how to get rid of pack rats

This is the best online article about these rats that I have found. Very interesting reading.
Eventhough it is written for Arizona residents the information applies to Nevada too except that here the pack rats eat different native plants.
I never use poison for rodents because I always worry about poisoning other creatures, always snap traps or humane traps for rodents.
The rat here was almost 20 inches from his nose to the end of his tail. Very healthy looking young male.
He would not have fit in my humane mouse trap.

LOL :D
I picture a dumpster with a spring loaded lid that snaps down. ;D

Yes, the never ending heat and high humidity day after endless day is really wearing us down.
Just wish all those rain clouds would bless me with a nice cleansing rain instead of just flying over me.

I hope there is only one pack rat (the one in trap), actually Steven is a pack rat, are there traps that big?
Never had this many days in a row of over 90 degrees. It is still over 90 at 6:30pm. Enough already, but forecast is for high 90's.

Hi :)

Thank you Tatoulia (((hugs)))

Thank you Diane (((hugs)))
YES! that foam insulation is amazing the way it GROWS & GROWS!
Good luck & best wishes getting it off your hands and dealing with the Government Man.

Thank you LR2014 (((hugs)))
WAY TO GO! scheduling in FUN! :D


Hope everybody is having a GREAT last day of July day.
A rat took the bait & is now deceased in the snap trap waiting for Mr Hoarder to come home and deal with it.
He needs disposable gloves and a biohazard baggie and then to spray the area with undiluted bleach.
He does have those red biohazard plastic bags and disposable gloves.
He also already had the big rat snap traps.
He has some of almost everything. :(
As far as me moving all the stuff away from the house walls, it is mostly all very big and heavy stuff with some lighter stuff mixed in.
I refuse to touch any of it because it is all full of big ugly nasty spiders. The kind of spiders you never want to tangle with, ever.
He needs to deal with it himself since he is a hoarder who does not want to change and anybody else touching his "stuff" would make him angry.
I am planning to use "peer pressure" to motivate him. The neighbors know, I told them. :D

Tillie, I missed you yesterday and feared you were ill, but add in the rats----double trouble. What are your options? Since it is truly a health hazard, could you hire someone to move all his crap if he does not move it tonight? Are you feeling well enough to do some of it yourself? I am so sorry to hear you are so stressed. I had a fantacy you were on a bus on ;your way up here to help me finish organizing, and driving your RV home so you would have a safe place. You are in my prayers daily, so much gratitude for all you do to help us.
The heat is really getting to me, yesterday was a lost cause after I spoke with the government man on phone, just sat and stared. I will receive a registered letter soon, and find out the $$ damage, just have to let it go and deal with it when letter comes.
This morning I woke up at 5am and decided to stay up so I could get watering done and the foam filler done before too hot. Was nervous and excited to use foam, had my gloves and everything ready to go. Shook foam for 1 minute then started to use it, well forgot to put gloves on and my hands are basically foam hands now. I have peeled some off but have to use paint thinner on some, really don't like nasty stuff on my hands, and gloves were right there. I made a royal mess out of the foam, did not realize it continued to expand for as long as it does, oh my, what a mess I made.
time flew by and by 11 was tired and hungry so here I sit with my smoothie reading about rats
!! I have been called a rat many times, but to think of real pack rats on your property must be so frightening.
RV is sitting here waiting for you, actually I should go start it and make sure all is ok before you get here!! Hugs to you Tillie

Good morning, everybody. Good to read your posts; I found a lot of good food for thought in so many of them.

Tillie, I'm so sorry to hear about this latest "discovery." I don't know anything about those critters, but obviously you do. You deserve a better situation than this. As for those physical problems, I hope you are feeling much, much better soon.

I spent most of my work time yesterday on one important paperwork project that needs to be finished (by today, if possible). I also got some laundry washed and did a tiny bit of cooking. Today I need to finish and deliver that paperwork project. I also plan to add to my gratitude list. I might or might not get much cleaning/decluttering done, depending on how long it takes me to finish my project.

Tillie, fun is already on my schedule. My out-of-state friends that I mentioned on chat earlier in the week are planning to be in town this evening. I am scheduled to get together with them and their kids for dinner tonight at a yummy nearby restaurant. Definitely something fun!

Hugs to everyone (and special hugs to you this morning, Tillie)!

Stay strong, Tillie. You are right, he is not. Stay strong. This must be very difficult.

Hi Everybody :)

Was quite sick for a while. Think it was an allergic reaction to the wildfire smoke and heat exhaustion.
Much better today :)
Also, I am very upset & on a rampage.
Been begging him for years to get all that "stuff" he has piled up against the house on the carport side and back yard side moved away from the house.
Well, now we have an infestation of DESERT PACK RATS living under the house! :(
I am NOT happy :(
He of course is reacting in his usual surly, angry with me, nasty, slamming doors way
and I am fighting right back.
When I informed him of this serious matter I used a calm, steady, not accusing tone of voice. Just stated the facts. He is the one who chose to make this ugly.
I will NOT back down.
These rats can do a LOT of damage, carry disease & fleas plus burrowing rodents in the High Sierra are known to carry Bubonic plague and the rule here is to keep away from them and their nesting areas.

Please wish me luck. (((HUGS)))

Quick note to say goodnight. I hope Tillie and Roxie are in good health. Hope everyone is well and keep up the good work! We are all in the right path!

Hi Ladies,
Tat so happy you are staying focused, that is still hard for me. You inspire me with your enthusiasm.
I will call the little room next to the garage, that is tacky but well insulated, "the freezer room" from now on. Went out to freezer room first thing, and all is frozen and happy in new freezer. Tillie you were so right, puts out enough heat to keep that room warmer than I thought. Could feel it when I opened door, gave me confidence pipes won't freeze out there this winter
So I shook the foam up yesterday to fill the cracks, holes etc. Then recleaned all areas, then could not find the foam. after looking for 15 minutes, decided to go costco, thinking I would find it on my return, nope. Truth is, I have never used the spray foam before, know it expands and hardens, and I am terrified to make a mistake, have it clog too soon, while trying to figure out next place to use it.
Realized, first time I do anything, I am anxious and fearful, so just procrastinate, thinking I will be more sure of myself when I gather more information. Well I have gathered information, time to act, maybe just needed to tell you that is why many things do not get done promptly, afraid to try.
Ok, there you have it. It did not cool down enough last night so had ac on first thing this morning, really have trouble with so many days in high 90's.
Hooray for smoothies, I ran out of supplies so used some chocolate protein drinks I bought months ago, and did not like, but so expensive kept, so used those, not enjoyable, will throw in garbage today. Cart is already pretty full, found lots to toss already.
I spent a couple hours in the freezer room putting up a paper towel holder, cleaning out 2 bins of stuff I had not gone through, rearranging shelves, and figuring out what I want in cupboards out there. I am so blessed to have dehoarded that room as far as I have so I can access everything, and just need to finsh labeling cabinets, shelves, so know where things are, I am making progress.
I have ac on in big bedroom that qualifies as hoarders paradise, piles everywhere, plan to do some major work in there after my current and only break so far today, I just realized, and have a smoothie first, then use timer to make it tolerable to work in there. So grateful for all of my fellow hoarders and Tillie.

Working from home today. Finding time to take breaks. Folding and sorting pile of clothes on dresser. Thanks to the inspiration I receive from all of you, have been able to put my mother's mink pillbox hat in the donation pile. I have fond memories of her wearing it and I wore it at Christmastime once. Now, it's time to let it go. It's received a lot of love from my family; time to move on.

Glad to hear of everyone's progress. Very impressed! Love reading your posts, love hearing about the different animals and pets and birds and wildlife.

Take care, and thank you. You really keep me going. I am focused and I feel terrific. And even when I feel bad, I take comfort in having friends here.

Yea for the loaded freezer, diane! Whoo-hoo!

Hi, everybody! I've been reading your posts, although I haven't posted much myself lately. I haven't been doing a great deal of decluttering the past few days, but I have made some good progress on some paperwork. That has felt good. I have joined in on the buddy-system chat/challenges the last couple of days and have gotten some things done through that.

Looking forward to reading more of everybody's updates! Hugs!

Hi all
Today I went to Costco and bought bags of frozen fruit and vegetables, as well as protein. Was fun to put in my new freezer.
It was 98 yesterday and 97 degrees today. Anything over 80 is too hot for me, so not so great today. Did have thunderstorm, but only a few drops of rain. Lightning did start more fires.
I found out yesterday that I owe a lump of money to goverment, not fun, but grateful I have the money to pay them. Got tarp out to put rotten roof in as I toss it off roof. Too hot so far, and chance of rain daily.
Tomorrow I will stay home all, with ac on, should be able to get some work done in here. Did clean toilet inside and outside and floor this morning. All the fires around here coated everything with smoke dust, as i clean I can see how much has landed on everything in a short time since last cleaned/dusted.

Hi all,
I didn't get much done today except go to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned, stock up at the grocery store, and get gas. It rained again this afternoon, so I wasn't able to do anything outside.
Tillie: yes, Frank came home yesterday. He was so happy running around the house, playing in a paper sack and jumping out to surprise the dogs. I think he found the boarding place too confining and boring. The dogs were glad to see him, too and didn't mind his ambushes. They missed him.
I love hearing about your quail. At our old house, there was a huge evergreen in the yard behind ours. At dusk, many bats would fly out and catch moths and mosquitos that were attracted to the street lights. I would sit on the back porch and watch their silent ballet.
Daisy: the money you will spend getting your house cleaned up is an investment, both in the home and in your way of life. If you need to take out a loan and can pay it back on a schedule that will work for you, I say "go for it." I wish you all the best as you move forward.

Hi Daisy :)
Yes, that figure sounds right to me.
It all depends on the size of the home, how much stuff is needing to be removed and what the stuff consists of.
I do not know anything about the company you named so I can't comment on them.
But I do know that 5,000.00 for two days of professional clean out is a very good rate.

Good Luck and best wishes :)

called to have a company come help me.... Originally quoted me almost $11,000 to come for 4 days. I was able to arrange for them to come for 2 days and it will be $5,000. This is still way beyond what I can afford. Are these figures accurate? Has anyone had experience with these companies that are listed on the site? The one I called is Address Our Mess. Is it really worth the money? I am considering taking out a loan if it is. Thank you all for input.

Good to read your posts. All dishes are done finally, and put away, sinks have been scrubbed and sanitized. Counters mostly clean. Laundry caught up. cleaned up the stuff from painting.
It is too hot out, I can relate Tillie.
Ranner will go home at 5pm, will miss having him here. Then plan to spray ants with ant killer (outside only)
Plan to clean floors after he is gone, tonight or tomorrow am.
Still have not gone to store, will plan on going first thing tomorrow.
Plan to pay bills after this message.
Looked on pintrest for an hour for my fun today.
Looking at creative things people come up with brings me joy.
Speaking of----this morning I got out the tar paper, roll roofing, boards for repairing the roof that I stepped through. I saw the positive in hoarding--all supplies are here that I need to fix roof, and the positive of organizing, all were in the same place.
Tillie, yes I do plan to work in hoard rooms this week. I really want things where I can find them, and the ability to walk on floors in those rooms so I can get to items! Thanks for chat, great so many people are working on our hoarding issues.

Thanks Tillie for always being here for us all, and yes the fog will clear soon.

HI Everybody! :)

Been up & busy since the roosters were still crowing about the sunrise.
Just taking a lunch break now.
Did some reading about what may be causing my "brain fog" and it seems to be from withdrawl from all the sugar I usually consume but have been trying to be good about it lately.
So, this too shall pass, some day. :)

Wonderful to read all your posts! :D
It is hot, muggy/humid and overcast here today. Makes it hard to get motivated to do much of anything.

Oh well, I better get back to doing stuff around here.

TTYL :)

Hello everyone, took a vacation day today and went to a swearing in ceremony and am now waiting for my BF at a restaurant. Congratulations Barb on your cleaning and maintenance! What a terrific feeling this must be for you, and an inspiration and an aspiration for many of us!

I will work some more in kitchen tonight. I don't have much trash in house, just stuff, stuff, stuff. I take care of someone who is very sick and he was a trash hoarder. I cleaned out his place in a six week period, just taking out bags and bags of trash. Nothing salvageable. After working for almost three years, I had secured him new housing. He moved on May 19th. It took me six weeks, every night and both weekend days to throw out his apartment leading up to the move. Trash, flooding, wet clothes, smelly stuff, crumbs, rotten food, pizza boxes.... It was disgusting. I'm pleased to say he has kept up with the trash at the new place and is doing his laundry and dishes now. Now that I don't have his old apt to look at, I can see the hoarder in myself.

Thank you everyone! Let me know how you are!

Good morning, all.
The kids are finishing up mowing. I am sure that they will argue with me for not paying as much today, but they used my mower and my gas and did not trim or sweep afterward. I don't think I am being stingy. They may not want to mow again, but fair is fair.
I slept in a bit this morning. I got to the bank, but haven't been out to get Frank Kitty yet. The dogs and I miss him. Little Cranky Franky adds excitement to our lives.
We are going to have highs in the 70s all week. That means I need to take advantage of the cooler weather and get some work done outside. I have weeding and trimming and painting to do. The garden got neglected last week and little trees are trying to grow next to the foundation again. It would be perfect weather to clean out the garage, but I don't think I'm going to have time for that.
The first priority every day is to maintain the areas I have livable: the kitchen, entry, main bathroom, and part of the living room. The second priority is to continue to get areas ready for the plumber and floor installer.
The third priority is to work outside. Because I enjoy being outside much more than inside, especially when the weather is this nice, I will need to set a timer. Otherwise, I will just stay out there all day, neglecting to eat or get other things accomplished.
The kids are finished and I am signing off to go and get Frank.
Have a good day, everyone.

Just a quick note to say hello to everyone and to quickly answer Roxie's question....I am greatly supported by BF. He understands how overwhelmed I've been the last ten years taking care of very ill family member and my aging mother. He helps immensely with both of them and never criticizes my house. He has on a few occasions gotten on my case re mom's assisted living apt (she too loves her clutter) since she is now at the age where she falls a lot. Luckily my sister came down twice and cleaned out the clutter one day while mom was at lunch. Has made a huge difference. Now my sister is helping me with family ' treasures'. Feeling this support, although sporadic, (sister lives out of state) has been what has gotten the "bee in my bonnet" to finally admit I am a hoarder and to actively, for hours at a time, deal with it.

Right now have TWO kitchen counters clear AND clean, which is remarkable, since I mainly did fun stuff til 3 today and then took care of mom with some problems she was having.

Thank you all--I know we can do this! If I haven't acknowledged anyone specifically, it is my failing, not yours. I draw tremendous strength reading through all of your posts.

Sweet dreams-- praying for your sleep, Roxie.

Well, I browsed "stinking thinking" and saw lots of links. after all it is "the flavor of the day". positive thinking is a helpful tool. but NOT the only useful tool. I did find an interesting article.

Sorry this is so long but I keep trying to share ideas here and struggle with fear of finding any real help. because my thinking is so "all Wrong". maybe someone will read this and get some understanding from it .

Rethinking "Stinking Thinking"
From <http://counsellingresource.com/features/2012/02/01/stinking-thinking/>

"(odd how it's always easier to see others' negative thinking than our own)"

"In practice, CBT therapists run into a number of roadblocks. The first is that thoughts are now sorted into "good thoughts" and "bad thoughts." For a client struggling with low self-image, it may be an additional blow to be informed that he's infested with unworthy thoughts.

By providing a list of "bad" thoughts, Ellis also opens the door for a kind of mental rigidity in therapy. If a thought matches the definition of "stinking thinking" of one kind or another, then it is bad and false. However, as Joseph Heller once quipped, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you." There are cases when a thought will be both stinky and true..

Because stinking thinking sorts thoughts into good thoughts and bad thoughts, there is a risk that a therapist may use CBT to push an agenda other than the client's well-being..

Acceptance of all phenomena, both physical and mental, is one core concept in mindfulness-based therapy. So whether a thought is "stinky" or not, it's still a thought that needs to be noticed and accepted, not as true, or helpful, or useful, but simply as a real thought that's really happening right now. From a mindfulness perspective, what is resisted grows stronger, so resisting stinking thinking risks embedding those unhelpful thoughts more strongly in the mind..

By refusing to label a thought as good or bad, false or true, the client retains the ability to extract useful intuitions from even irrational, disturbing thoughts and emotions.

Yet like all tools, stinking thinking has both limitations and misuses. Mindfulness-based therapy offers a different viewpoint that illuminates the limitations and pitfalls of CBT and suggests new methods to move beyond them."

Not a lot has changed in the last 30 years since I worked as a "Psych Aide III" in a State Research Hospital (mental health institution). Behavior Therapy was popular then, too, but it was more Pavlovian back then (would you believe tokens and M and M's).

Hope you all enjoy chat tonite.

Hi everyone! Have been busy doing fun stuff today. Will try to join chat. In the meantime I hope everyone is well. I appreciate all of your support and encouragement! We can do this!

Hi Everybody :)

Been a bit scatter brained/in a fog the last few days.
Right now doing some of his laundry even though the rain clouds are gathering.
I don't really care if it rains on his laundry, it will eventually dry.
Got to sleep in this morning. Really needed to catch up on my sleep.
Looking forward to tonight's chat and catching up with you all. :D

TTYL :)

Good morning, everyone. Iced tea clinks, Roxie.

Been enjoying reading everybody's posts. Still having some physical issues of various sorts and haven't gotten a lot of cleaning or decluttering done the past few days. Spent much of yesterday out of town to go see a declining (and much-loved) older relative. Of all my "treasures," she's one of the best. (She has "our" issue, by the way.)

Plans for today include spending time with nearby family members, adding to my gratitude list, getting some exercise (walking), and doing several very small maintenance tasks. I will probably be at the chat, but I might show up later than usual.

Hugs.

Another day gone.
I spent most of the day online reading. I read every quote on the quote thread. I had to copy and save some of them. And I "had" to copy, save, and RE-FORMAT the Desiderata. Also I talked to myself and the computer and a book of short stories I am reading. and there was a box with "new" knock-down shelves in it, that was in the "living room", close to the "path". Shelves to get organized. Bought before some of the badder things happened. Never put together. Either one of the cats or my son has managed to tear the box open. I couldn't find the box tape so I made him buy more so he could tape the box back up...
3 steps back.
But
I did take most of my medicine including the generic Pravastatin horse-size pill.
I did pay the rest of this month's bills.
I did drive son to and from work, and around to do errands.
I did laugh out loud at least 3 times while reading and enjoyed some good music.
I may search my email in a few to see if my mathematician friend has sent anything.
I am feeling sleepy so maybe can sleep good tonite.
Tomorrow is another day.

Forgive me, Diane. Roxie has the helpful neighbor. I don't know where you live but many times big apt buildings or even office buildings have Jacks Of All Trades and they are generally interested in picking up some side work. The handyman at the building where I park my car has helped me with everything from fixing my dryer (he's a master electrician) to putting in a new side mirror on my car to moving an outlet in my bathroom. Just an idea.

Honestly Diane, nothing gets my blood boiling more than to get hit on when you're just trying to do business with the person. That angers me no end. We deserve better than this. Perhaps your helpful neighbor might know of a handyman.

Congratulations on your very hard work today. And thank you for being my friend. 19 years of junk here, and I'm getting it done. For the first time. Bless you all.

Hi Ladies,
Yes Tat, like everyone else, I am very impressed with all that you do daily and found time for loved ones.
Tillie thanks for suggestions.
Roxie, so happy you have your pills ready to take and have had two good days.
Today I worked on area I have been talking about. I scraped and sanded the wood. Had to say, it is old wood, never will look good, stop, clean up, fill the holes, then paint while still cool tomorrow morning.
That wall looks like crap now that steps look so good and shades are so nice and ugly umbrellas are no longer hiding that wall. It is the outside wall in entry way, that connects garage to insulated room. On other side of this wall is the freezer and hole in the cement floor that had broken pipes. When my friend brought over dog we looked at options. She and her deceased husband owned rentals and she helped with them, so she had some good insights. It is good enough now. Still debating whether to pressure wash before painting, then realized better to just finish it, maybe next year I will put real siding on it, so no sense trying to make it look better than I already have. It is old plywood they used as outside wall. Has many imperfections. Plan to paint in morning then work on cracked cement. I did email the guy that helped me with pipes last winter. He was interested in me romantically and does not want to help me since I was not interested in him. oh well
Plugged freezer in yesterday and it works great so now still need to go fill it up.
Yes Tillie I am lucky to have a grocery outlet in my town. They now have a bag of crumbled raspberries, blueberries and blackberries (2nds)
that is mostly raspberries, and makes the best smoothies. I had last smoothie today so may just go to that store and get more soymilk, instead of costco. We will see, if I paint tonight, could go first thing tomorrow and beat the heat
watered this morning
did 1/2 of dirty dishes, 2 loads laundry, hung out on line. I enjoyed my day, just didn't do as much as I would have liked. did not sleep well last night
Tonight, may do some painting, actually I worked most of the day starting at 6am, need to just relax, difficult when there is so much to do. In heat need to take breaks, drink cold water. I perhaps, ran on too long, thanks for being here with me in spirit

Roxie, congratulations on getting the medications sorted and congratulations on a few good days. I hope you continue to have good health. How nice of your neighbor to help with the yard. There really are wonderful people all around us. Hope all is going well, Diane. I don't quite understand your house/soil problems (I'm a city dweller) but I'm glad you are addressing them. Sending you positive thoughts and energy. Thank you all--I had a terrific day working on the kitchen and finding time to spend with my mother and my sweetheart. He is working today and tonight so I'm busily dealing with another cabinet and starting on another donation bag and another recycling bag. Decided to go through my juice glasses and am only keeping four out of a set of six. So good to find I can keep what I love, just not as much. Thank you all for helping me.

Roxie
you seem so amazing to me! thanks for posting

I am just trying to stay focused enough to pay a couple bills...

slainte! to y'all

As I sit here waiting for my brother to take me to goodwill, I realize that I bought a lot of my glassware and dishes to project a certain image at different times in my life. And I'm chuckling now, because all I'm projecting is "I'm a hoarder!" Not having an emotionally bad time the last couple of days--I'm just getting through it. There's enough stuff in my kitchen that doesn't have any emotional hold on me. Take care, dear friends. As always, thank you.

Good morning my friends! Thanks Tillie for the encouragement and thank you everyone for being here. We can do it! You are all helping me so much! I thought keeping just four of the two sizes of plates was a good solution but then was feeling brave -- please I don't want any of my friends here to think I was putting my decision burdens on you!

Tillie my kitty has her cereal (the dry stuff) in vintage Bunnykins bowls. I found a lot of Bunnykins last night (not donating any -- I love it). and have selected a few pieces to give my sister for her cat. Glad to hear that I'm not the one who that likes special little dishes for the cats.

Have a great day, everyone. I think you are wonderful! And hello to Barb, we haven't met yet but we will!

I've been working on kitchen tonight. Pretty grossed out. Not going to be able to eat tonight (this is like a little prize, quite frankly). Have many bags for goodwill. Have a set of vintage dishes (no sentimental value, bought many years ago at a yard sale, varying number of plates, saucers, cups, etc). but I love them. After worrying about them, I decided to keep four salad plates and four dinner plates. The bread plates were long ago donated, as I used them for kitty's food and I would put them in dishwasher and eventually the pattern was gone.

So I'm pleased I found a solution. Got the silver polished, put away. Working on clearing another cabinet so the "keepers" have a place to go.

Thank you everyone for helping me through my struggle. I stayed hydrated! So headache not terrible.
Ps if you think I should get rid of the rest of the dishes please tell me and I will.

Hi, all,
I have been trying to catch up reading your posts from this week.
Roxie, I hope you can get all your meds straightened out and an oxygen tank for home.
The baseball games have been fun. Our team is 2-2. Final bracket games start tomorrow. We had no games today and spent some time exploring the city including the Studebaker antique car museum. South Bend is a beautiful city, especially Notre Dame and the surrounding area. It has been pretty easy to find and get to places by car.
I'm not sure when we will be able to leave on Sunday. It depends on how well we do on Saturday and if and when we are eliminated.
If I get home in time, I'll log on to the chat group.
Have a good weekend.

hi ladies---Tat you are doing so great, good visual of being in a bad neighborhood, humor does help!
Tillie, I would like to join you in a fantacy world, have always been a task master, and do not let myself escape, even mentally being mean to myself is a waste of time, why not use that time to have a fun mental time, I appreciate your sharing your way of thinking.
I had some ugly umbrellas in entry and two dilapidated gutters. all down now. I put up a sun shade up that rolls out and is new from two years ago that I never got around to putting up. Well it took less time to put up the proper shade than all the time I spent on umbrellas and securing them. It looks so much better now. I started scraping the old paint off from where gutters have been for years, it is pretty bad, some wood looks rotten, I quit for now. I said what is the priority. Well priority is figuring out a solution for cracked cement where water dripped in and froze pipes. Not sure how to fix it. Not sure if I need to putting awning up that won;t leak, or actually patch the cement. Since I took all the dirt and rock out from under the cement in little room, the cement outside sunk. It is stuffed with insulation but guess it needs more bulk so it doesn't sink more. Since it sunk, water from entire area drains down to that area, which is not where it should be------guess I will start online later, if still can't figure it out will go to Lowes or home depot and ask for suggestions of how to fill area but remain accessible.
Scraped area under gutters, tried to sand by hand, will need to use electric sander. Then paint the area, might put metal brace on corner of rotten wood and see if that is enough support, it is a big board to replace, and already have all the braces I need. Still have not gone to costco, should go today since tomorrow it gets hot again, but tired, and friday traffic sucks. Tanner is coming tomorrow so have to tidy up areas. I think I need some relaxation time, out to the deck I go

Oh Roxie I'm sorry about the continued health problems. I was praying that you got your meds straightened out. I take care of a disabled family member and know first hand how hard it can be to straighten out the meds. Please post when you can.

LR, I hope your shoulder continues to improve. It sounds like you've been successful in staying positive and not letting this set you back mentally -- despite the physical set back.

Diane, how wonderful that you are already making plans to enjoy your freezer. Congratulations!

And dear Tillie, I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be to live with a hoarder. Brava for keeping a smile in your face and for keeping us all feeling like we are worthwhile, even though we are hoarders.

As for me, I can see my kitchen counter! (Just the one right now). I have washed the glassware I am keeping and tonight will polish the silver and put into one of my clean cabinets. Started to work on kitchen drawers last night but I felt like I'd just walked into a bad neighborhood so made only small progress before having to get out! Multiple bags are ready to go to goodwill and took out two bags of trash this AM.

Keep up the good work everyone and thank you for helping me through all of this. I'm a hoarder. I had no idea.

Good Morning :)

Still morning here, for ten more minutes.
Got out and did some watering this morning.
Washed some dishes.
Took care of the cat stuff.
In a few, planning to wash my hair.

All ready for another weekend. Have no hopes that he will take advantage of the time to do anything around here to improve the condition of the place.

Off now to return to my fantasy world where I only notice the positive things I can see. :D

Roxie: I'm so sorry that you are having those physical problems. It's good that you were finally able to call an ambulance and get help. Hope you were able to get the missing meds without too much hassle.

Tillie: Thanks for all the well-wishes for all of us.

Me: Although my shoulder is still giving me problems, I felt I should get out to that rural area this morning to check on things. (Everything was fine.) I made a point to get there very, very early (near daybreak) and to do only those things out there that wouldn't aggravate my soreness. Now I'm fixing something yummy for lunch. One-armed hug to everybody!

Good morning.

Iced tea clink, Roxie.

diane: I'm glad you ran across your registration information and that you were able to get it taken care of. Yea! It's great that the TV in the kitchen is helping. Glad everything is progressing well with your freezer. I hope your phone calls go well.

Tatoulia: I really agree with your statement that progress breeds positivity. I'm glad that you found a good way to solve the shelf paper issue and that you're making good progress on the kitchen cabinets.

Tillie: I hope your soreness goes away soon. Yea that there still are no ants in your areas!

Me: Yesterday, it "so happened" that a friend wanted to get together to talk. Since I'd already put aside other plans because of my shoulder, that worked out perfectly.

My shoulder is a tiny, tiny bit better but still giving me trouble, so if I get much done today in terms of cleaning and clutter issues, it will probably be one-handed work. (One-shouldered work?) I started a work-at-your-own-pace online course a while back. I might work on that some more today, since I don't think I need my shoulder too much for that.

Have a great day!

Congrats Tat for turning your day around, and I love the idea of seeing your cloth napkins as shelf liners, nice
It is cool here today, yeah, and worked in yard a few minutes, then rain. Worked a little more in freezer area, looks better now.
Thought, bad weather, perfect time to boil some eggs and do laundry, since it is cool. After that, thought I would follow LR and do some paperwork and get all bills together. Surprise, my car registration expired today. So happy LR reports paper work, or I would have missed registration deadline. I finished some things then went to DMV and paid for new tags. Then went to bank and cashed 3 checks from dog sitting, 2 I found in paperwork today, thought I had already cashed them. Then I went to Grocery Outlet and and bought a few things, did not have time to go to Costco today, darn dmv. So will plug in freezer tomorrow then go to Costco, probably. Was so happy I made soup last night, so nice to have soup on this chilly day. Really helps to have tv in kitchen to distract me, so easier to do dishes and cook. Have to look and see where my containers are to put soup in for freezer. I got rid of many of them earlier, sure I stashed some somewhere. I have freezer paper and freezer bags I will use if do not find containers, not buying more. All in all, a good day. Have some phone calls tomorrow that I must make.

Hello everyone! I am sorry to hear about shoulder pain and the soreness from overdoing! I have cleaned one entire cabinet down to the barebones and am 2/3ds of the way on a second kitchen cabinet. Really gross stuff --all about ten years out of date. Yikes. Have solved my shelf paper "problem"--after washing and drying the cabinet, am using some of the scads of cloth napkins I have! Took two trips to the recycle bin and now have three bags for goodwill (when the AM started out I had a bag and a half). Progress breeds positivity. Hugs to you all. Thank you for all of your support.