My annual January purge is complete!!
It’s so satisfying to have it done. And to remember when I started this routine years and years ago, it took weeks and weeks of full weekends to get it done. By keeping it up annually I can usually finish inside a month, and still have some weekend time for other things.
It’s a mystery to me how much useless crap ends up in drawers and closets. It’s a big weight off to have them cleaned out and organized. Of course, they’ll end up full of useless crap by next January. That’s the reality I have to accept.
In giving my own closet one more pass this morning, I found a dress—a really nice dress—I don’t remember buying and a terrific jacket I forgot I had. So win-win. It’s like shopping again without paying anything!
I found other treasures through this purge, as well as that useless crap, and that pushes me to switch things up a bit here and there. I like switching out things on shelves or just rearranging what’s already there. I like stuff, pretty or interesting things sitting around. But clutter is my enemy.
Now my house is as organized as it ever gets, inside and out. It won’t last long, but while it does, I’ll enjoy it.
I can face what always feels like the endless month of February—with an extra day this year on top of it—and have my weekends free to read, watch movies, bake or cook or whatever appeals.
Hope you’re able to enjoy something that appeals this final January weekend.
Nora
Nora, my mind boggles each year when you’re talking about doing this! And my house would drive you insane in a short time, probably! I have weeded some things out the last couple years–putting them in local fund-raising yard sales–so for a while there’s also a pile of bagged stuff in the house sitting & waiting for delivery time to the yard sales. This year, I’m going to weed a couple cabinets in the kitchen, full of pots & pans that I can’t reach anymore & haven’t used in years. We’ll see how that goes. I weeded the clothes closet a couple years ago & the drawers–it’s down to stuff that I do wear regularly.
Just remember, as you’re weeding that clutter that appeared somehow, you’ve been supporting the economy! I do it buying books & dvds–so I can watch them instead of gripping because the streaming services no longer offer that movie, show, etc. But I need to find space to expand the collection!
As Eve says, “Why is there February?”
Yes!!
I moved last August and because I had lived in the house with my family since January 1961 the amount of stuff was Amazing. I had to do the first clear out that had ever been done and also the attic was boarded out and the garage full. So much stuff went to charity shops and also there was a charity shop I could take old blankets and towels to as they looked after abandoned dogs. I felt so much better afterwards.
Can I just say I love, love, love your library – such a great place to snuggle into on a cold day with a coffee and a good book (probably one of yours)
Having a sort clears the headspace. Organisation is key too because as I’ve gotten older I want things at my fingertips not to rummage for them. Well done you Nora!xx
We planned to sell our home last fall to go smaller and to one floor. So we did a massive clean out. After the house was de-cluttered and we saw the options in the market we decided to stay. But now with the de-clutter, we love the house again. So Nora, with your permission I will make this an annual project.
It’s spotless. With your busy schedule you got it cleaned & it looks terrific
This may just inspire me to start my own purge. Not sure yet if I should be grateful or not. Only time will tell! 🤣
I bet if you do it, afterward you’ll be glad. Not so much happy during the process!
Well Done! I am taking a nap in your honor!
However, this does inspire me to attack at least one drawer at a time!!!
Finishing renovation on a bedroom in my old house. We found newspapers, dated from 1947, that covered the floor under old linoleum carpet , help hold in the heat. My house was built in 1912. We learned that it was built on trees someone felled and left as whole logs, smoothing off only one side. Piecing together the history of the house is the most fun. No one is left who remembers how it was built or by who. Helps to be a reference librarian sometimes. And my kids thought all I ever did at the library was read books and tell stories.
Katy, I love this! Many o f the old buildings—many pre-civil War—in Boonsboro have tree/logs (with bark still on them) as posts in basements.
For me, this winter’s project is to purge, sort, donate, etc. my husband’s garage and yard maintenance shed. He had three project vehicles plus the only mower he ever owned (40+ years), and was pretty organized, but IT’S A LOT OF STUFF! And I don’t know what a bunch of it is, or how to use it. I have made very good use of Google’s image search, haha! I’m in Arizona, so my goal is to have the garage and shed fully complete by mid-April. After that, it’s too hot to spend any time in the garage. I’m also coming across a lot of really good memories, and I’m keeping those.
I am currently working on our garage. I am a retired teacher and I have the garage and a storage unit filled. Must get rid of it….must get rid of it….I was a teacher for 32 years and I can’t let stuff go. Honestly, you never know when your might need tiny bowling pins and 1 million theme shaped erasers!
Hope I get the “time to clean closets” soon. Been saying that for couple years now. One of these days. Great comments. Love your library. Keep up the writing. You’re the best Nora.
I’m celebrating my birthday this weekend. Last night family and friends came over for tacos and margaritas! We ate, drank and laughed until midnight!
Tonight my husband is making me dinner. Don’t know what is on the menu! But he’s a great cook so I know it will be good.
Sunday will be spent reading and watching football.
This is a great idea. I just moved last year and decided if I did not know what to do with an item, throw it out. That is my new modo.
I always find it amazing what we humans manage to clutter our space with. I remember the end of my first year in college, packing things into the car and wondering where it all came from – I am such a pack rat! I have been working on downsizing my”stuff” and decluttering during the past eighteen months. When my father died eighteen months ago, my sisters and I were amazed at the things he saved. He even had carbon copies of letters he had typed! When was the last time any of us used carbon paper when typing?! When was the last time any of us actually used a typewriter?! It’s what got me started with getting rid of extraneous stuff, which for a pack rat is very difficult.
This has been a continuous project since my husband died in October, 2021. Donated a lot of his clothes, golf equipment (of which was a lot!). Then we went through his papers, books, and stuff. We got the pictures organized this year! Yeah!!! Then it was my clothes, kitchen stuff. Feel so much better about it being clean and organized.
Your books kept me sane and happy through all that.
So, thank you Nora for the wonderful stories.
You are truly inspiring, and my absolute favorite author.
Wishing you happiness.
I’m green with envy. 😂I wish I could do the same. Whenever I can, I follow your old system, which in my case is a cumbersome and never ending process. Such is life. One day.
Your library makes me want to curl up with my newest book on this chilly, foggy Sunday morning. Gorgeous room!
Thank you for book 58 Random in death, I have the complete set and wonder how many more there will be, I read them over and over. I think I have every book you have ever written in all genres , how useful is the kindle, I begin to worry that it may become full.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the 2nd time in 23 and so began the round of treatment again, unfortunately I am a speed reader and had to force myself to slow down with Random and managed to keep it going for 2▪︎5 days but I itched and itched to get back to it. Excellent as usual but now I have to wait and wait for 59. I too have for obvious reasons cleared cupboards and draws etc but have one very cluttered cupboard to do, but if I finish that one it will be back to Naked again, possibly my favourite Dallas book but it’s getting a bit difficult now as I almost know it word for word. I do have several other authors I like but really it’s Dallas for me. Good reading to you all. My daughter also likes the in death series so will eventually have all mine which pleases my greatly. Well done Nora you have fed my reading obsession for so many years now please don’t give it up.
I am doing this in my kitchen right now. My kitchen is very small with only a few cabinets. There was, however, a whole empty wall on one end of the kitchen. I didn’t want to invest in actual kitchen cabinetry, so I bought some storage cabinets and made a wall of cabinets. Not to get more stuff, but to organize what I have and to be able to get to things without rummaging through stacks and piles of stuff. Today, all the cabinets are built and I’m ready to organize and I’m very excited about this chore. 🤷🏻♀️ Note, I’ve lived in this house for 33 years, and I’m not sure why this took so long!
Thanks for your stories! I’ve read every single one of your books. My daughter Quinn gets her name from the Quinns.
I lost my husband in Dec of 2022 and he was a pack rat. Why one man needs so many tools and stuff amazes me. We have a “tool room” in the basement and 2 sheds. The kids and I are making progress but its slow going. I am determined to get rid of stuff so my kids don’t have to go thru this again when I’m gone…it’s a hard job but we will do it. I love your library and one more room!
My husband and I have gone through the house, drawers and closets and basement once and gotten rid of a lot of junk, and we will do it again. A lot gets collected in a lifetime. January and February are our clear out months (makes the winter a bit easier to get through when you have a goal).
I love your library. Such a perfect relaxing space.
Thank you for 250 books. You have given me so many happy hours of reading.
I like to imagine that all those wonderful items on the shelves in your library come with a terrific story!!
You have inspired me to start an annual declutter, however its summer here, and the temptation to enjoy the outdoors does win at times. I love your library
For a while when the kids were small, I was doing this every 6 months out of necessity of survival LOL. A few years ago I went through everything I owned, gave the vast majority away and came to a new home with only what was in my car. Alas, after 4 years it is time to begin purges again. Long liveth the purge!
I’ve been lagging to get Random since other bills had to come first. Honestly, I wish I could borrow you to help with my office. It would drive you insane – it’s driving ME insane and yet with the push, push, push of getting taxes ready, and editing my client’s dissertation (yup, and those things are nightmares – just saying), it all still sits there with my own writing stalling – nary a poem in sight for weeks. I know how to purge and have before, I just wish I could get over the inertia that’s set in and just do it.
Amazing! I had a fire one year and lost most of my belongings. For a few years I kept my new place pretty empty, I called it minimalist. But now I’ve accumulated a bunch of junk, enough to fill a whole house again, I’m not sure how! I should do a purge….
In November, my husband took a “man” trip to Kentucky with his pals for ten days, so I took those same days off and tackled my home office. It took me the entire ten days he was gone, plus two more long weekends, but I finally finished. The thrift stores in our community love me now as I set them up with almost as many office supplies and furniture do-dads as I kept. *Whew* – what a chore! But now, I love my office again, can work in there again, and can actually relax and read in there again. (I realized if I haven’t used it in two years, I probably won’t, so it’s off to the donation pile. It’s a good system.)
Thanks for the inspiration. It really does help.
Occasionally I dive into fun blogs, and just caught the grandkids & cookies adventure. You might like this idea (if not already doing something similar). I visited a lovely family in Ireland – what gracious people! – and they had 8×10 framed family photos hung in columns on their dining room wall of every Christmas gathering for the past 24 years. It was fun and crazy to see people as they aged (along with their fashions). It was heartwarming and bittersweet seeing new additions, and missing faces, within the groups. And I thought, how wonderful for someone to see the family clan through years of gatherings. What a gift for the coming generations. So here in Georgia we’ve started the collection for my great-niece, whose name happens to be Nora.
BTW, it’s your world and you’re living it well – and I loved the cliffhanger of “Inheritance.” And I’m still hoping someday to see the tale of FBI brother Mason (Jar) from “The Obsession.” I know you left him behind in Seattle, but he sticks with me. Thanks for the stories!
Fabulous!!! It will take me AT LEAST a year to get there but what a wonderful thing!!! Happy New Year!
Thank you for your books, updates, and pictures, always a great break! Is the picture over the library mantle a Casablanca tribute?
Mantel, sorry!
Well done, Nora. Now that January is over and we are having a preview of Spring in warm early February, I am starting to think of St Patrick’s Day. I usually reread your Jewels from the Sea trilogy in March, but I know you have written other books set in Ireland too. Do you think you (or Laura) could compile a list of your books with scenes in Ireland in them, including your magical and fantasy novels? It would be great to have some others to add to my Irish reading month. Thanks.
There are scenes in Irish Thoroughbred and Irish Rose set in Ireland.
Portions of:
The Donovan Legacy: Captivated, Entranced, Charmed, Enchanted
The Circle Trilogy: Morrigan’s Cross, Dance of the Gods, The Valley of Silence
The Guardians trilogy: Stars of Fortune, Bay of Sighs, Island of Glass
Three Fates
The entire trilogy:
The Irish Born Trilogy: Born in Fire, Born in Ice, Born in Shame
The Cousins O’Dwyer trilogy: Dark Witch, Shadow Spell, Blood Magick
Laura