The Magic of Tidying Up

This is my house y'all! I'm having about 50 people house guests in a bit - o.k. maybe 15 - but STILL...I should be cleaning not desperately looking for the Magic of Tidying Up to manifest in  my home. I've started the book by Marie Kondo and I AM enjoying it. I especially like "hearing the Japanese culture" in the book - because I AM supposed to be in Machida this week. ::snort:: I figure now is a good time for me to "do it all at once."  This is taking way longer than I expected (where DOES all this stuff come from in 2 years) - so I'm glad I am right here - though my leaking eyes haven't quite gotten the message.


And THIS is the CLEAN area - library and upstairs hall are WAY worse

 

The boys went through all the "toys" and decided they really don't need them any longer. I do believe Eyeore and a rubber dinosaur will go into storage....

I continued to pull things out and off the walls that the older Gherkins have tagged as things they would like. I've got a staging area in the garage for the Gherkins, homeschool, and donations. We continued to fill a couple more "donate boxes" which we don't think the Gherkins will want, but still have some good use in them.

The kids love to play dress up and produce plays - we have quite a few costumes. I can't see them fitting in the trailer....and I'm sure they won't fit the kids when we get things out of storage. I'm not sure what we're going to do with them - so I laundered them and we'll decide later.

I had visions of Arielle and I being able to get through the school shelves after lunch.  Our school cycles through four segments of history  - over and over. The kids hit each segment as a grammar, dialectic and rhetoric student. We no longer need the lower grammar material.  Our plan was to go through the books, pull out the ones that are lower grammar. Go through the year plans and pick out the books we want to use, mark each one with the year, week and level. We would also decide which extra books we need to keep (from our Sonlight days), put each year of books in it's own tub and get rid of the rest. I decided to take photos of the grammar books and put them in the homeschool album I'm creating to offer to locals.

One shelf per year

These are the books Stacia and Zander need for Tapestry next year. This does not include science, language arts, math etc. The white binders are teacher's manuals - each year plan gives lesson plans for K - 12th grade so I can easily keep us all on the same page at our own level. We only sorted one year this afternoon. ::sigh:: I need to finish the school stuff while Arielle is here. She's a huge help.

This thing is HEAVY. I can't budge it. Yes, I know they now sell digital teacher's manuals. The problem is that my set is copyrighted in 2003 and so the books are from THEN....the digital ones have newer books and I don't want to have to buy all new books. Yes, that's right - I've used the same core for 12 years - you can do that with classic, living literature. It's paid for itself.

Ms. Kondo, in her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, instructs one to pick up each item and decide if it brings joy.  If it does, you keep it. If it doesn't you thank it for bringing joy to your life at one time and release it to go bring joy to another.  Sounds good.....in the end you are surrounded by things you LOVE and the things you don't love are not cluttering your home. Sounds fairly easy and good....it worked well as I went through the China hutch, the junk drawers, the desk, the kitchen....then  we hit the bookshelves.

"Nero, thank you for bringing me hours of reading pleasure and joy. I no longer need you (I am fixin to go buy the whole set on kindle if I get desperate ::snort::). I release you to go bring joy to other readers." Into the box he went....along with Tamar Myers, Dr. Seuss, I Can Read Books and host of Children's books.

And again, "I release you to the recycling bin - you are far too battered to bring joy to another."

 

I tried. Hard. These simply would not be released. Too many happy childhood memories to release.

 

What's THIS? Ah - it appears that things can jump right out of boxes!!!! The two books from above  are not in a box and are in a waiting area while the discussion goes on. We HAVE Lord of the Rings in two electronic formats - but Nolan loves the maps in this one which has pages falling out. The dinosaur book is signed by Duanne Gish for BreAnne and Krista - and held together with PACKING TAPE!

Arielle rescued "Amelia Bedelia," Complete "Winnie the Pooh" works,  and all the "Land of Barely There" books.  By this time the whole family was gathered around the shelves in the library. I knew this would be tough. We went from 13 floor to ceiling shelves in TX to 7 when we moved to Japan.  Now we need to go further - but I've promised we can keep the ones that mean something to the kids - that they may want at a later date....

I explained the Magic of Decluttering via the Kondo method.....but they didn't get quite as excited as I had hoped.

I was reminded that books are friends and you can't just go around stuffing them in boxes. I explained that if you RELEASE them you might be able to do just that - I've not gotten that far in the book; but it makes sense that relationships could clutter one's life.. ::snort::

Look what I caught him doing - checking the selection in the give away box. 

Long days - lots of mess - small progress. It's good to retire when you get to be our age - I'm quite sure we had more stamina 20 years ago.

Olaf the Blanket

Arielle wanted to make an Olaf blanket for her new room.  We found a Youtube video and followed the directions....sewed it up like a big pillowcase.  

 

We started this project on Friday.  I packed "Arielle's" pink blanket today while she was at church. This caused a bit of alarm. I decided to finish this today while she napped so she'd have one to replace the pink one tonight.  Sort of reminded me of driving all over town to find the one certain brand of binkie. ::snort::

 

I am INSIDE the big pillow, trying to get the batting in place....there has to be an easier way.

 

The men jumped in to help.

 

It was like magic - she woke up and the blanket was done. 

 

Near the beginning of this project, I thought I should let each child pick their own material for a blanket for the trailer....somewhere in the middle of the project, I decided there was NO WAY I was doing this again. Now that it's over - it's possible. IF I can find another  Youtube that shows an easier way to handle the batting....and AFTER I figure out how to make the t-shirt quilt. 

Busy Saturday

We got a lot done this Saturday!  A quick look at the calendar shows things are going to start moving fast around here.  Retirement ceremony...4 weeks.

Much of the day was defined by - BOXES.  Michael was our hero when he brought home a van load of boxes from the Well's family.

The girls and I got out early! Stacia and I were thrilled when Arielle asked if she could come with us. her typical stance is that Saturday's are for sleeping in - but this is her last one at home as a "child."  We went to the Farmer's Market. Yum. My favorite buy was basil - which led to fresh VEGAN pesto (no dairy or oil). As I made the pesto, I thought about the garlic pesto fries at our favorite stop in Grass Valley.  I love them - but always get a headache (cheese in pesto) and they swim in oil. I remembered Ed saying I could make them at home - I did and they were good. I'll have to post a recipe later.  After the Farmer's Market we went to Linda's Soda Shop for breakfast. Arielle thinks we need to open one like this. 

Michael went to the office to take care of a few late-breaking things that he needed to tend to. Yes, he is on leave. We took this leave knowing it would be the way to carve out time to take care of things we consider priority - retirement, moving Arielle, preparing for movers here at home.

Stacia lounged - she's ill. The rest of us packed. Arielle and Nolan worked on her things. Zander and I went through drawers, cupboards and hutches. We packed some things to donate, took photos of others to see if the kids want them and placed others back ready for the packers to pack for storage.  The china hutch was my big project. Anything that is not from another country, Michael, my Mom or the kids is now slated to find a new home.....

We hit the linen cupboard and the only tablecloths that stayed are from the Philippines, Hungary, Kuwait, Turkey, Afghanistan, Korea or Japan. Zander quipped, "I see what it takes to make the cut around here." ::snort::

We made some finds....like these yellow slips of paper....

 

Ah - evidence of the wheeling and dealing from a Gherkin cut-throat game of Monopoly!

 

I was happy to find THIS - I was going to order some for the trailer.

 

I finally got rid of two cassette carriers and all but a few cassettes. Michael had the same at his office - not sure what he did.

 

I kept these.

Yep, much done and much more to do. LOL

All About Arielle

This is going to be a long post. Read at your own risk.

 

First, some things we either discovered or learned about Arielle in the process of packing up for her big move to Oregon.

 

Earlier this week Arielle asked if I thought it would be o.k. for her to wash a pink blanket. Turns out it was one of my favorite pink blankets - given to us at our wedding 31 years ago. I had been looking for it. It is one of Arielle's favorites too. I told her I'd been looking for another favorite - the last quilt Mildred made me. Mildred was a saint we met in Hardin, MT.  I have another from her as well - but this last one was priceless. I described how it was pieced together from scraps of other projects - some being dresses I can remember Mildred wearing. I told her I KNEW it was in Japan and that I'd never have gotten rid of it  - but I couldn't find it since moving to CA. Can you guess? It is Arielle's all-time favorite quilt too. It's fun and comforting. We've washed it and I am debating with myself if it should go into storage or if I should let Arielle take it to college and store it for me. It's over 20 years  25 years old now - and it's been well-loved and used. It's starting to wear thin in places....not sure what I'll decide. We learned Arielle has my love of snuggly blankets! She's taking the pink one to college.

At nine years old Arielle created the following check list. She found it while packing. It's priceless for the glimpse it gives into not only Arielle's personality, but our family life in that season. We had no clue she loves lists and checking things off. No clue at all she had taken it upon herself to create a bed-time check list and LOVED her routine.  Now I know why it was so easy to put her to bed - she LOVED checking off her boxes each day.

For Stacia:
1. Bottle
2. Mary Did You Know (guarantee to put Stacia to sleep)

For Me:
1. water filled
2. Stacia asleep
3. Teeth brushed
4. PJ's on
5. Watch Set
6. Hank the Cowdog on

Alas, we also discovered she has Michael's love of random cords and such - a whole drawerful

 Today, we packed. Arielle will move in the upcoming week. I was busy packing in another part of the house and asked Zander to grab some photos.

 

This one fell off the shelf during the Quake and has internal injuries

 

 

Stacia made Arielle's hat. 

Prayer appreciated for the week ahead. It's hard each time a child leaves home, but Arielle's departure signals a shift in our family. The Babies, or "Four Young Ones," -as we try to remember to call them - are starting to leave home. This will be the first time in 28 years that any of our children have had their own room while under our roof.  It will be the first time for Stacia or Arielle to have their own room.  It's a very good thing - but it's a hard thing.  Of course, we are avoiding the implications of Stacia having her own room by moving into a trailer where all 3 will have their own "cubby."

Arielle's last Saturday at home began with a girls' breakfast out and ended with the girls watching an Episode of Andy Griffith.

We'll miss Ms. Arielle and the color she brings to our home.  She  is a beautiful young woman of God.

Deployment Messages

During Michael's last deployment to Afghanistan, the kids and I decided to send him a puzzle. He likes to do puzzles.  We chose a challenging puzzle. We added a personal touch by writing notes on the puzzle. We shipped it off and smiled when we thought of Michael putting the same puzzle together and finding our notes. (You should know that HE is the puzzle pro - but this was an act of love).

Michael loved the puzzle....he put it together...flipped it over and wrote us all notes...and mailed it back to us....so this puzzle was purchased in Japan, traveled to Afghanistan, back to Japan, to CA and now will go into storage.

 We were surprised when we received the puzzle back. We put it together, read our notes and glue it together. We weren't sure which side to display - I've been looking for a double sided frame.  However, with the move coming....and everything in the house being either donated, stored or moving into the trailer...I knew something had to be done with the puzzle. We framed it in a poster frame. Arielle and I decided the letters from Michael should be displayed at this time.

The funny thing is that a couple of pieces have been missing....  In the course of sorting today we found this....I guess I'll un-frame it and add the found pieces. LOL

More School Fun

Nolan led Stacia in an experiment....they lit some candles....

 

Then they covered the candles with a jar - sucked out the oxygen....

 

The gas expanded, created a vacuum and  sucked up water....

Interesting Walk

Look what I found when I was out walking one recent morning.....

Arboga Japanese Relocation Center - 1942....I'd not heard of this being part of the local history. I am trying to find out more. This is the one photo I found from the time period.  It seems it was also called the "Marysville Detention Center."  The description of the centers seems to be the same location so I think there was one and it was at this site.

 

Michael and I walked back so I could show him the sign - we enjoyed a nice sunset out there.

Why am I bringing this up? Because I feel this was a time in our history when our government acted very badly. I know there have been books written, but it seems there should be more of a museum/memorial telling this story.  This is a small area - maybe there ARE museums and memorials somewhere - I'm going to look for them.

It seems to me if we ignore our history - we very often repeat it. There are some ugly things in our country's history. I sense "government" could act very badly again - because we are humans and we will not learn from mistakes we refuse to acknowledge.

Note - this find came after being chased by 3 dogs....so it was worth it to face the barking frenzy. LOL