Yesterday I got one. I felt incredibly sad but the sign was loud and clear - they are only things...
Yesterday I decided to clear out the window boxes in our bedroom - where I keep my treasures. Family photos, items that are priceless to me, and special hand knitted baby items from Brent's mum, Austen's mum, my mum and a beautiful baby shawl from my natural mum.. The kids first quilts, special baby clothes. There are lots of memories tucked up in these window boxes.
But MOTHS have had a feast and nibbled on the knitting. Sadly the moths have not just decided to sit and eat one garment, they have sampled everything. Just tiny holes but the damage is done.
I was able to show the handwork of these ladies to Abbey who is old enough to maybe remember their fine craft work where lots of love was put into making them.But what a shame to just have to throw them out. Someone else could of wrapped their little baby in such lovely handmade items.
WHAT a sign!
Yes the items are beautiful but they were no longer useful to me. They could of been useful to someone else.
The window box is emptied and had a thoroughly good clean. It's unbelievable how much damage a tiny wee insect can make. They must be related to the pukeko - how they just take a small sample of everything. My gun isn't any help on these little critters....
Just as well Brent is away as I had placed items on our bed to clear out the window box. There wasn't enough room to sleep in our bed last night so . I bunked up in the lounge and today will be very ruthless of what sentimental items I will keep and what will go.
Sorry no photos today - the batteries were flat. The kids both are getting onto the minimalist movement and sorting, sorting, sorting. They both have been taking photos and uploading their treasures on Trade Me.
Becoming a minimalist family feels seriously terrific.
I agree that decluttering is a great activity and am doing that, bit by bit. Sorry to hear about the moths stepping in and damaging some dear hand made items. I like the sign you posted.
ReplyDeleteterra yea I was pretty sad about it. Makes you feel dirty too fancy moths in our home YUCK! But no doubt it can happen to the best of us. Bit like head lice I suppose LOL
DeleteLove Leanne
Oh what a shame...some old fashioned moth balls or the like could have protected those treasures.I especially like handmade treasures or heirlooms as you know there was time and love involved in the making.
ReplyDeleteI too have been doing a little downsizing...mostly on stored paperwork ,using the shredder to send it around again via the roots of an avocado tree.
Some things should however be kept - photos, precoius letters, family history documents etc.
as a family with allergies etc etc I'm pretty careful what toxic substances are in our home - moth balls is one I won't have http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphthalene. Your worms would love your shedding too. SMILE. I laugh as I've never met you but sometimes you sit on my shoulder and tsk tsk at my thoughts of letting go of some items.
DeleteLove Leanne
Oh, this was a wonderful post (as usual) ... because of life's events I have no problem getting rid of everything, but my dear daughter is just not ready for that and that's ok. I just love how you came up with such a positive thought and feeling about this ... and today I really needed this ... I all too often make mountains out of molehills and it's so painful ... but now I'm equipped with the positive thinking stuff and try to work my way back to reality and reading you post was just the right pick me up.
ReplyDeleteHappiness and Love, always,
Jan
Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being present now; and if the past cannot prevent you from being present now, what power does it have? from a very wise good friend Eckhart Tolle.
DeleteI was sad re the knitting - but what is done is done. it has made me be even more ruthless with memory items...
Love Leanne
I love Eckhart Tolle ... but I do wish I could remember more of the things I read ... but I am in touch with the feelings that they gave me. I just wish I would "get this" already ... but I'm not giving up ... thanks to beautiful souls like you!
DeleteLove and Light,
Jan
((((hugs))) Continue being kind to yourself.
DeleteLove Leanne
Hey there! I mailed your calendar today, finally! Of course, in my hurry to get my errands done, I left the letter (that I wrote to include in the package) at home. Ugh. So, sorry, but there is only the calendar inside! Glad to hear you are successfully clearing things out. We need to do the same thing, too.
ReplyDeletekris thank you soo much for thinking of me. Susan Branch makes me smile so i know I'm going to enjoy her calender all year long. You'll have to email me your letter.
DeleteLove Leanne
Another great post. I guess this will inspire many to clean & clear out, even if only some small way.
ReplyDeleteLeeanne I'd love the would to change, to stop being driven by commercialism and want, want, want... IMAGINE.
DeleteLove Leanne
Trying to do that in PA Leanne. Haven't had a Christmas tree since we moved here 23 years ago and the Christmas decorations in the attic are probably all fused together! I'll let you know. Have boxes and boxes and boxes (and I could keep going) of old magazines. Again in the attic. So soon I will get The Herbal Husband up there to start bring them down to recycle them in some way. Unless the silverfish have gotten to them. They eat the printing. It's a bit scary. Thanks for leading us onward, upward and forward, Leanne. xo LVL
ReplyDeleteI've been slowly letting go of items for years, first when we moved here nearly 13 years ago - we came from a big house. We have no storage here living in a 1900 villa so it has made me be selective in what we have kept. I'm now in this minimalist mindset and ready to let go of more items. I only want to have things that are beautiful (still working on Brent about that horrible painting above the fireplace that was his mothers!) and useful. Our Christmas decorations will possibly be sorted out in December.
DeleteLove Leanne
Wait wait wait Leanne, before you throw them out - I only think of this because I'm terribly sentimental and find it sooo hard to throw out anything like that, but what I would do is carefully cut out some un-moth-eaten swatches of each of them and frame them in some shadow boxes - at least you will have a small sample of their history. Maybe not your thing, but just a suggestion.
ReplyDeleteRachel I was pretty sda, but I have lovely photos of the kids wearing the garments as little babies. I was very sad about the outfit my mum hand knitted (all white - I love babies wearing just white) which I brought both kids home in and would of loved to of passed that on.... But as Abbey said, she thought it looked old fashioned...
DeleteLove leanne
Leanne, I like Rachel's suggestion, all is not lost, and the memory of something so special is there for all time. I still have my Mum's wedding gown,(1938) my Dad's silk scarf, probably that would have been in his motorbike days, maybe the 1920's!!!! The satin underskirt from my wedding gown( 1962), 2 dresses of mine, one about 1940, the other about 1948 or so. Can I throw them out?? NO.But I have started on books, magazines, and more,Hugh is ever so slightly pleased with this. Greetings from Jean
ReplyDeleteJean, good for you having a clean out way to go! whoop Whoop.
DeleteLove Leanne
regarding moth balls, aren't there some essential oils that repel moths (clove is one I think). We have a camphor wood chest and the camphor oil in the wood which is meant to keep them at bay.
ReplyDeleteSorry you lost baby items, just a few to keep are very special whether they are useful or not. I have the tiny gown the hospital put on my son when he was born (I better go check for moths!).
kath, yes I'm sure there are some herbal mixture we can use, please check on the little gown today!
DeleteLove Leanne
Oh no.love the idea of keeping pieces .you know you can machine sew knitting together.
ReplyDeleteYou could make a memento quilt or something .x
Maree
Maree I saved the buttons... and have put the ones not badly nibbled in the wash and will deal with them in a day or two. Check on your items TODAY ok!
DeleteLove Leanne
"Nothing in your house..." I love, love, love those words of William Morris.
ReplyDelete