After my mom passed away I spent six weeks going day and night during the initial clean out, and then another year spending every evening and weekend going through boxes upon boxes of stuff. The photo above shows the boxes that I either never got around to going through or things I had packed myself that for one reason or another I couldn't donate the first time around. My mother had so much stuff, it's just unbelievable!
This is only one of the storage areas. I have another room that was a two car garage turned family room, turned storage area, that has only a path to walk through. And then there are the attics of two homes (mine and my mother's) that are jam packed too - I have lots of treasure hunting to do!
About a year ago I got to the point that I thought I would rip my hair out if I had to go through another box. I closed the doors on the storage areas and lived in a very minimalist manner in the other areas of my home. I just couldn't stand the thought of "stuff" after everything I'd been dealing with for over a year. I even started a minimalist blog hoping it would motivate me to finish the clean out - but for the most part those doors stayed closed, like skeletons in my closet, while I enjoyed my everyday minimalist existence.
There were times I knew I needed to get started again. I would walk in, look around, sigh, and close the door again. My son says it was my Saturday morning routine. The problem that had me stuck was that I knew most of the things left to deal with were valuable. As it is I was kicking myself just knowing how valuable the things I already just sent off for donation were. I asked myself why I didn't at least have a yard sale - but I'm one of those sellers who will beg people to just take stuff for free just to get things out. Why bother with an annoying sale with that attitude?
I knew I needed to deal with what I had left in a different manner. A few weeks ago I decided to wander off for the day to check out yard sales, consignment stores, vintage stores, thrift shops, and antique shops to see where what I had might fit in. I did check things out, but also came home with great finds. I was immediately hooked and went out on more treasure hunts and learning adventures over the next two weeks.
I did learn a lot in that short time. I also made lots of new blogging friends who are into the thrill of searching for the perfect finds, and I picked up some great stuff that I really love along the way for a small fraction of what it's worth, so it's all good - really good! :)
There was still the huge collection of inherited stuff to deal with. I knew I needed to dive back into that before I continued my new hobby and bringing home my fun finds. I decided this weekend I would get into one storage area and start treasure hunting at home. I dove in and all I can say is wow!! I found some really great treasures!
I won't bore you with further details tonight, but look for Part 2 soon.
It's Friday night, party time - Cheers!
Cool about treasure hunting at home, Martha. I look forward to seeing what you have found there! I do believe it is possible your mom collected more than hubby's parents did :)
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There was/is so much Betty! The only thing that separated my mother from hoarder to collector was her love for the finer things - almost everything has markings and worth more than I ever would have imagined!
DeleteYou will have fun with every find and eventually it feel so overwhelming. I remember when daddy died, I had the antique store AND the house - it took years to get through it all. I sold everything I could in the 3 months we had left on that year's lease and then boxed the rest and got a storage bin. I pain on that storage bin for 6 years before moving it to my garage where it sat another 6 years and then I spent 3 years ebaying it all. It isn't easy, but it can be done.
ReplyDeleteI knew it would take years, no surprise here. I just had to have a break in between. I'm ready to go for it now :)
DeleteHave fun with your treasure hunt. I can't believe you are still dealing with so much there. Making it fun will help. Every time I start to work in my storage areas here, the attic and the basement, I reevaluate what I have left. it took years to accumulate those things so it's not like it's going to disappear any time soon.
ReplyDeleteIt really is so hard to deal with isn't it? I loved what my aunt did - she had a big party with all her kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and had them all dig through her stuff and take what they wanted. She lived the rest of her life so happy knowing everyone got what they wanted to remember her by. What they didn't want she sent off to donate and lived happily ever after with only a few boxes of belongings. How freeing is that?!!
DeleteAre you going to open a shop to sell antiques and nice things or are you able to part with it? Good luck, it sounds so overwhelming to me.
ReplyDeleteYes Paula that's the plan for the store. It is overwhelming, that's why I finally had to just close the door on it all for the past year. Now that I have the store in mind it makes it easier to deal with.
DeleteMy father, who is 78, has been on a real de-cluttering kick lately. A good part of his motivation is to get rid of as much crap as possible so he doesn't leave it to me and my brother to deal with. It's sorta driving my step-mom crazy because Dad is in excellent health and she thinks it's all a big fatalistic downer. And I have to admit that it's making me a tad bit crazy too because every week there seems to be a new list of things that they want me to look at and decide if I want or not. But I dunno... maybe he's on to something.
ReplyDeleteIt's sort of a strange thing to think about. Who will end up dealing with all of your stuff once you're gone, and what will they think/feel about it all.
Anyhow, I'm glad you're enjoying the treasures that you're finding along the way!
Hey Cat, long time no see!! I definitely like your father's idea. Dealing with my mother's stuff is what pushed me from being a lover of organization over to the minimalist side. I don't ever want my own children to have to go through what I've been through. My mother left behind some beautiful and valuable things, but what good is it when there's so much of it that it has to be kept packed away?
DeleteWow, so many things to go through. Maybe there is a professional service who can help you go through it all? I'd be overwhelmed myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there are services but I don't trust anyone to go through it until I know what's there myself. Now that I have the store in mind I just look at is as future inventory :)
DeleteOh BOY do we have that bug in our family. My mom is Superwoman, and no lie, but "stuff" is her Kryptonite. On more than one occasion, I've seen her reduced to tears as she tries to sort a big box of "stuff" into separate piles or decide what to keep, give, toss, etc. She's worked SO hard over the last few years to get rid of things, and yet every time I come over, there's another box of something from a catalog on the front porch.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where you and your mom fit on the generational timeline, but one thing I noticed about mine is that HER mother grew up during the Depression - so, you know, extreme thrift, no waste. My mom got some of those same values from her, but she's also a baby boomer - fully indoctrinated into the joys of capitalism, shopping is fun and relaxing, every year a new-and-improved model, etc. So with her there's this toxic combination of "don't waste or throw anything away" and "buy new things because new things are wonderful and make you feel good."
Anyway, I absolutely applaud your extreme diligence in taking care of your mom's things. The store sounds like an absolutely fantastic way to resurrect your energy for the project - I'm looking forward to Part 2 of the epic saga!
My mother was a child during the depression. I know that contributed to her saving everything. She also went through a period of time in her life when I was younger where she mingled with the rich and famous - acquiring the finer things for entertaining and having a home that was a showplace was the goal. Of course not one singe thing was parted with along the way. My parents also inherited everything from the grandparents on both sides when they passed. Yep, she saved all of that too! I think all of her saving pushed me to the opposite side. I've never wanted much "stuff." I can really appreciate some of the beautiful things she saved, but other than keeping a few that really remind me of her the rest needs to go!
DeleteI don't think I'll face this when my mom dies. She's constantly getting rid of stuff. She got rid of all my stuff if I wasn't actively playing with it too, and as a result, I have nothing from my childhood except things I started to save in the 6th & 7th grade when I realized she was giving away all my toys, lunchboxes, games AND my craft box!!!! I'll never forgive her for that. :(
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about that JoJo. That's really hard on a kid. My mother saved all of my things from childhood too but once she gave them to me when I got my first home of own I donated them all myself - kicking myself over it a little bit now but too late. At least it was me who let in go, it wasn't given away when I wasn't looking! ((hugs))
DeleteWow that is alot of treasures, but at least you got them all there sorta neat and such haha and off to find more.
ReplyDeleteSorta neat doesn't cut it when it's taking up an entire room! Treasure hunting can be a blast. I never thought enjoy going through this mess but I am :)
DeleteOh, the angst and agony of cleaning the house up after our moms go. It took us a long time too, but I had at least one sister's help all the time. Unfortunately, my mom was a QVC freak, so there were so many rotisserie ovens and shrink wrap kits that it was just sad. Most of that stuff we just brought to Goodwill because a yard sale would have been too taxing and depressing. Oh, but the clothes and the things that actually meant something were so hard. Thank God we met a lady who was Mom's size and took almost all her clothes and shoes, which I know Mom would have loved. We even sold her Mom's car for about $200 because hers was awful and we just wanted someone to have it who needed it. However, my garage is still full of boxes of Mom Stuff that I'm just not sure what to do with. You want to do something that feels like honoring her, but yet you can't just fill your house will all her stuff. Eek! Good luck with your endeavor!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you did the same thing I did. I got rid of so much during the first month or two after my mom passed away. I could have stocked an entire Goodwill store with what I donated and the entire curb from one end to the other was lined up on garbage days. What I am dealing with now is the stuff I couldn't part with or boxes I was just never able to get to, lots of antiques and other valuable treasures. It's been long enough now that I feel ok about keeping the things I really love and selling the rest. It doesn't do anybody any good by staying packed up in boxes. Hope you are able to deal with the rest of your mom's stuff soon too.
DeleteWhen cleaning and sorting my mother-in-law's place, I separated the items in two for some of those things she won't be needing (now in a care home at age 97). Those two boxes were for her sons, one living a couple of provinces away. (collectibles, antique radio, childhood remembrances).
ReplyDeleteI have to sympathize with JoJo, hubs parents did the same, giving away a Lionel train set and Big Little books without even asking if he wanted them. My mother always asked, even saving my first toy, but most don't.
It's a good idea to do a big job like sorting through your storage area in chunks, or on several occasions. (e.g., do five boxes every weekend, and you will see progress)
I do sympathize.
Thanks DG. As I'm going through boxes I'm also moving things around and organizing in a way to make that room an office and inventory space. I'm going to start an etsy shop, rent little spaces in both and antique shop and a vintage boutique and hopefully an actual little vintage store of my own eventually. Once I am set up back there I will deal with one box at a time. There is really no other way to do it!
DeleteJust enough stuff to stock a store. Hmmm. I'm thinking that would work very well.
ReplyDeleteYep, I think it's going to work out perfectly! :)
DeletePS to answer your question about the NuWave, I LOVE it but my one complaint is that the plastic cover/ring cracked within just a few weeks. I have it held together on the outside with clear strapping tape.
ReplyDeleteAck! That chicken you cooked in in just looked so good that I was really tempted to get one. Thanks for coming back over to answer :)
DeleteI've had to do that and it does get overwhelming. I've gotten rid of so much stuff in recent years. But I try not to worry about it...for the most part, I don't even remember it all. But you do have to be in the mood to go through it all! Try not to worry about it...you'll get it done in time and find some treasures along the way...like you said!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I tried to keep it all confined to one room - so I could just close the door when it got overwhelming, but I'm going at it like a wild woman this weekend :)
DeleteGood for you getting back into your own treasure hunt at home. Strange how things tend to take over for a while until we are ready.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing what you have found.
:-) Mandy
I think getting back to dealing with this stuff is enough to keep me away from yard sales for a long time to come. I'm definitely finding some wonderful treasures!
DeleteI've got to do that with Trevor's toys. He has nice lego sets, lincoln logs, etc that we could sell on Ebay.
ReplyDeleteFollowing back :)
ReplyDeleteMy mother's apartment is just full of STUFF. We dread having to clean it out. I can see how it would take years to go through. We have been decluttering ourselves. I have boxes from my old apartment that have never been opened in 8 years. We are getting rid of a mountain of baby stuff today, and then sending a box a week to Goodwill after doing the Flylady's 27 Fling Boogie.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel...it's so overwhelming. The only thing you can do IMO (hehe, I don't abbreviate in text messages either) is baby steps, just take one box at a time. Of course I wish I could take my own advise. :) At least we don't have attics and basements like they do up north!!!
ReplyDeleteWow that does seem very overwhelming, my stepfather just passed away and we are helping our Mom at her home... just yesterday and I am already overwhelmed... feeling a bit depressed today! Good luck and do share the finds that are tucked inside those boxes.. Hugs, Diane your newest follower (:
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