The Beginning of my Journey of Decluttering

This past March we had an architect, Donald Sherefkin, come out to the house to help us figure out ways to make an addition.  We were not ready to start the additions but we didn't want to be improving gardens in areas where we inevitably might expand.  We learned so much that day.  Good things, funny things, a-ha things.  If you live in Southern Vermont area I can not recommend Donald Sherefkin enough.

We will put an addition on someday - mainly because we don't have a bathroom on our sleeping level and as we age - this will become more important.  Here is what I think the funny part of the discussion unveiled -- I would like a garage and my husband wants a bigger kitchen.  This cracks me up as it is a stereotypical gender reversal.  To make it unfunny I can explain why.  I'm the one that gets bundled up and goes out to move the cars when the plow guy comes.  I'm not sure why my husband doesn't care about this - the more we do this the bigger our driveway is all winter long.  My husband wants a bigger kitchen as his family had restaurants as he was growing up.  He believes he would cook more if he had a bigger kitchen.  I personally love the size of our kitchen because everything is so close I can get things out and put things away so much faster.  But I'm also for him cooking more often.

So we are several years away from being ready for the addition.  I learned more things from Donald that day- my husband wanted a gaming room again and I need a weaving studio with better light.  One day shortly there after he was at a seminar up in Burlington for the day.  I took advantage of this day and took my Leclerc Nilas loom completely apart.  I then lined the parts up at the bottom of the stairs and hired my lovely young neighbor to bring the pieces up a couple of flights to our bedroom.  An hour later and she held some pieces together so I could begin the process of putting it back together.  I've mentioned this in an earlier blog post when I was doing the finishing touches with my niece.  I wasn't able to get everything set up the way I wanted to - but I did get the room completely emptied out - a clean slate for him.

Photo Credit to Jeannine Bakriges, part of her 2010 Summer Spin-Off article 

Late summer my seven foot triangle loom came back home to live with me again - I had loaned it out to a friend.  I use the looms more frequently so they stay but sadly the great wheel needs a new home.  I just placed an add on the Spinner's and Weaver's Housecleaning Pages for the wheel.  While I was at it I put my five pitch Indigo Hound English combs and my single pitch Louet mini combs up on the site.  I think this in conjunction with my brother-in-law turning me on to Unclutter and my already following the financial practices of Dave Ramsey and my journey is off.to a less cluttered existence was successfully catapulted.

More to follow on the next decluttering leap soon. . .

PS Leslie - I hear your voice in my head about you holding onto my English Combs - but really - this is what I want to do.  Thank you anyway for your generous offer.