Spring cleaning

This was a BIG activity taking many weeks.

First part: After our maid Jane left.  I noticed her room was like a store room, containing boxes of books/toys and luggage bags containing clothes and more bags.  I brought one bag down - hubby's things, which I asked him to check.  He decided to throw some and keep some.  But after this ONE bag, I concluded it would be better to wait for our new maid to arrive before proceeding with the rest.  There would be too much work to clear so many things.

Second part: After hubby suddenly passed away.  I had to find out what was in the house since there was now nobody who would know.  Hubby owned a lot of stuff - he'd always liked buying things and apparently also liked storing them beyond their usefulness.  Strange how items which were important to a person loses much of their value once that person is gone.  I wondered if he was looking at me from somewhere while I went through his personal belongings.  I wished I could brandish items at him and ask what is this, why did you buy this for, why are you keeping this.  I held things thinking he'd touched them before.  Suffice to say this task was emotionally difficult for me. 

Third part: Toys the kids have outgrown.  The decision to be made was whether to keep, donate or throw.  JE generally said to throw everything so her part was over quickly.  SE looked through each item, reminisced on them, set some aside to give to her friends, even wanted to keep some for her future kids hahaha.  

Throw or keep for my own kids? Hmm

We disposed of many items - to charity, to the trash.  Almost there now, only a few more items to go.