Good Afternoon

Cleaned the house today.
Spent lots of time making sure everything was getting cleaned thoroughly.

Steven finally went to the doctor today.
Doctor said it's not influenza so probably bacterial.
Gave him antibiotics.

The house smells nice ;D

Love you too Tatoulia (((HUG)))

Had to chuckle about the reusable grocery bag snafu.
Very glad you have done some meditation.
Meditation helps center us.

Snack time in the evening is about 8pm.
Twinkles keeps trying to get me to hand out snax earlier and earlier every evening.
He is very vocal as he chases after me trying to get me to obey.
But if I give them their snax at 6pm, by 8pm they will be wanting me to hand out more.

Supposed to be clear Monday & Tuesday with more snow by Wednesday.
Just wish it wasn't so bone chilling cold.

Planning to clean house tomorrow.
If he keeps getting in my way while I'm cleaning I think I will have to get rough.

Great work, Ladies! I bet sorting the yarn was fun, SubC! Congratulations on finding a nightie to pass along! I find it difficult to give up bedclothes.

Your grandmother would be so proud of you, Tillie. You are a positive member of society and a kind and gentle friend. You are practical and sentimental and appreciative. You have a strong value system and we love you so. Your decisions on what to keep and what to pass on are very sound.

I did some meditation and will call BF soon to say goodnight. I also mistakenly put my reusable grocery bags into the donation bag. I am sure they will be used. Thank you for reassuring me that I'm not losing my mind! I have been a little weird lately. I'll get there.

I am not completely tired so I will read once I'm in bed.

Hi Tatoulia
With so much going on in your life that you do have to remember it's no wonder you lose cards & sunglasses.

WTG! your Mom for having things to add to the donation bag!


Hi Subclinical
YEA! for puttering around in cabinets!
WTG! finding things to use up and things to let go of!

We all did very well today :D

Today Steven did not go shopping, said he was sick.
He stayed in bed until after 2pm then took a shower and is sitting at his computer in his bedroom.
Yesterday I saw him carrying 4 plastic grocery bags that were not from him grocery shopping from the truck into the garage.
He did not bring me anything, YEA!!!

Today the carport roof is now lower than my shoulders in the center part and the support beams on either end are still hanging in there holding up the outer side of the front & back ends of the roof.
I stay far away from it, couldn't get near it anyways even if I wanted due to the massive hoard in the carport.

Good evening!

Tatoulia, i'm Sorry about your card. :(

I always get discombobulated when my routine is off.

Good for you raking the donate bag!
I hope you have a nice evening whatever you decide to do.

Tillie, how bad was the shopping?

We started out with snow this morning, and then it got wet, turned to rain, and froze. Blech.

I puttered around - cleaned out a cabinet and found some boxes with very old carbohydrates for the chickens, ingredients to plan food around for the next week or two, and some candy dh is going to take to the "snack" table at work.

I sorted the yarn into chenille to maybe keep, hair colors for puppetry, and everything else for fiber arts.

I also found a nightgown to get rid of.

I ran up to mom's to look for my sunglasses, then I went and had a cup of coffee with BF. I also had to take an ID to the police station; I'd found it on Friday. Then I picked up mom and we dropped the bag off at goodwill. Oh! She had a pair of pants, a blouse, and a pillow case, which I added to the donation bag. I got mom's groceries and some supplies for the kitty and me. After dropping off mom, BF drove me home. I'm tired right now but he said he wanted to do something. I'll give it a bit before calling it a night. With being out of sync with the world and exhausted from jury duty, I really need to make an effort.

I'll go to office tmr. Then Tuesday we are expecting sleet, etc. Wednesday, Th and Fr I'll be doing the day long thing for one of my volunteer positions. Busy week with no time at home.

I emptied the dishwasher and gave kitty all new cleab dishes and a clean placemat.

I scheduled another massage for the beginning of March. I still have plenty of gift card $$ left.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
WAY TO GO! for reducing the number of place settings and serving pieces!
I use my Granma's china as my everyday dishes.
She needed service for 12 just for family.
I know she would understand and be alright with me letting go of some of this.

Good luck rehoming the TV :D
I'm sure somebody will be very happy to have it.

YEA! for a donation bag ready to go.
I also have a load to drop off next time I go into town.

Thinking I will go grocery shopping next Tuesday or more likely Wednesday.

The sun is shining brightly on all that lovely white snow but it's too cold out for melting.

Great work, dear Tillie! Sorry about the weather! We are expecting something Tuesday during the day. I reduced some of my vintage dishes down to four dinner plates and four salad plates. Got rid of all the rest, bowls, creamers, dessert plates. I haven't used the four but I am not yet ready to move them along. I have four of each of my everyday plates and like to think I can use the others if need be. I have mom's China service for 12. We may use st some point during a holiday. The BF enjoys entertaining large crowds of people.

I put more things in my donation bag including some household and some clothes. I'm good with taking it up now to goodwill. It's not full but it will be out.

I still have TV here. I'll get BF to help me get that to car. Since it's a flat screen, someone could use it with cable or as a computer monitor. The analog shouldn't hurt its chances of finding a new home.

I'm off to go see mom. Sunny day.

Good Morning Everybody
Tried to post last evening but internet was giving me fits due to the big storm in the area.
Got four inches of snow here! :D

Hi CriticalMass

Hi Tatoulia

Hi Subclinical

Wonderful to read all your posts.
Great insight and self awareness.


Yesterday after Steven went to the dump he went shopping again.>:/

Yesterday I went through my dishes (dinner plates, dessert plates & bowls) and decided to reduce service for 12 down to service for 8.
No way I will ever again need to feed 12 people in my home.
After I live with this arrangement for a while I may further reduce it all down to service for 4.
The cupboard where they are stored looks so roomy now. ;D

Good morning! I slept very well last night. We had a terrific time with our friends at dinner last night.

So I had to run to office last night to pick up some stuff. Some of the stuff was in a sturdy paper bag. My challenge before I leave the house today is to fill it and take to goodwill. Right now I have two things in it. I think if I can do it without thinking too much it will go quickly.

Time will tell.

I hope everyone has a good day. SubC I am excited for your crocheting class! I hope some of that yarn comes in handy. My mother has scads and scads of fabrics and yarns and I cannot get her to decrease the quantity. I understand her better and respect her more, now that I have everyone here to show me a better perspective. I'm not very creative and I envy people who can sew and knit and make pottery and paint, etc.

Ok as I enjoy my coffee I am running the dishwasher. I'm about to run around and find things to donate.

Oh-this is rich-the birthday card I bought this week I lost. I addressed it to my friend and I lost it. I was going to leave it on her desk and it was gone.

In other news, UPS just dropped some things off and there were my gloves, which apparently I'd also lost.

Good morning!

Tatoulia, thank you for your service.

I'm sorry your work isn't going well and that you gave to put off the cleaning fairies, but good for you on the nospending!

CM, your plan for the barbies sounds good. Every now and then I'll go back and look at dolls on eBay.

Recently I saw one for a good price that I want to replace or have fixed because he is part of a set and damaged, but then I asked myself "what will you do with the old one?" And realized I was still thinking in a list of "I could"s, but hadn't settled on an "I will." So I told myself "now is not the time."

Tillie, at first I didn't understand because I was thinking "but he gave it to you, it's yours, so that is at least something you can get rid of." But as I read more of what you wrote I think I understand - it is more "this is not mine, I reject it, so it is still yours and you have to keep it in your space."

How did the going to the dump turn out?

My house is a little bit better. I worked more on stalls yesterday, and got a load of feed. And I emailed the parents.

My friend brought me a trash bag of yarn yesterday. It's intended for my fiber arts class next year (assuming the class makes it on the schedule, and intended by me - she doesn't care what I do with it) but I may pull some out and add it to/exchange it with some of my stash. In particular, there is a light green chenille I think would work well fir a project I want to start. But for now I am resisting opening the bag and getting sidetracked.

Dh and I went out for a game night with friends last night. It was fun, but included many bad food choices.

I also signed up for a crochet class at the public library tomorrow night. Today will be for staying home. I want to get out in the studio, but my back is a little sore from yesterday, so I am trying to be careful of it.

I'm back! I found jury duty to be very tiring. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and each night I cane home and slept for several hours. I'm so glad I only told you, BF and my office. It was a criminal case and now it's over. All over a positive experience and a breath of fresh air from work. Today I had a massage and I feel so much better. I'm also doing two loads of laundry and I've changed my sheets and done the dishes. Not doing laundry and other tasks has piled up on me.

Also, one of my volunteer positions will take me out of the office for three days next week. I wish it would get moved or otherwise be postponed. This is not a good time to be out of the office. And my mgr is being a real jerk.

Oh well. My no spend is going well. I had to buy a birthday card and also some valentines so that mom can send them out. Something to make her happy and keep her busy. Otherwise there's been nothing impulsive or extraneous. My massage today was just the 20 tip. No clothes, no sale items, no buying stuff because it's for sale. I think we need to remember that No Spend is aspirational so that if we buy something, we are more cognizant of it. You did a good job SubC is swapping out your clothes.

It sounds like everyone is doing great work. BF and I are meeting friends for an early dinner in a short while. I'm looking forward to it. I just had a cup of coffee since I once again feel like sleeping.

The stress of not doing laundry was upsetting to me. I even did a small load Thursday night at 10:30 PM (after a long nap) just so I'd feel human.

With being out of the office another three days next week, I'll have to go in on Monday. This will also push off my cleaning ladies for a week.

Tillie, I do think about Swedish death cleaning ever since you brought it up some time ago. It is very helpful in making decisions and I thank you for that. And everything else.

Good job, SubC! I have a desire to weed some clothing items when I get out from under all the paperwork and "getting the bed back liveable" goals. I tend to keep clothing items for decades, only perhaps moving from "OK to wear in public" to "Only around the house" to "For painting or gardening" categories. The final destination would be Rags.

I am getting tired of looking at some of them though, so I need to go through the process. I need more jeans too, but I want to re-lose the regained pounds before shopping. I'm sure no explanation necessary! ;) I can still remember being depressed all day looking at my figure in dressing room mirrors as a teenager. And of course now, I would love to be the weight I was then when I thought I was fat!

Oh well. I've learned a few things about fitness and such since those days. I don't go all touchy-feely about "body image" - I was in a therapy group once that to me was entirely too sappy and woo-woo about the whole thing, and that frankly made me want to puke. I'm more pragmatic: Be thankful to God you are healthy, CM, and you can tweak the things you'd like to be different - and have patience. That's how I roll. Every gal has to work out the best way to deal with those matters, is how I see it.

Ahem. Now for "Part 2" of the post from yesterday. Tillie - I get what you mean about the people buying stuff in stores, and you're right. They may very well be living beyond their means. I know because I did that myself for so long, and I still struggle with temptations. I no longer have credit cards, that ship sailed and I never want to see it return to port.

But that "Wanter" gets me bargaining - like when I want a Barbie or some art supplies. It's easing off; the worst was last summer when I was home with no vehicle and eBay. Yikes. Still, the thing was set in motion and I still check out new dolls to see if I want them. But more often I'm able to resist because they reuse the same face molds on more than one doll, and I can note "I already have one like her." Frugality isn't always a walk in the park, but it is better than that credit card addiction of yore.

I also plan to go through the secondhand dolls I eagerly bought and sell or donate a few which, again, are practically duplicates. And be making the clothes to sell - I can make a simple outfit for the naked dolls which might make them more appealing to sell.

Hope your carport goes to Oz, but safely for your house's structure and any living beings in the vicinity. And hope Steven doesn't decide to gather up all the debris and re-hoard it.

Hi Motown - drop by whenever you can!

Hi Tatoulia - I was glad the Patriots won even though I didn't watch the game.

I want to start making food ahead too - things I can make a big pan of and freeze individual portions. Lasagna sounds awesome. I have a frugal trick - I use low- or non-fat cottage cheese in lieu of ricotta, can't tell a difference. Also things like chicken and rice casserole, enchiladas, and taco meat made with organic ground beef and frozen in meal size portions. Nothing fancy as I'm a picky plain eater rather than a foodie - but I've even missed my basics.

Last night I started getting the pay stubs ready for recycling, crossing out Social Security and name and address, or cutting it out (if it was printed with toner, it still shows through the Sharpie marker). Those will be shredded. I plan to have a celebration when I get it all done.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Pet visits? Sounds interesting and chaotic ;D

OK, so your home is messy.
That happens to everybody at times.
I know you will get that all sorted out shortly and get the place back to tidy. ;)

Yes, a lot of thought has to go into deciding what to keep or not, to keep the clothing under control and in it's assigned space.
Whenever I see something at the thrift shop that I like I must think about what item at home will need to go in order for me to have the "new" item.
Sometimes that's an easy decision depending on the condition of what's at home.
Sometimes it would be a sacrifice so I don't buy the new item.

YEA! WAY TO GO!!!
Great job sorting them all out! :D

No, I won't return that metal detector to the thrift shop.
One reason he's being extra pi$$y stomping around and slamming doors is because he noticed that I do NOT want it.
So I stuck it out in the garage hoard to get it out of my "NO CLUTTER ZONE" in the house.
That stadium cushion he brought me is out there too.

I think he has noticed that I am thinning out all my possessions.
I've been doing that Swedish death cleaning, getting rid of things that no longer fit the life I live now.
Like kitchen related things since I no longer cook big meals or formally entertain dinner guests.
Or making my garden/yard area minimal for easier care.

I have noticed in the past that my decluttering my own possessions scares him and he attempts to stop it and pile more obsolete unwanted things onto me.

He seems to have no real idea of what I like and what I do or why I don't want a hoard of my own to churn and fret over. :/

Quite a few times he has actually gone to the thrift shop and repurchased items that I have donated.
That makes getting rid of some things extremely difficult for me.
But he isn't interested in fancy dishes or women's clothing so it's safe for me to donate those.

I have to be extra sneaky throwing away actual garbage too since he likes to pull things out of the garbage.
Every trash bag I make has a big scooping of litter box offerings on top to try to discourage his rummaging through.
Doesn't always work.

Too cold today to play outside.
Thinking about fun things to do inside.
Too cold to hang out laundry, so no washing.
Kitchen is clean.
Could do some vacuuming or clean the bathroom but he is in the way.

Ok, I looked through the pants.

One pair of "dressy" colored jeans that I moved over in the drawer to the bottom of the plain t-shirt pile (which still needs to be evaluated). Two pairs of brown dress pants (different shades) that were too wrinkled to wear from being in the drawer - I threw them in the laundry because I don't iron if I can help it and will hang them in the closet later. (That closet is a future BIG project). One pair of "too small" dressy jeans that I tried on and actually zipped (but not comfortably) and decided that really, i'm not a huge fan of the style or cut, so they can go. and one pair of lightweight, worn "spring gardening" jeans back in the drawer, and my two "new" jeans will stack neatly with them.

So, two pants in, two pants out, two pants moved.

Good morning!

Tillie, I'm not sure about the pants - some if them I don't wear to work because they are too dressy for my t-shirts, but I have worn on "parent days" with a shirt with buttons. We have three "parent days" in March. Some are too worn, but might be good for gardening pants in the spring - when I need my legs covered but it is too hot for real jeans. I think I just need to go through the stack and ask "when would I wear this?" And "is there something else I would pick first?" I don't want my "extra" pair of jeans to ruin the work I did on my dresser.

I hope Steven takes a big load to the dump and comes straight home!

Are you going to take your "new" metal detector to the thrift store?

My house is very messy and I didn't put my desk away last night. But I did post an assignment I promised my class. I gave myself a scary deadline by telling them to email me if they didn't have it by Sunday because that meant something went wrong. My next scariest job is to e-mail all the parents of the younger classes about pet visits.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
YEA! for finishing up the paycheck stub project!

Yes, please do work on the bed.
It's important that we all have a nice peaceful place to lay our heads.

I think DS9 has the best intro music of all the series. ;)

Hoping you got to finish posting the bunny report before the library closed.

Hi Subclinical
The challenge is for no buying of nonessentials.
The proper clothing for doing barn work is essential.
About the "can't wear them to work pants"...
are they good for doing yard/garden work?
Or car washing or other get dirty jobs?


Don't worry about me eating.
There is still food stuff in the pantry and some frozen stuff.
Strange combinations but very edible. ;)

The other bit with Steven is another issue.
I'm about ready to smack him upside his pointy head. >:/

The positive is he did not go shopping today.
He slept until 2:00pm then he started putting the garbage into the truck because he says he is going to the dump tomorrow.
First time EVER that I did not have to nag him to make a trip to the dump.

The weather is predicted to stay bitterly cold with chances of snow for another week.

Hi CM!

Great job on the pay stubs!

I didn't see you before I posted. I'm guessing you got cut off.

The curtains are not done, but they are ok. You can't really see any rust on the patterned part, just on the back now. For now I let them dry, but they also still smell a little musty, so I will be washing them again. I'm not sure if I have a rod to put them up - don't want to buy one until the studio barn project is (done?) because one might turn up out there.

Do please clean your bed off. I really think it matters to have a clean, comfortable place to sleep more than anything else. It's where you start from every morning and where you retreat to at night.

Good evening Tillie,

I am concerned about what you are going to eat. And about you being cooped up in the cold with Steven.

My day was better. I am less tired and my classes were good. Dh is stuck at work though, and I am sad about that.

I am not doing too well on the no spend challenge, but I am still trying to make good choices and avoid adding things.

Yesterday I ripped the leg half off of my last pair of heavy (men's) work in the barn jeans (my toe caught in the hole in the knee). This morning I tried to wear an old pair of girl jeans out to do chores and realized they weren't enough. The denim is just too thin. And I don't want to have to put my bibs on every time I go out. So I stopped at goodwill on my way home and found two pairs in good condition to try on. One was a little loose (the size I currently have) and the other, a size down, was a little snug, but not uncomfortable - and jeans stretch, so I decided to spend $15 (not on sale) and buy both.

The pair I just ripped will be donated to be sold as rags, but I guess I need to take another hard look at my "can't wear them to work" pants, because I am now up a pair of jeans. If they aren't for work or the barn, why do I have them?

At the public library on the faster computer - still, they close in half an hour so I hope I can get this typed. I may do a series of posts so if the computer shuts down I don't lose them.

I was at the Bunny House (the home where our future bunny rescue got started and still resides until we get some donations from people with surnames such as Koch, Gates, Buffett... and can buy a facility). Needed a document from their computer so I can finish our newsletter and other prep for our event a week from this coming Sunday. My 9-year-old laptop at home is so slow, this computer is MUCH faster.

Opened my email here and found a phishing one from a bank in the Philippines, and the bunny document, but the bunny picture wasn't in compatible format so I called our director and she's supposed to resend it as a PDF. Hope it arrives before I have to leave.

We were iced in yesterday morning and my roommate took a vacation day. Watched more Star Trek Deep Space Nine on Netflix. And I finished entering the data from my paycheck stubs! I will need to go back and correct a couple of things but that won't take long. Then I'll eliminate identifying information on the stubs either via crossing out with black Sharpie, or shredding. Then the bulk of the paper can go in recycling. Or to the badger, if he wants to eat it.

Hope everyone who has been sick is getting on the mend.

------

SubC, that's cool about having the glaze from the hubby's uncle - I can imagine it may be a chore to get the firing specs, but rewarding once you do.

Did you get your rust stain taken care of? I also wonder about "Oxy" type cleaners, if they would work.

Tatoulia, thanks for the encouraging words re my pay stub project. Perhaps in time estimating how long a task will take will get easier for me, and if I keep listening to the badger I will have fewer tedious tasks overall!

Hope the raspberry chocolate cake turned out as yummy as it sounds, and that Lord & Taylor won't have to file for bankruptcy - that they will be able to find other benefactors, LOL!

-----

When the pay stub project is completely wrapped up, I had other things in the pipeline, but I think I need to take a detour and deal with what has become a really annoying issue, namely my bed - and the area around it. I keep trying not to have anything on the bed (it's just a twin, and in a corner) but stuff ends up there. It's encroaching on about 1/3 of the bed, very messy and things fall from their stacks. With the cat sleeping with me too, I'm often ending up in awkward positions and getting cricks in my neck or sciatica.

So I think I will take next week to address this. Laundry baskets sort of collapsed on the floor, and other stuff in crates will have to be moved - it's gonna be annoying, but the reward will be great. And (this is the gross part, sorry) the sheets have needed to be washed for WAY too long. I have clean spares, though. I want to get a piece of that rubber stuff since my mattress is always sliding.

I'm going to call this "Part 1" and go ahead and post, as the screen clock is saying I have 6 minutes left.

Good Morning Anybody

Another brutally cold day here.
Have no set plans.
Will wash a few dishes shortly after I dirty a few more.
Desperately need to grocery shop but do not want to.
Maybe next week?

Yesterday Steven did not go shopping.
Today he did go shopping.
He brought me a metal detector.
I do not want it.
I already have one and it's lost somewhere out in his hoard ever since he "borrowed" it years ago.

Today I sorted out my button box.
Found that about half of them did not "Spark Joy".
Since I don't sew all that much any more I only kept what I think I may use here & there.
The rejects are not a color I like or size I'd use or not in the best condition or only a single one that belongs with something I no longer own.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Buying a bouquet of fresh flowers falls under the category of "self care".
So they don't count the same as spending on nonessentials.

Hope today is an easier day for you.


Been awake since 3:00am.
Just couldn't get comfortable so I just got up.
We will be lucky if the temperature gets above 32 degrees today.

We have rain here again today.

Yesterday was exhausting. I got three new students spread out over three classes, and my last class of the day had a really hard time working together as a group. I started out trying to perk myself up with some discount flowers (a big bunch for 3.49) and they look nice and inviting this morning, but I barely had the energy to plop them in a vase, and I went on to make really bad food choices.

And I left my desk out two nights in a row. But dh says i'm doing ok with it.

Do flowers count for spending? I also started my Christmas shopping when I was at goodwill the other day. I found a book for my mom, and a pair of grill tongs for my dad and a cute sign they will both like (it ties in to a long running family joke) I might give my dad the tongs for his birthday in July, but the other two items are Christmas themed.

So, today I will do better.

Everybody feel better, and Tatoulia, don't get sequestered. We would miss you!

Hi Tatoulia

YEA! for being selected!
After it's all over with you have to tell us all about it.
Like what were the charges and what you all had for lunch in the jury room. :D

It did take a long time to adjust to it but over the years we have come to some sort of acceptance of the facts.
We very rarely mention it, many people that know us don't know about the murder.


The weather today is ferocious.
Extremely cold, raging winds and period snow fall.
The kind of day you just can't seem to get warm.
I ate buttered toast and dark chocolate almond milk :D

Glad you are feeling, better, Tillie. Oh how awful about steven's brother. I am so sorry. I bet it feels like just yesterday AND so long ago.

I got seated on a jury!! Yay me!!! I need a change of pace.

Good Morning

I slept very well last night.
Went to sleep early and woke up late.
Feeling much better today :)

Another little sprinkling of snow over night.
The mountains have gotten 7 feet of fresh snow this week.
There is a 50% chance of more snow today.

Hi Tatoulia

Hope Nurse Kitty is helping (((hug)))
I have two kitties cuddling me right now.

Yeah, that sounds like it would have been a lot of rowdy celebrating people out there.
YEA! for distributing lasagna at the office instead.

Every time I was on a jury we never got to make a verdict.
They all confessed right after we heard the first bit of evidence.
I would never be picked for a murder trial because Steven's brother was murdered and I am biased now after going through all that.

Feeling better after my shower.
Sitting here in bed.
Had tea and crackers to eat today, letting my body take it easy.

SubC!!! That is fantastic! Wow! How great! I'm so pleased that you navigated the cat "returns" so well! Just cleaned it up, dealt with it, all set! Congratulations!!!!

Tillie take care of yourself. I hope your stomach is quieting down.

I took individually wrapped pieces of lasagne to work today. Ate one with a friend and gave the rest away! It was tough walking to work because the super bowl parade goers had started coming to the city early. I did not go watch the parade. I just didn't want to be with that many people. So I stayed at office and pushed lasagne on people.

I don't feel like myself these days. But someone adorable is sleeping next to me so I should be feeling better with Nurse Kitty by my side.

I have jury duty tmr. Let's see if I get picked.

Hi Subclinical

WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic the only thing on the table was the table cloth and you dealt with the problem completely right away!!!!!!!
So wonderful that things are working so much easier for you (((HUG)))

This entire area is all planted in alfalfa.
Looks like this year there will be a lot fewer cuttings, just like last year.

You were brave and strong donating the coffee table.
Don't look back with sadness
look forward to things fresh and new.


Steven slept till noonish then he went shopping.
He is sitting at the computer in the garage now.
He spends so much time out there because he can do as he pleases.
Due to his health issues he is not supposed to smoke or drink alcohol.
I do not allow that in the house.
He thinks I don't know he is drinking and smoking out there.

Feeling a little better but still weak, tired and a bit dizzy.
In a few minutes I will shower and rest in bed.

Hi Tillie,

I hope you feel better quickly.

And i'm Glad Steven stayed out of stores for a change!

I don't know how many pregnant goats I have. Maybe eight. Only two for sure right now - due in the week after valentines. The dates stretch all the way to June. My hay guy told me it would be a bad year for hay, so I delayed a lot of the breeding.

Tatoulia, I don't really understand the parade thing, but I hope you are happy however it turned out.

Here is a thing that happened today - an hour before I had to leave, I discovered that my cat threw up on the dining room table. Instead of being reduced nearly to tears as I might have in the past, looking at piles of things I cared about covered in cat returns, I shook/scraped off the tablecloth - which was the only thing on the table! Sprayed it and tossed it in my EMPTY washing machine (I did not toss it in the yard or garage for "later") wiped down the table with a dishrag and tossed that in too, and started the wash!

Into the dryer before I left, quick warm extra tumble when I got home, and the tablecloth is back in place!

Also, I took a lad of stuff to goodwill today that included my coffee table. It was hard, but I did it.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
Stay safe if you do go.
Don't worry (((HUG))) I'll be alright.

Woke up to discover it very quietly snowed overnight.
So pretty .
Had to finally admit to myself yesterday that I'm sick and not just sad & unmotivated.
Planning to spend the day resting, napping and generally taking care of myself.
Some kind of intestinal bug I guess.

Quick hello.
Stupid movies with cats sounds very restorative. I'm glad he didn't go shopping, Tillie. I worry so but I know you've got this. But I worry still.

Not sure I'm going to parade now. Not because of clothing-the shirts were sold out-but because I'm not sure all those crowds are going to be good for my sense of safety. It's about a mile walk from my office to my safe destination. I'll figure it out as the day goes on.

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Motown
YEA!!! WAY TO GO!!!
not spending!

So nice of you to get your Mom curtains at such a great price.


Hi Subclinical
WAY TO GO! getting things all ready for kidding!
How many pregnant goats do you have?

So nice that you have made things there so much more organized and decluttered that you are able to find things you need just as soon as you need them. :D

The rain is just coming in the carport not the house.
But now there is a separation of the carport from the house big enough to allow rain down the outside wall of the house.
I have my garden cart along the outside wall there and now it's getting all wet.
The evaporative cooler is situated there too and rain water is dripping on that, but that's alright.
That carport is just a big ugly dirty nasty jumbled hoard harboring pestilence with just a tiny goat path through to the garage so I don't care if it were all blown off to Oz.
It runs all along the South side of the house, soon as you step out on the back porch it's right there in your face.

Hi Tatoulia
Have fun watching the parade, if you go.
Good luck getting back into your regular eating habits.
A few days fighting the phantom hunger should do it.
I've been nibbling too much throughout the days due to the stress of Steven.
Need to get back into eating proper meals at proper times.


Rearranged some clothes in my dresser.
Will see if I like it better that way.
Never got around to any beading due to taking a short nap with a couple of kitties.
Then watched a really stupid movie on Netflix.


Steven slept until almost noon then sat around on his bedroom computer till about 4:00pm then he went out in the garage to sit at his computer out there.
He did not go shopping today.

Good to catch up with everybody! Hoping CM drops by!

Great work everyone! Motown I too love the old movies. I'm glad you found some nice curtains for your mother. It's hard not to spend on stuff for our moms! Tillie I hope you enjoyed your day. I was home, working, then met up with a friend for dinner. Got a nice walk in. It is very warm here. Tomorrow will be in the 60a for the parade and I might actually go. One of our business partners invited me to his office to watch. He generally doesn't like me much (his reasoning is sound) and he hasn't invited me in previous years so I'm pretty excited. I have nothing to wear so BF will either bring in something for me or he said he'd see if BJs has any t shirts. I told him cheap cheap cheap but classy and he laughed. I just don't want him spending too much. Under 10 I told him. He won't let me pay for it so I must keep it cheap cheap cheap (but classy)

I'm struggling with food today. OH SubC you are doing great! I worry about leaving people out too, Motown. But nothing to worry about. We are all good friends.

I had a cup of tea after my salad tonight. I am still hungry but cannot eat I'm only hungry because of all the crazy eating I did this weekend. I need to get my head back into the game.

I got all of my laundry done today.

Motown, we lived in a town with a minor league baseball team for 18 months. It was very fun to go to the games! Dh played church softball and my best friend broke his collar bone diving for a ball, and that is all I know about baseball. Oh, and there was one pitcher I used to like to watch when dh watched the games on tv, because he had such pretty eyes. Dh said he retired.

What movie did you watch?

So far in February I have only bought food (and a scrubby sponge at the grocery store) and some things for my classroom using my classroom budget because they were 20% off during the workshop.

Tillie, please keep your distance from that metal roofing! That sounds awful and very dangerous!

Is the rain coming in the house, or just the carport? Am I remembering correctly that it would be just fine if the carport and all it's contents blew away to oz?

Did you do any beading?

I was so happy that the bin was clean and ready and I could put my hands right on it! So many times I have had "just the thing" but it has needed unearthing and cleaning and maybe fixing. That is why dh was so shocked.

Even when I took ❤️Dd a shelf when we worked on her house - I ended up leaving games piles on the guest bed to clear it.

Yes Tatoulia, dh roasts coffee - it's a hobby, but the coffee is really good. If it would grow here, I would grow it, but coffee needs very rich soil and better weather. We are kind of all or nothing - if we can't do it, and we don't know somebody who does it, then we'd just as soon amazon prime send it to our door (the post office brings the green coffee beans from a small batch wholesaler)

I once lived in a place where I had to drive an hour to buy my kids tennis shoes. Not fancy ones, just any. And then there was the period when I lived in town, but I would take my kid to visit our best friends for the day and when I asked if I could bring anything she'd say "toilet paper." Or "flour."

I wonder how much those times contributed to my "save everything" mentality.

Today I burned the burn box and cleaned out one kidding stall. I started the second one but it started raining too hard. I washed the buckets dsil brought me and put them in the studio for tomorrow. I also washed a stack of rag towels hot with bleach and dried them to have them ready for kidding. (They were very dusty from being stored in a tack box in the barn)

And I dried and put away that load of laundry I forgot last night. I found one more T-shirt for the rag bag.

Just a quick drive-by to say hi to you all! Love reading the posts but unfortunately I can't remember everything and who posted it in order to properly respond. I get so frustrated about that. Anyway, I didn't watch the "big game" either. Hubby and I are not sports enthusiasts at all but I do like a little baseball but that's about it. Instead we watched our one year old little granddaughter while mommy and her big siblings went to a super bowl party. And we watched a movie from 1937. Yeah, we're square like that. LOL!

Also, I have still not been spending unnecessarily and it feels GREAT! My DD told me of a half off of clearance at a local store and I did go check it out. I bought my mom some much needed curtains for her living room and the rods for them. Six tab top panels and three rods for $20.00. SCORE! So now to get hubby to get them put up.

Will try to check back in tomorrow!


Peace, love and what football game?

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Sounds like a fun time!
Of course you ate too much but it was all so tasty. ;D
You are such a dear daughter. (((hug)))

Hi Subclinical
YEA!!! WTG!!!
Finally, things are more to your liking!

We knew those no longer needed items down there might just be exactly what is needed elsewhere someday soon.


The sun is shining today with only a 90% chance of rain sometime later.
Bit too cold & windy though.
Other than cat related tasks, no chores for today.
Want to spend some time rethinking my dresser drawers.
Maybe I should rearrange which drawer holds what?
Also thinking of doing some beading and watching Netflix at the same time.

The carport roof...
dangling precariously and metal roofing sheets flapping loudly in the winds.
This seems to be pulling on the rest of the carport roof, un-attaching it from the side of the house allowing rain through at the edge now.
So lovely...

Wow! Great progress for you and husband! That is terrific!!! I'm so pleased for both of you! And you had the finishing touch! Great work, SubC.

I didn't know you roasted your own coffee! You and your family do so much!

When we put in the new kitchen, we got a super-duper range hood. I was under the impression that this meant dh would be roasting coffee UNDER the super-duper range hood and we would be removing the old built-in-vent-fan, giant-but-not-inside and I-hate-it microwave from the wall of my scullery.

Instead dh bridged the gap where the hated-that-too range used to be with a board and kept roasting there, requiring the microwave and it's vent to stay.

I have complained. I have left the room a mess. I have expressed that as long as the microwave is there I see no point in making any plans for remodeling the room. Yes, i'm a brat.

I don't know what I did or what happened, but yesterday, while I was at ❤️Dd's house, dh tried roasting coffee in the new spot. When I got home he had cleared all the coffee stuff out of the scullery. (He also moved his giant meat cutting boards from the locations that have been less-than-ideal) he showed me the new set up and said "all I need is some kind of tray that I can put all the equipment in (under the sink! Wasted space! I hate under the sink!) so I can just lift it all out. Maybe I can make something, or look on amazon. It needs to be less than 22" wide."

Zip, zap, zot - down to the basement went subc. Tape measure grabbed from tape measure spot, short recently washed bin with no lid but two sturdy handles measured, up the stairs, and a shocked dh loaded up his new "tray" and tucked his equipment in place!

I did have to give up my very easy spot where I was keeping the little sauce pan that I cook my hot cereal in - that is now the coffee bean shelf, but it's worth it!

Slow start this morning because I stayed up with dh while he watched the Super Bowl (And got so tired I forgot to change the laundry over) and the cat wants cuddles, but i'm Inspired to keep going!

Went out for a bit after the Patriots won tonight. Just to get a little flavor of the excitement. I didn't watch even one minute of it but I was fooling around on twitter when I heard the helicopters overhead, so I knew the game was coming to a close. Then I saw that they won so I headed up to BFs to hang out with him and to do some people watching outside.

I ate way more this weekend than I normally do in a week. Btw the cake was super tasty. So was the lasagne. So tasty.

I bought mom's groceries for her today. I had flirted with taking her out for lunch but I wasn't hungry so when I went into the store I decided to pay for her groceries. I usually buy every other time, plus whatever I pick up for her during the week.

Ok I have to roll into bed. I'm super full and feeling a bit unpleasant.

Good Afternoon/Early Evening

Hi Subclinical
WAY TO GO!!!
All three of you! :D

Scary sometimes how fast a child will grow.
Now all his clothes fit his dresser and smaller relatives get hand-me-downs too.

YEA! for lots going off to donation and good luck with your collection too on Tuesday.
You are an inspiring blessing to them both. (((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia
OHhhhh lasagna ;P

WAY TO GO! completely cleaning kitchen and doing laundry.

That cake doesn't stand a chance of surviving.

What fun antique "window shopping".
So glad you can educate your friend as to what he has in that etching and can adjust the price.

I thoroughly enjoy "window shopping".
So many lovely things to see and just like at a museum, we do not buy them, just appreciate them.


Thank you both (((HUG)))
At least I have all of you understanding people to tell my troubles to.
Really does help.

Not much rain today so far but I think this evening & over night we will have rain.
The clouds are so dark & thick & fast moving.
Cooked and cleaned the kitchen.
Been watching stuff on Netflix as I worked too.
So many new things on Netflix.

Isn't that amazing, SubC, how we are all learning together and impacting other people's lives! Great work!

I just put in a load of sheets. Generally Sunday's are busy evenings here for laundry and since I can do during the week, I don't like to be a pig. But then again, it was getting to me.

I completely cleaned my kitchen after decorating the cake. Of came out pretty good and I bet it will be delicious. I brought it to BFs earlier today and reminded him tonight to be sure to cut it up and serve it. I think he's doing wings and pizza tonight. Not sure.

I'm home from taking mom out and I have a lasagne in the oven. So I guess I really am feeling bold. I haven't made lasagne in years and years. It smells really good in here.

After I eat and finish my one load of laundry (I won't do two tonight as that will be piggy), I'll put on my pjs and choose a movie to watch.

Tillie that is such a terrible waste re Steven. Those compulsions are so bad and the effect on you must be so depressing.

I took mom antiquing today. We didn't buy anything and I didn't feel like buying anything. I took a good long look at the things that I would have purchased if I were still buying with abandon. There was an etching by one of my mother's favorite artists and they didn't know what they had. I knew the etching by sight as his work evokes a certain feeling. Seeing the signature confirmed it. My mother said if I wanted to buy it I could keep it at her house, esp where it was greatly undervalued. I said no, I have the artwork I like. I have two of his pieces in my home and will inherit a third when my mother passes on. I will, however, call my friend at the shop (he wasn't there today) to let him know who the artist is so he can price it and also have some background on it.

It's so nice to be spend free in February. Such a good and solid feeling. I have no temptations whatsoever.

Tatoulia, that cake sounds worth going to a Super Bowl party for!

Tillie, i'm So sorry about Steven and the shopping. I wish I knew something that would help.

❤️Gs and I spent the morning here with dh and the afternoon at his house. We cleaned up all the clothes (and a few toys) on his floor so we could set up his new train (Christmas present) and while we were at it I sorted out his drawers and we made a stack of too small items for his cousin. Everything else Is neatly folded and now he can put his clothes away. He went from a 6 to an 8 in the last month! Some of his shorts were still 4T.

❤️Daughter is still working at it and had me drop off a box and a garbage bag at goodwill on my way home. I'm planning to take my own trip on Tuesday.

She started a load of laundry as soon as she got home and told me she is keeping up with it, which is allowing her to start purging extra clothes. I'm still really proud of her.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Happy the workshop was wonderful. :)
It will be interesting to see how the glazes fire up.

Hi Tatoulia
Raspberry filled chocolate cake is one of my favorites.
Good luck!
Even if it looks lopsided I am sure it will be delicious. :)


Another drizzly day.
The mountains got a lot of snow.
Planning to do a bit of cooking today.
Shredded chicken, egg noodles, white sauce, Brussel sprouts on the side.
Getting discouraged and deeply depressed by Steven's behavior.
Constant shopping, constantly sitting around at the computer playing games.
But I have to keep on doing what I do or things would be so much worse around here.

Good morning!
I baked the cake layers last night. Now I'm softening the butter for the icing.

I have to try to shape the layers into a football by taking an inch or so out of the center. Wish me well.

Taking mom our in a bit. My laundry is piled up (for me) but I cannot be distracted while trying to do the cake. Time will tell. I'm also going to attempt a raspberry filling between the two chocolate layers. I am feeling bold.

Quick pop in - workshop was wonderful!

Sil brought the buckets but decided the glaze would not wait safely in the car at these temps. Good call - I didn't think about that. So, I can prepare for it.

Yes, I can test fire small samples, but it is a bit like a recipe with no cooking time or temp. Also I have to fire them in little containers so that if they get too hot nothing bad will happen to anything else in the kiln.

I will start at the lowest temp, but then jump to the next standard firing level, so I may over fire and have to back down.

I have to make test tiles and containers for all the temperatures.

But now I need to sleep - I have my heartgrandson all day tomorrow.

Oh, forgot to update...
Steven stayed in bed until after 1:00pm
then he went shopping, again.
On is way out the door said he had to go get a battery for his watch.
Returned with several plastic shopping bags of "I don't know what".
I know watch batteries aren't that big.

Hi Tatoulia
You are welcome (((hug)))

WAY TO GO! getting the usual regulars done!

YEA! for shredding.

That maple cranberry glaze sounds so yummy.
Something that I like to use in my quick breads instead of vanilla but is hard to find out here is called 'Mapeline".
Gives everything just a hint of maple and smells wonderful when baking.

I guess the ball game is tomorrow?
Are you still doing a football cake?

Been a nice easy day here.
Been raining off & on but the wind has died down.
Did the usual daily stuff, scoop & sweep, wash dishes.
Watched "Silence Of The Lambs" on Netflix.

So nice that I don't have to work in the garden all this month.
But that doesn't mean me & the cats can't play out there when it's nice out.

Scooter is being a pill today, pestering everybody.
I think he needs to go outside. Evil grin ;$

Very relaxing day. I went up to see BF then took a walk. I stopped at grocery store to buy some milk. It was crowded! Everyone's getting ready for their super bowl viewing. Im just out of the shower and trying to decide which movie to watch. I love streaming my movies!

Bed changed, dishes in dishwasher, recycling out. I'm really happy to have you in my life. I've shredded the mail. I'll taje the shredder back to BF later in the week.