Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Essential Old-House Equipment

People who live in older homes immediately understand the significance of having these two items on hand when one is rearranging the furniture.



The floors in this old place of ours are anything but level.  In 160+ years since it was built, stuff has settled.  All it takes to deal with this is a quick check with the level, and a shim or two to set things to rights.

*************************
I mention this because I have been on a tear since late last week.  I am fed up with the clutter and crap that has accumulated in our living room, and I am determined to do something about it.  I have rearranged some furniture, sorted through piles and boxes, and have already made two trips to the charity store.  Lots more is still left to do, but I can see progress ... and progress fuels motivation.  We will see how long this spell lasts.  

24 comments:

  1. I keep looking at things knowing I want to get rid of stuff but I've hurt my back and can't do anything...so I guess I'll go stick my nose in a book!!

    Linda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have told you before, and I will continue to tell you loud and often ... you are my downsizing and decluttering hero. The amount of work you before you moved, and what you did when you moved your mom, is an inspiration!

      I'm really sorry about your back. I hope it feels better soon.

      Delete
  2. Great minds think alike, Connie. I am doing the same thing here! It feels good although I pat each thing longingly as I place it in the back of the car. lol xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha I do that too! I can't look at it in my trunk too long or it will walk right back in the house. I'm always more inspired to clear out in the fall than during traditional "spring cleaning" time. Maybe it's because I know I'm going to be spending so much more time inside. Orrrrr maybe it's just so I can buy more stuff during the holidays :)

      Delete
    2. Diana, we are more alike than different, you and I. I am being really ruthless. If something isn’t useful or needed, out it goes!

      Delete
    3. Stephen, I haven't yet reclaimed something from my 'Donate' pile once it goes there. I make a list, put it into the Jeep, and out it goes! Years of acquiring and accumulating have transitioned to downsizing and simplifying. The shop I donate to uses its profits to support a local multi-breed animal rescue. Less stuff in my house = support for animal rescue ... win win!!

      Delete
  3. I have shims everywhere... even under the bed! LOL
    Good luck with the downsizing and decluttering, I had to move to get me to do that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew that you would understand! In our move here in 2007, everything we had came with us. It's been a challenge and a chore to go through things and gradually get rid of what doesn't matter. There is still so much more to do. I'm taking any type of progress and a victory.

      Delete
  4. I need to get rid of things... but I won't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is no such thing as the 'possession police' and no one can tell you to get rid of things. I've needed to do this for a long time, and I'm just now getting up the energy to tackle it. Will I get to the point where anyone else can tell a difference? Probably not. I expect to ride out this phase and not make a noticeable dent in our stuff. All I want to do for now is to be able to use our living room, which has degraded into a hoarder's paradise. I'm getting there.

      Delete
  5. Shims are a great thing to have on hand.

    I am getting ready to participate in an indoor flea market so am going through things I've collected through the years, (cheaply) and don't really need them sitting around collecting more dust, so out they go. It feels good and I hope to add a little $ to my income in this way.

    Other things have already gone to the thrift stores.

    Happy Fall ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Once I made peace with the fact that my things will have a new life in someone else's world, even though I will miss some of them, and that the charity shop that I donate to will reap the profits and fuel their mission (it supports an animal sanctuary), I was totally gung ho.

      Delete
  6. Though only 115 years old, am living your life now !!

    Pack of shims & level.....

    Along with to-do list miles long.

    life is good.

    XOT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think your 115 year old house is wonderful! Don't forget to enjoy the journey as you are focused on your To Do list.

      Delete
  7. Bravo, Connie! We are in the "letting go" stage in a big way. We started with our garage, which also has a basement. I would be embarrassed to tell you how many days and trips to the landfill and charity thrift shop that we made. Now there's an echo in the garage! Plus, we can actually park our vehicles in it if we wish. ;-) Next up is the house with a focus on closets and some functional furniture we simply don't need. We're looking forward to it! Once you start letting go, you feel so much freer that you don't want to stop, right? Good for you all!

    Btw, most restaurants would really benefit from some of those shims for their tables. A wobbly table seems to be pretty common these days.

    Shirley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Shirley, you are gonna be my new hero! I'm focused on just this one room, because the enormity of what we have stuffed into the basement and garages (yes, plural) is too much for me to fathom.

      I have found that many restaurant tables have leveling feet ... the employees just don't take the time to use them.

      Delete
  8. You too? It feels wonderful clearing out and hauling stuff off, doesn't it? I started with my closet and drawers. 4 trips to Goodwill so far. Nothing is sacred and I'm in the mood. Good luck with your clean-out!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a phase. When we get to a certain age/stage of life, it's time to stop acquiring and to be satisfied with enough.

      I will have to show you what I did in my closet the week before. It was dramatic.

      Delete
  9. I am a sad and unfortunate cross of intensely sentimental and, ok, I'll use the word,... hoarder. (though my house does NOT look like the ones on the show -- no stacks and definitely no animals, dead or alive. I've inherited many beautiful antique pieces from both grandmothers and from my sister who passed away, including benches and furniture my father built as a young man. There's no way I could ever even consider parting with them. Good grief!! I still have some of my sisters sweaters that will probably never be in fashion again.... but they were hers!!!! UGH. Perhaps I need help...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I told Ms. A, there is no one who polices your home and possessions. We all make our own choices, and it's no one's place to judge. You will notice that I did not take photos of the stuff crammed into my living room ... just the shims and level, sitting there in the sunbeam.

      I have very little from when I was younger, and not much from family right now. The few things that I do have are permanent, and I have had to find ways to use them. There's a lot of comfort in being surrounded by family stuff, so I totally understand where you're coming from.

      Delete
  10. I have these little plastic shims, they are plumbing shims, learned about them from Joan at "for the love of a house". And in my little old house, everything has a shim under it...had to use the wooden shims under the grandfather clock in the foyer, even after Bob put leveling feet on it. It's what we do, and part of the charm! I have been going through stuff all summer, every week there are at least six bags that are going to charity, and more to go through. I also am not buying as much stuff, pick it up, think do I really need this, and more times than not, put it down. Purge away!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You and I are doing the same thing. I rarely shop anymore, because I have enough. Sometimes, I stumble across something irresistible (something that I can justify buying) and I do it without remorse.

      Delete
  11. My house is 100 yrs old, so I get that.
    AND I too have accumulated so much stuff.
    I finally got a booth out at a flea market/antique mall.
    (I was on the waiting list forever!) and I'm into the 3rd month and I'm FINALLY making a dent in the stuff in my home.
    It feels good to CLEAR out the house and make a couple of bucks.
    But now I've also scheduled a special trash pick-up and I am doing some major sorting.
    What I can't sell, gets trashed.
    Truly, someday it will be the minimalist life for me!
    LOL!
    well, ok, not totally. Let's just say more simple and tidy..
    Except for the critters. Of course.
    ;)
    You go girl! Keep going!!! You can do it!
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's awesome that your stuff is selling at your booth! Around here, the market is flooded with stuff and I can't justify the stress of trying to manage sales. I thought about listing certain things on Craigslist, but decided against that, too. The thrift shop that I donate to uses its profits for an all-breed animal sanctuary in the next county. I donate all my best stuff to them.

      My goal is to have a house full of things that I use, instead of things that I store. We'll see if I can keep it up. One room at a time.

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by and reading what I share. Comments are welcome and very much appreciated. Spam and trolls are not!

Related Posts with Thumbnails