My Things Matter To Me

Cleared off the counters!

As I look through my kitchen finding items I might want to get rid of because I haven't used them in a long time, I spend time thinking. Thinking of the day I got the item. Or the reason I bought it in the first place. Or who gave it to me. Or what job I use it for, or did use it for. Or, or, or. So many things that have special meanings for me. Not of interest to anyone else. Only to me. When I am gone, what will come of it all? Thrown out to end up in the landfill? Donated to charity or thrift stores? To end up in smoking home? I know they are just things..........but they are my things and I love them all. 

My mother-in-law gave this to me as a gift

Nothing I have is of much value to anyone but me. Many are valued due to their memory. That is why when I was looking at decorating videos on how to create a new look for my apartment I could not follow through on it. I did not want to part with my old furniture or other keepsakes. I suppose if they were destroyed, out of my control, as in a fire or a flood it would be easier. I watched the people of CA searching for something left in their burned out homes. Anything! A little knick-knack or a tool. A memory they didn't want to lose. Even if they had pictures of their things most of them were lost too. Unless they stored them online. My whole life I have taken care of all my things. When I lost anything it was usually due to whatever man was in my life. I found out they didn't care about my things. Only their things!

My treasured cat that my husband bought for me in Florida

Why are things so important to someone? I wondered about that for myself. Thinking maybe it is not normal. Well for most of my life I lived with a spouse (three in fact!) and had no place for my own things. The only time I had that freedom was when I was able to live alone. Which I am doing now. As soon as I moved into this apartment almost seven years ago, I started putting out my treasured items. I could use them instead of packing them away in boxes in the attic. What a great feeling that was! Things that represent my past..........my life. They have meaning for me. Not like some home decor item you buy just because you need it at the time. 

I am working on the windows & windowsill now.

It is true though, that the more you get rid of the better you feel. In time the item is forgotten. Clear open spaces is what my goal is now. No clutter. No excess stuff to clean around. Finding places or new homes for the treasured items. Making my apartment easy to clean and care for. Even if I get help to assist me it will be easier for them too. I am not getting rid of everything! I like to rotate the items I put out. Put the ones I am not displaying in the curio cabinet. Then a few months later change them. It is a good method I discovered for keeping them useful and appreciating them. 

Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

An Organized House Is An Efficient Home

Our house looks big, but short on space!

I have been reading lately about a family that lives in a tiny house. I do not live in one myself........not technically. Our house is a two story farm house that was built in 1850. It is not as big as it looks. With an extra person staying with us for a few years now, we are squashed in here! Soon it will be just the two of us again. As sad as I am about it, our dog, Nikita, at 14 years of age, won't be sticking around for many more years either. We have decided not to get any new pets or critters of any sort.  And when our present ones die we will not be replacing them either. You wouldn't think one dog and three cats take up much space, but they do.

Batteries need their own room and to be in a box!

Another thing that will give us more room is finishing our room for the batteries. Putting them downstairs and out of the upstairs. That would free up a lot of space. No more cramped feelings! Before any of that happens, I have to live with what I have now. The first step is to get rid of any and everything that takes up space and is not being used. No matter what it is. Going through box after box of things and dropping them off at the thrift store or selling them on eBay. Two ways I have of disposing of the excess.

One of the hunters now!

I used to think I would not want a tiny house. When I stopped to think about it though, I realized that I was living already like I was in a tiny house. Some of my problems with my house have been the mice. That made it impossible to put anything on shelves like I dreamed of doing. My three cats are awesome hunters. They get some every day, but outside. In the house, the mice appear in places where the cats have no access to. Like inside the pantry, the door is kept closed from the kitchen because the idea is for it to be cooler than the rest of the house. 

Our heating stove

My two wood stoves take up a good part of the rooms they are in. The wood stove in our living room is on a large hearth and takes up almost 1/4 of the whole room. Our wood is usually stacked on the hearth also so it is not wasted space. I guess I can see why people take them out because they'd rather more room. I will not take it out, as I'd rather have heat, then room, any day! I am planning the rooms to be efficient so you can get what you want or do what you want quickly. Cooking and cleaning up  needs to be easier and quicker. Once you have your whole house organized, it should run efficiently. I see it getting easier as I work on it. An organized house is an efficient home!

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

What Does Simple Living Mean To You?

What does simple living mean to you? I have been reading a variety of websites and books that proclaim the "simple living" philosophy. The nuts and bolts of most of these books and sites is to get rid of everything you own, except only the things you need to live. So I am asking my readers here, is that what you think it is?

As for myself, I do not own a lot of things. Having moved more than a few things and going through divorce makes you lose things you had. So you end up with less. Then moving into a smaller house that did not have electricity at the time, made me get rid of things I used to have, and then had no use for.

Much of my things are of either necessity or sentimental value. What about you? My next question is how do you rid yourself of the sentimental items? Or do you? And do you have to? Some of mine, I have decided to keep and some, I will get rid of. The only reason I am getting rid of them is that is the only way I can be sure they are going to a home that wants them. If I sell them on eBay, then someone paid money for them so they must want and value them. Right? Not so, when they are inherited by family members who do not.

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

Progress Made Using Freecycle

 Tried to sell my books online!

 I am excited today! We just cleared out about 10 boxes of books out of our upstairs. I was trying to sell them online but that didn't work out so well. Takes too long and I need and want the space. So I posted them on Freecycle and have had a lot of people wanting them. A woman is coming this morning for them. I only posted one box yesterday and then asked her if she would take more than one. She said yes. Well, she might not want all of them! If not, I had other people request them. While I was writing this she came and she took them all!

 Utility Trailer

Last week I posted our little utility trailer on Freecycle too. I was swamped with emails about that! It seemed everyone wanted it. Two men came and got it and now that is out of our driveway. It had been setting out back by the woods and I wanted it gone. I hate seeing old things not being used sitting around outside. So my husband moved it to the driveway because his son wanted it. Well, it sat here all summer. So I offered it to my Freecycle group. It is gone.....

Supplies from Alice!

Now I order from Alice every month all our household supplies. It is just so much easier for me than to spend my time trying to walk through the stores. Looking for the brands or products I want. Well, Alice usually has it and I keep my products on a list and it takes me about ten minutes to place the order. The prices are comparable to Walmart and I am happy with this arrangement. If I don't place my order, I am always sorry when I run out of something. Anyway, Alice ships everything in these awesome boxes. I did not have the heart to throw them away. I offered them on Freecycle and now I have a nice man who will take them off my hands anytime they build up.

Guitar Strings I sell on String Baby!

So now I am all done with selling books and used products online. I will only sell our strings, my own eBooks and photos. On Lupe Shop, I sell for a few distributors, but am working on those products. I am not happy with the products I have on there at the moment. I have made room upstairs to better organize our area for the guitar strings. I think I will work up there today.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011  Kathleen G. Lupole