Heck, I'd settle for the Christmas tree being taken down and outta here. Right now, all anyone has to do is look directly at the tree and a shower of needles falls.
Our cleaning and organizing storage areas is still going on (for two more days . . . the end is near!), but oh my, has the general state of my house suffered. Yesterday, I laid hubby's most heavily insulated winter coveralls on the kitchen floor to fold them before putting them in his "Coverall" tote box and the result was that they got covered with . . . I don't know exactly what all the debris was. Dust, dirt, grit, grime, multiplying dust bunnies . . . geesh, I could have sworn I swept the floor just . . . oops, when was that?
One last task to do tonight before we can go to bed. The surface of said bed is piled with all of Papa Pea's dress pants and sport jackets we took out of the closet where they've been stored since he retired. Seems his outfits these days around ye ol' homestead don't call for the same spiffy wardrobe he wore for forty-some years. (His dress these days runs more to those coveralls I successfully wiped up the floor with.) He wants to try the old teacher-type clothes on, decide which sport coats to keep (probably one for winter and one for summer) and send the rest on to our local recycling resale shop.
Today we took six cardboard boxes full of clothes there plus about half a Suburban full of household stuff to a fairly recently opened second hand shop in town that takes furniture, dishes, lamps, dressers, linens, etc. plus a sundry of other things.
We were very impressed with the second hand store . . . it was our first time there. There were several items that we both could have bought, but since that would have kind of defeated our purpose . . . we are trying to downsize and get rid of stuff, remember . . . BUT we did come home with four things. Windshield wipers (new, in the package) for our Suburban, a folding card table as we have been discussing how handy it would be to have a table up in our storage loft off Papa Pea's office and the other two were items that grabbed me and wouldn't let go.
The Pyrex measuring bowl is a two quart capacity. I'd never seen one bigger than one quart and thought this one would be very handy for mixing and pouring. It was brand new and you can see I'm going to have to soak it some more to get the label completely off.
The pitcher with lid was kind of a splurge for me . . . I spent a whole $5 on it. At first I thought I would use it for decoration in the kitchen in the summer, but it will be perfectly serviceable for a big batch of lemon or limeade, too. Or iced tea. Or sangria!
Now hubby is done with his clothes style show and we've cleared off the bed, so it would be wise for me to get my jammies on and settle down on the couch for a short time before hitting the hay to insure I'm well rested for another fun day tomorrow. Hope your week between the end of the year holidays is going well for you.
23 comments:
I don't know how much you paid for that Pyrex 2-quart, but they go for about $25 new...so I'm sure you got a steal! I've had mine for about ten years and I LOVE it! I make all sorts of batter in it, use it as a mixing bowl, I even use that as my milk "pail" when I'm milking goats during their slow time. I have NO idea where I got it, but I do know that I haven't seen one in the stores or I probably would have bought one....well, maye not for twenty-five bucks. Great finds!
I have a 8 cup measuring bowl that I use all the time. Your going to love using yours. The pitcher is so pretty. I have never seen one with the lid before. That really cool.
I wish I could use a big measuring cup like that.....darn arthritis in my hands prevents me from using stuff like that. I'm also a sucker for glass refrigerator dishes, and have to pass up the large ones for the same reason.
Beautiful pitcher. I'm glad you got it. I'd say a truck full of stuff OUT more than compensates for those few items brought home. Keep going, dear lady! The end of the project is in sight!
Hi - I'm Carol from Livingston, Scotland. I don't want to be anonymous but I don't fit any of the other options. I've been enjoying your writing for a while.
This post is dealing with a topic very close to me. I've just moved and started unpacking but I have lots of boxes left. I thought I had weeded out everything superfluous before I moved, including my clothes, but there is still more to be done.
It does feel good when I take a car load to the recycling centre and there is a local charity which takes useful items for families who need help. They are so grateful for any kitchen or household donations.
You are making such a determined effort that it deserves a reward. Two practical items and one to feed the soul is little in comparison to the load you took out.
So glad you are continuing the purge. I will get the urge to purge one day, I am sure, hopefully.
At first I thought those "gray things" might be mice who are now displaced because of your cleaning. Dust bunnies are a much tamer animal. Reading your posts makes it feel cluttered here. After the first and the wedding it's on to spring cleaning. (and taxes, ugh.)
You will love your new Pyrex measuring cup. I have had mine for years and have used it for all kinds of things. I like to mix my pancake batter in it and pour it out onto the skillet. I also like to mix muffin batter in it and pour it out into the muffin pan. When I make roth, my strainer fits right on top of it and catches the bones and what-not, then I can store the broth in it in the refrigerator till the fat has solidified enough to skim off. And that's only a few things. I have to wash it probably every day. But, oh, warnings about Pyrex glass. If your kitchen's cold, put a towel between the cold counter and the Pyrex bowl before you pour boiling liquid into it. And don't wash your Pyrex in the dishwasher because the red markings fade out. Otherwise, I'm sure you'll give your new Pyrex as much use as I have mine. Oh, and I know what you mean about getting rid of stuff. Doing the same thing here. It's horrible..
Mama Pea,
Congratulations on cleaning and downsizing! It's a job we all need to do periodically. My husband is a pack rat, and every opportunity I try to get him to go through stuff to donate, sale, or get rid of. I've successfully was able to get him to go through these large plastic bins he would travel with. Now it's time to tackle his side of the bedroom closet, and the garage.
I love having my large Pyrex measuring bowl, it comes in handy all the time when cooking/baking and they're not cheap when you buy them in the store. Like you, I found a deal on mine. What a beautiful pitcher......I not only use my pitchers for making tea, and lemonade.....I use the glass pitchers to hold broth in the refrigerator until I've used it all up.
Have a Happy New Year!!!
Happy Holidays to you two Peas in a Pod! That Pyrex is truly a great find. I read a while back that the old, used Pyrex is what you want keep and to pick up wherever you can find it. The Corning company sold out their Pyrex brand a few years back to some global manufacturing and distributing company. Allegedly, the new Pyrex does not have the same standard of quality as the old--due to a chemical reformulation of the glass.There have been reports of the new stuff shattering when exposed to extreme temps. Also, I heard that the red lettering/measurements wear off. To be quite honest, I don't really know if any of this is true or just internet bunk. But I do know that some of my best kitchen utensils come from estate sales when WWII brides were starting households. Usually, their well-worn tools will outlast anything that I buy brand new. You have found a real treasure!!! -M
I didn't even know they made a two-quart! Now I will be on the lookout. And I LOVE that lidded pitcher! What amazingly good finds. I don't know that there is a much better feeling than to give things a good sorting and cleaning out. Unless it would be to reward yourself with a cosy nestle on the sofa, book in hand and a glass of wine in the other...
Carolyn - I paid $8 for mine . . . which I feel pretty good about now. Took a peek on eBay and they listed them for $25 to $50. Mine is Made in USA which is a good sign . . . as opposed to Made in China. Still lovin' my new pitcher, too!
Michelle - Yes, I like the lid on the pitcher, too. It has a nice sized pouring cut out in the lid so you don't even have to remove it to pour. Clever!
Sue - We put in another big day today. Another bunch to recycling and loaded the truck for the second hand store tomorrow morning. Where'd we get all this stuff? Today was the first time I've seen the floor in hubby's closet for years.
AbsorbAid is supposedly good for arthritis or any joint swelling. We take one, sometimes two, capsules with every meal as it supports digestion . . . which we need (sigh) as we grow older and our bodies' digestive juices aren't as good as they once were.
Hi, Carol from Scotland! Thank you so much for commenting. (And reading!) My maternal grandmother came from Scotland when she was 15 years of age.
Sometimes it's easier to part with our belongs at one time than another. Being in your new home might make you look at things differently and be able to let go of more things.
This second hand store of ours provides furniture and household goods to folks who simply can't afford to buy new. ( In my opinion, the older things are made better anyway.) Also, I'm delighted to see that all of the store's merchandise is priced so economically. I feel so good donating whatever we do because I know someone else will be getting good use from what we no longer need.
P.S. Hubby is going to "donate" the windshield wipers back to the store . . . they didn't fit!
DFW - It has to be the right time. My dear hubby who is the saver (pack rat) in the family has for some reason decided it's time to shed himself of belongings that he now feels are weighing him down. Do you think I'd pass up an opportunity like that when I've been trying to get him to do just this FOR YEARS!!??
odiie - I'm sure your place is in tip-top condition right now because of the wedding on New Year's Day. After that, you deserve a time to collapse and rest. Maybe after that you can think of some cleaning and reorganizing!
Ilene Jones - Yes, I immediately thought how handy it would be for pancake or waffle batter. No danger of me putting it in the dishwasher . . . we don't have one. Except for me and hubby on weekends, that is!
Yes, the sorting before getting rid of stuff is not a lot of fun, but I'm finding I feel so much lighter since so much has left the house. Plus, I hate disorganization . . . and there was plenty of that in certain areas!
Sandy - My hubby's garage (cave) has yet to be tackled, but he's finally asked me to help him organize it which is a big step in the right direction. This purging was mainly his idea (although I've been pushing for it for long enough!) so I don't want to stop a good thing.
I've put my new pitcher on a shelf in the pantry, but will be pulling it out come spring and summer.
Happy New Year to you, bloggy friend!
M - Yep, the standard of quality of most everything has really taken a dive. I've recently sorted and organized all my canning jars and can hardly believe how much heavier the ones I've had for decades are compared to newly purchased ones. Drat. :o(
The old kitchen utensils are/were best because they were made to last! Not like the cheap plastic construction even expensive ones have today. Same with furniture. If you can find a style you like, even with worn out upholstery, I think you're far ahead buying it and having it reupholstered. The old stuff has far superior construction and basic comfort.
Susan - This was the first 2-quart Pyrex I had ever seen, too.
We've reconciled ourselves to the fact that we're not going to be done with all our sorting and cleaning by January 1st (that's like one day away!) but we're very proud of what we have accomplished. Plus, I've told Papa Pea that if I really, truly spend January doing things that "feed my soul" (are you tired of hearing me say that?), I sure won't be against putting in an hour or two most days on the continuation of our "battle."
I need to do the same thing. To many clothes, and just things we've kept over the years. For the dust bunnies, mine have gotten big enough to feed,lol Have a great New Year!
I just recently cleaned out my closet too. Amazing how many things I was hanging onto, that I will never wear. Mostly things that were given to me. That pitcher is gorgeous!!!
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I love that store - it's one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in the area :)
I've seen the 2 quart measuring "cups" before and want one, but have yet to run across one at a thrift store / estate sale...
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