The Best Laid Plans...

My plan to blog more has not happened yet.  I really want to start posting more like twice a week instead of once and I'll get there

I think.

Just not this week!

Work continues in the spare room.

This is progress!  

I have been going through the craft supplies and putting them in storage baskets on the shelves.  I have more to go but I'm happy with it so far.

Emptied all these plastic shoe boxes and other containers.  Yes!

This corner needs more work but this is where I'm storing the donations for my church rummage sale in May.  Empty boxes to fill or recycle.  I have a few other boxes of items I've sold in the living room waiting on delivery.

Some cuteness! 

I love my Maileg Holga (on sale after Christmas) and the pillow cover I found on Amazon before Christmas!  Loving the touches of red added to the gray futon.

In the dining area this storage unit has been cleaned and is waiting to be restyled.  The milk glass will be sold or wrapped up for the rummage sale.  I got rid of more glassware and started rearranging in the kitchen but stalled.

 I'm not so organized.  
I keep starting here and there and it takes me to another room and then I never finish the original room.  I'm going to try to be more organized next week.  Make a plan a day to get things done. 

I love this sign I found at Cracker Barrel clearance.  It says it all! 

I promised you an Annie photo!

She is the sweetest girl! 

And good news, I'm on track for my book reading, seven so far this month.

Also almost caught up on laundry!

I'm a work in progress!  

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

What's Up Wednesday

I have been busy my friends! 

Downsizing is going well.

I've taken 2 large loads to the thrift shop so far and have another one to take tomorrow.  I've also sold several things that were taking up space and I have a few boxes of things for my church rummage sale.  It feels good.

No takers for my milk glass yet, so I'll either try to sell online or pack it up for the church rummage sale.  I have some nice pieces I hate to just get rid of.

Annie's Cat Tree is being sold.  She 'looks' at it and might get on it to look out the window once in awhile but I have found she is more of a race car cat (zoom zoom) then a climber.  I'll get my money back, clear up more space in the spare room and so it's a win win for me! 

I ordered some new paint brushes and a palette, so I am ready to take an online water color class for beginners.

Skillshare is offering their premium level classes right now .99 for 3 months!

What a deal!  Check it out!

I've set my reading goal for 2017 at 105 books!  I read 100 in 2016.  I use Goodreads to keep track of my books.  I add a 'shelf' in my books read list for each year and it's so easy to keep track that way.  I also get reviews and recommendations from other readers.

I use to write down the books in a notebook but I find this easier for sure! 

With all this warm weather I'm afraid things will start to bloom and then we will get another freeze and ruin our spring.  This plant in my house has bloomed and brought me much needed joy!  

It is a Cyclamen and has bloomed so many times since I bought it. They come in many colors and I think I'll try to buy another one in a different color. 

The Grands are doing well.  Tiger had a cold but is over that now.  He and his Dad did a Day of Service for MLK day and cleaned a very old cemetery in their neighborhood. 

The adults worked but so did the kids! 

They live in a great neighborhood and the families are really coming together to make a difference!

Scout is moving up to a new class in daycare and is very interested in the potty!  Hopefully she will be easy to train and soon!  I can't believe she will be two in April! 

Annie Belle is a snuggley sweet cat and is not still long enough to take photos most days!  I'll have to get some of her soon and share! 

That's about it folks!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

First Week of January!

My first post of the new year!

I've been fighting this awful cold and while I am finally doing a bit better it has taken it's toll on my energy.

I'm in the path of this winter storm and we may get some snow.  It's a good time to just stay warm inside and work a bit more on my spare room.

It was a project from last year that never got finished because of my house guest and other various things happening.  I did sell the day bed and got rid of some bookcases and a large (falling apart) dresser.  Some IKEA shelves were added and then I had surgery, so all of it came to a halt.

I now have a futon that will act as an extra bed when needed and take up much less room.  I make a huge mess when I re-arrange and purge items.  A small room doesn't leave much space to work in so it spills out into the living room.  I took a large load of things to the Habitat for Humanity yesterday.

Yay me!  AND...I didn't go in to shop.

I'm trying to stay out of the thrift shops for all of January.  I need to break the habit of just looking and buying small things because they are cute! 

Cute becomes clutter!

Take this purchase from Nov. of four Blue birds of Happiness.  So cute, only .25 ea how could I leave them there.  BUT, now I have a flock of glass blue birds and honestly what do I do with them? 

Time to downsize, and I think it's really reached into my heart and soul this time. 

I love my collections but they have once again gotten out of hand.  I want to edit them and keep the pieces I love the most and return the others to the wild for someone else to find. 

Where to start? 

First of all I must get my spare room arranged and cleaned of things I no longer use so I can have some space to make decisions.  It feels good to do this!

I want to own my things, not have them own me.  Now I will never be a minimalist.  It's not in my nature but the sheer number of things I own is overwhelming.  January has begun a change for the better!

  Anyone else feeling this way?

I had a few photos I wanted to share.

This one of Scout might be my favorite Christmas photo of 2017

The Grands were going to bed Christmas Eve and Scout headed back out to the living room alone.  There she found the cookies & milk for Santa that Tiger had left out and just helped herself.

Her Dad caught her in the act and thus this photo!  Makes me smile!

My girl and her girl!

Tiger, in tiger pj's brushing his teeth!

My Grands seeing a new baby lamb!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda