Efficient Dishes

Or how to keep your sink empty with the least amount of effort.

Here is my secret to having an (usually) empty sink.  Wrangle the dishes while waiting for food to do things.  Really.  It’s that simple.

Here is a typical day of dish wrangling:

Breakfast - Unload the dishes while the bacon is cooking.  Then, load in dishes as they dirty.

(For example: As I finish with each pan, I rinse it and load it in.  Then, when I’m done cooking, the sink is empty and the dishes are already loaded.  After eating, I can put the dishes directly into the washer.  My sink remains empty.)

Lunch - Load in dishes as they dirty.  If you don’t eat lunch at home, then you get to skip this one. If you took your lunch to work/school/etc., make sure to load the containers in when you get home.

Dinner - Load in dishes as they dirty.  After dinner, add the plates/forks/cups, etc.  Is the dishwasher full?  Great, run it.  If not, don’t. (It’s usually full by this point.  Especially if I used a large pan for dinner.)

Repeat daily.

Voila!  That’s it.  My sink is nearly always empty and my dishes are generally clean when I need them.  This system allows us to own less pots and pans among other kitcheny bits.  Give it a shot.  It takes a few days to get the routine down, but it works.  If nothing else in my house is clean, at least the sink is empty.

Read Full Post »

Letting Stuff Go

“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” - William Morris

I am currently buried in a pile of books and slowly clawing my way out.  The little bit of sunshine peeking through the clouds has inspired an early spring cleaning.  Or maybe it is the fact that I’m sick of having so much stuff around.  Either way, I am purging in an epic way.  If you don’t hear from me in a few weeks, send a rescue party (and cookies).

Read Full Post »

Pegboard and Shame

Despite my ovaries trying to claw their way out this weekend, I did manage to accomplish something.  Along with lots of help from my wonderful husband, the craft room now has pegboard across one wall!

Sadly, if you turn around from the pegboard, this is what still awaits me…

I have a long way to go to get the craft room under control.  But (with Sam’s help) I can do it!

Read Full Post »

Is Less Really More?

Sam recently helped me put together the new hutch that I bought in February for my craft books.  It’s a nice flat-pack piece of furniture (and only had 1 missing part).

I started moving my craft books into it from the living room bookshelf and something occurred to me.  I don’t *need* all of these books.  Some of them I’d forgotten I had.  Some I barely looked at when they were new.  So, why do I keep them?  Why am I so afraid of letting them go?  I think there’s something in my personality that makes me afraid to get rid of things…

I have this deep fear that I’m going to need something and not have it.  But, could the real danger be that I’ll buy so much that I don’t  need, that when I really do need something, I won’t have the money to get it?  What is it about me that makes me hoard compulsively?  I’m unhappy in clutter, but I can’t seem to let it go.

Even though it makes me feel sick to my stomach at the prospect of getting rid of stuff, I know this has got to stop.  I’m working with my lys owner to integrate my older magazines into a reference library for everyone to enjoy.  I’m going to separate with some of my books.  I know some will go to friends, some I may list for sale online, and some may go to the reference library.  The fact is, I don’t need them in my house.  I need to be able to see my floor, work in my craft room, and be able to walk across the room in the dark at night without breaking my foot.  There are only two of us in this house, it should not be this cluttered.

On a more positive note, I did find a fun little gem while moving my books.  Thisbook is staying with me because it’s always good for a smile and a laugh.

You know, the crocheted grandfather clock wall hanging is actually pretty neat.  I wonder how it would look in our house…

Read Full Post »