The Year of Decrapification

So much stuff!!  From where does it come?  Well, we all know the answer to that:  it can only come into the house if the occupants let it.  

I finally got my act together enough to clear out the stuff I had put in my nephew's room here at my house.  Most of this has already been taken to the Goodwill donation truck.  Another small box is going this morning.  And then there are a few things that are going to my mother's house to be stored in her shop for the yard sale we are having this spring. 

Items from Mr. GV's closet:  coat, shirts, exercise clothes, hat, tie, etc. 

Prom/banquet dresses from 25 years ago.  Why was I hanging on to these?  Sentimental I guess, but now I am so glad they are gone.  The black one might be stylish enough to wear even now but the rest?  Maybe someone would like to make cute pillows or dress up clothes for their girls out of them?  

A wreath that was a gift when my Dad died.  It hung in my spare room (now cat room) where I didn't have to see it very often.  Although it's pretty, it makes me sad to look at it because of the event associated with it, so out it goes.  

Totally random items--water bottles, thermometer, phone case, microwave turntable, storage containers, fanny pack, shoelaces, and so on. 

The few toy items I had.  

Electronics!  Is this the bane of everyone else's decluttering process?  I put the cameras, phone, GPS, and one of the cords in a box for the yard sale, but the rest is gone to GW.  

Houseshoes, notebook, floor puzzle, knife, bag.  Plus a small box of items GW would throw out so I'm going to put them at the yard sale as free.  

Puzzle, lampshade, belt, child learning cards, MY GRADUATION HAT from 500 years ago.  Yep I'm sure someone will want that piece of cardboard and fabric.  

A nice storage container on wheels.  The top is slightly bowed because I had heavy items on top of it, but if counterweight is applied I think it could be fixed.  When you get rid of lots of things, you have no need for as many organizational containers.  

Capri jeans that have multiple buttons for the fly and a couple pillowcases.  

Purses, a few clothing items, horseshoes, water shoes.  Duffle bags are going to the yard sale. 

All going to the yard sale:  guitar (being returned to my mom who is the actual owner for her to sale), kid's chair, fireplace screen, camping mat, photo printer. 

I am SO glad to get these things out of my house.  There is still quite a bit to be done.  It's all the hidden type of items now:  old laptops in the top of a closet, not really bothering anyone but getting on my last nerve because I know they are there, sentimental items packed away in a closet, too many T-shirts clogging up a dresser drawer.  

Pressure Cooking

 I grew up only knowing pressure cookers as something to be a little bit scared of, and was constantly told to stay out of the kitchen when canning was happening because it might blow up.  My parents and grandparents raised large gardens and there was always canning to be done before the season was over.  It was a big process but it was the way things used to be done when my parents and grandparents were growing up, and I am glad to have experienced it.  The heat and the jiggling of the pressure cooker are memories of my childhood that I doubt I ever forget.  Neither will the rows of beautiful vegetables and soups disappear from my mind's eye.  

But today's pressure cookers are much safer and now I know they are not just for canning!  For Christmas, I requested and received Vegan Pressure Cooking by JL Fields.  And last week I was ready to give the first recipe a try.  

Mr. GV is a big fan of mushrooms and also of greens, so the Beans and Greens Soup from the cookbook was the perfect recipe.  Verdict?  Delicious! The vegetables were cooked perfectly and the flavor was great.  It's a little spicy for my taste, but Mr. GV likes the heat so it is perfect for him.  Next time I will probably make it a little less spicy so that I can enjoy it as well.  

I've also cooked in the pressure cooker a few more times since the beginning of the year.  I made black eyed peas twice.  Easy peasy.  (Ahem.)   I rinsed my dried beans (no soaking needed) and cooked on normal (high) pressure for 10 minutes.  I also made brown rice using the recommended times in Vegan Pressure Cooking and it came out perfectly.   I just might be able to get rid of my regular rice cooker!  

A new year

Happy new year everyone!  I've been gone since mid-November.  Lots of life to live and I put the blog last.  I do enjoy posting here and having a place for memories, so my intention is to get back to posting more often.  

To start off the year, I decided to make a list of things I'd like to work on, and I thought I'd share that with you.  I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't do them all, and in fact some of them might drop off my list as time goes on.  We will see!  

2015

-Reading:  Set a goal, something fun—alphabetical, one fiction/one nonfiction, or other ideas to just read more.  I have shelves full of books that I want to read. 

-Blog:  Get on a regular schedule for posting, even if that is just once a week.

-Kitchen:  Homemade bread, try new recipes, use up pantry items, set a grocery budget

-Declutter:  One in/one out rule

-Household:  Set up a regular cleaning schedule  

-Exercise:  Get back to walking and rotate dogs to take along

-Photography:  Learn to use manual settings

-Humane society:  Promote on social media, work on grants, new adoption ideas

-Use it or lose it:  Cookbooks, electronic gadgets, kitchen items, clothing.

Would anyone else like to share a list of goals or just an item you would like to work on in 2015?  Good luck!  I know even those who say they don't make resolutions or set goals probably still have at least one thing they would like to change about their life.