It was a weekend of cleaning. Not just the normal vacuum and sweeping sessions, but more of an “organize that which has become unorganized” type of cleaning.
As per the usual, I had a reason to do this type of cleaning. I’m sure there are some of you out there that enjoy cleaning *shiver*, but I really have to be in the right frame of mind and motivation to do what I was about to do.
We were heading into a frigid cold snap and I had to make room for all the produce I had canned last summer that was stored in the attic of our garage. Now I had considered just keeping the woodburner in the garage going for a few days to keep it from possibly freezing, but when I saw how long these sub-zero temps were going to last, it just didn’t seem like a viable option.
So first I thought that I could just clean out an area in the bedroom closet to tuck it away. So on Saturday I started moving stuff out of there and onto the bed. As I started tossing old shoes, paperwork and even a beat-up fan that had been buried for years wayyyyyy in the back, I realized that perhaps this little room would not be the best of spots to store food staples.
Closets are for clothes and junk, not food. I needed a contingency plan.
After a much needed day of rest, I decided that the best course of action was to go through the pantry in the kitchen and the food cupboards and see if I could squeeze out enough room for all of this:
This is about half of my canning from last year and I was optimistic that I could make this work. I pulled out everything in those cupboards and lined every flat surface of the kitchen with their contents.
What I discovered when I did this was something astounding: We had a lot of expired food. Food I didn’t even realize we had. Frankly, it made me quite angry to have to throw away things that could have, should have, been used in a timely fashion.
It took me 3 hours, but I was able to bring some order to my disorganized cupboards and found more than enough space to store all those jars of goodness.
I was also able to do a little something for our local Humane Society.
This is what was left of the canned cat food that Calie ate. Many months ago when her health started to decline I wrestled with the realization that there would be left over food when she passed on, but I really wasn’t prepared for the emotional impact it would have on me to have to pack it all up and close that chapter in my life.
But it had to be done, and some good will come of this gift to the poor kitties at the shelter who do not have a forever home at this time.
I think Calie would agree.
2 Responses to “The Contingency Plan”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
good job my darling friend….thinking of you…..have been down with cold/~sandyrooney~sandyrooney~sandyrooney~sandyrooneyflu for a few days….am spending some much needed down time….big hugs and miss you dearly….
Oh No! Hope you feel better soon!!
AND… I feel like a terrible friend, I forgot to give you a shout-out on your birthday last Friday! Much love to you <3