to purge or not to purge

That is the question.

I have a lot on my plate this coming year. More than I've had in a long time. It is all good and exciting stuff, but real life (laundry, dinner, groceries, garden, clutter) tends to get away from me pretty quickly without a lot of discipline of my time.

Before things get into full swing, I really want to get my house under control. For me, that means closets organized, every room deep cleaned - ceiling fans, blinds, cobwebs, light fixtures, etc. I live on a dirt road, and things can get pretty dusty. Lots of deep cleaning to be done.

My hope is to take one or two rooms each week, including closets, and gut, spruce, sort, and replace what I want to keep.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

I never thought the bathroom would be my favorite thing to clean!

So, cleaning and organizing closets is not necessarily fun, but it's pretty standard fare.

The next part is where my dilemma lies.

I have boxes, drawers and cupboards full of stuff.

Good stuff.

Things that haven't really found a spot in my house, but I still love anyway.

Things that aren't doing anybody any good at all hidden in a closet.

I will never live in a house larger than this house. If there's no place for it here now, there probably never will be.

So, do I Ebay it all? Will I regret getting rid of it?

I'm kind of feeling that the time has come to purge.

Here is a sampling of what I've discovered hidden away.

I had great plans for the linens. Pillows, lampshades and such. It's not going to happen.


And don't get me started on vintage tablecloths. This post should have been titled binge and purge, as there was some serious over indulgence that took place here. Ridiculousness, wrapped in insanity. Granted this took years, and granted, I only buy them cheap, but still.

Keep in mind, I have many tablecloths that I use regularly, or display. These are some of the dark recess dwellers.

Have you ever visited the Etsy shop Vintage Home? I discovered her shop quite a while ago and loved the tablecloth pillows she made. So, I decided to collect tablecloths and make my own. Poor choice. I can sew, but not particularly well, and not without a certain amount of frustration. Her work is beautiful, and I would now have pillows for my front porch if I had just bought the ones I loved from her eons ago!


If you're impressed, I understand.

If you're appalled, I understand.

I am both at the same time.

Hankies....oh, the hankies.


Some framed and never put on the walls.


Some in a box never to see the light of day.


Wouldn't this one be so pretty for a bride to have as her "something blue". Perhaps one of my future daughters-in-law? See, I can rationalize saving almost anything.


This apron is a treasure from one of the few times I exercised restraint. My mother in law had access to boxes and boxes of linens from an estate. This was one of about twenty adorable aprons.


It's been in a box since last April when I got it.

By next week, I should have made it to the china buffet....lots of goodies there. And then the kitchen cupboards. Oh boy.

So, what's your hoard/purge philosophy?

And what if a potential purge item was a gift?

I think I'm finally convinced that my treasures will have a happier life at someone else's house. Someone who will let them see the light of day.

To be continued.....