Monday, September 20, 2021

Sunday Fun

 

Cranberry-Almond Mini Tarts

An early morning (7:30 a.m.) phone call from cousin P woke me up, this morning.  Not an emergency; she just wanted to know if today was when the donations pick up was scheduled.  No, it is scheduled for Monday morning.  Later in the morning, she called again to apologize for waking me up so early!

I made blueberry pancakes for brunch and chatted with neighbor T (our regular Sunday phone call).  In the afternoon, I did some laundry (the sofa slip covers).  Later, daughter and I did a craft project together, using a melt and pour soapmaking kit she had received as a gift several years ago.  That was fun and we enjoyed quite a few laughs in the process.  I took some pictures, but, they are for another post.

Then, I got the donations ready for pick up in the morning, boxing up 50 manga/anime books and 25 DVD my daughter decluttered along with some other items of hers, which were not included in my monthly decluttering totals.  I decluttered several additional items to be donated.  They included:

Clock Radio 

This was a gift I received back in 1982, at one of my jobs, from my coworkers.  I've used it every day, since then, as my bedside alarm clock.  But, I have another, battery operated alarm clock and I don't need two clocks.  

Painted Wooden Letter Holder

Sideview Showing Clothespin Holder

This was a little gift from my half sister, one year.  It's cute and I used it to hold a cat-themed card she had given me.  But, I decided it was time to let it go.

It was also time to let go of the little piano player doll that I had bought for my daughter one Christmas when she first started playing the piano - she didn't much care for it and I had it displayed on my shelf:

Piano Player Doll

I had displayed it in the original box, which had kept the doll dust free.  I used to put my daughter's hair in ringlet curls like that!  

And it was time to let go of these two dolls, too, which still had their original boxes:


Seated Native American Doll

Standing Native American Doll

All in all, there were seven bags and three boxes ready to be donated this time around:

Donations

Dinner was rice, shrimp curry, moringa curry, dhal, and broccoli.  For dessert, daughter and I baked mini cranberry-almond puff pastry tarts!  We used frozen puff pastry and some homemade cranberry sauce I had in the freezer.  The cranberry sauce ran all over the baking tray, as you can see from the picture on top, but, the little tarts are delicious!  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Enjoying doing a crafts project with my daughter
- Baking with my daughter
- Getting the donations ready for pick up
- Phone calls and texts with cousins, neighbors, and friends
- What I was able to accomplish

Today's joyful activities included doing crafts projects and baking with my daughter.

Plans for Monday include, donations being picked up, putting the washed slip covers back on the sofa, and my regular Monday cleaning routines.

How was your Sunday?  What are your plans for Monday?


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September Decluttering:  I am continuing to declutter at least one item a day in September, too.

9/1 - 1 Crossword book, completed (recycled)

9/2 - 1 T shirt (daughter's; to be donated)

9/3 - 1 knitting book (to be donated)

9/4 - unused cards (to be donated)

9/5 - 1 participation medal (daughter's; tossed)

9/6 - 1 seashell necklace (to be donated)

9/7 - 3 copper bowls (to be donated)
      - 3 text books (daughter's; recycled)

9/8 - 1 text book (daughter's; recycled)

9/9 - 2 metal spare parts that are no longer needed (recycled)

9/10 - 1 CD (chemistry lecture supplement; daughter's; tossed)

9/11 - 1 bag of small plastic toy reptiles and amphibians (3 snakes, 4 frogs, and 4 lizards; to be donated)

9/12 - 2 crocheted shawls

9/13 - 1 ice bucket printer paper tray

9/14 - 1 homemade iPad cover

9/15 - a set of 4 stem glasses (to be donated)

9/16 - 3 books (daughter's; to be donated)
        - 1 handbag/purse (daughter's; to be donated)
        - 2 telephone directories (recycled)
        - 3 magazines (recycled)
        - 1 knitted shrug (to be donated)
        - 2 zippered plastic covers that bedding came in
        - 2 storage boxes 

9/17 - 1 jacket (to be donated)

9/18 - 3 disposable food containers (given with food)
        - 1 hooded sweatshirt (to be donated)
        - more old make up (eye liner that was dry! Tossed)

9/19 - 1 old wash cloth that was torn in the middle  (tossed)
        - 1 wooden cat shaped letter holder
        - 1 clock radio
        - 3 collectible dolls
        - several posters (daughter's; recycled)

18 comments:

  1. You are definitely on a roll with your decluttering. I have four boxes and 1 bag waiting for donation pickup today. It feels good to send things out of the house we don't need. Hopefully they will bless someone else.

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    1. Thank you, June. Yes, I'm getting better at talking myself into letting go of more things! Sounds like you have a good amount of things leaving your house, too! Well done!

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  2. You have been very tough on the de-cluttering - bravo you & your daughter. Your little tarts look quite tasty. How fun to make soap together.

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    1. Thank you, Mary-Lou. I'm now getting to those layers that escaped being decluttered in earlier attempts! The little tarts are going fast! :D

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  3. You are doing wonderfully well getting things out of the house. I am going to get my 100 items to donate together this week. I can usually mentally adjust to some clutter but this last onslaught from Mom's house is beyond my tolerance level. I have to do some major getting rid of things!

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    1. Thank you, Anne. I am planning to call and schedule another pick up in October! I know I have a lot more that can go! Well done on getting your 100 items ready to go!

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  4. It sounds like you had fun with your daughter. And well done on all the decluttering ... it looks good when you see it all stacked together awaiting collection, doesn't it.

    I've had a lovely day today apart from one bit of news that shocked me (a fire at one of the schools I used to teach in - nobody hurt), and I've been searching for ideas for the next part of the garden makeover.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen; yes, it does look good to see it all stacked ready to be picked up. But, then, I look around and still see enough for another 10 boxes remaining, and it is as if nothing left the house!

      But, I did have fun with my daughter and we have another fun project planned for maybe next weekend. :)

      Sorry to hear about the fire at a school where you used to teach, but, so glad that nobody was hurt! Still, some damage to the buildings, I assume. I like the sound of that planning for the next part of the garden makeover! You've already done so much and your garden is looking so nice! Looking forward to seeing what else you plan to do. :)

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  5. Looks as if the charity you have chosen will really benefit from your August and September activities, as well as daughter's and cousin's contributions. And from your point of view, it will be a lovely, lightening feeling when all the stuff leaves the house. A good clearout always seems to free up bandwidth in the mind, as well. I find anyway. I have just done a load of filing and am enjoying the space on the desk, and a fresh to-to list starting tomorrow!

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    1. Oh, I hope so, Lady Ella. I feel I still have a long way to go before the house is lightened, but, it is a process for me. A lot of what I have left are parts of collections and/or have some sentimental value to me. I need to separate myself and my emotions from my stuff, which is hard for me to do.

      Well done on the filing and clearing some space on your desk! Sounds like you are ready to tackle that new To Do list! :D

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    2. Honestly, if your stuff is oppressing you, or you don't have room for it, of course a clearout is a good thing, but I see no reason to force ourselves to get rid of things we love, that are special, just for the sake of it. What is the harm?

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    3. You are right; no harm in keeping what we enjoy having. I am not a hoarder (at least, I don't think I am!), but, I am a collector and a keeper and every now and then, I feel that I keep too much! You'll see when you come to dinner! :D

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  6. Delightful little tartlets, they look delicious! Your decluttering seems to have reached a new level this year and you are doing so well and inspiring us all. I am also finding more items to declutter and I was pleased that DS decided he didn't want a couple of items that he had left here. They will be donated.

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady. The tartlets turned out well. Next time, we might put a little less filling! I am also thinking that they might make a nice little appetizer, if filled with something savory - some finely chopped curried chicken, perhaps, or some cheese. Might try that, next.

      Thank you for the encouragement on the decluttering. Yes, I am digging a little deeper, this time around. :)

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  7. It's nice to see it all stacked up like that.
    I am finding the more I declutter the more I declutter. lol.
    Are you finding it easier to let go of things the longer you do it?

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    1. Yes, I think I've found my decluttering groove! :D Once I've decided that I really don't NEED to hold onto certain things, letting go of them becomes easier. I still have a long way to go before I can consider myself fully decluttered (I've barely touched the crafts supplies!), but, I'm getting there. I will be doing the 1 item a day challenge in October, too. :)

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  8. Oh dear! That was an early start for you. I hope you were able to sleep a little longer after that.
    The tarts looks absolutley delicous. I've never really been a fan of almonds, but I do enjoy them eaten along with cranberries.
    Still decluttering here! I've sold some more items online and another bag went to the charity shop earier in the week. X

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    1. Yes, I was able to sleep a bit longer! There was a time when I would have been at work, already, by 7:00 a.m.!

      The tarts are just a memory, now. :)

      Well done on the on-going decluttering! I'm glad you were able to sell some of your items and donate others. :)

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