We’ve been living in Ottawa for over twelve years now and over this time we have accumulated a huge mess of things. A first we did not have much furniture, then we moved houses, then I just did not have time to do anything about it. I was working and going to grad school, then I was working, going to grad school and had small children. Generally, I was so busy sorting and organising those three things I had no time for the mass of things accumulating in the basement, the bedrooms, closets, corners and finally passageways.

This summer, when we came back from our three month vacation, we walked into a clean house. During the summer, Chris was the only one around and the cleaning lady has been able to clean all the bits that she can’t get to every week. However, as soon as we started to live in the house, it became utter chaos. Things were perched precariously and as soon as we started to look for, move and use things, all the clutter fell in. I have officially been putting the sort and purge project off for too long. I have some vacation left until the end of the year so I have been taking a day or two every week to decrease entropy.

I’ve swept through the basement and last week and took two days for the office (still not done…). I am almost done with the rest of the main level.

Sorting toys took a whole day. I’ve left enough toys in the living room for kids to be able to have fun and still clean up at the end of the evening without having a tantrum because there is just too much mess that it can’t possibly be tidied up. The small toys, seen here on the second shelf, are sorted, labeled and moved to the older boys’ bedrooms, the rest can comfortably fit in the cupboards and in front of the fireplace.

No loose toys in the TV room!

To be read books are politely waiting their turn. I debated putting the bibs away (top left) as Markus no longer needs them (read, has a screaming fit anytime someone even suggests fitting one on him as he is a tidy eater, thankyouverymuch) but I have a suspicion that it is a bit too early for that.

I’ve been having trouble figuring out what to store in the TV room puff when the most obvious answer came to me – media!

This drawer was the most troublesome drawer in the house. And now look at it – batteries, picture hooks, tape (sticky and measuring), glue, pens and pencils, enough screwdrivers for most quick household uses and a few expired coins, for old time sake. Nothing else allowed in here.

Where chaos is imminent, I’ve resorted to labels.

Notice board is ready for artwork.

I wish I could say I am done, but I am only about one third through the project. I am hoping to get the next third done by the end of the year when my vacation resets. The final third will be an on-going thing and I have no specific plans as of yet. Next step? Getting rid of that beer bottle on the fridge.