Done, done, done. 🙂 What a project that was! Although, based on the amount of things thrown away, and piled up for Goodwill, WH wants to know why there isn’t more empty space on the shelves. He was in charge of dispersing garbage and the give-away pile, so he’s aware of exactly how much stuff came out of that room. We both agree that it looks better, though, so that’s a good thing. What’s left? A LOT of childrens books and toys. I just saved the good stuff. Unfortunately, since I was a reading teacher and my mom was a kindergarten teacher and my mother in law has good taste in children’s books, there just aren’t a lot of “bad” kid books in the bunch. (Except maybe Captain Underpants, which was a particular favorite of Knitting Daughter’s. I had to save those two books.) Also, I have decided that I love plastic bins. And Uline, because that’s where my bins came from.
I found an expandable file of reports that I had done in junior high. (And it was important to save those for all these years, because …?) Tossed it. I also found this paper in there – “I will not talk without permission”, 50 times. I have no recollection of the event, but I can confirm that it was my handwriting, so it must’ve been something. I also found lots of fun hand drawn pictures and letters from both of my kids (you know, back when writing an “I love you, Mommy!” note was fun for them). So glad I saved those then, and of course I saved them now as well. Those are keepers.
I also found this photo of me, WH (the dark haired one) and one of my oldest friends in the world, Steve (the light haired one). He’s now married to one of my best friends, Janice, but I’ve known him since 7th grade, way before Janice appeared on the scene. (Isn’t it nice when you really like the people that your friends end up marrying?) We were all about 19 in that photo, and now all of our kids are older than that. How can that be? (And what is up with my hairstyle? I have no justification for it. My hair is naturally straight as a board, so you know that between my 80’s perm and my faithful curling iron, there was some time spent on that interesting ‘do.)
Enough about basement cleaning – on to the Anniversary Contest Winners! We had 1593 comments (thank you for all of your wonderful wishes!) and so we picked 8 commenters for the gift certificates. All winners have been notified.
Winners of the $30 Loopy Ewe Gift Certificates:
Ruth in Ontario, Canada, Bhama in KY, Alicia in GA, Erin in OH, Dawn in NC, and Ruth in Thunder Bay, Canada.
Winner of the $50 Loopy Ewe Gift Certificate:
Jennifer (not sure where she is from, but I have emailed her. If you’re a Jennifer, check your email!) Edit: from Delaware. She emailed back!
Winner of the $100 Grand Prize Loopy Ewe Gift Certificate:
Tamara in TX
It’s steamy hot here in St. Louis, and we’ve been under an “extreme heat advisory” all week. What’s it like where you are?
Sheri verythankfulforairconditioning!
Andplasticbins.DidImentionhowmuchIlikethem?
Congratulations on that wonderful organizational job you’ve done. I still have some to do yet… but when I went through it this winter, I did save the toys and books, as Imentioned before. We still love The Spooky Old Tree by the the Berenstains. We can recite it by memory along with many other favorites. But I did throw out all my Lamaze class rosters (some of those babies have their own babies now! And I’ve taught some of them a few helpful tips on birth!) and old handouts, plus all my handouts from being a nurse-educator. I told my husband I felt like I was throwing out years of my life 🙁 But I did save some high school reports and all photos of above-mentioned babies. I’m a sucker for baby photos. And grade cards with notations of “talks too much”.
We had an extreme heat and humidity last week.
Temps ranged between 32-40C (90-105F) which is hot though 30-35C is pretty average for summer here.
The problem was the extreme humidity making it much worse. According to the experts at 75% humidity 32C feels like 40C+!!!
Going outside was like walking through a sauna.
The strain of simply existing was too much and my brain stoped functioning. I spent the week cleaning and reorganising the house because I could think straight to do any work.
Even the AC on full blast couldn’t cool me down.
My mother is in the midst of a serious cleanout of her basement, where there are boxes that haven’t been opened since they moved into the house almost 30 years ago–I shudder to think what she’s finding.
And yay for CLEAR plastic boxes! Keeps labeling needs to a minimum.
Hot, humid and miserable…not fun weather for knitting so it is all in time out for the moment!
I just love looking at your boxes! I went out yesterday and bought shelves and boxes and am hoping to make some progress! I also already put an add on Craig’s list for free cardboard boxes and someone is coming at 6 to get them so I better get to emptying them!
You did a great job on the back room! Thanks for the prize! 🙂
Your room looks wonderful! I hope I can get mine to look like that some day. We have been under a heat advisory here in Wisconsin too, humidy, heat, and storms. Ready for a break. 🙂
My daughter is in St. louis for 4 days at Wash U at a Hillel conference. It is actually hotter there than here today, but we lost power this morning during the horrible thunderstorm and our basement flooded (ruining older daughter’s stuff from her apt as she had to move back home for a few months). Thank goodness yarn is safely stored on the second floor. Let’s hope for AC for tonight. And I am in awe of your room.
Ah yes, Captain Underpants. I read them to my son when he was about 4 – and he LOVED them. When he started reading for himself I “disappeared” them for a few years – the purposeful misspellings drove me crazy and I felt like they were not helpful to a new reader. They’re back on the shelf now (he’s 13 and a better speller than I am). Maybe it’s time to read them to the granddaughter?
Congratulations on your gorgeous “new” space – I’m tempted to post a photo on the door to my workroom to see if I can get inspired to do something similar 🙂
Too hot in Texas…100 + last few days! Oh but wait the weatherman said we “might” get a cold front on Sunday or Monday and the highs will only be in the 90s, it’s August. 🙂
I’m jealous of your organized basement. Would you come do mine?
It is HOT and HUMID and WET in Iowa.
Might I ask, did you attend Wheaton, grow up in Wheaton? I grew up there and have two daughters who are current or former students.
And just looking at the pictures of all the bins feeds my plastic bin addiction. Must go and buy more.
WHOA! that’s a lot of stuff!! No more than mine, though. I wonder what mine could look like if it were organized. That basement is beautiful! go and buy some yarn! hahahahah
The photo is precious and what a blast from the past. I have so much momentos (a real “saver”..excessive? ..here) that we could write my story from them.
You are still just as gorgeous!!
Well, here in northeast Wisconsin, we’re cooler than you “southerners” — we’re only under a “heat advisory” – (note the lack of “extreme”)!! It’s so humid! And the mosquitos are just awful! However, it makes for lovely knitting “weather” indoors in the airconditioning!!
The forecast is for weather highs in the 70’s and lows in the 50’s for next week!!! Yea! Hope they’re right!
I love the photo of you, WH, and Steve! Stay cool! We’ve been hearing about the heat in Missouri, and I have thought of you. We’re really hot here and have been for several days. Ok, no extreme heat warnings yet, but I don’t tolerate heat (or cold) well at all anymore. I would love to have some weather with highs between about 65 and 75, maybe 80! Again stay cool & comfortable!