Brrrrrrrrrr!

Bi

Bird watching and napping, happening here! Not much else. Going to dinner tonight with girl friends, Indian cuisine . Or I would not be going out!!!

Clutter

So I am doing it! I did the bedroom closet today ( mine). Last summer I got rid of a ton of clothing. This is round 2 I did the reading on 33 pieces of clothing in a capsule. One for every 3 months 333! I think I've got it! This is a big deal. Mind you I live in Indiana we truly have 4 seasons. And yes sometimes in the same day! I also live on a farm with livestock, I garden, paint, and I also own a vintage shop. Sometimes I teach preschool. That's a lot of very different hats. Don't get me wrong I love all those hats. I am just trying not to have a full wardrobe for each one. No matter jeans I wear on the farm are not so great for a boutique ! So after doing some reading on the subject I put down my iPad and went to work. Very quickly I made 2 piles as I pulled out each piece of clothing I didn't pull out what I wanted to keep. One pile for maybe and 1 pile get rid of. I packed up the maybe to the basement in Rubbermaid 1 large bin. Then the rest to go! I got a little rolling cart for my folded jeans. To tuck into my closet. I hung up all scarves/ belts on door. Some dresses I put in my husbands closet. To long for mine. My large dresser houses my socks, and under clothes, pjs, leggings , tshirts shorts ect. It's nearly empty . I can clearly see everything in it. I still have outer ware to deal with a little more. I took a lot to good will before Christmas . Laundry should be easier now too. Easy to put away my least favorite part. I did get rid of some shoes too. I put the Rubbermaid so I can easily get to it if I need to. Well time to go feed the horses! That's my progress report for now!

 

Happy new year to you!

A rare horse bird was visiting the bird feeders this morning!

January

So much happening! I'll try to break it down. 

Shop: had my last sale and it worked out pretty good. We are in the hunt at this time for a good contractor for the remodel . 

Stuff: I'm still getting rid of another car load is ready to go. And I cleaned out fridge/ and pantry 37 cook books down to 7! Re arranged my tea items put them all together instead of different cupboards ect . 

Goals spend more time with friends 

Had an evening with these awesome gals.

Travel : took a trip to SC to see a special young friend who has moved there.it was so nice to see her new life she had created. And Beaufort /Charleston area is really lovely never mind the drive we out ran winter storm Jonas !

So it was an trip to remember my traveling companion ( my bestie) Kim was suffering through a cold, but we survived nicley by basically eating everything we could. The food was spectacular . The history tour / historic home tours all top notch a great walkable city then on the way out to home we stopped to see the Angel tree. If you ever get the chance it's very worth it. So that's it in a nut shell can't believe January is almost gone I feel I spent it very well! I hope I can say the same for February !

Just too much!

Every closet, every drawer, every under the bed, every shelf! Full! Every basement, garage, barn, out building full! I'm just so sick of myself! I've lived here over 20 years now. And those special Christmas dishes I just bought, that's right no place to put them. So this is the year! Do I say that every year? Time to strike while the feeling is fresh! 

I've read countless blogs, magazines ( remember those) books, articles, whole tv shows! Devoted to clearing clutter! I am very good at this. Now I need to clear the clutter from where you can't see it too. It's true it's very very very overwhelming. That could be my word for 2016! Overwhelmingly overwhelmed with too much stuff! Can't really have a barn sale in January in Indiana. ( partly because the barn is full too). But it is going .... To friends, daughters, goodwill, Salvation Army, ex husband, neighbors, people on the street! But it is going. The shop is closed Jan feb March. There will be major renovation going on there. Like tearing out the floor. So I can't even take stuff there to sell. So it's going! I am going to start today I have filled my car and it's going to be dropped off today!even my trunk is full of magazines I was supposed to take to Salvation Army 2 years ago! Get going Sharon! If any of you have ideas please share! 

This Christmas gift to myself..... 20 years ago

A long time ago when I was a very young woman we lived in Germany. Actually west Germany that was before the wall came down and unification. It was a magical time. My husband was in the army. We traveled when we could to lots of towns one was was waechtersbach west Germany we went to the ceramic company in that town. Very famous beautiful pottery/ceramics. Especially Christmas ware. I believe they did new patterns every year but the same trade mark colors ect. I loved the simple pattern but we lived very modestly. And could not even afford a mug. 

Fast forward many many years. Ok 30 years. And as I was doing my Christmas shopping I stopped into a vintage shop and yes, there they were. My beautiful Christmas dishes. We'll sort of. Several mugs and cups and saucers. And a few desert plates. And a few with my special pattern. Of 30 years ago. I turned them over to be sure and yes some said w Germany I was skipping inside. Because this time I could afford them! Also I found a nice set of vintage Christmas drinking glasses. Paired with a few white ironstone plates from my shop and I was able to set a Christmas brunch table as well as a small dinner for friends and Christmas dinner with our grown up kids. I wish I had taken some table picture s several were candle light. So see we are never to old to enjoy a Christmas gift. Truly I couldn't think of a thing I wanted or needed for Christmas. It was a total surprise. Finding the dishes. It was even a little more fun for myself setting the table at different meals, I had prepared for family and friends. Making new memories from older ones. Never to late to take care of your younger self either! I hope all of you reading this have a beautiful new year! Enjoy the pictures of the farm too.

Fall / thanksgiving

So I don't know if things will ever slow down or not... But today they are. I am intentionally taking a break day. I've been enjoying my blog reading today. Catching up on what everyone is doing and how folks are decorating for this years holidays. We had family in for thanksgiving and it was a blessing in itself. Spread over a few days. So nice to see how our family is growing. The weather in this part of Indiana has been mild so far. The grass is still green. I have hay put up in the barn for the start of winter. Still a few things to do outside.... Isn't there always. I did Finnish the outside of the guest area , with board n batten. So here are a few shots of the holiday table and the porch. Very easy very simple. The shop is going very well. On one hand I will miss everyone after our closing on the other it will be nice to have a few weekends with just will. Then the renovations will start in ernest it will be a huge thing to Finnish one of our projects for ourselves. Enjoy the pictures in no particular order!