Good morning! Great progress on your pots, SubC! I know what you mean about wanting to do the new work. More exciting! I'm glad you've decided to finish up the partly done pits. It will declutter your studio and get you ready for the sale! Two in one!

I gave BF the one store card because we use just the one card at this particular store. I get a lot of benefits on the card and he buys for his sisters and himself. He also charges on the card and then immediately pays right then and there. I have purchased all the clothes I need.

For Amazon, I have my bank account linked. The prime yearly membership fee requires a credit card. So as soon as that processes, I will remove the credit card. I don't think amazon takes Paypal. The point for me is to either have the cash on hand in my bank account or make me enter the credit card, which will add time for me to think if I need it or If I am just momentarily dazzled.

Good morning all!

Tillie, you are very brave.

My daffys are starting to open up, but the stonefruit trees are still shut tight.

Tatoulia, how will you order online from amazon without a cc? Are you going to use a paypal account?


So glad you found a place that wanted the tv!

Do you and your bf have a joint cc account, or does he use the card to buy stuff for you and your mom?

They did not pick up my trash Friday. Just mine, I have no idea why. So now I have to call them this morning. This used to happen several times a year. It is part of why I cancelled the trash service before. And I am really looking forward to cancelling it again! One more week.

I have to go to the feed store and the grocery store today because we are all out of food. (Well, actually, the animals are out of food, and the humans are out of almost everything dh eats regularly and things that are easy to cook. If we were snowed in, we would be short on vegetables, but otherwise fine. - I could make pasta/rice/lentils/cheese/eggs/canned or frozen fruit for weeks.) if we had power, I could also bake. And I suppose I could sprout the lentils for "veggies".

The firing went really well yesterday and I made some other progress. I'm going to do another firing today. I am trying to focus on preparing partly finished items for the sale instead of making new work, but it's hard because the new work is always the most exciting, and stuff I didn't finish has lost it's shine. OTOH, that should make it easy to part with at the sale. I really need to pare down my inventory.

Hello Tillie!

I bet the apricot blossoms and the daffodils are so cheerful! WTG for making decisions on the cat bedding and supplies. I know you are grieving and the kitties are too.

I always love reading your posts because they remind me of everyone else's posts too!

I napped and now the cat and I are wide awake!

I gave BF the credit card that he uses the most. The rest are tucked away far and wide. As soon as my Amazon prime is renewed (mid April) I will delete the AMEx from the site. The Amex is the one with the 300 limit and I pay it each month. But now it will be my emergency card. If I don't have cash, I cannot buy. And if it's not a true necessity, then I cannot buy.
I still have one skirt to return. It will get me out and walking tmr.

I feel lighter. I am glad that now that I won't be using credit that I will no longer have to say a silent stressful prayer to see if it will go through.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
WTG! for tossing the nasty tasting freezer burned meat!
YEA! for being strong enough to deal with your friend's rat.

Steven tried cooking and eating all his freezer burned meat when I was trying to empty out the freezer.
He said it tasted disgusting even smothered in garlic & onions and it gave him gastrointestinal issues.

Hi Subclinical
Happy dd2's BF is nice. :)
WAY TO GO! for working in the studio creating, cleaning and straightening!!!


Hi Tatoulia
WTG! for donations and returning clothing!!!!
Wonderful that you have companions to share getting physical with.


Beautiful day here.
Yesterday the Apricot tree blossoms started opening.

Been keeping very busy.
Have sorted out all the cat bedding and my assorted linens and have a HUGE amount (5 large bags) ready to drop off at the Vet's office.
Removed one litter box so now there are only 2 boxes.

Cats & I went outside for a while then the cats went back inside to take naps so I came in too.

There are 2 blooming daffodils out there and 3 more buds.

Ok brief update. I got together with mom and we drove around the city a bit then I did get grocery shopping. Beautiful day here. I took one of my quilts to the laundry to have washed. They then fold them nicely and put in a thick, clear plastic bag to keep clean. I'm happy having it off my bed. I also got the TV, antenna and digital converter box to goodwill. The guy said they'd be glad to take it. Bye white tv. I loved you so. I also grabbed a few random things out of my trunk and donated those. After dropping off mom, i started working on the trunk of my car and I made excellent progress. I'm really pleased.

Now I'm home. I just ate the other half of yesterday's sandwich. I should stay up but I'd love a nap.

SubC! I love hearing about your pottery project! And I love the challenge you are doing. In addition to my no spend challenge here, I do several health-related challenges. One is private with a colleague from another office. We share our weights and we set goals for walking. Yesterday was four miles. Then I have a few more public ones with people in the office. Today we are doing a one-day throw down regarding physical activity. I don't much cotton to competition but this isn't actually competitive. We never discuss who came in first or last. It's just a helpful reminder to be active. The person who sets them up is expecting his first baby with his wife so he wants to lose his gut and be healthier. It's fun being a part of that process.

Beautiful and sunny here. Will do a little clean up then get moving.

I noticed a silver tray today that has been unused for over a year. I cannot come up with a reason to keep it. Yes it looks great Christmas time with a little scene or other things set up on it. That is not enough to keep. I'll polish and donate. (It's silver plate, obv, not sterling). I didn't use last Christmas because someone else had decorated the hallway. There's nothing special about it and it's just clutter at this point.

Sending my best to Tillie, Scooter and CM (no particular order!).

Good morning all.

Hugs for Tillie. I'm glad you and scooter have each other.

I have a happy thing to share - yesterday we got to meet dd2s boyfriend. He seems nice. They look very comfortable together and he has a great laugh.

Today I am heading back out to the pottery studio. When I went out on Friday, I started on project, took care of four that had been partly started and abandoned (clearing off most of a large work table in the process), fired my kiln, and cleaned up my glazing station.

Today I am going to pour molds, do more glazing, fire a fun (but tricky) glaze load, and hopefully keep working on the handbuilding series I started (I am being an optimist - I started one project on Friday and this morning I signed on to a "100 challenge" with the goal of completing a series of 100 pieces!) But there is no time limit, just reporting progress. Some of the other people are writers and pledged 100 hours or 100 pages.

CM, once the meat is freezer burned, it is done. Just try to remember that the meat got freezer burned the next time you are tempted to "save money" by buying extra meat. Here I would put it out for the coyotes, but most people cannot do that.

I'm sorry you are still struggling with the everyday. Sometimes everything is just hard. Did the bunnies enjoy the nuns?

CM, I meant to tell you: to the bunnies and us, you are a superhero.

Clean sheets on the bed! It is easier to make now that I've taken one layer off. My sheets are in the dryer right now. I'm looking forward to climbing into bed and reading or watching the Telly.

I do need to not spend for 30 days. I have now scheduled payments for all my credit cards. And no more is going on them. I am only carrying the one with the 300 limit. The store cards will be in the drawer along with the emgerncy visa. The TRUE EMERGENCY VISA which means no emergency.

I'm leaning toward not getting a car. I'm a bit worried about giving up my parking spot. I have arranged for a certain amount of dollars to be transferred automatically to my savings when my paycheck gets into the bank.

My life will feel less cluttered.

As soon as sheets are dry, I'm going to find a movie on Netflix to watch.

Ok I wanted to crawl into bed even though it's 615. Instead I stripped my bed and put sheets into laundry. I'll put on some music to putter by and get moving.

Poor scooter, too. I walked to the store and returned the dress I'd bought. It just didn't fit right. I walked around the breezy Windy City and eventually had to sit down. I hadn't eaten enough it had enough water to keep going. I pulled myself together, went to the grocery store, then BF picked me up. After I ate, I ran up to mom's with a turkey dinner I'd picked up for her. She was downstairs, in the dining room, so I got her keys and put her Sunday dinner in the fridge. I cleaned a few cat bowls, gave the kitty some loving, then went back downstairs. I'm now in for the night. BF is going homecto do some much-needed laundry. I should probably do the same.

I emptied dishwasher this AM. I find that if I run it over night, then I can empty it while the coffee brews.

Please you all keep on posting about all your daily goings-ons.

Love hearing from you and makes me feel not so lonely.

The hole was dug deep, the funeral is over.
Nothing more to do but decide what plant I will memorialize the spot with.

When Poohkie passed I hadn't the heart to remove her bed but then I kept forgetting and looked for her in it through out the day/night.
To keep from giving myself all that false hope/added grief, this time I already moved his beds.
The empty spaces are bitter & lonely but it is helping.

Now I once again have too many tiny beds, tiny bowls, tiny blankets & tiny quilts.
I will donate them to a needy cat.

Scooter has been scared and hiding since yesterday but he did cuddle in bed last night.

Thank you for checking in, Tillie. Sending you much love today and always.

I'm off to run errands on the bright, sunny, very windy day. Going to return a dress and skirt I bought. Back on the no-spend challenge.

thank you all (((HUGS)))

So sorry Tillie - I know he meant so much to you. 😿🌹❤

Oh Tillie! I am heartbroken too. I am so sorry and am sending you much love. I am so sorry. What a terrible loss. I am comforting you from afar.

Oh Tillie, I am so sorry!

We are here if/when you want to talk about it.

Be good to yourself.

My heart is broken.

Had to put my baby boy kitty to sleep today.
Still in shock and denial.

I love him so....

Hopefully short, since I must get ready for taking the bunnies to the convent by 2:00.

It's trash day, and I did something. SubC you may want to skip this paragraph. Here it is: I threw out the freezer burned meat. My roommate had said I could cook it in batches for the animals but honestly they wouldn't be able to eat it fast enough, so quite a bit would still end up being trashed. And what if it upset their tummies and they puked or worse, more drama, more falling behind on important things.

When I have more time I'll give you the long boring version of how this meat anguish is connected to things like having difficulty getting to the gym and the storage unit and why it's so hard for me, a grown woman, to coordinate basic life skills like getting going in the morning, deciding what to have for lunch and getting it cooked, and much much more.

Sometimes one just has to do a cost benefit analysis and cut one's losses.

On the other hand, I can boast that I did once deal with a dead rat carcass out of love for a dear friend. Stay tuned for the expanded edition of "Is CM a hopeless incompetent, a superheroine in disguise, or somewhere in the middle"?

Good Morning Everybody

Finally I can see the moon.
Couldn't see it yesterday due to the rain clouds.
Sun is coming up now and it's getting brighter out.
I love this special and quiet time of the day.

Hi Subclinical
Very happy you made time for swimming! :D

Disappointed nobody wanted the molds.
"Now" will just have to hold onto them until a good home can be found.

WTG! cleaning your room even with no heat.
Hard to do much when you're shivering.

YEA! for clearing out 3 cans worth and getting them out!!!

It is depressing thinking about landfills.
And now other countries are no longer wanting the recyclable materials to manufacture into new cheap merchandise to cheaply sell back to us.
We need to greatly reduce where ever we can.



Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for clearing one dream box!!! ;D
Nice to have a good feeling dream.

Very happy you got in a lot of sleep, you needed it.

Hope that bonus check is safely deposited in savings by now.


Didn't do much yesterday and internet was acting up so I couldn't stream a movie on Netflix.
Frustrating, but that's why I keep my favorite DVDs "Justin Case" I don't have internet.

Today is a little break from the rain but it is supposed to start up again this evening.
Will do a little tidying up today, again.
Seriously need to do a pedicure, my nails are too long and shoes are starting to hurt.

Tillie I hope you enjoyed your play day! SubC last night I dreamt I was going through large numbers of boxes (there were twists and turns but I'll just outline the main plot) and I was able to decide what someone would complain about (not being clear whose boxes they were) and I chose several items to donate and I cleared a box. It felt fantastic.

I came home after work last night and slept. BF met me halfway and we ran a few errands including getting some freshly baked bread and dropping off at mom's. Then I slept and slept and slept. So satisfying.

Off to work today. We get our bonus checks so I'll have to put in savings account. Immediately.

Good morning!

No odd dreams last night.

The moon is beautiful this morning.

My class went well yesterday, but no one is interested in molds. I'm afraid I am going to bring them home for now. (Now is always happy to have things)

The program at the library was good. It was on preventing food waste. Not much new to me information - and a lot of it was depressing at first, but great resources to use with my kids, and i've decided that if 57% of the waste sent to the landfill in the county where most of my students live (I cross the county line to work) is compostable material, then I can have a real impact on that. (That number includes low grade paper and cardboard. The recyclable paper numbers were also depressing. Much work to do!)

I checked out some books, and they gave each of us a set of reusable silicone bowl covers - like the set I recently bought and really like. I've been thinking about buying a second set, but was doing ok with one. I may share some of these with family to get them hooked on the idea.

The heat was off in my building, so I did a quick clean up in my room. It's not right yet, but I think it's better. I'm going to enlist the kids this week on the molds. In each class, i'm going to have each kid find their favorite mold. Those molds will stay. Then I'm going to fill in any remaining space with molds that have seen use in other years or have potential for use in a particular project. When the space is full, the rest have to go.

Probably home with me for Now - I need to put my energy in my creative channel. although there may be a few i can accept using to lower the percentage of waste that is compostable ;)

i did bring home two molds yesterday that I like but in four years no kid has used. Later I will have to purge my mold some more, but there are ones in class I like better than ones at home.

And I swam. And three cans of trash went up last night from the great studio barn purge. (100% non-compostable)

Today - clay work.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
What a strange dream that was.

Have a good day with all your plans and I really hope you make the time to swim. (((hug)))

I understand what you mean by trying to find the balance.
Balance in our lives and balance in the seasons.
Beginnings and ends to bring order out of chaos.

The years have seasons and so do we.
I am still reconciling myself to this new season in my life where I can no longer physically do all the things I want to do.
I have had to "let things go".

But by doing this I have found an inner peace.
I have given myself more time to enjoy what I still hold onto.


Cold, dark and rainy day.
No plans to go anywhere or do anything.
So looks like after all the gardening, house tidying and shopping these last 6 days, I may have the day off.
YEA! ;D

Well, I didn't do particularly well in the sleep department last night. The rain came in later than expected and I was up with the fire too long.when my alarm went off this morning, I was dreaming that my parents came to visit (panned in a few weeks) and told me they were having trouble and thinking about splitting up. The chances of my parents splitting up are slightly lower than the chances of Tillie coming home from town to discover that Steven hired a hauling company and all of the junk is gone, so I don't know where that came from.

I have been trying to meditate on balance, but am stuck. I get as far as noticing that my life is out of balance, but then I start focusing on specifics and spinning my wheels. I want the answer to be "find more energy and more time in each day" but I'm afraid it's "let things go."

It's hard, because this is the season of growing and building in the natural world, but my life is structured so that it is also a season of endings and letting go. - maybe that is where I need to look for the balance. I wonder if it would be easier to be a teacher in the Southern Hemisphere - where harvest and rest come at the end of the school year and all of the new beginnings coincide?

It also needs to be a season of letting go because if I don't finish most of these big projects before school starts in the fall, I will be hopelessly overwhelmed by my new schedule.

Tatoulia, have a good day at work!

I have class this morning, a lunch and lecture at the library, a classroom to restore to order, and plans to swim. You may not hear from me again until tomorrow!

Hi Subclinical
Hope you are sleeping peacefully with only sweet dreams. (((HUG)))
My brain is tired and scrambled too. ;)

You can see almost all the animals from the road.
Lots of brown cows with some white on them.
And the traffic moves very slowly with a lot of cattle haulers on the road.

A rancher's cows are grouped together into pens
"auction lots".
The meat packers bid on the different lots.
Not at all a fun thing to watch.
Not at all like cow judging at the county fair.
Makes me wish I didn't like hamburger so much.

The cows are born & raised out on the open range.
Cowboys round them up, inoculate them, brand them and castrate "cut" the boys when they are young and set them free again.
Periodically through out the year, cattle are rounded up and sent off to auction.
Sometimes one will escape the auction and try to escape by running through town.

I have been to a round up, branding & "cutting".
It's fascinating watching the horses work.
They know exactly how to maneuver the calf and when the cowboys lasso it's legs, the horses know to back up pulling the rope tight to keep the calf off it's feet while the cowboy wrangles it.

These horses are Mustang, born wild, captured and trained.

Hi Tatoulia
Yes, the Goats are so cute and when I saw that tiny Burro today I seriously wanted it! :D

Happy you had a lovely dinner with your friend and still made it to the lecture.

SubC sometimes I'm tired and sad too. Keep your chin up, my friend. You are doing hard work.

Sorry about the rat, SubC. Sorry you have to deal with it.

Oh I bet the goats and the tiny burro are so cute. Tillie. Sugar. I love the expression Sugar. I generally call people dearheart. As in, goodnight dearheart.

Well dinner with friend was absolutely lovely. We have worked together for ten years and have always planned to have a meal. It was tasty. So tasty. And, when we were done, I saw the time, and I quickly ran to Symphony Hall and was able to make most of the lecture tonight. BF had said he'd leave me the ticket if his friend didn't go. So full night all around.

I didn't get Pile It license at first!!!! CM you are so clever.

Goodnight, dearhearts. Full day tmr and I have to be there at 9 so Ive got to wash up and go to bed.

I thought maybe you stopped in to see the animals.

Also, I just realized I said solstice instead of equinox - because normally I have a fire on solstice and plant things on the equinox. But nothing got planted today. Which I guess is ok, because things got planted yesterday.

Mostly, I feel tired. And sad. But that might just be tired.

Hi Subclinical

BIG (((HUG))) for your find today.
But at least it died fat & happy, probably of natural causes too.

WAY TO GO! for all the cleaning & straightening you did!
Sounds like you have a really good spot for the bonfire.
Hope the burning was very cleansing and cathartic for you.

LOL, I didn't go to the cattle auction.
But it is very large and right in the middle of town so you really can't avoid it and all the lovely smells.
The goats and tiny burro are in a grassy field down the road from the auction yard.

When I was young I was taught how to hunt deer and all that.
But I don't want to kill anything unless it were the last option for survival.
Even then I would allow the animal to live and let me starve.

Wow Tatoulia, nice job on the dresses! And on stopping the emails. Just remember, you can still go to their website when you actually need something, you just don't need them bossing you around. You ar in charge in this relationship!

CM, good job on the clear out and the not shopping. Dh is always trying to revoke my pile it license! I would be stressed about clearing out for the bug man, but I am proud of you guys for taking the opportunity to get rid of things.

Tillie Sugar, did you gave fun at the auction? I think it would be too hard for me. I don't like to think about them eating the poor goats. :(.

My studio looks a lot better and my animal barn looks a lot better. The bonfire is mostly burned down, so we are just keeping an eye on it. (The field is very soggy and the pond curves around about a third of the circle on the downwind side. We let the grass burn a little at a time around it to make a fire break while we are feeding it.) the next part is kind of awful, so you can be done reading now if you want to.

Icky part
I finally got to the pile of scrap wood in the corner of my animal barn. I set aside a few things to save but a lot could just go. It was saved long ago and there are better pieces in the shop now. However, few things will discourage you from storing scrap wood in your barn like getting into the middle of the pile and finding a dead rat. I did not finish the job because the chickens were all over in my space eating the corn and feed it had stored up. Thankfully, they didn't try to eat the rat. But that is a bad job for later!

Happy Spring Everybody!

Hi Tatoulia
Fingers crossed the back project goes quick & quiet.

Yeah, it is easier weathering storms when our whole world has more calm in it.

OH, dresses...
For me deleting dresses is the absolute hardest thing to do.
Good luck and WAY TO GO!!!

YEA!!! for deleting the store emails!!!
Keep thee from temptation.


Hi Subclinical
Great you had some solid sleep.
Making decisions is physically and mentally draining especially when things trigger painful responses.
WAY TO GO!!! for all you two did!
Enjoy your bonfire. :D


Hi CriticalMass
So happy you had a good sleep without nightmares.

WAY TO GO! for laundry and making room for the bug man even though it made a mess.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE "Pile-It" license! :D


This morning a rogue daffodil bloomed in my garden.

Had my Solstice bonfire the other day when I was working in the yard since the rain storm was predicted for today.

Went into town and filled my water bottles at The Water Depot.
It's coin operated and I took advantage of that to declutter a whole bunch of nickels I had in a jar for a long time.
Got food for me & the cats and I bought myself some Easter candy since the stupid rabbit doesn't ever visit me.

I am used to waitresses & sales people & other random friendly strangers calling me Darlin, Sweetie, Honey, Hun, etc.
But today was the first time a gentleman ever called me Sugar.
The stockyards are all filled up and busy with cattle auctioning off so there are a lot more Cowboys in town today.

The field beside the butcher shop is starting to fill up with goats again and today I noticed a tiny Burro in with all the goats.
Hope nobody is planning on eating that.

Cm! Great work getting rid of those pipes! And I'm glad you slept peacefully. I'm sorry you missed quilting. I'm happy, though, that your body rested up and you are feeling so cheerful! Thank you so much for the support.

I just did something really hard. I unsubscribed from emails from my stores. It hurt. It hurt a lot. Bye Talbots. Bye Lord & Taylor. You know why we are doing this. It pains me too.

Happy Spring!

I slept till 10:30 this morning! 😮 At first thought it said 9:30 so was going to fire up the afterburners and go late to quilting. They're used to me showing up whenever. But then I got a good look at the time. Oopsie! Change of plans to doing stuff around here. Thankfully no nightmares this morning, so woke feeling rested and positive. Very thankful for that.

Did laundry, just one load for today. My room is needing attention again along with other catching up. You see, last week in addition to the bunny care, we also had to move things around for the termite inspector, aka Bug Man.

Since the crawlspace hatch Bug Man needed to access is in roommate's office, she had to move office stuff into her bedroom and sleep in the living room that night. And I had to move some of my projects from the sofa. Sadly, it was just pile wherever in my room. Hoping one day to revoke my "Pile-It's License" for good!

We also had to clear a path in the garage for Bug Man, and in the process got rid of several big unneeded items and stuff like pipes. Put it by the curb and it was gone so fast! Took a large box of donations to the thrift store on Saturday too. While there, I resisted buying two 80s era Barbies. I'm not as into that period of Barbies, and if I bought them to resell, I'd have to store them. Let someone else enjoy them.

Tatoulia, you certainly have been awesomeness personified this past year. Someone will like the dresses. I'm so rooting for you on the no-spending and the debt elimination plan. If temptation tries to lead you down the primrose path, think of me. I would love to be able to nuke my debt by such a plan and am so far from being able to it isn't funny. On a disability income and with my reserve eaten by that old van, I don't know if it'll ever be possible. So resist in honor of old CM cheering from the sidelines! 😉 You got this!

SubC I get it about the mental energy for decision making and creativity coming from the same wellspring. During these last few days of fatigue I couldn't decide my way out of a paper bag, and I had no creative mojo to speak of either. Yesterday despite the nightmares I did begin to see a return of creativity. So that I keep the Lenten resolution not to go recreational shopping, on Tuesdays when I have quilting at the church in the morning and holy hour in the afternoon with a three hour gap, I took the sketches for a new quilt and worked on them. Made some progress.

Tillie, glad you heard from the neighbor. And that you're enjoying some gardening but not overdoing it. We have sunny days today and tomorrow then storms coming Friday and rain through Monday at least. It's good to have indoor and outdoor projects. And kitties. 🐈🐈🐈

SubC you and your husband are doing great work! I am so happy for you. Yes the decision making is overwhelming and exhausting. I'm glad you had such a nice lunch. You are doing so well. I am so proud of you and pleased for you.

I went up to visit BF. It's beautiful out. On the way home, I stopped by dry cleaners and the skirt I wanted to wear tomorrow ( a re-claimed skirt) wasn't ready and I said okay I'll come back on Saturday. Getting my home organized has helped me weather the storms easier. It that this was a storm. I am also so relaxed without sibling. Such a gift to just be me and not berated and abused. A co-worker whom I see rarely was in the office yesterday and he told me early that he could stay late, so we worked together late last night. It was good and cathartic. I told him about brother. Co worker is a nice man, not intense or deep, just smart and funny and nice. So we talked about that and other things. I often stay late when he comes in since it's company while we work.

I just went into my closet and gathered five dressy-dresses to give to cleaners. All sizes. 8-14. Even the ones that fit or willl fit aren't anything I'll wear again. They are pretty and most only worn once or twice. One in particular (size 8) I remember wearing at a party with BF and we looked so cute together. Even when I get to that size, I don't think I'll wear it again.

I am going to go back to my work now. Just wanted to check in. SubC you are my inspiration. And Tillie, you are my rock.

Hi all!

So funny, I always scroll down to my last post and start reading up in order, so I was getting ready to say something about the salads, but I am glad to see that is all sorted out.

Tatoulia, I am sorry you are in a fish bowl again. How tall is your building?

That is a fantastic debt reduction plan! Much better to pay interest to yourself! And taking it right out of your check before you see it removes all the temptation and lets you really see what your usable income is. I bet you will feel rich in four years - like me with no car payment!

Now if I could just feel like going to another store for boots....

Tillie, let us know what you get up to in town!

I am exhausted. I went to bed early, but had nightmares about flooding (most likely feeling overwhelmed combined with dh showing me pictures yesterday of where we used to live near the Mississippi.) finally feel into a better sleep after dh came to bed several hours later. Slept ten hours in all!

I got off to a nice gentle start this morning, but dh took the day off to work in the studio again and asked me to come out after chores and breakfast.

Two hours and two teary beakdowns later, we had a bigger pile for goodwill, a full trash can, and the back of the pickup filled with scrap to go to the recycling yard (including the dead water heater that has been in the garage for ages.)

But now dh has gone off to unload the scrap and drop a tool off at our friend's house (friend is borrowing the tool) and I was going to work on clay (I am almost out of time to do wet work for the spring show) but I think the well from which decision making and cleaning out draws is the same well I use for creative energy, and it is empty. I spent 45 minutes puttering around straightening up before I realized I was getting nowhere and came in to see if lunch would help. Lunch is a big bowl of Brussels sprouts and almonds and a glass of juice, so maybe. It hasn't had time to soak in yet.

When dh comes home we are going to have a big solstice bonfire and burn a bunch of wood scrap and brush. :)

Thanks for the understanding on the salads, Tillie and for remembering them! Oh I'm so glad your former neighbor called! I am so grateful for that! It was very sad when they left. I used to love hearing about you and dear Marty heading over there to check on things.

They have started the back project. Thank goodness I have the drapes and my Roman shade to keep them from peeking in. Kitty's doing okay so far. They are putting up the scaffolding. I'm a bit concerned they will set ofc the wondow alarms and will have to think about how to handle. The project is expected to last a week, so that's a relief.

I'm going to get dressed soon and go visit BF. I also need to pick up my dry cleaning.

I am excited about the debt reduction and must pull the spending into control. Real control. Just like my eating. And my hoarding. I'm pulling it into control and my life is easier. I just keep reminding myself of the ease and grace of my life today compared with a few years back. Or even one year ago. This time last year, I had a dirty house and the furniture was laid out wrong and I still had sibling and I was downtrodden. And fat. With high blood pressure abs high cholesterol. Look what we've done!

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
I really like the way you have arranged paying off your debt.
You borrowed from your future self and will be paying yourself the interest on the loan.
Fantastic!

I had calculated your work day salads into your regular grocery costs since you explained how nutritious they are and in sticking to your weight loss plans.

I honestly believe you will be successful in keeping spending under control now that you are getting your home all sorted out.
These things go hand in hand.
Out of control excess items in the home and out of control spending for the items. (((hug)))


Just drinking my tea and soon I will get ready and go into town.
Clear skies this morning but windy.
Rain is supposed to start up about noonish.

Yesterday my former neighbor friend called and we had a wonderful & long conversation.
I sure do miss them.

8:50am better get going.............

SubC! Tulips poking up! Lovely! Good work on your classroom!

The debt situation is this: everything will be paid off Monday. It's all set up. The issue is sometimes there's a residual bill for some interest. Those will be paid immediately. All credit card debt will be gone. I borrowed from my 401k at a low interest rate and the interest is paid to myself. I borrowed exactly what I needed for my credit card debt, even though I was eligible to take much more. The payments come out of my paychecks automatically. The length of the loan is 4 years, even though I had the option to make it a longer payback period. The interest on my discover card is absolutely sickening and even when I pay 500+ a month, I get no where on making a dent in the balance. I will close that account in a year or so, after my credit score has recovered.

Tillie your tips are absolutely spot on. Esp the reminder that only get mom what she asks for. So no surprise dresses or other clothing. The one thing I will modify is that the three days I go to office, I will buy my nutritious and delicious salads. They are 10 and yummy and fresh. And they serve as my main meal for the day. There is protein and salad and fruits and nuts. I do now stock pineapple juice and cranberry juice and seltzer in my office (they gave me my own cabinet) so I can enjoy a beverage without paying an exorbitant single serving price.

Tonight I do have dinner plans and I have dinner plans next week. I think tonight the person is on an expense account and might be paying for my meal. In any event, I have cash for the meal and I will have cash for next week.

I can do this. I will continue to strengthen my thoughts and feelings about money. I was always the one with bank accounts and savings accounts, etc. in fact, when I bought my apt I had the down payment already in my bank account without even realizing it. The mortgage guy kept saying, see, the balance is the right there. I never paid attn.

Thank you all so much. Decluttering my debt and my worries.

HI Subclinical
You posted while I was composing!

WOW! WAY TO GO!!! for getting a great start on organizing the classroom!!!

I sure do understand not doing more in the garden until you have more time for it.
Most properly stored seeds only lose about 10% for every season they go unplanted, so you should have plenty of sprouts come up.

How WONDERFUL to have Tulips coming up!
Sure sign Spring is here.

Best idea to ask around pottery class to gift someone with some of the molds.
That could really help someone who doesn't have many to choose from.

Using containers and having specific stations for storing them is a great way to help keep it organized and also for easily finding exactly what you are looking for.

Yes I do have gloves and wore them as much as I could.
But my hands get too hot in even thin cotton gloves, so I took them off.
Been using Vaseline Intensive Care lotion and it's working very well.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
"Nuns & Buns" I love it! :D
Really hoping you can start getting to the storage unit.
Spring is not yet too hot like Summer is.

Please work on getting more restful sleep without any bad dreams.
It's impossible to try functioning when exhausted.

Enjoy you time with your 96 year old friend. :)


Hi Tatoulia
Alright...

NO SPENDING for the next 30 days.
This challenge is subject to being extended as needed.

This includes brown bagging it, no Starbucks, no girl's night out, no restaurant meals unless as a guest, absolutely no deviating from the grocery shopping list, etc...

NO IMPULSE BUYING!
You MUST wait three or more weeks before purchasing anything that is not food or toilet paper, etc...

This also includes anything your Mother has not specifically requested or urgently needs.

Figure out a bare bones budget for your food & etc. needs and stick to it.
Live like you have absolutely NO access to any other funds/credit.


OK, How's that? ;D


Moved rather slowly today but the place is more acceptable now.
Laundry is all caught up and put away.
Kitchen is all clean, again.
Cats & I spent a little time enjoying the outside.

Rain clouds are starting to move in.
Plan to go into town tomorrow.
Have my shopping list all made up and my empty water bottles in the car to fill up.
Not planning to do any more yardwork until next week, need the time to rest up.

So Tatoulia, on Monday your cards will be (basically) paid off, but you will have a single loan payment? Is that right?

I know you can do this!

CM, I too love "nuns and buns" and I am also not surprised you are feeling discombobulated. I hope you get your nap!

Tillie, I am glad you got such lovely weather, but take care of your poor hands! Do you have gloves? Lotion?

I finished starting my indoor seeds before I went in to school today. I am just planting "things I have leftover" this year, so some may not come up. It is ok. I can't justify spending more money on the garden until I get what I have under control.

Did I tell you about the huge batch of tulip bulbs I got for mother's day Last year? I still have a bunch to plant if Spring ever really arrives, but the ones I did get planted in the fall are making little green leaf cups in the soil.

My classroom is not a lot better - I mostly did the "pull things apart" part of cleaning up. And my car is full of things I brought home. Some are to wash and return, but some are not.

I am trying to use the "container concept" from "a slob comes clean" for my classroom, specifically "this" is the slip casting corner, and all the slip casting molds, materials, and equipment must go on these shelves. Any molds that do not fit will have to leave.

But then, I don't want to throw the molds away, because they are still good. And some if them I like, but won't use with my class. And *I* have the same problem my classroom has. I think I will ask around my pottery class to see if anyone is interested.

Thursday I have to go back and put my room back together. (It's actually not bad, but I moved big furniture, so the stuff from the furniture is on tables. Plus I washed some things and left them out on tables to dry. And I stopped mid- sort on the molds and some are still on the floor.)

Ok, tomorrow is another day, but today is over because I am tired.

Wow, Tillie! 70F! SubC you are doing great! Do not doubt yourself! CM how sweet you spent time with your elderly friend. I'm not surprised you are a bit discombobulated! Big interruption of your routine last week! It took me quite a bit of time to recover from friend's visit so i understand completely! I do hope you can get to storage soon. I think it's been a while and you'll be looking at it with fresh eyes! Love the nuns and buns event!

I have scheduled the payments for my credit cards for Monday. I'll probably still get a final bill at some point but they are set up and ready to go. I will feel great relief. I need to put the visa away. I can't have it with me. I've proven that.

I'm home after a long day at office.

Tillie I'm going to need a spending diet starting now. I shall challenge myself to no spending for 30 days. This is crucial that I do this. This is very important.

I appreciate everyone's support. I need to simplify my life, as Tillie said. You each have gotten me through so much. How lucky am I? Immeasurably lucky.

I'm going to take the visa out of my wallet. I will carry my am ex only and it has a tiny, 300 limit, that I pay off each month. They reduced me from 4500 a long time ago and I'm on their side. Meanwhile my already disgustingly high discover card just raised my limit another 3 or 4 thousand. I don't have the card and will never access that again. I haven't charged in it in so long, and I'm paying huge interest that won't go away.

If Am Ex wants to raise above 300, I will decline.

I need this mental exercise and thank you SubC for suggesting I poke around the internet for some strength. Very good suggestion.

Hi again,

Would you believe I'm still winding down from the discombobulation that was last week? I went to the library a couple times to download research information for my writing on the oh-so-much-faster computers there.

Yesterday I stayed with my 96-year-old friend because her companion didn't work out. Wouldn't be surprised if I get asked for tomorrow, but maybe not. I'll be there evenings next week too; that's been planned for awhile.

Friday of this week the bunny group takes rabbits to visit retired sisters at the convent care wing - Nuns and Buns! 😁

That leaves Thursday as the only day in which I don't have to be anywhere - so far. Things can always change. Depending on the weather, I'd like to go start purging and organizing the storage unit, and/or get to the gym. Laundry needs doing too. Maybe laundry tomorrow afternoon.

I could use a nap too. Yesterday I was so sleepy I was blanking out. And two mornings in a row I've had awful nightmares. It's hard to find balance in this crazy life. Still adjusting to the time change since last week was cram packed. And sometimes it can take me a couple weeks even under better conditions.

Gradually I'll be back in a more complete sense of the word.

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia
We are all happy to follow along with your journey to declutter your finances.
Financial clutter/squalor are a big part of getting decluttered, organized and straightened out too.
It's not all about the "stuff", the overabundance of too many things cluttering up homes.
It's also about the neglect of everything else.
Emotional, physical, financial and all sorts of other types of "clutter" in our lives.
(((hug)))

Hi Subclinical
You have been working so hard to get things all sorted out that I have no doubt in my mind that someday you will be all caught up and be able to sleep in without thinking about a list of To-Dos and be able to do whatever you feel like doing.

Unfortunately, we will always have those daily/weekly little maintenance tasks to get out of the way.
Like rinsing and stacking dishes in dish washers.


Have the clothesline all filled with assorted laundry this morning.
Yesterday it got up to 70 degrees!!!
Today will be warm too but a rain storm is predicted to move in tonight and last off & on through the weekend.

I have seriously neglected doing any kind of housework since I have been outside doing yardwork.
Today I need to clean the kitchen and really need to sweep & vacuum.
Other things need doing too but those are the priorities to get done and I am sore & stiff and my hands are shredded painful disasters.
;p

Tatoulia, I don't know about anyone else, but for me, reading about how other people are working on making good spending/saving decisions helps me remember to look at mine and make choices in line with my values.

The spending ties into the hoarding significantly, because I need to remember not to buy things for Justin just because they are a good deal. In the long term, I end up spending less and being happier if I simply plan for my needs enough to buy most things once I do need them or when I know I will soon need them, and look for a good price on what I really want then - like the sheets.

I am getting a slow start today because yesterday was kind of exhausting and my brain is reminding me "we are on BREAK!"

Someday maybe I will be caught up and under control enough that "break" means a week when I actually sleep in a little and just do whatever I feel like doing with no list or schedule.

WTG EVERYONE! You too, Scooter, for getting some solid play time in! And let's not forget dh! He was a huge help!

Tillie I bet the shower and clean sheets felt wonderful! Esp after all that good physically demanding work.

SubC I am so impressed with how hard you worked and I am grateful you had the loving and helpful support of dh. You had a big day! And I'm so proud of you.

I'm thinking the same thing about the car situation and I appreciate your input. Bf and I are also going around and around with it. He did say that if I get a new car, I can't let the whole world drive it and I even mentioned that I couldn't see even letting my overseas people take it. So we are working on it. I hope to come to the decision where I don't have a car anymore.

Meanwhile I'm going to need to do some strong mental work on my debt. I need to get back into savings mode. I need to mentally put the brakes on spending as well as physically putting the breaks on. I used to be a very good saver, even while in school, and I need to get back to that point. Mentally. I'll try not to burden everyone here but I might need to talk about it more than I have been. If I don't make the mental change, then paying off my debt is all for naught. I know I can do this since until about 10 years ago, I always had enough $.

Again everyone Great Work!

Hi Subclinical

BIG (((HUG))) and WTG! for putting the sentimental item in the trash.

You and DH did FANTASTIC! today!
So much done and donated and you found a light fixture you both like.

WTG! for washing the floor too today.

Happy the first milking well fine.


Got the clothesline grass all raked out.
Showered and washed my hair.
Feels so good to be all clean again and tonight I get to sleep on clean linens.

Today Scooter played for hours with a dove feather.

Well, the milking went fine this morning.

I am very grateful for my dishwasher. Especially when I have stainless steel pails to clean for milking!

Tatoulia, I too was thinking about you renting a car. I wondered how much you pay for insurance and maintenance, plus the cost of buying a new car, and if it might not be cheaper just to rent when needed. Particularly when your bf drives you sometimes.

Dh took most of the day off today (he worked from home from 6 to 9:30) and we worked in the studio barn together. He helped me make a really hard decision (I put a sentimental thing in the trash, and I cried) and we made a good sized pile of no longer needed outdoor toys for goodwill and filled half a trash can.

I cleared enough of the studio floor to be worth getting the mop out, so it looks much better!

Later we took down the old, huge, no longer used microwave from the old kitchen wall and took that and our old range to the habitat restore. While we were out, we found a light fixture we both liked and dh replaced the bare bulb in our entryway.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Good luck with the milking projects!
Wishing you lots of fine cheeses and sweet ice cream. :D

Oohh, blackberry
they love taking over and are so very painful and abstinent to remove.
Best wishes on that task.

Happy you had an enjoyable weekend.
Time to relax and visit with friends.
Getting outdoors and hiking is wonderful for mind, body and spirit.

Your sheet planning sounds very sound to me.
WAY TO GO! with your dish washing!


JD told me was skipping his graduation ceremony one day when we met up at the fence.
I told him he should go not for himself but for his Mom and Grandmother.
That old ladies truly enjoy these kinds of things.
So he did go and came back all smiles telling me how right I was!
He was so happy that he made his Mom and Grandmother that happy and proud. ;D

Hi Tatoulia
Going carless in a city is very doable.
And if you find a need for a car you can always rent one for a day.
Then later rethink how it is working out for you.

YEA!!! for laundry and good luck at the Dr.
Hi there Kitty. :D

You and Subclinical are so lucky to have dish washers.
Nice places to get the dishes out of sight.
My tiny kitchen looks messy with just a few dishes beside the sink waiting to be washed.


Today I will rake that bit of grass under the clothesline.
Shouldn't take more than half an hour.
Have Band-Aids ready for the open blisters on my hands.
The cats come out with me and enjoy the sunshine and fresh catnip.
Yesterday Scooter had a beetle to play with.
Only other plan I have for today is to shower & wash my hair.
Tomorrow I will hang out laundry on the newly strung clothesline.

Three loads of laundry done and put away, except for the things I've hung in the bathroom to dry. Working hard and going to need to shower soon for dr appt.

Cat just climbed in laptop so let the hilarity ensue!

Tillie! How wonderful that your garden is at a good, manageable and enjoyable size! Your planning and hard work are paying off! I hope your helper kitties were out there!

SubC, I think your sheet plan is sound. Good number of sheets. I bet that is sad to see the students graduate, SubC and Tillie. Transitions are hard.

I drove my car to grocery store yesterday and I'll drive it to dr this afternoon. I'd prefer to walk one way to or from dr but appt is in middle of the day and I can't take that much time today. It's sunny and cold.

I realized as I got in my car yesterday that I did use it over my birthday. I'm thinking even further ahead and trying to decide if I should just go without a car for a while and decide if I want a new one. I think it would be a good idea to just live car free again and see where that takes me. I don't know. I just know that I don't want the car I have anymore.

I didn't do what I'd said I'd do this weekend and I'm okay with it.