Plants?

I've been having fun learning and building my "balcony garden." Actually not much of it is on my balcony yet, mostly in my office (which I might turn into a sun room/solarium anyway).

But here's the thing--is this simplifying my life, or complicating it?

There is probably a little of both in there, and I need to be careful to keep the whole thing manageable. It is good to recognize the danger here.

On the good side, I think this fits with the "rational minimalist" philosophy in adding beauty, and causing me to spend time on some things that are life giving. And there is much to learn and ponder about life as I learn to tend these plants (the different environments needed for different ones, the length of time it takes for some to grow--and you just need to let them take that time, not keep messing with them and their soil!, etc.)

But every time, there can be a bit of a mess. There are extra supplies, and I need to make sure to keep them put away. When everything is in its place, there is beauty, and joy that comes from observing.

And, there is also the distraction. Sometimes I come in the office and need to work, but see the plants--it's where a lot of them are now. Hmmm...again, I need to figure this out. In some cases, it might be a good 'break from the serious thinking' I need to do, that lets me come back to the serious thinking able to do it better. On the other hand, it might just be too much of a distraction.

I'm hoping a rhythm will come. I've actually moved some of the plants outside now (between starting and finishing this post), they are not as much in my line of vision, and "out of sight, out of mind." Once things are growing, and I know what I'm doing, hopefully it will just be some daily or every second day watering, with only other set times for maintenance, planting, re-potting, etc.

Books out the door!

Wahoo! Some folks came to town today, and I remembered to show them things that I wanted to pass on--and a stack of books happily went out the door! The box is still half full, but there are others to maybe show it to. It kind of made me want to look at my shelves and find MORE to put in that box and move out.

And the shelf for over the washing machine came today. I put it together. Now my laundry soap rests there, and the mesh bags are hanging on the side. I added a plant there too--decided on the aloe vera, probably my most hardy plant, and it's been growing well. It can probably live on the low light and likely-to-be-forgottenness of that room. More plants in more places is always good, right?

A New Shelf

It's a 3-step shelf type thing for my plants, and I like it! It's not in it's final resting place yet, but it really does add a feeling of organization to the plants, and sets them out in different layers so they can be seen, or get sun.

I have some other shelves coming too--one for over the washing machine--to hold laundry detergent, etc., replacing the one that used to be beside the washing machine, but died.

And then there is another shelf I am trying out. It might be used in the kitchen, or out on the balcony for plants as well. Thought of getting a couple of that second one, but decided to try one first. Good choice.

Yep, without going overboard about it, some organizational tools help in the simplifying and organizing process!

Must Keep Going!

I must keep going on this stuff!
It's hard to see any progress.
But I did go forward again today...a little.

What has happened:

• The pile of storage stuff on my bedroom balcony is smaller:
• At least 1 rubbermaid container has been emptied of all clothes. They are being washed and will be given away or thrown away. (Funny red spots that look like rust on some of them...that's not going to go over well.)
• A couple of other containers have been pulled out. I'm still working on getting rid of the stuff inside.
• From the stuff I've been finding, I have another box of things to take to offer to anyone who wants them at the centre.
• A garbage bag is half-full.
• I've labelled the Rubbermaid containers that are still there.
• I've identified one more container--the NEXT one, that would be easy to dig into, when I get around to some focused time on it someday. I see a fair bit in there that will just be thrown out.
• And I've started to work on my piles in the office again.
• there is a bag in the 'to shred' pile--that is a task I can give to a helper someday.
• I remember that I had a box I was using for temporary storage of things, or the immediate rough filing of categories. I have a sense, if I get into that again, I can remember where I was with that, and start working on this stuff in a more consistent basis. 
• I've identified some giveaway items with names on them, or to run by particular friends. 
• I started to now listen to the THIRD Joshua Becker book--Clutterfree with Kids. One beef--it IS a pain that his books are so repetitive. He retells the philosophy in every book. However one thing I'm looking forward to in this book is some of the details he goes into for certain kinds of stuff. I ran into some photos the other day--marginally sentimental. Some don't see valuable at all--that's easy, I should be able to chuck, but then those special things. Ah, I've thought recently a few times about the dolphin thing a former "small friend" gave me when she got older. I don't see her much, and she doesn't express much, but she gave it to me, said it symbolized a friendship. Was she serious? Where is she? Would it remind me to pray for her? Should I keep it? (It's in the give away box right now.) I can pray about this. God can lead in this as in all things, right?

I have a goal, you know. I'm starting this balcony gardening stuff, and I really want to make it happen. I want it to be functional and beautiful. I have an outside balcony that I'll use in the summer, but I might turn my bedroom balcony into what I use some of the time too.

OR, and I'm wondering more and more about this, making my current office into the main garden, perhaps a solarium of sorts. That would be nice. My desk and office could move to another room. This could be the room for reading, for quiet time, for coffee with friends.

Now, I need to get back at it. It would be good to have things also LOOKING a little better before I end this day, and perhaps this week's BIG work on clutter-busting. I need to move those sorting boxes out of the hallway where they've been for ease of access and sorting, move them into another storage area. And...the living room area, where I am currently sorting--get at it, make decisions, put stuff away...  And (#2) I think I can do some tidy-up of all the miscellaneous little plants I'm trying to get started right now--particularly clean up "the look" of my kitchen area.

Day 6

Mostly rested today.
Yes, half an hour of putting away some finance files.
And 15 minutes on dishes.
Otherwise, the only other things I did toward this simplifying goal is
--get a good night's sleep, and NOT nap in the day time to go for another one tonight (helpful for motivation!)
--Download Michael Hyatt's ebook about gaining 10 hours in your work week...might even read it before going to bed.

And tomorrow, another week starts...