Back to Chile's Operation Clean-Out

...which got temporarily buried in the holiday celebration. In case you need reminding, our pal Chile had issued another de-cluttering challenge in early November. I started out pretty good - for about 2 days -- LOL!! Then the holidays came along, and winter (I mean WINTER!) and all my energies have gone into snow removal/relocation. :)

But now I'm ready to dive back in. After reading a posting on Marie's blog about doing inventories, I've decided to do a Whole House Inventory. As I've started this, I realize that it's like the old joke about 'how to eat an elephant'. You can't do it all in one sitting! I'm going to do it room-by-room, and I'm separating it into sections in each room, such as furnishings, linens, appliances, electronics, etc. It's going to take awhile, but I hope to finish by the end of January.

I started with the bathroom - naturally. It's the smallest room, has almost no 'furnishings' - but then we get to the cleaning supplies, the toiletries, the health/first aid, etc., sections. Whew! I'm scribbling it all down in a spiral notebook with plans of typing up a more organized form on the computer so that next year, all I'll have to do is check off those items that haven't changed (like the furniture).

The kitchen will be last because that will also include all the food storage. Oh, darn - I just remembered the garage! Oh, and the garden shed!! Maybe some of this will NOT get finished by the end of January - I don't know if I'll be able to get INTO the shed by the end of January. You see, we've had some snow...

Back to the inventory - everything needs to be written down - if you don't want to write it down, why do you have it? I've already filled a box with items to eliminate - not just from the bathroom. As I was returning books to the shelves after un-decorating, I realized that I needed to send a few on their way. And I have some ski bibs that I haven't worn for 'several' years that I was keeping for extra snow pants - well, I can get them zipped up, but there's no way I can shovel snow in them! I no longer need or want any clothing that are just for standing around looking good in... :)

So anyway, Chile, just want to let you know I'm back in the Challenge!