Wednesday, August 1, 2012

If You Go Down in the Woods Today...

'I think we're going on vacation.'

There's nothing like a few episodes of 'Hoarders' to motivate one to clean out the closets!  I made a rule, that if I haven't used it within the year, it was going out. Well, of course that didn't last long, but I did make substantial headway. I took boxes and bags full of items to the Goodwill. Next came the stuffed animals. I had lots of them. Why? I don't know. I guess because they all showed up on my doorstep and I couldn't turn them away. Okay, maybe not. I'm not sure how things like that accumulate, but it was time to clean out. And rather than throwing them out, I donated them. That means that someone else will get to enjoy those cute and sweet bears. I hauled them out to the truck. Then I went back into the house to get another load.

By the time I returned, my husband had lined these guys up at the back of the truck and said in his most plaintive (and annoying) little animal voice, 'I think we're going on vacation.'  

I HATE IT when he does that. He's undermining my resolve to clean out this house! But that wasn't all. He continued. 'Mom? Is that you? It's dark in here, Mom. Where are we, Mom? Mom? Mom?...'

Now of course he's saying this for the benefit of a woman who can't stand to see a doll face down on a bed because it can't breathe. I felt terrible. I felt like I was sending my stuffed animals to the animal shelter, for Pete's sake!

And of course, he just kept it up, ad nauseam...

I really hope Goodwill is a no-kill shelter and that all the stuffed animals will find happy little boys and girls who will love them and make sure they're never face down on the bed.


 'Mom? Where're we going, Mom?'


***


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33 comments:

Eileen H said...

Hahaha...I'm sure they will all soon be adopted and will be loved in their forever homes. Pity you can't do the homechecks :-)

Unknown said...

Funny story..I'm sure the will find a good home :-)
Have a lovely day!

Lisa~A Cottage To Me said...

So nice of you to allow someone else to cherish them. They will be loved! Sweet post!

Joyce said...

This made me smile : )

MadSnapper said...

thanks for my first laugh out loud of the day. poor bears.. and i have it on good authority that Goodwill is full of goodwill and a no kill zone. good girl, clean out those closets. a few months ago, i attacked the closet in my front bedroom. i retired 7 years ago and carefully put skirts and jackets and work clothes in those bags that the vacuum sucks the air out of. the closet had 3 hanging bags and 5 stacked and sucked free of air bags on the shelves and a lot of other stuff. now the closet has nothing on the floor and very little on the shelves. i took all the work clothes to Hope Family services, a thrift store that raises money for abused women and kids and also gives them clothes to work in. a word here, those bags that say the clothes will be fresh and just like they were when i sucked the air out? NOT TRUE. i had to wash and dry every thing in the bags. of course they were in there for 7 years.

Deanna said...

That is hilarious! I hope they enjoy their new homes. Hoarders is always good inspiration for me, too. I'm at least a third generation "collector". I'm better than some others in my family but I must give myself frequent reminders to not hang on to everything.

Terri @ A Creative Princess said...

Lol! That's too funny! I'm positive they will find someone who will love having them! Thanks for the morning giggle!

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

Ahhhh, Judy! They are all so cute.

Did you know that some churches use them in program where the parishoners get to hold them while in church then after a little while they are donated to worthy/needly children? My Mother's church does this. So this way they are "adopted" and are given lots of TLC on their way! :0) I thought it was a cute idea.

So great that you were able to clean out! We need to do the same here...

Claudia said...

Oh, that husband of yours is funny! I am the same way about stuffed animals and dolls so I get it. It must have been hard to give them away!

xo
Claudia

Lois Christensen said...

That is so funny! We need to get into our storage room and do some cleaning out as well! Hopefully when the fall comes and things cool down. Enjoy your day!

April said...

You can't make the bears talk!! That's just mean!!! Hoarders has that effect on me too. I watch a few episodes, frantically clean and organize, and vow never to watch again... Why is it so fascinating?? Don't worry, each bear will find a home, and lots of snuggles. :)

The Farmers Daughter said...

Oh, so funny! I'm sure they'll be fine in their new homes. . .

Amy Burzese said...

I am the same way. I do a fairly good job at keeping things cleaned out. Well, except for my vintage hoarding issue. I still have a Boyd's Bear collection. They aren't going anywhere soon.

Anonymous said...

Funny story, and I'm sure they will bring smiles to other faces as they journey onward. Around here we need to liberate some slightly dusty, highly stacked piles of paper to the loving blades of the paper shredder.

vintage grey said...

So funny and sweet!! They will all be loved in a new home! Have a great day! xo Heather

Chatty Crone said...

Ah bittersweet. Goodwill is great. We have a kids shelter here that is dying for toys. Maybe you have one too. sandie

Debra Hawkins said...

Oh funny and tragic all at the same moment. As much as hoarders can make me to resolve to get rid of things, Toy Story makes me want to keep all the toys. :)

Yenta Mary said...

Oh, I'm so with you! The Velveteen Rabbit is one of my very favorite books ever; the bears are real, because they've been loved. Not sure, as they've accumulated, by whom; but that's not the point. They've been loved, and they've become real. It would have been fun to take them on a picnic - Jeremy and I used to do that when he was little. Thanks for the happy memory ... :)

Unknown said...

Great story.. your husband is quite the character!! lol

Ruth Kelly said...

I like to keep a few stuffed animals for my GRAND kids to play with but someday, I will part with them like you.

laurie said...

Cute story! I watch Hoarders sometimes,too. It's amazing what one can collect!

Mary said...

That is so brave of you to share those little darlings with someone else. I know the feeling.

Mama Hen said...

This is such a great post! I love that picture and hope also that Goodwill will find a good home for all of those stuffed animals. There are so many children who do not have these things. You are right about watching Hoarders. I do not see it regularly, but when I am going through the channels I stop and see a few minutes, which is long enough to get me cleaning out my closets. I hope you are well! Have a great day!

Mama Hen

Denise said...

So cute. I collect teddybears, love them.

Carla from The River said...

I can not wait to meet Kevin! LOL!!

Judy S. said...

Amazing how much stuff you can accumulate, isn't it? We need to follow your example! Absolutely love your pond photos; what a lovely spot to relax!

RebeccaT said...

Oh goodness, I can't watch any shows like Hoarders, it has me throwing away things like extra kleenex that I WILL use eventually or wondering why I have more than one pair of shoes!! I love Goodwill and try to point out to my husband that getting rid of things doesn't mean it sits in the trash. He alllmost does the same thing! Like when I clean out my clothes..."That was my favorite shirt on you" How can you get rid of it after that?Why not let those sweet bears out in light and be loved by someone else? And favorite or not, if its got holes in it, I can guarantee I won't wear it anymore! Those vacuum-all-the-air out bags let the air seep back in by the way... I was disappointed in mine.

George The Lad said...

Arr, I hope they do, in fact I'm sure they will. There's no way our toys are going to the Goodwill place!
Mom had a clear out the other week, she says it means she can bring new things in!!!
have a good week
See yea George xxx

Candace said...

haha....your husband cracked me right up! It feels sooo good to purge stuff around the house. I think I need to do some of that, as well. I am quite sure that those sweet babies will find a good home.

Rachel said...

I'm sure they will be adopted by a loving child who will take good care of them!! That is sweet of you to donate them!

:)
Rachel

J_on_tour said...

Great humour. De-cluttering to recycle is a great idea and I need to keep coming back here to re read this post !

TexWisGirl said...

oh my gosh - i thought i was the only weirdo that thought this way. i remember always making sure my stuffed animals had a buddy to sit with so they'd never feel alone. :)

thanks for stopping by today and leaving a comment. really appreciate it! i still consider wis. 'home'. :)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh my...that is VERY scary! I hope my dollies and bears don't see this post! But just think of the joy you'll bring to someone else! Enjoy your week!

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