Monday, September 29, 2014

Six things I learned in September

I'm linking up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky for her monthly Things I Learned link up. This is for the silly and the serious things. Here are six things I learned this month in no particular order. 


1. A crazy trait of mine finally dawned on me. When my favorite pen runs out of ink, it makes me cranky. This happened twice to me this month with pens I had become quite attached to. I guess I must be a pen snob. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it needs to be the right thickness for my hand to grip, and it has to be a medium ball point. Never fine point, heavens no.

2. We bought a little house. After 30 years of marriage and being (nearly) empty nesters we don't need as much space. We are moving from a 2500 square foot home to 1185 square feet. Yes, our parents are looking at us a little cross-eyed about this one. It seems backwards, yes? 

We decided to try to simplify our lives and our finances a bit. Make it easier to put money to different things than a house payment and property taxes. We're also going to have to severely simplify our possessions, which has already been happening. 

If we haven't used it in a year, or maybe 14 years, since we moved here, well then, maybe we don't need it!  This stack of pants of mine, I finally let go to Goodwill after not touching them in fourteen years. It's about time!


3.  Letting go of some of my collectibles hasn't been as bad as I thought. I had to empty one whole dresser of doilies, dresser scarves and other assorted vintage linens and it wasn't that bad. My only requirement for letting these once sentimental things leave my house is that they will be consigned, not given away. 

4.  We are a movie crazy family. Last night was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows night. Of course, we've all seen this one before. But, knowing that I don't like scary parts my daughter and son warned me, "Mom, there's a jump scare coming up." This was new. Being warned ahead of time, so I can leave the room. So appreciated!

5. The four of us living in this house got it ready for pictures and listing for sale in six days flat. When our offer was accepted on the "new" one, we took only six days to tidy up, do our small touch ups, wash windows and majorly declutter.

During those six days we took 30 bags to Goodwill, 7 bags to the garbage, 12 bags of books to Half Price Books to sell and 5 bags to the recycle bin. (yes, my husband kept track!) Pretty impressive if you ask me! And, I'm already feeling lighter.

6. My husband has an intern at work from Denmark. A couple of Saturdays ago, we took him to the Iowa State Capitol for a tour. My mom happened to be the tour guide! I had been there before, but it was fun taking someone from out of the country to see it for the first time. This time I noticed more of the beautiful structure of this building which was built in the late 1800's. 





So, if you are ever in Iowa, come visit the Iowa State Capitol, listed on one top ten list of most beautiful buildings in the world!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Anne

12 comments:

  1. Anne, you're not alone in getting attached to your pens. I get used to the feel of a pen and I feel like it's almost an extension of my hand. I keep my special pens in my desk drawer at work and the ones I don't care for out on my desk as decoys.

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    1. I love this! Pens you don't like as decoys! How smart and sneaky! :)

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  2. Hi, Anne. Thanks for visiting my space today. We must be at least a bit alike because I am also a pen snob! Certain pens make my handwriting look better than other pens. Is that just me? This is will be my first attempt at 31 days. I'm home full-time with 2 kids under 5 so I'm not quite sure I know what I'm getting myself into here. I've chosen 31 Days of Hope, not because I have any profound answers about it but because I am in need of it. I've been through a series of losses this year including my dad, and I'm hoping 31 days of positive writing will bring my focus back to the right place.

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    1. Hi Lisa. Thanks so much for stopping by. I really like your 31 Days topic. Hope. I am sorry about the loss of your dad and all the other losses you've been through. You're right, writing about hope will probably boost your hope as well! Blessings to you as you begin this writing adventure!

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  3. Darn it....I was just in Des Moines! The gal that picked us up at the airport lived in the boonies about an hour south and high-tailed it out of the city as fast as she could. If I had known I might have insisted we see the capitol. Phooey. Thanks for the info and pictures though. Next trip....
    It's also good to hear that you survived the down-sizing. I've been dragging my feet doing the same, so hearing your words is giving me a boost to stay at it and ELIMINATE.

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    1. Hi Lisa! Oh, I'm sorry you were in DM and missed going to the capitol! Hey, now you know something to do in our "little" city (as my kids put it) when you come back to visit! It's a free tour, too! The downsizing is still in process. I have a feeling the hardest part is yet to come, when I try to fit all the things I don't want to get rid of into the little house!

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  4. My son and I read through the Harry Potter series this year and watched the movies too. It was our first time though. What an amazing series!!! (What an awesome help they were to let you know ahead of time!)

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    1. I am glad you liked Harry Potter! It is an amazing series! My kids (all adults) all read the series, so of course the movies would be included, right? I am afraid I didn't read the books, but I have seen all the movies and some multiple times. It's a fantastical story!

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  5. Oh, I hear you about the collectibles ... that simple, pared down life is calling my name!

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    1. Good luck with your attempt at the simple, pared down life, too, Linda! I think some of my toughest decisions are yet to come, but I'll get there! Blessings to you!

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  6. Oh, I am definitely a pen snob, too. Glad to know I'm not alone. I hear you on the getting lighter- when we moved year before last we cut our belongings in half, and about every eight months since then (so about twice?) we've gone through and pared down even more. I'd say we have about an eighth to a quarter of what we used to have. What is left is beautiful and functional. I am relieved knowing that if J's job took him somewhere the move would be quick, painless, and light! And oh, that capital building! So gorgeous!

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    1. Oh Joy, I love to hear how you pared down your possessions and feel so much lighter. And, how you describe what you have left is beautiful and functional. I love that. That is my goal, too! Thanks for stopping by!

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