Good to catch up on everyone's posts. I am doing laundry this AM so naturally that makes me happy. I remain pleased with my burst of activity the other night and hope to get some things done today too. There are lots of areas to choose from.

I'll likely be posting about the daily accomplishments, no matter how small or mundane. It helps me to keep stock and to keep going.

Iced tea clinks!

Hi ebunny!

After only 14 months, your dad may still be mourning your mom and unwilling to let go of any of her things. Processing them may be too painful.

I would start with the less emotionally charged areas like food and junk mail and try to get him involved. Recovering from hoarding starts with small decisions (out of the entire box of mail from 1983, I can part with 5 grocery circulars. - drives non-hoarders crazy, but it is actually a big step - like an iceberg, most of the progress starts out underneath and unseen.)

Are you concerned that your dad may die soon? If the state will step in and quickly take the house, I would begin by finding and packing/labeling the things that matter to me for a quick move. You can abandon the junk mail and plywood - surprise! it comes with the house.

Can you take over the cooking? If your dad stays out of the kitchen, you may be able to slowly replace expired food with fresh food and not have him feel like you are throwing away and wasting all the food. (Two salad dressings out, one salad dressing in...)

It is important to reassure him that you will respect his space and not get rid of anything that is important to him. You are coming in to his home.

Porter, I'm sure you have already done a lot to help your daughter grow into a good person. I don't know that her leaving is about money. I'm sure she enjoys her new lifestyle, but it may be that at her age and losing her mom, she just really needs her aunt in her life.

I have never been a big fan of social "adolescence" and my kids were given responsibility for their lives and their choices as soon as they demonstrated competence. At 14 they were all making their own decisions about their educations and were expected to let me know if they were sleeping somewhere else and be home fairly early otherwise because my day starts early and I didn't want to be kept up or awakened. They were able to make their own plans as long as they remembered that they were not free to make my plans (i.e., if you TELL me you are going to Chicago with your friend, it better not involve me driving anywhere or paying for anything or you taking my car - if you need to involve me, you ASK.)

Anyway, my point is that society may be telling you that it is not yet time for you and your daughter to start having your own lives, but it seems ok to me. My "kids" (in their 20s) are still very close to us. Just keep the communication open.

Tillie, that is a good idea to reuse old towels.

I use my old towels, etc for the baby goats. Last winter I almost donated a bunch because I thought I had too many, but then I had two newborns that needed to come inside and realized how fast I go through them when that happens. If they had been triplets I would have been caught doing laundry in the middle of the night!

Anony, I hope your friend showed up with a good explanation! 4 hours is crazy.

I am working on remembering my own container for leftovers, but it embarrasses my family. Usually if dh gets take out it is last minute on his way home from work. He would never take in his own container anyway, he thinks it's too weird. He is still adjusting to the "no trash service" system. Next I want him to get in the habit of buying meat from the butcher in paper instead of grabbing a styrofoam tray from the shelf.

CM, hooray for progress! I am crossing my fingers for your van!

I worked in my studio yesterday. It is a disaster. There is too much stuff everywhere and it is disorganized and I don't have room to work and can't find anything. It was frustrating, but also a reminder of how far I have come, because ten years ago it would have felt normal and my entire house was like that.

I have a sale on the 19th, and even though I know it would save me time, I can't take time out right now to really clean out and organize because it would take way more time than it would save over the next two weeks. I am going to try to decrease the level if entropy as I go however. There is one shelf that I need to use today and I will begin by cleaning it off and getting it in order. I also have a work surface to clear off because yesterday I was working on the floor. Those two areas will pay off in saved time before the sale.

Welcome Ebunny! I am so sorry about your father. This must be so upsetting for you. And I am sure you are struggling with him every step of the way. I am sure you never expected that you'd have to argue that a decades old bottle of condiments needs to be tossed. I am so sorry about this.

Tillie and Anony--thank you for the reminder that animals need our old towels and sheets.

Just checking in. Went to sleep early last night.

Welcome, Ebunny (I like your name - I like bunnies!).

It's very difficult to do what you're doing. Your dad is going to feel threatened by it - we hoarders are control freaks by nature even if the things we try to control seem very odd to other people. Try to read up on how hoarders' mental processes work and to do what you have to do as respectfully as possible. I go to a local support group for hoarders and I'll try to find and post some of the guidelines for helping others - although they may apply more to those who are ready to start. Sounds like your dad isn't ready yet.

But it's good that you're doing that with the expired food especially. I lived in a fourplex a few years back and the elderly lady on the end was a delightful person, but we neighbors could see she was having trouble coping. Turns out she had the beginnings of Alzheimer's. She was keeping a lot of expired food, and at least part of the roach problem in our building came from her place. She ended up going into a nursing home and died within a year or two.

---------

Brief update on me - I'm out of the slump of last week (thank the Lord!) and moving along on my quilting. Also preparing for yearly big event of our rabbit rescue - editing the newsletter, gathering things for a poster, and other tasks. And giving our own rabbits some TLC. Trimming their nails, brushing and grooming, etc.

Tillie, love hearing about your work with the cats. I'd love to do something for kitties as well as the bunnies. We have some similar programs where I live. I use my old towels already for the bunnies. But if I find some extra stuff kitties can use, that's certainly a good idea.

My laundry does need to be put away - I too have that issue of the old and the new getting mixed up. The obstacle is the need to clear the floor more so reaching my wardrobe is easier. It's in a tight spot to begin with and often blocked by stuff sitting on the floor.

Still cranking out the embroidered squares for my quilt. I will try to post a picture of the finished quilt top, if the photo feature on here will let me, when I get the squares done and sewn along with the blocks I already have put together in rows.

I'm a little concerned about the battery in my van. It seems to be cranking a little sluggishly in the mornings. Is that because I haven't been driving as much - or because I've already gotten 3-1/2 years out of a 3-year battery? Taking it to be tested tomorrow. If it needs replacing, there goes my money for the window repair. But I'll try not to worry prematurely. I will also start a fund for a battery even if I don't need one right away.

Whatever the van needs, I sure hope it won't interfere with my plans for moving to the closer storage unit in September. This van has certainly been both a blessing and a curse . . .

I just moved into my dad's, along with my boyfriend, last Thursday. My sister and i have known about our parents hoarding, and I myself am what i call a pack rat. Our mother died about 14 months ago, and I really hadn't been in my parent's house much for the last 4 years. A few months ago, My Bf and I, were going to clean out my dad's food pantry (as this was the only place we figure we could clean easiest, and to put a bed for ourselves if we had to move). I did not realize his hoarding including food. I found spices in tins, we used as kids, 4 decades ago, still on shelves. I found a ranch dressing, dated for 19 years ago, that I told my dad to pitch, and he tried stashing it. I went behind him and took anything older than a year past the expiration date with me when I left. That was a 9 hour project, with both of us working at it.

So fast forward to last week. I had a shock, when I was looking for ketchup, and it was the color of A1 steaksauce. Expired 4 years ago. So i checked the rest of the condiments open in the fridge. I HAD to throw 2 out, mold was floating int he italian dressing dated for 13 years ago, and Open Pit, dated for 16 years ago. But everything else is at LEAST years past date, most in the 4-6 year range. And he eats this stuff. I am not going to die of food poisoning, and it will be replaced here in a couple of days. But i am trying to figure out how to do it without traumatizing my dad. Any ideas?

I am also in the process of cleaning and reorganizing the 4 bedrooms and attic full from door to wall, and floor to ceiling, at the rate of about 20 boxes a day. I am good at getting a lot of stuff into as little space as possible. But my dad stands right behind me, breathing in my ear practically, and watches me like a hawk. This is all my mom's stuff I am going through. I keep a nick knack, i want to display or something, to remind me of my mom, and have a box for that sort of thing. But there are hundreds of boxes, of just STUFF, i am not going through right now, it just gets thrown into a STUFF box, with the date on it. He has put a padlock on his bedroom door, and if he finds something he doesn't want me to have, he will put it in his over stuffed bedroom, behind lock and key. Then, when i am done at night, he sits and goes through all the stuff I deem as trash.

Any ideas on how to keep from being discouraged? I find a lot of half filled boxes, so am coming up with lots of empty boxes to help us continue with our move, because i will combine 2 half boxes of saved mail into one, etc etc. I am trying to work on one room at a time, clockwise starting at the door, but at first i had no where to put anything. But as I am emptying up boxes, i started stacking them in the farthest corner from the door, in a small room we cleared out a month or so ago, (mostly by shoving stuff into another room). But I now have a good working area of space to put boxes i fill up, and stack up.

Today, i went and looked in his unattached garage. Was shocked, not sure why, to see again, crammed full to the rafters of stupid crap. Not much useable, or even wanted by anyone, of no value. Old plywood, counters, cans, you name it. And after inspecting the attic with the same results yesterday, I just all hit me today, I am NEVER going to be done! When he dies, this hundred year old house goes to the state for my mom's care. So it needs cleaned out BEFORE he dies. I just get very little help to do any of it (my bf has a bad back), and my sister doesn't care enough to help. I am just so overwhelmed right now, any and all advice appreciated!

Will try to catch up on daily reading later. I'm heading into a deadline. So. About me then.

daughter 1st day of school was yesterday. I thought I would be happy . I am happy for her. But i miss her. I wanted to be the one whom help her grow into a good person.
But somehow money changes everything. And .... uh I guess I'm in a grief over her and my wife both.

I moved all my wife's stuff to storage.
I don't know why. I have the storage till September 30th. And I can a pay a month to month. Her tubs filled with small clutter are still in the basement. But her furniture is in the storage . Her clothes remain in the closets.
I put a a small couch and needed a place to put a small card table. Whatever reservation I have about using her room for gambling . Is i need money. Its not her fault there's no money coming towards this lease we signed. But i need to make enough money to pay the bills . And I'm very good at organizing these games. If i can host 5 games friday sat and sun. Them I make 300 a week plus it pays my foods on those days I eat porter house steak.
well that's that.

Long term
I want to find a boat I can buy for $15,000 on payments and live on it where I don't pay expenses. Or minimal exoenses.
trade my kia soul in for a truck that can haul such a boat.
in that way if it's to hot or cold I can get in the truck or drive to a air conditioned public place during inclement weather.

After I get those .
I'll find property to build a clay home.
I'm very excited about this plan and deluxe in just talking about it than it just as a fantasy in my head.
summer 2018 boat to live on
Winter 2019 truck to travel.
spring 2020 buy property to build clay house on
winter 2021 go on sailing trip during cold winter season

~Hi, all!~
Tillie, as i read your last post i couldnt help but notice the immense enthusiasm you have for helping kitties! I also share that love! Straw is also a really good thing to use for bedding, cuz they can burrow into it, and it dries out better than fabric. Yesterday the black kitty that showed up here a while back let me pet him?! I dont know if he has a home nearby, but i can not bring myself to chase him away. He is spraying my new sofa on my screen porch & inside the house, too...
I was gonna throw another suggestion out there for old or sentimental dishes, etc. This is what ive planned to do, is put them in a pretty mosaic wall?
Also, SubC, i use to bring my own Tupperware for take out? You just have to get there early enough for them to put in it there instead of Styrofoam.
Ive been waiting for 4 hours for my friend to show up to finish the tarp...im not sure what happened.
As overwhelming as my home falling apart is, a part of me is relieved. I cant procrastinate now. The decision is clear i need another home/building. And, the idea of fixing up this trailer is ridiculous, not just laziness....ha ha Im hoping i can do it?! ~♡~I hope you all have an incredible day, full of triumphs & inspiration!~♡~

Good Afternoon Everybody :)

Hi Subclinical :)
Keep on making good comments that motivate and inspire Tatoulia! :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO!!!
HAPPY DANCE :D
Hope that good feeling of accomplishment spurs you on to tackle another spot.
The excess/clutter makes you fell down and anxious and I so wish for you to be free of those feelings. (((HUGS)))

Did a good declutter on some stuff this morning.
Soon it will be Winter.
I volunteer with an organization that helps homeless cats.
We trap, spay/neuter, inoculate and release ferals into an area where humans will feed and look after them.
Some are adopted out to live lives as barn cats.
Some cats are not feral but their humans died, leaving them orphaned.
Some pregnant Mothers are dumped. They and their babies are adopted out to loving homes.
NO cat ever is destroyed unless it is deemed necessary and humane to do so by a Veterinarian.
We have people sign agreements that should they no longer be able to care for the cat they will return it to us.
Anyways...
These cats have needs for bedding.
The ferals have shelters to keep them from freezing to death outside in winter.
All the inside cats need beds too.
I have been dragging out everything and anything that the cats could use.
Have the car trunk more than half filled already.
I'm not done yet, I can do better.
My own cats still have plenty of cat beds/bedding even though they all prefer to sleep in the beds with us.
I still have a quilt and down comforter for my feral visitors.

Here is a challenge to you all...
Try to look through all your towels, rags, rugs, blankets, comforters, quilts, sheets, pillows/pillow cases, wash cloths, dish cloths, table cloths even plastic ones, etc... any thing that could be used to make animal bedding/shelter or used in some way to care for animals.
Then donate it to your local animal shelter.
I can't describe this feeling I get every time I do this but it feels so good to be taking care of these precious animals.

Iced tea clinks!

Getting ready to leave for office. Feeling much cheered by my progress last night!!

Good morning!

Tillie, thank you for sharing that. I know it is silly because it has nothing to do with me, but I feel better now seeing the cups as "used up" serving an important purpose rather than "destroyed".

Tatoulia, I'm glad if anything I say helps. Now if I could just take my own medicine....

Things just keep creeping in on me - my life would be so much easier if I could buy all my food without plastic packaging.

Dh brought home dinner last night. I was glad he didn't get take out because take out containers are my nemesis. He did get quick cooking semi-prepared food that resulted in three plastic pouches to throw "away", but at least I am resigned to their destiny as trash.

Hello ladies! Good to read your posts. Very interesting, Tillie, about your background and rituals and spiritualism. I like it very much.

SubC I thought your observation was just what I needed and I didn't see it as a criticism but rather a comment that gave me pause. You did me a favor and made me look at actually doing something for a change. You helped me immeasurably by writing that today! I cannot thank you enough for your contributions to the board!

Over the years there have been different people on this site and we are all suffering from hoarding, whether first hand or second hand. I have done a very good job on letting go of the emotional attachments to most things. But I still suffer from having too much stuff and inertia. You broke the spell of inertia for me today and for that I am grateful!

I did look at microwave ovens over the weekend and hope to buy one soon. It will force me to get rid of that hazard in my kitchen, I am so afraid of what might be lurking under the giant old oven. I need to get over that.

So today I reclaimed space. And that felt great. Two large bags of trash out and lots and lots of recycling in the bins. The only thing left from the Cleanout is one folder and then I just became saturated and decided I will take care of later. I have put away the shredder and I'm about to put away the vacuum.

Sweet dreams, everyone!

Hello :)

Hi CriticalMass :)
It's wonderful to catch up with you!
WTG! for washing your Winter robe ;D
I sure do understand keeping the Winter clothes close at hand because the weather is subject to change at any time.

Hi Tatoulia :)
WTG! for all that shredding and putting other stuff away in the now empty drawer!
You sure have done a LOT today!
Sleep well (((hug)))

Hi Subclinical :)
Religion/spiritual beliefs...
I am Native American.
There is a ritual where perfectly good dishes are buried with the dead.
Most times these dishes are rendered useless for the living first, broken.
They are now meant only for the dead.
The dead can still use the "essence" of the item but the living can't use them any more.
There is also a ritual where things are burned and their "essence" is carried to the heavens on the smoke.
I feel that I have honored my Native American Ancestor's memories by performing this ritual.

Quarter to seven pm and still 100 degrees out there.
Cats and I are quite comfortable inside with the evaporative cooler running on high. ;D

Tatoulia, that is amazing!

I didn't mean to criticize anyone, I was just observing. I figured you guys are further along than I am (especially porter!) I know Tillie only needs to clean and fight the incursion, I just was commenting on something I noticed. And then letting others know that I was probably taking advantage of it to judge myself by the wrong yardstick.

I used to have laundry everywhere too. Having fewer clothes and sheets helps - I have to wash more often, but there is less to pile up. Also, dh made a "no laundry baskets left in the bedroom" rule.

CM, good to see you back! I am still excited about the quilt.

Tillie, stay safe and try to keep cool!

I have to confess that I have a problem with your tea cup solution. It is my problem, and I understand your horror at the idea of someone hoarding your tea cups. But I have a really hard time with needless destruction and waste. I am always trying to find ways that something can continue to be a good thing in the world. (Sometimes too hard.)

If you were here, I might have suggested taking the tea cups to the "store" I take some things to - they give people aging out of foster care vouchers to "shop" and set up first apartments. I'm guessing you would be ok with the idea of some young woman in need using your tea cups in her first home.

Anyway, it's just me, and your solution is yours, but I felt like I had to speak my truth to move on. I hope that is ok.

As for saving the world - I think if you are fighting hoarding the absolute best thing you can do to save the world is to avoid as much as possible accepting anything you don't need!

I painted for four and a half hours today. I am exhausted.

I have shredded papers til the shredder overheated. Recycling is out and one trash bag is out. To stop from going crazy, I washed a few things by hand. It's an illness. SubC, I used to do laundry all the time but never folded and never put away and there'd be piles of it all over bedroom to point where I couldn't see the top of my dresser and the chair was unusable. Then of course the inevitable/clean getting mixed with dirty, then I'd start washing all of it all over again. I used to have to keep my drapes shut in the off chance anyone could see all the stuff covering my floors.

I put two boxes of ornaments in the lower drawer and I've put the two boxes in the bin out back . The upper drawer had the stuff that for now I am keeping. I'm shredding it all including all house purchase docs, found a million manuals for stuff I don't even own anymore (into recycling bin)

I am perspiring but need to do a few more thing before taking shower. For example, kitty's box needs some changing.

Thank you everyone for standing by my side. It's tough and I thank you. I know I'm posting a lot but it helps me!!

Cm!!! Good to hear from you! I bet your quilt is looking beautiful.

With SubC as the inspiration, I have started to shred old files today. SubC, you helped me realize I'm not making true progress! Thank you! I have two file cabinets in my closet and I once started but never finished getting rid of old papers. I'm even thinking if I get one drawer cleaned out, maybe my Christmas stuff (sitting in a corner in boxes) could fit in!!!!!


So that's how today is going--Great! I did dust and vacuum bedroom too!

Whew! I'm back!

I got the rest of July's posts read, and I'm a bit more with it as well. So my responses encompass things you all have posted since the 16th.

Anony - what a wild ride for you with the housing situation! I hope you are able to get something put together that you really like and that works out for the cats too. In the meantime, do be safe on that roof - I hope your phone is working and you have it in your pocket just in case, but let's hope of course that you don't take a tumble and need 911!

I enjoy looking at tiny houses; don't know if I could do it, but I like the cozy feel. Brings back memories of camping as a teenager in our travel trailer with Mom & Dad and - bonus points - sometimes aunts, uncles and cousins. As an only child I was thrilled to have that time with my cousins.

SubC, hope you are recovering from your "bug" of whatever sort. That remark of your husband's "For or against?" made me laugh. I'm sure someone could ask the same of me! I hope your depression is lifting too. I had some sort of slump too last week. Seemed like there were a lot of sad things in the news, which I sometimes have to avoid or it'll pull me down. I just pray for the world and the people I know having struggles, and try to let go, but sometimes it gets stuck in my mind and letting go is harder.

I enjoyed your state fair conversation. We used to go every year to Hutchinson for the Kansas State Fair, especially when my grandma was still living. She entered her crocheting and embroidery and won a few ribbons. My favorite thing of course was the rabbit building. And domestic arts and any of the buildings where you could buy stuff or pick up free stuff, naturally! I used to love acquiring so much stuff! I think now I could resist most if not all of it.

I don't know if this would help you with any of your crafty stuff, or anyone else with papers but did I ever mention my tablet app called FastScanner? It's for Android but I'm sure there are iPad equivalents. You can take a picture of a document and it'll make a PDF. I use it for all sorts of things. Or even just a regular JPEG picture with the camera in some cases. It gets me to not keep nearly as much written material. I use it for things like the instructions on a package of something I bought, for instance, instead of keeping the packaging. Or for handouts, pamphlets, etc.

Speaking of which, Tillie, thanks for posting that about trash being sorted even by the regular trash service. I would like to recycle a few things but our city doesn't have public recycling bins anymore. The Dillon's stores had 10 of them, and people dumped all kinds of crap, so that ended that. :( Here it's $5.00 extra to have a curbside bin. Maybe when I get caught up moneywise. I'm following the principle of "overcome the hoarding first, save the planet later" for now.

Tatoulia, do you paint or do artwork of your own or are you mainly a collector? I probably asked this already, bear with me! I was thinking, if you did do your own art and still wanted to, maybe just do smaller pieces or a sketchbook. I recently got a new portfolio for some of my stuff because the old one was coming apart. I hope, when I have my own place, to construct or buy some simple vertical storage racks.

Our moms sound similar - mine was introverted too, though sometimes the nursing home people could get her to go to an activity. But her blindness made it harder to do some things. I sometimes took my keyboard and played music for her.

Porter, I bet you are in a state of hyperfocus when you are cleaning! I like the clockwise spiral approach and will probably steal that idea for some of my own. I was thinking of marking off a square foot or two at a time, but clockwise might actually work better in my small spaces. Keep on keepin' on!

I like the idea of basic dishes. When I get my own place I may just do white Corelle, and lots of clear glass. Tillie, your solution for your heirloom dishes was unique but I get the point! We do tend to sort of worship dishes too much in this culture. There should be a Museum of Dishes that anyone who wants to could make a pilgrimage to, so we wouldn't all feel the need to be curators of our own ancestral shrines of them. LOL!

As for me, I went through a slump last week that was part fatigue and part emotions I suppose. The weather had been beastly hot, 100+. Then we got rain late in the week and temps have been in the 80s and skies overcast - quite tolerable for late July. I'm doing laundry - my winter robe is in the load! Around here, temps year round are so changeable, a person often hesitates to put away one season's clothes too soon, so I found that robe hiding and it'll get hung back up for winter now! Better late than never.

Still on my quilt pieces, embroidering - I'm on No. 21 of 42. They're small and simple. Should be putting the quilt top together in the month of August. Stay tuned.

Summer really is flying by; the days are getting dark noticeably earlier. But the moon has been so pretty lately. And I understand we have an eclipse to watch sometime this month. That should be fun. I also stumbled across NASA's site for how to spot the International Space Station flying over from your area. GEEK THRILLS! ;)

Till next time, which will be sooner than it has been lately. Take care all - drink clinks - sometimes mine is just boring old water . . . but I like it.

Tillie! So good to hear from you! I've been worried about you with the heat.

I love your idea re the teacups and having the kitties enjoy the saucers. I know I need to reduce. I need to do a lot of things. Glad to have you all here.

I am going to vacuum today and I know I'll feel better once I do. I can feel the hot/humid weather will be here this week.

When I went to get my sheets out of the dryer the person still hadn't used the washer--so frustrating--I could have done another load in that time. I need patience. I'll use it on Wednesday when I'm home.

Take care dear Tillie.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Porter :)
I like those 3M scratch pads too.
They can do a lot of different jobs.
I cut mine into 4 strips to fit my small hands.
WAY TO GO! for keeping your home a nice place for you to entertain and play in :D

Hi Anonymoniker :)
I don't know what to say...
At this point a tarp covered cardboard box sounds like a better living situation.
((((((HUGS))))))

Hi Subclinical :)
Happy you are starting to feel a little better :D
Here we focus not only on cleaning but on whatever the person's needs are.
If you are ready to start decluttering more/faster, we will help you focus on that.
The cleaning and maintaining clear & clean areas is the final step after all the sorting and decluttering.
Since people are working alone on these projects the going is slower. Room by room, area by area.
So keeping from just shuffling things from one spot to the next, we say to clean the clear area and try real hard to keep it from becoming a dumping ground.
So, whenever you are ready to declutter just let us know and we will all help you :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
I like how you are laundry obsessed. I am always doing laundry too because I would hate to have it pile up and I like it all to be fresh.
Decluttering is like peeling an onion layer by layer.
First time through we get out the stuff that's easier to decide on.
Once that stuff is out of the way we start to get to harder decisions.
As we keep up with evaluating our possessions, keep/toss/donate/sell, we start to have a change in our thought processes.
Some things we thought were something to keep forever start to lose their hold on us.
We start to define who we are now and are able to let the past ideals go.
We are no longer the person we were 20 or so years ago.
We have evolved. (((hugs)))

When my Granma died in 1985 I inherited her dishes.
This set is a lot older then I am.
I have many fond memories of my Grandparents and other Dear family members using these dishes daily.
I have used these dishes daily ever since I got them.
Well, I am old now and have nobody to pass them down to.
I never used the cups and decided to let them go so nobody would have to deal with them after I'm gone.
But if I donate or sell them I worried that someone would just disrespect them and keep them dirty in a hoard somewhere, or worse.
Problem solved! I used my hammer on them. Buried the pieces in a shallow grave.
All along having happy thoughts about all the tea we all drank from them.
Did this just this past week. Took a long time to come to this decision.
The cats are still using the matching saucers. ;D

Deadly heatwave this week here.
Yesterday watered everything real good.
No plans to go anywhere until this is over with.
:D

Yes I'm obsessed with laundry. I got one load done but then I could hear some rustling upstairs and when I went back down, someone had placed their laundry basket in front of the machine. So I took my stuff out and put in dryer but didn't put in second load. I was hoping to get three loads done today. Home Wednesday and Thursday so I'll have to try again.

Oh your husband just cracked me up!!! Good to laugh at it.

Very good point, SubC re the cleaning. My major issues right now are cleaning the dirt AND doing a third pass st getting rid of stuff. When I first found this site I got rid of lots and lots. Duplicates, stuff I was keeping 'Justin Case' and that sort of thing. Second pass included stuff I previously wasn't able to let go due to emotional attachments, etc. I do try to keep a bag of donations going at all times. I keep thinking at this point if I could just get it clean it would help me with the removal of more stuff. I've pared down my books considerably but still too much stuff.

So I'm stuck in this place where I'm making, truth be told, no real progress anywhere. I'm maintaining the areas such as bedroom. But the rest I just step over, think about, and ignore.

I need to think and act. It's a pigsty in here.

Hi all.

Throat is mostly better, energy level is a little better. Aches and pains, wondering if I'm dealing with a mild case of mono. (Read that it can range from severe to asymptomatic)

Wishing I had some good solution for Anony, that living situation sounds very hard.

Mil brought me a little dresser to add to my hoard. It is currently in the basement waiting for me to return to purging and organizing.

I am noticing that a lot of the focus here is on cleaning. Sometimes I wonder if I focus on cleaning and organizing as a distraction - "if I can just make it look good, I don't have too much stuff."? I still have too much stuff.

Dh saw my screen last night and he said "are you reading a hoarding site?" I said "I'm participating in a hoarding support group." And he asked " for, or against?"

Anony how distressing wish i had your answer.i had a large hole in my dinning room and we were getting all sorts of stuff that was not to be getting from outside to inside.
I couldn't keep water from seeping .
but i just had a tarp on the floor and a large tub to catch it.

but i eventually got tired of the wind coming through and stuffed the hole 4x6 foot with plastic grocery bags between the joists and other things .
then got strong masking tape and taped them in long strip overlapping them till they were in a 6x6 bandaid.and carefully put it over the hole.
It was not a fix. But it kept all the rotten wood insular ions and other junk that accumulation there for 100 years. Into that area. It was impossible keep the house heated with such allarge hole so I made a temp barrier .


My cleaning tips for the week .
I use scratch pads on my glass plates. I buy 3M. Two kinds
green for glass and metal and blue for non stick and plastics.
I cut each pad into three strips.
then as it wears out cut each strip into 3 pieces
every trash day I throw out one of the pieces.
Before I do I find the worst mess the requires a scratch pad .
a mess that will ruin the the pad. So that's when I use it a b d then toss. I've been doing this for a about year.
I've even used the non scratch pads on my car to get tar off.
and on shovels to keep them in good condition.

Cheese seems to be the worst for ending a scratch pad from the sink. And I started dedicating those for cleaning out trash bins that have mold in them .

when my wife became ill. She only had energy to work and come home and sleep. I have never been the housekeeper. Forgive me that expression . When i had to step up and do it all. I realized that was very lazy. I mean i knew. But i didn't realize how much i was neglecting . And how difficult it would be to get it all done. Before i could just clean in a routine way. I finally settled on the all completed method i described in the last post. In that way i wasn't having to manage tasks . i do have check lists. But t g ey were more helpful getting the tasks out of the way that too big to considered weekly cleaning.

At first I still had about 60 things on the list . But after three weeks of spiraling from area to area the task l I at dwindled to 25 and by week 5 was gone.

Of course it was helpful to move into a clean slate.
and purge alot before it had the chance to become a deep unorganized hoard.

So now it's the little things .
Like getting under the fridge.
behind the stove.
Thing is since I'm not cooking 3 days a week.
and I'm grilling outside 2 days a week.
Cleaning the kitchen happens mostly Instantaneously as I go. So when I spiral into the kitchen I get to spend more time working towards perfection cleaning.

that's a extremely far cry from whom I was 3 years ago.
but then I could come home and find 30 dried on pots pad and plates and bowls piled in the filled with food. Whish is a departure from the way the kitchen is used now.

i also unplug the refrigerator. For about 8 hours a day.
and that's while im running the air conditioning.
Keeps the electric bill low.
i keep freezer items in a cooler inside the freezer.
and those frozen plastic ice packs in the cooler.
if i never open the door sometime the ice tray is still frozen solid.
I live so close to the grocery store of major chain. I try to keep nothing in the fridge except on Thurs fri and sat.
.
with line of strategy. The bare minimum fridge is very easy to clean. The microwave is easy to clean because I have one of those steamy things that creates moisture. And since I clean it once a week it's a minor chore.
Leaving the stove. Oh god the stove is a stove.
sometime I skip it and move on. Because i don't bake very much. And grill my meats outside. Mostly the stove top and clean immediately as I go.

so then it's time for the floor. Thats where most of the scratch pads go to die. My wet vac is positioned between the car and the kitch. I fill the sink with my cleaning liquids.
And bail out the waters on the floor as needed. As I mop.
I use a squeegee to collect dirty water towards the wet vac and suck up the floor water. Then use a towel to finnish drying up the floor. So that non of the water or dirt the water loosened remains.
I spray the sanitizer bleach water. 1 cap of bleach in 1 gallon of water and pour into spray bottle. Thats what I spray on the counters and the floors. .
windows and doors open to vent.

Basically we may eat of any surface in the kitchen.
I use the same techniques in the bathroom but never eat the the bathroom. Unless offered a 10,000. Clean is clean im not crazy.

well that all for now. Thats how I use the scratch pads .
cleans dishes, refrigerator, microwave, stove, and floor.
the grill and bathrooms. Other tables in the house.
Pads Seem like such a minor thing but it's like the glue that keeps me on track...

I think I may skip the whole spiral clean next week. And revisit my art supplies I set up for my daughter. I think I would enjoy making givingv it more functionality.

I'm so stuck on adobe concept and the flying bike.
but realized its the tools that create them that I need to focus on.
So its nice to have an engineer and an architect as long term friends to have conversations with. But if it's not in a drawing my verbal skill aren't quite articulate enough to get down to what matters. . where the art I can point right to it.

Good morning! Have done the dishes and changed my sheets. Doing a little worrying about washing tomorrow--hoping washer hog is still MIA. Seeing seamstress today for drape project. The fabrics heavy and I need to carry to my car. Going to bring mom with me as it will be a nice ride and she enjoys running errands. She won't be able to do the stairs in the woman's home but the woman said we can talk by the car.

I hope to do a little around here before jumping in the shower.

Anony/-that sounds so scary. I'm so happy you are trying to keep your sense of humor. Good idea re writing down your contacts from your phone! I too don't want to change phones and despite being eligible for an upgrade for nearly two years, I want to see his long I can keep this one! Please stay safe and be careful. Of course I worry.

SubC, Tillie is right. Stressful times generally signal an illness for me. Congratulations for getting through the visit and rest as much as you can.

Tillie, the weather is not cooperating with you. Iced tea is likely your best defense right now. I also find watermelon very cooling. It has been cool here. Yesterday had done humidity and the walk home from work was taxing. Today back to low humidity.

Big social day yesterday. I met a friend for lunch and a different friend for dinner. Good to spend some time out like that. In between I did manage to stop by mom's with some dinner for her. Today was brother day and it went very well. I fell asleep once I came home. BF is working tonight. I think I should do some puttering!

~Hello, Happy Homers!~
Yesterday, we had hard winds, then a huge rainstorm, so i was battling with my partial tarp-roof, then rain poured into the livingroom onto my music cds, bringing disgusting insulation & filth from inside the ceiling all into the cases of my favorite music. Its a battle of balancing what is left of the integrity of the roof every time i walk across it to work on the tarp, and it letting in more rain. Then my phone started wigging out, saying the wrong time, then wrong day & year, etc., so i had to write down everyone's contact numbers & emails, etc., in case it breaks completely....i dont know how most people love to get a new phone, because that is an enormous stress for me!!! Way worse than my house leaking...unless the ceiling caves in...thatd be scarier than a new phone...i know im weird...ha ha
SubC, the electric & plumbing for an earth bag building is a good question? Hopefully, its not too tricky?
....im just trying to remember to be grateful for having a home with most of its roof & walls there, and having food & a car & some money & my kitties & people that can help....and all of y'all's kind words & support & suggestions...♡

Good Morning Everybody :)
"CLINK!"

Hi Subclinical :)
Happy the inlaw visit went well.
Stress lowers our resistance to illnesses.
Please take the time you need to rest and recuperate. (((hug)))

Hi CriticalMass :)
Hang in there and keep treading (((HUG000

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Good luck and best wishes with your plans! :D

Hi Porter :)
Wonderful to hear all about how things are going there.
At the age your daughter is even if she were living with you, you would hardly ever see her.
At this age socializing with peers and establishing their own individual identity, separate from their parents, is most common behavior.
Are you still dreaming about taking off on that boat? ;D

Hi Tatoulia :)

Extended weather forecast for the entire next week is temperatures well above 100 degrees daily. :(

Porter, I'm really glad you are doing so well!

Anony, I googled earthbag homes. That is very cool! What will you do for plumbing/electric? Do you live where heating or cooling are an issue?

My in laws are gone. The visit was ok. My older dd and her dh were kind enough to come to dinner last night and provide entertainment.

Mil took two of my disposable containers full of leftovers and she says she can recycle them. Score!

I feel better emotionally, but now I am sick. It feels like the beginning of laryngitis.

Hi all .
I think last time I checked in I was reading so n e thing Joan was saying about family. About how wether she lives or dies changes their circumstances. About how they treat her more according to their circumstances than to in what way she may need support. Its been on my mind.

My wife family still won't let me see my wife.
It's so weird. I'm at a loss as to how we were a family and suddenly were not... im still paying the bills . Hard to ignore the bills. Only 9 months to go before I can move again .
my daughter stays in contact. But i can tell she's adjusting to her new lifestyle with her aunt. Theres no money stuggles. Her aunt never says no . Or makes her earn privileges. I can sense that about her I what she talks about.
I know she's happy. For that I'm glad, but as her parent I worry about how she'll be when her aunt is no longer there to make life so easy. My experience is so opposite, and I was so unhappy and alone. Its hard for me to understand sometimes what's it must be like to not struggle.
I do struggle . Even when things are routine I struggle.

So I can appricate my sis in law making a life for my daughter to focus only on study and not on the other struggles life can throw and hit us with.

I've been keeping busy. And losing a little weight .
I'm so settled into my fasting menu that i don't have to guess or think about it. But it means I sleep alot.
4 days I eat normally and the three fasting days a week I sleep from time I get home to time I go back to work.

How does that apply or be relevant to this board.
well. Since I sleep through 3 days. It makes less routinely cleaning. I don't make mess i mean just a towel and an outfit in the hamper.
So that leaves Tues and Thurs as active days.
and Friday and Saturday as active days.

I moved everthing i fo that makes mess i to a checklist on my phone. I grill on Fri and sat. So Thursday is my big day
even if i do nothing all week i can get my house in order almost to the point of minimalism. On Thursday when i have alot of food energy.

something deep inside me is fighting to keep up on the ckeaning. I used to be such a hoarder ckeaning almost never happened. Just tidy or straighten. But i couldn't get under thing to do very much cleaning. Now that it's me myself and i . I've arranged furniture in ways that make cleaning efficient.
However something I can't quiet wrap my head around or understand is why I get overwhelmed with feelings and distractions. See I dont clean just clean what needs cleaned but I clean everything and that includes what needs cleaned.. when i try to focus only on the unclean i get off track and put off and procrastinate. But when i use my personal approach. I have strong confidence in accomplishing it all to the all completed status.

my personal approach is the clockwise method.
my home can be thought of as a clockwise spiral.

and as it winds inward from room to room. I also clean each room in the clockwise pattern. In this way it includes everything. Skips nothing. No chance to abandon or neglect clutter. As move from room to room i have a cart. It holds 8 large tubs and as i move from room to room downstairs it gives space to collect what needs to go out to other places.
The tubs i have are labeled.
Basement, bedrooms, yard, car, kitchen, bathroom, supplies, OPP. It seems to work in the vein as a little mess is ok but alot is unacceptable. The cart is the only thing out of place and the house is normal and minimalistic. It used to take week to get through each and every area. Now only 5 hours.
I think because I'm so on top of it.
Back porch, yard, car, front porch, living room, dinning room, kitchen, bathroom, dressing room laundry, basement, closets, bedrooms.
What I get help with is washing dishes .
my mom offered to help me clean my house. I cannot tell you how happy I was when my mother in law was no longer in my daily life. But the thought of allowing my mother back into my daily life makes want to primal scream.
But i do want to keep things in check. I give her my sunday clothes and my flatware. It makes her happy and I have less to do . So don't judge me! Lol.
that only leave my work clothes and my glasses and plates.
I only have large beer mugs. This is what I can fit my hand into. And I story them in the freezer. I get no complaints from anyone . And for those whom have trouble with the large mugs I have Styrofoam cups. I just throw way.
leaves only my pyrex bowls and pie plates. Because they are glass I see wether they are spotless or not. If one breaks I can replace at $3 . My dishes aren't beautiful, but they are clean enough to pass any thorough inspection.
I've spent only $6 on replacements and have 24 of each bowl, pie plate, and sauce cup.

My weekends are now filled with card games.
Its very efficient to clean up after. When im done i lite a cinnamon candle in the kitchen and a coconut candle in the bathroom. .

I'm sorry i haven't been posting latley. I'm sort of not as stressed and needing to vent and seek support.
So I don't feel compelled to seek the support. But i know my history. I may doing well now. For the last 5 weeks ive been in complete control and getting to the point of all completed. But for the last 35 years I have been a hoarder and rarely cleaning . So I know it might be wise not to go off too long from my peers.
So I happy to say I'm doing well on my own. Not financially. But as far as keeping house . I doing very well for now.

Thanks for the drive-by, CM. Keep treading--right by your side. Anony, glad that your ideas are starting to crystallize!

~A Happy Hello to all!~
CM, i dont know what kind of 'treading water' youre doing, but i hope things stabilize soon?!
SubC, i am quite certain your food bank can manage without you for one day! Take care of your needs! And all the best with the inlaws?!
~Thank you all for you suggestions & support!!!~
Im pretty sure im not going to take my friend's trailer. Instead im just going to focus on doing a small earth bag home(thats my plan for now) and my friend who helped me with the tarping i will hire to help build the earth bag home! Ive got an ozonator inside for the mold, etc. and it should be fine till i get the new building! Im excited! Earth bag homes are cheap, strong & go up quickly! This feels much better than messing with bringing another trailer here. Thank y'all for your encouragement about making that decision! Im feeling very inspired & enthused & relieved! :D
~♡~I hope everyone has a fabulous day!~♡~

Right now just treading water... Hope everyone is okay.

Sending you support from afar. Remember YOU need YOU too. Sending you much love, SubC.

Anony, I am glad your house is wrapped and that things went well with your friend! Maybe she can help some more. Support is good.

I skipped the food bank and my class yesterday.

I have a make up today. I want to go. Mostly because if I don't go I will be home when my inlaws arrive. the motivation to avoid them is the first thing all week that has pushed through the apathy.

I also skipped the food bank. Dh said "but they need you at the food bank." And I cried.

Hi :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Happy you like his brand of humor. :D
Glad it's got the tarp on keeping out the rain.
Spray something stinky like ammonia on the tarp to deter the cats.
Keep doing what you have been doing concerning your life & home.
You spend a lot of time thinking about and evaluating things and finally come to the conclusion as to what is best for you.
Don't stop, you know yourself better than anyone (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO!!!! for sweeping that kitchen floor! :D
I keep the teeny tiny kitchen & bathroom floors here "OK" by sweeping daily (tracked kitty litter) and spot cleaning up anything that gets on them.
Sure, they could stand a good old fashioned scrubbing/mopping right now but they are not mortifying. ;)

nice video

I like this Lady and think she would fit in well here on the message board.
Even younger people could gain a bit of knowledge/insight from her.

Congratulations, Anony! Good to hear that the friend's help was a blessing! I hope the tarp holds! My two cents is unless you can live in the trailer, you should skip it. Trust your instincts--

Tillie--we have been having easy, cool weather here. I don't even mind the rain. I wish I could sweep up your humidity!

Thank you for the mortification scale and I've given it some thought. It's my floors. It's the dust in the corners and the dirt. Today I duds weep the kitchen which was huge for me. Since the washer is in the kitchen, I concentrated on that. I would love to do something re bathroom floor. It is mortifying.

I'll report back later.

Hey there?! Coffee clinks to all! :D
Tillie, i LOVE JP Sears! He is absolutely hilarious! And your 'mortification scale' plan sounds both funny & effective!
Tatoulia, im glad you have a washer to use till yours is fixed!
SubC, i have had that exact conversation with other people about me killing raccoons, when they were killing my cats! Good for you!
Sooo much is happening at once! My trailer is now covered by a tarp & its funny, cuz several windows are covered, making it darker inside, which oddly, makes me not see the mess in here as well, so its kind of soothing...how is that for weird?! HA! One concern i have is that my cats will scratch up the tarp, causing rain to come through, etc?!! The other thing that just came up is my friend who is moving in with her new boyfriend(after knowing him for about 2 weeks!!), has offered me her travel trailer, which is much nicer than any of mine. The thing is, im not sure i want to bring yet another trailer out here? After my years of acquiring so much stuff, im very...um...phobic(?) of any more stuff coming here...i know that isnt standard hoarder thinking, but its like a reaction from all of those years? The other thing is i dont know if i want to take on anything to take my time, energy, decisions, expenses and more adjustments, in addition to trying to build a house? As far as my other friend working out here, she was wonderful about it!!! She has been a total blessing!!! If she was horrified,she didnt express it...at least to me...ha ha The night before she came, i couldnt sleep, had awful diarrhea & was rally nervous, but it was fine! Great, actually! ...im soooo bad about changes....especially with my home....?!?!?

Good Morning Everybody :)
Ice tea :CLINK!:

Hi Subclinical :)
WTG! for pushing through and doing what you can.
I really hope this dark cloud passes quickly for you (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
So glad the building's washer has been available for you.
You have always been so good at keeping up with the laundry.
Please do not allow seeing your home through someone else's eyes to get you down.
Use this time as a way to reevaluate.
I always use the "mortification" scale.
As in "What would I be most "mortified" to have an unexpected visitor see about my home" and then I take care of that issue first to help reduce my anxiety and motivate me. (((HUGS)))

The weather these past few weeks has really sapped my energy and motivation.
So many things I should, could, would do...
But I know if I push it I will just be making myself sick.
So I will continue on doing the "necessities" for now.
The yardwork and harder housework will get done someday.
But for now I continue to just tidy up, do cat care related tasks, laundry and wait out the Summer extremes. :D
Thank goodness for Netflix, Youtube videos, freezer pops and my evaporative cooler.

I've washed two more loads in our big washer. I hope that it continues to be free on the days I am home until mine is fixed. I also hope that we are able to fix mine.

I'm working and drinking lots of water to keep myself motivated today. I need to putter tonight!

SubC I am so sorry about your depression. We are here for you if you need to talk.

I have a lot of good options in the next few weeks regarding my washer. I will use them all, I am sure. If no one is using ours today I think I'll do a quick load.

I'm going to work on house today. After work, I'll put on some puttering music. Yesterday was an eye-opener.

Iced tea clinks to all.

Oh no tatoulia. I'm sorry about your washer, but glad you got your laundry done.

The depression is bad this week. I am fighting it. Yesterday I almost kept up with the dishes.

So far today I made dh breakfast and packed lunches for dh and dd. So today is pretty good.

I'm not sure I can face going to the food bank this evening though.

I have a class this afternoon. I am planning to go. Also to be on time. I was late Tuesday. I am almost never late.

Okay I washed my sheets downstairs--nice, big clean washer. I am drying them up here. Usually one of the guys upstairs uses the washer all day and leaves his stuff in there for hours on end. But I haven't seen him in a while (not unusual) and I haven't heard his dog upstairs, AND his boyfriend sent me an email this weekend saying asking me to do something while he was out of town so I'm wondering if they broke up. They've been together a very long time, decades, so I'm not sure. But it was easy using the washer and I may run another load when I'm home tomorrow.

I just don't like one particular set of neighbors o know my business. They are a little insistent on stuff and so I try as much as possible to keep to myself here. I'm pleasant and willing to help out, I just don't want people stopping by. But I guess you must have known that.

Years ago there were a lot of young people in the building and I was young then too, and we used to have dinner parties at my house at least once a month. Either my downstairs neighbor or one of the upstairs neighbors would do the cooking here and we'd laugh and gab all night.

Well the washer isn't fixed and he doesn't really know what to say, but as he was leaving my boyfriend called and he had someone in his office who knew about washers, and the guy spoke with my person, and I've ordered another part. The repair guy is on vacation starting tomorrow, but the part won't be delivered by Amazon until August 2 at the earliest, so I will not fret about this now.

I am going to have to make some decisions re where to do laundry. We do have free downstairs but I never use it and I feel funny going down there. I can't explain it.

Oh well I lived through this.

Thank you for the support, SubC & Tillie. he is here now and I'm trying not to be anxious. I just want it to be fixed and I can go about my life doing laundry. He is putting in the part and we are both hoping that I've diagnosed it correctly; otherwise he's going to have to try to figure it out. A little concerned that he didn't want the power cut to the washer. It I'm sure he's unplugged it. Oh boy.

Kitty is under the bed.

Tillie it has been very low humidity here and very autumnal due to lots of rain. Today is sunshine and cool. Boy I love this weather.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
I know that feeling (((HUGS)))
Try to remember the repair man is there to do a job and earn a paycheck, has seen worse, doesn't care just as long as he can get to what he needs to, to do his job.
And my fingers are crossed that this repair can be a fast & easy one. ;)

Hi Subclinical :)
WAY TO GO! with the one in/one out magazine! :D
Happy you enjoyed that video. :)

Was going to do some watering this morning but looked around and the flowers are ok, don't need water yet.
So am doing some laundry right now then later will water the trees and lilac bushes.
Happy that the lower temps and higher humidity is making my watering schedule easier on me. :D

Today I'm inclined to fool around on the Internet. I'll get moving soon though. My mom called and derailed my morning - not that I put up any resistance, I enjoy talking with her.

If you arable to sweep, don't worry about the repairman. Your house is fine!

I would needs clean up for at least half an hour before I could sweep downstairs.

I hope he can fix everything!

Ok I can either fool around in the internet or do some cleaning. Not as simple as it sounds. Just swept kitchen. Going to chest the counters. Then sweep hallway. Then we shall see.

Hello everyone!

I did nothing to prepare for plumber/electrician today and I cannot believe how simply awful my house is. I'm going to put some time in on the kitchen, since that's where my washer is. I really hope he's able to fix it. It's on a five year limited warranty and it's under five years but as I read through it, it appears I'm responsible for labor. So I'll see if my guy can fix it before invoking the warranty.

Very embarrassing to look at kitchen and house with fresh eyes today.

I loved "if meat eaters acted like vegans" (I'm a vegetarian, but not an evangelist. Although I did get up in somebody's face a little while ago and ask if she was a vegetarian when she went off about me killing the raccoons - she was not.)

The new issue of the magazine arrived yesterday and I recycled the old issue!

Sorry, here is a clickable link

clickable link

This is another Youtube poster that I enjoy just because I find him to be very funny. ;P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-mju_gW3c8