It has been an up and down week. The beginning of the week we still had wildfires out of control, with the air full of smoke for a couple of days. Rain brought some relief, thank goodness. The clear blue sky with a few clouds was a welcome sight after a night of rain. At this point, the fires are under control, 79-100% contained, the evacuation zones have been canceled, and the burn ban is lifted.
The redbud is blooming in full now. Usually I spend some time out on the veranda with my good camera to once again try to get a photo of a pretty bird in the blooms, but there has not been a day to do this either due to smoke or rain, or heat with high humidity later in the week. The tree is looking a bit scraggly after losing more branches in the hurricane.
Gorgeous blooms aren’t they?
On the bird house, someone was checking it out. I thought the bluebirds were going to use it, but this one wasn’t blue. I waited to see what it would do.
A few minutes later, it went inside and popped its head up. It is a chickadee!
It stayed inside the house quite a while, popping its head up, then disappearing again down to the bottom. Was it building a nest? I don’t know.
On the feeder, the goldfinches are changing to their summer bright yellow. They look at bit mottled right now, but soon will be bright yellow all over.
In the meadow, a few turkeys came to visit. Two females were pecking around for bugs and seeds.
One was closer to the forest edge, scratching in the dirt for choice morsels.
After a few minutes, they ambled across the driveway. They didn’t come up for tidbits from me, but moved on quickly. The azaleas are almost ready to burst into bloom, as you can see behind the turkey. But we will have a Blackberry Winter this coming week, what we call a freeze in April when the blackberry bushes bloom. That may kill off some blooms. The white one is usually first to bloom, but it is lagging behind this year.
A lone deer was standing motionless at the edge of the driveway early one overcast morning. She stayed there for quite a few minutes, not moving a muscle. She was alone, and I wonder where the others are.
Behind her, in the forest, another cherry tree is blooming beautifully.
Inside, the amaryllis is making good progress, and it may be in bloom in another week or so. The orchid’s flower spike is getting longer. Those violet blooms have been pretty like this for weeks now.
In the sewing room, I have created a total mess. I am going through everything to pare down and clean out. I put two of my antique sewing machines up for sale, and sold both of them. I decided to give up on the old Brother embroidery machine as the screen is just too dark to really see the motifs. The foot control connection is fried, so the only way it sews is by using the start stop button. So, I took it apart, separating the good parts from the machine. This will leave me more space on the table for my other embroidery machine, and the laptop that holds all the embroidery designs I’ve bought on the internet.
I made up two lots for listing on ebay. One is the embroidery unit attachment with all the remaining cards and hoops. The other is a parts listing with the accessory case, some sewing feet, instruction manual, bobbin race and other parts for this model machine. Then, I pulled all my oil painting supplies and put those on Craigslist. I am going to admit I have no talent for oils and get rid of the supplies taking up space. Our Area is doing a Declutter Challenge, so these things work into that. The plan is the same as the 21-day challenge, but we are taking a year, doing just a few things a month. So, I have now done the machines, the garbage and the squatters (the oil painting stuff). I don’t have any subscriptions anymore, so that was a quick check off.
The hardest part, and the thing that will take the most time is the fabric and the scraps. But if we find a smaller home, and make the decision to move, I will not have nearly as much space as I have in my current basement. So, I am paring down now. It is a process, and takes a lot of time. It will take weeks to get to every part of the house, but I need to get to the office closet next. There is so much junk in there that I will never need. Then the gardening stuff needs going through too. But that will have to wait until after the coming freeze, then I can begin moving the potted plants to the veranda and make some decision there.
I just cleaned my closet in January, and when I got out the spring colors this past week, I realized I have to do it again more brutally. I just have so many more clothes than I need. I mean really, why do I have 4 black short sleeve sweaters? I don’t really know. All I can tell you is they are all different in style and embellishment, and I like all of them. But now that it is warm enough to wear them, it is a time when I want lighter colors. Ah, well. Maybe I’ll decide about them in the fall, when darker colors are wanted, but it is still too warm for long sleeves. So, some things went into drawers and more hanging things are in softer spring hues.
I’ve been spring cleaning the house this week, too, doing deep cleaning, moving things around to clean behind them, pulling out appliances, getting the windowsills and tops of cabinets. It is a good time to go through everything. What do I like enough to move? What can I let go of? Oh, don’t worry, we aren’t going anywhere soon, and when we do it will be right here in Henderson county. We are just beginning to look at what we might do. For now, we will enjoy the wildlife and the view across the valley. We’ll cook out and eat on the veranda, and enjoy it as long as we can. But in the meantime, boxes will be going to the thrift store and elsewhere.
Do you do Spring Cleaning? Have you done a declutter challenge?
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From My Carolina Home 
i am always in a decluttering mode…esp since cleaning out my mom’s apartment last year…so i have pared down quite a bit…and no i haven’t started spring cleaning just yet as some quilty tasks need to be done first…and for the rainy season to end as i like sunny days and open windows for it…kitchen is the most time consuming…
Spring is showing up in your mountains! I need to purge so many clothes and hopefully will do so in the near future. It is pouring rain here this morning with possible tornadoes. Happy Sunday, Carole!
You are well into spring, inside and out! I will wait for my declutter and major spring cleaning until my 2 week break from lessons in May. But I have hopes to get the library from junk room to usable space and to clear out the closet in my sewing room. Both still have things that belong to the girls, that I need to catalog and have them decide to either keep, throw or repurpose. Until then, I will attempt to go through the more accessible closets and storage areas.
Well done and a great start on your decluttering. You’ve done some big things and I say hats off. I’m not a good cleaner. I’m a good picker-upper. And boy, it’s hard to part with things. I took some silver to sell — jewelry I’d not worn in ages and what I thought was some sterling (larger pieces) that ended up being silverplate so not accepted. I’ll try elsewhere but suspect I’ll get the same story. So, just when I made the emotional commitment to release, I couldn’t! Well, onward!
Our ladies group had a craft swap at church last month so it was a great incentive to re-home paper craft supplies and fabric. There is still a lot to to through, and closets are next on my list, but it was a great start!
We have a small house and I’ve always tried to limit acquisitions. Generally nothing came in unless something went out, except – sewing machines. In answer to the husband’s inquiry, “do you actually use all of them?” I replied “more than you’ve used that radial saw taking up half the garage for the last 50 years.” And it’s the truth – every one gets a chance to strut her stuff every year.
There’s nothing like a quick home sale (one day in our case) and a move across the country that requires immediate decisions. Yet we still found when we got to CA there was far more we should have culled. Be ruthless now!
I started my declutter project a year or two before Covid hit. I took a drawer or shelf or cabinet each day for about 15-20 minutes. Took me several months to go through the whole house, but it was awesome! I don’t have much sentimental attachment to things, so it was easy to offer rid of stuff. If I wasn’t using it, it went. If I thought I might use it in the future, I tagged it with a date, and if I used it within a year, the tag came off. If I didn’t, the item went! I’ve now gone through the house several times. I’ll just notice a drawer or cabinet getting cluttered and figure there is still too much stuff I’m not using. It feels so good when it’s all gone! I now keep a bucket under a table in my office, and when I come across something I want to get rid of, it goes in the bucket. When the bucket if full, off we go to Goodwill. It works so well. I wish you great success in your decluttering project!
What a beautiful part of country you live in!
You seem to be ahead of the game..yes I should be doing all of this too but…haven’t yet..the urge will hit one day.
I was just saying I need to go through my closet again and dresser drawers and be strong and get rid of a lot – I just do not wear so many of the things hanging and why I keep a shirt I have not worn in 3 or 4 years “just in case” is crazy.
Whew, that is a lot of decluttering. I hope you feel lighter afterwards! Its one of my favorite things to do, carrying out things I no longer need for other people to use.
Cheering on your declutter! You are making good decisions and someone will benefit!
The pictures of the chickadee are precious. I love to watch the antics of the chickadees!
Have a wonderful week!
I’m so glad you’ve gotten some rain to clear the air and help control the fires. Living in dry Colorado, I know all about how awful that smoky air can be, and how destructive the fires are, too. Love seeing your birds and wildlife! It would be fun to see a chickadee nest in your birdhouse and hatch some babies – we’ve had that happen here. Good luck with your clean out and getting rid of things – we could stand to do that here, too!
Yes! I’ve some decluttering challenges. But after having to deal with my mother-in-law’s belongings I’m purging more. We haven’t talked much about moving, but I think it will come at some point and the more I can deal with now the less I will have to deal with down the road!!
My goal is a few minutes everyday. Some always, but I aim for it!
My husband is on his way for his 4th trip to the mountains since Helene to help with disaster recovery. I sent along a quilt for him to give to whatever homeowner they work with this week.
There are some good tips in the comments too! I sorted out some clothes when I retired last year but there is more to do. I have some trinkets to go up on ebay as well, sometimes I don’t do more than cover the fees and shipping but at least I don’t have to dust the item anymore.
Oh Carole, I really feel your pain. We actually just purchased a down sized home in another town and are de-cluttering our current home of 33 years! We purchased the home under construction at the end of October and began our purge. We closed on the completed home in the middle of February and are still not out of this house, although there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I feel so much better about getting rid of the “extra” craft supplies. If you are beginning now, you will be a leg up when you actually move! (My kids have told me how happy they are that we are doing this now instead of them having to do it later :-))
I love seeing all of the wildlife being so active in your area. Spring has sprung for sure. The flip-flop weather here has turned back to jackets and shoes & sox! I am working on an embroidery machine project with hummingbirds and have been studying all the various colors, trying to make a good decision on which one to replicate. I wish you good luck with the clearing out. Spring brings on the need for a deep clean. I want to fling open the doors to let in the fresh air, but then I find pollen on every flat surface in the house. More cleaning!
When my amaryllis plants bloom, it takes quite a bit of time before the bud actually opens. Just have to be patient. How’s that orchid coming along? You didn’t really give us an idea of the progress there. Mine has started blooming again on an old stalk. I’ve got 3 flowers currently. Purging belongings takes time & guts. Good job.
We used to have Chickadees Titmouses nest in our boxes when we first put them up but we haven’t had either in at least 10 years.
We downsized about 4 years ago and it felt good leaving stuff behind. But now I’ve started spring cleaning by washing windows, blinds, cupboards, and moving the appliances, I lelft our bedroom and my sewing room for last as they are going to take a lot of time. I can probably get rid of more stuff but not sure I want to yet. I did go through my quilt patterns and am getting rid of quite a few of them. I haven’t done the books or fabric yet.
I am so pleased that you have had some relief from the smoke. I also hope the fires can be out soon. Such a worry.
Your red bud tree is beautiful. Isn’t it lovely to see that even after the storm damage that it still celebrates spring.
Good luck with the de-cluttering. We tend to do it on a regular basis all year through. Sometimes just a cupboard or drawer, sometimes a whole room. Definitely worth it if you are looking at downsizing.
Don’t you wonder how you managed to collect so much ‘stuff’ around you. In our case we are storing our daughters ‘stuff’ from when she decided to move to the UK then on to USA. We always hoped she would return and sort it out so we keep shuffling around the stack!!
Your garden is coming to life as spring arrives. All the birds getting busy too. No wonder you want to make more space in your own nest.
Good to hear that the rain arrived in time to snuff out the fires and clean the air.
Mary :))
It;s so great to have Spring arriving – gardening, birding! We just finished our big moved and retired! And still….. Spring cleaning to be done! How did that happen!? I am so happy for you that smoke is less and your red bud made it! Blessings!