Yesterday (Wednesday) was slightly cooler than Tuesday, and today is supposed to be even cooler at 100F!
I took it easy on Wednesday because Tuesday's heat might have taken a toll on me and I might have got dehydrated. I have been trying to drink enough water, but, I guess I didn't quite realize just how much water one can lose when it is so hot. So, although it was a little cooler, yesterday, I decided not to push myself too much. I practiced the piano in the morning and, again, in the evening when it was cooler, watched some TV, called neighbor T to check on her and called friend R, too, and did a little cleaning.
This is what I was trying to clean, declutter, and organize:
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| Entertainment Center/Shelving Unit - Before |
I can still remember when I put this unit together, about 25 years ago. There was an additional shelf that was supposed to fit across the space in the lower right, where I currently store the scrapbook albums, and a door to cover the space in the lower left, where I store the board games. I decided to omit the door as I found it hard to fix it (it required drilling holes and I didn't have a drill). I'm not quite sure what happened to the shelf or why I decided not to use it.
Yes, those are VHS tapes at the back of the top shelf - I haven't watched them in a while, but, I still have a VCR/DVD dual player for when I want to watch them. I keep debating whether to continue to keep them or get rid of them.
The "retro radio" is a combination radio, CD player, cassette tape player, and turn table and I still have a few vinyl LPs that I play on it. The other two shelves store my CDs (some in the brown CD holder with two pull out drawers, the rest in two plastic shoe boxes) and cassette tapes. Who listens to CDs and cassette tapes, these days, Bless? Well, I guess I do! LOL.
I started pulling everything out, shelf by shelf, dusting, and putting things back, yesterday, and finished it, today:
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| Entertainment Center - After |
The unfinished doll house on the top was a kit I bought and tried to put together for my daughter when she was a little girl. I have kept it, hoping to finish it, someday. Maybe someday might come this year! The towel in front is for Dancer to lie on when it's not so hot that all he wants to sleep on is the tiled floor of the bathroom.
The items I pulled out which didn't go back on the shelves are now sitting around, looking for homes! They include two collectible dolls, my old camera (non-digital), picture frames and framed pictures, and a key holder that is meant to be mounted on the wall.
Today, I watered the front garden first thing in the morning, before it got too hot. Then, I finished sorting the shelving unit. I started this blog post after brunch and then, Aunt C called and we had a long chat. I am watching the evening news programs and have just had a cup of tea. The sprinklers are on in the back yard and, later in the evening, I will practice the piano and clean the kitchen.
Next on my cleaning agenda is the bookcase in the family room. It isn't too messy - just mostly full of books!
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| Bookcase - Before |
Some book decluttering might be in order, but, I am not sure if I am up to it!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Still having electricity (no power cuts, yet)
- Being able to run the fans
- Water for the garden
- Not being dehydrated
- Chatting with my aunt
Bless, I don't know how you achieve ANYTHING in that heat! I'd be flopping about in a damp puddle of perspiration. Tidying bookshelves is a very satisfying occupation though.
ReplyDeleteWell, it is a very dry heat. One perspires, but, it evaporates almost instantly. I work around the heat, doing things in the mornings and late evenings, when it is cooler. :)
DeleteIn here it is soo hot too, for many days now! You did great with all the decluttering, the doll house looks cute already! Stay safe and healthy everyone ☺
ReplyDeleteThank you, Natalia. Hope you are able to keep cool in the heat. Take care and stay healthy!
DeleteIn that kind of heat, it's hard to tell how much your are perspiring. I can only imagine. However, they say your body learns to operate in what it's exposed to and you've been training yours for a while with your fan only approach. That's the only way I can imagine that you are functioning in the extended extreme heat.
ReplyDeleteYes, you perspire without quite realizing it; I think that's why I got a bit dehydrated on Wednesday morning - I didn't realize how much water I had lost on Tuesday!
DeleteOne reason why I don't like to have the A/C on is, once I get used to being in a cooled room, the rest of the house feels even warmer! But, I don't want to get a heat stroke, either, so, I will ask M to set up the A/C unit today. Just in case we get to 110F or above, in September (we'll be in the 90s for the rest of August, according to the extended - 10 days - weather forecast).
I love your positive attitude. I plan to water my garden and finish an article I'm writing for a client in New York.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephenie. I do try to keep a positive attitude and count my blessings. Sometimes, though, I find myself feeling impacted by other people's negativity and then, I need to distance myself from them for my own peace of mind.
DeleteSounds like you have your day planned out very nicely. Enjoy your day and hope the weekend will be a good one. Stay cool!
I still listen to CDs! And I still have some video tapes, although these are home videos Ced took of the family and friends so at some stage I will get them converted to DVD. I can't watch the videos as I no longer have a VCR player.
ReplyDeleteSince I've redone the living room I am enjoying only having a select few items on display and dusting the room is a doddle! Most of my 'treasures' are in cupboards and I can swap them round to ring the changes, but I find the room much more relaxing without lots of possessions about, which is the exact opposite of how we always kept the living room in the previous home.
Well done on your tidying, especially in that heat. Take care, and make sure you drink plenty!
I find myself wanting less visual clutter, but, I don't have a lot of closed storage space such as cabinets and drawers. Then, there is that old debate of why keep things in closed storage if you are not using/enjoying seeing them. I think this is a sign that I need to do another round of decluttering!
DeleteThank you; yes, I am back to counting how many glasses of water I'm drinking! :)
I still listen to CD's and used to play them through my computer. (I still have vinyl albums also) This new one has no place for a disc though__ so bummer!
ReplyDeleteYes, my current laptop doesn't have a place for a disc, either. But, sometimes, I play a song I find on YouTube, while I am on the computer. :)
Delete😃
ReplyDeleteThank you, Regine. :)
DeleteYour shelves look very nice and neat. I like the doll house. It adds a little whimsy and I think it's charming.
ReplyDeleteI finished with the computer disposal having figured out how to removed the hard drive. We dropped that and the monitor off at Staples since they recycle computers.
It makes such a difference in that room having it gone.
Although the room isn't too bad, I've been inspired to continue decluttering in there.
Stay cool and drink more water lol
Thank you, Debra. I really should finish that poor dolls' house!
DeleteWell done on getting rid of the old computer! Funny how making one little change in a room leads to the rest of the room getting organized, isn't it? :)
Yes, Ma'am! :D I'm drinking, I'm drinking! :D
Do houses in your area have/use air conditioning? I don’t have any VHS but I do have DVDs and CDs. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteYes, all the newer houses have central air and heating and most of the older houses, like mine, have them installed by the homeowners. There was something called a swamp cooler in my house when I bought it - you have to fill it with water and then, it cools the house through evaporation. Then, at the end of the summer, it needs to be drained and covered up until the next year. I had it taken down because I couldn't climb up to the roof to keep it maintained and I didn't know of anyone who could do it for me! I have thought of putting in central air, but, it costs a lot.
DeleteYou are still achieving things in spite of the heat! Well done. I see you say that it is a dry heat. That does make a difference, but I can see you might need more hydration. We tend to get humidity when it is hot and I just wilt quietly! At the moment we are in a cooler phase and I even put a folded blanket over the quilt on my side of the bed last night. That extra weight was helpful. Hard to imagine that recently we just had the bed sheet covering us.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady. I am trying not to let the heat be my excuse for not getting anything done - I do enough of that when it is cold, when I am huddled near the heater! LOL.
DeleteAh, it's already getting ready for Fall, where you are, isn't it? I remember when I first moved to Wisconsin, it was at the end of August and it was already cool in the mornings and at night.
You have learned to live in your climate very well, Bless! Rather than forcing your weather into a set schedule, you work with your weather. :-) Easier to do when retired with a bit more freedom to schedule activities!
ReplyDeleteYou're smart getting the window air conditioner set up soon. I remember September in L.A. being wicked hot most years--frequently into October with the Santa Ana winds! We did not have central refrigeration when I was young, just a portable evaporative cooler on a rolling stand that held about two quarts of water and had to be refilled frequently. It made a tremendous difference, though. Adding a few ice cubes yielded incredibly cool air, but we could only make two trays of ice daily most of the years we had the cooler. Ice in drinks won over ice in the cooler's tray! lol
Your entertainment center looks terrific! I, too, have CDs and DVDs--many more CDs than DVDs. Most of the recordings are not readily available on contemporary media. I've collected the CDs over the years, replacing my vinyl collection. I tend to become attached to specific works and interpretations, particularly composer-conducted recordings. Think about it--not an option prior to the 20th century! Possibly a few wax or other types of recordings, but they have not aged well. :-(
Books. [sigh] Purging feels like abandoning old friends!
,..Taja
Hi Taja, yes, September and, often, October, can be very hot, here. One of the good things about going to work was being in air conditioned comfort during the summer! LOL. But, I prefer being retired!
DeleteThank you; glad to know that others, too, are still listening to CDs and watching DVDs, etc. And, when it comes to decluttering books and certain other items, it does feel like abandoning old friends, doesn't it? :)
I too still listen to CDs. I have a radio/cd player combo. :)
ReplyDeleteMy new laptop doesn't even have a CD slot anymore.
I like the plant on your shelving unit. Is that a golden pothos?
I suppose CDs will go the way of the 8-track tapes, eventually! LOL.
DeleteYes, the plant is a golden pothos. I have to keep it up there, well out of Dancer's reach, because it is toxic to cats. :)
I still listen to CDs occasionally, I went through my CDs a few months back and weeded out many that I hadn't listened to for years and now have a small collection of about 20 my all time faves.
ReplyDeleteOur temperatures never get that high thank goodness, ours is lower but we have high humidity which is very tiring. Although I suppose all heat is tiring, lol.
I love the dollhouse. Have a good weekend and drink lots of water.
Hi Sharon! Lovely to hear from you, again. :) You know, I should probably go through my CDs and declutter them; there are a few that I don't listen to all that often. Maybe I'll listen to them one last time and decide if I should keep or not!
DeleteToday was a slightly cooler day; but, I've been drinking lots of water, anyway. :) Hope you have a lovely weekend. Take care.
The shelves look great but I'm admiring the plant on top. It looks good and healthy. X
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. It's a variegated pothos plant.
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