My Personal Declutter Challenge

I have been thinking of a way to challenge myself into decluttering more in 2014.

So this is my own personal challenge - anyone who cares to join in please do so!

This is a committment now as I've put it on my blog.  Each month in 2014 (starting February) I aim to:

declutter as many items as there are days in the month

so I'm off to an easy start in February with only 28 days.

I will be be following this little rhyme - 

and as 2014 is not a leap year I hereby challenge myself to 28 items to be decluttered/removed from the premises in February .

Not many variations on the theme, which is why I have chosen to go this way.  Some months will be easy and others I might have to push myself a bit, but I will document it as I go.   Wish me luck.  Maybe I can actually live up to my blog name!

cheers for now
Wendy

While It's Still January

There are three resolutions that I think I can actually stick to this year - all a bit self-indulgent  - but just let me indulge as I rarely make resolutions.

1. See More Movies 

I've already taken myself off to see August : Osage County and liked it very much.  Yes, a bit OTT but still I was fairly well engrossed into this disfunctional family.  The time whizzed by, so that's always indicative I think.

More movies on the radar include : Philomena, American Hustle and The Book Thief.

2. Resist My Bad Habit of Changing Appointment Times!

This is just a little flaw of mine which I thought might be worth trying.  For years, I've had the (bad) habit of changing times or re-scheduling appointments.  I don't know why. In my defence, I always give plenty of notice - and this would apply to medical appointments, hairdresser, accountant - as opposed to friends.

I always just find an excuse to change it to a better or different time or day that suits better.   Of course, I never let people down or stand them up - just shuffle things around a little!  Someone else can analyse that one for me, but in the meantime, I will just resolve to do better this year.

3.  Read More Books in 2014.

This is probably the easiest one to follow as I'm an avid reader.  However I would like to switch it up a notch and try reading different genres.  I'm a great fan of our local library network and I often have reservations well into the double digits.  I love reading new releases, so I'm always reading reviews and blog readers opinions too.

So I thought I might just keep track of what I've been reading.  I've just finished  The Mayne Inheritance by Rosamond Siemon.  This is not a new release in fact I've read it once before many years ago, but thought it would be worth re-visiting.  It's a non-fictional (but some believe a fair bit of creativity was used)  following the history of the Mayne family. A really good read, particularly for anyone familiar with Brisbane.  Alot of the suburbs were familiar to me as I grew up in Brisbane.  Murder, scandal and gossip - and major generousity.

Now I've just started Burial Rites by Hannah Kent and it looks like it will live up to expectation.  It's the right time of year here to be reading this type of book and I think I will enjoy it.

So that's it.  My 3 for 2014.  Better late than never!

PS: The photos don't have any great significance apart from the fact that I've obviously seen more sunsets than sunrises!  That might be another goal.

cheers for now
Wendy

It's that time of year again

It's the Flame Tree  (Illarwarra Flame Tree) time to shine.

At our place at this time of year, both the Poinciana and the Flame Tree put on quite a show.

This is just the flame tree though.



Hope everyone is enjoying the lead up to the Festive Season.

cheers for now - Wendy

Little by Little

............ out it goes!

I aim for one of these a week to head off to greener pastures at the local animal welfare op shop.

Most weeks I can manage to almost fill a bag.  One day the house will look different.  Uncluttered.

cheers for now
Wendy

Warped board art

I bought this old watercolour on our road trip back in September.  I have a fondness for watercolour and something about this one just spoke to me.  Particularly as when we were travelling the blossoms were out everywhere, and we don't get that so much in Queensland. 

It was framed, an old frame nearly falling off.  It was $20 in an Oppy and husband was tutt tutting in the background that we really have enough 'stuff' at home (yes dear I know).

However what I didn't know until I took the frame off was that the artwork was pasted onto board.  Between the art and the board is layers of newspaper.

Very old newspaper (I'm guessing late 1800's) which is almost paper mached over the top of the board.  Over the years the board has warped - quite badly.  So much so, that when I took it to local picture framer he said that he couldn't do anything with it until it is off the backing board (which is quite firm - masonite?).

Such a pity as I was looking forward to having it framed and hanging it in the house.  So at the moment - my alternatives are:  1.   put it under something really heavy (like a chest of drawers) for a while and see how that works -> then have a frame over the lot.  2.  try and get if off the backing board which is difficult as the art paper is quite fine.  I've tried running a ruler down the back, doesn't work & I don't want to rip it. 

It's just unfortunate that the board is quite warped (painting is biggish 45 x 40cm). I'd love to know the background and who painted it (signature illegible).   Any bright ideas welcomed!  

cheers for now

Wendy