I still love the Roomba

It's just great, for cleaning the floors, sure, but also for forcing one to streamline what's stored on the floor.

If you can't change yourself, force the change with something else.

Busy busy

I've been busy this week, so not much news on the decluttering front.

Yesterday, I volunteered with my older daughter's class on their field trip to an organization that supports food banks. Forty kids helped to repackage donated canned and dry goods into family-size boxes that can be distributed at food banks around the state. The kids had to check expiration dates, and balance the boxes with canned and dry goods, as all the boxes needed to weigh approximately the same amount.

I've got my eye on a couple of projects around the house. I have hobby supplies still hanging around for a couple of crafts I no longer do. I can't just donate them to a thrift store, as they would probably be tossed. They need a home where the recipient understands what they are for. Must put on thinking cap for this one.

The upstairs is actually looking great. Thanks to the Roomba, I have floor clutter down to a minimum. There are still some stacks around the TV. I think we need to cull some media. We'll see.

Found My Old Crock-Pot--Update!

So, my Barbeque Beef turned out perfectly! It was a small amount and would have burned in the new Crock-Pot, but it came out just great. I am so pleased to have found old faithful.

And...the old one is old enough that it was made in the U.S.A. The new one? China. The quality control issues are going to implode that economy in the next few years. Just my prediction.

Found My Old Crock-Pot!

I found my old Crock-Pot and will give it a go today. I have some meat that, since it's been frozen for a couple of months, will taste best slow-cooked rather than grilled. So, BBQ beef for dinner!

I guess it was determination, or perhaps it was the fact that Sweetie found my beloved grater the other day while looking for something totally different. The Crock-Pot was in the garage, right on top of a Rubbermaid bin and right next to an open box of kitchen stuff. So, right where I should have expected to find it.

The real question is, why did I not find it when I first needed it? Perhaps my desire for a nice shiny new white-not-stainless one blinded my eyes? Anyway, back to basics.

Roomba Update

So far, I'm enjoying the Roomba. It has its idiosyncrasies. It can't go over power cords and we have two dressers it can't fit under. Or rather, it can fit under them but once there it can't escape.

I've run it about six times now, and it picks up a lot of dust, dirt and cat hair. It is much quieter than a standard vacuum. We have a lot of doors on our main floor, so it's easy to isolate it in a room or group of rooms and hallway.

Best of all, you must keep the floors clear to use the Roomba. And since I really want to use it, I am keeping the floors clear and motivating the kids to as well.

The Bench: Part II

Since the Roomba (nicknamed Eva by the kids and Flowbee by the Sweetie) arrived, I've been tinkering with the house to make it more Roomba-able.

Today's task was to clear out the bench. The cubby contents, a mish-mash of old Sunday crosswords, paperwork, kid art and odds and ends, had me stumped. We'd taken to storing shoes underneath the bench, on days when we use the front door. (We have a shoe rack by the back door, since we use that one more often.)

I decided to use a technique I loathe. It works, in that the area one needs is cleared. But it creates a time-bomb for the future. But I did it. I boxed all that crap up.