Thursday, June 13, 2013

Ranchwife de-cluttering...

Start with a tractor.

There's a lot of talk out there about de-cluttering, simplifying, and letting go of excess things in your life.  Blogs, books, and Pinterest boards all have great ideas, but for me, I've got to get in the right mood and then watch out!  The heaving of bags and boxes and bedding begins.  I don't have a fancy method or 10 steps.  I keep it simple -- just do it!  Today it all started when I decided to do some housekeeping.  I dusted.  Then I vacuumed.  As I did just these two things, I noticed the piles of magazines, the closet shelves bulging with old blankets and pillows and oversized clothing.  I've certainly noticed these things before, but today was different.  My mood was of the get-rid-of-it variety, and I always give in to that feeling because it comes so rarely.


I thought I might sort through things a little, but honestly, I didn't feel much like that.  I just wanted the stuff outta here!  So without thinking about anything too much or looking at things too long, I began to carry stuff out to the tractor.  Once in the bucket, there was no turning back.  I did spend some time pulling Hubby's oversized clothes off the hangers and placed them into a couple bags for thrifting, but those were the only things I sorted.  The rest just flew from my hands and into the tractor.  

I hauled off two loads to the dump.  Yup, we have our own dump.  It's a luxury.  Man, does it feel good to have at least some of my excess stuff gone!  I'm far from done with this project -- the crawl space still beckons -- but even if I quit today, I feel like I accomplished a lot.

Now I think I'll go outside, read a book, and enjoy my summer porch flower.  I call it my Baby Begonia because she'll require a tiny bit of extra TLC.  She was a $15 steal at the local Shopko and will be worth every dime for the summertime satisfaction she will bring me.  Isn't she lovely?  For all her beauty, I didn't give her a fancy vessel to live in, but I like the look all the same.

15 comments:

  1. My goodness... look at all that stuff...I
    need some of your 'mood' over here....and I
    could use your dump! love those flowers...
    they look beautiful!
    Corinne

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  2. That is the funniest thing I have ever heard and you made my day. You are a woman after my own heart!!! When I get in the mood there is no stopping me!!! When I lived at home we had our own dump too but now I am not that lucky!!! I bet that was a great feeling!!! Thanks for sharing this! Dianntha

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  3. Wow! It's true! We have to be ruthless! Maybe tomorrow! I love your flower!

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  4. It is very pretty in the bucket. I have been hauling stuff off now for a month. I just can't believe how much clutter I allow in my house. It feels so good once it is done.
    You do need a bit of time on the porch.

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  5. She is a beauty and how great to have your own personal dump and tractor to take the stuff to the dump! :)

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  6. Jody..you crack me up! I am the same way, only I think I declutter once a month because we live in a small house! It is nice to have your own dump. Sometimes we just have a burn pile when we have lots of junk to get rid of...hehe. I always send some to the thrift store, but some things just aren't worthy.

    ~Julia

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  7. Sounds like me. Once I start there is no stopping me. I love the begonia and the vessel.

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  8. Oh I LOVE begonias- I have an angel wing I adore. When I start decluttering I really get in a swing too. Now if I only had a tractor... Angela

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  9. Love your sunny yellow spot and I'm so glad you took some time to read a book after all of that hard work!

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  10. Decluttering with a tractor--my idea of living! Ranchers have all the luck ...

    xofrances

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  11. This does take de-cluttering to a WHOLE new level, Jody!! Haha :) Good for you! And you're very own dump? Wow! That would be great.

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  12. Oh Jody, that is greatness! How I would loooooooove to do that with some stuff around here. (I must confess it isn't all my stuff I would like to dump. I live with at least TWO messies and most possibly it is more like THREE messies.) Your flowers are a beautiful!!!

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  13. We're trying to have a clear out, too. It's a good thing to do every now and again. Love that big yellow begonia. It looks good in the 'rustic' bucket. It has made me realise that's a nice way to display a begonia which I always think of as a municipal park plant.

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  14. Oh Ido like the thought of a tractor JOdy to hold an dthen transport to my own dump. I declutter like you, the mood genrally comes when cleaning or looking for something, and then you can't hold me back ;)
    I love the pretty yellow begonia, it is so fresh, and I tink the container is just perfect. I have some pink doubles which I'm about to put in some hanging baskets for our deck.

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  15. I laughed SO HARD, because I have done this - TWICE in fact! :) I'm glad that it just feels good to you - because I felt like it made me realize what a pig pen I have out here, that I'm literally taking tractor loads to the pit! baha!

    That photo is a thing of beauty. Hope your spring is moving along well, no finer time of year, I suppose.

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