Things I have found new homes for this week

Considering that I have not had a lot of time to declutter lately, what with the mad end-of-semester push for both my husband and daughter, I feel like it has been a fairly successful week. I have found homes for the following items this week:

• mechanical timer - previously used for an indoor greenhouse for starting seeds, I gave it to my supervisor at work for her in-office space heater that she worries about forgetting to turn off
• alarm clock - this was on my nightstand, but I have decided to use my iPhone as an alarm clock (the alarm tones are not so jarring in the morning!). I gave this to a friend who has a friend that is setting up a new apartment
• toothbrush holder shaped like duck - left over from when my daughter was little, this has been sitting by the kitchen sink for about 5 years (why?). It also went to my friend with a friend, who has kids
• stand mixer - barely used, this went to the same friend for his parents that like to cook
• blender - used but still in good condition, also went to my friend's parents

The mixer and the blender will free up almost a whole cabinet under the kitchen counter. Not sure what I will do with that space, but I am sure we will put it to good use!

Even a small victory is a victory!

This past Sunday, we enjoyed a particularly warm and balmy November day. It was overcast and slightly breezy, the perfect day to put the second coat of paint on the front of the house. Since we only had one day, and I am still recuperating from a nasty tumble down the stairs, we decided to just paint the lower half, in other words the porch. This required minimal ladder climbing and bending and stooping. It only took a couple of hours, and then we were done and I could rest. I am hoping that we will have a few more warm days before the chill of winter really takes hold to get the rest of the the front done. It feels good being able to get that off my to-do list!