Living the Simpler Life
It's been a busy week but then again, when don't we have busy weeks even in summer?
I turned in the edits for A Time to Heal, the second book in the Quilts of Lancaster County series for Abingdon Press a few days ago. Am thrilled that the editor and copy editor said such wonderful things about the story.
Two early readers of the first book, A Time to Love, (scheduled for October but probably in some book outlets in September) gave the book five stars. You can read the reviews in www.Christianbooks.com and www.BarnesandNoble.com among other places.
I've been playing catch-up since I worked on the edits. Paperwork and a lot of things have backed up. My goal to declutter and lead a simpler life is still in the works. A friend and I went out to dinner and when we came back to the house, we started in on de-cluttering my office. Unfortunately, it's not just a leisurely activity. I've misplaced an important piece of paperwork and she offered to help me find it because I'm so frustrated. You see, I, like many people, am still trying to get rid of things. We're a society of people who hold on to, even hoard. I think it's one of the reasons we so admire the Amish for -- they livfe a simpler life, have fewer things.
In the case of my office, it's paper. Even with using a computer and not having to print so many things out these days -- books go back and forth in manuscript form by e-mail -- I still end up with entirely too much paper in this cozy little home office. I think I owe my friend a dinner for helping!
I'm wondering if any readers have any great hints on how to keep their home offices free of clutter? Would love to hear them on this site.
In the meantime, my friend just got this idea of where that paper might be. It sounds like a good lead. We're going to investigate it and hope we'll find it. Otherwise, I should be closing down this decluttering operation. It's near bedtime!
Have a great weekend!
Barbara
I turned in the edits for A Time to Heal, the second book in the Quilts of Lancaster County series for Abingdon Press a few days ago. Am thrilled that the editor and copy editor said such wonderful things about the story.
Two early readers of the first book, A Time to Love, (scheduled for October but probably in some book outlets in September) gave the book five stars. You can read the reviews in www.Christianbooks.com and www.BarnesandNoble.com among other places.
I've been playing catch-up since I worked on the edits. Paperwork and a lot of things have backed up. My goal to declutter and lead a simpler life is still in the works. A friend and I went out to dinner and when we came back to the house, we started in on de-cluttering my office. Unfortunately, it's not just a leisurely activity. I've misplaced an important piece of paperwork and she offered to help me find it because I'm so frustrated. You see, I, like many people, am still trying to get rid of things. We're a society of people who hold on to, even hoard. I think it's one of the reasons we so admire the Amish for -- they livfe a simpler life, have fewer things.
In the case of my office, it's paper. Even with using a computer and not having to print so many things out these days -- books go back and forth in manuscript form by e-mail -- I still end up with entirely too much paper in this cozy little home office. I think I owe my friend a dinner for helping!
I'm wondering if any readers have any great hints on how to keep their home offices free of clutter? Would love to hear them on this site.
In the meantime, my friend just got this idea of where that paper might be. It sounds like a good lead. We're going to investigate it and hope we'll find it. Otherwise, I should be closing down this decluttering operation. It's near bedtime!
Have a great weekend!
Barbara
Posted by Barbara Cameron at 8/20/2010 9:36 PM 
Categories: Quilts of Lancaster County, A Time to Love
Tags: Amish fiction
Categories: Quilts of Lancaster County, A Time to Love
Tags: Amish fiction
I do my best to implement suggestions from www.flylady.net . She's my hero. I still struggle with letting go of things and paper is one of them. I don't pretend to understand. Hope you find what you're looking for ... in more ways than one. Blessings!
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My hint for a clutter free office is: handle paper only once. File it or trash it but DO NOT put it in a "to be dealt with later" pile.
My second hint is to set aside one day each week for Admin day. On this day I pay bills, write letters, send cards, back up my computer, make calls to straighten out the bank, insurance company, etc. It may not take the whole day, and something more important may come up and none of it gets done this week, but at least it doesn't pile up for months.
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Great ideas, Lesa and Janet!
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baskets is my little secret. I have those cute baskets that have cloth lining and I have them setting on a book case near my desk so that I can reach them when I am sitting at my desk, when I am sorting I just reach over and put the item in its basket instead of piling things up on the desk.
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