tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post8809206962682982801..comments2024-03-28T04:55:50.771-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: One Hundred Items: The Challenge #NancyMartinJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27681653352635864322015-11-10T19:22:43.746-05:002015-11-10T19:22:43.746-05:00Mary, if your niece is anything like my daughters ...Mary, if your niece is anything like my daughters (for whom I collected MANY things over the years!) she won't want any of it. It's disheartening, and yet.....I get it. I am still using my grandmother's sheets (!!( which are incredibly soft and wonderful to sleep in, but I admit I wouldn't have taken much else from her household, if I had the choice. So I understand why my girls want their own things. Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5999479824448959152015-11-10T19:20:24.251-05:002015-11-10T19:20:24.251-05:00Oh, KIm, I hear you on the arson threat! Pat, I wi...Oh, KIm, I hear you on the arson threat! Pat, I will confess to you (but don't tell my husband!) that I waited until he was on his annual 2-week motorcycle trip to clear out some of his stuff. And six months later? He hasn't noticed! But he finally got on board and is tossing a few things when I'm putting together my monthly Goodwill donations. He loves the tax breaks! Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81258072026858720562015-11-10T18:54:32.561-05:002015-11-10T18:54:32.561-05:00We have renamed the second bedroom "Room of R...We have renamed the second bedroom "Room of Requirement" but I am doing baby steps, giving away items the favorite niece can use and resisting the urge to replace, finishing a few projects before starting new ones . . . it's a start. Storytelling conferences often include a silent auction of items, like fancy vests and extra books, that might be "another person's treasure." That might be a fun addition to book conferences also. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5447575750441285912015-11-10T17:28:35.943-05:002015-11-10T17:28:35.943-05:00Optioned for TV? that is very very exciting!! all ...Optioned for TV? that is very very exciting!! all paws crossed...Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-4850773960099770702015-11-10T16:25:56.170-05:002015-11-10T16:25:56.170-05:00You are an inspiration! Note, I did not say role m...You are an inspiration! Note, I did not say role model. Just kidding. Actually, I am a tosser, oftentimes much to my regret. My husband on the other hand isn't happy if he is not collecting. He bragged to me that he once lived in a house where he had to conduct a tunnel to get through the garage where he stored his 'stuff.' I told him arson would be my cure, so he better get over it. Fortunately, I have been able to confine his clutter to one room. I think he's afraid of me.Kait carsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16521974060626498300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69083704983791372682015-11-10T13:23:39.258-05:002015-11-10T13:23:39.258-05:00I hate clutter. If I can't see the floor of my...I hate clutter. If I can't see the floor of my closet - that's my signal to get rid of stuff. If I can't see the bottom of the closet shelf - time to get rid of stuff. <br /><br />Books are the toughest to get rid of.<br /><br />Dru AnnDrunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79972438111666486182015-11-10T13:19:46.632-05:002015-11-10T13:19:46.632-05:00Miss Ruffles on TV! That would be wonderful. I nee...Miss Ruffles on TV! That would be wonderful. I need to throw out crap so bad it's not funny. What do you do when most of it belongs to your husband? We moved from a house with a basement (big purge there) to a house down south that has an attic you don't really want to use much of due to the heat. So we have a storage unit we pay rent on each month. Aagh. We have camping eauipment we've had since we got married 40+ years ago we don't use anymore. Someone likes his comforts too much to camp but doesn't want to get rid of the stuff. I have incorporated stuff from my parents' downsizing and stuff from my in-laws' changes in situation. I have most of my grown son's crap in the guest room that he occupies some of the time. Tons of books. Little stuff picked up on trips. Stuff, stuff, stuff. Crap, crap, crap. Help.Pat Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80471322816516962602015-11-10T12:58:53.989-05:002015-11-10T12:58:53.989-05:00Ps. Thanks for all the nice comments about Miss Ru...Ps. Thanks for all the nice comments about Miss Ruffles. Did I mention she has been optioned for TV? Keep your fingers crossed! (Or your paws?)Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29332082895769701942015-11-10T12:56:43.800-05:002015-11-10T12:56:43.800-05:00Sorry to be so long responding. Now in the Charlot...Sorry to be so long responding. Now in the Charlotte airport. (Do I have time to go grab a bbq sandwich?) I am glad to hear from fellow coverts. Paring Dow, lightening up--it often happens after some family upheaval. But I think we could do it sooner in life and--like Rhys in her 2nd home--will find the less-is-more lifestyle is very freeing!Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53489729640297475202015-11-10T12:42:06.309-05:002015-11-10T12:42:06.309-05:00Wow! I'm so impressed, Nancy. During this las...Wow! I'm so impressed, Nancy. During this last year, my house has been undergoing lots of renovation, and it's been necessary to go throw and get rid of stuff we've had since the kids were little. They are now 31 and 28. Nothing makes you want to purge like repainting and reflooring and a new bathroom. It makes the clutter especially ugly. I've done well in many ways, but there is still much to do, and I've realized that after the major purging, I need to go back and do a secondary purging of drawers and storage cabinets. I have made a tub for each child that contains papers and mementos from their childhoods and will pass those along to their rightful owners. And then, we have my books. I have weeded out many, many books, but I still have such a long way to go with paring down the number of books that take up major space in almost every room. I do have built-in bookshelves in three rooms, which helps, but those are now due a thorough weeding. <br /><br />I do know that I don't want my children to have to go through as much "stuff" as my siblings and I did when our parents died. My sweet mother held onto every piece of schoolwork I ever did. There were three attics and a basement bursting at the seams and closets and drawers and dishes and glassware and antiques. However, as hard as it was to go through everything, there were some lovely discoveries, too. Recently, I was talking to my son's fiance, with whom I'm very close, about my dedication to clearing out items, and she sweetly asked me to leave parts of me that represented who I am, to not purge too sharply. My son and she would actually be ones that would enjoy going through the mess and making those special discoveries, too. Now, my daughter is the Queen of Lean and constantly purges her house. I have a joke with the granddaughters that if you really like something I give you to hide it, so it will survive their mother's clearing outs. <br /><br />Nancy, you've inspired me to continue my efforts to clear out more. And, Miss Ruffles sounds delightful.Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8606003516114888752015-11-10T12:40:18.707-05:002015-11-10T12:40:18.707-05:00This is the best idea since bottled beer. I am st...This is the best idea since bottled beer. I am starting today. Actually I pretty much started yesterday by cleaning out that "drawer", you know, the one we all have somewhere. But I do have a question. We just came back from a couple of weeks in France, and I avoided buying almost everything, just a few gifts that have already been delivered. The man at customs didn't want to believe me when I said I was bringing back less than $100 of gifts and souvenirs! So my question is this: Do the things I didn't buy count as any of the 100?<br /><br />Bonjournee mes amis Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06496653912712709972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10679905643859540352015-11-10T12:25:26.048-05:002015-11-10T12:25:26.048-05:00Hi, Nancy! So with you! I moved my parents a half ...Hi, Nancy! So with you! I moved my parents a half dozen times in the last decade of their lives, purging every time. I swore I'd never do that to my daughter. And my parents didn't even live in a cluttered house! (Mine is probably much worse, sigh.) Two years ago a I did a huge book purge (about 400 volumes). There are still a lot of books, but only my two "to-read" cases are double-stacked now:-) This last year a friend (love you, Resa!!!) has helped me de-clutter almost all the closets, the dining room buffet and dresser, my closet, some of the kitchen, and best (or worst) of all, my horrible half of our downstairs office. There are some much-needed pockets left (my makeup drawer! The laundry room! Ugh!) And our attic, but that's another story. The point of all this being that this has made me so HAPPY. I can find things, and I don't feel so burdened by stuff.<br /><br />Now I'm going to try the 100 Things a Month, and am going to count my hangers...<br /><br />And read Miss Ruffles!!!Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70280401765752378762015-11-10T11:40:40.828-05:002015-11-10T11:40:40.828-05:00I am in awe. I do this every January (mine is GROI...I am in awe. I do this every January (mine is GROI: Get Rid of It!): 100 items FOR THE YEAR. I usually complete the challenge before January is over. Inspired by you, I'm stepping up my game in 2016! (My closets will be thankful.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07754229648422848542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41373411352665606382015-11-10T11:26:09.994-05:002015-11-10T11:26:09.994-05:00I grew up with the family philosophy of "If y...I grew up with the family philosophy of "If you throw it out today, you'll need it tomorrow." All too often it seems true.Libby Doddhttp://www.libbydoddart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75827477077915283882015-11-10T10:45:22.795-05:002015-11-10T10:45:22.795-05:00We are facing, with great reluctance, a book purge...We are facing, with great reluctance, a book purge. We have scads of books that we'll never read. The hardest? My original Nancy Drew collection. I haven't read them in ages, my daughter doesn't care for them, so is it responsible to let them molder in the basement? Probably not.<br /><br />It's about time for the 6-month closet purge. Every six months I ask, "Did I wear this?" and if the answer is "no," out it goes to St. Vincent de Paul. So I could to that 40 Hanger thing. I don't think I have 40 hangers in my closet now.<br /><br />I am a little scared to go in the attic, but most of that is not my stuff, so...Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16165738982760882952015-11-10T10:40:03.065-05:002015-11-10T10:40:03.065-05:00You are singing my song, Nancy. I've always be...You are singing my song, Nancy. I've always been reasonably good about getting rid of stuff, but we've lived in this house now for 13 years--more than twice as long as I've lived anywhere in my life--and stuff was encroaching. I've gotten ruthless in my closet and sealed the deal with my New Year's resolution--not buying anything for myself to wear this whole year (clothes, accessories, make-up). It's been very freeing in many ways. I don't know if I'm brave enough to embark on the 40 hangers challenge yet.Laura DiSilveriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01603655651769232107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79527350872617867392015-11-10T09:54:30.302-05:002015-11-10T09:54:30.302-05:00Nancy, I am going through the same thing. We final...Nancy, I am going through the same thing. We finally got rid of the last boxes of children's trophies, Star Trek costumes wtc and even Janes wedding dress. But I'm married to a man who keeps every letter he wrote to the water district in 1974. Trying to get him to discard stuff is impossible. And the children say "don't you dare die and leave us with all this!"<br /><br />That's why I love going to our condo in Arizona. No clutter and furnished as I want it!Rhysnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27413143967767223192015-11-10T09:52:39.764-05:002015-11-10T09:52:39.764-05:00Hi from hank! someone else is posting this since m...Hi from hank! someone else is posting this since my phone won't let me!<br />I am on a big purge binge too. And I love reading this.<br />I still keeping my Gramma Rose collection of white gloves and Gramma Minnie's shepherdesses. But jackets with huge shoulder pads and things that are no longer joyful are going going gone.<br />The specter of someone else saying "why would she gave THAT" is a great motivator .<br />Plus is is completely true that letting something go--which is how I think of it--is power. Sometimes I even thank it.<br />More to come -- and yay for Miss Ruffles!!!! Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54282336066420944672015-11-10T09:48:40.740-05:002015-11-10T09:48:40.740-05:00I could get rid of a hundred things a week and sti...I could get rid of a hundred things a week and still have too much stuff. Why do we keep stuff? And why does it take until we are older to realize it? <br /><br />I am getting better, I really only keep new things that I know I am going to use someday, but it's still hard to go back to those old things - clothes, pictures, knick-knacks, etc. - and throw them away. But I'm going to try.<br /><br />As for books, that is where the real problem lies for me. I get so many books now for review, that I just can't keep up with it and certainly don't have the space for it. With many of them being advanced copies, it does post a dilemma. But at the same time, I can't stop it, as I never know what is going to be "right" for the blog. I guess as far as addictions go, there are far worse.<br /><br />As for Forty Hangers - I love this idea. You would think this would be easier for a man, but not this man. LOL. It has helped that I have a sort of "uniform" for conference appearances, but still I could easily get rid of those items that I am never going to fit in again. Kristopherhttp://www.bolobooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1194840847028745292015-11-10T09:22:56.941-05:002015-11-10T09:22:56.941-05:00Brenda (and Ramona) wouldn't it be cool for us...Brenda (and Ramona) wouldn't it be cool for us all to congregate in a big parking lot with our truckloads of crap and just re-distribute?<br />Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53935334986625137422015-11-10T09:21:00.168-05:002015-11-10T09:21:00.168-05:00Karen, tmy purge of Halloween decor was EPIC!Karen, tmy purge of Halloween decor was EPIC!Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34726424090904038782015-11-10T09:15:54.493-05:002015-11-10T09:15:54.493-05:00Nancy,
Loved Miss Ruffles. Surely you can't me...Nancy,<br />Loved Miss Ruffles. Surely you can't mean to abandon these delicious characters after only one book!?!<br /><br />Kathy/KaitlynKathy Lynn Emersonhttp://www.kaitlyndunnett.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-12302484269296932132015-11-10T09:06:38.833-05:002015-11-10T09:06:38.833-05:00This post goes against everything I believe in! [w...This post goes against everything I believe in! [wink]<br /><br />I admire your resolve, mostly because I have none. My Aunt Jennie died last month. So far, I have agreed to accept a box of linens, some of her scarves, a set of wine goblets, and a turkey platter. She lived in Louisiana, so these things will have to be shipped.<br /><br />Is there a Collectors Anonymous? If so, sign me in.Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00627775403015684868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-44887762614822384322015-11-10T09:04:23.621-05:002015-11-10T09:04:23.621-05:00Nancy, I am envious.
We had some weatherization ...Nancy, I am envious. <br /><br />We had some weatherization work done at our house last week and it required moving stuff around in our basement and clearing out a closet so the crew could get up into our attic. We were mildly appalled to come face to face with all that we have accumulated, and have vowed to start our own cull of belongings. Thanks for the inspiration. <br /><br />Miss Ruffles Inherits Everything sounds wonderful!Brenda Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161539130987122737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-32893885640711819572015-11-10T08:58:42.769-05:002015-11-10T08:58:42.769-05:00We just had a Halloween party, and I decorated the...We just had a Halloween party, and I decorated the house to the nth degree. Several people asked me if we had a storage unit. No, but we do have an attic, and a basement. Which used to be a lot more full of non-Halloween stuff than they are now, but I have been clearing out for nine years, a little at a time. <br /><br />Thirty years in the same place, raising three kids, writing five books (and researching a few more), and having four businesses, all add up to truckloads of stuff. On top of which, I dismantled my in-laws' homd, and helped my mother move from her bulging-with-stuff home to a mother-in-law suite at my brother's. Enough, already. <br /><br />Looking forward to getting acquainted with Miss Ruffles!Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.com