VERY quick update

Friend remains on full life support. With ventilator she can't talk and is sedated too. But yesterday she was aware, off and on, that I was there. I put on the Catholic channel EWTN so we could listen to the Rosary and other programs and I prayed along with them out loud. Laid my rosary's beads on her hand; maybe she felt that. Hope so. Connection.

Last night we had a scare with roommate's boy bunny. He's young and very healthy and a chowhound. But he had severe gas and wasn't eating. I did what I could because of course these things always happen when the vet's not in. This morning we got a 9:00 appt., x-rays showed no blockage (whew!) so we just give him his pain meds and hand feedings. He is perking up. So thankful. We did NOT need another thing to feel sad about!

Everybody take care - Tatoulia, I'll pray your tests come out fine.

Good Morning Everybody

Good Luck Tatoulia locating the boxes and hopefully they will still be in useable condition.

I'm very grateful that I had the chance to know all the oldtimers here.
They had lived fascinating lives and had interesting tales to tell.


Going to be another hot afternoon.
Planning to do some laundry.
Should do some weeding in the garden.
Really should do some general housekeeping.
Really, really just want to play.
Not yet 8:00am so I will see what the day brings.

Been a hectic week for me.
Dental appointment then Steven falling in the tub & having to redo the shower curtain.
Having to go shopping for new bath mats and getting food while I was there anyways.
Discovering aphids on the rose bush and having to get the sprayer all filled.
So many other little things that just happened and I had to respond rather than doing things I had planned out to do in my own time.
Plus when it gets hot in the afternoons I just melt and can't function very well.
Scooter melts too, all pooled out in a puddle.

Yay for the new bath mat!!!!!

BF is losing his "fan base," all the long time people who supported him before the neighborhood changed. Men and women whom are referred to as Mr and Miss, rather than just their first names. It's sad to lose a generation.

I'm still leaning toward geraniums and petunias. White and pink maybe. It's still a bit cool here for them.

I think I need new boxes this year. I'm not sure where I am on having the actual boxes. I get a large size because my windows are large. I'll poke around under the stairs this weekend and see if my boxes are still here.

Wishing everyone a lovely, lovely day. It's going to be rainy here today.

Have you decided on what varieties of flowers for the flower boxes?

Congratulations on 15 good years together!

Don't apologize for using terminology for all our various body parts.
We all have bodies with various parts and talking about them is perfectly acceptable.

I am very glad you made the appointments, especially since your breast has been hurting lately.

WAY TO GO! Shredding!

Sorry to hear you have a funeral to attend.
After all these years living here I know more people in the cemetery than I know who are still living.


I took a shower this evening and really enjoyed my new bath mat.
It felt smooth and silky on my feet.
Earlier I was out enjoying the lilac blossoms
when I noticed the rose bush has/had aphids.
Got out the sprayer and treated it, should be alright now.

Tillie wow the heat has arrived for you! I will sleep with one window open tonight. My bedroom windows are not on alarms because I have the grates. The grates are decorative in addition to being safety devices. I can finally have window boxes again this year. It's been two long years without them due to the construction.

It's cool here.

We had a lovely night at dinner tonight. Fifteen years we've been together. We haven't had a bad year yet. He was so handsome in his suit. Our first date he wore a suit. I wore a red skirt and a black cashmere sweater and black high heeled boots. Those were the days when I could still wear sweaters. And I was willing to walk in the city in heels. Now I have to wear flats but nice dress flats for when we are going out.

SubC I know the chaos will be tough. I hope the flooring goes in easily and efficiently. I am so proud of all that you have accomplished and I am in awe of what you get done in a day.

I just wrapped up the garbage for tmr. Will wash my face and climb into bed.

Oh! I made my mammogram and ultrasound appts today. I have my mammogram on Saturday and my ultrasound on Monday. I may end up taking Monday off since we have a funeral of a neighbor Monday AM. I don't want to have either of these appts but I am grateful for my medical care and my health insurance. So I will have them. one of my breasts has been hurting lately so I'll feel better after the scan. Sorry to use the word breast here.

Okay ready for bed. I got a lot of shredding done. I will send my coats to drycleaners soon. I didn't make it to PO today but that's okay. I hadn't filled out all the customs forms and other stuff I need to do.

Goodnight dear friends. Tillie I'm glad Steven is getting the pads for your cooler.

Hello Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Maybe by the time you want to make a mold
things will be easier there for you.
Right now I'm sure everything seems impossible.
Clearing out an entire room is hard, living with things all bunched up is hard.
Just keep thinking how nice it will be when it's all done.
Ida Wanna knows you have a LOT on your plate this weekend, hope she leaves you soon.


Hi Tatoulia
YIPPEE!!! you have your windows back!
Last night was the first time this year that I slept all night with my window open.
It was heavenly.

WTG! for all you got done!!!
So nice waking up to a clean kitchen.
Starts the day off on a positive note.


Yesterday I worked on fixing the shower curtain hardware.
Today I went shopping, bought food, sun screen and two fresh new bath mats.
My old bath mat was losing suction cups and having other issues.
Came home, put away groceries then cleaned the bathroom.
Did a load of laundry, the towels and stuff used yesterday to mop up the bathroom.

It is 85 degrees in here right now at 5:00pm.
Steven bought the new cooler pads and says he will get the cooler set up.
I need to launder all the heavy winter drapes, blankets and my coat, etc...

Shredded a lot of paper. Getting ready for dinner.

The scaffolding is down and I can open my drapes and shad again! Thank goodness for the sunshine!!! I've missed it!

I did three loads of laundry. I still haven't washed the duvet cover and will get to it over the weekend. I picked up my comforter from the laundry. They do such a nice job on my things.

I have the windows open and it is beautiful out! I am taking BF for his birthday dinner tonight. I wish he'd let me pay but he won't. It's a lost cause.

CM and SubC, please know that you have my prayers and support with respect to your loved ones. I know you are each going through difficult times but you are not alone-we are here for you. I am just so sorry.

SubC I understand about the molds. You've got a great deal going on with the Tetris furniture game! I am amazed by how much you accomplish in a day!

I'm going to do laundry today and also go to the post office. I have a bunch of things to mail, including a package overseas.

Last night before I went to bed I still had a big pile of pots and pans in the sink from dinner. I decided to take the two mi it's to deal with them, ran the dishwasher, then was thrilled this AM to have a nice clean sink. I still have to think about it, but at least I can see the dishes in the sink.

Oh dear Tillie.

What a job. I hope you got all the broken stuff on it's way out.

CM, I am glad you have some support.

I hear everyone on the molds, but I am just too tired right now. I don't want to throw them in the dumpster, because they are still good. I don't know where to take them to get them to someone who would want them, I might use some of them - I like a lot of them, but realistically I can only use so many, but they would be expensive and difficult to replace.... too tired. I am just piling them in front of the shelf that already has molds on it. So, when I want to make a mold, I guess I will have to use these, because I can't reach the others. Maybe it will be easier then.

My friend Ida Wanna has come to visit and seems to be settling in for a long stay. I am hoping that once the new floor is in (so overwhelming - this weekend we will play furniture Tetris and block off entire rooms from use, probably for all of next week) she will think about leaving.

I need to get some things done and off my plate. Today - last class i'm taking (but I can go back to do glaze work for a short time) followed by a lunch/baby shower for our teacher, then I teach, then swimming(?) i'm trying to decide if I should come home instead, but realistically, it is supposed to be rainy and dark, and I won't accomplish anything. I came straight home yesterday and didn't accomplish anything. I just hung out with Ida.

Hi CriticalMass
I'm very grateful that you have your mutual friend there with you.
Wishing you peace and strength ((((HUGS))))
You are always in my prayers.

I'm fine with accidents after I check and see that there's nothing that can't be fixed.
Good to know that you take precautions in the shower and use the chair!


Hi Tatoulia
Wonderful that that little lesson is helping you so much!
So much easier when we can just reach in and get what we want without always having to move other things out of our way.

That's good news the lobster roll place is doing so well, means they will be around for a long, long time. ;)

WTG! for chipping away at the closet!!!


Hi Subclinical
Good luck getting the room cleared out without too much hassle.

Happy the surgery looks promising.
Fingers crossed "X" everything works out.

Best wishes for the garden veggies.



Been hot in the afternoons last few days and tomorrow is going to be hot again too.
80+ degrees.
Planning to go grocery shopping early in the morning.

Quick flyby

SubC glad to hear hopeful regarding your relative's surgery.

Tillie, hope you aren't too stove up from the Steven shower drama. I don't like standing in the shower at home - once I get soap and water in my face I don't always trust my balance. So I put one of those plastic patio chairs in.

Tatoulia thanks for the prayers and good thoughts for my friend.

Our mutual friend had called earlier and we tslked about what the nurse had told her. They tried a "sedation vacation" but it didn't go well. It's hour by hour. Her family came. But there's no concrete timeframe either. More news as I get it. The mutual friend and I are supporting each other.

Yes you won! Nice little taste of victory! Glad you have the hardware fixed and back up.

SubC I had a similar thought as Tillie's when you mentioned that you brought home molds. Just don't let them be in your way.

I've been thinking a lot about something I learned here from Tillie. About if we always have to move something to get what we need, then shouldn't we relocate, or eliminate that thing that is always in the way. I think about that a lot. And if I need to move something to get what I need, then I can usually (now) get rid of it. And that's been a lifesaver for me.

I finally bought sneakers today. I felt that my feet needed more structure (I feel like I'm talking about a young child who needs a more structured day). I like the ones I bought. Nearly weightless.

I haven't really done much around the house. I went to the office today. I'll be home tmr. I'm chipping away at my bedroom closet. I'm gearing up to make more decisions regarding what is staying and what is going. I'll drop the suits off at the drycleaners tmr. The ones I'm donating.

Tillie I'm thrilled you already knew about the lobster roll place. The quality of their food is very high. Their business seems to have picked up quite a bit. And they've just opened a second location, out of the city and in Salem. They definitely had a rough start. That corner has been a Bad Luck Corner for quite a while. Used to be a hair salon and was very successful. For decades. Then a terrible pizza place with careless selfish owners, and it would close for six months at a time then reopen under ostensibly new Mgt, but it was always the same two spoiled selfish boys and their mom who literally once parked her jaguar onto the handicap ramp on the sidewalk. Like it was her driveway. They were terrible neighbors and there was always madness at that corner. Then another pizza place finally opened there but they couldn't shake all the awfulness of the other place. Even their signs saying we aren't them didn't help. So I'm glad the lobster place now seems to be fairly busy. It's cramped and not exactly a restaurant. I take my stuff home or up to mom's. When you visit I'll let you choose where to eat. I want them to succeed and I have Gino they are finally doing it.

Okay I'm off to my bedroom. Goodnight dear friends.

Hi Everybody

Hi Subclinical
WTG! for all you got done!
Hoping you have a plan for the molds you brought home.
If you are keeping them but not planning to use them soon
please find an out of the way place for storage so they aren't in the way of what you are doing in the studio right now.
You have worked so hard to gain the elbow room you have now.

Hi Tatoulia
Thank you :)

Was busy this morning doing lots of assorted chores when Steven went in to shower.
Soon after I heard a very loud terrible noise and knew he had fallen in the tub.
Did advanced first aid and deduced that he was alright, did not hit his head, nothing broken, no bleeding.
Anyways, I spent many hours doing repairs so the shower curtain could be hung again since he grabbed the curtain and destroyed the hanging hardware.
The tub has the side and the back end open so we used a track with hooks hanging from to hang the curtain hooks off of.
Most of the hardware was destroyed, needed to be replaced.
He made two trips to the hardware before he brought me everything I needed.
The shower curtain is hanging properly again and Steven came down hard on his butt so it will bruise along with his bruised ego.

For years he has been mad at me for "wasting" money buying bath mats.
He has sneered at me for being so stupid to always use my bath mats.
He finished his shower this morning standing on my stupid wasteful bath mat.

I think I won that argument! ;D

Popping in - cleated more molds from the classroom, but brought them home.

Initial surgery for relative looks hopeful.

Tillie, we knew there was nothing wrong with you! :)

Hope the roof goes quickly!

CM, so good to hear from you! I am glad your handyman is back in action, and that you feel ready to plan for the storage unit!

I hope that you get good news on your friend. My mom contacted me Monday to tell me that a member of dad's family was diagnosed with cancer. She is one of the few family members dad has a relationship with, and we were close when I was a kid, so I am hoping for a good outcome as well. I am fortunate ate that my life is structured such that most of my "losses" are through graduations.

Still mostly trying to keep up here. The class I am taking ends this week, and lots of end of the year school stuff. I made ice cream and planted beets yesterday. I don't think I will have much of a vegetable garden this year, but planning on beets, beans, tomatos, and squash. Anything else will be a bonus.

Big disruption coming this weekend when we move everything out of the room so we can get our floor.

Congratulations Tillie! You definitely earned that hamburger!!! Also glad the roofer came by. Fingers crossed it can all be done swiftly.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Back home from the dentists.
They tried their best to find something wrong with me but failed!

To celebrate I stopped on the way home and bought myself a hamburger.

Beautiful today, calm, warm, no clouds at all in the sky.

CM! Thank you for the long, newsy, thoughtful, hopeful post. Thank you so much. I am including your dear friend in my prayers, you can be sure.

I'm glad you rejected the idea of renting another unit for a staging area. Of course I would have supported you but I know first hand that my similar ideas in the past have not gone as smoothly as I would've hoped.

I am thankful that the handyman is doing better and is back to work!

I have a beautiful oil painting, from the 60s, of Notre Dame in the fall. I bought it at auction and I love it. I see it every day and it evinces a true feeling of peace and awe.

I will read the other posts later. Keep up the good work, CM. we stand ready to support you when you are at the storage space! And all the times in between.

Tatoulia
Would you believe I had already seen a video about
Lobstah On A Roll?

PBS has those food episodes and that was one I remember because I REALLY wanted to go there.

;D

HELLO CRITICALMASS!!!

Wonderful to hear from you!

YEA! the handyman is feeling better and you had your van serviced, AC done and sewer line cleaned.

Remember, we only "lose" our loved ones temporarily.
I sincerely believe that we will be reunited one day at the Rainbow Bridge.
(((HUGS)))
The hard part is how deeply we miss them until then.

Things like storage units and closets start to seem worse than we remembered them being.
It's always good to reevaluate them.
Makes the big monsters smaller and more easily vanquished.


Hi Subclinical
YEA!!!! for new flooring!!!
How nice that will be when it's all done.

Clearing blackberries and mending a fence is hard dirty hoy & sweaty work.
WAY TO GO!!!
Happy the goats obliged and showed you the opening.

SO very happy you did pottery and enjoyed some time outside.
Bet Bunny had a good day outdoors too.


Hi Tatoulia
Thank you.
Really wish I could just zone out but having been a dental assistant since I was 16 and then having a medical profession, I make sure the correct things are being done in the correct order.
I have no problem correcting people when they need to be corrected, even doctors.

Your asparagus pasta dishes sound so good!

When I have a throw blanket or small quilt out for the cats I often pull it over me if I get chilly.
The cats don't protest much as long as I let them snuggle with me.


Tackling one clothing article at a time is how I do it.
This way I know for sure if I will wear it or if it can go.


Roofer man came by.
Looked at the ceiling damage, went up on the roof, looked at that and did measurements.
Wrote stuff down and will get back to us with an estimate soon as he figures it out.

Had a huge argument with Steven because he started talking about getting a huge disgusting shipping container delivered to store more crap in.
He already has enough large storage spaces.
He just has WAY TO MUCH crap!
And the vast majority of his stuff is honestly crap. Broken, missing vital pieces, unneeded and lots of garbage, actual garbage, empty food containers, packaging, used paper plates, etc.

Hello -

Excuse any typos - auto suggestion was annoying me so I turned it off.

Didn't mean to let so much time go by again. I had been driving a week ago to make a savings deposit when I heard about Notre Dame being on fire. I went to the branch library nearby after doing my banking to see online. How sad. I'm thankful the cause was not terrorist related as too many things are anymore. I hope the restoration will be tasteful and durable.

Tillie, I'm guessing the insurance guy may have told Steven the insurance might get dropped or maybe even that government codes enforcement would get wind of the situation? Whatever it takes! And I do hope that for his sake - and yours - that he'll begin to find the letting go process easier and even satisfying. We all have to start from where we are. I can remember how stubborn and dug in I was at one time.

Our handy guy and mechanic is finally on the mend! He has done maintenance on both my roommate's car and my van, spring cleaned the sewer line and the AC. Sun porch might happen yet.

Holy Week was good - I wrestled with God for a short while about having to withdraw money two days after I deposited it for the van, but in the end accepted this was another time He blessed me because I was going to need it. Sunday Morning was sad seeing the news about Sri Lanka. Tatoulia, I'm relieved your friend is okay. How traumatic for so many.

I checked the situation in my storage unit the other day. It may not be as horrendous as I had feared. The trick is going to be dealing with segments of the stuff, rearranging in a sequence, and a few other strategies that I'm brainstorming. I have a "Plan B" - renting a smaller 2nd unit for a month as a staging area - but I think now such a drastic step may not be necessary.

Be all that as it may - there's something much bigger going on. I have a dear friend, Cindy, with multiple health issues. She's been hospitalized in ICU. Another friend of hers and mine is her durable power of attorney. Today Cindy agreed with the doctors' recommendation to be sedated and put on a ventilator to give her lungs a rest. All we can do is pray. She wants to survive and recover. It's in God's hands and those doing the doctoring.

I don't want to lose a good friend. Lost Larry just over a year ago. And several elderly family and friends this decade. Prayers and positive thoughts would again be much appreciated. Ultimately of course I want what's best for each person, though, and if an end to years of suffering and debilitation is the best, then I will deal, and live in hope of being reunited with them.

But anyway, wanted to let you all know this is going on so if I don't get as many chances to post you won't have to wonder. I'll post short updates on this and on what I am able to do with decluttering etc. Keeping busy may be good sometimes, other times resting and prayer and hugging rabbits and kitties may be the best therapy. Happy Easter/Passover/Spring/etc. to all.

SubC you are amazing!!!!!

Tillie, I keep forgetting to tell you how happy I am that the roofer is coming! I am sorry for the waiting though.

And tatoulia's workers are almost done!

I gave people coming to install my floor in a week (dh decided to hire it out) so there will be a lot of disruption, but won't it be nice for all three of us when our nests are all spiffed up?

CM, I am wishing your handyman will be able to take care of yours as well!

Tatoulia, you can keep your rainy weather! I am so happy to finally have sun!

This morning I took the compost out (fast thing from my list)
And ran the dishwasher (bonus)
Then I put the boy goats in their field to see if they would show me the hole (piggyback)
While I planted the elderberry bushes (big job #1)
They did! So I cleared blackberry canes until I got hot and tired (approved by dh) which took about 45 minutes, since it was late morning.
Then I took off my hot blackberry-thorn-resistant gear and patched the hole in the fence.

Made myself rice pudding for lunch and put away the planting and fencing supplies.

Then I started on big job #2 - adding a foot to my big fancy bowl. I keep going back to spray it so it will set slowly and not crack, so I can't get involved in anything else, but I did write a letter of recommendation I promised a student (another bonus from my list)

I keep reminding myself that this is my big job for the afternoon, just like the bushes were the big job for the morning.

I am also taking time to enjoy the gorgeous day as I walk back and forth from house to studio. - I put the bunny out in her yard pen too.

I know how difficult the dentist appts are for you, Tillie. I am sure you have developed different coping skills over the years and yet I'll make a suggestion. I try to stay very calm and tell myself it's not me having the work done. I started doing this long ago. I try to mentally leave my body and while I don't exactly "watch" the stuff being done, I do try to pretend it's not me. It works well for me. In any event I'll be sending calming thoughts your way.

I love the thought of a little one asleep in the grass. I hope the roofer comes soon. My anxiety of having any sort of repair person over is matched only by the wait for the person. It's such a relief to say, well they are gone.

I'm full. I ate too much pasta. Delicious. This time instead of butter and garlic, I tossed olive oil, capers, lemon juice and zest, and Parmesan into a bowl. Quick cooked the asparagus then made the pasta. Delicious. Much better than the butter/garlic/lemon combo of a week or so ago.

Tillie if you look up Lobstah in a Roll (stupid name) you'll see the place where I get the tasty shrimp po'boy sandwich.

Yesterday at Easter dinner I had spinach salad with goat cheese and beets with a skewer of shrimp. Delicious. No dressing, just lemon wedges.

I'm now freshening up my blanket because I think it will be cold tonight. Last night I used kitty's freshly washed blanket. I had put it away for the season but pressed it into service for me last night. Maybe too much information. It's a throw I use on the couch in the winter. We both use it.

I see the scaffolding is still up but they've taken the wrapping down. The fire escapes look like they are being repaired but not quite up yet.

I am tackling my closet one item of clothing at a time. Will put one winter coat into dry cleaners but will hold off on the other one for now. Weather still iffy.

Hello All
Just now 12 noon here.

I got up and started right in on some tasks since today the roofer is supposed to come by to give us his estimate.
Washed the car windows and did all the usual daily cat related tasks.
Did a little tidying up inside and spent a long time outside with my nose in the lilac blooms.

Hi Subclinical
Bad boy goats!

WAY TO GO!!! for all that hard work you and DH did!

So very grateful your DH is trying to help you not to try to do everything all in one day.
Written down on a list it may seem Do-Able but in reality there just aren't enough hours in a day.

I'll never get tired of giving my thoughts when we are all trying to solve problems.
Brain storming is the best way to find solid solutions.


Hi Tatoulia
LOL Yes, the autocorrect really did a number! ;D
But I was able to understand what you were saying.

Glad the Sri Lanka friend was not hurt.

Wonderful the waitress noticed and complimented you!

Relieved this outside project isn't dragging on and you will soon get your windows back.

WTG! gathering up donations, doing laundry and especially for the asparagus dish!!!

Roofer said he'd come by after finishing up another job.
I am hating this waiting.
I have been waiting for months already.
Scooter & Twinkles went outside this morning.
Scooter is napping inside now and Twinkles is napping in the tall jungle of fresh Spring grass on the far side of the garage.

I went on a wasp hunt and found & sprayed a LOT of queens starting their nests around the house where the hoard isn't.
But I can see so many wasps flying around in the yard hoard but it's too dense to get through to kill the wasps.

High anxiety today because tomorrow I have to go to the dentist.
Xrays, cleaning and check up.
Just hate everything about this but hate dental pain even more.
Oh Well... :(

We all need to lean on each other. SubC I am thrilled that your husband can help you!

I have made a bag of work clothes. I am washing some of the blouses. I've gotten a lot of laundry done today and now I am making lemon asparagus pasta.

It sounds like the workers our back are bringing their work to a close. I cannot wait to have my shade and drapes open again. The lack of sunlight has been tough.

After a sunny start to the day, it is now rainy and raw. I love that. I can't help myself. This is my weather.

Tatoulia, I am glad to hear that.

You are super nice to me!

Sometimes I make Tillie tell me what to do too. I hope she doesn't get tired of it.

Today I am letting dh tell me what to do. I have been so frustrated with not getting things done, and he has been chastising me for trying to hold myself to unreasonable expectations. So last night I made my "must do" list for today and read it to him. He said "that is three days."

He picked two big things and a fast thing for me to do, plus one that can piggyback and one that I can work on until I get tired.

I am still thinking of that as "this morning" but I am trying to accept that it will be a good day's work. I just keep looking at the rest of the list and thinking "but when am I going to do this other stuff?!"

Ps Sri Lankan friend and family are fine!

Wow!!! SubC! That is amazing about the trees! I am so thrilled by all of that!!! You are so wonderful and kind and hard-working and thoughtful. I am so pleased for you.

Tillie I saw that there were some pretty big autocorrect mistakes, including calling the clothes unstable. Oh well.

Thank you for helping me through this. I am getting rid of them. The skirts are all too big. The tops I just won't wear again. I did consider price and cost and I will be able to buy new clothes in the fall. Most of my clothes fall within the "seasonless" or three-season clothes since I cannot wear wool anymore. I can have wool coats, but no sweaters or skirts. I do tend to wear cheerful colors and I might have to buy some more muted tones for the winter, but ultimately I'm good with getting rid of these things. I have two skirts that can be worn year round. Not all of these are appropriate for the cleaning fairies as they are more work-clothes and all of my old work dresses have been given to them. There is generally a work-clothes drive at the office in August but I cannot wait. So I'll take to Goodwill, knowing that people who shop their will find interview suits should they need them.

I'll have the suits dry-cleaned so that I am sure to be passing along good things that are ready-to-wear. I can't say I wouldn't buy them again but I can say I won't be wearing them again.

I have one summer dress that I'm going to have taken in as it's lovely and lovely. Yes I wrote that twice.

The waitress at the restaurant (a place we used to go quite frequently but have not been to in about three years), noticed my weight loss. PRETTY SNAZZY.

Tillie I hope you and the kitties had a lovely day. I still would like to get more of a walk in but it's dark out.

I do would love to freshen up one more bed linen so I could use it if I get cold tonight. It was put away clean but it's been in the closet for a while.

I just want to have fewer things. To embrace the cleaning and clearing that you are doing, Tillie. My life is peaceful and calm and serene with having less stuff. It feels quieter in here. And I know I can quiet it even more.

Happy Easter everyone, and especially CM,

Dh and I planted 45 trees as sort of an early earth day celebration. I still have ten elderberry bushes and five little evergreens to plant by myself, plus tons of curly willow and pussy willow starts. I am going to put a bunch of those down in the floodplain.

Dh said next year to only order 30 trees.

The boy goats have figured out how to escape from their fence again, and I can't find where they are getting out. I'm afraid they are jumping.

Found lots of pretty Easter eggs in the barn today and thanked the chickens.

Good Afternoon Everyone
Just now 1:00pm here.

Hi Tatoulia
Your poor BF.
So many tragedies in such a short time.

Clothing...
That is always such a hard subject for everybody.
That's why we all end up with things we don't fit, don't really like and never wear, but we still cling onto them.

I understand you wanting to purge all the Autumn/Winter items.
You were going through a transition period and bought the clothing so you would not go naked.

Only one question...
Will you be financially able, without going into debt to buy new Autumn/Winter clothing near the end of this year?

If you will have a clothing budget by then
go ahead and purge all you want. ;D

I continue to do that Swedish decluttering method.
I find a thing here and later another thing there.
It's really very "gentle", laid back and easy
with a lot of meandering thinking.
There is a lot of having to be honest with myself about things that I used to do and enjoyed doing but admit I will no longer be doing.
I find this to be very freeing.

I am back from breakfast with BF then I walked around. I will now make myself a cup of coffee and take my shower.

Hope everyone is having a lovely day.

Tillie I have a question regarding clothes. I want to get rid of almost everything I wore last fall and winter. Done of it still fits but I don't think I'll wear it again. Not thinking I'll wear it again: is it okay to donate? It's unstable and new as of last year but I don't see myself wearing again. Is that okay?

Anyone can chime in! Not just Tillie. It's just that sometimes I make Tillie tell me what to do.

I just finished taping together mom's Easter goodies. I'm going to shower and have breakfast with BF. He's upset, naturally, with the bombings in Sri Lanka and has reached out to our Sri Lankan friend. We haven't heard back yet but should soon. BF is also sad because one of his long term neighbors has died. So I'll go have a spot of coffee with him.

We will go out to eat with mom later today.

Good Morning to Everyone of you

Hi Tatoulia
That's funny!
If they had just laughed at you it would have crushed you. (((HUG)))

I do that too, keep trying to sleep when the covers aren't enough instead of getting up and grabbing another blanket.

Springtime weather here is so unpredictable.
Sometimes way too hot and then the next minute freezing cold again.

Wishing everyone a lovely day. :)

They didn't keep them!!!!!!! Wow your son was a very bright, big picture thinker in 2d grade! Very impressed! Sure it was flawed but I love it.

I got locked in a bathroom in France when I was a kid. Outdoor cafe. I was about 8. (Before brother was born). I found out later that the reason my mother kept hugging me and holding my head to her shoulder were because my father and she were laughing and clutching themselves, trying hard not to betray by laughing out loud. I love that image of them.

I enjoying first cup of coffee.

I was way too cold with just the two thin quilts last night. I will put another layer in for tonight. I was very cold yet unwilling to do anything about it.

I'm chuckling :)
Hope she enjoys saving the tape. LOL

I have a Russell Stover's chocolate covered peanut butter bunny taunting me.
I can eat him tomorrow.

I like the down comforter when temps drop down below freezing.
Above 32 degrees the down gets too hot so I use the light fiber fill comforter.

The hardest part of parenting isn't listening to the boring parts.
It's not breaking out in laughter when they say the most outrageous things.
You have to look serious all the while holding back laughter.

My second grader son worked his tail off for weeks selling cupcakes for a dime each.
It was to get enough money to send all the kindergarteners to the Sacramento zoo.
I would make the cup cakes and drop him and them off at school.
He did so well along with other children, all the kindergarteners went off early one morning in a school bus.
When my son came home that afternoon he was extremely angry!
He said...
"The zoo sent them all back, didn't keep any of them!"

See what I mean?
If I had laughed it would have damaged him in some emotional way.
I had to sympathize with him.

He wanted to get rid of all those kindergarteners because
"they are walking around and looking so cute".

I didn't tell him he was wrong and that the kids were never going to be kept by the zoo, put on display in cages.
I had had no idea he ever thought that the zoo would keep them.

Thank you.

I like having something to pull over me too. I switched to down-alternative a few years back as the down became too warm for me. I wish the weather would dip real low tonight. It won't. But I like a cool night.

I am off to bed even though technically I just got up from my nap.

Very windy and very humid today.

Watching young people, and not so young people, enjoying their conventions is incredibly joyful. I noticed a few patents, who were listening to their teens discussing this thing or that thing. And I thought about how I used to bore my parents with my nonsense but I never noticed their boredom.

We will eat dinner out tmr night, the three of us. I'll have to assemble their Easter baskets. I no longer use baskets as my mother then refuses to give them back for next year. So I don't do baskets anymore. One year I used colorful paper plates and she wouldn't let me throw out the paper plate. So I hope she enjoys the collection of treats I'll merely scotch tape together.

Hi Tatoulia
Yeah, August will be too warm for a thick robe.

I have been using a blanket and have a fiber filled comforted to pull up about 3am when the temperature dips low at night.
Still have my down filled comforter handy in case it gets super cold.
Maybe next month I'll wash it and put it away.

I left the message you asked me to do for you. :D

Your city sounds as interesting as a Comicon, Star Trek, Sci-Fi convention.

Sometimes they are specific characters and sometimes they are a specific species based on a specific character's species.

Like Spock or like a generic Vulcan.
V live long and prosper.

Oooh. So that's how you talk to him. I've spoken to him on the phone a few times but I get all giggly. I'm giggling just thinking about it.

I went for a long walk around the city. Before I left I changed my sheets and I decided that I'll take the comforter off my bed. I took the comforter part to the laundry. They'll wash it and roll it neatly into a bag. I'll wash the cover myself. So now I have just the thin white quilt on the bed. (I washed it last week). I took a small thin quilt out of the closet and washed it so that I can have it at the foot of my bed to pull over me. It's only a twin size. I had bought it for my mother, when she moved into assisted living. I bought her an entire beautiful sheet/sham/comforter/quilt set at Bloomingdales. She never liked the thin quilt because it's more stiff than soft. The colors are perfect for my house and it works on my twin fold out. So I like to use it at the base of my bed. So I washed that up too since it hadn't been used since my friend was here in October.

Now I'm going to rest. Bf is home napping at his house.

Tillie the city is alive with the yearly anime convention and everyone is in elaborate costumes. This makes me so happy to see everyone. They come from all over and have such a great time in the city. I don't understand if they are particular characters or people they think up themselves but they look fantastic.

I've decided not to keep the terry cloth bathrobe for my friend's visit. I'll give it to the cleaners. She wore it last time but it was October and she was cold. She'll be here probably in August.

(((HUGS))) Tatoulia

Without the constant abuse
the real you is shining through.

Steven did not get any trees and bushes because he knew that I really meant what I said about him having to tend to them.

The green ceiling tiles look amazing!
AND a licensed roofing contractor is scheduled to come by on Monday!!!
Soon, so very soon I will be able to fix the ceiling in my room.

Having cleaners come every other week really helps you to maintain.
I'm sure you and Miss Kitty don't make too much mess but living in a big city makes a lot of dirt.
Just dirt that comes in from the streets and covers the floors & everything.
As bad as the dust storms I get here. ;P

Yeah, that's right, you need a new AC.
Good luck finding the exactly right perfect unit.

Did you know I talk to Cory by clicking on the live chat link?
Even when it's not online we can type out a post to him.

Ps Tillie next time you talk with Cory could you let him know that I continue to move forward? No going back? Thank you!!!

Yay SubC! On all counts! So happy your friend remembered her chair! Wishing you a satisfying day, making pots.

Tillie I'm pleased that you are enjoying your more manageable garden and that your hard work is paying off. Steven listener to yo. Wow. I know first-hand that each victory is sepayand doesn't usually signal a life change. But it is a victory.

I bet the spring green tiles are beautiful.

Tillie you have such a good memory! The humidity would magnify my filthy house and make me hate myself. Well that is over and has been over. My friend was here in June when she started the redesign and my faithful cleaners have been here since June or July. I'm fully mopped, dusted, swept, vacuumed and cleaned every two weeks. I'd love to go to once a week. Not able to justify that. As long as I'm able to change my own sheets, etc, there's no reason to love to a second level of cleaners. I will however, get them here on special projects.

Well im doing kitty cat laundry today. Then I still have some returns to make. I also have to start shopping for the replacement ac for the living area.

Tillie we are one week shy of a year since I shed the sibling. I am amazed by it. So in the past year, I finished my mortgage, I got cleaning ladies, I've lost 30 plus pounds, I've made changes to my house, I've assembled a lasting wardrobe of quality clothes, I've gotten rid of all of my credit card debt and I've made smart choices. I have Saturdays to myself and I'm genuinely happy.

Good Morning Everybody

Today is cooler than yesterday with a slight chance of rain.
Going to get outside and water my flowers.

So happy that I minimized the garden and consolidated the flowers into one small area!
Takes only about 10 or 15 minutes to water them all thoroughly now.

The other week Steven was going off to the place where they were giving out free trees and bushes.
Said he was going to get some.
I said that's nice, glad you are going to be taking care of them too since I will no longer be doing things like that.
He came back home without any.

Hello

Hi Subclinical
YEA! for the zoo programs!
WAY TO GO! for finally remembering that chair!!!
So very happy that now no matter if it rains you have dry feet.
Good going having five pieces turned in and as always, quality is always better than quantity.

Hi Tatoulia
Got up to 80 here today.
I remember that the Summertime high humidity was always your biggest problem.
It made you so miserable and depressed and all the issues you had with your home were magnified.
Now you can still curse that humidity but at least you can do it in your clean & tidy home. (((HUG)))

Took another nap then gave the boys some canned cat food.
The most lovely and refreshing gentle breeze is coming through the windows.


I did not know that a beekeeper kept 180,000 bees up on Notre Dame but according to the news article they all survived the fire.
Imagine how much work it was to count all those bees. LOL ;)

Zoo programs went great!

One of my best friends - who lives 4 hours away - stopped by this evening one her way home with her college student. And took her chair that has been in my garage for three years! (we just keep forgetting to put it in her van)

Rain all day, but my feet are dry.

Five pieces of pottery turned in - tomorrow is the pottery marathon. Honestly, if I finish five more nice pieces, i'll be happy.

Subject dropped.

Glad you got a nap in. Yay for clean laundry and a clean bathroom!!!

I'm heading into bed soon. We had weather in the 70s today Tillie with a surprise smattering of humidity.

Ok subject dropped.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for delivering the buns!

Yeah, I don't like most dressings either.
I do like a simple oil and vinegar on salads.


Finally got the bathroom all cleaned up.
I really made a mess in there last night.
Laid back down and took a little nap and when I got up I was able to shower.
Got a load of laundry washed so now everything is all clean and back to normal.

I get sick like this a lot, have for decades due to my abdomen being swollen full of cysts and god only knows what else by now.
The pain is so intense that I lose consciousness and sometimes convulse.

There, now I have come clean and told you all my dark secret.
Lets just drop the subject.

Ok dropped off hot cross buns for BF and for Mom. I'm tired but I did it.

Sorry to hear if the bad night's sleep. Hopefully you can drift off and stay asleep tonight.

Today was a really long day at work. I don't know why it dragged so. Two people who attend my evening programs took me out for lunch today. I had a delicious salad with goat cheese and cranberry, no dressing (I don't enjoy dressing)and a skewer of shrimp. Pretty tasty.

I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and picked up hot cross buns for BF. I am very tired and trying to rally to take them to him.