simplify

I love the whole "vibe" of the word simplify, and I totally get that it's an attitude, but for me right now, STUFF is my main focus. It's about sorting the stuff, cleaning the stuff, organizing the stuff, finding the stuff, wearing the stuff, and maintaining the stuff. And not just my stuff- I'm the mom; stuff is my job. Stuff, Stuff Stuff! In my pitiful defense, I do come from a long line of packrats . But guess what?... the buck has got to stop here.


Case in point, I just realized a few weeks ago that I really don't nee-eeed 15 pairs of jeans or 37 tee shirts (almost all of which have a soccer ball on them). Neither do my kids. They end up wearing the same comfy favorites every other day just like I do, so why am I folding and sorting and washing all this laundry when we'd all be perfectly happy with a lot less?

Here are a few more things (I counted these up before I wrote this, by the way... so these are real numbers) that I don't need in "mindless multiples": 19 pairs of undies (TMI, I'm sure, but I never wear more than one at a time!), seven pairs of running shoes (I don't even run!), 414 kids books (granted we do homeschool, but this is excessive!), 55 Sharpies (!!?), 11 fleece sweatshirts... it's awful. So I just recently started being very harsh with myself and my "normal" reaction to clutter. Usually, I can't bear to throw anything out - if I get rid of it, I give it away, donate it, consign it, reuse it, recycle it, repurpose it, etc... Today I simply purged and tossed. I (gasp) threw away some junk that no one needs!

Wait, did someone want a couple of Kenny Rogers cassettes?

That's a Fine How D'ya Do!

We had a tremendously wonderful day out on the "big wide open ocean" today. Lots of fishing (and catching!), sun, and silliness for us. We took lots of great pictures to share and some that are destined to become our favorites.

Just as we were hopping in the truck to head home, I dropped the camera. (Apparently "hopping" and "dropping" are kissing cousins.) The battery and little memory card both popped out. ("Popping" is an acquaintance as well). Since I so cautiously had secured the camera in its leather-esque, protective pouch before leaving the boat, as always, I didn't realize these two important items had been catapulted out of place.

Of course, that is, until I got all set up at the computer just now to share our beautiful day with you. And all the pictures had been zapped. Erased? Zilched? Ruined? What is the proper term for this blasted technology screwing with my mind again, anyway?

On the up side (not), our hot water heater is gurgling water all over the garage. Thus the hot water no longer is.

Good thing we won't need to wash our hands after processing fresh halibut all day tomorrow. Oh, wait...

April to August?

Well, I've never journaled or kept a diary. I'm obviously not very good at (read: "committed to") blogging either, but I just couldn't let four whole months go by without a post.

Blogger has been temperamental this evening or I would have left you with just a few semi-recent pictures.

Another time, then.

Where, oh, where are you tonight?

We are enjoying an extended vacay "down South", which has included Seattle, Tacoma, Snohomish, Leavenworth, Grand Coulee Dam, Colville, Sandpoint Idaho, and Yakima, mostly all in the great state of Washington.

We'll be back in AK tomorrow and will have lots of PICTURES to share. No guarantee on how quickly those will post as we have a birthday coming up... Amelia will be 4 on Wednesday!... and we are also moving this month to another rental in town.

Quite the big doin's.