Okay, so it's nice outside

And I decided that decluttering my life needs to include the yard work. Which I absolutely hate. With a PASSION. But I figured that working outside anywhere from 1 to 2 hours a day could be done, as long as I balance that with working inside. The key word there is BALANCE. Something that I think some people are born with. Unfortunately, I'm NOT one of those blessed people. So, today I took my first step. I had Bob make sure the wheelbarrel's wheels had air in them (since they have a very slow link, and after 3-4 years, I just have him check it about once a week). Then after Will finished his learning work, we put on our gloves and went outside to tackle the chaos that constitutes my yard. The yard is overflowing with ivy, honeysuckle, and holly bushes. Not to mention the limbs that fall off all the trees everytime it rains or the wind blows and ALL THOSE DARN LEAVES and pinecones (EEEVIL pinecones!). So we went out and I started tackling those holly bushes in the side yard. They are quite close to the house and had to be taken down before I can get to the ivy. If I don't, OUCHY! I'm afraid I filled up the dump area of the yard with all of the limbs off of 5 bushes. Heck, let me be honest. They were no longer bushes, but trees! One was up to the 2nd floor window! (Maybe they've been neglected too long?) While I was doing that, Will was also working up a sweat raking leaves (which he enjoys). It only took 1 hour to get the bushes (trees) cut down, and by then Will was tired too. Even though it doesn't look like I've done a whole lot, but it sure FEELS like it! My arms are like jello, only shaky more than normal! Guess this also counts as exercise? Maybe if I can keep up with the work (only a little bit each day--it didn't get to look like this overnight--and neither did I!), I'll double benefit: Decluttered and Clean House, Decluttered and Clean Yard, and a decluttered and looking good me!

First Posting

Ever wonder about those insanely organized people? Well, I'm not one of them. It seems the more I try to become organized, the less I can find! But I'm managing. I came up with a wonderful idea and Bob has gone along with me. I've decided to "declutter" my life--and I started with the master bedroom. We moved into the room about 1-1/2 years ago after my dad moved to Florida. I've been looking at the walls, and the room, that my Mom painted and set up. Well, after 1-1/2 years, I decided to change everything. Well, except for the furniture. I couldn't even re-arrange the furniture because there are only 2 walls that the bed fits on, and one of them has the AC/heater vent. So, I did the next best thing. I repainted the room.

Before pictures of the room. Excuse the pictures. They are blurry, and I didn't check them first. Teaches me a lesson! And since I've already painted the bedroom, I can't go and retake them!

The quilt that inspired the room. It was made by my mom in late spring of 2004, after she finished radiation treatment for her lungs and before she started on radiation for the cancer that spread to her brain. She made all of the blocks and cut out the border. I took it last month to a local quilt shop and had them attach the 3 border pieces, and quilt it. Since I can't actually sew a straight line, I was too afraid of messing it up, and it is very important to us.

And finally, pictures of the room now:

The top picture was with the first set of curtains that we picked out: a bright fushia. After 3 days, I couldn't take it any more and exchanged them for the lighter pink. I also bought some new lamps (on clearance: $30 for both! 50% off) that have 4 different shades of pink FRINGE on them. They look really good because they tie on all 4 colors from the quilt and the existing rose color carpet.