Identify and Rid Myself of 43 Items of Überclutter

I got these miniature doll house lights from my father who got them from his mother when she died. She had bought these to make a doll house for my sister when she was a little girl (about 30 years ago)!

I posted these on the woodworking lists I frequent and someone who does miniatures was willing to take them.

I dropped off 90 magazines and 26 books to the local library. They sell them to raise money to buy more books. When I got my father’s magazine collection we had several duplicates so out those went along with my motorcycle magazines. I also decided that my “quality assurance” books from college were not going to be helping me in my career (15 years and not done any QA work).

It was funny that even when I made the decision to take the multitude of old/broken radios/vcr/dvd players when I was actually putting them on the cart to be taken away, I suddenly “rescued” one of them to take back to my shop. I have not set that radio up in the shop but I do feel better that those old non-working electronics are heading to recycling instead of going to the dump.

My last entry is STILL in my garage (actually put it back in my truck last week but have not dropped the stuff off). WHY am I afraid to get rid of this stuff? Am I afraid that some of them may still work? Does it represent a lot of money? I really don’t know.

I did sell an extra power miter saw to my pest control guy this morning.

For some reason clutter was really bugging me yesterday. I found:
23) 2 non-working DVD players
24) 1 non-working VCR
25) 1 non-working 5” B&W TV (the radio portion still works)

I also will be getting rid of my old 15” computer monitor (I have dreams of rebuilding a computer from 2 old ones and a 17” monitor in the workshop).

The saddest part of this is that they moved 700 miles with me!

They are piled in the garage ready to go to the hazardous waste dropoff point next week (I pass right by there on my way to work – no sense running the car for 30 miles just to get the stuff out of the house today).

Back when I remodeled our bathroom I had purchased the Corian that would become the bathroom countertop from Habitat for Humanity. I finally made the time to take the old countertop, lighting and medicine cabinet to HFH.

22) Bathroom countertop and fixtures from my remodel.

21) my MIL had given me a box of hardcover mystery books to get rid of. I could not throw them away but I did manage to leave them in my garage for over 2 months! Finally remembered to leave them with a used book store.

7) During my last trip to help AnnieDee I took the 2 motorcycle seats with me and returned them to their owners. It was hard for me as I was embarrassed by taking so long but it did feel good when I was done.

12) I just got home tonight from shopping for new pants/shirts. I was not too successful but I decided to make room anyway. Out went 10 pair of pants and 3 shirts that were too small. I figure the best way to lose weight is to get rid of the clothes that would fit if I lost the weight! These will make the next trip to Goodwill.

There was a hazardous waste pickup today at the Home Depot. Took 4 quarts of oil, pint of brake fluid, 6 quarts of radiator fluid. Felt good to get rid of that in a responsible method. Though now I do need to change the oil in the lawnmower and both motorcycles are ready again too!

Well, due to 43T, I was trying to find something to do this weekend that would not take a lot of thought and remembered one of my goals!

Anyway, here is a picture of a full trashcan of leather scraps that I had actually moved 700 miles last year! Then there is a picture of all my boxes of scraps that are organized and labeled. I could probably take another run through these and cull it down even further but since everything fits right now, I will call #11 done!

I did keep the pieces that I can use for the easter egg hunt of my goals. AnnieDee has already found the first one and should post a picture soon. 2 others left to claim! (hint – see my leave small pieces of art goal)