Yesterday I spent hours decluttering my kitchen. I don’t have the before photos to show you because I didn’t go into it with “blog post” in mind, but rather with a determination – born out of desperation – to make some headway in the overwhelm that is currently my life. And I feel better! I do! I think this decluttering thing has a trickle-down effect on the other areas of my life.
I have the Japanese Kon Mari book on decluttering and I’m really appreciating it. But I found I couldn’t go completely in order. I did my own tops (shirts, sweaters, etc), and that was really helpful. But I couldn’t put my heart into continuing with the rest of my clothes, and then my children’s clothes, and then my husband’s clothes, when the upstairs was so out of control.
I mentioned the rat in the toilet here, right? It’s been going on for 6 months now with only two sightings, but with plenty of splashes to make us aware of his presence. And honestly, it was cute, and small, and not as frightening as one would think (my friends named him Rémy from Ratatouille) – particularly when, for the first few weeks I was in denial about what the splashing could be.
But then. Earlier this week. I was minding my own business, brushing my teeth in the hallway outside the bathroom when some black movement caught the corner of my eye. It was a HUGE rat head approaching the seat of the toilet. And he had approached by stealth because I hadn’t heard any splashing at all. I am not generally a wimp, but I SCREAMED. And then I curled up for two days in a fetal position.
Anyway. Why am I telling you this, apart from giving you a vision to haunt the rest of your live-long days?
There has just been a LOT going on. Kids home, bank administration, government administration, US taxes, RATS waiting to attack vulnerable places… and me – a complete ball of stress. I had to go to the osteopath just to get her to unclench my jaw so I could open my mouth more than half an inch.
I’m doing much better now. The osteo did wonders. The rat guy came – strong ex-fireman. Type you want to do the dirty work. Basically we have to stop the compost until we get rid of the problem, and we need to declutter a bit outside – the tiles and beams of wood that are waiting to be built into a structure. We threw out the bale of straw that was for our garden. He put poison everywhere, including in the two accesses we have to the sewage. I expect this will do the trick, if not this week, at least over time.
So yesterday, my motivation was part “Gross! Rats! I want to throw away everything I own!”; part “The osteopath has saved my life and now I have enough strength to make some headway in this messy house.”; and part “Well. I bought the Kon Mari book. May as well do what it says.”
The broom closet (and where I store breakfast stuff). Matthieu punched nails in the side of the cabinet to hang stuff, and now we can see the floor. I also threw away all my cookbooks but two. I tend to look online anyway.
The casserole/ frying pan drawer.
The tupperware drawer.
The lazy Susan. I threw away a bunch of old vitamins and fat-burning supplements that I impulse-bought. Stoopid.
Above the sink. The tea is stored in a wooden silverware organiser that makes it easy to pull out and choose what I want.
The dinner + baking ingredients cupboard.
The gluten-free, clean eating cupboard.
The coffee cupboard.
The baking supplies drawer.
The baking pans drawer.
The silverware drawer.
Now I really wish I took ‘before’ pictures. But I can show you all the stuff I’m throwing away. I’m counting on the fact that gypsies come through to take everything metal when it’s the large-items collection day. In this way it will be recycled well. (Is ‘gypsies’ a non-offensive term? I don’t know where they come from). I’m just glad they can benefit from what I don’t need.
That’s a lot of stuff for a small kitchen, isn’t it?
And the trickle-down effect is that today I’m feeling really light-hearted. Look! I put on mascara! I wore a delicate necklace that Matthieu gave me. I’m wearing white. All this, and I’m staying home! I have no plans to go out or see anyone. I’m just looking good for me. (And maybe for my husband too). 😉
Sorry if you’re reading this by e-mail and the picture is sideways. That happens a lot when I take a picture from my phone and I don’t know why.
Anyway ….. I’m thinking my next step is the boys room today. Let me go get my camera first though. You are not going to believe the transformation unless I show you.
My desk is right by my bed. About two years ago I awoke at 2 a.m. to a strange noise coming from the desk drawer right next to my side of the bed. I scared the critter away, but the little monster had found my ziploc bag of emergency chocolate and infiltrated it!!!! There was screaming that day too.
Ha ha. There’s always screaming where rats are concerned. When I lived in Asia there was one under my bed (which we did manage to get rid of) and I handled that one better than the toilet episode. Eeks!
Jenny,
You have made me laugh. First of all, I want you to come to my house and give it the once over like you did at your house. It looks neat and organized. Love that. I had a rat once in my house that was super persistent. Once we figured out how he was getting in, we repaired it. Since he couldn’t get in the house through his old path, he tried to come in through the HVAC vent. The phone cord was hanging over the vent and he pulled on it and chewed it. My mother took rat poison and threw it in the vent. Well, that took care of him and us. When the rat started to decompose the odor went over the entire because he was in the vent. The stench was revolting. We ending up calling out the HVAC people and having all the vents cleaned, about $1200 job. It was a nightmare.
I am so much better at organising other people’s homes than my own because I can go sleep somewhere else afterwards. It’s like cleaning their kitchens. Mine always gets messy again!
Oh no. That rat story of yours is horrifying!!! I can’t see how you could have done it otherwise, though. I guess next time you would have to call an exterminator to set a trap and remove it … ? Glad that’s behind you.
i like that whole gluten-free shelf thing 😀
andi recently posted…Heart Of A Philantrophist Turns TWO!
I need to eat gluten-free and it’s nice to have my own cupboard separate from the rest of the family. It’s useful!
No sideways photo for me! The rat story is.. horrifying. My mom found a frog in my aunt’s toilet in Florida but this is something else entirely.
Cassidy is doing the KonMari thing right now. He’s intrigued by it!
Tamara recently posted…Look What I Made!
I think our big strong fireman guy did the trick. I am getting less and less afraid to sit down. Which is good because I seem to have some sort of stomach bug. Impeccable timing, huh?
So what’s Cassidy working on now? Are you feeling the positive effects too?
I have been decluttering this summer. It is as therapeutic as seeing my weekly mental health counselour. I feel less stress, I feel like I can breathe when I see an open space. It is the DE OWNING that makes me feel useful, productive, capable, GOOD, and socially responsible. I can’t beat decluttering for lifting my spirits. It looks good, Jennie.
alexandra recently posted…The Last Dance of Summer
I love this word you use – de owning. It’s very powerful and freeing. Right now I’m looking at the sheer white curtains lifting in the breeze and I want my whole house to feel like that – light and airy. (Love you, A).
First of all, you are too cute! Loved the selfie! And thank you so much for this post. The exact same thing (being too busy/sad to get to the normal stuff around the house) has me feeling more overwhelmed and defeated lately. This really inspired me and was the perfect timing! Blessings, my friend!
Bonnie Lyn Smith recently posted…Dragonflies, Lily Pads, Bullfrogs, and Faith
Just don’t do what I am doing, which is to declutter without a proper plan in place about whether to have a garage sale (do they even do that in France?) or to throw or to give to GoodWill. You’ll end up with all your declutter cluttering your hallways. Ha. 🙂
Decluttering is hugely uplifting to me. I love to sort, organize, donate and then sit back and relax!
I love your way to organize your tea. I will borrow your method. Thank you.
BTW you look lovely (even sideways) in the photo.
DarleneMAM recently posted…Trash to Treasure DIY: Painting and Rewiring Lamps
Thank you Darlene!! (chuckle). Why can’t I get the darn things upright?
I’m so proud that I, I, was able to give some organisational inspiration to someone else. I assure you it was completely by accident. I’m joking a bit, but I’m not known for being an orderly person. I’m off to check out your DIY post.