Tillie, I am glad you have your right-sized garden so you can enjoy it!

Last year I went to graduation, and it was ok. I got a little teary, but generally had a good time and celebrated with the kids. Then I got in my car, started driving home, and realized that I might literally never see those kids again. I cried all the way home.

One of my favorite kids has already told me that he is skipping graduation and not coming to class the last week (which is after graduation) and never coming back to visit. He already has a job, and sometimes he doesn't bother to come to class "It's ok if you flunk me, I just have to pass English."

Thank you for the reminder about the classroom last year - I had forgotten I did that, and it makes the job feel less daunting the room is a mess, but I haven't added much this year, so a lot of the work should be organizing rather than removing.

Tatoulia, that is wonderful about your sink!

I am doing better with dishes, but they are still a challenge. Everybody thinks I am crazy for not moving my dishwasher into my new kitchen, but I love having it in the "scullery." It is so nice to be able to scoop up all the dirty dishes and whisk them away and have my new kitchen be nice and clean in minutes! I did run the dishwasher last night. I am trying to run it every night. I start back up milking today, so it will be even more important.

Yesterday I ran a load of dishes and a load of laundry. I ordered more sheets because the ones I bought are on even better sale now and dh said to just get enough to replace all the old sheets. I plan to purge down to one set on each bed, two extra sets (that fit any of three beds), and the one set of flannel that we almost never use but is sometimes nice to have. That is probably more than we need, but the two extra sets allow me to turn over guest beds quickly if I need to. It has happened, and I don't want to be trying to fit in washing a bunch of sheets on top of regular laundry and keeping up with the house during a busy work week because I have different guests leaving Monday and coming in the next Friday.

Yesterday I worked on clearing blackberry canes that have overtaken my ornamental/fruit garden area. I just let it go last year. I can see a difference, but I am definitely feeling pressure to make as much progress as possible before they leaf out. I am seeing little green buds....

Dh and I spent most of the day going on a hike and out to dinner with really good friends (the husband refers to our kids as "my nieces and nephew") we met when their youngest and our youngest were a few months old.

So far I have not done any of the extra stuff I planned to catch up on over break, but maybe today.

I have been thinking about my worries about getting my little garden/yard oasis all cleaned up and ready for Spring...

I have done a lot of work to make it a more minimal more easily maintained area, and it is now.
But my brain keeps/kept thinking it was still more than I could handle.

The areas that I still need to clean up and work on are very do-able!
The areas that I am no longer tending are no longer a concern.

I am so happy I did this because I can still have a nice garden area and won't be getting depressed because I physically can't handle all the work.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi Subclinical
WAY TO GO! for all you did yesterday!

Good luck with the classroom decluttering.
Last year you had a good sense of accomplishment doing that.


"Ida Wanna" sounds like the kind of friend who comes in handy at times but can cause a lot of trouble for me in the long run. ;D

Last couple of high school graduation ceremonies I attended made me cry because I had known the kids for so long and didn't feel I was ready to let go just yet.


Hi Tatoulia
Happy you have been having fun! :D
WAY TO GO! for what you have done and especially for having a clear sink for over a whole year now!!!

Very nice you are making tentative plans for the future after you are finished getting finances all squared away.


Slept in this morning till 9:00am!
Then the cats & I went back outside.
Raked the grass and got it all clear & clean and thatched.
Raked under these Cedars in front of the house and all down along side the North side of the house.
Got all the leaves, thatch, branches, seed pods and other clutter all up & carted off to the side yard.
I am exhausted and sore and have blisters and splinters.

After getting the little flower bed area all clean & tidy & all ready for Spring yesterday the rest of the yard looked so terrible.
But now I no longer feel like there is too much more to do and that I will never finish and am falling behind.

My plan for tomorrow is to rake the patch of grass I grow under my clothes line.
It's not much and I like it because if I drop any laundry the grass keeps it from getting dirty.

It's 3:45pm now.
I will eat soon and just rest the rest of the night. ;)

Sheets changed. Did some paper shredding. Going to see mom and get her more groceries. I'm walking so can do in drips and drabs.

I haven't used my car in three weeks. Maybe I'll drive to dr tmr.

SubC! How sweet about your relationship with your students! Nine weeks does sound awfully quick. Tell Ida I say hello! She and Justin Case have played a big part in my life.

Last night, after our super fun evening, I had the option to put the dishes into the dishwasher. It took me one minute. And today I woke up to an empty sink. It was a good feeling. I've enjoyed an empty sink for at least a year now.

I haven't worked on my coffee table yet. I haven't even changed my sheets. I will do so now. I'm feeling no regrets, I did a lot yesterday, including catching up on my sleep.

Tillie what's on tap for today? Thanks for the encouragement to see that elderly friend of mine. She's a shut-in and it turns out the drive is over 7 hours. But I have a plan. So if I can get things squared away and get new car, etc, then maybe I can make it happen in the fall. Likely will be in a year. If I'm successful in getting debt gone and starting to boost my savings, I'll do it. She and I correspond by mail only. We do not talk on the phone because I am not taking on any new patients, so to speak.

Beautiful sunny and cold day here.

Hi all!

Yesterday I cleaned up the new room and worked a little in the studio and went out to a concert with dh.

I also finally put the new sheets on the bed. Dh says I chose well.

The studio work was mostly moving stuff around. I did trim a few pots, and I found one mold that can go in the trash and two that can go to school. I'm not sure the go to school ones help, because I need to declutter and organize my classroom too. I'm going in on Tuesday (we are on break)

Tillie, I was laughing a little when you couldn't think of a reason to not clean your kitchen. I can almost always think of one, but when I can't, I just enlist my friend Ida. As in "Ida Wanna". She is very sympathetic.

I have a big long list of things to finish during break (even though I am going in on two days) so we will see how that goes. I am freaking out a little that there are only 9 more weeks of school after break! Some of these kids are graduating! I'm not done with them yet!

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
Whatever you do I'm wishing you a continuation of your lovely day. :)

YEA! for fetching and doing for your Mom & Kitty!

So, you don't like all the crazy drunk partying on St. Pattie's day.
LOL ;D


Opened the door and let all the cats go out.
I did a whole bunch in my little garden oasis today.
Even spread one bag of manure/compost mix.
Swept off the front porch and walkway.
Very happy with the results of my hard labor.
So much more to do out there.
Still need to rake the lilac hedge well and rake the grass.
Need to rake and clean up here & there.
And so on and so on...

I also lit the burn barrel.
The new clothesline has been strung and tightened!

All the cats came inside long before I finished outside to take their naps.

Hello, hello!

Having a wonderful day. Slept well and slept in. It's beautiful out: 45F and sunny. I opened my bedroom window (still open) to air out the room. Also opened a window in the back fir the kitty. So lovely. I did my relaxation/diet tapes and then did some grocery shopping for mom and me. Mom is our if foffee. I picked up some freshly baked Irish soda bread and some good Irish butter for her. I just dropped off her things and I changed the cat box while I was there. I'm having a very nice day.

BF and I have plans tonight but I'm not a big fan of being out during St P Day. I'm leaving it up to him at this point. Our plans are going to be super fun but I'm good with moving them by a week.

So now I'm going to read for a bit. So lovely and cool here. BF just stopped by for a minute to drop off some shoes I ordered and I gave him 1/2 a loaf of Irish Soda Bread. I could hear in his voice that he just wants to lay down for a bit. So we shall see what we end up doing.

Good Morning Anybody

Sitting here drinking my tea while I wait for it to warm up enough to go outside.

Have a plan of attack in my head of what I want to accomplish in the garden area.
Have everything I need to do this available on hand.
Want to rake out all the mess the wind has blown into the flower bed.
Work on finishing the wells around the Honeysuckle and my Lavender.
There are some nice terracotta bricks that I want to use for this task that I already laid out near the plants.

That's enough for one day! :D

Good Evening

Hi Subclinical
I am very happy you are just relaxing by the fire with DH and a glass of wine. :)

20# of chicken feed!
Well, I bet they are happy.
So relieved that you didn't get any worse weather than you got.

So wonderful that you can bring baby goats to school.
When my son was very little, only knew that babies were inside the Mommies but nothing about how they got in or come out, we were at the county fair where a Nanny goat was about to give birth.
I allowed him to watch, answering all his questions about what the Mommy was going through.
He was upset that she cried in pain but when he saw how happy she was when she saw her baby, he understood what I had been trying to tell him.
Then she cried again and I had to explain it was alright, she had another baby inside her.
This was the absolute best and most positive way for my son to learn this fact of life.


Hi Tatoulia
Yes, I never get tired of line dried sheets & pillow cases.

When I got out my new clothes line rope from the pantry I immediately wrote on my shopping list to buy another one.
I always keep a new one on hand, Justin Case.

Happy you had lovely weather and enjoyed a long walk home.

Finished cooking and was trying to find an excuse not to clean the kitchen.
Couldn't think of any reason not to clean the kitchen so the kitchen is clean.

Oh I love that little boy, SubC. What a sweet pea. Cm I am so impressed with all of your work with the bunies and chinchilla! Tillie what I would give for a set of white percale sheets, hung dry on the line.

We had beautiful mild weather today. It rained on and off but honestly it's so lovely out. I walked the long way home.

Tillie I bet you and the kitties will have a great time outside tmr! Glad you have a new clothesline at the ready!

Love you all.

Tillie,

That does sound lovely!

Cold and windy here, but no more rain. We got some hail and high winds - there were two trees down across my road, but the farm was fine. Worst thing was the water coming up in the barn, and the lid blew off the feed bin and the chickens ate about 20# of feed.

The goats were a huge hit at school today, but the poor little things were so tired when we got home! Me too. I'm just spending the evening by the fire with dh and a glass of wine. I'll be productive tomorrow.

Tatoulia, that is great progress with the mental shift!

CM, do you have more time with the bunnies, or are you done? I think that would be fun for a short time, but not for a long time.

Like it was fun to have goats running free in my classroom. One goat chewed (gently) on a little boy's chin, and he said "I bet we have the only classroom with face eating goats in the whole world!"

It's been the most beautiful day today.
Not a single cloud in the sky and no wind.
Not too hot and not too cold.
Just right.

Had the corned beef cooking on the stove and ALL the cats were begging to go outside.
So I opened the door for them.
Couldn't really do any yardwork since I had to keep an eye on the stove but we all had a really nice time.

Laundry dried nicely and is all folded & put away.
Broke the clothes line, it was old anyway.
Fortunately I have on hand a fresh new rope to put up.
Will do that tomorrow.

Promised the cats that tomorrow we will all go back outside and I will work on the garden with them.

Good Morning Everybody!

Hi Subclinical

How wonderful about your English class!
You and all the children will have fun and learn so much together.

Baby goats going to school!
Does anything get more fun than that?! :D

My fingers have been crossed that you don't get any of that dangerous weather or flooding on the news.
Hoping the high waters there go down soon. (((HUG)))

Hi CriticalMass
I am very happy that you have cats and bunnies in your life to love and love you back.
A friend of mine and his librarian wife used to take in/rescue unwanted Ferrets to live out their lives with them.
Sometimes there were more than twenty ferrets living in their home.
He said it was exhausting but not a heavy burden because it was a labor of love.
I believe it's the same for the Mother & Daughter with the bunnies and one Chinchilla.

I just love watching Chinchillas take their little dust baths. :D

Hi Tatoulia
So wonderful that you have had a change in your thoughts and emotions about needing to have on hand whatever someone may need someday.
That's a really big step. (((HUG)))

You have been taking your time evaluating things and making good keep/toss/donate decisions, always keeping in mind the bigger picture, the vision of how you want your home to be.

I so want you to travel the 5+ hours to visit your friend.
She sounds like a real jewel.



The laundry is all out on the line and I am all caught up with it!
Plan for today is to cook a big pot of corned beef, potatoes, carrots & cabbage.

Just a quick wave from the bunny house as I pause for a short breather between shifts of bunnies. 🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇 24 of them, and one chinchilla 🐭 - it's been a wild but fun ride this week. My roommate and I ended up doing morning and evening shifts as one of the two evening gals had to bail on account of asthma. But in the evenings we still had the other lady so three humans on that shift. Which is good because the evenings have more to do.

Tillie, how you feel about cats is how I am about rabbits! I would of course have some of each if I had my own house. Right now getting to enjoy roommate's cats is a bonus.

Much more to tell and I will want to catch up on y'all's goings-on. This afternoon I may want a nap! Don't know how the mother and daughter do this every day and have lives too. We desperately need a shelter building, funds, and volunteers to maintain it.

Baby goat day! Baby goat day!!

Congratulations on the great response to your English class!!!!

Let's reclaim our houses this weekend! I'll start with my coffee table.

OK here's something that I've been thinking about: when kitty received a gift of a new bed, I didn't know what to do with the old bed, so I washed it and wrapped it and put it in my closet. We had discussed that here. When I gave it to cleaning fairie, I didn't think, oh thank goodness I kept it. Instead, I thought, I have a nice clean pet bed for her. So if I'd donated it back in January, I would not have thought, oh I knew I should've kept it.

I've been very lucky that so far, five years in, I haven't had regrets for letting things go. I know I'm lucky. It still can be hard, but I've been comfortable with my choices. It's like something snapped in my brain. I dont need to buy/store/keep things so I can be all things to all people. This change has helped me so much.

It is sweet that the boots made you think of me. ;)

Need to be quick.

Yard is flooded, standing water in barn. But warm.

Baby goats to school today.

Stopped by dd's house with sil last night and got a bunch of clay and glazes and a few tools that came from dh's uncle (Dd has picked out what she wants)

I have been humbled and blessed by the responses of parents to my English class this week, and It looks like it will fill with kids I am very fond of. I hope I can live up to their trust!

My challenge for the weekend will be reclaiming my house. New sheets are still in the dryer.

The boots likely wouldn't be work boots. I didn't look at them. They were likely citified. I have a hard time when buying boots because I want tall snow boots. Want my legs warm and safe soles and waterproof, etc and they can be hard to find. I was lucky this year when I found a decent pair. The short ones, which have started leaking, will be easy to replace next year. I also have rain shoes. I die of heat in rain boots.

Tillie thank you for the insight on the coffee table. I have two piles of stuff on the table. It has one drawer, in which I keep all of my house plans, drawings, paint chips, etc.

I am tired. My sugar consumption tends to be pretty gross. I'm working on it. Need to continue to improve my nutrition.

I had confided to someone elderly about my brother and today I recess very lively birthday card from her and she offered wonderful support. I don't remember exactly what I had written to her but I did say that I hoped God would forgive me and her letter was so loving and supportive. If I get a new car in the Fall I will drive to see her. I think it's a 5+ hour drive. I did it once before, so many years ago.

Hi Tatoulia

Does Macy's carry the kind of boots you need to do farm work?
When I worked as security in a Macy's years ago
all the stuff looked to citified and fancy.
But it was a fun store to be in. :D

OK!
The coffee table project...
What do you do with your coffee table?
I use mine for almost everything every day so I need to keep clearing it off between
tasks/projects.

I keep an incense burner and a scented candle on it most all the time.
I stick post-it notes on it to help me remember important daily things but as soon as I do "whatever" the post-it gets tossed.

It has a shelf underneath.
I keep a box of tissues there.
Also, since I sleep on the fold out couch I have a pretty antique bowl there to hold what I would keep on a nightstand.
My eyeglasses live there when I am not wearing them so I don't have to hunt for them.

Best to start by removing everything.
Then put there what you like to keep on it.
As you bring other projects to the coffee table make it a point to clear them all off before you go to bed or leave the house.


I really should do a sugar challenge.
The only way I know to stop my sugar craving is to eat something sweet.

Tillie my mother, an asthmatic, lived with a cat. It's the only thing that makes life palatable. I understand completely!

Just getting in. I had a work related event after hours then BD met me at Macy's and we spent some of my gift card.

My salad today was so delicious.

Thank goodness we get paid tmr.

SubC you would not believe how many boots they had at Macy's.

Okay I'm going to work on busting my sugar cravings now.

I need a weekend challenge. Help me! I'm thinking I never quite get the coffee table where I want it. Meaning I never get everything off of it.

Good Afternoon Everybody
Almost 2:30pm here.

A bit cool outside but the perfect weather for doing some yardwork with a jacket on.
I went out front and raked out the tree wells.
Then I applied the tree food to the evergreens.
Also treated the Ash trees with their "feed & protect" so they don't die from boring beetles & caterpillars.

Raking out the leaves raised dust and allergens and set off my allergic asthma.
Fortunately, coming back inside & washing up has helped a lot.
Several years ago I discovered I am allergic to evergreens now, of all things!
As long as I live with cats they just make me itchy and make my nose run a bit but after only 3 months in a totally cat free environment they give me severe asthma attacks. ;P
The Veterinarian asked me once why do I live with cats?
My answer...
life without a cat, I may as well be dead.
They make life worth living.

Hi Tatoulia

Just now saw you posted.

How cute! A Ferret enjoying the cat bed too!

I suppose the only thing that could make your tasty salads even better is having them for free.
YEA!!! :D

Tillie I didn't see your most recent post. Will read and respond later!

Looks like Tillie and SubC will enjoy some clean sheets tonight!

Tillie the cleaner sent me a picture with a ferret in the cat bed and she said, all of the animals are enjoying it! So much fun! What a good thing that she was asking me about cat beds! I am enjoying the extra closet room!

Well I have to run back to the office. I ran out to get my nutritious and delicious salad. AND someone had given me a gift card to the place so on top of it, I got today's lunch (and my next lunch) for free!!! Birthday gift!

They all tease me at work re: my salads. Good thing to be teased about.

HAPPY PI DAY! ;)

Hi Subclinical

YEA! for fresh clean new sheets!
Enjoy your fancy jam :)

More rain and still no new boots. :(
Wishing you much success in finding them soon.


Clothes line is filled with wash.
Looks like it will be a lovely day here today.
Tomorrow is predicted to be even nicer so I will be able to hang out even more laundry.
YEA!
So satisfying to finally be able to catch up on laundry.

Hi!

Running the dishwasher.

Sheets came and are in the washing machine.

Enjoying my jam.

Pouring rain here. Still no boots.

Hi Tatoulia

What a lovely long post and two more too!

Geraniums and petunias sound so pretty.
Hope you are able to get some this year.

Sounds like you have a very good financial plan with the future plans considered too.

What fun that would be, Europe, Paris, Japan.
I love meeting and getting to know people from far away places.

WTG! for finding a bed-less kitty to give the extra bed to.
YEA! for the jacket return.
I am so anxious to bring out my Spring & Summer clothes.

Hoping your panties stay up LOL ;D


I am doing some laundry.
Sheets, pillow cases and kitchen linens tonight so I can hang the out first thing in the morning.
I would wash all the laundry but the clothes line has only just so much room and I refuse to bunch things up on it.
Tomorrow night I will wash the rest.
Unless the weather report changes again.

I'm back from making my return and from buying two classic tops for Spring. I stopped at the grocery store on way home to get some cat supplies.

Hello everyone, or as Tillie would say, Anybody! ❤️

Oh! And a bit of good news. One of the neighborhood children had given the kitty a bed for Christmas. It's quite nice and the colors go with my apt. I had struggled with what to do with her other bed so I washed it and covered it and put in closet. Today one of the cleaning fairies wanted to know where I got the one that was out, and I ran to my closet and gave her the other one. It worked out so well for me!!

I just finished eating the lunch they brought me.

Hello everyone! I did need to recover a bit from so much socializing this week. Between that and time change, I've been a bit of a wreck. Luckily my cleaners came today and my house is pretty and clean. They are so good to me. I gave the main woman the bags of clothes and I pulled out a Coach bag for the little woman, the one who can't fit into my clothes.

CM we will stand by your side as you sort through your storage unit! And yes you are the most precious thing in there! So you must be safe! SubC I am so proud that you have seats for people to sit on! When I bought my first car, I decided that I would never be a person who'd have to move things off the passenger seat to have someone sit. Baby goats st school! I am dying.

I am very tired. I slept as soon as I got home last night. Tonight I'm forcing myself to make a return of a jacket I bought. I have a gift card to the store so I might buy a couple of tops too. We have this reward program work and I've never before cashed in my points so I cashed in a few a couple of weeks ago and received $50 to one of the clothing stores where I shop! And I also had 60 in another work rewards program and I cashed that in for a Visa card, so I used that over the birthday to buy a few things. Putting the spring wardrobe together. I also have a large gift card to Macy's so I might stop there for on way home tmr night. Not to be too personal but I'm down an underpants size! This is terrific news!

Tillie you are so good to kitty! Sometimes in the fall, when I bring my window boxes in, I let kitty play in them before I put them out back for the trash collector. She frolics. I haven't had window boxes in two years because first the neighbors had scaffolding which covered one of my windows and then last year was our scaffolding. Looking forward to having them again. I'm thinking white geraniums with maybe light pink petunias. Or just the opposite. I would love to see the hyacinths popping up! Sure sign of spring.

It is something that I know so many people overseas. I do think that we will end up in Europe, probably Paris, or the Middle East when we retire. Meanwhile I am hankering for a trip to Japan.

Operation Debt is a go. I have borrowed from one of my 401k at a low interest rate. I could have taken more and for a longer time but instead I did just enough for a shorter loan period.

The discover card will never be used again. I don't even have the physical card anymore and if a new one comes automatically for whenever the expiration is updated, I will shred it. I won't close it because that will affect my credit rating. I am also paying off visa, which I will keep the card but not in my wallet. My AmEx is always up to date and I can carry that without fear. It has a tiny credit limit. I have searched deep within myself and I can trust myself.

So here's something true that needs to be repeated and repeated and repeated: if the best thing about something is its price, don't buy it.

Good Morning Anybody

Today is very cold with lots of wind.
But the extended forecast looks like it will be a good time to hang out laundry.
YEA!
I will keep checking the forecast since they have to keep changing it all day long.

Steven still believes he just needs to organize to get everything to fit in the garage and carport.
He now has those two huge metal shelves but he can't fit them into the garage.
He came home yesterday with two more plastic tubs and they are out in the driveway with the shelves because they don't fit either.
The garage is HUGE and like an old barn with a loft.
More square footage than the house.
The 2 car part of the carport that's still standing easily could hold two trucks with plenty of room around the sides.

How much stuff does one person need?
Why keep things you never use or even know how or have plans or the need to use them?
Does he think he is going to live forever to have the time to use all that stuff?

Wouldn't he rather spend his time doing enjoyable activities instead of constantly churning stuff?
Why doesn't he want to make his life easier on himself?
He just continues to go out and gather more to add to this already out of control mess.


Anyways, I will continue to enjoy the clean and tidy areas I have made for myself and watch my garden begin to wake up to Spring. :)

Been having a good day today puttering around.

The wind has been raging so it has blown all the storm clouds onto the mountain range that's to the East of me before it could drop any rain or snow here.

Scooter has been having GREAT fun today chewing and shredding paper doilies.
He was always going into the cupboard after them so I pulled them out and let him have them.
He is soooooo happy! :D

Tidied up the fridge & have eaten all the chicken salad I made up the other day for sandwiches.
The kitchen got all cleaned up again too.

Swapped out the drapes in my room to something a little lighter.
It is actually a real silk sari of forest green and deep cranberry, embroidered with gold thread that I bought at the thrift shop for a dollar several years ago.
It's in perfect condition and looks so pretty draped over the curtain rod.

There are 8 Hyacinth poking their heads out of the dirt now. :D

Good Morning Everybody

Hi CriticalMass

WAY TO GO!!!to you & roommate for doing such a good job on the garage!

Happy you found sturdier shelves for the storage unit.
They will be much safer for you to work around.
Last weekend Steven bought 2 large heavy tall & deep metal shelving units.
Since there is no space in the garage he has left them in the driveway.

Must be so nice to be able to set things out on the curb for people to pick up for free.
Out here it wouldn't work, not enough traffic down this rural one lane dirt road.


Hi Subclinical
The baby goats get to go to school!
WHAT FUN!!!

WAY TO GO!!!
Having all the pottery supplies easy to find and reach!

Darn those shoe shops for not having what you need.
Frustrating that you finally get to have new boots but can't find them.

Good luck this week with keeping things from escalating (((hug)))


Almost 10:00am and I'm still sitting here in bed.
Sun is shining, sky is clear but the forecast says 90% chance of rain so no laundry today.
Will putter around doing some of this & that and maybe even get outside too.

CM, good job on the garage!

I hope you are keeping your bed for yourself and not spring it with momentarily.

Please avoid collapses!

Tatoulia, you gave such an interesting life! So many friends from different paces!

Good luck on your debt plan. I don't know how many ccs you have, but have you thought about cancelling one (or more) once they are paid off to avoid temptation?

I would love to have you come visit. It would also be really nice to have company that would be proud of me for having empty chairs instead of appalled at my counters! We could even make pottery molds because as of yesterday I can reach all the supplies easily!

Tillie, good for you on the clocks and the adjusting.

I am not adjusting. My body does not like getting up at 4 in the morning. Dd1 used to tell people that I do not do daylight savings time - so I get up too early in the fall and then "in the spring we are late for everything for a few weeks." But now I have a job, so I can't be late.

I did fix the clock in my car - it is easy. Dh does the others. Fortunately the thermostat does itself.

I took my library books back yesterday and got new ones and tried (and failed) again to find boots, and bought food.

I figured out how to load ecoupons onto my shoppers card and saved $5.25 on stuff I was going to buy anyway.

The rest of my week is very busy! Today: Lots to do around the house this morning, pottery to trim, need to pick up feed, and then class to teach, open house for the high school kids to present classes for next year, swimming, which I will start an hour later than usual, chores, and bed!

Tomorrow I have to bake pie after I teach all day because I won't have time on Thursday, and Thursday I have my class (must gather molds!) teach, and have a social event at the studio to which I have invited dd1 and sil.

Then, Friday the baby goats get to visit school!

Basically for the rest of the week i'm Just going to try to keep things from getting very much worse. If you don't hear from me, you know why! But know I am reading.

Just finished a long busy day. Annual straightening of the garage in preparation for termite inspection. So proud of my roommate - she is letting go of stuff too! I carried things out by the curb and they're already gone. We also made a trip to the thrift store to drop off items more suited to there.

After this busy bunnysitting week, weather permitting, I'll be starting a serious push on my storage unit. Got another set of the sturdy chrome wire shelves and casters. It will replace two other shelving units that are less stable and not as deep. It'll be nice to not worry about wobbly 6 foot shelves falling over and damaging a bunch of stuff, especially if I might be part of the stuff that gets damaged!

I think this idea was inspired partly by Tillie's carport situation. Thinking about possible collapses. Back when I was at the old storage unit, I had even worse shelves which I've gotten rid of. So the ones I intend to discard now seemed okay at first.

But I have really come to like those wire kind. They don't sag and they're adaptable. They will go fine with my ultimate goal of a minimalist aesthetic someday, too. Especially since they're uniform. Goodbye hodgepodge, hello style, little increments at a time.

Hi Tatoulia

WTG! setting 2 clocks and a watch!

Wishing you all the best with your financial plans
(((hug)))

Going to Kuwait would be so exciting!
Something nice to dream about turning into a reality.

Very happy you have been enjoying your company and getting to know each other better. :)


The weather forecasts keep changing all day long.
The weather is too unstable/unpredictable to get an accurate read on it.
So the laundry is still waiting. :p

Quick check in

CM I am so grateful you have clean sheets on the bed! Do your best on clutter free bed. You will be grateful. Good luck with the bunnies. I know how much they will appreciate your love and care.

Tillie! All three clocks! I have so far my stove and bedroom clock changed and one of my watches. It's a start.

My friend is taking a lot of my time. I didn't really know her well before. We'd had dinner with her and her daughter and then BF and o went to the museum with her once, maybe three years ago. This time she and I became very close. Tonight we had dinner then went back to her hotel room and talked. She is very dear and very sweet. She will be back in May/June. She wants me to visit Kuwait and I would love to do so.

I'm implementing my debt reduction plan. More on that in about ten days. I've found a way that will work only if I don't run up my cards again. So I have to look deep within myself. I know on the biggest card that I will be safe. I just need to put the effort in and make the decision. If I'm satisfied with my circumstances, then I will proceed.

SubC I dreamt about pottery molds last night. It was like a little visit with you.

YEA!!!

I got all 3 of my clocks changed!
The digital one is always a booger to do.
The one on the stove and on the dash in the car are easy.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
YEA!!! for clean sheets!
That would be scary and frustrating
having the whole mattress slipping off the box springs.
Sure hope that "grippy" stuff holds it down.

Please, please, please
make the bed a No Clutter Zone.
Not even momentarily.

I know you will do a wonderful job baby sitting the bunnies because you genuinely care about them. (((hug)))


I'm not doing well at all adjusting to the time change.
Still going to sleep and getting up on the same old time schedule.

Lots of sunshine this morning out of the East with dark serious looking clouds slowly moving in from the West.

This sure has been one wet & wild Winter for everybody.

Need to do the math before I order my ceiling tiles.
Square footage of an 8ft by 8ft room, should be easy enough.
First I need to choose the pattern.
I get so nervous buying things online, going through all the check-out procedures.
Then there is the waiting and tracking the package so I can bring it in right away.
Then inspecting it to make sure I got what I had hoped to get.
I much prefer to do my shopping in a brick & mortar shop.

But the roof needs to be fixed before I can do anything to fix my room.
Then I need to also fix the ceiling in the hallway.
It's his responsibility to fix the falling down ceiling bits in the bathroom. :P

The sheets are finally changed out on my bed. I had hoped to delay it just till next week, but the mattress had slid so far that it was threatening to come off the bed. I got the non-slip grippy stuff between it and the box springs, so I hope that cures the slippage problem for good.

Unfortunately, this all meant the books and other items parked "momentarily" on the bed had to come off in a less systematic way. The good news is I had gotten some off already.

We went yesterday to see what we'll be doing to take care of the 20+ shelter rabbits on the mornings of Wednesday through Friday. It's a lot. And has to be coordinated with other scheduled goings-on. I'll enjoy petting and feeding the bunnies; it's just keeping track that scares me. Don't want to leave anybunny out!

There is an evening shift of volunteers too, so it helps to know we have backup and hopefully if we miss something they'll catch it and vice versa. One of the bunbuns is an elderly lady who has been maybe going to die for several months now but keeps rallying. We hope she will be able to hang on till her momma returns at least.

It may be awhile till I get to read and reply to your posts, but have a great week.

Hi Subclinical

Those new sheets will be lovely to sleep on this Spring.
The plum jam sounds tasty. :)
Your DH is right.
Owning a bottle made by someone you know is a fine acquisition.

Disappointed they did not have your size in boots.
Hope tomorrow you find exactly the right boots at the right price.


Snowed off & on all day.
Managed to do nothing even though I thought about doing things.

Hi all,

I was spendy today.

Ordered new sheets and some lunch containers for dh online. Also ordered some class materials.

Then dh and I went downtown to an arts fair - bought some fancy plum jam and while I was talking to a potter acquaintance, dh decided we needed one of his bottles, so we bought that too.

Ate dinner out on the way home and tried to buy new boots, but they didn't have my size.

Need to go out shopping again tomorrow.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
What a wonderful way to enjoy your life! :D
Have a great time today too.
Very happy you chose to take a cab that time of night (((hug)))

Sugar.
What a good topic.
So addictive, hidden in everything and very bad unless in moderation.


This close to the Sierra Nevada mountain range the weather can be very unpredictable.
The forecast was for some scattered light rain.
Woke up this morning, opened the drapes to see a beautiful white Winter landscape.
About 3 to 4 inches and it's still coming down.
Perfect timing to water in the grub treatment thoroughly.
Won't be out in the yard treating trees today, LOL.
Cats are sitting at the window giving the snow raspberries.

The snow is the kind that makes good snow balls & snowmen.
Maybe I will make a small snowman today?

Good plan on the grub treatment, Tillie. Let nature do the watering!

Ugh. An old container to add to the landscape. So depressing.

I ended up being with friend til 10:30 PM last night. We sat in her beautiful hotel room and talked and talked. I took a cab home even though she's a few minutes walk from my home. I'll see her again today. We are going to attend a webinar on sugar that my nutritionist is doing. I had asked my nutritionist is I could invite a friend before I told my friend about it and she said that it would be great!

I have to get to pharmacy today and I need to do mom's grocery shopping. I am behind on everything but for good reasons-I'm enjoying my life. It's snowing/sleeting here.

Good afternoon :)

Was thinking...
that grub treatment said to apply it Spring or early Summer.
It's so close to Spring I figured "close enough" for me.
It said to water it in good.
Right now we have a lot of rain & snow.
My outside faucet is still all wrapped up tight in insulation to keep it from freezing and the hoses are wound up and stored away.
Figured I would allow the wet weather to water it in for me.
By next week it may not be raining & snowing any more.

Bugs are starting to come out here already.
I have seen some flying insects and spiders.

Next nice day I can feed the trees and treat the Ash trees to save them from those killer bugs.

Also have to rake everywhere again before I can use the manure compost mix.
These strong winds have blown stuff all over the garden/lawn.

My kitchen needed some attention.
I did NOT want to wash dishes but I did them anyway.
Now the kitchen is all back to being clean, again and I am happy that tomorrow it will look nice when I get up.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
Hopefully Spring will bring you loads of fresh grass for them to eat.
Already here I see random patches of grass popping up.

Wonderful day you had in school!
Wishing you many, many more (((hug)))

YEA! for your plan to bring a big box of interesting shapes to pottery class!
Great way to look for things to declutter and look for trade items for pie. :D

Good luck getting in over Spring break to over hall your classroom.
I remember how satisfied you were with the results last time.

Hi Tatoulia
When my son was tiny I put up those glow in the dark stars, comets, moons & planets on his bedroom ceiling.
I have/had the ceiling in my tiny room painted sky blue.

Have a WONDERFUL time visiting with your friend!
I totally understand how laundry can be an excuse to only do the laundry.
You are busy doing something constructive while at the same time doing nothing constructive. ;)

Too much chance of random rain/snow daily for me to risk hanging out wash.

Last two Summers I had a problem with grubs eating all the roots off the grass and other plants.
While I was at the store I found a 20.00 bag of grub treatment reduced down to 7.00 and bought it.
I am so looking forward to spreading this!
Also found a reduced bag of evergreen food for only 2.50.
And a bag of grass nutrients for 5.00.
I'm so anxious to get out there and use all this fancy stuff!

warning, frustrated rant coming...
The section of carport is not repairable and needs to be demolished.
YEA!!!
But he is now talking about getting one of those huge ugly old metal shipping containers brought onto the property.
I swear that if I see men trying to deliver one here I will run them off at gunpoint as trespassers.

He complains he needs more storage space.
I keep telling him he just needs to get rid of all the excess, damaged, broken, unneeded, unnecessary stuff and he would have plenty of storage space already here.

And because of the derelict trucks and cars blocking the front, he keeps parking the truck in the driveway behind my car, blocking me in.

Tillie!!!!!! Great news on the insurance/roof front! I love the idea of putting up ceiling tiles! I do hope you can find what you like and within your budget! Your room project reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in years: when I had my apt before this one, I put up the glow in the dark stars on the wall above my closet. I feel so comforted by this memory.

Beautiful and sunny here today. I am resisting the urge to do laundry, for two reasons. One, my house is out of control messy. Mess everywhere. Two, I am meeting our visitor to spend the day with her at noon. she has moved from the campus to a hotel right by my house. I am thrilled to be spending time with her!

Sometimes laundry is a mental excuse for not doing other things. So I'm going to resist the urge and work on the mess. Will report back later.

Keep up the good work, everyone. SubC I like that you can bring in a box of Found Objects! Cm, what are you doing today? Joanie sending you much love.

Good morning!

I have slept long and hard! It was a busy week.

Going back, in answer to the goats - there may be one more kidding at the end of the month, but at the moment I am doubtful. I think that one didn't take. The other babies are due in May or June. I delayed most of my breeding because I was warned about the hay.

CM, I forgot about your frog.

Thank you for the information. With this family, there is a good chance he was fasting, which would make me feel better, unexplained fainting is a bit scary.

You will know when it is time to fluff your clutter. ;)

Tatoulia,

The museum trip sounds lovely! I would love to do something like that with my mom. She would like it too, but there are no opportunities where she lives, and she never visits without my Dad, who would hate it and ruin the trip, but can't be left home alone either. (His intellectual facilities are fine, but he has the emotional resilience/self regulation of a 4 y.o. I would come home to a messy kitchen in which everything sweet or fatty had been eaten, an empty bar, and a drunk sick father from his attempts to comfort himself in her absence.) "I got lonely." Or "I got bored."

Tillie, I hope that Steven brings you your compost. It would be nice if he shopped for something useful!

I am smiling st the thought of you in an ivy twined bower.

I had so many great moments with my kids yesterday, I still keep smiling. I also found out that the girl who got excited about me offering an English class is being recommended to it, and I had a great conversation with the mom of a boy I really like who wants him to take it. He has never had a formal English class (just tutoring) because the writing load is too hard. I have him in science this year and he is doing great - I let them take pictures of the board on their phones instead of notes if they want - so that they can focus on listening and participating in the discussion.

On the hoarding front - I took four plaster molds from my home studio to class on Thursday and gave them away. Next week we are doing "found objects as molds" and the teacher told us to bring glass or plastic items from thrift or dollar stores that had interesting shapes and we might not normally think of as molds. I said "or don't buy anything, because I will have a big box."

Super clean out of several problem spots coming up! "But it has such an interesting shape" being one of my catch points!

Now I will think "I can trade this for pie!" 😄

I am also getting fed up with my classroom. I am going to ask my boss if I can get in over spring break (week after next) to do a big cleanout and organize.

Hi Subclinical

Happy you got almost everything you wanted and the other things are just mild inconveniences.

Nice you have a baker in your class, YUM!


Thank you (((HUG)))

I have started online researching decorative Styrofoam ceiling tiles.
Home Depot has better prices than Amazon but fewer selections.
They both deliver but Amazon will let me pay with Discover credit card credits.
My favorite design so far is on Amazon and it looks like ivy.
I am partial to nature designs.

Hello all!

Didn't mean to keep you in suspense, i've Just been swamped.

My class was good. One of the students is like Tatoulia - she likes to bake, but doesn't want to eat it all. She brought us a yummy coffee cake. She said we get chocolate chip pie next week in honor of pi day.

My schedule came out really well. There are a few changes i'd make if I had complete control, but unfortunately I have to integrate with the rest of the program. I did get the 50% increase. And my plan block is first bell tu/th, so I can go in late those days if I don't have a meeting.

I want to respond to everybody, but i'm on a short break, so i'll just say - Tillie, I am so glad insurance is going to help and I hope the roof gets fixed ASAP!