Many of us have been sheltering in place and working from home for over a year now. Home Improvement stores are doing volume business and every conceivable home repair/improvement has been tackled, right? If so, good on you, but most of us still have a few places that could use a spring refresh.
For me, sewing has always been a coping mechanism. I started sewing right after my dad passed away. It’s relaxing and helps me focus my energies constructively. So, in March I reupholstered my living room couch, made new pillow shams, and slipcovered the love seat in my family room. The cats helped as you can see from the photos. I included a picture of my couch the first time I recovered it (dark red). I like the light gray much better.
This inspired me to start decluttering my house and shredding old paperwork I no longer need to keep. I was pleasantly surprised that my paper waste has declined over the last year thanks to certain steps I initiated at the end of 2019. I receive and pay almost all my bills electronically. I also open and sort the mail into stacks to recycle, shred, or keep as soon as I bring it in, so no more piles of clutter on my kitchen counter.
I’ve started going through random drawers and closets and throwing away or donating items I no longer need. I don’t have a specific plan in mind, but by performing random purges I’ve been able to part with some items of Christian’s without feeling like I’m erasing him from our home. There are people who need these things and knowing Christian, he’d be excited at the prospect of helping others. It inspires me to let go of some of the things I’ve been holding on to – gifts from friends or family that don’t really suit my style or my needs – things I once collected. While many of these items are special to me, my sons have no interest in fine China teacups of every design (I’m more of a mug kind of girl these days) or elegant liquor decanters. I don’t drink, my sons are beer drinkers, and the only wine I have is used for cooking. I’ll keep a few things and after photographing the others, I’ll let them go.
My friend Tracey invited me to join a local by-invitation-only Facebook group, Buy Nothing (organized by cities/townships) where you post pictures of things you want to get rid of and post wish lists for things you want/need. I haven’t tried it yet, but I have several things in mind – these are items charities or resale/consignment shops usually can’t/won’t take. It will get them out of my house, keep them out of a dumpster, and help someone out - a win, win, win for sure.
My spring refresh also includes window washing and general cleaning to remove winter grime. I’m also organizing as I go along by taking everything out and only putting back what fits or is useful. Outside, I have plans to replace the overgrown landscaping I had removed in the fall and plant a garden as soon as the temperature stays above freezing. My deck is getting a makeover soon and I’ll be calling one of the local disposal companies to get rid of a few old appliances in my garage that were left by the previous owners as well as my old grill and a treadmill that no longer works.
I’ll also be going over my finances and giving myself a spring refresh. I’ve adopted a mostly plant-based diet for the past six months and I plan to stick with it. I also started walking again and I’m trying to practice Tai Chi regularly. This month, I hope to finally have a professional haircut.
It’s always good to have an idea of what you want/need to accomplish, but sometimes you can become weighed down by the enormity of the deliberateness of a project. I’ve decided to wing it this year. What will you do?