Collector or Obsessive?

 

   

I've emptied my drawers and utensil holder and realized I have not been living a minimalistic life after all. Hmmm. NOT by a long shot. 

My niece is moving into her first no-roommate apartment at the end of the month and so I thought I might give her my extras. 

But what do I keep?

So first I sorted them by color, as it musta been color that made me buy them in the first place. Sucker!

 Well, obviously they saw me coming. How could I resist red? And from the old Dollar Tree, when they were all just $1. I do use all of those, with the exception of a pancake turner, or two, one large and burnt at the edge and one little slotted one, which I don't think I ever needed. 

 And then they came out with lime green and turquoise. Never used the pale aqua one, and while that snaller brush is cute,  I didn't even remember I had it and use the red one instead. Rubber spoons? I'll keep the ones whose edges aren't crumbling. 

 Why keep wooden spoons when you don't have any kids who misbehave? That's what I remember about dear old Mom. These are all practically brand new and even in this small bunch I have doubles. Argggh.

 These two gray (!!!) Ikea flippers are in constant use and I did have three but one got burned and had to go. The hamburger masher is a one task item, and I might have to keep it. 

 Then I have a complete set of black utensils. Why did I have to buy these? Slotted spoon? Another ladle? More spatulas? Not gonna keep them. And the garlic press, was more trouble than it was worth. Adios a todo.

These are all the true essentials. Somewhere along the line I lost the 1/3 cup measure in that set. But I have two other sets that are complete. Looking at these, I know I have to keep all of them. 

OK. So I lied. 

I am not doing this to help out my niece, who no doubt already has all the utensils she needs and many extras/cast offs from her mom too. 

I'm starting to pack up to move at the end of the month. Don't choke. You should know me by now. 

Here's the short version:

I bought this little house to be close to the facility where I was moving Dave.  That only lasted three weeks.  It originally had a kitchen with only one working drawer, doors that stuck open, shelves that were useless etc.And worst of all the hated black/white/speckled granite counter tops, which conveniently hid the ant invasion.  So I put in a brand new fabulous kitchen. The two doors to the house had shrunk and had to be replaced, as rain and snow kept flowing in. Then the electric system kept shorting out, and I needed to rewire the whole house. Shortly thereafter, a totally corroded water pipe broke apart and all of the water lines had to be replaced. The front porch steps were a lawsuit waiting to happen, so I had my brother in law John, build me a new porch and steps and that solved that. But in only 2 years and five months, the "luxury vinyl flooring" has cracked  and needed to be replaced, only to crack again, as the floor is so uneven and slanted that all the wheeled equipment like chairs, sewing machines and even Dave's hospital bed, rolls away from where it is placed. 

I had my car stolen right out of my driveway.

The flood caused me to install an entirely new HVAC system. 

And the highway construction never ends, causing dust and noise and more dust to be part of every breath I take and covering every interior surface. 

I've tried to have a postive outlook, and now that Dave has passed, I really have no reason to stay. 

And God  provided this new place for me, and I fell in love. The closing is December 30, but I am having the interior painted white (it's currently BEIGE!!!!)  and a half dozen interior doors replaced, and a ceiling installed in the garage, and more insulation put in the attic. I'll move in when all that work is done. Then I will get this current house ready to put on the market, featuring All New Everything!

++++

The new to me house will have a shade garden filled with my beloved hostas, heucheras, elephant ears, ferns, begonias, and other shade thriving plants. I love that I have both a front porch and a huge back deck. And it is still so close to my church and all the shopping I am used to having. The primary bedroom has a walk in closet and en suite, and no one but me to use it. Sigh. I have a lot to look forward to enjoying in the new year. Yay!!!