I'm being a pain in the butt for the Minimalist community here, because being in the southern hemisphere, I'm not going to talk about 'spring' cleaning hacks - we're in Autumn! Sometimes I feel like a minority being antipodean on Hive - people often forget about us, and that we're in a completely different universe. When it's hot up north, we're cool down south, and vice verse.
I do love a any season clean, to be honest. I'm constantly trying to keep our stuff to a minimum, just in case we pack up and travel again at any moment and rent the house out. There's still books and things in storage that I haven't unpacked yet, and I'm hoping that Jamie will let this stuff go eventually so I never have to unpack it, like books we'll never read again.
It's worth mentioning our bus at this point. A lot of things from the house get stored in there because I don't like them cluttering the house, like Fowler's jars, boxes of winter blankets and clothes, the dehydrator and the extra large stock pot. If we go away, we put a lock on it and voila, storage sorted. It saves us money and keeps the house more organised and tidy, which is better for my mental health. Things that are destined for the bus often end up on the back deck ready for one of us to walk to this part of the garden to put it away.
It's very handy to have your own bus in the garden.
There is something about the seasonal change over, though. In Spring, you're getting rid of the stuffiness of winter, making way for the coming Summer. Anything mouldy or dusty has to be dealt with, and the summer dresses have to be shaken out and hung ready for getting the legs out in the long awaited sunshine.
In Autumn, it's about getting ready for winter. We're already collecting pinecones and chopping firewood, though it's not quite cold enough to light a fire yet. The days are still warm and bright, but infused with that golden autumnal glow that gives everything a nostalgic feel. We're minimising the garden as it winds down - the zucchini plants are showing signs of dying, and the tangle of grapevines are showing signs of turning beautiful yellows and purples. We're still harvesting and pruning, knowing Easter will be here soon and that we might go away, so there is much tidying to do. Baskets of apples and lemons sit by the front door ready to be taken to work or to family for them to enjoy - we've truly had our fill.
I've been wiping out cupboards and throwing out jars that I don't need, having made all the pickles and relish I can stomach for now. The good jars are boxed and put in the bus ready for next harvest season. I'm constantly thinking: 'what if I sold the house tomorrow? What if we move out next week?' - and by keeping the house well organised and minimal in terms of what we stuff in cupboards helps me feel better. I'd be really overwhelmed if all of a sudden I had to pack and tidy everything.
The winter clothes are currently being unboxed from the bus and washed, and I am taking any to the charity shop that I really don't think I'll wear again. I already went through this process in Spring, and anything I wasn't sure about went into storage. Usually by the time I get them out again I've made a decision. I'm pretty ruthless with my wardrobe - particularly winter woolies, which are usually from a charity shop to being with.
The bus in tidier times - it's now full of plastic storage boxes and cardboard boxes
The funny thing is, I need to go and autumn clean the bus now as well, and minimise that. There's a lot of things that have been thrown in there over the summer to deal with later when it cools down - it's pretty hot in there and I usually duck in, grab something and get out before I boil from the inside out. But now it's a crazy mess, and I need to roll up my sleeves and get all minimalist ninja on that before winter comes.
With Love,
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Autumn works just as well! Personally, I agree. I find there's a certain vibe of change irrespective of season, just as long as it's a different one, right? :)
Books seem like a hard one to just let go of, even for the best of minimalists, I would imagine. The bus in better times looks like a lovely way to travel! Here's to a new adventure soon!
Actually the bus didn't go anywhere. We just lived in it whilst we saved money for the mortgage house deposit, on a friends property. We did want to buy it was going to cost too much money.
This image belongs to millycf1976 and was manipulated using Canva.
I need a bus or maybe two !LOL
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The wife and I, mostly the wife, did spring cleaning the other day. I have to still go through my office and a small section of our basement area to sort through some stuff. The garage will be next after that. I am not aminimalist really, but have been trying to cut down on all the extra stuff we don't really use.
Hahaha. Maybe I also need a bus to help me clear some mess being stuck inside. I love your idea of that and I bet, that bus is kind of a relief to you so you don't have to stare at everywhere being cluttered.
Fantastic!