“Memory Boxes” full of love, and treasures, en route to children and grandchildren.  And, family history/genealogy to a Frantz family cousin.

(Below) What you didn’t see pushed forward behind the large boxes.  Donations for a Thrift Shop that provides for battered women.

Furthermore, I spent hours (late afternoon and evening) on the computer trying to resolve the problem. One software utility program indicated I had 233 errors in the registry but could not delete them. It took a Microsoft technician–on-line, with control of my computer–to get rid of the culprit(s).

Postscript, Wed., Aug. 8th, 2012, 10:30 AM: “What’s next?”  I’m hauling the Topsy-Turvy upside-down tomato planters to the trash receptacles.  The heat killed the once-lush growth and abundant crop of tomatoes.  I pampered them but they succumbed.

When I don’t have another pair of hands… an acquaintance (who reads my blog) sends words of encouragement.  (She forwarded the following as an e-mail message.)  THANKS!!

Hello and welcome back to your 
Declutter Fast newsletter!

Here’s the most painless way in the world 
to declutter – and the best part is – this 
really works! 

When it comes to being organized, when we 
try something complicated, it becomes just 
one more burden.

It’s the easy and simple solutions to clutter 
and getting organized that work the best – 
because they’re not only easy to put into 
practice, they’re easy to keep doing.

The simple ways are the easiest to become habits. 

This tip is especially painless! It’s simple, 
and it works on a gradual basis, whether you 
have time right now for decluttering or not!

I call it “Take One Thing.” 

Wherever you are in your house (or office), in 
the middle of walking through a room, or making 
a meal, just “take one thing” and move it to 
where it’s supposed to be. 

People who cook a lot will recognize this as 
an essential part of keeping the kitchen neat 
and clean while you are cooking! Cleaning and 
putting things away AS YOU GO makes the job 
much easier and pain-free than having a pile of 
mess to deal with at the end of your creative 
cooking! 

So, try it: “take one thing” and make it a habit 
to do several times a day. This can make a very 
big difference. 

It really adds up. It makes your life a LOT 
easier, cleaner, and more in order!

Even if it is the smallest thing – like removing 
something from the refrigerator that needs to be 
thrown out – that counts. It adds up.

Even if it’s TRASH – yes, that counts too. So, 
the bagels are gone but you still have the 
wrapper on the counter for another day… 
throwing it away makes your kitchen neater. 

You might not have thought this counts, but 
after seeing some of these TV shows in which 
90% of the problem was TRASH that had not 
been tossed out, we can now say, OH YES, 
even THAT counts!

Take one thing and put it where it belongs – 
in another room; in the trash, in the closet, 
in a drawer, in the file cabinet – wherever. 

Make a habit of doing this several times a day, 
and you’ll notice a difference – a much more 
serene life! 

Life is too short to be stressed out all the 
time. Clutter in sight adds to your stress.

You’ll breathe a sigh of relief when your home 
is in order and when you feel the sense of 
progress.

Whether you decide to get decluttered in one 
day, or little by little, I encourage you to 
keep making progress – because eventually you 
WILL reach your goal of an orderly home.

For some fast ways to declutter your world, 
check out my e-book “Declutter Fast.”

Every decluttering effort we make adds up.

Here’s to order in our lives!

With love,
Mimi Tanner
Author of Declutter Fast – How to Get Your Home In Order Almost Immediately!
www.declutterfast.com

Go to www.declutterfast.com to get started AND motivated to Declutter your world!

COPYRIGHT © Mimi Tanner. All Rights Reserved.

This email is intellectual property protected
by copyright, trademark, and other laws of the
United States, as well as international
conventions and the laws of other countries.

For two days, I have attempted to upload pictures to the blog. No success!! The last thing I need right now is the time-consuming task of trying to find the computer problem. Is it my Internet Service Provider (ISP); is the hard drive almost full??  ~~  “Downsizing” is my priority!!

I have five boxes ready to ship to family. I’ve spent a lot of hours on that project!! See Christmas in July!!

~~~~~~

Postscript, Saturday, Aug. 4th, 2012, 9:00 AM: FYI, I have over twenty-five years experience with personally owned home computers. (I started with an IBM-PC-Jr. in 1987.)  I’m pretty “savvy” (for an old lady). My problem was (is) as suspected: The hard drive is down to four percent free space!! Yipes!! This laptop computer is almost six years old and I suspect it is time for me to replace it. A bit of trivia: My first laptop computer, purchased in November 1999, cost over $2,500. This computer cost less than $1,000. I’ll be able to purchase something exceedingly better (than the previous two) for about $500. (I’ve owned desk-top computers, too, but I want to keep things small and compact.)

~~~~~~

Postscript, Sunday, Aug. 5th, 2012, 3:00 PM:  **If** I could upload a picture, it would be of a woman pulling her hair out!!  I am so frustrated because I have been deleting programs,  and files, for hours–and only freed up fourteen percent more space.  That isn’t enough to upload a picture!!  It’s a mystery where the “space hog” is and why this problem happened virtually overnight.  ~~  While programs, and files, are slowly uninstalled, or deleted, I am keeping busy shredding old Income Tax records and other information.  Some of the information would have been valuable for an autobiography but I question whether I will ever accomplish that project.  “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

~~~~~~

Postscript, Monday, Aug. 6th, 2012, 10:30 PM: I was on-line for several hours (this evening) with a computer technical person.   It cost me “an arm and a leg” but, hopefully, the problems are resolved.  Time will tell.    “I could a (should a) bought a new computer!?”

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was awesome!!

Call to Action, reminder.  Please remember to support Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day tomorrow Wednesday, August 1st.

Allen West mocks Chicago Dems during visit: “I came here to open a Chick-fil-A”

20 Million Visit Huckabee’s Chick-fil-A Support Event on Facebook

Is it just a coincident that I received the following as an e-mail message today??  I’ve been “downsizing” (like crazy)–but is this a foretelling of things to come??  Is there a move in my near future??  “My life is but a weaving….”

Planning Ahead for a Successful Move

Making a major move can be chaotic, but with the right attitude and foresight you can organize a stress-free and orderly move.

One piece of advice we always give is to start planning your move far in advance. Early planning will give you peace of mind and ensure that your move is smooth and unproblematic. If you’d like more information from our experts, visit 1-800-PACK-RAT

4 Tips to Plan Ahead Successfully

Clean it out! Now is the time to go through the garage and attic and get rid of the items you no longer need or use. Having a moving sale is a great way to purge your home of unwanted clutter while making a few extra dollars! Don’t have time for a moving sale? No worries – donate your unused items to a charity. Some organizations will even pick up at your home.

Do your research! This is another area where waiting only hurts you. Don’t wait until it is time to move to collect your quotes and estimates from household moving and storage companies. Do the research well in advance so that you can get the best rates. You should secure your contracts at least 6 weeks before your expected move.

Get Supplies! Yes, we say it a lot, but it bears repeating. Be sure to acquire all the supplies you need to move in advance. If you have fragile items, be sure to order bubble wrap or specialty containers.

Take measurements! We always recommend taking measurements of the rooms and doorways of your new home to make sure that your existing furniture and appliances will fit properly. If they won’t, this ensures you have plenty of time to find new pieces for your home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving

Between the Lord and me.

I cannot choose the colors;

He worketh steadily.

Oftimes He weaveth sorrow,

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver’s skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

~~ author unknown ~~

Valuable reading: Has “In God We Trust” become a fraud?

Christmas in July–and August.  It hasn’t been a secret; I’ve been “downsizing”!!  A good many days–during July–have been devoted to “Memory Boxes” for my children and grandchildren.  Several boxes are packed and almost ready to haul to United Parcel.  ~~  In August, I hope they enjoy opening their treasures!!

Dems pledge to ban Chick-fil-A.

Rahm Emanuel goes after Chick-fil-A.

Billy Graham Throws Support Behind Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A Culture Wars.

Palin Shows Support….

Stand with Chick-fil-A on August 1 in Support of Traditional Marriage (The following message from Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse.)

DEAR FRIEND,

Just a few days ago, Dan Cathy, President of Chick-fil-A, affirmed his stance on the sanctity of traditional marriage. The restaurant chain has been, and continues to be, under a concerted attack from same-sex marriage advocates.

I applaud the courage of Cathy to take a bold stand for the biblical definition of marriage between a man and woman in a culture that has grown openly hostile to the Christian faith and its followers.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has called for a National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on Wednesday, August 1, to demonstrate support for the company. I would like to join with him, and ask that, if you live near one of their restaurants please drop by and let them know how much you appreciate them and their stand.

I have known Dan and his father, Mr. Truett Cathy, for many years, and I respect how their company was founded upon and operates by Christian values.

In the words of the bold, biblical prophet Daniel who refused to bow to the culture of his day: “The people who know their God will display strength and take action” (Daniel 11:32, NASB).

Thank you and God bless you.

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham

~~~~~~~~~

Postscript: I (Lorraine) am “voting with my feet.” I’ll visit a Chick-fil-A, on Wednesday, about fifteen miles from the Christian organization (JAARS) where I live and volunteer.  Basically, I follow a vegan diet but will make an exception and purchase an item with chicken.

Heat index: “Over 100 degrees this afternoon” according to local TV news.

(I’m not complaining. Millions of people are, likewise, baking this summer.)

~~~~~~~~~~

Postscript, Friday 7/27/2012, 6:00 PM: With a heat index over 100 degrees, I worked in the yard (before noon) trimming the dead Topsy-Turvy upside-down tomato plants.  Under other circumstances, the plants should have lasted another two months.