Wednesday, February 04, 2026

Day 3: The wall is before me



That’s right, I’m at the wall of down sizing.

 I sat there this morning sorting a basket of junk drawer stuff thinking. Why? How many ballpoint pens does it take for me to face the fact that store sell pens, not refills?

Evidently, that number is 3 dozen give or take, not counting the pens thrown away already. On the good side, I tossed a handful of things saved for a reason I don’t remember. 

A bonus of down sizing and organizing stuff is the mind set. Going along my way, everything I do, make coffee, cook, look for gloves, put away clothes, I reorganize, adjust or add something to the donate pile. A little voice like a Greek chorus sings, When’s the last time you used that?  Give it away, give it away. 🎶

There is rolled up artwork from 2001 that will probably never be framed. I move it from one place to another. One year it was in an old store display I picked up on the side of the road.  I am sure that the pastels I will continue to keep. The quick charcoal drawings will go. Other charcoal drawings I’m keeping. Two pastels are in the pile.

Tomorrow, (today if I push it), the project will be finished. Thursday is a thrift store donation day.  That is my end goal for the touch down.*

Corner clutter in waiting



*Change of plan. Drop off on another day

11 comments:

  1. Cheering you on from here! I agree about pens - just how many do we think we need? I use about four favourites and the rest sit there until they seize up from non-use. I go through them periodically and throw the 'dry' ones out but I still have far too many. You've given me incentive to go through them again and actually donate the excess.

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    Replies
    1. Maryanne,
      Donating the excess pens is a good idea. I put tape on the good pens I keep.
      May

      Delete
  2. I think I'm soon moving into more downsizing of stuff. Recently, I did go though pens and I decided no pen needs to be in this house that doesn't write smoothly. Such a little thing, but it's so satisfying to reach for a pen knowing it won't be scratchy on paper. :)

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    Replies
    1. Becki,
      Good point. Smooth writing is a must.
      May

      Delete
    2. Becki,
      Good point. Smooth writing is a must.
      May

      Delete
  3. I see you too are downsizing, and blogging at the same time. Well done. It took me about five months to downsize our house and possessions, with a weekly visit to donate at a thrift store. Yes, lots of pens were discarded as the imperfect could not come to our new house :)

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    Replies
    1. Patricia,
      Five months! You are a down sizing champion!
      Trips to the thrift store here are limited with the fewer days and hours they allow for donation drop offs.
      May

      Delete
  4. I know exactly shat you mean about excess pens and a previous suggestion to donate those, especially to a smaller thrift store , where they could be used is a good one. It gave me the idea to go through my own assortment and do this. My preference for writing is now with the smoother gel-like pens. That said, my ball point pen collection increased by 10 this week as granddaughter sent penguin-themed ones, which of course must be kept and used as long as the ink supply lasts😏.

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    Replies
    1. Beatrice,
      That is so cute to have keeper penguin pens.
      May

      Delete
  5. Oh, I laughed at this so hard! We are SO on the same page, doing the same thing this month. (You sound further ahead than I.) Yes, I have the same pen issue. They multiply like rabbits and we're always left with the ones we like least!

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    Replies
    1. Jeanie,
      Happy Sorting! The key to a good clean out is to set limits by hours and days. It gets with the pen issue, if I pick up anything that rattles, anxiety kicks in that it will be more pens. LOL
      Today I am taking off because the main part is finished.
      May

      Delete

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