Lessons Learned On the Farm

• Jul. 7, 2008 - Help! I'm Drowning in Stuff!!

Is it a little late to be doing Spring Cleaning?

For some reason, our upcoming vacation totally has me in clean-out mode. The problem is figuring out what to do with all of this "stuff".

Tony and the boys came in the office to help me clean and organize my area yesterday, but didn't get much further than Tony's desk and bookshelf.

I just have so many different components to all of my stuff:

household records & financials
family photos, scrapbook items, mementos
crafty type things
homeschool books & recordkeeping
homeschool support group items
Office supplies
Work 3-ring binders & magazines
Magazines for reference

So, do any of you want to give me any pointers about organizing my office? Or better yet, just come over and hold my hand while I do it? I know that it's totally ridiculous to practically have a meltdown at the thought of trying to conquer the papers and magazines on my desk, but that's where I am to be honest.

And how do you all deal with old magazines? I don't want to turn into one of those people on Dateline who has cluttered her house with old magazines and paperwork until all that's left is a path to navigate through the maze of it all. Yet, we actually do use many of these magazines for reference or pass them along to others. They aren't your typical women's magazines. I'm talking Countryside (the most useful info around), Mother Earth News (lots of good stuff there too), Hobby Farms (I love them, but maybe I could part with them), Mary Jane's Farm (NO WAY, I'm getting rid of them), Country (I love, love, love all the photos), and then of course The Old Schoolhouse (non-negotiable - I actually have ALL of them to keep on hand for reference.)

We've got lots of fun stuff coming up for our family and of course, I STILL have to get things ready for the boys' fall schoolwork. AND we just got our first squash out of the garden yesterday.

There is always so much to do, but it's all very good and sooooo worth it!

Comments

• Jul. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by westward

Aaah, so goes summer for a homeschooling mom. I think I could've written your post 100 times over this summer.

My advice....one step at a time. I've been trying to tackle one part of a project a day. Funny thing is, once I get rolling, I'm usually able to go on and tackle a bunch more. For me, it's the whole act of getting going that's the hard part! LOL

The magazines are tough. All of yours are good for future reference in one way or another. I usually pull out what I know I'm going to use and file it away in an appropriate file folder. Yours sound like they might warrant their very own new bookshelf, though?? Just the thought of a new bookshelf makes me giddy! :o)

Whatcha gonna to do with your squash? I've canned over 80 quarts of beans so far and will can tomatoes & freeze corn and peppers when they come on. But squash is a hard one for me. I've never been able to make it taste good after freezing. Any ideas? I'd love to see a post on what you're doing with it.

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• Jul. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Kinley

I just finished spring cleaning about 3 weeks ago. It's never to late!! As for magazines, you can sell them on E bay, or give theim away on Freecycle or you can donate them to the library (if they are not to old). Or just take them to your nearest recycle center.
Kristy

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• Jul. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by CandyFoote

I love these magazines too!
I used to rip out the articles that I loved and filed them into a notebook. The problem is when I started getting the magazines that you named I loved the whole magazine!!

Candy

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• Jul. 7, 2008 - Hey...

Posted by ReviewsbyHeidi

...I have the same problem! I've been staring at our homeschool bookshelves for days and it's like they are laughing at me because they know they have won the battle! Yikes!
I can't be there with you, but at least we can commiserate! LOL
Heidi

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• Jul. 7, 2008 - magazines

Posted by Anonymous

Don't have much help for you, as I'm in the same boat you're in (but my 'boat' is TINY!) but I do have a suggestion for the magazines ~ could you buy those upright box-holders like they have at the library & store the magazines on shelves?

blessings ~ Tracy(@pursuingjoy.blogspot.com)

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• Jul. 8, 2008 - Homemade magazine organizer

Posted by jransmith

Hubby, too, is crazy about the magazines, catalogs and manuals. I took laundry detergent boxes (they tend to be sturdier than a cereal box, but you could use those, too) and covered them with contact paper and made our very own magazine organizer. You don't have to cover them but they look nicer on the book shelf that way.
PS I would so come and hold your hand.

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• Jul. 9, 2008 - Magazine Holders

Posted by sikoraaj

I am so there with ya girl! I tend to keep to many books and magazines and scrapbooking stuff. Here is what I found recently. Office Max sells those cardboard magazine holders like you see in the library that you can put your mags in. Big Lots has a 6 shelf bookshelf that has my name written all over it for $20, and yesterday we were at lowes and they have this rolling cart that has 10 or 12 drawers(its colorful and great for crafts!) and it was only $29. Gotta save up my money for that one though! I do better if the hubby and kids just get outta my way and leave me alone! Hope this helps!!! Love ya girl!

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• Jul. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Juliestew

Okay so I'm still waiting on those swimming photos! How'd the shirts work out?? I love the pictures of Tony and Jake teaching Jon to ride his bike! I remember Joshua teaching Caleb. This year the two will be on separate football teams...how am I going to manage that?? Baby girl is going to K4 in the afternoon and all three boys are home. Say some prayers for me girl!!!
Julie

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• Jul. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Juliestew

Oh and magazines??? What are those? I honestly don't think I have one in my house but my MIL.......I found a 1992 Southern Living there this past weekend.
YIKES
julie

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• Jul. 10, 2008 - I have two ideas

Posted by Anonymous

Possibly three. LOL

1) for the mags you MUST keep, try doing an online search for those magazine binders the libraries have. They are designed to hold a year's worth of magazine back issues. Then you could just label the spines with the mag and year. You'd probably still have a whole bunch of binders BUT at least they would be easy to put on a bookshelf. And the mags won't be damaged as they are held in by a bar that you place in the center of the mag. Works best with stapled, rather than bound, but still....better than nothing.

2) When all else fails, pull out what you absolutely MUST have and then pass on or recycle the rest of the mag. I have found myself saving whole mags when it's actually two articles I want to keep "forever and ever". I know this isn't really an option with some of them, like MJF (I got her books... oh MY WORD.) But there may be a few you can part with this way....and that's better than nothing.

3) If you've got a bunch of back issues that you are just keeping because of who they are from, post 'em on eBay as a lot. A whole year of back issues from ME or HF would go pretty well, especially if the buyer pays the shipping (they'll be heavy, so you don't want to do that!).

Oh, and there's option #4... pass 'em on to someone you know who is trying to convert their spouse to being a reader of, I dunno, HOBBY FARMS. *wink wink nudge nudge* I'm sure that person would be more than willing to pay the postage, and you'd have desk space again. heh heh.

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• Jul. 10, 2008 - Oops....

Posted by Anonymous

I just realized I didn't click in as a user. Sorry!

That was me, Mel, rambling on about magazines. LOLOLOL

http://familyprep.blogspot.com

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• Jul. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SandBetweenMyToes

I am so with ya. I'm pulling my hair out since I got back night before last. Instead of magazines, though, one of the big things is markers, coloring books, colored pencils, composition books, scraps of paper, notepads, yarn, empty toilet paper holders.....you get the picture? My problem is that I have every organizational drawer, box, and holder known to man. They just won't put them back in there. The stuff everywhere is driving me nuts. Not to mention that there is just too much stuff in this house. Aside from that, I'm getting hysterical over my bedroom (the catchall) and the garage (the dump all).
Does misery love company? : )

Letitia

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