319: In the meadows and around the pond
Posted: August 8, 2011 Filed under: 365 Life in the Bogs Challenge, Domesticity, Earth, home, nature, Photography, pond, Spirit, Summer, Walking, water, weather | Tags: De-cluttering, E, flowers, meadows, Photography, postaday2011, rainbow, wildflowers 40 Comments
The house is quiet today. Our family left around 9:00am for their drive back to Pennsylvania. Shortly after they left I got a start on my next commitment. The new commitment isn’t intended to last as long as my outdoor commitment, and I won’t be committing to blogging about it although I’m sure I’ll mention it every now and again.
One of my goals for the year is to declutter on all levels. One area of my life that hasn’t gotten as much work in that arena as I’d like is my home. I’ve been so busy with other things that I haven’t been spending time on a daily basis streamlining my house the way I intended. Now that things are settling down a little, I have decided to start, as of today, a commitment to declutter and clean the house with the intention of having it finished (or as finished as you can be with these things) before winter sets in.
My plan, made a few weeks ago, is to start on the front porch and work my way in and through the house. Today’s objective was to clean up the patch of mint near the front door, sweep and hose down the front porches, and wash the doors and windows.
I’d show you before and after photos, but the meadow pictures are much prettier. Besides, that mint patch was a mess. I’d be embarrassed to show it to you. My one regret in regards to the mint bed is that the honeybees love the flowers and trimming back the mint meant trimming off the flowers. We can now get to the front door, though, without getting buzzed or stung.
I haven’t completed my mission for today just yet. I made it about half way before lunch time. During lunch we had a window-washer of a storm (it hits the windows so hard and heavy that it cleans them), and it has been raining off and on ever since. I’m hoping it will stop long enough for me to at least finish up the trimming of the mint. I can wash down the rest of the doors and windows tomorrow. The window-washing rain took care of the back of the house but not the front.
That’s about it from the Bogs for today. I’m having trouble coming up with something to write about in my blog posts lately. I may have to resort to a prompt or meme of some kind if my brain doesn’t kick into gear soon.
Evening fishing expedition
I’ll be back tomorrow, but I can’t promise you it will be interesting. I’m in a dull and quiet frame of mind which is not such a bad thing. We could all use a little downtime every now and then. 🙂
Yesterday's rainbow
Life in the Bogs 
It’s not so bad to give our brains a rest every now and then 😉 Let your photos speak for themselves until the words come naturally. I am in love with those purple flowers!!
Thanks, Holly. 🙂
I’ve been on a mad de-clutter expedition since my bigger bed arrived in November. Of course I barely have a day or two during any month to push it along, but I have pushed. Sometimes a little outside motivation is needed (such as the new bed arriving for the teenagers’ room this week). I made a real break through in my room two weekends ago and it was like a trap door was released in my brain and all sorts of dust was washed away. So so very relaxing to be in there now. I wish you luck meeting your new commitment!
Thank you, Christina. I remember you blogging about the bigger bed and having to de-clutter. Outside motivation can be extremely helpful. 🙂
Your photos are wonderful.
Thank you, Maggie. And thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate it. 🙂
My brain’s been out of gear for a couple of months now, Robin, mostly due to having too many work committments, but life goes on regardless. I’ve learned not to sweat the small stuff. By the way, if this post is what you consider ‘dull’, the photos certainly make up for that! What a beautiful collection you have here today.
Do let us all know how your clean-up progresses. I’ll bet you will motivate a person or two to do the same! 🙂
Joanne: I think my brain is out of gear due to age. Or age-related power surges. I’m sure I will spontaneously combust one of these days.
I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes. It will give me something to blog about. 🙂
Love the rainbow, Robin! And butterfly photos, as well! Good luck with your decluttering project! That kind of thing can often be a lot work!
Kathy
Thanks, Kathy. 🙂
If the past two days are any indication, it will not only be a lot of work, it will be slow going. Ah well. No reason to hurry, I suppose.
Great goals, I need to partership with you on the decluttering so I actually do it. I can start when my kids are back school. :). Lovely flowers and that butterfly is gorgeous!
Thanks, Martina. 🙂
Feel free to join in. If enough people do it, maybe we can declutter the world.
Oh, Robin you will LOVE the results of decluttering! It renews the spirit. I grew up in a cluttered household so I am ‘on guard’ when things begin to head that way around here. Right now, I have two garden sheds that are in desperate need of cleaning/decluttering/organizing. I’ve been putting it off, but your new committment has sparked mine. So, thanks! 🙂
LOVE the fishermen photo! Looks so serene.
Thank you, Tracy. 🙂
Oh good. Another inspired declutterer. Perhaps we really will declutter the world. 😉
Wonderful post and images, Robin. Good luck on the de-clutter project, it can be very daunting. I grew up in a clutterbug house where nothing was ever thrown away. My wife and I broke that habit after we moved 5 times in 5 years. Now are basic rule is, before we bring somthing in, something has to go. I love the evening fishhing expedition, so very calm and peaceful! 🙂
Thanks, Ted. 🙂
My husband and I used to move pretty frequently and that, as you mentioned, breaks the habit of acquiring and keeping stuff. But we’ve stayed put for about 8 years now. It’s amazing how much stuff piles up in that time.
the great thing about de-cluttering, which I am working on as well although not as quickly as I would like – is that it frees up energy in your space. the area you de-clutter feels lighter and fresher. it’s a win/win activity.
That’s one of the things I’m looking forward to, Joss. That feeling of the area being lighter and fresher. 🙂
Good luck with your decluttering project.
What is the name of those purple flowers in the photo towards the end?
LOve, love, love the row boat photo–very minimalist-looking.
Started decluttering also–just sent a big box of old dolls (from the 50s) to my cousin’s grandaughter! I don’t know why I hold on to these things, honestly!
Thanks, Teresita. 🙂
That’s the ironweed that’s been dotting our landscape (and my blog posts) lately.
hi robin! long time no see =) sorry! love the butterfly pictures, and i especially like the effect on the first picture! i would love to hear how you declutter your house, because i think about how I desparately need to do that on a daily basis…but i get overwhelmed thinking about it! good luck!
Hi Subha. Good to see you again. I know you’ve been busy so no apologies necessary. 🙂
Want to come de-clutter my place when you are done? 😉 I’m afraid I’d need a dumpster to truly declutter this house- my basement and some of my closets are filled with the stuff of another lifetime: we bought my husband’s mother’s house and many remnants of her former life here remain. In addition, she is shopping-addicted and often leaves the results of her addiction here!
Sorry! I won’t go on any further!
The boat on the lake is a wonderful shot – one of those things to love about summer! 😉
Thanks, Karma. 🙂
Sorry, but… you’re on your own with your decluttering. I’ll probably be doing mine for the next decade. lol!
Don’t worry about always having a topic…just throw us some of your wonderful pictures, and we’ll be happy!
Good luck with the new commitment!
Thank you, Marie. 🙂
so pretty!
Thanks, Tinkerbelle. 🙂
Your photos on your blog posts are all so very lovely, Robin, and I really like your header image too. I just love the butterfly and Evening fishing expedition photos…. wow! Yes, I have had the same thing in mind as to declutter, and I definitely would like to get a start soon. There is much I’d like to clean out and just clean. Good for you, Robin! 🙂
Thank you, Anna. 🙂
Well, you’re welcome to join me and some of the other folks who dropped by in decluttering our worlds, one home at a time.
I think the dullness I feel is just from the time of year. I’m ready for fall. You’re going to feel so good when you get your de-clutter project done.
Fall is certainly a more lively season than summer, Christine. I think it might come early this year, if the current signs are any indication. I wouldn’t mind. 🙂
I am in the same place you are. Knowing de-cluttering is a GOOD thing to do, but wanting no part of the time consuming job. You are so right about staying put. We used to move every few years and decluttered the natural way. We’ve been in Madison for nearly 25 years and too much stuff, plus we are storing things for three out of the house kids. Sigh!!!!
I can empathize with that sigh, Bo. We’re storing things for one of our out of the house kids. I can’t imagine doing it for three as the one accumulated enough for three. lol!
Great post and beautiful photographs. still we must always remember. ” where a woman sees clutter, a man sees a comfort-zone.” Or as the science fiction poet would say, “Tidy are the Gardens of Venus, Cluttered are the Rock-strewn fields of Mars”.
Thanks, Elmediat.
I chuckled at the quotes. As a sometimes sci-fi fan, I’m thinking that second quote would be good to have on a poster in the living room where most of the “Rock-strewn fields of Mars” accumulate. 😉
At least, the rainbow is a sign of hope for all the things you planned to come to fruition…. Do it at your pace, and thank you for all the amazing photos. 🙂
Thanks, Elizabeth. 🙂
Love the ironweed image. One of my favorite wildflowers 🙂
It’s one of my favorites too, Watching Seasons. 🙂