Best Of

Why is when you seek to organize, you have to create clutter and chaos, first, LOL? The closet is pretty much done. The floor for the moment is clear and I have only one or 2 items that may need to be put back in there.

The shelves are organized, storage bins have been sorted through and labeled with contents. I found leather and suede gloves that can be donated since they no longer fit, and are in very good shape. Some others have seen better days and were tossed. Coats were organized into lengths and types (heavy versus light), raincoats grouped (lined versus unlined) and while most have been kept for the moment, they can be culled in the future if unworn.

I was actually able to recycle an IKEA metal box, they no longer carry sadly, to store my collection of baseball caps (though none represent any baseball teams, LOL, just ports of call). They were relocated from my bedroom closet. I have the smaller metal box to designate for another purpose unrelated to this closet. I repaired an ancient cardboard hat box (the lid had broken) to hold some fur hats I own and will put a note about contents in it. I will relocate a mink collar to this closet since it matches one of the hats. I am pleased with the finished look and now knowing not only what I have, but also where it is when I need it.

I had a large Rubbermaid bin made for wrapping paper storage that contained occasion paper such as birthdays, weddings, etc. I cleared out the paper I no longer have use, will donate any that is usable, and keep a few I will use. I found some Christmas paper that needs to go in the bins I have for it.

I finished the base of the hall tree clean out and decided the fate of the contents. Most will be gifted to others for use or have been tossed. What remained was organized into shoe boxes, labeled and returned to the base. It is so neat and the contents are easily accessible. This is an enclosed base so no one sees what is stored in there. I have a large bag of gift wrappings/bags to be donated.

I had to cancel this Wednesday's Vietnam Vet pickup because the driveway is still too icy for anyone to try to use. I rescheduled for early February hoping we will have a clear driveway then. DB has canceled for tomorrow due to a local emergency, and I may have to cancel for Wednesday as well depending upon the state of the driveway.

Taco, glad you are enjoying nice weather. Wallycat, I could send you some snow if you are interested. I won't miss it at all. I'm not sure where you are located, but it is no longer the midwest?

carole, I don't know why I find cold and clear weather to be associated with LA. I expected it to be a tad warmer.

Chris, from your lips to God's ear about my pain and thanks for the acknowledgment. I know you suffer with your hands, too. DD gave me a hand mitt filled with beans (?) and herbs that I can throw in the microwave to heat up to use on either hand. It is great. Stay warm and be safe with your polar weather.

harley0, I am sure those books with your trip photos are lovely and I wish I had the patience to do that. DH makes CD's with our photos and adds a music track. Stay warm, too.

Sandy, glad to read how well the show went and hope that next year you get a bigger role. I am impressed by your musicality: singing and being able to play instruments. My GM played the organ, violin and piano, taught all 3, and never offered to teach me. I have her violin and am considering having someone evaluate whether it could be donated to someone who could use it.

cindyny, how did your closet project turn out?

wren4, hope your new treatment continues to show it is working.

teka, I am not a fish person, but that meal did look good.

petite1, hope your BFF is back on her feet and your stressors have diminished.

Hope everyone had a great day and waving "hi" to everyone. It is currently 28 degrees with a feels like much lower, and expected to go to 17 with a feels like of 0 degrees overnight. I've had enough of winter.

it is -3 with a wind chill of-25 and we had snow over night. DH plans to go to the gym but I’ll be staying inside today

Sandy - glad to hear the bar show was a success. Lots of fun traveling to look forward to. Enjoy your birthday in NOLA

Betrayal - I envy your housecleaning and organizational skills. I’m trying to get inspired but just can’t work up the motivation. My plan is to work on my photo book for the Spain trip today

Take care!

Taco, LOL at your vision of me as reading posts with a red pen in my hand! Your life seems very pleasant to me. I started learning bridge a decade ago and stopped because I was needed as a caregiver for my mother. I have time now but haven't taken the steps to get involved with the local bridge organization.

Good football games this weekend. DH is from Chicago area. The Bears game was a disappointment and the loss unnecessary. I got up in disgust and didn't watch the last minutes of the game.

Betrayal, I hope you continue to get relief from the back pain. I enjoy your talk about your birds.

We're cold this morning but the sun is out. My laptop isn't telling me the temperature but the tv tells me it was in the 20's when we got up. I don't share Wally's envy of those living with snow and ice. I'm happy with sunny, crisp cold.

DH went to the gym earlier. Normally he takes my Prius, but today he took his Ford truck with heated seats. I'll go later. Haven't decided whether to attend Penny's class or do my own workout. She's a new instructor and I'm not a big fan of her class.

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I used to have a hand wax bath and used it often, but we got rid of it when I down-sized 12 years ago. I loved it, but really don't like taking up counter space with bulky things like that.

Yikes Sandy!! It just never ends for you. Wishing you the best.

Our leadership has already proactively closed the Food Pantry for Friday. Since we are a drive through food pantry we have people outside loading the cars with boxes of food. It will be dangerously cold for folks to be outside on Friday given the forecast (see Sandy’ s weather forecast above since I live in the same general area).

Stay warm everyone!