Monday, January 12, 2009

Jenga......anyone?

So, I feel like the crazy old lady that leaves up her Christmas decorations all year long! Sorry that I have been too lazy to update my blog since before Christmas. We had both of my daughters and their friends over for the holidays. We had a great time, played a lot of games, ate a lot of food...well, you know the rest.


So now,the "party's" over, as they say. My youngest just left to go back to school in S.C. and now, it's time to get back to the basics.

Basically, scrubbing, laundry and packing away all of those wonderful Christmas decorations.


To add to the list, we decided that it was "time" to go through all of our boxes that we had not unpacked since our move from TN. which was 7 years ago.... we didn't open them in the five years we lived in S.C. There's about 25 or so and I mean big ones... Our storage room looked like a Jenga puzzle...stacks and stacks of precariously heaped boxes with mysterious unknowns inside.
We bought wonderful storage shelving units at Ikea that we are hoping will help us in the pursuit of organizing.

I have to tell you that getting rid of stuff is VERY difficult for me. Kinda like ripping a little piece of me every time I reluctantly put things in the donation pile or trash pile. I attach a lot of sentiments to objects which I know is not a good thing. So I am focusing on the freedom that purging can bring.

So far I have unpacked 5 different sets of dishes along with over 60 framed photos of the kids growing up , most of them are 8x10... and about 30 porcelain dolls in their boxes.
I know I'll be donating at least 2 sets of dishes, try to sell most of the dolls even though it kills me because you practically have to give them away and as far as the framed photos go, I will take most of them out of the frames and put them in albums for my girls.
So there you have it, I should be busy for a while!

I want to thank Susan from A southern day dreamer for giving me this cool Georgia friends award. It will be nice to see all of my fellow Georgian bloggers, who knows, they just might be my neighbors! She has a list of them and I will be doing a little visiting as soon as I get the rest of the boxes unpacked.

34 comments:

Four Paws and Co said...

Rose, I was sooo thrilled to see a post from you!!! I know it's so hard to let go of things. I had a huge Barbie collection. Many of them have gone to our little great niece who takes amazing care of her dolls & their clothes. BUT I also collected expensive porcelain Barbies. Theirs no market for them & I haven't been able to let them go... Sooo sad... I'll be thinking of you, hang in there with the purge! ♥ Diane

artis1111 said...

It feels so good to PURGE. When we di our bedroom I threw out stuff. I had tennis outfits that I haden't worn in 20 yuears! More room for new stuff! hehehe Kathy

Lynette said...

Hey Rose - Welcome Back to blog world!! I know you enjoyed your visit with your girls - mine is leaving today to go back!! (sniff, sniff)
Looking forward to catching up with you!!

nikkicrumpet said...

Well Rose...I admire your gumption. We still have a few of those "unpacked" boxes from our move 4 years ago...and I just can't seem to over make myself get started! I hope you make great use of the new shelves and get your house in order soon. Then maybe you'll inspire me to get off my duff lol

Bo said...

Hi Rose...at least you are starting off the new year being productive...Purging is a foreign word around this house too...Good luck with your big job ahead!
;-) Bo

Chari at Happy To Design said...

{{{{Rose}}}}

Girl, was so happy to see you post...I've been wondering about you! Of course, I figured that you were busy with the holidays! It sounds like you had loads of fun with your family!!!

Well my friend...I am doing the same thing...still trying to get Christmas put up! Eeeks...I'm slow!!! But I have to be honest, I sure don't envy you with unpacking boxes and trying to find places for everything!!!

Just stopping by to say hello and that I missed you!!!

Love ya,
Chari

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Rose, I was starting to get worried about you. So glad to see you back. I'm so impressed that you plan to purge. I cannot even think about how difficult that is for me. I need to take your lead and do a lot of purging at my house. I'm glad I don't live near you, or I'd be coming to see what I could buy out of your purged items (china sounds good)! laurie

Salmagundi said...

So glad to see a post from you. I admire you for going through things and purging. It's so hard physically and emotionally. Don't work too hard, and post again soon - we miss you. Sally

kymber said...

Rose,
Another Georgia girl yay!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment. It is nice to meet you and I look forward to getting to know you better! Empty nestting IS hard isn't it? I wish there was a way to always keep them young -but then I am sure I am just forgetting about all of the "fun"times we had trying to raise them. :)

I am interested in hearing more about meals on wheels - I was thinking about getting involved with them when I first moved here. I love the elderly and what a blessing that organization is for shut-ins who need a little extra care.
Blessing to you,
Kymber

~♥~ Monica S said...

Hi!

I have just recently put my christmas away too. and I get sentimental over things around the house too.. I am just like you!!;-)
My father used to say that things we get from friends and family should be out.. even if WE don't like them.. they reflect our friends and family.. and this has gone straight to my heart.. I am NOT able to put things in boxes....
You can give away the cutest dolls as presents... why not?? Let grandchildren or children, nephews and nieses have them... that way you can see them again some day!

Monica

Lynn said...

I am enjoying your blog, we have alot in
common,Girls,dogs,decorating & rag to riches furniture.LOL

imjacobsmom said...

Good for you - I still have boxes older than that that need purging. I am talking 20 years and 9 years respectively. I am still missing my gravy boat that I THINK and HOPE got packed with barware that I haven't looked at for 20 years. Someday I may have an ebay goldmine in my crawlspace if I can get my butt in gear....More power to you! ~ Robyn

Tootsie said...

good to see you! My little girls collect those dolls...and I know it is going to be hard to let them go!
good luck

Justine said...

Egads woman, have fun unpacking and sorting through all of that! Not a fun chore, but once it's done you're going to feel soooooooo good about it!

Justine :o )

mrsben said...

So glad to see you back Rose, and that you had such a wonderful holiday.

Oh the hum drum of being 'a domestic engineer' :) IT NEVER ENDS does it!

Re decluttering and purging. I have a sister that moves every four years and she says it works for her.

Tardevil said...

Your Jan. sounds about like you're having as much fun as I am. You ought to put the dishes & dolls on your Santa selling site. You know there are alot of dish and doll lovers in Blogland! I'm still putting away C-mas stuff too! :O(

Anonymous said...

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK.WISH I WAS THERE TO HELP YOU.IT SOUNDS LIKE ALOT OF WORK,BUT FUN.WELCOME BACK...ANN

Helen said...

Hello there! Hopefully you have waded through the boxes by now and are well on your way to "organization."

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Hi Rose, Glad you had a great holiday. Sounds like you are staying busy now with all the sorting. It is hard to do but worth it in the end, right? :-) Good luck...hope it goes as fast and painlessly as possible.
Susan

The Charm House said...

Hi Rose!! I just caught a glimpse of your Georgia blogger award and you being a Santa artist from Atlanta, You really caught my eye!!! I am a Santa collector and really love your Santa's, they are beautiful! My mother had two Heirloom Santa's made for my children last year for Christmas and I had to run upstairs to see who the artist was becuase your work was somewhat similar. Her name is Mary. Would love to know where I can see your work... I was going to e-mail you, but I could not find your e-mail address.
Thanks, Yvette
I have some of my Santa's up on my Christmas Tour on my blog.

Wendy said...

It is hard to let go of things. But when it is gone, you feel so good.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Wendy

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Rose, my friend, how in the world are you? Are you still buried in all the boxes? It's such a great feeling to finally get things uncovered and organized isn't it? I know you're probably questioning it right now..lol. thanks for swinging by to see my little assistant and his work. He's certainly my little shadow, has been from the day he was born. It's so good to see you coming up for air.. you've been missed.. don't be a stranger my friend.. hugs ~lynne~

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Rose...Good to see you around again! Yes, I agree...we Atlanta gals need to find a way to get together! You're getting rid of dishes?...I'm backing up the driveway with my trunk open...lol...Debbie

Lisa (aka) French said...

Thanks for stopping in;) Nice to see a familiar RMS face;) French

Salmagundi said...

Thanks for stopping by today and commenting. Hope your unpacking project is progressing. I'm looking forward to a new post from you. Take care. Sally

Kat said...

Thank you so much for your sweet comments on our kitchen redo. I really enjoyed your post, we just done doing basically the same thing. I have a hard time letting things go too, but we figure if we haven't used in in goodness knows how long, we aren't go to miss it now, right? Good luck with the organizing, and isn't Ikea great for that? have a great day. Kathy

Anonymous said...

Hi Rose! We've all missed you and I'm so glad you came for a visit! Hope all is well in your little Santa world! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Kathleen Ellis said...

Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! Good luck with your unpacking....you'll feel good when it's all done!
Have a happy week!
;-D

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Rose...Scotts and lunch sounds good. We need to get it together! Enjoy your sorting...if that's possible!...Debbie

The Charm House said...

I love your SANTA'S.... Just curious, what is the price range of your Santa's in case I would like to add one of your Santa's to my collection...

The Muse said...

hello! it is a pleasure to meet you!
thanks so much for your kind visit :)

i will add you to my blog roll right away ... i noticed that you have opted to follow me, and i am humbled ... please know you are welcome anytime :)

goodness you sound as if your plate is FULL ! don't worry about those Christmas decorations :)... a little extra joy never hurt any of us LOL :)

after seeing all your friends here ... and reading their kind words, i see you have been entirely missed!

good luck on your unpacking progress!

The Charm House said...

And I forgot to tell you that I added you to my Christmas Blog List on my sidebar!

Gone said...

Oh my...all those dishes...and you had to use those words in the presence of a DISH ADDICT, didn't you? LOL!!!

Thanks for the visit and kind comments.

Jan

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Rose, my friend thanks for taking the time to swing by for a visit. Sangria... hmmmm sounds pretty good after the day I've had.. I'm up for it if you are..
hugs ~lynne~