Let the Spring Decluttering Commence!

Now that the rain has finally ended in California (for a while) and the sun is back, my mood is greatly improved, and every day more plants are blossoming. Our apple tree (Ultra Dwarf Ambrosia Apple), really just a twig, is getting ready to burst forth. And more salvia flowers, like this Salvia greggii “Mirage Blue”, are opening to the delight of the hummingbirds.

But besides the good weather, I’ve been motivated to downsize and declutter because we are close to becoming empty nesters! Out eldest moved out a week ago and is thrilled to have her independence back! (Her move back home was just a temporary situation, but it stretched out a bit longer than we all anticipated!) And our youngest will be fully moved out in a week or so.

As more of their stuff leaves the house, the more I’ve wanted to let go of more of our own excess, unused, under-appreciated items. My husband is all for it and says “Let’s get rid of everything. Ha, ha, ha.” But in reality he doesn’t like letting go of things…or at least his things! I keep trying to convince him to let go of those dusty boots he hasn’t worn in a decade, those outdated suits and his old college textbooks mouldering in our garage, but so far it’s no dice! Hmmm.

I think that’s true for a lot of us. We hold onto things because we think we might need/want them one day. Or we think we’ll miss them when they’re gone. And usually neither is true. (Honestly!!)

Well, irregardless, I got started. First in our kitchen I pulled out random bits…a refrigerator container for a fridge we no longer own, some canning jars I don’t use and this Pyrex pie dish in a basket. This was a wedding present from a zillion years ago and to be honest I’ve only used it two or three times in all these decades. Can’t believe I’ve held onto it this long!

But more bittersweet to me was pulling out this box from a corner cupboard marked “china tea set” in my mother’s handwriting. (She has been deceased for 21 years now.)

This Japanese tea set was one my dad bought in Japan in the 1950s for his mother. Eventually it passed to my mother who never used it that I remember. So one year they brought it out to me. While I did unwrap the dessert plates and have used them, the rest of the set remains as my mother wrapped it over two decades ago. (For some reason she swaddled everything in plastic wrap!)

I have never used it (other than the plates) and know I never will. Nor have I ever displayed it. I’ve decided to donate the egg shell cups and saucers (one is damaged) and sell the teapot, creamer and sugar bowl. But it wasn’t an easy decision. I feel gripped by guilt (and a little sadness) even thinking about letting it go…but it’s time. (I will keep the dessert plates.)

I moved onto our linen armoire and started ditching some old bed linens and towels. Those are always easy to discard. But this wall hanging/rug also in the armoire is a keeper. I bought this years ago from an eBay seller in Pakistan for $70 or so. It arrived wrapped in a piece of cloth with my address crudely handwritten in marker on the front, tied with string and posted with vast collection of stamps glued to it. I was surprised it made it to me on the other side of the world! I was happy to rediscover this. Now I need to find a place to permanently display it.

So I’ve started. I’ve got a small growing pile to be donated or thrown out. I actually like decluttering but it can be emotional, especially for inherited and sentimental items, but I’m trying to be tough! Now if I can just stop my husband from pulling stuff from the pile!!

How about you? Any spring decluttering??

Karen