The word of the day is:
nidification nid’i·fi·ca’tion (-fĭ-kā’shən) n. The act, process or technique of building a nest.

Birds do it, bees do it, even spiders in my eaves do it. When I’m working on my nest, I’m nidifying. However, I translate that to mean “cleaning house.” I don’t know why it happens every spring, but I get this urge to purge the junk out of my world. We have such an accumulation of flotsam and jetsam that it interferes with simple daily living. Yet, somehow we have an emotional attachment to all those possessions.

I’m not talking a little bit of stuff. I’m talking lots and lots! When my husband and I married, we were both packrats. The combination of our two houses created havoc. All the closets were like Fibber McGee’s closet. You couldn’t open the door without things falling out. The two car garage had a pathway through it. We had two storage sheds and rented three (count ‘em THREE) storage units. We whittled it down to just a couple of packed closets, two storage sheds, and a little bit wider path in the garage. But, we still have a long way to go. I’ve decided this is the year to do it. I hope I don’t make a liar out of me.

My AARP magazine had an article about clutter in the January/ February issue that suggested creating a record of the belongings to which you feel an attachment before you give them away. Take a photograph or a videotape, because it’s the memories associated with the article that are important. I’m going to be taking a lot of pictures! Then I’ll have to sort and organize them—maybe that’s not a good idea.

The magazine also suggested finding a support group, if you are a clutter besieged person. FlyLady.net is a website they suggested that can help you develop and maintain a system to get your house in order.

I visited the site today, and I think her ideas might “fly.” Her first suggestion seems silly: scrub the kitchen sink until it shines, and then keep it wiped out every day. Her theory is that it will be one thing that can give you hope and make you proud. I thought it was ridiculous, but I scrubbed the sink anyway. It actually does make me feel better. I’m pathetic.

Some of these things I don’t want any more are really worth money. I can always use some extra cash. We don’t have garage sales, because we live in a cul-de-sac, and it’s hard to get traffic. We have spent huge amounts of time trying to get merchandise cleaned, priced, and on display only to sit all day with no customers to buy it.

But, I’m going to try again. A local business is having a Second-Hand Sunday sale on the second Sunday of next month. She’s planning a big garage sale with many vendors, a disc jockey playing music, a massage therapist, and maybe even someone selling food. I’m renting a space so that I can unload some of this. Before I do, I’ll go to Wikihow to refresh myself on how to have a successful garage sale.

Domino Magazine gave this number for the Salvation Army (1-800-958-7825). They will actually come and pick up your items if you have at least 5 bags worth. They will even pick up clothing. Perhaps I’ll make an appointment for them to pick up on the Monday after the sale, so I have no excuse. How mortifying would it be to back out of donating with the Salvation Army at the door?

Domino also suggested that I can donate gently worn shoes to Soles 4 Souls which will distribute them to people in need. It also suggested Eco Encore, a Seattle-based nonprofit group, to take your old music, DVDs, books and current software and sell it on Amazon and E-Bay. The money it makes is donated to the environmental cause of your choice.

With so many good charities, they aren’t giving me any choice but to do some donating. If anyone knows of other worthwhile charities for donations, I’d appreciate a heads up.

Meanwhile, I’m going to attack another closet. If you hear a loud shrieking howl coming from the area of Dallas, it’s not a tornado—it’s only me.