Hi :)

Hi Karl :)
Sorry about those bread hogs. Wishing you many good things to come your way soon. ;)
Hope the laptop works out well for you.

Hi Diane :)
Happy to hear that the pipes have finally thawed.
Breaking so far down under ground like that was something that you really could not have prevented.
Fingers crossed that that is your only break.
WAY TO GO!!! for flushing the toilet!! :D
I know how wonderfully good that feels.

Going through these hard times builds our character and tests our metal
(you can smack me anytime) :D
But honestly, we ARE stronger than we believe we are and looking back on life's challenges we've faced we should feel proud of our accomplishments.

This was a day to mark down on my calender.
For lunch today he bought me a burrito! $3.00
Took me to the matinee. $5.00
WOW!!! an $8.00 date! :D
The movie sucked, did not follow the book at all.
But the theater was almost empty, not even 1/4 filled.
Nobody sat in the seats in front of me and I was able to put my knees up on the back of the seat in front of me. :)
I ate four of the five candy canes I brought.
Downtown looked pretty when we left the theater after dark with all the trees lit up with little multi colored lights.

Well, the city called at 7:30 and 2 guys met me at the old meter a block from here, it is amazing they cant move that closer to my place. They said meter was not working but there was water running, I ran back home and checked,no water inside, out to garage, and sure enough that pipe broke and thawed enough to run, so I yelled down to them to shut it off, which they did. They showed me how to shut it off and fixed the meter, very nice guys.
So I spent the day trying to dig deep enough to get to the crack in pipe. I took off the split section and took it to store and bought new parts. Also bought 2 gallons drinking water. Then had brainstorm, what if I turned on water just a little and since the faucet in yard is lower than garage, maybe I could get a trickle of water without it enough, got enough water to fill toilet tank and flushed, so exciting to flush a toilet.
The hole in the cement where the pipe is broken is about 10" diameter filled with red crumbly rock, so as I scooped it out, more fell in. Then cut the ends off a can and put it around pipe. Did get more out, it is split deep in ground. Will work on it tomorrow, I am exhausted. I hauled enough water up the hill to flush and back up flush water, then turned water off as it got dark.

Hi Karl :D

Hi Dave :D

Hi Diane :)

Been keeping my fingers crossed for you.
I know how hard it is to be without water.
(((HUGS)))
Wishing you all the luck in the world that this is over for you today.

Good morning :)

Dianne, taking "me" time is very important.
When we take the time to take care of ourselves we have more to give to everything we do. (((hugs)))

Once the fog lifts it should get all the way up to 34 degrees here today! :D
You can really feel a difference when the temps get above freezing.
"Desolation Of Smaug", first showing will be at 4:00pm.
Two hours forty one minutes long. :(
The tiny old theater is the oldest theater in all of Nevada. They split it in two to make two theaters. Smushing the seats all up so close together that it is impossible to even move your legs.
I will be smuggling in candy canes in my coat pockets to eat.
Can't have anything to drink for hours before the movie since I will have to hold it for THREE!!! hours.
Oh Well. Can't really say that he never takes me anywhere since he has taken me to the movies annually whenever The Lord Of The Rings or The Hobbit is showing.

Off now to prepare my home and myself for this marathon movie experience.

:D

Dianne, sounds like you had a good day chatting with so many folks, and I bet you helped them all!!! You have such a kind heart, just feel better talking with you.
The warmer air is moving in, 42 high today they say. I was under house a lot yesterday with heat, still no water so called the city, they are coming out to see if water meter has a problem and show me how to shut off new meter. Also can tell if water is running, like a broken pipe underground. Today I am going to have to go get water, I am really thirsty. Just afraid to leave incase a pipe breaks. Really want to take a shower, so can go pay at a gym, and take shower. I have so many dishes and dirty clothes piling up, it is really time to have water. I cleared more stuff out of walkway so I could get to back of crawl space, opened back end of skirting, and there is enough room to crawl under and so now don't have to crawl from east to west side. I discovered a turn off valve back there, there was no shut off valve in front wher oops city iws here

The clocks I use have a little dot in the upper left hand corner which indicates "PM". If you are really used to 24 hour time, I know this is not the same; however, it is pretty easy to use. When you set an alarm you just have to be careful to set to a "no dot" time if you want morning, or a "dot" time if you want afternoon or evening. When I wake up, I am used to looking in that corner to orient myself to the "half day" I am in.

Good morning :)

LOL :D Roxie

Hi Diane :)
So happy this extreme cold is moving away.
Really hate hearing about you crawling around under there in the dirt and cold doing everything you can do to fix the frozen pipes. :(
(((HUGS)))

My plan today is to use some of my cookie cutter collection to make sugar cookies for the Winter Solstice. Then clean the kitchen.
I already made fudge. :D
Two kinds, chocolate and peanutbutter.

My hoarder has made plans for Friday that involve me.
The next part of The Hobbit "the desolation of Smaug" comes out in theatres tomorrow and he wants us to go to the old theatre in town and see it.
That would be at the first showing, the matinee, because it is cheaper than the later airing and have fewer people in there.
The Hobbit has been my favorite book since I was 13 years old but I am protesting this movie because I think peter jackson has warped it way too much into something unrecognizable to me.

Anyways....
By Saturday it will be warmer here and I will be able to hang out laundry on the clothes line and it will dry.
I wash clothes and hang them in the house to dry but I have a hamper full of linens & towels, etc. that I don't dry inside because then they don't smell right to me.
Love those line dried linens! :D

Warm thoughts :)

Hi Tillie, yes would be good to have tea together on these cold days! Another day without water, I did the best I could to thaw just would not thaw, must be frozen under ground. Today I put old sheets and tarps on ground under trailer so much less dusty today. Took insulation and pipe wrap stuff under there but didn't get it done, just heated pipes. I was cold, tired and frustrated. I followed pipes so when I hire someone I can tell them where everything is under there, many jury rigged pipes go in strange directions. I heated water on wood stove and took a sponge bath, felt good to be cleaner, sure would like to take a warm shower. Saturday will be 45 degrees, low 28, so bet I can thaw pipes for sure, just hope no breaks. won't know until thaw
Yes Roxie, do have 2 new smoke detectors. Got them after I read the old ones don't detect smoke until too late for some.

Good morning :)

Hi Roxie :) Hi Karl :) Hi Diane :)

(((hugs))) (((hugs))) (((hugs)))
Wish we all lived closer together so I could give you more than written support.

I am exhausted. All my "get up & go" has "got up & went".
I can function alright in here when the temperature is anywhere in the 60s but been having a very hard time just keeping the temperature somewhere in the 50s.
Today I will try to catch up on the things that I left unfinished this week.

Stay warm and stay safe. (((hugs)))

It is still 4 degrees but is supposed to get up to 40 today, so I have hope that today will be the day. I found a smaller heater that I will take under trailer today. I pray that I can get water today and not break any pipes in the process, I am at the point it feels hopeless. It is so filthy under there, I was going to use hair dryer on pipes but since everything has an inch of dust on it, would be impossible without inhaling that crap, even with N95 mask. Yesterday took a little wool duster under there, but dust is so fine, it just hung in the air. I took door off water heater, no easy task, cleaned all the dirt out of there. Turned down water temp. which has been too high for years. Found the drain spout, never have drained before, thought this would be a good time, there was only a trickle of brown crusty water, I assume when I heard the rumbling it really did burn coils out, not looking forward to having that replaced, pray it will be ok, I will never forget to turn off when it freezes again. Once it gets up to over 20 degrees, I will head under there again, I am determined to finish thawing today, no matter what it takes, want to do it early enough that I can call city for water turn off if pipes break when defrosted. My knees got trashed yesterday crawling on them, so today will wear knee pads, this is such a pain. Roxie reading you waited 2 hours for doc made me feel less alone, I really dislike waiting with a bunch of germy people, sorry you had to go through that, and proud of how you dealt with it. I laughed as I wrote that, Like hanging out with in dirt and spiders and cat kill (mouse and bird bones) is anymore fun!! at least you put a smile on my face.

I am officially exhausted!! I ended cutting the metal skirting with metal snips, then found that after removing the disgustingly dirty fiberglass insulation, the pipes don't allow enough room to fit from west side, lost a couple hours there. I have been under the trailer several times today. Went around edge and found pipes come out of ground under kitchen sink, not the bathroom sink like I thought. Took extension cord up there and plugged in lamp next to pipes. Light wouldn't go on, had to go out east side, walk around and found that had to replace extension cord, back around, back crawling, then got new cord hooked up. Tried to fit one of the oil coil type heater under there, but it is too tall, I tell you it was a lot of dirty work and no running water and I am so filthy. I am afraid to leave not knowing when water will come on or if pipe may break now heat is on it. I really want to take a shower, wash dishes, wash clothes, flush toilet, never realize how difficult life is without water, oh yeah, Tillie told us during the summer!!

Good morning :/
Foggy, frosty, freezing.
I am so physically exhausted from trying to be warm.

Diane,
all I have to say about your day is (((HUGS))).
Noticed that people around here who live in trailers/mobile homes have placed bales of straw all around the outside of the skirting to try to keep their pipes from freezing.
Wish I had remembered to do this around your home before the cold set in. (((HUGS)))

My plan for today....
the usual cat related tasks
then I will take care of me.
My hair is all dry & frizzy nasty looking so I will do moisturizing conditioners and shampoo.
My finger nails are all brittle and chipped so I will do a manicure & moisturizers.
My feet are needing a proper pedicure & moisturizing too.
But first I must warm up the house, 51 degrees inside is too cold to do anything.

Thinking warm thoughts. :D

Hi Tillie, Roxie and Dianne, nice hearing what is going on in your life.
Just looked at national weather service, they reported official low was 37 degrees below 0 yesterday morning, so no matter what I did, could not have saved the pipes from freezing, -37, that is 37 degrees below 0, over 60 degrees below freezing (32). I do not recall it ever being this cold. Ok enough computer back to work. Thanks for your comments and encouragement, tough month for me, and no dog to warm me up.

crawled like a reptile on my belly under the house today, no pipe problem yet, still frozen. I had wrapped most of pipes years ago it turns out. Some of the wrap and foam fell off. I went in on the east side and had to crawl all the way over to pipes. I am determined to figure out how to get those screws off the west side so I can get to pipes easily. Crawling all that way, knocking off spider webs all the way was pretty bad. Apparently when the big flood came last month, a groove was created where the river flowed through. I crawled the length to make sure it didn't undermine the supports, all is ok. Crawled over to where the sewer pipe froze 4 years ago, all appears well there so far. Then I shoveled snow in front and back of place. Walked down the road and got mail. Retrieved garbage can from Friday pickup.
Vacuumed floor including kitchen, not going to wash floor until have water. Sure wish I could take a shower right now. Guess I will heat some water and at least wash what I can on this dirty old body. Thank goodness I have been getting organized, I found my Lacross knee high safety rubber boots, like firemen wear, and wore them today for the first time ever, they were great under the house and while shoveling snow, they fit tight at calf so no critters can get in. I wore tall gloves that fasten tight at wrists so no bugs there, I forgot to put a mask on was the big problem under the house, nasty breathing under there, won't go without a mask again for sure. Sun is out and feels good to be out, now that feet and hands have warmed up, will go out and check pipes again, try to get screws out of skirting, and then bring in firewood. Water heater started making a rumbling noise, at first I thought it was the pipes were getting unclogged then realized it was empty water heater, I ran and turned the breaker off. Sure hope it didn't burn out the elements. A lesson to always turn off breaker switch when water is off.

Good morning :)
Last night was the coldest so far. Had to get up all night and periodically run the water.
Wanted to sleep in some but the cats were all fussing & fighting with each other. Evil beasts.

Hi Diane :)
Your wool slipper ideas sound very do-able & would be warm & comfy. :D
Hope you can stay warm today and keeping my fingers crossed about your water pipes. (((hugs)))

Hi Roxie :)
I too sleep on the couch fold out bed but I have a memory foam pad that makes it very comfortable.
Just roll it up daily when I convert the bed back into the couch.
What a shame about your doll houses. :(
My hoarder's mother had a dozen stuck in a shed. All were ruined and most all the furniture too but I was able to salvage this teeny tiny house, find all the pieces, clean it & treat the mildew, paint it and now have a lovely little house to play with.
It was depressing to have to throw away so much because it was too ruined to salvage.

Hi Dianne :)
I would be very happy and grateful to ride out this cold spell with you at your home. :D (((hugs)))
Thank you! :D After I got home from my trip I came inside and have not ventured outside since, no reason to. LOL
Many many people get stuck in the list preparing stage. Making the list sometimes seems to be the same as doing the tasks. Write up a really good list and you feel satisfied. :)
I get my satisfaction from drawing a line through the tasks as I complete them. Then at the end of the day enjoying looking at what I have accomplished by the lines through some of the items.
My lists are mostly things that I can do or not do.
Like a menu of choices that I can pick and choose from.
Keeps me from feeling like the list is making demands on me, telling me what to do & when to do it.
Sometimes I do something not written on my list but then I will jot it down and draw a line through it just to keep track of what I did today. ;)
Sounds like a beautiful winter wonderland! :D
When it isn't so cold I plan to toss all the cats out in the snow & enjoy watching them run around in it. :D

My plans for today....
already fed cats, need to scoop litter boxes, rinse & fill water & kibble bowls.
Stay inside & find something to do to amuse myself.

Everybody stay safe & stay warm. (((hugs)))

It was 16 below zero last night, wind chill of -35.
Inspite of my best efforts pipes all frozen this morning. I had heater in bathroom all night where pipes enter house, ran dryer where vent is by where pipes enter, had lamps in bathrooms and kitchen by pipes, and they are all frozen.
Have plenty of water in pans and jars, just not sure how to thaw pipes without bursting them. Guess I will start with hair dryer. Still -11 outside, think I will be stuck with frozen pipes until it warms up to freezing on Tuesday. Kept fire going.
Slept with 2 long sleeve fleece and vest. Mittens and scarf, long pants, 2 pair of sox, so did sleep, just want this to be over with already!!
Have been on Etsy and Pinterest looking and craft ideas, so creative, just love it. Great reward to myself, to just browse felted inventions. Want to try to make wool felted slippers, may give it a try. I have a pendleton wool blanket I washed in hot water, so shrunk and thick, ready to design, and would be great to keep feet warm. Looks like I draw my feet on paper, then cut out bottom, then attach top, may put fleece inside so don't itch. One thought is to cover a pair of crocs, no example of this, but seems like it would be easy and sturdy. Also will have to go out and get more wood this afternoon. Did all dishes daily knowing water would shut off after several days of -0 weather, so that is good, will heat up soup for lunch and dinner. Drinking hot coffee and herbal tea will help too. Glad your pipes are running Tillie, see you at 5 if not before

Good morning?
So bitterly cold! :(
We will be lucky if it gets up to 20 degrees here today. And with the wind blowing it is even worse.

Diane,
hope you made it safely through the night. (((hugs)))
Mobile homes are so hard to keep the pipes from freezing.

Hi Roxie :)
WTG! for keeping up with the daily maintenance! :D

I don't know where everybody has gone to. :(
Maybe they are all busy with the holiday stuff. ?

My plans for today...
Feed cats. They are all being nasty & fussing at each other.
Blaming each other for the cold and mad at me for not making the sun shine and warming up the world.
Shower sometime after I get the house warmer.
The portable radiator kept the house at 52 degrees over night so it's not too bad.
Then either sew or play with my doll house while I watch stuff on Netflix and drink cocoa & tea.
Found a teeny tiny itty bitty little broom for the doll house! :D

At 5:00pm PST I will get to chat! :D

Stay warm, stay inside if at all possible.
In a few months it will be Spring again. ;)

Thanks Tillie, yes faucets are dripping, still freezes. When I turn it on full blast it goes on for a few seconds then stops, then makes little noises then starts to trickle then starts flowing. I am trying to figure out where it is freezing. Since it runs for a few seconds before shutting off, I think it is under the deck somewhere, I have only gone under the house from the other side, but pipe is on this side, so have to figure out how to get siding off, enough to get under there. Maybe it is called skirting, the bottom part of siding.
Braved it and got wood in here to last 24 hours, heated up soup, feel better now, especially hearing from you Tillie. Thanks. Split pea sounds so yummy with the ham bone, good for you.

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO! doing so much even when cold & shivering!
Happy you are going to plug in additional heat.
We have to use space heaters here since we do not have any kind of furnace.
I really like the electric oil radiator and keep it in the middle of the kitchen area well out of reach of everything.
This house is so old that the original heat source was the wood cook stove but that was already gone by the time we bought the house.
Keeping the faucet slowly dripping might help keep the pipes open.
But with these extreme temperatures for the next week there may not be much we can do to prevent frozen plumbing. :(

The news keeps reporting about the homeless who have already froze to death.
I am grateful to be inside with warm soup and snuggly socks.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr It is still only 6 degrees out. Pipes keep trying to freeze, then I run water until it breaks free. Tonight will be -13 and afraid that will clinch the freeze. I have plenty of water in bottles and pans, just fear the pipes will break, somewhere I can't reach easily.
I just put last piece of wood in stove and really don't want to go out and get more, but I must. This morning I finished top 2 shelves of linen closet. Then I did the cabinet with spices and stuff in it. Took everything out, washed shelves, then put stuff back in so I can find it. Then sorted two drawers of stuff. I am cold and need to heat up some soup and have a feast to warm me up. I am also going to break down and plug in a heater, it is just too cold.
I am grateful I have plenty of wood and food. I am happy to open the linen closet and see it organized. I appreciate all the work I got done this morning inspite of cold fingers. Grateful you made it home safely and got great food Tillie. Yes, was able to order kit postage free.

Good morning :)
LOTS of snow fell over night and it's still snowing.
My plan for today is to make a huge pot of split pea soup.
Have ham bone, split peas, celery and carrots.
Have some loaves of bread in the freezer that I made last month to go with it.
Want to make sugar cookies and use at least a dozen cookie cutters from my collection.
Have the sugar already colored and ready.
I have plenty of cocoa and tea to drink too.
I am thankful for a well stocked pantry, a roof over my head and heat.
Stay safe and warm. (((hugs)))

HI :D
I'm back home and all the groceries are properly put away.
Got a TON of wonderful foods! :D
Spent a little under 300.00 but saved over 400.00 by going there.
Most all the food is non perishable and my pantry is properly stocked to get me through the winter storms.
Saw a herd of Mustang (wild horses), lots of hawks, ravens & crows.
Saw the Bunny Ranch (a brothel) and the remains of an old pony express station.
The house did not drop below 52 degrees even with all the heat sources turned off so the cats weren't too mad at me for leaving, plus I bought them a "cat's Meow" as seen on tv toy that they have all been playing with while I put away the groceries.

Diane :)
Happy you have covered that hole and made a lovely linen closet! :D
Did you find out how to get the free shipping on hoard no more?
WTG! on the kitchen projects! :D

The next storm is blowing in tonight.
Temperatures will really be dangerously cold till next Tuesday.
So happy I can sit warm in a comfortable chair and think of my well stocked pantry.
Feel just like a Hobbit. :D
I have reread the Hobbit and trilogy faithfully about every ten years since I was only 13 years old.
This would be a good time to get the old books off the shelf and read them again.

Stay warm and stay home if at all possible but if you must got out take your time, drive safely and come back home safe & sound. (((HUGS)))

Thank you Diane and Roxie for helping me go today, so happy that I DID it!. :D

Tillie, where are you? Missed seeing your post this morning. Hope you made it home safely with lots of goodies.
Today I got up with a warm living room, yep, got up and put wood in stove, was afraid to sleep though the night and freeze. Now saying saturday night will be 15 below 0, wow, that is darn cold. I just put last piece of wood in stove, that means out I go to bring in more wood, brrrrrrrrr.
Today I took door off where furnace used to be and cleaned that out, realized the huge hole was allowing freezing air in, so turned area into a storage area, crammed old towels etc in the hole. Put contact paper down on gross areas after clean. Put plexiglass over the top to block wind as well as make a shelf, not sure what will store in there. I put electrician tape over the ends of loose wires, they were bare, although breaker is off, covered them for safety. Then thought what the heck, might as well finally take everything out of linen closet for the first time, oh my, floor was dusty but nothing gross. Cleaned shelves and walls then folded all towels and sheets. Made bottom area for all massage sheets and equipment, next shelf sheets, next was all bathroom towels, one shelf all kitchen linens. It looks so nice. Still have top shelf to do but I am tired and need to eat first. Later today plan to take everything out of cabinet with spices and organize them and place them so can be found on a step up wire rack that I never put in, so will be much easier to cook if I decide to. Glad it is snowing out and frigidly cold, makes me happy to be inside, except now have to face it and go get wood. Thanks for any updates you have time for. Frozen hugs to you

Thanks Roxie, yes I do have electric blanket. Thanks for suggestions for keeping warm. It has never been this cold in December for this many days, that I can remember. It is just darn cold.
How did it go Tillie? Hope you got all your winter supplies and enjoyed the scenery.
I ordered the Hoard no More kit today for my Christmas present to myself!! It can take up to 2 weeks to get it so for sure it will be here before Christmas, what a great gift.

It took until afternoon to get up to 50 degrees in here. then worked more on kitchen cabinets, I wanted to quit so many times, had no idea there was still so much crap in them. First cleaned kitchen months ago, but today found lots more stuff to clean and organize. One cabinet was skipped first time apparently, there was a pile of dog food in back corner that the mice drug in. It was not fun dealing with it, for a variety of reasons. I did get that entire cabinet clean and organized. even labeled the shelves with what is in there

Thank you Diane (((HUGS)))
Thank you Roxie (((HUGS)))

On long car trips I like to play car poker.
You see a car in the distance and call "dibs" on it.
When it gets close enough you look at the license plate and make a card hand out of the letters & numbers.
Then you do the same with another car to improve your hand.
Person with the best hand wins. :D
Remember, I live in Nevada. LOL ;)

I CAN do this and I CAN have fun and not worry.
Thank you both. :D

Finally went to sleep about 9am and just woke up.

Tillie: Too funny a pun on your angora-phobia. Thanks for the laugh. Sweetie, you CAN do that trip and I think you'll even have fun. You can work on a shopping list in the car if that helps. Or you two play one of those old games like that alphabet game where you have to go through the alphabet by spotting words on signs. Like Altoona would give you A. Barber shop would give you B, etc. I don't much like going out either, but once I make the effort it's usually worth it.

Diane: Sweetie, do you have an electric blanket or would that help? Or a hot water bottle? I am also grateful you have that wood stove and that you stocked up on the wood. Drink hot beverages to nurture yourself: tea, coffee, hot chocolate. I hate to think of you so cold. But having been there myself, I KNOW you can do it. Keep wearing layers and if you are sitting still, wrap blankets around you. You will get through this. Can you go visit a friend with central heating, or the library so you can warm up? Hugs

I imagine Karl still has to hook up his computer, but hope to hear from him soon.

Hello to everyone reading this. Drinking my coffee and checking email.

dear sweet Tillie, you can do this, what a great chance to try on your big girl panties!! I really do not like to leave home either, but when I do, I am always fine, and even enjoy most of it. You have all of our love and support today, and encourage you to go make it a fun day, so proud of you for sharing your inner fears and courage to do it anyway.
I have been feeling very emotional past few days, feel this cold is too much. Fire went out last night and it was about 30 degrees in here this morning, made a fire, went back to bed. It was -2 degrees past 2 nights, still pipes did not freeze, worried faucet in yard froze, will check and rewrap today, supposed to be -5 one night this week, too darn cold for me. Yesterday started to organize shelf and cupboards in kitchen. I need to organize things to make better use of limited space. Feel good about area I got done. Started on an odd cabinet today, found a bunch of keys, including 2 spare car keys I had made last year when I lost keys, they cost $52 each because of computer chip in them, glad I found them. I did get soup made yesterday, was so good. Fixed tarp that blew off in storm. It took about an hour. When I came in my fingers ached, close to frost bitten, painful warming them. Glad I had the soup to eat. Life is not easy for me right now. Realize my gratitude list is an effort daily, but does help. today I am grateful for surviving this cold, having wood stove for warmth, for a supply of food, for stereo and music. Grateful you posted tillie, makes me feel less alone in this struggle. Hugs

Good morning :)
I am so nervous and worrying my self sick.
Tomorrow his plan is that we will drive 150 miles round trip into Carson City to shop.
I have not left this area here in over 6 years.
But the stores here are terrible now that walmart moved in.
All the Mom & Pop stores are gone now. Only one grocery store left here.
The prices and selection are depressing.
In Carson City is a grocery store chain that I have really liked for decades.
He wants to go there and have us stock up on non perishable food, enough to last the winter.
I am all for that. I have the space in my pantry.
He also wants to go to Harbor Freight while we are there.
But I have a terrible fear of leaving the house, being in crowds and talking to people.
He got me the computer years ago just so I would start to communicate with humans again.
It has worked, I can talk to people here but in real life it is still very hard for me.
I call my condition "angora phobia" a fear of leaving the cat. lol ;)
Anyways, I am going to put on my big girl panties and do this.
I will push through the fear. :)

Hi Roxie :)
WAY TO GO!
Getting cat food and cooking a lovely meal for your self too. :D

Hi Jess :)
WAY TO GO!!! for all you got done.

Hi Roxie :)
Hope you got the cat food today.
I know my cats would conspire to hurt me if I ever ran out. LOL :D

Got my groceries.
The store was pretty empty of customers at the time I was in there. :D
The roads were all clear of ice & snow.

Stay warm. :)

diane - I love the positivity and the way you focus on what makes you grateful. I need reminders from time to time. Sounds like you have a good jump on preparing for more brutal cold and that's wonderful!

Tillie - I'm not a fan of crowds myself. I often have to give myself a pep talk, refocusing my thoughts from, "I have to go to the crowded store," to thoughts like, "I get to have fresh, healthy food and restock what I need." I hope your trip is pleasant. Please don't end up snacking with the cats! hehe

I've done the fireplace and vacuumed the living room. I stripped the bedding and washed that and some towels, as well as my comforter and 4 blankets. Two of those have been in the closet since last winter, since they are very heavy and only really used during this season. I dusted and vacuumed the bedroom we sleep in. The clutter bedroom has fresh sheets now but the floor is a disaster.

I've got a friend coming over soon so I'm going to tidy up the bathroom and I'll just have to put off the ugly bedroom for now.

I'm trying very hard to remain positive and be proud of the things I accomplished today. My urge to rip everything apart and do it better is pretty strong today but I'm staying focused the best I can.

Good morning :)

It's a whole 15 degrees on the back porch now.
No frozen pipes in the house this morning. :D


Hi Jess :)
Way To Go! organizing the kitchen and getting in good food!
Keep tackling one do-able task after another and your livingroom will soon be in good shape. :D

Hi Diane :)
Keep those cabinet doors open and even turn the tap on to a tiny trickle to keep the pipes open & unfrozen over night.
Hope you got the VCR connected and running. I love my bluray player. Plays bluray and DVDs and CDs but best of all is it plays the Netflix programs on the TV.
When my VCR died I never replaced it and I sold all my tapes.

I haven't been to the grocery store since way before thanksgiving. Hate crowds.
I am planning to grocery shop this afternoon.
Have my list all made up, running out of most everything except cat food & cat snacks.
Really dreading this trip. :(
Yesterday I hung a beautiful new pair of drapes in the dining area window. Now I have to try to keep the cats from swinging from them.
Have a matching pair for the livingroom area window but I am too afraid to hang those yet.
That window is where they mostly sit to look out.
Small changes like this help to keep my mind from getting boring.

Stay warm, eat healthy and find fun interesting things to add excitement to your day. :D

Jess, good work in kitchen! I did all dishes last night and have water stored in case pipes freeze, got up and put wood in stove during night, all faucets work this morning, 0 degrees, supposed to be -1 tonight. Have to shower and wash hair this morning in case pipes freeze tonight.
I had a really slow day yesterday, did some organizing, hung some blankets over doors, to keep brutal cold wind out.
Will haul more wood onto deck today. Have to return a phone call I have procrastinated calling.
Still need to make soup, really want to do that today. Now that everything is clean in kitchen will make it more inviting to cook.
Today I am grateful that I can leave cabinets open to let heat in where there are pipes. When Molly was here she would get into open cabinets and chew on anything she could find. I am grateful that I don't have to worry about cords getting chewed on. Grateful that I can now burn candles without worrying about having her knock them over. Grateful that I have hope that my clutter will continue to decrease. Even though short dark days zap my energy, I still am headed in the right direction. I am grateful for this group and web site to give me hope and direction. Grateful I don't have to be out in the cold today. Grateful I do not have to work this winter, can stay home when roads are icy. Grateful you post on here so I can get insight and hope.