THE GARAGE MADNESS CHRONICLES - Week 1

My two-car garage was built in 1927.  We have lived here since 1998, and the garage has been a dry space for 23 years. It has a plank wood floor and the large double garage door is sealed shut, but there is another standard entry door on the north side.  We use the garage for storage only, and the place rivals anything you've seen on "Hoarders".  Stacks of boxes six feet high which included ours and our parent's things. Nine huge storage boxes shipped from California after my Dad passed, and a like number of boxes containing treasurers from Vinnie's Mom, and there were all sorts of other miscellaneous items stacked in teetering piles.  Narrow paths were carved out between the towers of "stuff"... It was quite a wonder to behold.

Last Friday I went into the garage and noticed that one of the large storage boxes sitting on the floor was listing with several boxes on top of it.  The whole stack was leaning like the Tower of Pisa.  After further inspection,  I could see a five-inch watermark on the bottom of that box as well as several others sitting on the floor nearby. Oh, hells bells, my garage floor got wet after Hurricane Henri and Tropical Storm Ida came through our area within a week of each other, and now, any cardboard box sitting directly on the garage floor sucked up water like a sponge.  All of these boxes had contents wrapped in packing paper, and a number of them were packed with books.  The air smelled like wet paper which made me a little woozy.  This girl had her work cut out for her!

The next day, Saturday, I dug in and worked until 9 pm. Unpacking, repacking moving stuff in and out of the garage.  My back yard was full of flattened boxes, bags of clothes, bags of trash, bundled books, and unpacked items strewn out on four different tables.  With the help of a hand cart, I managed to drag two huge window A/C units out of the garage and up the driveway to the front gates.  At 9 pm I was exhausted, so I left everything out in the night air and called it a day. 

Day 2, Sunday morning I was up at 8am and went at it again.  Luck was on my side as it stayed dry through the night.   I worked until noon dragging out dozens of flattened boxes from our move to our home in 1998 (who does this? Hangs on to 20-year-old boxes?).  They were standing on end, but all of them absorbed water and needed to go.  I unpacked a few more wet boxes, but I had to call it a day so I covered everything with tarps and plastic in the event it would rain.  Lo and behold, we did get light rain, so my precautions paid off. 

Once in the house, I had a chance to marvel at some of the treasurers I uncovered today, like the dozens of beautiful antique hankies that were my grandmothers.  One prettier than the next.  Some were fine Irish linen, others were embroidered or cross-stitched, and a few were adorned with beautiful lace.

Day 3, Monday.  The first thing I did was make a trip to HD to pick up packing paper, baling twine, a few plastic tubs, and some ventilated plastic shelving.  After this project, there will be no cardboard boxes on the floor. The plastic shelving unit worked out great. I divided it into two, 2-shelf units, and put one shelf on the floor.  I managed to pack two of the plastic tubs, and I threw out a lot of stuff (felt so good!).  I called 311 and asked about the A/C units and was told to put them out on recycling day.  I also called St. Mary's to pick up six large bags of clothes.  

Today's treasure was a beautiful Waterbury mantel clock that was my father's, and it now sits on my fireplace mantel.  I found a myrtle wood salad set that my mom purchased in Oregon while on a motor home trip.  Melanie and I were with her when she bought it.  We followed the Pacific Coastline all the way up to Oregon.  It was beautiful.

Day 4, Tuesday.  More of the same, plus, baled all the wet, flattened boxes for recycling, put the trash out for pick up on Wednesday, and labeled the clothing bags for pick up.  Again, I found a treasure trove of gems.  Among them were my kindergarten report card and picture.  The teacher suggested that I laugh too much and should be "more quiet"...omg, some things never change!

Day 5, Wednesday.  Put out the clothing for pick up, and had a Vet appointment for my precious Sadie's annual check-up and vaxes.  When we got home, I did a few more things like going through some papers and went through one of the computer boxes. Kept some of the programs, and all of the backup discs because they need to be destroyed. I was pleased that all of the trash was picked up, and St. Mary's picked up the clothing. I put everything away and called it a day.  

Once inside, I had a chance to look at the linens that were my Mom's.  In it is this gorgeous tablecloth with matching napkins embroidered with "S".  I'm not sure if it was my Mom's, or my Grandmother's.  It looks brand new, so I'm guessing it was Mom's.  Also several vintage tablecloths and a few hand-crocheted table toppers and a beautiful linen table runner with pulled thread work. Among them was a table runner I made her as a gift when I was a teenager.  Harvest gold velveteen with avocado green trim and yarn tassels.  Classic 60's.

Day 6, Thursday.  Not very productive with the garage project today. Took a break, as it was supposed to rain. I had a long phone call with one of my best friends and she told me about a recycling event on October 23rd, so I'll be able to dispose of electronics, paint cans and unused bottles of yard spray etc.  I also took Vinnie to his favorite men's store to be fitted for a suit.  We have a wedding the following weekend and at some point, I'll need to figure out what I'm wearing.  I'm two-thirds of the way through that big mess in the garage.  I would like to get a few more plastic containers and another shelving unit.

Day 7, Friday.  Trash and recycling day! Oh, joy.   I put a  ton of trash and recycling out for pick up.  Let's hope it all goes.   Not much progress in the garage, but had fun unboxing my MIL's Homer Laughlin Country Inn Collection, Made in USA. The pattern is Classic '60-'70's.  A setting for four, she had 10 coffee cups, a coffee pot, large round platter, and salt & pepper shaker.  This collection warms my heart because Mom Z loved having friends over for coffee and cake.  I could visualize an Entenmanns pound cake on the platter.   The packing paper was newsprint dated May 4, 1994, and on the box, in her handwriting was "Glass". After a good cleaning, I set the table as an homage to Mom Z.  The yellow-crocheted doily was my Mom's, and the napkins from ebay.

Day 8, Saturday. Happy Day!  All the trash and recycling that we put out were picked up.  The two A/C units went because trash pickers got them for salvage, I'm sure.   I'll pack up the Homer Laughlin and two other dish sets in the garage, and that will be it for today.

Yikes

The trash doesn't look too bad, but Lawdy, Bawdy, you should see the garage.  It looks worse than when I started!  Isn't that always the way when you're cleaning out and reorganizing?  It gets worse before it gets better.

Double Yikes!

 I think my kindergarten teacher was generous when she gave me an "is improving" grade for keeping materials in order.

To be continued...THE GARAGE MADNESS CHRONICLES - Week 2 will be on shelves soon.