I used to have a blog called Keep or Pitch. I’d put up a photo of an item in my house and take a vote. Keep or Pitch? The idea was to move items out the door, to the curb, downsize, discard. A few blog readers received a ceramic squirrel, a book. I only regret mailing off some quilt pieces.
But here are the farmyard animals in a cloth, smoked ham bag from yesteryear.

I’ve blogged these rubbery farm animals twice before in 2010 and 2018 with the title What I couldn’t throw out.
Well here we are in 2025.
And they resurfaced.
Again.

TAG: FARM ANIMALS
WHAT I COULDN’T THROW OUT
First posted almost 8 years ago. Mark is now 42.
The kids all grown up and gone now, I’m still going through stuff in my house. Trying to clean it all out.
These animals with their faces, ugh.
Do you find it easy to throw things out?
From 2010.
Purchased in 1977 in New York City at Creative Playthings. Rubbery farm animals. Nice to clutch and carry around when you’re almost two. I bought them for baby Mark who’s 34 now. Maybe the paint is unsafe for the grandchildren, plus they have a hole in their stomach so whatever dirt and mold in the basement the past 20 years is living inside them. I put them in the contractor bag to drag to the curb and I swear the cow’s eyes looked at me.
I took them out.
Photographed them.
Editors note: 2025. Mark is 49’now
I have trouble throwing things like this out too. I have three well worn teddy bears I’ve dragged around with me for 70 years!
Aww sweet Teddies! I hope I get to see a picture in a post.
Here you are! https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/2024/12/08/the-four-bears/
I have no trouble getting rid of stuff. Marie Kondo would love me. Sadly, my OH – not so much.
I have read Marie and watched her on tv but I didn’t become a follower.
She’s ruthless, Ruth
Yes she is!!!
It is so hard to toss but I’m a minimalist so I just go ahead and do it.
Are your kids all minimalists too?
It just breaks my heart to have to throw things out, especially with so many memories attached. If it brings a memory or a smile to my face, I tend to keep it. Going thru the house now forcing myself to part with things. I would rather sell it for someone else to enjoy then put it in the trash.
I feel you, as they say, Carrie.
I still have my baby dolls. I still love them. I would never throw them out.
Awww sweet baby dolls. I get it!
Those animals are too cute to throw away and I bet they don’t make them like that anymore!
You are exactly right. Of course they don’t!
I have trouble throwing away anything with a face. If it’s looking at me, I can’t do it. These farm animals have especially cute faces. If they were mine, I would be stuck with them forever,
Same! ❤️
Those faces! I couldn’t throw them out either.
I know. They look right at me Colleen.
Mrs Ruth please don’t throw away those animals, they are amazing and great for decorative purposes at home. Keep them safe, my father used to tell me that “items of the house should not be thrown away instead stored for future or memories”
I like your thinking. You know I can’t throw them out. ❤️
This relates to our sentiments.
Don’t throw them out.
I know the sadness that accompanies parting with treasured things. However, do your children a favor and part with those things now so that they don’t have to do it in the future. gcr
There’s a good point!
I’ve gotten better at getting rid of things in recent years. But I still can’t part with some of my childhood items, of which I don’t have all that many.
I hear you Audrey.
You never know when you might need something! I was going to give the kids Fisher Price Toys to Goodwill. Then suddenly new neighbours moved in up the street and when they visited, their 3 and 1.5 year old kids loved the toys!
Those toys last forever and kids love playing with them.
I loved those as a kid. I’d have to save them now as additional guests in the nativity set.
That’s a good plan!