solicitor handout

Usually I dislike solicitors, but this time they left a cute goody bag!  It included a patriotic pen, candies, and a sticker.

paper creations

I find it difficult to let go of things like this.  Random things made by little hands long ago.  For some reason, looking at them saddens me.  I wonder if it's because I'm depressed or if it's also a common phenomenon for other people who are "normal".

friday the 13th

The dead duck did not make the cut.

10. orb

I have an orb that I'm thinking of letting go.  Nobody else around here seems interested in its proclivity to prognosticate.   

The answers of the orb include the following:

• absolutely
• answer unclear ask later
• cannot foretell now
• can't say now
• chances aren't good
• consult me later
• don't bet on it
• focus and ask again
• indications say yes
• looks like yes
• no
• no doubt about it
• positively
• prospect good
• so it shall be
• the stars say no
• unlikely
• very likely
• yes
• you can count on it

With 20 possible answers and after observing the top tip of one of the structures, I conclude that there are two pentagonal bipyramids floating around in there.

decluttering tape

Had a snafu with the deco tape, and then decided to just use up some of the other washi laying around.  The dried flower ones are probably supposed to be hanging upside down, but I think they look better right side up.

 

9. heart earrings

 

If I recall correctly, these were from Hong Kong, from 30 years or more ago.  I don't normally wear jewelry.

8. egg pez

Sometimes I buy things for people, but they don't actually like the stuff that much.  Or the things they liked when they were younger no longer applies.  People grow up and life goes on.

7. glass bottle

I would save glass bottles with interesting designs and/or shapes.  A strawberry jam jar, a maple syrup container, etc.  Here's one with a watermelon design.  For the longest time, it stood in a corner of a closet shelf.

6. trivet

I tried to clean the top of this trivet with a mix of alcohol and water.  Then I noticed bits of grout falling off.  So I tried to wipe away any remaining residue.  As I flipped it over to dust the underside, a piece of ceramic tile dropped into the sink.  Yikes.  Too much falling apart.

5. the nutcracker book

 A Nutcracker pop-up book for only $1 - what a find!  I bought this so long ago, probably over a decade ago.  The binding is too destroyed to donate, but I figured we can still partake in the holiday spirit via photos.  The ballerina in the last page has the ability to somewhat spin.

4. the polar express train set

After reading the descriptions in these photos, I just realized now that there's a Disappearing Hobo in this train set.  I don't remember if we ever noticed that feature many, many years ago when we first got this.  I've already donated it so I can't test it out.  Hopefully a kid out there will be able to enjoy it and discover the flip factor.

3. snow globe

  

This snow globe would come out of hiding once a year at most for the holidays.  There may have been a few years where it stayed in the closet.  This time I noticed that the water was turning yellow.  There's no obvious way to replace the water without dismantling and possibly damaging its innards.  It spins and the light changes color.  I think in time, the water will turn murkier and murkier, possibly transforming into a terrifying black orb.  So I took a video (possibly posting in the future) and said good-bye.

2. color beads

  

It took some time to organize all these beads into separate colors, but then I stopped using them for anything.  They were just sitting in a container for a very long time.  They're pretty to look at in the light, but sometimes it's better to let things go.  There's still way too much stuff.

1. chocolate advent calendar

 

Although this Lindt advent calendar is cute and full of nice milk chocolates, I should probably avoid buying it again next year.  My intention was to share it with other family members, but they didn't want them as much as I'd expected.  The box says there are 28 chocolates for 24 doors.  Well, some doors had more than one surprise.  In addition to other holiday candy, I ate most of these.  Yesterday, I decided to take a break from chocolates.  I ate too many and got very sick.  Let's see how long I can go without them.  I'm also decluttering and snapping photos of some of the more interesting (imo) things to let go, starting with this item.  Happy New Year!