Yesterday was May Day.  I had not given it a lot of thought, but then realized I had not seen anything about May Day for quite some time. 
I remember vividly stock piling the light green plastic baskets that strawberries came in at the store and working tirelessly to weave colored stripes of paper through it for just the right look. If I ran out, then weaving together heart paper baskets.  If I got really festive, pipe cleaners were in involved. Then came the loading of the baskets--popcorn, graham crackers and chocolate. 
Next delivery--placing it outside someone's door, then ringing the bell and running away.  
Talk about simple pleasures of brightening someone else's day. 
The next door neighbor even had a may pole I remember spending hours swinging from.  I don't if I have ever seen another May Pole honestly. 
But that was 30 years, did May Day stop being a thing?  
I had to find out.

So how are you doing?  
Its been 6 weeks of working from home for me. 
​How long has it been for you?  How is it going? 
What have you learned? 
What is working for you? 
What is NOT working? 

I am just starting the book, but WOW.  They conceptually frame how to view our stuff differently.  No spark joy here folks. Just the cut to the chase ideas from a 86 year old Swede.  
The concept of Magnusson's book is simple: Keep what you use and what others could use or want.  
Although I am younger than when she says for one to start to this process (age 65 or older), I can see its merit, both for me now and for others later.  

So what I have done so far-- 
1) As she suggests, I headed to my closet.  I was easily able to remove items I don't wear (this was easily done as I have started hanging my hangars up backwards and able to visually see what I don't wear for a year....then it gets donated). I did the same with my kid's closets and involved them in determining what they don't like (thus don't wear) and what was too small to pass on. 
2) This morning I tackled the filing cabinet--and I weeded like I do annually.  The cabinet is 10lbs lighter of paper. 
3) The storage room--I know, for many that is an overwhelming room to start with, but one that I knew I could rock!  There is now a box full of kids toys, art creations from my high school years, surveys completed from my disseration 10+ years ago and broken stuff I have kept but never used.  (I only have the old photos to sort left).  
4) To do still

• books--she recommends keeping only what you have not read or will read again, give away the rest. I will have to modify to keep those having memories too.
• garage (waiting until its warmer) 
•  kitchen (there is just sooo much there!) 

Magnusson wrote, "Life will be more pleasant & comfortable if we get rid of some of the abundance."

Things I have realized so far:
1) I love bowls, pretty bowls to eat from. 
2) Black, gray, and white seem to be the colors I prefer wearing the most. 
3) I love functional old stuff--like that old refrigerator from 1940 that I can store stuff in. 

I have been cold I am minimalistic already, and by what Magnusson writes, I think I have death cleaned most of life, so doing this exercise is relatively easy for me.