Organizing objects in
baskets
somehow elevates the items
from clutter to keepsakes.
Well, the items chosen for
keeping
after reviewing everything
stuffed in
the basket to get it off the
side table
become keepsakes.
Periodically,
items saved for another day
must be reviewed in my
house.
There comes a day,
not planned beforehand,
not on a scheduled day of
the week,
not on a predetermined
timetable,
but just the day comes when
the
clutter must be reviewed...
for me to keep my sanity.
I can take clutter only for so long,
then it screams to be organized.
for me to keep my sanity.
I can take clutter only for so long,
then it screams to be organized.
Walking through the living
room,
something catches my eye,
and I know it’s time to
review
the clutter.
Look at every item in the
basket.
Re-read every torn-out
magazine page.
Drop into the wastebasket
those
pages that no longer
have
staying
appeal,
those pages with furniture,
architectural details, and
color schemes
that do not quite seem as
appealing as first
glance.
Relocate those things that
should be saved with similar
items elsewhere.
Place the collectible coins
with the other coins.
Place the newspaper article
about
monarch butterflies with the
books about butterflies.
Two hours later,
keepsakes
emerge from what
once was
clutter.
The Martha Stewart Living magazine article
on blue bulbs stays for
handy reference.
The purple ornate scroll
photo frame from
Temecula, California stays
as a
complement to the small
needlepoint pillow
from Paris, France.
The pillow fits perfectly in
the large section of the
divided basket.
The thin blue-print-on-teal
notebook of blank pages
stays in case notes need to
be jotted down.
Can one ever have too many
small notebooks
with blank pages?
The set of four or five
years of
lavender leather-covered personal
monthly calendars stay,
more for their beautiful
covers with
their luxurious feel than
for the
references to past events.
They fit perfectly in the
small section of the
divided basket.
One day someone will buy these at
an estate sale for their beauty
and will wonder about the woman whose life
was chronicled in their pages.
Ordinary women are mysterious in the future.
Extraordinary women’s lives are so well documented
that there is little left about which to wonder.
For now, these keepsakes
made the cut,
no longer clutter.
Until the next time
organization
strikes.
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Such a lovely post. My baskets are either for holding magazines I can't bring myself to part with, or for general clutter removal... the problem with the latter is that it is often days before I have time to empty the 'clutter' basket. Wouldn't it be fun and illuminating to know what others think of us based on a diary of our days? Yours might ultimately become published as a book of travel memoirs...China, France and all the rest.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever tire of the small pillow from Paris, you know where to send it.
I have to frequently do the same in my office. I let notes, magazines, books, etc. stack up. Your post reminds me that it's time for a little clean up. '-)
ReplyDeleteI have plenty of baskets! I think I'll do this very thing tomorrow morning. I hate clutter but don't know what to do with some things that are out. I collect them up and maybe it will make it easier to organize! Thanks for the inspiration! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteOh, such a beautiful post, Judith! I am forever working on this! Clutter makes me crazy, but carefully collected and loved keepsakes in a gorgeous vignette is a completely different story. Your basket is lovely!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Lin
Clutter comes and goes here. I get it under control, but like weeds, the minute I turn my back it is out of control.
ReplyDeleteI love to store things in baskets but, I also need to do some real housecleaning this summer! Thanks for linking with Home Sweet Home!
ReplyDeleteSherry