I love that Harriet!!!
also I am so happy you posted the routines and I am now getting back on the routine of it.
good afternoon, made donation run... unfortunately had very picky new lady (not usual one) accepting things and had really poor selection process, but she is a volunteer and I am thankful she does that. she didn't even take the brand beige new pumps my mom never used. she kept things not so good (piddley stuff). So the good Christmas (my mom never does any thing 1/2 way .
. not like me
) was not taken. I could do a free garage sale.. which has always worked well for me. but I just tossed everything and it was hard. I just can't keep all the stuff, good or bad. dh tends to be a keeper and if it is new or like new seems to have a hard time letting go. Also mom gave me yards of a really expensive material she had planned on making a jacket with, I think she had hoped I would make it for myself but it was not my type of thing so I donated that. she doesn't mind. I find that many times donations are made because the person was never able to fill their dreams with the item and it then gives it to family members as a way to continue the dream or limit their guilt of getting rid of it. I know I have heard of families having one person keep all the family's antiques but not willing to take the items themselves. then they get made at the person when they sell it. "you're selling grandma" type thing. I know no one wanted the extra sweaters my dg made, so I kept one and donated the rest. I just can't do that to dear kids as they will keep things too, especially dd13.
I know when I collected for Katrina I got things that were not useable. 1/2 used cream, holes in blankets, spots etc. and had to toss lots of stuff as undonatable. I
can see why this dear woman may be overwhelmed and said no to lots of donations even good. I wouldn't want the decision making. Actually clearing the clutter has made me a better limited shopper...so that my things don't end up in a landfill somewhere.
rant over. soap box taken apart.