When faced with a clutter of stuff in a house which has accumulated over the last 28 years, my father would have brought in a bulldozer - though he did not because he found value in odd things that have been rotting away. He would get upset with me at times for my approach to things as I did things over time whereas he would make one grand Herculean effort. There are times for Herculean effort, but even Hercules was smart: he redirected the river for the Aegean Stables.

So, over the last months, I have been doing one garbage bag a day. Today I could not fill a bag. I have looked. I have poked. I have prodded. I have peeked. I have found old rusting tools that will never be serviceable again. I found hinges that looked to have been saved from 1912 - and lacking a door from that year, I tossed them. I have found a plethora of empty beer bottles which have served no purpose but be an eyesore. Parts of machines kept below the house still remain if only because a bag will not hold them. Old pieces of wood, damp and mildewed, removed.