Overtime accumulation

I had a fantastic thing happen to me this week.  I was confronted by a sweet voice asking me two questions:

1.  Why would you need all of those vases?

2.  Is there a reason why you haven't changed your bright emerald green carpet from the early 90s - all 2500 square feet of it?

The answer to the above questions was, "I don't know."

It's not because I am a collector of vases and its not because I've enjoyed living on turf but when life continues to move forward sometimes you just put things in cupboards or you stop looking down.

So, first for the vases...

I believe there are three types of people:

Collectors

Hoarders

Minimalists

I have chosen today to be a minimalist.  I am cleaning out.  After 15 years, I've saved (for whatever reason) roughly 25 vases; most are from flowers I've received over the years and some are antiques.  

When my grandma died in 2008, I was the depository for most of her items.  My mom thought since I had most of the room in my home, I should take grandma's vases, dishes, vintage clothes and some handbags.  Mind you - I don't mind the sentimental value of those items however how many vases should I keep and for who?  Please notice, I'm not doing anything with clothes or handbags :)

It's a bit scary to open a cupboard and find all of them there - I flash back to a scene from someones car with mounds of paper, glasses and recycled items.  

Could I be a glass recylcler? - BTW,  'recycler' is a made up word  - urban dictionary would be so proud -  or could I be like a person who uses their car as a storage unit?

That is a nightmare.

Recently, I've had conversations with others about their organizational skills at home.  Some have pathways they walk around, others don't want to get rid of anything in fear they may need it and then there are those that have a case of OCD and are scared of dust and particles living on anything.  I get it...everyone is different but what is the best way for me?  I want to be efficient.  I want to be cost sensitive and what I am doing right now is rationalizing my hoarding like tendencies so Barb, get rid of the vases and have a garage sale.  That is what I am going to do...I am going to encourage (real word is enable) others to hoard.  Please, come buy my junk and add to your disease of collection.  

Question 1 - SOLVED

Now, question 2.  That emerald green carpet.  When my X and I bought our house in 2000, I had vision.  Yes, I saw the deep green, swap-like carpet but I told myself, I'll lay new carpet.

HA

Now, 12 years later, the green carpet still exists.  Talk about dust collection. 

The cats are doing their part to remove it.  Frankie and Cooper love to scratch on the staircase - believe it or not it's quite good carpet and has held its durability and COLOR well.  

But, as my little sweet voice said, "Barb, it's time to do something about the carpet."

OK!  

Yesterday, I confirmed an appointment to have the luxurious emerald green carpet removed and replaced with a more neutral oatmeal color.  Some may say, "how boring." 

Well, I've tried living with wild...for 12 years now so I think boring, neutral oatmeal carpet will be a refreshing change and will get me on the path of moving on. 

Bye bye emerald green - a blast from my past and hello oatmeal - I am sure you will be much better for me and healthier too.

Chocolate droppings

I would like to challenge a blog post I read from an Alaskan resident.  She states, "Only in Alaska do you look in your rear view mirror of your car to see if there's a moose in your driveway before you back out of your garage in the morning."

I completely disagree because Wednesday morning it happened in eastern Washington to me of all people.  As I pushed my garage door opener the door raised slowly and there it was.  A calf moose sleeping in my driveway.  It was larger than my new car.  I've heard some real horror stories of how mean they are and situations where they've charged cars but what was I supposed to do?  I was in my garage.  I was in my car.  I was attempting to make my way to work. 

And then I noticed two more moose.  Yes.  It was mama moose and her sister or maybe it was her oldest but I was witnessing mom eating breakfast on my bushes and auntie doing her business on my front lawn and baby calf taking a little snooze.

I looked down at my phone - not to take a picture mind you. I was enamored by their size and beauty, I forgot entirely to click the camera.  I did however text my colleagues at work.  "I will be a bit late for work.  There is a family of moose impeding my progress this morning."  I loved one of my return responses from a coworker.  "Don't just sit there...shoot them."  Oh yeah right.  Me, shoot them.  Am I to use my BB gun that I purchased last year for my woodpecker problem?  That worked so well for me last year.  

I didn't shut the garage door as I didn't want to asphyxiate myself nor did I want to honk as to cause a ruckus so I waited for about 25 minutes until they sauntered off on up the hill.  

Then I thought, "no one is going to believe this...I didn't get photos."

So, the next morning I was ready.  I had my camera and I slowly opened the garage door but no luck.  No moose this morning.  As I turned to go back into the house I looked over at my neighbor's backyard and there they were.  Clearly they didn't want to make me late to work again but they did leave traces for me in my yard...little 'chocolate' presents that will be gone come spring time.  

Pictured:  Proof of my tardiness to work.  Dear moose:  I will share my space with you anytime and thank you for sharing your space with me.  It was surreal.