WayAhead

Back again 

@Dimity Thank you for your suggestions about shoes, I will look into that when the next need for footwear arises. I haven't made rice pudding for the longest time, so didn't really think about the homogenisation of milk being an issue! I have something of an aversion to it since it was an unappetising all too regular food throughout childhood. We were much poorer than I ever truly understood until I reached adulthood. There was little to do with extended family, they lived interstate, so I learned from surrogate mothers along the way, and from reading. 

The abandoned for whatever reason, project items, be they paperwork, fabric work, whatever, are some of the most emotionally affecting items to make decisions about, aren't they. We must do our best, I think, to separate what we see as our personal values, achievements, failures, or expectations, from the item, so an assessment of the item can be made with our current understanding of our selves and where we are in life, and where we might be going to be travelling forward to, also. 

I've been gradually shifting the sewing/ craft/ teaching books from the book shelf to the garage box where I can decide on their future in a few weeks or so. The first decision was whether to keep them or not, and although they are still of value to me, they will not ever be used by me again, so keeping them would be contradictory to the current decluttering plan. Recently, I took on a challenge to make some baby clothes for a charity requesting them, so took back some books, then, the charity project fell through, so now I need to return them to the garage. Both funny and sad at the same time. 

I sorted some of my jewellery last night, and I was surprised at how detached I was from some of the pieces. Some still sparked that joy, and I'll keep those pieces, the others I will try to find new owners for. Some bits went straight into the bin. It's a job I've been putting off for too long. 

The clothing sorting went well too, I was able to remove the garments that no longer fit me and put them into a sewing recycle pile - I'll endeavour to use the fabrics and make a wearable garment, maybe a dress or a nightie or 2. The winter coat I have loved for so long, but has not fitted for too many years, but I could not relinquish due to memories attached, has gone into a charity pile along with some other garments that I won't bother to upcycle 'cos I don't like the fabric anymore. 

Dimity, your garden sounds delightful. Flowering plants are so uplifting, I hope you're getting lots of joyous moments from seeing your cymbidiums and dendrobiums in flower - such beautiful blooms (I looked them up to be sure I knew what they were given my memory isn't what it once was.) I miss my garden delights, but not the work it once was. The fuschia bulbs I have in a pot bloom once a year, this year I only got 3 flower stems from them sadly, but the perfume is glorious. I do get to use the parsley and leaves from my bay tree in cooking though. With the change in weather, the chillies are looking like they may produce also. 

Every item assessed and every decision made is another step on that pathway toward your goal. Working at a coffee table sounds really effective and my back is wishing I had not decided to clean the bathroom today! It starts with my eye catching 'just one thing' and goes from there. There's still a shelf in the wardrobe I will have to attack in the coming days too. 

I trust your projects are moving forward in their own ways @pinklollipop15  @HenryX  and anyone else reading along.