CHRISTMAS IN JULY

WORKING at downsizing.  It's awful.  It's hot, heavy work in July.  This wonderful week, we have plans to finish clearing out a storage unit that we filled last March when emptying the rock house garage to sell the property.  We were blessed to sell the shell of the rock house with detached garage and be free of the obligation of dealing with the burned out mess.  

There wasn't the time to go through all the boxes along with all the things that our garage held before selling the property.  So the quick fix was to move all the garage things into a storage unit.  
The majority of the boxes holds CHRISTMAS decor.  Christmas decor is running out of our ears.  Not to be disrespectful to the season, but going through 43 years worth of CHRISTMAS Decor reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas.  Celebrating and remembering the Lord Jesus's birthday.  I will simplify.  

THROUGH THE YEARS, I have had so much fun decorating that my stash of Christmas decor is like having the inventory of a small Christmas store.  I have to liquidate.  NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.    
  
CHRISTMAS IN JULY.  NO SNOW today, but the task of getting settled into our new house is snow balling into much to do.  Much.  On day 3 of this huge task.  Have a ways to go yet, so this is on the agenda until completed.  Praying that we wrap this project up and call it a day.  

I have peace about downsizing.  In the next few months I will be working on thinning out the decorations that I have collected over the last 43 years.  43 years.   

We will know exactly what we own in CHRISTMAS decorations.  None of these contents were in the October house fire.  Because they were in the garage on shelves, the storage containers are covered with dirt.  SO much dirt.  Achoo.  When the time comes, glass cleaner and paper towels will clean up the boxes just fine. 

Downsizing Holiday things will take place in a cool, air conditioned house and not out in the garage.  But getting to this point is taking blood, sweat and tears.  Later I will be able to sit as I sort the contents of the boxes to say yah or nay.  

Mercy sakes.  As I look at the contents of the storage unit, I sweat just looking at it.  Not all is CHRISTMAS related.  A few rocking chairs, a claw foot tub, books, craft items, boxes of "DISHES", clothing, etc. etc. etc.  

Another project going on.  Nothing glamorous about this phase in life.  Picking up boxes, carrying them to the cars, driving to cottage, gathering up a load into our arms, walking with armloads to house, climbing a few stairs, unloading boxes, stacking, walking back to the car to get next load...It's HOT, DIRTY WORK.  I'm saying this with the knowledge that we will never do this again.  NEVER.  EVER.  EVER.  NEVER.  After we finish this haul we are RETIRING from this way of life.  Small grin.  It is not going to happen again.  I HOPE.  Small crooked frown on face.

We decided not to rent a moving truck this go round because it is easier to do individual car loads of items a little here and there.  SO to save our backs, we have had to break this task into small windows of time.  We have to frequently rest to cool off.  Sit and close our eyes.  It's a different ballgame at our age, but we are getting the task done.   As I do this, I remind myself that it has to be done and now is the time to do it.  Getting rid of much will lighten the load.  I am getting rid of much and it will be a holiday when it is completed.   

Today, we will be back at loading up boxes to get them out of the storage unit.  So off I go to be a better person.

A 3 ring circus around here.  Still packing up things to take to the new location.  Shuffling inside of the new house and clearing out a storage unit.  Spread too thin, but have to get this done.

Aiming to have less physical belongings to mind.  We will be the proud owners of less to mess with.  More like when we were newly weds.  I know that we will be in better shape not having to store so much, but enjoy what is about us as we live our lives.  Nothing is saying that we won't DOWNSIZE again in a few years.  There will certainly be less to handle.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY is a hot mess around here.  It's a mess.


Cheers and may you have a sweet LIFE,
d