Digging Out the Studio (Shudder)
Tuesday, November 20th, 2007You know, it’s not like I set out to exist in a clutter filled room… uh house… it just happened! It’s like Mondays - they happen every week whether you want them too or not. Clutter is the same way, it just happens.
Eventually you find yourself disgusted enough to dig out. I’ve been digging out for the past 2 weeks; not completely done but about 85%. No taking bets on how long the lack of clutter continues either!
So, it started simply enough, I cleaned out one drawer. Then another. And another. Moved on to a shelf or two… under the desk (it’s a U-shaped desk that takes up three walls)… hmmmm the big closet where the file cabinet, supplies and extra computer stuff is kept.
This was not a good sign, I was digging into areas I hadn’t really ‘investigated’ in almost six years - and I was enjoying it. That is so wrong on so many levels.
As it happens a very good friend - okay, okay she’s also a niece - better Val? I’m sorry, but when I think of niece I think of my 10-year old niece Courtney, not another grown-up… see that means I’m getting older too - I tend to forget all about that most of the time. Anyway, she called and offered to come over that Monday to help.
I welcomed her with open arms and a determination to get the heavy moving taken care of. Lovely woman that she is, she also brought a veritable feast of fresh strawberries, cheese, crackers, lasagna, chocolate mousse, and white wine. Did I mention what a wonderful niece she is? Well she is.
We lugged, and hauled, and dragged and moved - not only from room to room, but up and down stairs for over four hours that day. She rode tyrant on me cleaning out the large closet in the studio; it’s always easier if you have another person demanding to know why you insist on keeping fabric scraps that are under 3″ in size and over 9-years old.
It was so bad, we had to load up the car with all the paper recyclables that had been collected so far and drop them off.
How can one room hold that much stuff?
As of today, I’ve made a total of 7 visits to the recyclables location and 9 to the Salvation Army drop-off trailer. And no, I’m not done.
All these pictures are from today. See that curtain? That’s the first time in 6 years I’ve taken the time to put one up!
Actually, it’s a 60″ x 102″ oblong table cloth that was on sale for $9.99 - I bought 2; the office gets one too. Just turned under the top and made a casing. Oh and the band holding it open is from the .99 napkin that matched.
The studio will NEVER look this clean and organized again. Ever. I just stood in the middle in awe. Wow.
I couldn’t get pictures of everything, but enough to show - and no there are absolutely, positively no ‘before’ photos.
The last two pictures are of the boys reaction to the ‘new’ room. Leo took over the bookcase (BTW, that bookcase is now over 28 years old! Best $20 I ever spent) since I took away two big fabric boxes he was use to sleeping on; and Ecceles for the first time ever jumped up to the top shelf to investigate. I don’t know which of us was more surprise at him doing that - he’s a bit of a flake.
Miss Molly is currently ignoring the whole thing.
And now on a personal note: Thank you again Val! Love you bunches - couldn’t have done a quarter of that without your help. Next meal is my treat.
Well, it’s time to continue my ruthless clean-out …. my closet is next up!
PS: The day after we did all that major moving: OUCH! At this rate, I’m going to take out stock in Tylenol.
