Washing pillows: 201/365

     Again, I’m not getting rid of stuff. Lately this blog has become about organizing stuff. Oh, well, I figure that anyone who want to purge always wants to organize.

     The other day, in all earnestness, the salesman at the local mattress store told me, “Of course, you know that we should get rid of our pillows every two years.”

      “Even my favorites from childhood?” I responded.

     Wow, that feels like one of the worst should of life. I’m not even close. But the man has a point, a really good one. So, I have taken on the project of washing all the bed pillows in the house. Here’s how it goes:

1) Put pillowslip protector on the pillow

2) Wash two at a time--balances the machine; use very little detergent; press the two-rinse button

3) Add three tennis balls to the dryer and dry away; fluff pillows a few times; air dry if needed.

     I use the same procedure with all kinds of pillows, from down to very cheap.

     Hum, throwing away pillows isn’t very GREEN. But neither is all that water and energy that my machines use. 

Thanksgiving hiatus: 200/265

    How pathetic that on this 200^th day of letting go of stuff, I am reporting a Thanksgiving hiatus.

     We don’t seem to be letting go of anything this Thanksgiving week. In fact, I made my semi-annual trip to the outlets to refresh my wardrobe, although I plan to get rid of the same number of item in my closet.

    I do want to share, however, how excited we are about using a U-haul, something that might be of use if we ever decide to move from our home. Jim drove the smallest truck-size U-Haul to help our friend move things from her home in Vermont to our area. Packing it may be more of a challenge than driving it.

Summer furniture out, winter in: 199/365

Summer furniture out, winter in. We’re not really getting rid of anything, but this is clearing up and clearing out that has to be done. Twice a year I switch from blue stripped summer to light forest green for winter. Patio furniture and cushions are stored away in the barn. We feel like bears ready for hibernation. 

All that remains of Camp Fisher is the flag. 

Stuff to recycle: 198/365

The good news is that at the fair on Saturday neither of us bought anything to add to our stuff. My purchases were consumables. I got a great deal on Christmas wrapping paper, and bought a pie for Thanksgiving. I already told you about the puzzle, which will be recycled next year.

    AND, I didn’t buy any jewelry! Actually I never planned to, but I must tell you that there are many women just don’t have enough. They were lined up ready to enter when the doors opened at 9, and in they rushed, knowing where to go, never even glancing at the bake table. I am told a similar line formed at the door leading to the white elephants. Evidently 12 Shoppes of Christmas at MCC has a reputation.

Oh, dear, accumulating puzzles. 197/365

Yesterday I did some more tidying in the front room. My plan had been to get rid of many books, but I just couldn’t do it….yet. The good news is that the room is becoming livable. The bad news is that in helping organize books and puzzles for the church fair, I came home with ten new puzzles, which I’ve already put on the shelf, each one waiting to be selected as my next challenge. That won’t be until after Christmas, when hopefully I will have finish the 2000 piece dog puzzle I’m working on now. 

More stuff and tidying up: 196/365

More stuff is now out of the front room and what I want to keep is neatly stored on the shelves. Sometimes tidying up is more satisfying that throwing things away.

    What I couldn’t get rid of are my mother’s papers, files and childhood dictionary. They may stay with me forever.