Last of the Winter Days

 

Pillow Passion

Sometimes you turn a corner and in a glance

your heart does a flutter and you just know

there is something you adore and must have.

The Opal brand at Target is darling daughter's favorite, 

and I thought I would peruse for possible gifts for her.

Instead, for the first time since Christmas, 

I bought something for me.

I am still on my downsize passion,

and I donated five things last week, so I'm still on 

the right side of the scale.

Isn't she pretty?

I usually make all my pillows,

and I always buy when something is on sale,

but oh, I just loved this pillow at full retail!

I have this GORGEOUS black/tan fabric

that I have hoarded for years

and plan to make additional pillows to 

be pillow gal's friend.

I know I'm anthropomorphizing a

silly pillow but I don't care.

It's been 10 months since first Dr's appt 

and I'm soooo over it.

Yesterday I broke one of my toes.

Yeah yeah I know....

*****

#45 is a fascist

His wife has disappeared, why is that

not #1 on every report?

(Please let her have come to her senses,

and please let her spill. Please let her true friends

help her and save her.)

Climate change is wreaking havoc daily,

but let's not believe in science.

We're playing games with a nuclear armed 

country with a psychopath in charge,

AND we've begun a trade war with many

 of our closest allies.

RESIST

and VOTE!!!

Getting Down

No staging, just quick shots 

of pared down rooms. Working my way through the house

as I remove and sell off holiday stuff.

It almost feels like the air is cleaner, fresher.

Getting down to the basics,

with just a few beloved accessories kept around.

Removed scads of books

Tops of shelves were cleared,

now it is so much easier to dust. 

Huge brown tv cabinet gone from the center

of this wall, smaller tv in here,

making room much brighter,

and I now have easy access to printer.

Still need to work on this side of the room.

Visually it is now too cluttered for me.

Z's may have to go.

(and these were pared down awhile ago YIKES) 

Feels good

Feels right

Getting down to it.

Hibernation

Spending hours in the studio:

Preparing for classes,

listening to playlists as my mood changes,

pondering life's condition

and hibernating.

oh yeah

it's hot

Into the Closets

Are you still with me?

I've shown a lot of this before

but there are new folks visiting so...

This is the pantry.

Note the extra storage on door  

and baskets often can hold 

more items in less space.

No ant issues ever with jars.

Above the  washer and dryer I added 

shelves right after I moved in.

Wicker trays, serving trays, pizza peels, cookie racks,

oversized casseroles all find a home.

Baskets hold hangers for delicates and hanging.

They also hold letters for my church sign,

plastic rubbermaid storage containers,

to-go tumblers, and metal bakeware.

I added more shelves tucked into the corner for 

appliances. Wraps find a home on an angled wall

up out of the way;

again freeing up drawer space in kitchen.

See the basket tucked back on the floor?

There are two of them. 

One for kitchen towels waiting to be

washed and one for cleaning rags.

Also see the rod coming out from wall?

That holds pant hangers used for drip dry.

The entire closet is covered by floor to ceiling

 corduroy curtains that I love, 

that I got from Ikea many years ago.

Last but not least, a fold up and out

hanger for drip dry on the back of garage door.

Now many of you have more space,

more closets, attics, basements.

Some have smaller homes.

Some of you also have storage issues

regardless of size.

We all have the same home keeping issues.

I am showing ways to add storage 

within your own footprint,

regardless of footage.

I am hoping to spark your imagination.

There are many posts

about organization that you can find by

searching in top left bar or 

in labels section on right sidebar.

As always before organizing, do a good purge.

We all, unless you live in a "tiny" house

 (under 350 sq feet)

have more than we need.

But then again, they prove

how LITTLE we do NEED.

It's Spring, get crackin',

you'll be amazed at how good it feels.

I am overhauling the garage.

I will show when complete.

Look here to see how DD lives in 

a wee organized space of 400'

Enjoy your weekends 

chickadees 

Z

More to Discover

On the porch a vintage cupboard

Filled with seldom used kitchen stuff,

more outdoor candle holders, popcorn maker

tupperware used only for large holiday, rice cooker etc.

A dresser normally in a bedroom

 does fabulous storage duty.

Very deep drawers hold scads of items.

From stationery to holiday paper products, 

summer outdoor tablecloths, 

recipe folders, cookbooks and more

Anything long and skinny goes here:

Chopsticks, drinking straws, plastic serve ware

magnets, cheese servers, etc.

Another drawer in kitchen made available

for other supplies.

I only use cloth napkins, so I have many....

The porch is right off the kitchen making

 all of this easy to grab.

My platters, pitchers, and cake plates are stored 

out in the open and

look pretty. Yes, I need to do a 

quick wash before using, 

but that takes just a minute.

Next time you are feeling overcrowded

with stuff look at your arrangements

 and maybe repurpose furniture for

a different use, and keep an eagle eye out

for sets of drawers and cupboards

when attending fleas, auctions and garage sales.

Because I store items in so many ways,

the usual storage places like kitchen drawers

and closets can be kept neat and tidy

because nothing is overcrowded.

When things are tidy,

you can find everything

 and clean it much easier.

Hope some of these 

give you ideas for your home.

More are coming...

How DOES She Do It?

Folks are always surprised when I 

decorate for the holidays or a party.

I am always asked 

"Where did it all come from?"

"Where do you hide it all?"

Over my many years of homekeeping

and organizing for others, I guess I've got a few tricks 

up my sleeve, like a magician with cards.

Follow along and I'll share some with you.

Look behind the curtain and spot the wizard....

Tucked into a corner,

three vintage cheese boxes

Cookie Cutters

Potpourri for Fall Decorating

Pinecones for Winter Decorating

Normally these would take up space in a garage, pantry

or other storage closet.  Now they are hidden in 

plain sight.

Small cupboard I picked up cheap 15 years

 ago and painted. It is tucked

 into another corner in the family room.

You can see why- how cute is this?

In it I store all my indoor candles,

sets of hanging outdoor mason jar candles

 videos, and DVD's.

On top sit two small lift top vintage boxes that hold 

candle votives and battery votives

 that come out in mass for parties.

Storing my extra sets of dishes

out in the open is pretty,

and saves an entire cupboard or two!

A small lidded vintage basket 

holds all the latest catalogs and 

my Sudoku books,

keeping the coffee table always tidy.

I just pitch it all inside at the end of the evening.

An attractive vintage basket on top of

the fridge holds my

napkins and placemats at the ready

for counter or table, yet still out of sight. 

Another drawer freed up for other things.

A small cute mirrored cabinet 

holds spices.

Another rack holds more.

More space in drawers and cupboard.

Lift top antique trunk holds a dozen throws for 

winter cuddling.

That's just in the kitchen

and family room.

Come back for more...