Shredding Marathon in my Attic Office

This animated live photo is set on LOOP. I filled up one bag last week and am working on a second one. Let me know if you find this annoying. It wasn't very effective on the BOUNCE setting.

I am taking this bag to our DIY recycling center in case we get snow tomorrow. I got this blue denim bag ages ago and it's perfect for shredding. I have rigged up my shredder on its side so it feeds directly into this container via a paper shoot. I do this every year in January. As you can see, I am not paperless yet. I still like a paper version of my bills, even if I have to print them myself. Have a great Tuesday. xo

Organized Two Kitchen Drawers + New Purse and a Selfie

I got a new $3 everyday silverware organizer while thrifting yesterday and put it to use as soon as I got home. Then I decided to tackle my junk drawer too.

It might look like a jumble to you but it is greatly improved to me. Why do I keep saving those square bread wrapper thingies and twist ties when I already have a lifetime supply? I don't even know what some of the things are in this drawer but I'm saving them again, just in case. 

What else did I buy? The most wonderful dark brown leather cross body (purse) that is small and rectangular and has a separate outside compartment that fits my new phone perfectly. The purse section just fits my wallet,  my keys, and little else. There is also a compartment under front flap closure for non bulky things -- like my business cards. It's vintage and in perfect condition. I am thrilled and I found the company online (JACK GEORGES) https://www.jackgeorges.com/ and it was VERY expensive when it was new and my lucky $3 purchase. They no longer make this small size crossbody but they should. Also got a $2 bagel cutter like one I already have for my downstairs kitchen and a small 50¢ spatula for jars. Finally, a $2 navy fleece hat with a sun visor and pull down ear flaps for winter snow shoveling. I'm so pleased with everything!

Have a great Thursday.

Decided to post a photo of my crossbody.

It looks much better in person. I want to condition it with leather balm because I want it to last forever. It's my dream purse. I couldn't have designed it better.

Here is a selfie showing the crossbody.

xo

Linen Storage in Hallway

Putting laundry away would be a pleasure if I had a built-in linen press like this one. I have seen many old homes with them and have always been envious. One house in particular comes to mind. It had fine linen storage in the entrance hall near the dining room and another on the second floor hall for bed and bath linens. Just.Wonderful. via

Built-in Cupboards and Drawers❤️

It would be fun to organize these cupboards but it would be a shame to close the doors and hide all of your beautiful things, wouldn't it? via

Can't Stop Rearranging and Cleaning

My grandmother said it best:

"It's easier to keep up than to catch up!"

Not much has changed in this view except the pillows on the sofa but everything has been moved and cleaned under and over and up and down. I could have hired someone to do it but I really wanted to do it myself so I would know it was done right. It IS possible to catch up and I am determined to keep going until everything is in apple pie order. Have a great weekend, what's left of it. xo

Still Rearranging

The floor is clear of all the stuff that is not going to be displayed on my lower level. Some of it went to the garage, some to the loft over garage, some will be donated, some went in the furnace room and various closets and some went to recycling. I am thrilled to be able to walk in and out of the back door without the obstacle course.

I have done more rearranging and I'm still not happy with the TV. I need to elevate it or lower the picture above. I was sitting on the stairs for this photo. The cabinet in lower left is next to the yellow decoupaged cottage chest with the big clock above shown in a previous post. Happy last day of August. It flew by, didn't it? I accomplished a lot though and I'm happy about what I've done so far. xo

Basement Progress Photos (Preview)

These three photos are of the sitting/eating area of my walk-out lower level after days of rearranging. I think I have it the way I want it and after I get rid of all the stuff in the photo below. I will start a deep cleaning soon. I probably should have done that first but I didn't do anything but vacuum. Everything down there came from garage sales, thrift shops, roadside finds, and gifts from friends. The table with the tablecloth was a roadside find and it turned out to be perfect with 4 of my bentwood chairs that used to be in my upstairs kitchen. It had been stored in my furnace room and now it has a new life. I recently completed my ongoing search for all black lampshades and I am thrilled with the look. The one on the lamp with the staircase behind is dark gray.

It's so much cooler today (72° at 8:30am) and very breezy. I will try and tackle this stuff and clear the area to the back door and then I will be able to clean. The kitchen counters are piled high too😱but I will persevere until everything is spick and span and I will be so very happy. I made great progress in the bedroom too and those photos will be published soon. Have a great weekend. xo

Pantry Goals

I am a big fan of cubbies so it's easy to understand why I love this pantry. Painted floors with diamonds are another favorite. This room is wonderful and should appeal all of us with organizing on the brain. via

Organizing My Attic

This is a detail of an area in my attic office that I have been organizing off and on for days. I am doing everything properly, not just stashing things hurriedly. I have shredded, filed, and recycled all my papers and boxes. My kitchen is looking nice too and for the first time in a long time, there's nothing on my farm table that doesn't belong there. I posted this photo on Instagram several days ago and have gotten many comments about the old Dundee Marmalade crocks I use for pencils and markers. How many of these have I owned over the years? I really don't know but I wish I had more but now they are scarce. The first few weeks of the new year are perfect for getting things back in order and for donating the things we no longer want or need. I have been deleting files, old emails, text messages, and duplicate photos on my computer and phone too. Almost everybody I know has been purging too. How about you? xo

Storage: Shaker Style

You can never have too many pegs.

This article is wonderful. There are 12 fabulous photos from Canterbury Shaker Village illustrating the ingenious storage ideas that can easily be incorporated into our lives today. Enjoy.

Home Offices for Working Remotely

Everyone is working from home these days and this is a great article on how some of you are doing it so successfully. I need lots of room to spread out so I chose this photo. Right now the farm table in my kitchen is a total disaster as I am on the home stretch for a real estate closing next week.

Egg Gathering Basket, Repurposed

I adore this presentation of bath items in a wire egg gathering basket. This would be so perfect to leave in a guest's room or guest bath. I am mad for baskets and would love to have this one. via

New Look Under My Pantry Window

I did a slight rearrange in my pantry yesterday and got so much more surface space. I put this old blue shutter on top of the bucket bench that houses my microwave, my stand mixer, Instant Pot, Panini Press, and so many more kitchen related items. It extends almost to the doorway and over the wooden counter where my platters live. It makes my pantry much more efficient and I like it for now. This window overlooks my red barn/garage and I overwinter my large Rosemary plant in this spot. I arranged my cookbooks, my plastic bag storage and it took forever. I have a huge bag of paper egg cartons to drop off and recycle at a local farm that sell farm-fresh eggs at the top of their driveway. They will be thrilled. 

My Kitchen Today

I had some good sunlight shining on my farm table after lunch today. I had three pots of rosemary plants overwintering on the counter where my TV used to be but they died from neglect during the Christmas season. Thankfully, I still have a giant plant that is thriving in my pantry. Yesterday I moved some cookbooks to that spot and I'm loving the new look. I had an old wooden bookstand that I could never find a use for -- until yesterday and I'm so glad I didn't donate it. I moved all the cookbooks I reach for first to this location and I'm going to make pumpkin muffins with raisins later today thanks to the new area. Click photo to enlarge.

New year, New look.

Home Office with Murphy Bed: AWESOME!

It's a home office with storage for office supplies, right?

Wrong. It's a bedroom or guest room in disguise.

I couldn't love this more. I found it in my iPhone photos and I've been saving the photos for a long time and have no idea where I found them. Isn't this the best home office ever? xo
UPDATE: California Closets designed this room and there are other Murphy Bed Designs HERE.

DIY Twine Holder from Wooden Hanger

I am definitely going to make one of these today. Isn't this an absolutely brilliant idea? I have a closet full of vintage wooden hangers and a basket full of twine. Put them together and what have I got? A gorgeous twine holder that will cost me nothing. Found on Pinterest.

My Home Office in Pantry: Rearranged

Click on either photo to enlarge. When I sit at my drafting table under the window to work on my laptop and pay bills, I needed more room to spread out my papers, make entries in my check book and file the papers until they can go to the attic filing cabinet.

I added a side table for a more efficient work space. It's an old cutting board attached to an antique adjustable wrought iron base on wheels found at a rummage sale years ago. It had been in use in my basement kitchen that is no longer in use since my mother passed. I got the brilliant idea to put it in the pantry for more horizontal space for my favorite things. I do best when everything is in plain sight rather than in drawers. There is a small separate bookcase that fits perfectly underneath to hold wire baskets for unpaid bills, etc. I am thrilled with the way it all worked out. I have played around in there for a couple of weeks and yesterday I finally declared it perfect.

Vintage Attic Storage Idea

I love this attic print storage and art room. I have something similar in the attic of my cottage and am always looking for new ideas. via

Pumpkin Pie Crusts for Fall

If you could ever find these little leaf and pumpkin cookie cutters, you could make these beautiful pies. Actually, after I typed the previous sentence, I searched and found them here. Pumpkin pie is my favorite because it isn't too sweet and has some nutritional value too. Get ready, the season is coming, ready or not.

I am feeling very smug and pleased with myself because I got rid of a lot of junk this week at annual trash day in town. I put it out several days early as did my neighbors, so people driving by could stop and take what they wanted and it worked! I searched my neighbor's pile too and discovered a 10-ton log splitter they were getting rid of. I immediately called a friend who helps me with big tasks and he came right over and got it. I guarded it while he was in transit. Luckily, he was nearby in his truck. Some things are just meant to be, right?

Thanks for stopping by. I have been disappointed in my blog lately and most days I have to force myself to post. My readership is way down and when Google discontinued Feedburner I lost about 3,000 followers. Instagram is so much easier to post and respond to comments as you know. But I'm hanging in there for my loyal few. xo