Odds and ends, Thanksgiving style

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This photo is from a few years back. My brother is carving the turkey. There is a little of his almost empty wine glass showing….

It’s the day before a really weird holiday in a really weird time. We are also downsizing possessions in a way we’ve never done before. I don’t know why I’ve kept some things. Ok, they were pretty but useless. I’m hoping they are making someone else smile.

I had kept some of my managerial books from when I worked. Stuff like Dealing with Conflict. Out, out you damn spot! No conflict here except for exactly when the cat’s dinnertime is. For a while I did the occasional gig but it’s unlikely now. That certainly lightens my load. Goodbye Stephen Covey! We had a good run!

This week was the beloved husband’s birthday. If ever there was a lousy birthday, this year was it. We were able to Zoom with the kids but there was no special dinner out. We have so much going on there wasn’t even a special dinner in. We had third day leftovers. It doesn’t get any worse than that. Well, maybe McDonald’s.

After 90 years of life, my brother and his wife (who are in our very small bubble) have decided they don’t like turkey. It will be a pot roast dinner tomorrow.

Back to throwing stuff out. If you live in the US and celebrate, have a great Thanksgiving. To everyone else enjoy your day and stop squirreling away useless junk!

74 thoughts on “Odds and ends, Thanksgiving style”

  2. I know several people who are going off the Turkey script this year. My sister did a beer can chicken on the grill. My coworker is making meatloaf but with all the traditional sides. It’s a discombobulated year, might as well lean into and have pot roast for Thanksgiving.

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  3. I fear that downsizing would be the best reason for me to clear the clutter for good. For way too long, items were relegated to the basement to keep the upstairs from looking cluttered – well guess what … now it is cluttered downstairs and upstairs. Retirement will give me the hours to devote to clearing clutter and that is the first item on my agenda when I retire. I have squirreled away things for years … I’m a saver, not a thrower, so woe is me.

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    • I save things because they make work in my “next house.” Last time I moved was 17 years ago. Styles change and so do my likes. Still I keep things just in case. This may be my last move so if it doesn’t work, out it will go.

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      • My mom’s theory on buying new things, no matter if it was clothes, or household items was “you bring one thing in and one thing goes out the door.” That didn’t work out so well when one person was a saver and the other a thrower.

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          • Yes, in theory it was. I have done the same thing … relegated items as outside clothes. But now that I don’t get dressed for work anymore, what do I do with THOSE clothes? I said to myself a decade ago when I started working from home “I’m not getting rid of anything – of course I’ll get called back to work on site again eventually.” That prospect is slim to none and I like working from home.

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            • It took me several years to weed down my old business clothes and I still have a few jackets but not many. I’ll probably weed out a few more this round too. Some are beautiful and they fit. That’s when it’s a hard decision.

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              • Yes, that’s a difficult decision. I loved to go shopping and catalog shopping too. My mom and I did a lot of shopping together, picking clothes and accessories. I should at least weed out some things that are now too old for me … my first law firm where I worked had a strict dress code and we were not even allowed to wear pantsuits; the second law firm my boss and I left had a very loose dress code, so I incorporated some more casual items, thus adding more items, many which have never been worn.

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  4. Stephen Covey – I laughed at remembering those days! Downsizing can be exciting if you have that place picked out and are going on a new adventure. And less to clean. Good luck. Happy Thanksgiving! Any cooking or carving goes better with wine!

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  5. For some reason I’m still laughing at your brother’s wine glass. He’s now caught for time immemorial. For the life of me, I’ve never been able to carve a turkey very well. It’s one of those emasculating things I go through at every holiday. And, yes, out with the Stephen Covey. I bet somewhere around here I have his “The Seven Habits…” book. It needs to be tossed. – Marty

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  7. I had a mouse…well I hope it was only one. And in a house with 2 cats and dog one would think mice would not visit! But, this guy had been going (I suppose) on a nightly basis into my kitchen cabinets. ARRGH! Well, in the process of rewashing things, I found things that I thought why, why am I saving that..and out it went. It actually felt good.
    Wishing you, the beloved husband and T&B a healthy Thanksgiving. I will raise a glass to new beginnings.

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    • Mice usually come in couples! I know about the tossing. Sometimes I clean out my pantry and come across something unusual. Then I think, “Oh yeah, I was going to try that new recipe….5 years ago!”

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  9. Sell that life magazine – or donate it to the library and they can sell it and buy more books!
    I like the “rid of stuff as if you are moving to a nursing home.” Practical and so helpful down the road. I understand now why my parents kept sorting snd filtering until there was less and less. Eventually it was all left to us to deal with and we were grateful their thoughtfulness.
    Happy birthday late! (Mine was last week – as you say, celebrations were different, but still this will be a memorable year.)
    Happy Thanksgiving (and thanks for giving stuff away to others who are at this moment looking for that exact item and will be thrilled with it – YEAH for all!)

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  11. I’ve never shared this before on my blog, Kate, but a few years ago we really wanted to downsize, and because my mother lives across the street and refuses, at 88, to downsize, ha!, we couldn’t leave. My daughter and family moved in, and we moved to a back cottage the size of a postage stamp They live in our big house and we have a true tiny house.. I had to “get rid of” so much, that I am really sending you whatever energy I can spare. I am feeling for you, my friend. It will all be great “in the end,” but getting there is tough. Enjoy Thanksgiving in your home, and take photos. New ones, new memories next year. oxo

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  13. Happy Belated Birthday to your hubby! I would love to do a major declutter, but I am running out of stuff to declutter, the rest is my hubby’s and he is not on board. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  14. With just about anything readable (and a lot that isn’t) available online, I’ve been going through my book collection and ditching a lot too (and I’m not even moving!). Guess I can cull in solidarity with you. And don’t complain about 3 day old leftovers. No doubt they went down nicely. Happy birthday wishes to the hubs.

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  15. Happy birthday to your husband. Like you, I have a January birthday. And, like you, I’ve never like having a winter birthday. This year though, I was happy that I was able to celebrate with no distancing, no masks, and no guilt. Of course, next year (since I’m sure the vaccine won’t be readily available by early 2021), it will be a different story.

    Moving isn’t in our foreseeable future, but I’d sure like to have that impetus to get rid of more stuff. Maybe I can just pretend that I’m moving.

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  16. Oh, I do smile reading about you chucking stuff. When we did our cross country move about 18 years ago, it was a real reality check. I had a basement and an attic plus house full. I talked to my daughter about all my treasures that I just knew she would want, and she just looked at me like I was nuts and said ‘I don’t want that stuff. ‘ LOL I’d fill up the garage, call an agency, they’d come clear it out, and I do it all over again. When faced with paying to move and wanting to downsize, we got rid of so much I could go on and on but think 10 acres, barn with tools to maintain 10 acres, large three story house with carriage house. Yep, it took a while, but once it was gone, it has never returned. I think my car can drive to Goodwill all by itself these days because when I buy something I automatically get rid of whatever it is replacing. Good luck and enjoy that pot roast because I’m sure it will be delicious and the company enjoyable. 🙂

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    • OMG! My aunt and uncle had a farm. On top of that he was a collector/hoarder. When he died she had an auctioneer come and they did several events. In addition to tractors, combines and all that, he had at least 50 TVs that didn’t work but he kept in case he could use the parts. Then there was the animal stuff. She raised chickens and sheep for many years. My aunt was a strong lady. I have 4 crock pots all different sizes and I don’t think I’ll let any of them go but if I get a new pot or insta-pot or whatever is in vogue, some are leaving.

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  18. Downsizing feels oh so wrong when you’re doing it but oh so right when you’re unpacking in the new destination! Stuff that once was important is just excess stuff eventually and it will feel right to carry a lighter load. I promise. In time. Meanwhile – enjoy your Thanksgiving – those of us who are healthy and HERE should be super duper thankful. This has been a hellova year!

    Hugs, Pam

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    • I am thankful not only for me but my brother and sis-in-law who are at high risk. It’s funny — sometimes there is an item that you struggle with making the decision. After you donate it, you don’t ever think of it again! Onward!

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  19. I would like to downsize even if we are not moving. I am wearing the same purse now ALL the time but have 6 or 8 other kinds
    like new for colors, seasons,special places to go. They have been waiting 3 years. Should I donate them?

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  22. Wow, my own beloved (mostly) husband has a birthday Thanksgiving week every year also. It’s a lot to manage along with managing or hosting Thanksgiving. And of course he says, “No, no, you don’t have to cook or do anything special,” but then he comes home with an enormous turkey and expectations!

    I can never not remember him telling me how his parents told him to pick up a generic birthday cake from the grocery store for himself when he turned 18, though. Every time I think about slacking on his birthday, I remember that story.

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  23. I would be thrilled with a pot roast for dinner! We usually have an eye of round in the slow cooker for Christmas… mashed taters, gravy, green bean casserole and dinner rolls. Geez, I’m already talking about Christmas dinner and we haven’t had Thanksgiving dinner yet… bacon wrapped chicken breasts in sauce in the slow cooker with Turkey Day fixings. SSNS is not a fan of turkey. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Kate!

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  24. I LOVE turkey but I won’t be making one for Thanksgiving this year. Because of ‘distancing’, I’ll be home alone, and I am going to be treating myself to a steak, which I seldom have and never have at home! But I WILL have turkey for Christmas! Meanwhile, when I moved to my much smaller place almost 4 years ago, I did a pretty good job of getting rid of a lot of things, including my beloved piano which just wouldn’t fit in the space I have now. I still ‘minimalize’ on a regular basis and find good people to share my things with as much as possible. I’m learning to ask myself, “Do I use this now?” “Can I honestly see myself using this in the near future?” Do I want to keep this because I NEED it or simply because I LIKE it?” “Do I know someone who would get great joy from having this?” I’m a sentimentalist so I tend to keep things that only have value to me, so those are the hardest for me to purge and it happens much slower than other items. I wish you great success in being able to let go!

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    • I’m a lot like you. I’m finding getting rid of a piano is the hardest. Kids aren’t playing instruments like they used to. I remember being ecstatic when I got a piano when I was around 9 or 10. Doesn’t happen today.

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  25. The best thing about moving is Living Lighter Later! Aah . . . that’s better.

    We’re not having turkey either ~ just the sides, ma’am, just the sides! Herb Stuffing, Buttery Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Butternut Squash, Celery, Black Olives, Cranberry Sauce (Whole Berry) . . . and PIE! Apple Crumb Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream, to be precise.

    Have a Happy Day, Kate, Kate’s Clan, and Kitties!

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