Tatoulia, thank you for the positive message.

I think I am going to post a lot today. I'm sorry if it becomes annoying. I need the accountability and done reinforcement if anybody can.

So far, I made dh breakfast, packed his lunch, drank the remaining coffee, dressed, finished morning chores, unloaded and loaded the dishwasher and started it, and cleared off the cart island in the kitchen. I am now taking a break for my breakfast of bread pudding and tea - it's going to be a high caffeine day.

I'm trying to identify small areas where I can succeed today - like the island cart.

I am also reminding myself that when things were really bad in June, there was one day when I didn't finish morning chores until 3 in the afternoon. So, this is much better!

Good morning, everyone. Quick hello before I finish getting ready for work.

I treasure my friendships with you. Tillie, you are exactly perfect to us and we are so glad you have built a positive life for yourself and in turn, for us. SubC the raspberries were well past their prime when you got them. You weren't going to win the battle against nature this time. Not your fault at all. I hope little bunny gives you some affirmation today. I'm sure bunny knows that you are wonderful. We certainly know that you are. Anony, I'm proud of you for doing what you can to reclaim your space. It's a big job and you are doing it! You are creative and loved by us.

I just want you to know that you are important in this world, on this forum, and in my life.

Shout out to Joan, CM, LR, Diane, Dianne. Roxie, Porter, Bitsy, Sharon

My raspberries all went fuzzy overnight. I am feeling horrible about not getting them sorted out yesterday.

Also it is pouring rain and will continue all day. My yard is a series of puddles and rivulets.

Today is going to be difficult. Dh tried to get me to commit to some actions before he left for work, but I am feeling at most half-interested in them.

Hi Subclinical :)

I did not think you were too harsh in the other thread.
You were being honest and sometimes there is no way to sugar coat the honest truth.
If you had tried, the real meaning of your words would have become muddled. (((HUG)))
Your dinner sounds lovely.
I have eaten some peanut butter crackers and watermelon today. :)
Light and easy on the stomach.
A flea comb should help. Have you seen many fleas on her?
Plus being away from the flea ridden house with the infested kittens will really help.
WAY TO GO! for bike riding! ;D

When I was a young impressionable girl I was given a lowlife Barbie doll.
Looking at the way that hussy was all painted up, ratted hair and her hideously deformed feet from the shoes she wore made me promise myself that I would never wear heels higher than 2 inches.
Also vowed to never rat or dye/bleach my hair.
My very negative feelings toward the doll were because Barbie was just like my immoral muther who had given me the doll in the hopes I would want to grow up to be just like Barbie. ;P

Hi Anonymoniker :)
OK good it's just random stuff you were holding onto and not outdated food. (((HUG)))
Steven has a LOT of old spooky food he holds onto.
When asked about it he says "I was planning to eat that" so he never tosses any out.
I sympathize with your feelings about the condition of your home.
Lets just hope it provides you shelter until some solution can be found. (((HUGS)))

I washed dishes.
Almost 8pm and I am looking forward to calling it a day. ;)

Anony, good work on the cleaning!
have you given up on your earthbag house?

I so want you to have a nice, safe cozy place to live. With no skunks!

I understand about the money thing. Knowing I can go buy exactly what I want very cheaply at the reuse store helps me get rid of some of my craft supplies, but there was a time when even $3 would have been too much and I felt like I had to hold on to everything just in case I needed it to improvise. I sewed a lot of my kid's toys, party favors, and gifts for their friends and teachers out of old, worn out clothes. Dd once made a fantastic Halloween costume out of an old t-shirt and juice can lids (she was a knight)

Tillie, did you find some food? I made a nice Mediterranean salad for dinner tonight (except I subbed kale, which I had, for fresh basil, which I didn't, and threw in some dry basil) it was yummy, but now we are safe from vampires for sure!

The only veggies today were some very bad cucumbers that went right to the chickens, but I have two flats of raspberries that are going bad. I am going to pick through them and make jam in the morning. I think I can save about half.

I hope I wasn't too blunt in that other thread.

Tatoulia, yay for good shoe choices! I almost never wear heels. My grandmother started wearing them every day at 15 and her tendons shortened so that when she was older, she had to have wedges even on her slippers or it was painful to walk.

I did finally ride the bike - so I have my iPad.

Lots of running out today though - food bank, animal supply store, and groceries. Bunny is doing well. I got a flea comb and am consulting with a friend on what to do next. Or CM?! (Shout out)

~Beer clinks!~
Tillie, thats interesting youre related to Richard Henry Dana! :D. My Mom's side has all sorts of famous relatives; Jefferson Davis, Albert Einstein, Abner Doubleday. Its nice to feel connected to history!
I dont keep outdated food, what i meant was that the money im saving from the new food bank makes me feel like i can afford to toss gross, old broken things more easily, since i could better afford to replace them, if needed.
Its funny watching The Waltons since going through the poverty like they have. It has a different perspective to me now. The last episode i watched was about how things, tho sentimental, are just things, and not that person.
I think the skunk today could be the one that escaped the old trap a while ago. Ive never had this much trouble with trapping them! Years ago, i got frustrated with a full sized one & finally, with my welding gloves on, just grabbed it & stuffed into the live trap for relocation. Doing that just scares the begeezes out of me now?!
Looking around today has got me overwhelmed at how bad off this place is...i could easily spend the rest of my life just trying to improve this place & end up with a disgusting mushy big box that is nearly a half century old....part of me wishes itd just all get ruined, so id be free....

Hello ;)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
WAY TO GO! for cleaning that area! :D
Happy to hear you are now willing to toss undesirable and outdated foods.
Poverty is scary but we are all fortunate that there are generous people who will provide us with fresh wholesome foods should the need arise.
I believe that it's not the bait you are using in the traps but the traps themselves.
Once they learn about traps they will never go in one.
Cats too learn, except Marty. He would happily go into the cat trap, eat the bait/treat and wait patiently for me to come release him.
Interesting fact that you are related to the Waltons.
I am a direct descendant of Richard Henry Dana which allows me to join "The Daughters Of The American Revolution".

Hi Tatoulia :)
I'm very happy to know you are a sensible woman who doesn't try to damage her feet & happiness by always wearing heels everywhere.
When Granma and I would shop the stores in downtown Detroit she would always wear comfortable flats.
Bet you will miss seeing Tigger around the house. ;)

Took a shower and shampooed my hair.
Have the kitchen sink all scoured and ready for dish washing.
Know I should eat something but really have no appetite right now.
Nothing sounds tempting.
All closed up inside, the cooler is doing a great job keeping us cool.
Watching Netflix.
I know there is a lot of housework I need to do but I am giving myself amnesty until the weather is better.
But Cats have clean litter boxes and fresh water and food.
The floor was swept, the trash taken out.
The cats are taking it easy too, no playing, just all stretched out napping around the house.

Well, im happy to say that i got all that disgusting stuff out from under there & it only took me a half hour! Im gonna vacuum it in a bit. The sweat in my eye didnt sting, so im gonna finish the living room, too!
I know this seems like an excuse, and i constantly try to check myself on how much it is, but under all this stuff is basically a rotted cardboard box. Its not like a nice house will be here if i fix it up....its just so depressing. It did feel really good to clean that out & once its vacuumed im sure ill be glad!
As i was sorting, i only saved a few things & this new food bank is saving me money enough that i felt more comfortable throwing away stuff. I really, really want to head in that direction more. The poverty is a big factor for me.....wow, that did feel good, tho! :D

Tillie, ive been putting the bowls up on the table when its not raining hard enough for roof leaks & just a bit ago i saw the little @#&*#x out there trying to get on the table, so i put tuna in the live trap & set it, but he didnt go for it. This has gotten so frustrating. I love wildlife & nature, but ive never had to battle it to protect my territory this much in all my years out here.
I hope youre enjoying movies? I sure am! I hadnt done this for a long time. It seems theres something in the way of everything i want or need to do & that i need to just wait it out, so movies are perfect...and right now im watching the 1st season of The Waltons, which brings back mixed feelings of memories from back home. Im even related to the real family it was based on, so it really is a bit emotjonal...
I think im going to clean an area in the kitchen that has been bugging me. Its hard to get to, but ill wear long sleeves so my arm injury is covered. Im gonna do that right now! :D

Tillie the fire is absolutely heartbreaking. I am left speechless by its scope and size.

I have a theory re shoes: anything is possible if you're in the proper footwear. I see people hobbling along the sidewalks and I don't understand it. Mind you, there have been times in my life where my shoes would hurt as I walked and every yard would seem like a mile. I generally have two pair of walking shoes that I rotate. At work I have a few pair of high heels/dress shoes to change into. At home I have different dress shoes to wear.

So if I want to roam the city, I'm in lightweight walking shoes. That's it. And I can always throw a pair of dress shoes in my purse if I need to change upon my arrival.

Well our temporary roommate has gone home. He was a terrific houseguest. Until there is more work going on, he won't be back.

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Subclinical :)
Thank you for replying to the other thread.
Your own personal knowledge is very valuable in helping to teach others. (((HUGS)))
How is Bunny?
Hope you get some pretty veggies today. :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
So happy Tigger is relaxed! (((hug kitty)))
Your Mom will be so happy and pretty with the new nightgowns. ;D
I suppose that in the city good walking shoes are a necessity for getting around. More important than owning a car.

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Happy you read up on F.U.S. so you would know what to watch for :)
Now you have fighting raccoons too!!! :O
As if skunks and neighbor's cat weren't enough already to deal with.
Could you put the food bowls back on the table and make a protected cover over them?
Like a couple of cinder blocks with a board across the top of them to block the rain drops?



A surface challenge is what I need.
I will want to wipe down/wash every surface, even the surface of the ceiling fan blades.

No change in the conditions here over night.
Woke up and saw the sunrise and it was that same ugly orange orb of a sun.
So I went back to bed and slept more.
Problem is the air current just keeps bringing the smoke this way.
We need some wind to blow it all away.
Did do the very needed watering last evening.
Placed the hose/sprinkler, set the timer and waited inside until time to relocate the hose/sprinkler to another area.
Plans for today is wash dishes and shower & wash my hair.

~♡~Good morning, all!~♡~
Tillie, thank you pointing out the possibility of F.U.S. I read your post last night & started researching it & thinking on changes recently that may cause that with him. Im gonna make some diet changes, etc. & watch him, but then this morning i saw him squat & ran over there to check & right before he covered it i saw a puddle, so i think hes likely ok. Also a raccoon fight last night happened & those things are amazingly loud!!! Then later a skunk came in the bedroom. Theyve come back since i put the food bowls under the table because the rain leaks in the porch roof into the bowls.
It seems like im dealing with nothing but cat & critter issues around the clock lately?!!
Im so sorry about the fire smoke?! Ive never had it that bad here. Im so glad your cooler is working well!
SubC, i havent finished vacuuming yet cuz in this heat, the sweat is dripping into my eye that has something wrong with it. Its getting better, tho. Thanks for the reminder! Have you exercised, yet?
Tatoulia, you are such an amazing & attentive daughter! And i just love the wonderful changes in you in your energy & happiness!
Hi, CM!
Hi, Porter!
Hi, Joan!
~♡~I really do love & appreciate you all soooo much!!!~♡~

Checking in. Cats are good. My cat has eaten but BF's cat hasn't. I just found BF's cat asleep on the marble bathroom floor. Dear cat. It's not hot here and there's no humidity but he's loving the cool tiles and his privacy.

I love the surfaces idea! And just in time! I've onky had Clutter Creep in two places and I need to stop that now! I'm in on the surfaces for August!

I didn't do as much drawer/cabinet work as I would have liked but I did more than I would have!

Tillie I worry so about your health. I know you take good care of yourself and the kitties but I'm a worrier by nature. Praying for some clearer air.

Anony I'm back to two cats today. Tigger is much more settled today, since it's now a familiar place for him. No meowing and pacing. I'm sorry you have a cat spray issue. Oh boy.

Yesterday my mother called me before 9 AM. Unheard of! Someone at her place had woken her up. So we got together early. I stopped by her house to clean the cat's box then I got the car and took her out for the day. We stopped at my office so I could pick up some paperwork then we went grocery shopping. I made her come inside where she could sit on a bench and be cool. She read a magazine and I was able to do her groceries without worrying about her in the car. Afterward I came home for a sandwich then I walked to the hardware store. BF met me and we stopped so he could get a bite to eat. We then went shopping and I returned a dress and bought a few blouses for myself. And a pair of walking shoes. And a couple of nightgowns for mom. It was a good day all around. He bought a ton of stuff but I didn't pay attention.

Tomorrow I will return my shoes (different store, different part of town).

I did one load of laundry yesterday, just my sheets. I had a good day. And mom seemed happy. I'll bring her the nighties sometime this week. It'll give her something to think about. Nice, cool cotton nightgowns. Really lovely and pretty.

Let me know how you are!!!

Oh Tillie, I can't imagine!

It must be scary and horrible to be out there. So much destruction and people losing their homes and lives in these fires all over the planet. And all the horrible things that are pouring into the air and water so that the fires harm even people far away...

Stay safe.

Anony, did you vacuum?

I am going to the food bank today. I cleaned stalls again yesterday, but won't today, so I need to make sure I get my exercise in.

Tomorrow is the end of July. My floors are good, and I have done a little shelf/drawer work.

Can we focus on surfaces in August? I am having trouble keeping mine (counters, tables, dressers, beds) free of piles. I think floors and shelves could be surfaces too. Basically, anything flat that you can see?

Hopefully the fires will be out and Tillie will be wiping hers off.

Been the worst day ever.
A high of 104.
Late afternoon, about 3:00pm the shy turned a dirty brown and you could look directly at the sun because it was just this funky looking orange orb.

When this is all over with I'm looking forward to washing EVERYTHING to get the smoky smell out of the laundry.
I'm not doing any laundry until the smoke is all gone.

Cats and I watched Netflix and ate watermelon all day.

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Good luck with your plans for today. :D
Boy kitty is probably sick & tired of the intruders and just marking his territory.
But keep an eye on him to be sure he isn't getting F.U.S. (feline urinary syndrome).
Boys get it more than females due to their narrower urethra.


Today is horrible.
Smoke is very thick, visibility next to nothing.
Danger warning, air quality is so bad keep all people & animals inside.
Limit time outdoors to short necessary trips only.

Was planning to water some things this morning but decided to wait and see if the air is better this evening.
Cats are not well. Watery eyes, no appetite and some vomiting.
No playing today, just laying in places looking miserable.

This smoke is coming all the way from California.
That deadly Carr fire.

SubC, if you try the diatomacous earth, get the food grade kind, so the bunny licking it off wont hurt it. Good luck!

~☆~Cinnamon coffee clinks!~☆~
SubC, try diatomacous earth for the fleas on the bunny? Theres a thread on it here from yesterday. Its non-toxic, cheap, effective & not wet or sticky, etc. I use it a lot on my cats & the house! :D
I can not believe that yall are cat ladies that are allergic to cats?!!? And Tillie, to have certain cats help your allergies?! Wow!
Ive had an animal shocker for 3 days in a row now. Just now my alpha male sprayed next the stove where the skunk goes & i guess hes spraying for the skunk, but ive never seen him spray, ever?!!
Its supposed to be much cooler today, so im going to get something done. I havent decided yet, but maybe finish vacuuming the living room, which is a bigger job than it sounds, cuz its got spider webs in everything, maybe ill pick up some bits of trash that surfaced from the rain outside, too....

Good Morning Everyone :)
Iced chai masala "Clink!"
cough,cough,cough...

Hi Tatoulia :)
Hope you resisted laundry and are out and about in the city today. :D
So happy you are at a stage where you can rearrange furniture and redecorate your home! (((HUG)))

Hi Subclinical :)
So happy Bunny is now with you where she will get all the love, care and attention she needs. (((HUGS)))

Not doing anything today.
Just hanging in here surviving.
Cats are already all flat and melted at 8:45am.
Another day of Netflix and watermelon. ;D

Bunny is home! She has been clipped instead of brushed, so she looks funny.

She also has a small but not angry looking sore on one foot, and fleas.

CM, I have never had a bunny with fleas! What do I do?

They said they had a batch of kittens that arrived with fleas and gave been battling the problem and that they washed her last night, but I found one in her fur.

She will have to stay outside for now.

Good morning! I hope to get a lot done today. I will get mom out but I'd also like to go downtown and return a pair of shoes and maybe stop by office to pick up some paperwork for tomorrow. The shoe store opens at 10. If I don't start a laundry I'll be in perfect shape to accomplish this. I think the humidity is lower today so I could even walk downtown then take the subway home.

I'll ponder this as I enjoy my iced tea.

My friend loves my chairs and has sent me three sketches with ideas of where the second one can go. Right now I like their placement but one is a little forced and I knew it would have to be moved. I'll try my friend's ideas later on. For now, I should change my sheets and resist the urge to do laundry.

WOW! lots of chatting today! :D

WTG! Subclinical cleaning and fixing the bunny hutch!
Bunny will love helping you use up excess produce. ;)
Thank you for the wet blankets (((HUGS)))
The evaporative cooler has been doing a pretty good job of filtering the air today.
Hope your exercise motivation helps. ;)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
I too am allergic to cats.
Standard short hair cats make me itch.
My albino cat makes me itch, sniffle and eyes water.
But the long haired orange and white cats cause me to have asthma attacks when I do not live with one.
Living with cats really helps me to not have such severe reactions when I am exposed to them.
Those spotted skunks usually become very friendly after they eat two pounds of raw bacon.
Discovered this camping in Arizona and having well fed skunks sleeping on the sleeping bags when we woke up in the morning.


Hi Tatoulia :)
YEA! for things in consignment! :D
NEW chairs too! How wonderful and new and fresh you are making your home! (((HUGS)))
Big dogs cause me respiratory problems but those tiny little dogs don't.
Horses, allergic to them too. :(

Yeah, the smoke is really bad here.
Feel so bad about all the death and destruction from the Carr fire.
Heard there is another fire by Wadsworth.
When all this heat and smoke is all over with I should feel up to cleaning in here for real.
Not just sort of tidying up but really clean.
It needs it. ;P

Tatoulia, they are a smaller variety of skunks called the Western Spotted Skunk, and these are even smaller cuz they are young, so i was just calling them skunk-rats cuz im so disgusted with them. They are not even the slightest bit polite, like SubC's skunks...ha ha :D. Your place does sound really beautiful with all youve done recently!
SubC, i hope you can get back into exercising. Ive felt better since walking at night & i bet you will, too! ;D ...plus, of course, then youll get your ipad back...ha ha. ;D

Great work on the bunny hutch!!! I'm excited for the new bunny! Anony, could you tell me are skunk rats skunks or rats or just what you call them?

Tatoulia, I am glad the guy took your consignments. A furniture upgrade, a new rug, things must be really nice there!

Anony, I wish I had some advice about the skunks. Mine like bread, but mine are very polite. Even if they poop in the barn, it is always the same out if the way corner.

We'll see how the exercise goes - today I did work.

I finished fixing up the bunny hutch.

It was nice to be able to easily find a piece of wood and the screws I needed for the job. I used up more if my cardboard stash on the garden when I cleaned the stalls, so that is progress too.

SubC, how exciting to bring a bunny home! :D
That idea is great about holding your ipad till you exercise! Just do a little exercise at a time & you will feel better!
Tatoulia, you are really getting things done at warp speed! Fantastic! :D
I just saw what is likely the Mom skunk-rat. She is WAY bigger than the ones ive seen lately, so now i realize theyre a young litter. That makes 2 litters of skunks around now. The thing is, if i set those rat traps & the Mom gets in it, it would not as likely kill her...at least not instantly & i dont want any animal to suffer, even if its making my life hell....dangit....i really dont know what to do about these mini-skunks...they wont go in the live trap or even eat the bait outside the trap......
Tillie, i hope the smoke is not bothering you as much & youre watching some great movies?! Movies can be such a wonderful escape & inspiration! :D
~☆~♡~☆~♡~☆~♡~☆~

Enjoyed reading your exchange, Anony & SubC! I went to consignment shop and he took all of my things. I bought two very nice chairs for my living space (I'd had my eye on them) and I've already put the chair I'm getting rid of in my car. So I'll take that chair to the shop soon. It's out of the way and in my trunk.

Oh, crossed with Anony.

I have to get dh to take the iPad because I know I don't have the willpower to force myself. If I try to tell myself no iPad until after exercise, I will just rationalize my way out of it.

The rabbit hutch has been thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned, and is drying in the sun. I discovered a minor but essential reinforcement I need to make and found a piece of wood in the barn to use, but will do that after it is dry.

Washed and disinfected the water bottle, and have a new food dish (I don't know if she will come with anything...) tomorrow I am driving 35 minutes to meet the man who has been fostering her for the last 7 months (at a busy restaurant near a major highway, don't worry) and if all goes well she will be home before lunch.

I am starting to feel happy/excited.

SubC, losing your ipad until getting good things done is a great idea! I like that!
I understand about not wanting to be messing with your brain chemistry, it scares me too. Thats why ive never done anti-depressants. Im just so desperate to get going in fixing my place up....but i cant seem to....i hope you feel better soon?! For me, exercising almost always makes me feel better, and shifts my mood! :D

Tatoulia, your cabinet work was really good!

Anony, I think it's not so much apathy as detachment? I know it's biochemical. I always care, but sometimes I feel and sometimes I just keep going on philosophical principles. Sometimes I care so much I can barely stand it. Like the first day of fair this year - I was actually unable to focus because I was dizzy and nauseated from all the water bottles in the trash cans. Because my biochemical emotional state can swing like that, sometimes very quickly, i'm afraid to take anything to mess with it. Drugs have a build up time and a half life and I don't want the pendulum swinging worse than it does because my body and the drugs decided to push in the same direction.

I took care of my floor. I also worked on cleaning out stalls because it is only a high of 80 and not raining here today! I am in poor physical condition. (Also, my elbow hurts again, but I should not be this winded.) I haven't ridden my exercise bike or gone swimming in months. I asked dh to help me with a consequence. When he comes home, if i haven't done an hour of yard/barn work, swim laps, or ridden the bike that day, he gets my iPad. And he can't give it back until after I do the bike. That will give me at minimum 7 half hours of stationary bike a week, which should help with my cardio Heath.

I'm glad the kitties worked it out.

I'm another allergic to cats person who has a cat. But he is a short haired cat and outside a lot. Also, I have a hepa vacuum.

I want to hang wet blankets over all of tillie's windows to hell with the smoke! But I guess they would dry too fast...

Tatoulia, we cross posted! I never knew allergies were different for each cat?!? That is true cat lady dedication!
I just vacuumed some more until sweat was getting in my eyes...im so bored & restless from this heat. Id be swimming if it weren't for my arm injury....sorry for posting so much, im going so stir crazy...its like cabin fever desert style...ha ha...im gonna make a pineapple banana smoothie next....♡
~☆~I hope everyone has a special & splendid day!~☆~

Tatoulia, i dont clean much...ha ha...but as far as cats & cleaning, its the vacuum that the cleaning person needs to be careful of with the cats, giving them an easy escape away from it, but im sure you know that....♡

Anony I believe in breaking my allergies to cats one cat at a time! My dog allergies are exponentially worse! And I've never successfully overcome a dog allergy.

Take care dear friends!

...well, i just wet to hang with my kitty in her RV & she & the bully neighbor cat were sitting right next to each other & she didnt seem bothered at all....it must be her buddy....she didnt even bother to get up when i told her i was outside & he didnt run away or get up, even though id just chased him off only like an hour ago, so im figuring he is an invited guest...i told him its ok ONLY if he is an invited guest....im glad they are friends?!! =^-^= ♡ =^-^=

Ooh Tillie. I'm so sorry about all the smoke irritants. Wow you and Anony know so much about stuff that this city mouse has no knowledge of!

The Tigger/cleaning lady challenge was more worrying about two litter boxes, two areas of dishes, his giant carrier, etc. plus I'm just a worrier! At work the employees do the vacuuming and dusting and all the maintenance. He's good with a lot of activity/it just seemed like a lot of cats for my tiny living space. He's used to a lot of noise and people in and out. I was just fretting more than the situation required. Problem solved!!

I'm off to consignment store and hoping beyond hope the guy that takes my stuff without an appt is there! I texted him and didn't hear back, which increases the likelihood he is there as he doesn't have his phone out at work

Ttyl!

???!
I meant to post that thing on diatomacious earth in that thread?!? How did that happen?!?
Yes, i get the food grade kind at the Holistic Animal store, cuz i also use it for internal parasites for my cats.

~iced cinnamon coffee clinks!~
Tillie, the fire smoke you get regularly sounds awful?! At least its cool inside! It finally cooled off enough last night for me to not be hot for the first time in at least a week!
Abandoned animals upsets me more than almost anything... :(
SubC, im so sorry youre feeling bad. I had to look up apathy, cuz i didnt think it described you at all with your passion for so many things, especially environmental issues? Nootropics are natural brain supplements that you may want to try? That is what im looking into now, and partly to help me get motivated to fix my place up. I think i might take anything at this point that would do that...
Tatoulia, you are allergic to cats, yet you have one?! Wow! That is amazing! YEA!, for the new floor mat!
I went for a walk last night after it cooled off again & i scared all these birds that were roosting the whole way...i shouldnt have laughed, but it was hilarious!
Ive just been watching movies trying to stay cool, but it is cloudy & much cooler today, so hopefully ill get something done today~

Hi Anonymoniker :)

I heard that you can buy that diatomaceous earth at plant nurseries.
I never used it but many people rave about how well it works and is not poisonous or dangerous to pets.

Hi Sharon, i deal with a lot of bugs where i live & if it were me, id first try getting some diatomacious earth, which is cheap & non-toxic(just dont breath in the powder). I use it a lot & its great for most tiny bugs. You can google about it. I put it in my bed when my cats bring fleas in to it & anytime i suspect bugs.
Good luck! :D

Good Morning Everybody
"cough, cough ,cough.

Hi Subclinical :)
You have done well with the drawer/shelf challenge. :D
The goal of the challenge has been to just do something, anything.
Which is better than not fixing up a drawer or shelf this month along with everything else we all have going on in our lives. ;)
And you have been doing very well keeping up with the floor challenge too.
Every little bit counts!

Hi Tatoulia :)
I had been hoping something would come up that would reschedule the cleaning lady without you having to reschedule or cancel her yourself.
YEA! ;D
Doesn't Tigger have his own cleaning lady at the office?


All those fires burning in California are sending thick choking smoke this way today.
The air is orange, my eyes and throat are sore.
I'm coughing a lot. The house reeks of wood smoke.
But other than that it is a lovely cool quiet morning.
I hear horses whinnying nearby but no bird song.
Going to water trees today. I turn the hose on to slowly drip, set the timer for an hour and then move the hose to another tree, repeat.
OK, just saw a rider less horse trot down the road, LOL ;D

Good morning everyone! Iced tea clinks! I got up at 630 to feed my only cat then went back to bed. I haven't lolled in bed on an age!

I fell down on the shelf storage space, SubC. I did some of my scary cabinet then let go. Last night I worked on my shelves in my dining room closet but the reason was I was looking for something. I got things in better shape but nothing was eliminated.

SubC, I am sorry for your emotional state. I am immensely grateful for your friendship and I am grateful you have a good partner in your husband.

Good news: neighbor asked if we can have cleaning lady on Wednesday instead of Monday! That will be so helpful as I do not imagine i will have Tigger throughout the week; hopefully just Monday.

Ok I have to get on with my afternoon, as the morning has come and almost gone without me!

I forgot the shelf/drawer challenge.

I guess I am doing well on it since I cleared off a lot of shelf space sending ds his things and then emptied three shoebox sized bins that sit on a rack when I took stuff to the reuse store. I will clean up my little floor mess today and be back on track.

Hello :)

Hi Subclinical :)
Yes! A new bunny! How nice :D

Some people should never be allowed to have any animal, EVER.
People abandon cats, dogs, horses, poultry and domestic bunnies out here.
They are just disgusting.

So sorry you are experiencing overwhelming apathy
(((((HUGS)))))
Take it easy on yourself and I hope the weekend structure helps.

Tatoulia :)
That is lovely!
They all look so nice.
Can't wait until you report back how wonderful it is having it down! ;D

Funny isn't it?
Being allergic to cats but yet we happily live with them. ;P

Had to water the flowers again this evening even though I watered them yesterday.
They all look so terrible, wilted and dying.
Watered the dry crispy grass too.
Tomorrow I will water the trees and bushes again.
Wish I had some ice cream LOL ;D
But I don't need ice cream since I am trying to reduce my sugar intake.
Have some more drawer/shelf paper so I better get busy, the shelf/drawer challenge is coming to an end soon.

I am reading and worrying about the weather and being glad for everyone's progress.

I am moving slowly.

I can feel the depression building up again. It is not being sad, it is being indifferent. No reason to do anything, because it is all the same. I am going to get dh to help me with some structure when he is around this weekend. My brain knows what I should be doing, but I don't care enough to do it. And it is hard when I know my body will not reward me with happy chemicals like it is supposed to.

One thing on my list for tomorrow is to deep clean the rabbit hutch because it looks like I am going to get a new bunny on Sunday. I hope she will be sweet like my old bunny and I will fall in love with her. Right now, I am just thinking "that should be good. I liked having a rabbit. Having a rabbit is a good thing." She is another rescue and the same breed as the bunny I lost. They don't know how old she is. Why do people move and leave behind rabbits? What is up with that?!

That's great advice, Tillie. The cats will figure it out. I am both excited and nervous to have the cleaning lady here.

The rug is fantastic. Unbelievable. If you care to see it, you can look up Spicher & Co vinyl floor mats, find the pattern University: Dulwich. Beautiful.

Ok off to bed. I can't breathe due to my allergies. Cats.

Hi Tatoulia :)
Since she is just one cleaning lady and not a cleaning crew,
she can only be in one room at a time.
The cats will be fine since they can just go into another room if they feel she is being too spooky.
That's what my cats do. ;)
YEA!!! that your new rug is there! :D
Is there much furniture to move out of the way?

Hoping the cleaning lady is a cat person,
if so she will understand the situation and pause long enough for the cats to figure her out. (((hug)))

Good thing it's way too hot to go to the store.
By the time I do go my cinnamon raison bread & butter craving should have passed. ;P

Glad to hear from everyone! So much going on! Tigger has gone back home and will be back here on Monday. Monday is also the day the cleaning lady starts. Oh well, we will live through it.

Sorry I started all the raisin bread cravings but my goodness it is so good! So I can never buy again. Maybe on my birthday.

My cat hasn't been out since Tigger left. Hopefully soon. I just washed up his dishes and now I'll take care of his litter box.

Cm do what you can. Breathe and take good care of yourself. You are doing a good job of rolling with the punches and deciding to do laundry next week since you can't do it the way you like to tonight.

Anony please be careful around the skunks. I hadn't thought of rabies til Tillie mentioned it.

Tillie 106F in the shade! I can't even imagine that.

My vinyl rug is here but until I do the floors I can't put it out. If I could wait Monday then the cleaning lady could do my floors. I don't see myself waiting til Monday.

The timing is definitely lousy for the cleaning lady but my neighbor made the arrangements and I'm not comfortable asking her to change them. Everyone will need to be big cats and I'll need to be a big girl.

Hello :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Happy the kitties are doing fine.
Figured they would be. ;)
Schedule in the time to go to the museum, by yourself and with your Mom.
Make it a firm date and keep it. ;D
Good that your friend's home is alright. That was a terrifying fire. :(
Yeah, the key to nice cold ice tea is to make it the day before.

Hi CriticalMass :)
I'M so happy that you can spend time with your friend and seeing babies even if it takes you away from other plans.
Do not wrap things in plastic. If you fear he may spray something just drape a plastic sheet/drop cloth/table cloth over the item.
This way it will be easy for you to access the things.

Hi Anonymoniker :)
We may not be able to see the eclipse but we can still see the huge full moon, that counts.
:)

106 degrees in the shade on the back porch.
High clouds and hazy smoke.
I sound like I have bronchitis when I start coughing. ;P
74 degrees inside here. New movie on Netflix.
Cats are all melted, laying around all over the house.
I'm eating cherries and drinking ice water. :D