Dianne, I hope you're feeling better soon. There seems to be a lot of sickness going around so hopefully you're at the tail end of it.

It's so exciting reading about everyone prepping for winter. We'll have decent weather for a couple more weeks but I have lots on my to-do list to get ready.

I came home on Sunday night after being away for the weekend to a strong mold odor in my bedroom. There are no pipes on that side of the house so it wouldn't be a pipe, but I've searched and haven't been able to find anything that's wet that would be contributing to it. i've had the air filter and fans running but it does't seem to be making any difference. This weekend I'll check the gutters.

This morning before leaving for work, in searching for something that might be causing the smell, I filled a grocery bag with trash, pulled out a couple of clothing items for donation, and filled a large tote bag with books. I noticed a book drop box near my boyfriend's house so I got excited at the thought of being able to get them out of my house and have them be potentially used by someone else.

Have a great day everyone!

Taking a break from afternoon tasks and reading posts. Dianne and Tillie, your plans/prepping for winter is impressive. Yea for you! I'm in an area where winter is not as "challenging," but there will still be faucets to insulate and a few other such tasks. That thought of "fall cleaning" (to have the home pleasant for the winter months) sounds like a great part of the plan. I hope you get the needed rain, Tillie. Have a good day, everyone.

Thanks Tillie, best hug I had all day, actually the only hug!!!!!! Work was good. Still raining, rained all day which is unusual here. Hope you get some rain Tillie.
Plan to cook soup tonight, need some healthy food to feel better. Too bad I threw the mouse away, good protein Tillie.
Sure hope everyone is getting lots done. I am planning to finish washing a few dishes, cook soup and watch tv and give myself a break tonight. Tomorrow morning hope energy is up so I can do maintenance in here.

Hi Tatoulia :)

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!!! for tossing that flood soaked fabric! :D
Does sound like a lot of fun organizing all the other items.
Happy Dancing about no leaks between the areas! :D
YEA!!! for tossing the mouse too! ;) lololol
Enjoy the clinic time. (((hugs)))

Just stopped in for a split second. Hello to everyone. Diane isn't that the best feeling, to throw something out?

Hello and keep up the good work everyone. Will write more later.

Hi gals, it is raining here, hope it comes your way Tillie, really cleaning the air. Past 2 days worked on the roof, still have leak between walls. Did stop one leak. Tillie only you can understand how exciting it is to no longer have a leak in walkway between trailer and freezer room. This morning I worked in room off garage, found some stuff to toss including a mouse in mouse trap. I organized some stuff that was so much fun. Found some fabric that had been soaked when had flood, which I planned to wash, today I said why, just put in garbage, such a better plan. Some of the craft stuff out there was so much fun to organize.
Off to work now.

Thanks for the update, Bitsy. I am happy to hear that your making some progress and that you are maintaining the hotel room. I am sure that this is very, very stressful and am sending you strength and love.

Thank you for the Bitsy Bright story.

thanks Tatoulia, Tillie, Dianne, and LR2014.

still in motel. maybe will post some goals later. One day at a time.
we did get completely full garbage can and recycle can to street again this week for pick up.
Took son to NAMI support group last nite and to art therapy this A.M. First time he has been since hospital. He needs these. we are both a bit too introverted which can slip into reclusive. and deeper depression.
Got some bills paid. Keeping up with laundry, dishes, clutter etc at motel.
Have not felt well last few days. (spring and fall when weather changes so suddenly I get kinda sick. maybe allergies.)
Bitsy Brite was a "character" created for the grandkids when they were little. She was a woods fairy (a spirit of nature) who lived in the little woods next to their house. She would bring flowers and leaves etc and leave little notes signed Bitsy Brite was here.

Tillie I am so sorry. Sending you and the kitties much love and many hopes and wishes for clearer air NOW.

bitsy: Since I got very behind in reading posts, I started trying to catch up the other day by reading the latest ones and working backwards. (Still am behind, but I'm working on it.) One thing that I noticed in your Sept. 15 post was your comment about the joys of being with that group of very young (ages 3 to 6) children. I've come to believe that my life is missing something if I don't have at least one 5-year-old in my life. I can so relate to what you were saying! When my nieces and nephews were young, I almost always did have at least one 5-year-old in my life. Their sense of awe about the world, their inquisitive minds, their ability to have creative fun, their ability to enjoy simple things, their energy . . . it's all so inspiring. Being around them helps me put so many things in life into perspective. (I hope you found those gifts you were looking for in the "patio door" room, by the way.)

just learning the site

Hey,

The wild fire smoke is the worst yet today. :(
Laying low all closed up inside, still hard to breathe.
Marty (the cat) is having coughing fits. Scooter (the cat)'s eyes are hurting him badly.

Oh Well,

Hi, I'm still slowly chipping away at my "hidden hoards", and just wanted to update my IN/OUT list for 2014:

Items IN: 48
Items OUT: 73

(Note: I do not count consumables or paper, unless it's a book or magazine).

Goal:
To have the OUTS double the INS.

Biggest weaknesses:
- all the stuff that "might come in handy one day"
- anything vintage
- and JARS (of course, LOL)

Just remembered the correct wording:

Life starts anew when it gets crisp in the Fall.

Much love

You are 100% right, Diane. Sounds like you did a lot today! Congratulations! But I'm happiest with your internal work. You most certainly deserve a capital D. As does Bitsy--time for a capital B Bitsy?

Forgive me all for not putting one and one together--I sure would've put a stop to it! You both deserve the respect of a capitalized name!

Keep up the good work, everyone. I continue to work on my place. Maintenance is going great and I'm finding fewer and fewer things that I'd like to keep. It's hard. It can be tough. But only when I stop and reflect.

Yes, Hello Autumn!!! I read a quote once that said, life starts anew when it gets cool in the Fall.

I am changing my name to Diane. I realize diane is low self esteem, like I do not deserve respect not even a capital letter! Tillie when you wrote Diane, thought you were talking to Dianne, when I realized you were talking to me, I felt better with capitol letter.
I have felt left out, not being in chat, was such a part of my week for 1&1/2 years. Thanks Tillie for including me in your post. I have finally done the dishes, watered all shrubs and trees, worked more on entrance, I really like it, still want to change a few things.
Did 2 loads of laundry today.
Finally threw away all the food I left in refrigerator too long, really dislike throwing so much good food away because I let it go bad.
Washed sheets today so must take overdue shower now. Good tv on tonight so have to go get in shower now. Feels good to write on here again.

Great work, Bitsy! I know how hard this is and you are doing great! Please be careful not to overdo. I hope your son is doing better. Are you back in your house yet or still in a hotel?

Baby steps
By a baby. feel so needy. I need maybe just one WTG.

posted 9/9/2014 . this was a major big deal for us.
"we went to the SE house and got five bags of trash and four bags of recycling out to the street for pick-up"

Posted: 9/15/2014.. Thought I made some progress. eliminating some computer clutter and finding rather than buying more presents and getting a bit sorted and a little trash out of that room. and being able to spend a couple hours doing one of my favorite things. One of the few things that relieve my stress and anxiety, (besides reading posts here.)
"Frustrating. my computer running slow. I don't know how I could go back to snail mail for paying bills! I did finally get a couple important ones paid. Um.. After I closed "a few" windows I had open and "a few" documents I had been working on. Yes, even clutter in my computer.

I worked in the "patio door" room yesterday. My motivation was that I needed birthday presents for my great grandson and I knew there were some in there somewhere that didn't get to him last Christmas. Strained relations between my daughter and my grand-daughter, my hoarding situation, and my grand-daughter's very crowded living conditions pretty much made last Christmas a bust. Things are going better this year for daughter, grand-daughter and of course the great grand kids. Such a relief for me. I of course had to try to help everybody instead of focusing on my PROBLEM.

Anyway, I got to be with, talk with, and observe a group of 3 to 6 year old children. I so enjoy seeing their minds working and expanding. It was a very nice change to just enjoy myself and not worry or feel overwhelmed with everything."

Thank you, Tillie, for helping me see my way to forgive myself. Very helpful. As I posted on the other page, today I am evaluating what I will be keeping, rather than what I'll be giving away. Feels more positive for me right now. Have the ten dresses I'll be keeping, not an issue saying goodbye to the others.

Good morning

Hi Diane :)
What a LOT of work you have done! WTG!!! :)
Nice that you can now enter that area.
Having the wood closer to the house will also make it easier on you this winter.
Have you been doing art/craft things?
Would love to see your rock sculptures. :D
If you get a shelter dog they usually have had a complete physical and temperament evaluation. Come fully vaccinated, micro chipped and spayed or neutered.
Do some research on physical issues associated with different breeds too to know what you may face in the future.
Many fine, good quality puppies and older dogs can be found at animal shelters.
(((hugs))) :)

Hi LR2014 :)
Nice to "see" you last night in chat.
Keep up all your fantastic progress! WTG!!!

Hi Tatoulia :)
Your insight into the "why" do I have these things is FANTASTIC!
Once we realize what made us buy or keep items, it becomes easier to make better decisions as to what we actually need & want to keep for ourselves.
You weren't bad or knowingly being wasteful when you acquired. You were thinking with your emotions and the emotions told you that this was the way to do things.
Now you're brain is in charge of the thinking and you are able to make better decisions as to what you need and want for your life.
(((hugs)))

The smoke has blown back in, was nice to have that little relief.
My plans for today are to do cat related stuff, some laundry and kitchen tidying up.
Need to try to wash Scooter's eyes. They are troubling him and have become crusty.
He really hates having the wash cloth on his face and fights it tooth and nail, but only if I can catch him in the first place. lol
Catch ya later.

I just finished it. What an uplifting movie!

LOL Tatoulia :D
I watched that too!

Tillie, that was a lot of outdoor work today--I hope the winds at least brought fresher air with them. Oh, and you are a saint. Today I watched part of a Netflix movie and thought about you...a documentary about someone building his own Tiny House and I thought, I bet this would suit Tillie.

Dianne, it was Tillie who gave me the mental image of building up my mental muscles. And the image is resonating with me, too.

LR, I enjoy your posts immensely. I gain a lot of strength from you.

Will write more later. My day continues to show progress, and I give each of you credit for that.

We had terrible winds last night, lots of tree branches down.
I got up before the sun and started cleaning up all that mess.
Since I was already out there anyways, I watered everything and burned a lot of old branches and other stuff.
Pruned tree branches I could reach that were too near the house.
Tried killing the red ants, again.
Discovered hoards of wasps and sprayed them.
I am tired.
"He" sat at his computer playing games.

Heard a Dove making an unusual squawking sound and went around to the side yard to see what was up.
My Great Horned Owl was having breakfast. :)

A couple of other comments for the moment: Dianne, I relate to the idea of having a hard time asking for help. From what I've read from you since I've been on here these past few months, it sounds like you've gotten over a lot of hurdles with that issue. (Yea for you!) I had gotten to the point of being willing to get help from one particular friend several years ago, but she's pretty unavailable right now because of life circumstances. I do have help dealing with a parents' leftover hoard, but I'm slow to get help with my own. I'm working on some specific ideas right now for getting help, though. (More to come on that later.)

Tatoulia, I love your thinking as you let go of a lot of stuff. Thank you for the encouragement you give to us on this site. Hugs to you (and to everyone else here as well).

I'm catching up little by little on reading posts. I see that SusanL recently wrote: "I thought I needed all that stuff but it was ruining my life. Better without it. Give away, throw away, just get it OUT of the house." I really relate to that statement! It's encouraging and inspiring to hear what all you've gotten done, Susan! Yea!

This afternoon, I plan to have lunch with family members. I also plan to work a little on some paperwork, including getting a bill paid. I will probably also go to the coin-op laundry to dry the clothes I washed yesterday. Although I might be a little late, I will likely be at the chat tonight.

Have a wonderful afternoon, everyone!

Well you all made me very happy with your posts! How nice to hear from you all. As usual, Diane, you exhaust me with the amount of work you've done! I had to learn early on during my dehoarding that I cannot spend too much time mourning the $$ I wasted on this sale item or that sale item. There was this part of me, during the beginning of the process, that felt like I'd abused my privilege of owning things and now I'm being punished. I had to turn that around pretty rapidly in order to move forward. I found that my stuff fell into threeson categories: 1) the stuff I hung onto for emergencies or if someone else might need it, which I call my Just in Case stuff; 2) the stuff that I thought Ioved, including things that I have an emotional attachment to because so&so gave me or something I bought to portray myself as a certain way to the outside world; and 3) things I just bought because I liked them or they were on sale or they made me feel good. Once I recognized the just in case stuff, I got rid of it. I'll run to the store if someone needs a hero. The emotional stuff required me to figure out why I was keeping it (largely to prove to myself that I was loved--honestly does the card from the bookkeeper at my office where I worked 15 years ago and sent when I had my appendix out merit keeping?). The sale stuff and buying stuff to feel good (let's try on about 4 or 5 different set of glass plates and bowls, shall we?) made me feel wasteful and stupid.

But I've found a way around. I read these posts and I leaned on you and I got your praise and was forced to notice that I am loved and important in my own right. I freely and honestly feel gratitude and affection for each of you. You cannot imagine what it feels like to know that in fact, I'm okay, and if I cry you will offer me a dry shoulder to cry on. If I beat myself up, you'll run to my defense.

Diane, I feel like being with people and being "on" is exhausting, hard work. We will talk more about that some other time. Just bite your tongue and find a way to suffer the fools gladly. (That has made my New Year's resolution list more than once).

Much love and gratitude. Thank you all for saying nice things to me.

Happy Saturday afternoon. Great to hear about the work you're getting done, diane and Tat. Sorry you're still having to deal with the air quality issues, Tillie, and that you're not feeling well. I'd already forgotten about the "s"-ins, Tat and diane. Got another big LOL moment out of that a few minutes ago. Laughter helps so many things!

I enjoyed the chance to get out to that rural area to do some work this afternoon and to check on things out there. Nice to be driving around areas where I see lots of open spaces as well as to see thriving animal and plant life. It was also nice to get back inside my home later and get a refreshing shower and to catch up on reading the last several posts. I don't have grand plans for working at home today other than to do several loads of laundry.

Hugs to everybody.

Such a pleasure to come in for a break and read your posts tat and tillie, t&t. Last year I made an opening in the fence in front where I park car, but then filled the area with tiles, wood, metal things. When I looked at it today, I said it is time. After moving all the firewood past few days, it was clear how bad it was, so I moved all the junk. Fortified the opening, tried to put a gate there, then just made the fencing double and put another t-post in and with loops so can just open and go to car, when bring food home wont have to go all the way around to front steps now. Raked all the leaves from 5 years, cleaned the area, put pavers in for a walkway, so much better now. I have hauled tons of tiles to habitat, and now have unburied all of these tiles, what was I thinking, buying hundreds of tiles, but such a good price, you know the story. A few will have rock sculptures on them, ones I don't use need to go for a ride. Same with the other things. The metal things are to pound in the ground and put 4x4's in to build a cover for fire wood. Now that wood is all in one location, might be a good thing to do. It really was fun cleaning out that area today. I felt pleasure in the simple act of reclaiming it Tillie. I brought garbage cart in and am filling it with some of the junk from that area, and broken tiles. Friday I got all the old tarps from top of firewood move in garbage. I am seeing I can have people come in this way when dropping off dogs or visiting in my yard, so do not have to have them come on deck. I got tired so will go back out and finish cleaning up out there.
Tat, you are helping me so much with your description of letting things go, please keep describing your decisions and how you decide when it has been loved enough. I used that when I was tossing things this morning, and one metal thing I put in garbage for practice. Also practicing saying, are you going to use this in the next few days, if not put it away, if no home, time to go.
Work was good this week but it is exhausting being around so many people day after day. Happy I am able to do it and zip my lip when I want to complain about something. I feel proud of the work I did this week with a cheerful kind attitude. Just takes practice to be the person I want to be, no matter how others act.
Nellie is snuggled up next to me as I write this, getting close to time to get my own pet again, just fearful of vet bills etc, if I get another one with medical problems, Molly had kidney disease.
Thanks Tat and Tillie for being my friends, makes life so much better.

Tillie, rest and take care of yourself. Bad air quality takes a big toll. A terrible toll.

Just checking in with everyone. Have taken the person grocery shopping, have changed bed linens and run two loads of laundry and am on third load now. Am making a late lunch and will treat myself to some tv/Netflix time.

OK, here's the big news for the day (so far). I've had a box of glassware in my place since I did the big clean out. It's a keep box. Find room to. keep. Well I took it to goodwill today. I went through it and didn't keep a thing.

Tillie my dear you are correct! The mental image of my muscles is helping me along, and is a good explanation as to how it is that the stuff I couldn't part with can move along!

This image will be very helpful as i go through storage area. Ooh-I hope I didn't give the impression that it's almost clear--not by a long shot--but I can see my way through to the end. I can see myself getting rid of it. All of it. With your help and encouragement. (For Diane --I'll let the storage things enjoy their little shit-in for a little while longer!)

Good morning

Hi LR2014 :)
WTG! for making that one room a more serene peaceful place to sleep.
It is hard t0 schedule in fun when you have many other pressing obligations to attend to.
Try to incorporate some small personal pleasures into your day.
Little treats that you find relaxing.
Life's simple little pleasures really add up in creating more internal peace, rest and contentment. :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO! for all you are accomplishing!!! :D
Working our way through making those easier keep/toss/donate decisions really does improve our decision making "muscles" when we get down to those harder items to decide on.
You have been making some wonderful decisions and making room in your life for the future.
Letting go of things you have "loved enough" but no longer need is fantastic! :D

Hi Diane :)
Hi Nellie :)
WAY TO GO! for all your accomplishments and getting caught back up on the daily maintenance type stuff! :D
Have a GREAT time panting, sculpting and hanging out with the dog.
Please, please do get the RV ready for a camp out and have one heck of a great time taking it out somewhere beautiful and relaxing. :D

Air quality here is better but the sunlight is still tinted "forest fire yellow".
I am still suffering, oxygen deficient and sickly.
Spending a lot of time trying to nap/sleep but breathing issues still keeping me up.
Anyways...
Have no real plans for today other than the usual daily stuff.
So many things I want to do but must wait on them.
Wonderful reading about all your progress and plans.
Keep up the GREAT job! :D

I've missed you Diane! It is hard to keep up with things when working so much. Glad you have Nellie with you! It's gotten significantly cooler here on the East Coast so my cat has been snuggling right up. Very comforting.

Keep up the good work and yes, you should find time for a weekend get away. Right now I'm doing laundry and just relaxing before heading out for the day.

hello everyone. So good to see your post Tillie. Tat, inspiring that decision making is getting easier. I have worked all week and have not kept up with maintenance. Got up early today so I have all day to get things done. Rinsed all dirty dishes and they are soaking. Have to toss a chicken I boiled for soup, that has been in frig for a week. Disappointed that I have to throw food away once again. Vegetables too. Buying fresh vegetables is still a waste so back to frozen.
Picked up Nellie after clinic on Thursday, so have a doggie companion this weekend.
I did get all firewood moved closer to house. Started a little roof over it. Nellie is curled up next to me, so nice and comforting. I went to RV yesterday to get some tape and found a pile of tshirts I forgot were in there, brought in and will wash today, my favorites. Checked all cabinets etc. and not too much stuff in there, would like to get it cleaned this weekend and take a little camping trip before winter hits.
Will do dishes, clean counters in here before sun comes up, then do lots on deck and yard. Laundry, take nellie for a walk, and find time to relax. Want to paint one board turquoise for a shelf in freezer room. For fun, also make rock sculptures. In an ideal scenario I will find some things to donate this weekend.
Nice to read your posts

Today I have to take someone grocery shopping. I also need groceries for myself but that needs to be done separately. The person I am taking needs my full attention. I need to make more progress, whether at home or at storage place.

The decisions of what to keep and what to get rid of are getting easier--even though I am now reaching stuff that was too tough to deal with first time around. This makes me very happy.

I kept my promise! Yay! After going to museum and lunch with mom, I went to my storage unit and was able to take three boxes to goodwill. I also took a bag of clothing out of my house today and a small bag of books. I am really excited and energized by this! I'm starting to see what it will take to get rid of my storage space. Original plan was to move to a smaller, and cheaper, place, but there's a little part of me that thinks I might be able to get rid of it completely. I just need my sister to take the remaining oriental rug and the desk. I have decided to part with my bookcase. It's solid cherry and went with my bedroom set as a child. I used it as a child, as a college student, into my 30s and beyond. It's been in storage for a while. I have loved it enough. I am prepared to take it to goodwill. I have loved it enough.

Thank you everyone for your support! I hope you are all well. Would love to hear from all of you!

Hello LR and Tillie and everyone else! I am always happy when I see a new post here and I must admit, my heart leapt a little when I saw that both of you had posted! I appreciate hearing about your days and appreciate the support and encouragement.

I am taking some time off to spend with mom tomorrow and will either go to storage afterward or work on The Dreaded Closet. I need to keep moving forward, even as I desperately try not to move backward.

Much love to everyone, with special love to Marty the Cat. Hang in there, little buddy.

Good morning. Sorry about the smoke, Tillie (and Marty! Lots of hugs.

One thing I did very recently is to get a lot of things rearranged in one certain room so that I have an alternate (much more quiet) place to sleep. That's been very nice the past few days.

On Tuesday night, I attended an event that I was supposed to "facilitate." I was also in charge of the after-event cleanup. (OK, go ahead and chuckle.) I had a lot of help with cleanup on that night, but I still had some work left to do to get things back in order there. Went to that location early this morning and finished that task. Nice to have that done!

Still haven't been very good about scheduling in playful fun, Tillie. (Just true confessions.) I still need to "work on" having more fun.

Although I admit that I'm very behind on reading posts, I did see Cory Chalmer's post about his proposal for Sunday nights. I'm chewing on the idea and will plan to give some feedback when I'm finished "chewing."

Hugs to everybody!