In Which I Prattle On About Ivy, Donating Furniture To Charity, And Tuesday

/ Ally Bean

I’m feeling lighthearted and warm today.

Hence I shall show you the above photo of two pots of ivy immediately after they had a shower in the kitchen sink. One is silver bells ivy, the other is jubilee ivy.

I can’t tell you which is which but I like ivy, and I especially like these two varieties because they have great names and are easy to grow.

That, my friends, is a win-win.

May you heart be like holly and your words be like ivy.

[An Irish blessing, not sure if I got it quite right, but you get the idea.]

Anyhoo, the real reason I’m in a great mood today is that once again I’m waiting for St. Vincent de Paul to get here to pick-up some furniture that we’re donating to them.

Everything but the kitchen sink.

[A nice idiom that lends itself to this post.]

Slowly, ever so slowly, we are divesting ourselves of that which we don’t need but someone else can use.

Another win-win, I believe.

Thus I’ll end this jotting-style post in which I prove that I can and will show up on Tuesdays. Because unlike most of the peoples I know, I like Tuesdays.

Having been born on one.

Tuesday’s child is full of grace.

[A childhood poem, one line remembered.]

So be it with me. What’s up with you?

94 thoughts on “In Which I Prattle On About Ivy, Donating Furniture To Charity, And Tuesday”

  1. I live ivy, but they’re needy little houseplants, miss one weekly watering and they dry up and shrivel away… very rude.
    I like the feeling of clearing out the house and have been decluttering with small things slowly but surely. How much stuff does one person need!

    Liked by 1 person

    • rivergirl1211, I’ve found ivy to be ezpz to grow. I ignore it for days/weeks and it keeps on. Maybe its desire to grow has to do with where you live?

      I wish I had an answer to: how much stuff does one person need? Less than we have now, I guess.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I was born on a Tuesday, too. And I happen to love Tuesdays. Tuesdays are not Mondays.

    About your lovely ivy. Are you planning to train it to grow somewhere? Do you have any old stone walls it could turn into ivy art? I love to watch ivy grow up a wall

    Liked by 1 person

    • Zazzy, I knew you liked Tuesday but I didn’t know why– welcome to Team Tuesday!

      The little ivy plants will be houseplants because we have enough ivy outside the house already. I like to watch them grow, too. I use binder clips on the edges of the terra cotta pots to encourage the ivy to grow in a way I like.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Love seeing our old stuff go to folks who can use it. You are generous, Madame Bean, in so many ways. I was born, on what day I cannot recall. Perhaps I should figure that out.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I donated some things a few days ago. Mostly clothing, but also a chair I never use that was collecting dust while shoved into the corner of my bedroom.
    I’ve been growing two spider plant starts passed down from my daughter and have found the ideal place for them: my little dining table right in front of the window. They spent some time on a shelf in dimmer light and apparently weren’t happy but now seem to thrive. I enjoy that spider plants will keep producing babies and thus keep me in new plants for the future!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Deb, we’ve donated most of our excess clothes, but furniture and household items we still have. In spades. [Much of it vintage + antique which is a whole different problem when it comes to getting rid of stuff.]

      I haven’t had a spider plant since college! I’d forgotten all about them. I wonder if we have enough sunlight in our kitchen to allow one to grow and thrive. I agree with you, when they make baby plants it’s wonderful.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Remember “Mare’s eat oats and does eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy”?

    I like ivy and I like donating stuff. It makes me feel light and airy . . .

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  8. I’m glad you’re having a holly jolly sort of day with your jubilee ivy while you wait to jettison some of life’s detritus.

    My morning walk has been bumped to this afternoon by torrential downpours. I’m high and dry!

    Liked by 1 person

    • nancy, you’re right, this is a holly jolly day here. Frigid temps, but sunny and our driveway is clear of snow so we are good to go with St. V de P.

      You’re having that much rain in March? Is that normal for where you live? Well regardless, have a nice walk this afternoon if you get to take one.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I love, love, LOVE it when I watch the Vets or Easter Seals truck pull up and take my donations off of my porch. LOVE IT. Back in November, I cleaned out my crawlspace, got my son to go through his clothes, and had quite a sizeable haul for them. It’s such a great feeling to lighten my load while helping others.

    Liked by 1 person

    • nance, I agree. There is something *light* about donating useable stuff to a charity. We have more furniture to decide about, but this is a nice start. As per my word of the year, I’m streamlining here!

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  10. Twas born on a Tuesday myself. I’m surprised to learn people don’t like Tuesdays. It’s a perfectly good day! Pretty ivy. I could use a plant that’s easy to grow (read: hard to kill). And good on ya for giving stuff away with the benefit of lightening the load. I’ve lightened so much, I could probably move everything in a pick-up truck. 🙂 Hope the items make some new people very happy.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Tara, I’ve had many people tell me how they don’t like Tuesday and I’ve tried very hard to not take it personally. 😉

      I find ivy easy to grow, but others have told me it is tricky. I dunno. Spend $4 at Lowes and try it for yourself!

      We have stuff. Lots of it. And as much as I’d like to have less of it like you, getting rid of stuff [to the right places] isn’t as easy as you might think. Baby steps, that’s how we’re doing it.

      Liked by 1 person

      • People. *shrugs*

        I will try that! I struggle with plant life. I love them, but I’m always overwatering or not watering enough.

        Oh, it took me years to get to this point. Tis a process. And whatever level of less works for you, then that’s a good thing!

        Liked by 1 person

  11. During a remodel project, I was able to save a couple of windows and a sliding door from the dumpster. I wanted to donate them to the Habitat for Humanity, ReStore.

    “Can’t use ’em,” the ReStore said.
    “Why?”
    “You know how many of them we got?”
    “Nope.”

    I do now. The dumpster guy told me as he dropped off the second dumpster to pick them up.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Almost Iowa, really? Our ReStore will happily, gladly take windows and doors [and kitchen cabinets and light fixtures]. It’s window blinds and drapes that they do not want. Fascinating how it differs from place to place.

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  12. Bright sunshine on marshmallow covered fields. And it’s Town Meetind Day here in the seat of direct democracy. But alas, I am a Wednesday babe. I do love giving stuff away, though. And moving furniture gives me an energy lift. As for ivy? Sounds like you’ve mastered the art of benign neglect.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, we have sunshine here today, but just a smattering of snow is left. This makes for perfect conditions for hauling furniture out of the garage and into a moving van. I do well with the ivy for the very reason you mention: I excel at benign neglect! You know me well. 😊

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  13. The sense of accomplishment in ridding ourselves of stuff is enormous. I ‘d love for my kids to do some of that at my house instead of using it as a storage unit! I’m exploring the Texas Hill country with a friend, then going to Austin!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Margaret, it’ll be an accomplishment, you are right about that. It’s a start because there’s lots more furniture around here, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. Happy travels. I’m enjoying your photos on IG.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. It was so much easier when I lived in a more populated area to rid oneself of excess belongings – organizations would pick up. Here, that does not happen, and while I have much to rid myself of, I’m not sure how to accomplish that. I’m working on building up to figuring it out.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Carol, I can imagine that it’s going to take some doing to figure out how to get rid of stuff when you have no pick-up service available to you. We have some antique furniture that I need to figure out what to do with– and like you I’m building up to figuring it out.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I can’t remember what day I was born on but I remember that I didn’t like what that poem said about me being born on that day (I hope that makes sense). I’ll have to look it up. I’ve been on a big “get rid of it” kick lately too. I love our local Buy Nothing Facebook page. It’s amazing what people want and are thrilled to get for free.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janis, I don’t know the rest of the poem by heart, but you could always rewrite the words in such a way as to make your day, whatever it is, sound good to you. No need being stuck in the past.

      I’ve not heard of a Buy Nothing FB page, but then I’m not on FB. Around here people are all about sending items off to auction… which sounds like lots of work for what I’m betting will be minimal reward. 🤨

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  17. I love getting rid of stuff. Great tax write off too. I don’t know what the issue is with Tuesday. I’ve never had a problem with it. Fun fact, did you know you get less mail on a Tuesday? I’m Thursday’s child and I have far to go, which I am taking in the positive vein meaning I am going to “live a long, successful life with no limitations.”

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, I didn’t know that about the mail, but thinking about it I can understand why. Oh yes, the meaning of Thursday’s child has to be positive. I mean it was a child’s poem, meant [I hope] to encourage kids.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Love the discussion about Tuesday, as it is interesting how we are psychologically influenced by the days of the week. I love Tuesdays! The week has begun, we have a start on things, and there is still hope to accomplish weekly tasks! We are also in the process of donating/giving things away! Such a great feeling!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Carla, I love Tuesday for the reasons you mention. There’s still possibility in the week, that you might accomplish everything. It is a great feeling to divest yourself of stuff that’s just kind of hanging around, especially when it’s going to someone who can use it.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Jan, we’ve taken some things to Goodwill because St. V de P has higher standards and wouldn’t take it! You gotta work at getting rid of this stuff. 🙄

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  22. I loved that poem about Monday’s child…. My mother could quote it on demand. I think I was born on a day that said I had far to go. Maybe I’ll reinterpret that and take it as a sign that I was meant to reach old age. I’m well on the way!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Donna, all is good here. The St. V de P truck arrived before noon which is a first. Usually we’re the last house on the list and they make me wait all day until about 5 before they get here– but not today. Anyhoo, the stuff is gone and the house is warm and I am happy. *yay*

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  24. Another Tuesday birth here (let’s form a club!). We’re at a point soon where we’ll be calling St. Vincent de Paul also because it’s furniture replacement time here. Did it take you long to get them there? Ours warns us that they have a three week wait. – Marty

    Liked by 1 person

    • Marty, Team Tuesday is growing! This time with St. V de P, in the winter, the wait was 2 weeks. Other times, in the spring and summer it was 3 weeks. Plus here they tell you which day of the week is your town’s pick up day, so you have to be at home on that day. Plus you don’t know beforehand what time they’ll arrive, so you just wait. It seems like a bother until you remember the service is free.

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  25. I was born on Thursday and I do like it. Bore my wee girls on Thursdays too. It’s a good day for those of us who have “far, far to go” I suppose. Having lost out on all the grace and whatnot 😉
    I also like ivy. It’s a cheerful species, when tamed, anyway. I am glad you’re finding more space and donating things to those who can benefit from them. Good spring juju!

    Liked by 1 person

    • joey, I’m fond of Thursdays, too. Not born on one but they’ve always done me well in life. Interesting how you and your daughters were born on the same day of the week. I wonder what the odds are on that?

      Yes, you do have a way with words and I love it. I want good spring juju and wish you and yours the same. 🌷

      Like

  26. That is admirable about downsizing and decluttering Ally. I need a professional to steer me in the right direction as things have spun out of control here! I am on Twitter, mostly to follow the news and because I am a weather worrier, and this topic was trending for a while today. Since you are decluttering anyway …

    #40Days40items

    Instead of giving up something for Lent this year, why not try the 40 days – 40 items challenge?

    Each day of Lent, remove one item from your house which you don’t use or wear anymore and place it in a bag. At the end of Lent, donate these items to a charity shop, or to a homeless shelter.

    They’ll be shared with those who really need them!

    Liked by 1 person

    • lindasschaub, this is a delightful idea. Thanks you for sharing it here. I missed it on Twitter [well, I miss most everything on Twitter come to think of it] and it’s a perfect way to do Lent. I’ll get my husband to do this, too– and won’t he be thrilled [not]!

      I don’t know why your comments are going into moderation because they should be showing up when you submit them. It’s nothing personal, be assured. I’ll try to figure that out what’s going on because this seems wrong to me. 🤔

      Liked by 1 person

      • Ally – I thought it was a good idea too – since you and I are perfect and won’t be giving up anything, this makes sense (extreme sense for me given the fact I live alone and wonder how two other people and a bird lived here at one time) … your husband will appreciate the end result. I wonder if the hash tag mark sent my comment to Spam? This topic wasn’t trending for too long. I check throughout the day to see what is happening and it was gone the next time I looked.

        Liked by 1 person

        • You might be right about why your comment got flagged. Some days I think this WP system is the best, other days I think it’s run by evil gremlins intent on making me pull my hair out.

          Liked by 1 person

          • I am amazed as well – a year or so ago, a fellow blogger contacted WP to ask why so many of her follower’s comments went to Spam and WP said if you reply too quickly to a comment, it might go to Spam. I’ve never found that to be the case, so I’m a little dubious.

            Liked by 1 person

            • Well, that makes no sense at all. I don’t like to be rude to anyone, so I worry when comments go to spam or moderation– and then I don’t respond to them at all. I’m trying here, but if the system is against me… well, I guess, I try anyway.

              Liked by 1 person

              • I’ve been checking every day after that happened to me and someone had commented on my About page and I missed it as it went to Spam. I get a lot of Spam that I have to take a second look at as it looks like a legitimate comment, so I often check the e-mail origin of it first.

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  27. Whoever Wimpy bummed money for hamburgers off of always liked Tuesdays as well. At least, until they realized they were never going to see that money back from the ,moocher. I think Sheryl Crow has a thing for Tuesdays as well since so many of her songs contain a reference to the day. I happen to like Tuesdays because it’s my Friday…

    Liked by 1 person

  28. I like Tuesdays. The week is still new. On Tuesdays I imagine that I’ll accomplish soo much before the week is over.

    Your ivy is very sweet. I have some ivy that surprised me by producing cute but strange red flowers.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Behind the Story, your reason for liking Tuesday is the same as mine. On Tuesday the week is planned and there is hope that nothing will screw it up.

      Ivy can produce flowers? I’ve not seen that, but will now inform my two plants that they need to get with it and start flowering. I’m sure that once they know what’s expected of them, they’ll get with the program! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

    • Shelley, I was happy yesterday so thank you for noticing. For once, my day went as planned– and we had pancakes for dinner, so the wins just kept on coming.

      I’m often days late to commenting on other bloggers’ posts. Do we get a black mark if we’re late to the party? Is that a new blogging rule I’ve missed? In other words, thanks for stopping by to say “hi!” 😊

      Liked by 2 people

      • Yay! Your happiness is infectious! Pancakes for dinner, um…we haven’t done that in our empty nest yet! Might just have to try that soon. No black marks, unless we both hear from some other blogger that we missed it just like missing out on Unplugged Sunday!? I try when I can to stop by friendly spaces – and yours is one I adore! Enjoy your day!

        Liked by 1 person

  31. Tuesday is a much nicer day than Monday (which being first in week’s line get full of importance with that list of things to be done…then frantic with things that have fallen through the cracks and need to be done – and ends up Monday stressed. HAHA
    Tuesday is more laid back and comfortable.
    Wondering about the ivy quote – any connection to King Henry 8th and Anne Boleyn? There’s that old Christmas song. Henry wrote some poem about holly and ivy. – it seems like when they were still a thing, he had the architects incorporate the 2 in some gate or castle design to signify they were a pair? (talk about rabbit holes to fall into ….)

    Liked by 1 person

    • philmouse, obviously I like Tuesday, but have run across a number of people who don’t like it, feeling that it’s just a filler day with no discernible purpose.

      I don’t know a thing about Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn in regard to the quote I sort of remembered. I remember that quote as a blessing, said around Christmas? It could well be part of a castle or gate somewhere, but none that I’m aware of.

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  32. I recently killed my ivy. Accidentally. I think I didn’t water it enough. It had been doing so well and then once I brought it in for the winter, it withered. I’m so sad. I love how it grows. I like to donate to charities, too, it’s a good feeling to move things you no longer need out of the house!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Kate, I’ve had some ivies just suddenly give up the ghost like that. I enjoy how they grow, too. There’s something soothing about the shape of their leaves, swirling down and around. I’m sorry for your loss.

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