Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Subclinical :)
Wishing you good luck with the 20 hour challenge! :D
Seems very reasonable and not too overwhelming to strive for 20 hours in January.
Even if you fall short, you will still be ahead. ;)

Hi Porter :)
The way to become a better cook is to find easy recipes and make them.
Experiment with adding your own "special secret" ingredients to make them tastier.
Tasty, nutritious home cooking comes from practice, practice, practice.

Hi Tatoulia :)
WTG! for putting the candy down! ;D
Glad you will have a fresh clean blanket to add to your bed tonight.
Weather forecast is saying the East will now get super cold.

Everybody stay warm and stay safe. ((((HUGS))))

My biggest dietary problem is "C" foods...
Cookies, candies, cakes, chips...
Other than that I am happy eating a vast variety of fresh healthy foods.
When I am cutting back on eating, I find a handful of unsalted nuts satisfies my hunger and stabilizes my blood sugars.
Today I will apply coat two of paint in the kitchen.
Yes, there is a very slight difference in the paint since the kitchen was painted many years ago even though I'm using the same leftover paint to cover this area.
But I can live with it and it won't take long for the fresh paint to age/cure into the background.
I am striving for "good enough" not perfection. ;D
Using what I already have costs nothing but time and effort and the payback I am getting out of this is priceless.

Hello CriticalMass :D
Hello Anonymoniker :D
Hello Joan :D
Hello anyone I missed ;D

SubC you did really well! Remember that home made soup is much much better for you (less sodium, more goodness) and I hope you'll try fasting again. Good work on sorting your pots. It's a good time of year to take s fresh look at things.

I'm going to finish getting ready for work and gather up the garbage and get going.

Ttyl!

I ended up eating a bowl of homemade soup and a big handful of pita chips with dh at about 23 hours. Then I had two cookies. Then I stopped myself and went to bed.

Porter, you have out far more thought into this than I! I just know it is hard for me to eat lightly and in a healthy manner all day and easier to postpone eating completely. Especially at the beginning of the day.. but if I fast too long my metabolism shifts down, which is bad since I am trying to lose weight.

Fasting on a day when I am busy and distracted seemed like a good jump start. My weight is down this morning, but I know that it is mostly because my digestive tract is empty. Today I will focus on healthy foods.

I spread out my pots and looked them over last night. Just for general impressions.They range from things I am very pleased with to things that turned out very badly. Some in the middle (nothing wrong with it except that I don't really like it) are worth adding to my sales inventory. I will try to make decisions this weekend.

Also, I have signed up for anothe4 challenge to spend 20 hours in January working on problem areas in my house - the studio, the basement, and my scrapbooking hoard. I will let you know how that goes.

In recent years i always try to be strict with the fasting after the start of the new year. But I rarely can keep it strict enough. What one person stict to easily another per just can't do and so on. If eat anything , I mean put any flavor in my mouth , I can't stop. It's like I've a awakened my huger and it naws at me. So I have stave off and food ideas till lunch time and if I don't eat enough to feel full , it just keeps nawing at me till I do feel full.
So that's me. How I deal with it to look past tring to loose weight. To the bigger picture, living longer. For my own reasons I want to live well into my eighties, just 30years from now for me.
I can lose weight, I can exercise , but If I'm constantly allowing myself to become malnourished I'll ave same death rate as a smoker.

I quit smoking in 1991. Started yoyo dieting in 1995.
Started exercising and fasting in 2008. When my wife was diagnosed with cancer I did alot of Internet reading on cancer prevention and cancer fighting. And basically came up with this opinion.

IF
If I can avoid child mortality , accidental death, preventable death, weight and age related diseasesand environmental issues ,then as I get older, eventually it will be cancer that brings me down. Reason being , the natural process of cell division, eventually all our original cells we were born with expired , and each generation of cells that passes to next carries some errors . Those errors are cancer. Sometime the errors just aren't great enough to cause the body to recognize the errors as needing to be attacked and discarded. So we get issues with the growths.

So I kept reading, obese people can live into their nineties if they exercise , but underweight people whom exercise not as well into their nineties. I keep reading. Those that fast, exercise, have a normal weight, have same death rate as meat eaters. I keep reading, those that eat fish two times a week, fast two times a week, and walk walk walk alot. Have the highest longevity. This perplexed me. I came up with my personal opinion.

By only taking in what the body uses. If I use 1800 calories then I take in 1800 calories. The body doesnt age as fast at the cellular level. The process where the body takes in uses and then recycles what it used and then requires new intake doesn't really fit the 3 meal a day schedule we follow 9- noon -5.
So there are many key factors but the most important one is great nutrition. And best from natural sources , or from plants and animals not so much just straight out of the dirt.

I think the fish factor is a way of balancing good fats with bad fats enough that there isn't too much of one or the other, but there's another keep factor. Where the walking and fasting together combine to lower the fat level much much more.

Further. By taking in the disease fighting foods, and the gut flora enhancing foods. Good dental care for crunching the nutrition up on the molars. Eating pre biotic , probiotic, and things the cleanse the body.

It may seem like a lot work, but it's really not when put into practice. , but for me it costs a little more, than quick cheap food.

So I try to keep it simple
Eat fish as often as I can, walk as often as I can.
Eat salad geared for fighting cancer and disease and then make it taste good with sone honey French just barely enough. And drink in the same way. If it's not water, then a tea that fights disease. Like lemon watervor green tea, or lemon water with green tea sweetened with honey .

Then there's the whole alkaline vs acidic thing. Enough to make it seem less like just shopping at the store without having think it out and over plan for expensive leftovers.

The key for me was restarting every year on Jan 1.
Maybe I should restart on July 4th too.
But restarting the fasting 2-3 days a week ,
Where one day is low energy day then the next is high energy.
I learned to make the menus like
Monday low energy but rich in antioxidants low protein. Nuts berries
Tueday high energy and protein. Fish
Wednesday low energy but rich in antioxidants low protein. Nuts berries
Thursday high energy and protein fish.
Friday low energy but rich in antioxidants low protein.sleep
Saturday eat socially till Satisfied
Sunday eat socially till Satisfied

I made a big list of some really healthy foods,
Tried to keep them in the kitchen in stock.
What I found that thereis enough health food , to keep satisfied. And the stuff that isn't as appetizing was easier to eat to break a fast when I'm most hungry .

After all that , I got strong again. Like nothing can stop me type stamina . I do what I want and love who I want. And feel what I feel about myself and others. So Im happy that I was brought up in religious way that favors the love of family over the self. I hope I live long enough to be a loving grampa someday. Something I think is worthbthe effort of eating the diet of intermittent faster. But the truth be known. After about a year of eating the good stuff like blueberries and brocoli at almost every meal. I started to really enjoy it emensly. No longer slave to my hunger, I switched the learning focus to the thirst. And yea , I've found joy in health drinks there too.
To my delight my daughter friends asking. Me how do I get it to taste like that. Make it taste clean and healthy can do more that satisfy the taste buds, please the sense of well being.

Then I would turn and see a mountain of hoarding. And just sink into feelings of overwhelm. No matter how much I tried I couldn't keep up on it. It always returned. .
Not till I lost my family members did I realize. Individually were that bad , but together we made a house of hoarders.

I just have to remember. TAke it one day at a time. Find peace or joy everyday. I wish I were a better cook.
Falling asleep , good night.

Hi SubC--good work on fasting! I do two to three 36 hour fasts a week. It's been a little hard getting back on track after the holidays. Might I suggest peppermint tea when you feel hungry? That and a brisk walk (which is counter-intuitive) tend to stave off the hunger for me. THAT SAID, when I fast I can have up to 500 calories in a day. I rarely eat the full 500 although I did yesterday. Keep up the good work!

I started to buy Hershey kisses yesterday (honestly what is wrong with me) because 1) they were half off and 2) they were. It's. I put them away, as I would've eaten the whole packet by now. I have very little self-control with sugar. Yes it's surprising I can fast.

Well I'm doing laundry now and will have clean sheets soon I also washed a human blanket (as opposed to kitty blanket) as I think I'll need to add one tonight.

I have garbage to go out but will take out in AM. Wind and snow continue here.

Yay for rescuing kitties and bright kitchens!

Today I picked up my class work from the fall - 2 boxes of new pots, and bought a new tool dh promised me because he broke a pot (fat marker sized) and stopped at the grocery store.

Bought five bags of chocolate chips for cookies later because they were over 50% off. Also bought two boxes of raisins at a good sale price, but skipped saving 20 cents a can on pumpkin.

Trying to do a 24 hour fast right now, but thinking i'm going to fall about two hours short.

How wonderful! Great work, Tillie. I look forward to having those types of moments myself soon. That feeling of clean and sunshine.

Still very stormy on the East coast. Thinking of having tuna for dinner. That means a saucer of tuna juice for the kitty!

Got the kitchen wall all prepped this morning and just recently applied the first coat of paint.
Stood back in the living room area to admire my work when the afternoon sun shined through the window and lit up that whole area.
So light, open and bright now.
:D

Au contraire I read every word! Love cat stories!

Just made lunch. Ttyl. Stay warm and safe everyone!

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Glad you got groceries in before the storm.
My blue eyed albino little girl kitty is named Eowyn.
She lived with her Mom on the college campus, feral.
On December 26th Steven heard her crying all day in the storm drain where they lived then discovered her mother dead in the parking lot.
Being white she was hard to see in the snow.
We set up a trap and she was so starved that she came out and got in the trap for the food.
She was only 4 weeks old, small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.
She still hides from everyone except me and barely tolerates Steven's presence in the house.
She sleeps on "her" pillow right next to my head every night and wears my slippers and shoes every day.
Being the only female cat here, she rules the roost with an iron fist and nobody dares to mess with the "Poohkie".
If she screams, Gimli my big orange tabby boy always comes running to her defense, ready to take on anyone who would dare make her scream.
Gimli is another rescued baby, about two weeks older than Eowyn.

I know, TLDR ;P

Everybody stay inside when you can.
Stay warm and safe.
Spring is just around the corner.

Gently rained here over night.
I slept very soundly all night long.
Today I begin prep work on the kitchen wall project.

The slippers sound wonderful, Tillie! What is the girl kitty's name? I love new slippers. They are so comforting.

Well I took down the wreaths on my front windows today. It was much warmer--20F so I took advantage of that. I can't take out garbage til tmr night but they are in a giant contractor's bag and are not bothering me. Normally I'd leave them up longer but it's been so bitterly cold and now we are expecting a storm--it just seemed like the right time.

I've run the dishwasher. My office is closed tmr due to storm but that won't change my day--I'll still be here working.

Will head off to bed soon. Not a very productive day but I'm glad I went to the grocery store. Looking forward to making something yummy tomorrow. Maybe pancakes.

Hi again :)

Not nice enough weather to work outside here yet, but I look out the window and mentally go through the check list of what I would do if I could.
Went into town today and got water.
Stopped by the thrift shop and talked with the people I know who work there.
It was good. :D
Bought a pair of Minnetonka moccasin slippers. New, never worn, black suede, fleece lined.
My little girl kitty loves shoes, she approves of my purchase, rolled all over them, sits there with her front paws in them like she is wearing them.
Now they are all covered in white fur.
Half the time I can't wear my slippers because she is on them.
Been eating very sparsely the last few days and eating only healthy things.
I feel so much better after having binged a little too much on my B-Day cherry pie. ;)

You also need to make sure kitty has a clean bowl of water every day. Even if you think she doesn't drink it

It's in the 20s here today and such a lovely walk to store and back. I'm fasting so naturally everything looked delicious. Good to have some things in the cabinets. I almost bought some meat but decided I may not use it so I bought my low sodium soups and other items. Bought an extra loaf of bread to take to mom's--more just as an excuse to visit than anything. I did all her shopping on Friday.

Back to work. We are bracing for a storm here.

Didn't do any laundry today. Felt like taking the day off.

Chiming in on don't starve the cat. Cats need the equivalent of 5 mice in protein every day, if they go 24 hours without eating, their liver can shut down and they die.

If your kitty is going out, she is probably eating birds, which are easier to catch. My suggestion would be give her some dried food regularly and try to keep her inside at night. Then she is more likely to hunt house mousses at night and leave the birds alone.

If you want to reward her mouse kills with treat food - that is good.

Tatoulia good planning.

Tillie, funny to hear you talk about working outside. I would just like positive numbers on my thermometer when I go out to do chores!

Good Morning Everybody :)

The best mouser cat I ever had never ate any mice, he preferred to eat Friskies.
He once killed 17 mice in one night and always laid them out in a row where I would see them in the morning.
He just enjoyed the hunting.

Just now 8:00am here.
About 10:00 I will head into town.
Need to get drinking water.
The well water tests out perfectly good to drink but without a filter I do not enjoy all the bits of pond life floating in my glass.
Haven't ventured out in a long time and really need the break.
Don't need any groceries yet, maybe by this weekend.
Got the house all tidy yesterday and found & brought in what I need to patch & paint that little bit of kitchen wall/ceiling.
Getting anxious to get outside and start doing some yardwork, cabin fever has set in, Scooter has it bad too.

Everybody stay warm and work hard at being HAPPY!

Good morning everyone! I'm working from home today. We are expecting a big snowstorm tomorrow so I brought home paperwork in addition to my usual computer work.

Please don't starve the kitty, Porter. She will catch the mice whether she's hungry or not. Cats like the sport of it.

I am going to get all of the recycling out today and in the bin before the giant snow gets here tomorrow. I am also going to pick up some bread. I would like to go to grocery store but just too cold.

My new heater is keeping the place warm enough.

Back to work after ten days off for break/shutdown.
New shoes , felt audio I could barely get through the day, there was technical issues causing a supply back up which caused freezing temps to cause a cascade of big problem the sent us hom after 5 hours of work. No one complained.
I just came home slept so my foot could heal my heal.


SubC I used to love my vegtables and fruit gardens.
I was less of floor person , I used to use marigolds to fill in where weeds would grow. So that when. Was out there tending , I ad some natural skeeter deturents out there, it's been a long time since I had a good place for a great garden , I can't do it here. It's badly shaded. Not very much space . And the property is graded to rooftop to run off.
And I still get leaking in the basement when I run the water hose. So. As much as I wish for garden , it's not good option.
I hope you keep sharing about your plans. I'm not envious, I just just wish I could to.
----
I starve my cat. It's been 2 days.
She's a killer. It's why I adopted her. I would sit on my porch and watch her hunt birds. Then after shed drag one off. I'd call to her and leave out some tuna , or left overs.

Now she's inside , she still prefers to go potty outside .
I still do the routine .
Of playing with fake mouse on a string about 5 minutes . Whipping the fake mouse where I've seen mouse activity.
Then feeding her.
Then loving her and petting her until she naps, usually on my lap.

Twice a month. I hold back on cat food . And spend time checking the glue traps , and playing with the fake mouse.
There are very few mice left. If she brings me dead ones I feed her a little tuna. When the tuna can is gone then return to a daily feed bowl.

She's killed 8 mice in three months that I know of.
And because I use glue traps just inside the kitchen cabinets
Where hide from the cat. I've found 18 trapped mice in those three same months. Where as there were on two caught in glue traps prior to having the cat. Basically making the point . The mice to seem to avoid the traps unless a cat is after them. That's alot of mice in my opinion. Glad they're no longer in the population. Don't know if I mentioned it .
She's turtle shell colored. , might be rude to say she's ugly , so I just say she ain't pretty. She has a solid patch of black on here neck that looks like she's a bearded lady. But I know her heart. She's a predator but friendly with whom she knows and trusts., I'm going to let have one litter. Then have her spayed. In august she would sit with be by my little fire pit.
Especially when grilling salmon.


Luck was with me in the cafeteria. They ad salmon today. So even though it's was I high price fir lunch , it was reasonable for dinner. So I just had a salad for dinner. Lots of nutrients , too many to need to measure.
It was a good day.

Hi Tillie!

For me the "winter holidays" run from the week of thanksgiving - when I am off work - through January 6th. I have two weeks off around Christmas.

They are a time of chaos and disruption - extra events, joys and celebration, but also extra work and stress.

Many of the regular aspects of life are suspended.

I try to have all of the decorations put away by bedtime on the 6th, and all of the post holiday cleaning and reorganizing done as well. This year I will sneak in an extra day since the 7th is a Sunday.

Then it is a long stretch to the equinox of (re)establishing routines, focusing on my inward self and physical health, and huddling around the fire - resting up and preparing for spring. (Dreaming, planning, and ordering seeds)

Good Morning Everybody :)
"Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia :)
Thank you.
My fingers are always crossed that everybody makes it through the Winter without any major structural issues.
The two years when it got down to -35 here caused so much damage all over the state.
Unfortunately, every year people still are taken by Jack Frost.
Stay warm, stay safe.
Kitty thanks you for her cozy little pod. :)

Hi Subclinical :)
Happy you are back home.
Stay warm by the fire and stay safe.

Woke up before 5:00am.
Huge moon shining brightly through the window.
Been pondering what to do today.
Steven is such a "trying" person to be around.
He was off work for so many days the last two months.
He returned to his regular work schedule today.
I need a vacation.
Will do the usual daily cat related tasks and a little tidying up.
The place needs a good thorough cleaning but I am too exhausted to do that today, maybe next Monday or whenever.
After I rest up and get the house in order I am looking forward to patching & painting the area where that cupboard was.
I am also planning to paint the kitchen cabinets soon, may not be until late Spring or early Summer.
Some day soon when the weather is nice I plan to start working on getting the front yard area cleaned up for Spring.
Those are my long term plans anyways. ;D

Home safe and sound.

Son in law headed off with daughter and we are having kitty time by the fire.

It's supposed to get down to negative six here tonight.

Added a tin full of goodies at the last minute when we left mom's house.

I hope the year continues to go well for everyone.

Great work Tillie!! So proud of you!!!

I got to mom's and got her tv back on track. I had a bowl of chowder when I got home. It's so cold here. Kitty is asleep in her pod. I need to get up and move around some.

Cold is expected to be here at least through next weekend. Praying my house survives. So worried about the pipes.

Howdy ;D

Cupboard is successfully removed from the kitchen area and installed in the pump house.
Washed the ceiling and wall where it had been and also washed the back of the fridge and floor since the fridge was pulled out.
The place looks so much more open and brighter in here now.
Will fill and organize the new pump house cupboard with yard stuff another day.
It will hold a lot being 36 inches long and 30 inches tall with 3 adjustable shelves.
Beautiful warm sunny cloudless day today.
Had the windows open and propped open the storm door and let all the cats go out and play.
The laundry is all dry, fresh smelling, folded and put away.

Judging by Porter's and Tatoulia's posts
It's been a good day all around. :D

Happy New Year!

Like many of us I'm starting off the new year filled with hope. I feel that in many important ways I accomplished a lot of good things in 2017. I worked on my house, I lost weight, I was kind, I improved my coping skills, etc. and I am glad for that.

It is bitterly bitterly cold here. When we got home last night it was 1. That's it. 1.

I had planned to stay in bed all day but mom called and she's having trouble with her tv. I'll head over in a bit.

I am grateful to you all.

I am going to gather up garbage for my first garbage pickup of the year. I will further pack dishes. Will be picking up my new dishes after the 5th, which is when my coupon will work. I'm not sure of how much the gift card is for but I'm sure it'll be plenty for what I need and want. I'm looking forward to the new dishes.

I am doing laundry. I do have to have my washer fixed at some point. I miss the flexibility and ease. BUT I've been happy that I've just accepted it for now without being upset.

I ordered the new windshield wipers for my car. That will take a weight off of me, to have decent wipers. This year is about taking weight off--physical, emotional, mental, etc. I will envision what my environment should look like to further that goal. My designer comes to the US in May and I'd like to have enough money to work on things with her.

I didn't expect this.
I'm happy.
Not sure why I'm writing about 'unhappy

Something missing in my life is like these threads,but also games, and friends in those games. As my life goes along I've lost real life friends in tragic situations, long long ago. I've not just missed them, but the contact and comradery.

Life's funny happy puzzle happened to me this morning.
I gave permission for her to goto a new years eve party with girls I dislike, but it's a holiday so I gave permission for her to be with friends , and not have to report to me, or come home.

In the middle of the night I think about 2:30 AM . I heard my old iPad give a notification that I haven't heard since a best friend killed herself. Just a little kabing, and then another.
Curious I dusted off the old iPad2 . It was my scrabble accout. I had been challenged to a game by my daughters account, but it was her friends. I'm sure which one helper her set up her new tablet I bought her for Xmas.
Of all things I'm just sitting the dark can't sleep and a little sad. My favotite game and some favorite people. We played for three hours. I guess they were bored .
I guess I sort let go of my gaming addiction because I spending too much time on game. However this morning I really felt happy like I have felt in a while.

Ok gang, I'm off for another holiday fillin at my Aunts this time. I put heat on the pipes they're getting frozen. Them I'm off. .

P.S. Before tablets and phones I was a board game enthusiast. I had a big collection of board games that I've thrown out , for better phone and tablet versions.

Good Morning Everybody! :D

Hi Porter :)
That's a lot of thought and research into food values.
Along with some exercise, this should serve you well! :D

Hi CriticalMass :)
It has been a pleasure to work along side you!
((((HUGS))))

Everybody did FANTASTICin 2017.
You all put forth the effort and kept working no matter what obstacles were thrown in your way.
(((((HUGS)))))

Have linens hanging out on the clothes line already by 9:00am today.
Tried to get Steven to help me with the kitchen cupboard yesterday, no such luck.
Brain stormed on what to do with that cupboard afterwards and figured out it could be hung in the pump house.
Then I could use it for yard/garden stuff rather than the milk crates I've been using.
That would clear up a little floor space.
YEA! :D
Now I just need some help.
This entire project would take half an hour to complete from removal from kitchen, to installation in pump house.

Last post of 2017

Thanks everybody for having my back in the clutter fight, of course, and for so much more - for being your amazing creative, problem solving, sometimes down but never out, wise and witty loving selves.

In short, you rock. Always. :)

Joan, I loved what you said about how the approach to the problem needs to start with the non material. Absolutely true. Back in my 20s I already was the proud owner of a book entitled Getting Organized. LOL! As if! Owning that book never got me much further along; treating the symptom rather than the underlying problem.

The worst baggage and clutter has always been in my mind, heart and spirit. When I realized I'd wasted two years on a dead end relationship with the guy I'd fantasized to be my future husband and father of my children, instead of letting the grief do its worst and trusting I'd survive, I turned to filling up my space with the trappings of the cozy domestic life I longed for. Some of the crafty stuff would've been okay if I'd been reasonable and moderate about it, and not spent beyond my means in that and other areas.

And not having family now that my parents are gone, and coming to realize that the good memories of them are not in the material objects we had - learning that it's okay to keep a few of those things but being very selective. Fixing a picture in my mind's eye of my loved ones that no physical loss can erase. Seeing news headlines this year about the California fires, people losing everything, that sure brings it home - in case that's ever me starting over I don't want it to kill my spirit.

Anyway. Doing like Porter, taking the scientific and nutritional knowledge like never before to bring about good health - we are mortal but we have some control over the quality of our physical selves if, as with our new approach to our surroundings, we opt not to bring junk into our bodies. And not let toxic people past or present rob us of joy.

Well, I'm waxing poetic as if I've been dipping into New Year's champagne, but I'm actually stone sober, just drunk on the possibilities and wanting nothing but good for all you my dehoarding homies in 2018 and beyond. As the 10th Doctor would say, Allons-y! See you next year! ;)

I'm almost late to a dinner invite.

So please forgive me for dumping this unedited post below.
Some of it was hard to validate and I kind of want to look it up offsite again. So anyway.

Well wishes everyone. It's wonderful hear from yall again .
Looking forward to next year.

------------------------

DNA-Enhancing Guidelines

There are a few DNA-enhancing guidelines we can follow to help "feed our genes right" and reverse DNA damage done:

Eat a nutrient-dense diet to make every bite count.
Eat a variety of fresh, whole foods.
Eat quality protein.
Eat a varied selection of non-starchy vegetables.
Eat a varied selection of non-starchy fruits.
Consume only healthy oils and fats.
Season your foods with herbs and spices.
Drink water and herbal teas.
Eat organically produced foods whenever possible.
Restrict or avoid refined carbohydrates and sugars, and limit your intake of all processed carbohydrates.
Minimize your consumption of highly refined cooking oils, like soybean, canola, ?vegetable oil.'
Avoid all foods with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and trans fat.

-----
Large epidemiological studies consistently show that higher intake of foods rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin reduce the risk of several different cancer types

Foods high in lutein

Red pepper , turnip greens,  synergy pairing = broccoli , blueberries 


Foods high in zeaxanthin

Red pepper , turnip greens,  synergy pairing = broccoli , blueberries


Foods high in astaxanthin 500-6000 times stinger than vitamin C alone.

Food containing astaxanthin include:
? salmon, pairing merlot , 
? krill,
? and shrimp

It's the red , that makes flamingos red

Salmon , turnip greens, red peppers,  broccoli , blueberries.
Banana walnut bread
Green tea with lemon and honey

I eat this as much as I can , but it gets monotonous .
So if I'm working out very much , I take a realty check.
Do I need to lose fat, or build muscle . 
 So again if I want to work out but I'm not. 
I try to Insert a personal rule. 
I'm either fasting every other day  or I'm working out every other day .

I would love to say this year I'm going workout every other day and on non workout days I'm eating the most extremely healthy food .
Working and cleaning house and trying to save the world a little sooner than later. 

Well I can schedule it weekly right?

But those are habits and take awhile to knit together.
 
But I can be the lord and master of my lunch box and put stuff in it that help  not hurt.

I can start my day off with plant based food with high caliber nutrients.

And I can stick to eating only twenty animal fat meals a month for dinner.

GOTOS 
Cashew milk , egg .protein bars. Breakfasts
Vitamin water , egg , protien+ nutrient bar lunch
Green tea,lemon, honey. , shrimp and red peppers, 

Efforts 
Minimal carb breakfast.
Salad  lunch
3-4 Satiating dinners a week ,  salmon, steak, rotisserie chicken pair with foods that synergies their nutrients.

Care and effort into foods that repair the body after working. With emphasis on eyes, liver, brain, skin, heart and nutrition that repairs and divides DNA. Best. Exercise that pumps the lymph system jumping jacks, jump rope, trampoline.

search
Foods high in

Foods high in

Foods high in

Good Morning Everybody! :D
"clink!"

Last day of 2017 already.
Lets none of us mourn what we didn't do in the last 365 days.
Rather lets all celebrate every little and big good thing we did do. ;D

Hi Porter :)
Once people put things in a dumpster or can or by a roadside curb, it is legal to remove items.
What people get tickets for is when they put their own trash into dumpsters not belonging to them or throw all the trash on the ground, littering.
Happy to read about all you are doing and dreaming. (((HUGS)))

Hi CriticalMass :)
WAY TO GO!!! for reclaiming your bed and all the other straightening and organizing!!! (((HUGS)))
Steven will hoard the cupboard but it will just end up on top of the heaps since he has no wall or floor space to properly use it.
He keeps everything, even the old broken water heater and everything else that comes onto the property. Nothing ever leaves.

Hi Subclinical :)
WTG! for that attic work! (((HUGS)))
So happy to read you have had great family time. :D

Hi Joan :)
The problem with internet shopping is that it is immediate, from the comfort of our own homes.
What I always do is put things in the "cart" or on the wish list.
Think about them, go back and modify the list, and think about it some more.
I also never leave an open account on any sites I frequent. That way I must manually type in all the information before hitting the "buy" button.
A self imposed cooling off period.
Looking forward to working with you in the new year. (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
We have never had any cable TV, just Netflix.
The ROKU is amazing!
So many movies and TV programs that I have wanted to see.
Spending most of the time just rummaging through all the offerings available. ;D
Happy you are enjoying all your new gifts.
When we remove old stale items from our homes it clears up space for us to enjoy the fresh new things that add value to our lives. (((HUGS)))

Today I will go out and light the burn barrel.
Cold dark and overcast but the heat of the fire will be warm.
Then I will come inside and shower, wash my hair, put on all clean clothes.
Just my way of sending off the old year and welcoming the new year.

Everybody have a wonderful night.
Stay safe and healthy and we will see you all next year.
((((((((HUGS))))))))

Happy New Year!

Joan I agree we are on the right path--I feel more peaceful due to the companionship here (I love your use of the word fellowship). I can look at my house today and I can pretend I'm cleaning someone else's house, and it becomes easier. I have most of my dishes boxed to go to goodwill. We are in a terrible cold spell here and I did not want to be carrying heavy items the six blocks to where my car is garaged. I will keep them here til there's a bit of an ease in the weather.

Yesterday while shopping with brother I started a bit of overshopping myself and then put the items away. Sometimes having them in my cart is good enough for me. I do that on line, too. Just put in cart then decide the better of it.

All of my Christmas gifts are useful, needed and wanted with the exception of the watch the BF bought me. I have nice watches and now I have one more. I can't wear it yet since I need to go to the jeweler and have it sized. But the dishes and the other things are all useful. Maybe I didn't need the gift card for reflexology but then again, I did need it. I sleep so much better after a session. But since my family has no disposable income, I don't end up with a bunch of junk.

I'm going to get dressed, go do a little sightseeing with BF (in the car) then go visit with mom for a short time. I don't have to start getting ready til about 8, 8:30 tonight.

Hello all. Nice to read your posts.

I am awake with a negative reaction to a somewhat compulsive buying spree last night. I got things I love, but they were overpriced. It feels like I am in the process of outgrowing the need to do that. Although I am beating myself up some, I'll also digest and learn from the experience in the New Year, 2018.

It was a good discourse on de-hoarding that you wrote, Tillie. Although there is no concrete progress yet to show for it, I consider my everyday work on my health to be the foundation for eventual home renovations. Your treatise is in line with my own work in consciousness, moving towards a self-centered source of transformation, rather than a thing-centered source of transformation. As I write that, I realize that that is the basic problem I see with most standardized approaches to hoarding. The systems approach the problem on the level of the problem, instead of on the level of the solution.

Thanks everyone, for your fellowship. 2018 will be a healthier and lighter year, with expansion from the core outwards in many directions.

Hello everyone! Good to read your posts and your thought processes! Thank you!

Tillie you are amazing. I'm in awe of you. While I wish for more storage, you are continually examining your life and objects and your relationship to those objects. I hope you enjoy your roku. We switched out of cable nearly six years ago. The roku has been terrific. I subscribe to Netflix and Hulu and Amazon prime. Always something to watch. Mom loves it and my brother, who was so hooked on cable tv, has adjusted to the streaming way of life.

Cm you are doing great! I hope you are basking in the feelings of accomplishment! SubC great idea in using white elephant sale to reduce! Porter good to hear from you. You are very good at planning and your cooking plans sound wonderful.

I had a very good and productive day with brother then came home and napped. Just woke up now to check in on everything.

Hi all!

So much going on!

Cm, good progress. And Tillie, thank you for the inspiration. We travel home on the 1st so I will be doing some thinking/dreaming/planning in my journal then.

Sil is sending pictures of the cats. Visit with dh family went ok - too much to process, I acquired school photos of nieces and nephews and also a trivet.

Had a fun white elephant game tonight with my family - I brought most of the white elephants and so have unloaded them, but I am going home with a useful little notebook and dh got a bandana.

Brother and I have completely emptied half of mom's attic.

Hi Tillie, Tatoulia, and Porter!

This weekend of focused decluttering has been nice. I know with only two nights I can't tackle huge amounts. So it was a good chance to see if my prioritizing skills have improved any. I'm happy to report that I think they have.

I did a third load of laundry today, and started on putting the items back into the bedroom but NOT on the bed! Found a good spot for two small baskets of books, took some of my sewing equipment out of large tote bags it had been in when I was carting my in-progress quilt back and forth to the church.

There remains a couple of bags and four shoebox size plastic boxes of dolls and/or their clothes that I want to work on soon. I'm thinking boxes are better to stack, so I'm going to fold up the tote bag there also. The books range in size from my dictionary sized complete works of Shakespeare from college (I'd wanted to read "A Midsummer Night's Dream" back when it was midsummer, LOL!) and a Zoology textbook, down to some Young Adult vampire novels. And misc. in between.

I'm thinking of places to put them. Some I brought over here before switching locations of the storage unit, so if need be they can go into the closer by storage unit and I can access them in turn. It's going to be so nice to have that especially when I get it all organized so it's just like the "spare bedroom" or my archives - neat and easy to find what I can't keep here, and also it will continue to get more efficient as I use up my remaining fabric and craft "stashes" that made the cut and didn't get downsized. Make, use up, use/sell/gift finished products, and don't maintain any large stash after that.

Oh, yeah, I meant to mention there's still one side of the bedroom opposite the bed where some progress has been made a few months back, yet there's also a pileup of recent papers and things I need to process and toss or file or whatever. Once that's done, I will be in a place where I can get some cleaner and go over the floor where it has gotten kind of gritty and dust bunnies try to breed. I want to put down a small light colored piece of linoleum my roommate said I could have - the existing floor is dark and hard to see things on. I think the lighter floor will be cheerful and make the room look larger. And I'll get a small light color rug for beside the bed.

Tillie, hope your cabinet project is easy and fun to do - and that you can keep Steven from hoarding the cabinet! Unless it helps keep some of his clutter out of sight, then let him have it. ;)

Hi everyone.
Getting over a flu bug.
I got a flu shot but got the flu anyway so imI getting back to normal.
Today I re cleaned all my kitchen appliances.
Then emptied the freezer . It's small attached to fridge.
But it's so cold Im taking I believe gillies advice and using the cold outside temps to clear and sterilize the freezer.

Getting ready to make my meal plane for the week.
Monday holiday dinner
Tuesday tuna / protein shakes
Wednesday salad/plant based foods
Thursday salmon / protein shakes
Friday salad/plant based foods
Saturday steak dinner
Sunday rotisserie chicken

I know that seems off topic a bit from my hoarding issues. One of which is to let dishes pile up until it because a big pile. SO. What I've done in the past is just keep on trying but it just kept happening. What I've tried recently is stop using so many dishes to cook my meals. That a little difference but still a pile would accumulate.

I finally settled on 1 Pyrex pie plate and bowl.

By only having one of either of these I do not accumulate a disgusting pile of dirty dishes. However I then still need to spend time on cleaning the appliances. That I cook food on.
So my routine is to clean stuff in the kitchen on saturdays until it's all completed. If I don't do the Saturday routine then it adds time to my daily routine.

So to get back to the menu . I need to eat healthy, but I also need to eat what satisfies. That took a lot of time to consider and implement only figure out that ** depending on how clean or how much time it takes to clean my appliances , I may or may not stick to my menu. Uhhgg !

So this week
Monday. No cooking.
Tuesday. No cooking tuna Salad on toast.
Wedneday. No cooking yummy salads
Thurdays COOKING DAY.
Friday No cooking yummy salads
Saturday COOKING DAY.
Sunday COOKING DAY.

I know , I know . Seems like I'm trying to over think it! Right? But for only the first time in my life have I had a nearly sterile kitchen and healthy food coming out of it everyday. So my hope for this next year , is to continue to do both. Clean kitchen and healthy food. And my resolution is start going to the gym again , I haven't been to the gym since I moved in May.

Dumpster diving incident . Creative outlet.
I was scavenging the neighbor hood on the assumption tha Xmas would mean that a lot of tv boxes would be out by the trash bins . I was right. Have been hoarding polystyrene and and another more flexible foam. For my model making.
A man came screaming at me and I just tried to let it go but I was stopped by police. Who let me go without further incedent.
I'm putting alot more time into the rammed earth concept.
But in the guise of building it over 3 years. Each year I would bring a storage container to the site filled with more supplies.
And build rammed earth wall between the containers. Leaving a 36 foot space inside the walls. Then the amountbof money I would spen on rent or mortgage i could then apply to foam core aluminum panels to structure inside walls and roof over the whole structure in a pay as I can owner/builder. So having the right model homes in basement I find myself hoarding the polystyrene .

It's not a problem yet, but I'll talk about it here as way to keep watch over it.

Good Morning Everybody! :D
"clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker :)
(((hugs)))

Hi Joan :)
Happy you are feeling better. :D

Hi CriticalMass :)
Hope you are thoroughly enjoying your time!
WAY TO GO!!! :D

Hi Subclinical :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Thank you! (((hugs))) :D

Was busy yesterday.
Thinking about the physical and mental changes I want in my life this next year.
Pulling out items that will no longer be needed in my life going forward.
Kitchen items because I will no longer be preparing large complicated meals, the kind you make on holidays for a house full of people.
Simplifying my life.
Steven went shopping, was gone from 8:30am to 5:45pm.
Last week he had bought a "ROKU" device at a thrift shop and gave it to me.
I installed and programmed it but it was so old the technology was no longer supported, 5.00 wasted.
Yesterday he went to WallyWorld and purchased a new "ROKU" for me but since they were reduced he bought 2 of them.
He watched as it took me less than 5 minutes to set it up even with two cats helping me.
Then he took the second unit out to his TV in the garage & installed it.
I woke up around 4:00am and discovered he was still out there watching all the free TV and movies the "ROKU" gives you access to.
Anyways...
I never liked the cupboard that is over the fridge and think that area would be better without it.
It has been empty for well over a year, do not need it for anything.
But I will need a little help removing it.
I have paint leftover from when I painted the kitchen years ago and will paint that little bit of wall & ceiling to match.
Removing some visual clutter. :)

Clean sheets! Clean sheets! Congratulations!!!

Will report back later-off to see brother. We are in single digit temps here. Car is kept in a garage but I am kept six blocks away from my garage. Yikes.

Just had to add this - two loads of laundry done and the clean sheets are on the bed! Woot!

The stuff from the bed and elsewhere is parked here and there in the living room. It's not too bad though. Tomorrow I'll strategize where some of it can go in a more orderly way than it has been. Books and sewing project bags are the biggest batches of stuff that don't always have an optimal place to go. But I'll brainstorm . . .

Hi everybody - I found my way to Phase 9!

Tillie, great pep talk!

My roommate left for her visit with her family and took the dog, so it's me and the cats and bunnies. I did a load of laundry this morning. Getting hungry, it's past lunch time (I'm often not in sync with when the rest of the world eats). So after I write this post I'll go fix something.

In whatever order works best, I'll do some more laundry and start on the bringing things out into the living room to get at the basic order I'm trying to reclaim in my bedroom. And will wash that bedding! I'm being realistic - it's only two nights to myself and roughly two days of time, so I know I'm not going to accomplish huge miracles, but I'll be glad for whatever I can do to make my living space more liveable in the time.

Wish weather were nicer - today is reasonable with highs in the 40s, but then it gets colder after today with highs in the teens and 20s and lows in the teens and single digits. I'm ready for spring anytime! ;)

There will also be some time this weekend for fun stuff, by which I mean creativity. Having finished my quilt last month, I'm turning my attention to writing and artwork - though ideas for future quiltmaking aren't far away. And a few other crafty things. I know I need to pace myself, though. That doesn't come naturally to me but is the best way to enjoy it all and not get to that frenzied, frustrated state.

And sometimes this weekend I may just opt to rest! Nothing wrong with that. I'll be more of a night owl on my own with no one to disturb. New Year's Eve on Sunday night might be kind of kooky if people shoot off fireworks. Roommate and dog will be back then, and though he is a pretty chill dog, he doesn't care for fireworks. Doesn't freak out as badly as the former dog did, but gets uneasy. She has some calming treats to give him, which help. The other animals don't seem to notice unless there would be a really big bang.

Well, guess I'll go have that lunch now and see what's what. Hopefully I'll be able to post more over the weekend.

Hello Joan and Anony!

I'm sorry about the family situations. You do not deserve the abuse and it makes me very sad. I was upset recently over an email my sister sent me, and my BF bluntly said, you need to expect that from her so you won't be upset. I am deeply fortunate that my mother is so loving and selfless. My brother has some very good qualities but the mental illness has really dealt a blow to his personality. And sometimes I catch a glimpse of his former sweetness. And for that, I am grateful.

Anony I'm excited to hear about your progress!!!

Bitterly cold here. Cannot get my house warm. Going to take a shower and climb into bed.

Tillie thank you again for giving me so much to think about.

Tillie, Happy Belated Birthday‼️‼️‼️
I did think of you. I also had that song in my head when 64 came up for me. It's like a time-release memory song.

Still getting back into a routine after my illness this month. I am feeling much better. It took me a while to find everyone here on Phase 9.

Per CM's post, I was watching The Great British Baking Show year-end master classes, and have decided I am enamoured of Boxing Day. In future I will personally celebrate Boxing Day and the 12 days of Christmas. How I do that is yet to be determined.

Anony, what is most important at the stage of healing where you find yourself is NOT to beat yourself up, not about ANYTHING. You are going to have all of those feelings about your family. They are a real pain in the ass, as well as in other places. You are in the process of shedding a karmic skin. I don't know everything that has to happen before you come out of it, but I know there are specific steps for each individual that have to be done in order. With each step comes a timing element, because synchronicity has to be in play. Be patient and stick it out. You are worth it.

Yes, I have years upon years of mail from the Evil One (bio mother) that are too toxic to open to this day. You are not the only one going through something like this at this time in the planet's history. We are shattering karmic patterns. When yours really break for you, you will see things very differently. You will be glad you followed through with the process, and you will have closure.

Tat, glad you are chugging along.

SubC, it sounds like you have the family situation you want at this time.

Happy 2018 to all, in case I don't post before then.

~♡~Happy Greetings to all!~♡~
I had a long post that i got behind on after my buttons disappeared. So many things are changing. My Mom emailed that she & my sister are not going to come visit after all. Her reasons were clearly contrived, as if im a complete idiot. I must have said something wrong in that phone call. I dont know whether im relieved or just further insulted...both actually. This past year ive learned not to open cards, gifts or messages from the human family until i can handle being upset....
My friend helped me get my living room space opened up & between that, the new heater in there & music, i am absolutely loving it! I did realize how ridiculous it was to have my friend trying to move things to clean while i freaked out. I need to do this myself. It help to get things at least changed around somewhat.
Im glad yall had a nice Christmas!
.....i can see how they view me as that crazy aunt or whatever....in their eyes i am that & more....i originally went on drugs over being rejected by them & it is still the very thing that makes me want to numb myself to that pain, again...theyre all on drugs, but legal ones....and they dont even remember any of the things they said & did to me....but i do....i just need to not care, a skill i have worked on my whole life but still cant seem to acquire........

Tillie I have read your post three times.

I know what I want. I will visualize it in the next few days in order to have a realistic vision. Then I will share it with everyone. I need the visual to include the things I have and will be keeping. Then I can work toward it. I need the big picture.

My role model has long been Mary Richards from the Mary Tyler Moore Show. And I loved her apt. And I loved how Rhoda could pop in and the place always was presentable and she could invite people for dinner. And just now I thought of her when you described making up your bed every night--just as Mary did.

I will use this, and the drawings from my designer friend, to formulate my big picture so we can get there, together.

Good Morning Everybody :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
The person who used the washer before you may have used a detergent that is causing your hives.
Or it could be one of the other reasons you mentioned.
Benadryl may help if you get too uncomfortable. (((HUGS)))
That's right, you still have that microwave, I forgot all about that.
Do you know exactly what new microwave you plan to get?
Maybe doing some window shopping for one would give you the courage you need to 86 the old one.
Standard models have become so inexpensive any more.
The prices go up depending on if it's also a convection oven or some other fancy feature.
My GE turn table microwave cost around 50.00 and the only thing I don't like about it is the direction the door opens.
With it on the end of the counter, I have to reach around the door to get things in and out or go stand on the living room side of the counter.
I will be joining you and Subclinical in the fasting.


Want to talk to you all about the fresh new year coming up.
Not about making resolutions or specific tasks to accomplish
but rather a bigger over all frame of mind going forward.
Too much focus on the daily grind of decluttering and cleaning can make us feel depressed and defeated.
Lets all form a realistic vision in our minds of the lives we want to live going forward.
Not perfect, but something where we can be at peace with ourselves.
Once we have our visions we can then take the time to see what little changes we can make to make it a reality.
Baby steps...
It takes time to little by little get there.
But it can be done.
I did it. I went from a completely cluttered squalorous house where I only had half a couch to sleep on with my clothes and things buried deep and unreachable in clutter to where I am now.
My house no longer has clutter and is easy enough to clean.
I have a small room of my own, too small for a bed but room enough for all my clothes and things.
I have a queen size couch hide-a-bed that I can fully pull out and make up proper every night to sleep on.
As I decluttered and cleaned I then patched and painted the best I could.
It took a very long time to achieve this, did not happen over night.
But I had a long range vision, saw ways to make this do-able and went for it.
It's not perfect by a long shot but it is something I saw was do-able and went for it.
I did not allow the things I can not change all by myself stop me.
When I was sick or injured I stopped and got well again, then started right back on it.
I had the valuable knowledge, advice and emotional support from Cory Chalmers and so many other professionals, along with many others who struggle with hoarding and squalor to help me along the way.

Together we CAN all do this.

Little by little, step by step...
but first we have to have that reachable vision in our minds.
Love you all (((((HUGS)))))

I'm washing all my sheets today even though I changed my bed two days ago. I have hives, and I'm not sure if they are due to the extreme cold, or because I've had a cold, or detergent issues, or due to medication. So I'm washing all my sheets again and rinsing them twice. When my washer was still working I always rinsed twice. Now that I use communal, I only rinse once since I'm trying to pack in a lot of different loads during the day. So back to double rinsing for me.

I have packed up my dinner dishes and half of the coffee cups and saucers. Not a chip on any of them so I am tempted to consign instead of donate. I expect to do the right thing and donate. The salad plates and soup bowls will reveal some chips. The Christmas gift boxes and tissue are holding the things nicely.

Ok back to work. Sipping peppermint tea. Refreshing!

Good to see that Life is Short, Eat Dessert First ruled the day, Tillie! Oooh the hash browns and eggs also sound so tasty!!

SubC I am joining you in the fast! I fasted Tuesday and am doing it again today. So good to get some time off from the indulgences! Wishing you safe travels.

Bitterly cold here and hard to keep/get my drafty old place warm. BF's place is plenty warm and I've been thinking about sending the cat up there.

It's trash night. I'm sure I can get a decent bag together.

I have gotten two or three big things off my mind in the past few weeks but would like to do one more. I'm wondering if I have what it takes to finally get rid of my microwave. I should check my sad bank balance first because I'd want to be able to replace this weekend.

Good Evening :)

Thank You Everybody for the birthday greetings! :D

Hi Subclinical :)
Have a wonderful time visiting!
Yes, the cats do need Son In Law to stay with them. ;)
Have a safe trip and a good little fast.

Hi Tatoulia :)
You are welcome, for the new board. :D
I'm glad your BF spoils you, you deserve to be spoiled.
Happy you are feeling better, stay that way. (((hugs)))
New dishes is a nice change!
I'm happy you are evaluating the pieces and making good decisions on what you need and no longer need.

It has been a good day.
More sunshine than clouds, not too cold outside.
I didn't do anything that resembles work except all those cat related daily chores.
Made O'Brian hash browns and eggs for my dinner, already ate cherry pie earlier.

Oh my! I was so busy remembering to use the new thread, I forgot to happy birthday tillie!

Happy birthday!

I have survived the first half of the holidays - next is a nine hour drive, followed by a day and a half at the home of the in laws who just left (the only way we get to see dh siblings and nieces and nephews) then a day and a half with my parents, brother, and nieces, then an 11 hour drive. With both of my girls.

Son in law is wisely staying here. He says the cats need him.

I am sad for those of you who have so little family. Some of my legal family is a pain, but I am surrounded by a beautiful heart family (that includes some blood and legal relatives) and I wish the same for you!

One good thing about the trip is I expect we will only be giving things away. Also, there is little I can eat at mil's, so I will have a short semi-fast to clear some of my holiday indulgence

Thanks for the nice fresh message board, Tillie! And again, happy birthday!

I've gone back and read everyone's posts and so enjoyed reading about your lives. CM you are doing great! I hope you'll have that clean sheet feeling much more frequently! I change mine once a week, sometimes twice a week. I love a freshly made bed too!

SubC you survived the holidays! I'm sorry that your MIL took things too far. I hope I remember that when someone asks me for something specific, I shouldn't conform it to my wishes or ideas! I don't think I've ever done that--I'm not generally in a situation where I'm buying something on request. I have no children, in laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc.

I am much improved today, both health-wise and spirit-wise. I went to office, which was sparsely populated. Despite that, I did not complete what I'd hoped to. Tomorrow is another day and I'll be home. I'll have to finish sorting through my gifts (BF spoils me) and put everything away. I also need to pack up my dishes--I finally found some dishes to replace my everyday china. I've had my everyday things for over 20 years. They are very nice and from a nice store, but I've wanted a change. I'm going to replace my set of 8 or ten with four. Santa gave me a gift card and the serving platter from the set, so I am on my way. Four is plenty. I have my mother's wedding china should I ever be hosting a large meal and my Christmas dishes are for 8.

This will be a challenge to box them up for goodwill. I'm also going to get rid of the serving pieces that compliment the existing dishes. This will help me to reduce.

My son and his wife left this afternoon, which made me sad. But I know her family wants to see them too.

But last night was wonderful. We had our dearest family friends over for dinner and singing. 15 people! The wife of one of their sons couldn't make it because of work, but he brought the baby who is two.

Sometimes I laugh thinking about how desperate I was for friends 21 years ago when I introduced myself in the women's locker room and invited her for lunch because her kids were the same sizes as mine. Now all the boys are 6ft or more, we have a third generation starting, and the caroling party is the highlight of our holidays!

Cookies and candy were exchanged and mostly eaten by the twenty somethings - I sent my son away with the leftover pie today.

On to dealing with the stuff of the season - my father in law made us beautiful benches for our entryway, which we have been wanting, and my mother in law bought me the pan which I have already mentioned. Also an " as seen on tv" zoodle maker, which left in a gift bag with dil for her family white elephant exchange. I think she liked the scarf from my student that I also passed on to her.

My children gifted me framed wedding portraits (both married in the last 18 months), new slippers that I love, and new work gloves. Dh got me three pairs of heavy warm socks (black, white, and navy) but the other package was not pajamas, it was a beautiful warm red cape!

So all is well there. I will use the pan until I replace it.

We are now storing 4 boxes of electric train and track for ds because the great uncle he was named after is terminally ill and wants him to have it. Ds wants very much to be able to set it up under his Christmas tree someday, but has nowhere to store it now in his apartment. He did sort through two bins of his childhood toys and take a gallon ziplock bag of movie themed items he plans to decorate his office with. Also we sorted through the wedding souvenir box and they left me with a smaller shoebox sized box and took or recycled the other items.

Today I am doing lots of laundry.

For all of you posting on phones and other small devices...
Phase nine! :D