HGP notebooks! LOL!).    I have some nice heavy cardboard boxes that I plan (depending on weather of course) to spray paint silver and gold .. that will add bling to the open shelving and I will store the junk I just can't let go of yet.  It's all about *containing* the mess now.   
I am trying hardd to *maintain* what I've done.  The kitchen, of course, is hardest; but since I cook less and less, it's getting easier! LOL!  
Each morning I do a quick walk-through and look for anything out of place.  Some days I really don't feel like bothering, but if I push myself to keep the "public" rooms neat, it really does become a habit!

My sewing project is not likely to get done, which is a big disappointment.  But, I absolutely cannot see well enough to thread bobbins (I can wind them, but can't get the thread started on them) or to thread the machine.  I've been trying for weeks, but the closest I've come to getting "help" is someone suggested I get the nosey little girls next door to help.

It also appears I won't be getting the help I usually get with  my decorations.  The inside stuff will have to be scaled back due to DH's needs (wheelchair, clear pathways, etc).  I don't know if there will be anything outside or not.

OK, for now I am going to concentrate on Thanksgiving.  At least 4 people I was hoping would be here are not coming.  But we still should have about 15 or 16 of us, which is a fair sized crowd for this house (the house itself isn't "small" .. but most of the rooms are!).  So I'm concentrating on having the house clean and as neat as possible, and planning menu.    
I have some fun events coming up in the next few weeks also.  Next weekend we're having a visit from nieces we haven't seen in a very long time.  I'm totally looking forward to that!  The weekend after that is (1) oppening of the local annual light show and candy store (a tradition to go see the lights!) and (2) a friend and some of her family will be coming to supper and going to the lights.  Usually I go, but this year I'll stay home with DH because (3) it will be our 34th anniversary.  
My goodness!!  My ready-for-Thanksgiving  got moved up a week and a half! :)

November Table

November 2013

OK, I admit, I've completely lost track of my weekly count. However, it's the end result that counts, right? :)

It's still a few weeks until Thanksgiving, and I've at least touched on every room. 
So, I thought it would be good to do a room by room review of what's been done and what I'd still like to get done.

I started with the bedroom.  I actually managed to do more decluttering than I expected; but mostly I rearranged things.  As DH's condition changes, I make changes in the room to accomodate.  My most recent change was to put the electric wheelchair in there, sort of in a corner.  In a pinch it can be extra seating for someone visiting him.  Mostly it's in a no longer used corner and out of the way.   I got the windows and curtains cleaned.  I'm trying to keep up with routine dusting and vacuuming, which is a challenge because he spends a great deal of his time in bed now.

Next was the front hall.  In addition to a good cleaning, I purged the closets, and reorganized the shelves that hold supplies.  I plan to tackle the linen closet once more, hopefully this weekend.  I'm still working on getting my (huge) stock of decorative candles in a location that's easy to access.  I've also worked on making the hall easier to get his wheelchair through.

The hardest room to tackle was the guest room.  Since we never actually have guests - at least no overnight ones - it tended to be the junk room.  I worked very hard at getting all of the "extra stuff not just out of the room, but to find an actual home for it all.  Some of it went into donation boxes!  While I didn't do it all in the same week, I did go back and tackle a few other things.  I made more room on one large shelf unit by disposing of out of date supplies.  I cleaned out the closet.  And I cleaned out the drawers in 2 large dressers.  I moved furniture around (by getting rid of the big useless file cabinet), so the doll house has a pplace to be.  (I'd still like to sell it - but until I do, Butter has adopted one of the rooms as his own!)    Because I moved the electric wheelchair out, I had room to put a nice chair in, which also made the living room less cluttered.  I have a small octagonal table that was in the living room, but "tight".  I moved it to the guest room, which has now become a pretty little sitting room.

I never gave the front bathroom as good a cleaning as I meant to do.  But all of the cabinets and closets got purged and organized.  I also cleaned the window and changed out the curtain.  Since I clean it regularly, I'm reasonably content with that for now.

My room was also difficult to tackle.  There is a huge amount of *stuff* that needs to be gone through.  My vision has gotten so bad that it's getting more and more difficult to sort things.  It's also getting ridiculous how much *stuff* I hold on to when I know I'll never be able to use it. However, I have made progress.  There is less stuff cluttering up the floor now.  The sewing table is mostly cleared off (ready to try to sew if I ever get any help with threading bobbins and the machine).  
The room will probably always be a "work-in-progress".

I had to mostly skip the porch week.  (that's where my whole plan started to fall apart).  We've had very few nice days for working on it.  I did get a few plants inside before the cold snap.  And, my stepson got all of the cardboard that had accumulated off 2 weeks ago by burning it on one of the rare pretty days we had.  Of course, it's piled up again because when the boys put trash in the truck on Sunday afternoon, they keep skipping the cardboard. (It WILL go tomorrow!)
In theory sometime over the next couple of weeks a girlfriend is going to come help me get started on the outside Christmas decorating.  I've decided to scale way back this year.  Partly because any help I get is unreliable and eratic at best.  Also because I now have a family living next door with kids who play outside a lot.  They've pretty much taken over the center yard between our houses, so I won't try to put anything there.  And since they play soccer, the ball occasionally strays into my yard .. so I need to be careful how I put things up here too.  And - I just don't have the heart for it I've had in the past.

The back hall and laundry room were originally planned as 2 areas, but I did them all at once.  I still need to do a good cleaning; but they got a good purging and organizing done.  It's now much easier to go through the hall and to the back bathroom (which is where the litter boxes are, and where I store cat food).  This becomes more and more important as my vision fails!  

The living and dining rooms should have been next.  I am tackling one bookshelf at a time; but other than that, there's not really any purging needed.  Well, not a lot anyway, and what there is will wait and be a winter project.  I keeppp those rooms "company ready" as much as possible. I did get all of the "Halloween" items packed, only leaving out fall decorations.  The table is reset for November.

The den wasn't on my "Plan" for a few weeks, but I went on and tackled it.  Mostly all I did was rearrange furniture; but the end result is that the rooms looks much bigger and open.  Since I sleep in there, it was important to me to have as few obstacles as possible.  There's a lot of purging needed, but that's going to have to wait until winter.  I don't want any more boxes of stuff piling up at this point.

The only room left is the kitchen.  My friend has helped me purge and organize the refrigerator, the freezer, and 3 pantry cabinets.  There is one more cabinet to tackle.  All of the "dish cabinets" were done last year when I had help, and I have managed to keep them neat.  There are really only a few "hot spots" in the kitchen to tackle.

My revised goal at this point is to 
(1) continue to purge bookshelves
(2) have DSS take the 55 gallon aquarium and a large a/c unit out of the den so I can do a final room rearranging.
(3) get dead or dormant plants off porch
(4) get outside Christmas decorations in place (lights go on Thanksgiving night)
(5) begin packing up pictures and other non-fall stuff so that after Thanksgiving I'll be ready to decorate.
(6) get one last cabinet in the kitchen cleaned out
(7) give the whole house a thorough top-to-bottom cleaning
(8)IF I get the help I need, work like mad on my sewing project!

Week 7, October 2013

I'm late posting, and getting myself a bit confused.  Last week was supposed to be porch week; but it has rained and/or drizzled, been cloudy and cold, for over a week now.  I did get the rest of my fall and Halloween decorations out of the barn, but nothing else on the porch.  
Since I couldn't do that, I made a head start on this week, which is my back hall.  
The back hall area includes the back door (rarely used except to go out to feed the cats), coat closet, bathroom (small and awkward, mostly used for storage and the cat's litter boxes) and laundry room.  I actually had the laundry room for a separate week, but I don't think I will do that.  
I went through the back hall area, and did a really good job of decluttering and organizing.  All I really need to do now is a good ("ordinary") cleaning.
I've been tackling random areas when the mood strikes.  I've cleaned out about half of the dresser drawers in the guest room.  Unfortunately, tht means more boxes of donation stuff sitting around!  But, I'll be able to ditch those later.
I've also been randomly cleaning bookshelves.  Well, actually, there was a sort of logic.  I found some pictures tucked away in the dresser drawers.  I decided I wante dthem out, not hidden away.  So I started trying to see what other shelves I could change around.  The biggest thing I need to do is cull more books.  It's the hardest thing for me to give up books; but the sad fact is, I can no longer read them.  

I did squeeze in a craft project.  This was my interpretation of one I saw on TV.  ("saw"?? LOL!  listened to anyway).  I took a bunch of fake mini pumpkins and gourds, smeared some Elmers on, and sprinkled/rolled in super-fine gold glitter.  Very pretty blingy fall accent. The original project was for candle holders (tea lights).  But since I collect glass candle holders, that seemed "overkill".  So instead I've tucked them into various places, like the dining room table, a bowl of leaves in the kitchen counter, etc.
I'll try to get some more pictures posted soon.

Week 6 October 2013

I want to start with a quick "wrap up" of the first five weeks:
Week 1, bedroom .. done, and has been maintained.
Week 2, front hall, done, more done in combination with other areas, and maintained.
Week 3, bathroom, cabinets and closets done; general wash down of window and walls not yet done.
Week 4, guest room,  done but for some minor items.
Week 5, my room, most of decluttering done but still needs a bit more in desk and sewing area, plus general cleaning.

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I am now to Week 6 on my Plan.  This week is for the porch.  The timing is very deliberate: by early October, the weather is (or should be) more condusive to outside stuff.  It's time to turn off the sprinkler systems, and cull out the few plants that I will winter inside (although they don't actually have to be brought in yet).  It's time to get my few Halloween porch decorations (big lighted black cat and lighted grapevine pumpkin) out of the barn.  I will also change out my dining room table - the rest of the few Halloween decorations I use are placed now.

Rain is expected for Monday and maybe Tuesday, and then this hot spell should be over.  So until I can realistically do the porch work, I will work on finishing the items left from the last few weeks.
I'm also behind on the sewing project.  I'm going to have to get someone to help me with bobbins before I can continue that.

Still, all in all, I'm not so far off the Plan.  Even where I haven't finished, each room has been worked in to some degree.  A huge amount of decluttering has been done.

Next week is "back hall" (again, because of hopefully cooler weather since there's no a/c or heat back there). I've got a bit of a head start on that also.

I think I will manage to have the whole house reasonably clean and decluttered by the time my Plan calls for decorating.  I hope I'm going to be able to recruit some volunteers to help with that - if not, it will be a sad Christmas for me; but I can no longer do it all alone.  But that's a worry for another day. :)

Week 5 September/October 2013

Today starts a new week.  According to my schedule, this week is for tackling my room.  "My" room is where I have my computer, my sewing machines and fabric, my TV (that I currently can't watch due to wonky remotes), and a lot of general "stuff".  I've purged this room off and on over and over; and it's going to be a lot harder this time with the poor vision issue thrown in.  However, I have not yet finished the guest room from last week.  I've made significant progress at least.  
I have a huge file cabinet I'm ready to get rid of; I'm hoping DSS will take it off for scrap metal.  That leaves me with 2 large totes full of stuff to be sorted; but that project may well have to wait.  I did manage to find a place to put both a table that was in the way and the huge dollhouse.
It's quite tempting to just stop and start on my room; and then catch up both rooms when I get to "Living Room" week.  But I don't want to leave anything unfinished, so I'll keep working on the guest room and try to work on my room as well. I hope making clear progress will be my motivation to keep going! LOL!
I'm Way behind on my sewing.  I admit, that's partly because I know I'm on my last bobbin again.  If I could get someone to help me get a pile of bobbins threaded again, and the machine threaded, I could make better progress there.  
I'm not doing as well as I had hoped.  But considering all the circumstances, I guess it will have to do!

Week 4, September 2013

I know I'm late posting this.  My morning schedule has been changed and I'm now having a hard time getting things done.

I admit, I never finished the bathroom; but I did get the closets and cabinets done.  The rest I can add in little at a time.  It's big for a bathroom, but still a small room and only one small window.

This week is the Guest Room.  It's a disaster, and I can hardly wrap my mind around working on it.  But, it must be done.  I did make a tiny bit of progress in there over the weekend.  A few larger items were passed on to new homes.  I hope sometime today to take several boxes of donation stuff to the car.  If I can get it that far, I have a better chance of getting it to the proper donation site.  Eventually!  I still have some large items to deal with.  I have a huge doll house that I plan to try to sell (Craig's List).  I was so excited when I found it at a flea market - I've always wanted one.  But I find my vision is much too poor to be able to enjoy it.  I can't even see well enough to use the wallpapers I got for it.  And, having said that - if I could find a place I'd still keep it.  There's a huge file cabinet in one corner.  I'm not even sure what's in it, but I eel like it's things that can be either gotten rid of or at least just stored in boxes.  Theres no place to put it where it's actually useful - and it's ugly!!  I'd really like to just get rid of it.  I *think* if I move that out, and rearrange some storage boxes, I can put a table in that corner (that is currently also in the way).  And the doll house could sit on the table.

Before I can get to that, I lot has to be done.  There are 2 plastic drawer cabinets that need better homes.  There are some out-of-date supply boxes that I need to get rid of; and that would free up mor shelf space.

I have to go in the room and work around the perimeter, deciding what has to go - and where.  What a challenge!  

I made progress on the sewing project over the weekend; but I fear I'm soon to another stopping point.  I'm nearly out of bobbins again.

Since I didn't finish and post on Monday, I'm adding to this on Tuesday morning.  I got a bit more done in the guest room.  I pulled out all the donation stuff and put by the dining room door - today I will put it in the car.  There was some empty space in the top of the closet, so I rearranged some things to make better use of that space.  I ended up getting all the junk off the sofa, which was a good accomplishment.  I'm pretty much down to having to move bigger things.  

I will try to post a progress report later in the week.  

Week 3, Midway

There have been a few things going on (as usual) to interfere with my plans.  But all things considered, I'm not doing too bad.  
This week is the front bathroom.  I have cleaned out the linen closet, the shelf in my closet, the under sink cabinets, and a big wall cabinet.  I may re-address the bottom of the linen closet; but other than that, it's just down to a good basic deep clean.  I have 3 days of the week left to get that done, so hopefully I will.
I'm not doing as well as I hoped with keeping up my routine cleaning.  But at least the house is decocrated nicely, and it's not cluttered (except for the trash that always seems to be piled up near the door).  I really hope to get vacuuming done today; but I won't be embarrassed if anyone wer to drop in unexpected.
On the sewing, it's going much slower than I hoped.  That is mostly because of my vision.  It's so hard to do it that I put it off (even though it actually doesn't take very long once I settle down to it!).  I have at least continued with pinning when I have a chance.  I will probably end up next month rushing to get the sewing projects done.  But as long as I finish by  the end of November I'll be OK.