Welcome Home, SubC! Goodwin, you had a big day even though you didn't do any cleaning!

For me, I love getting things out of the house. Or putting things in the dishwasher. Getting garbage out, getting bag to goodwill, etc, I feel like I've going in the right direction. I just unloaded and reloaded my dishwasher (overnight cat dishes and my coffee cup this AM) and it felt wonderful.

Cleaners coming today so I'll have clean bedsheets tonight!

Off to work now. TTYL!

Good morning!

The sky is clear and I'm enjoying the super moon.

Goodwin, you had a full day. Any day you don't make things worse is a success.h

Good evening! I hope everyone is doing well tonight.
I'm doing ok, but feeling very fatigued and frustrated that I accomplished nothing to clean the house today. I had two appointments today. I had time to come home, eat lunch, and take my dog out in between my appointments. When I got home I got straight on the treadmill. I walked for 30 minutes. I have had absolutely no energy since I got done walking. I am very hopeful that tomorrow I can get some things done since I don't have any appointments.

SubC: I'm glad you made it home safely and had a good visit with Birdy.

I hope to have more to report tomorrow.

Good evening!

We are home safe and sound. We had a great visit with Birdy, who was kind enough to go down for his morning nap right before we had to leave and so make parting easier on me. The new farm sitter did a great job - since she apprenticed with the old farm sitter (her ten years older sister) I was feeling pretty confident.

It's nice to see people have made progress while I was gone. Me, not so much. I have acquired a framed photo of Birdy, a new renfest dress, and six cool bookmarks. The bookmarks are intended to be incorporated into one or more framed art projects, so I am not going to count them as items - since I already have frames (and other papers), so they will get combined with existing objects and not take up more space. but as I'm not sure what i will do with the old renfest dress, I will count both of the other two.

I discovered that if you rinse your dishes "really well" and then leave them in the dishwasher, you may come home to a dishwasher full of ants - so that's running. (It was actually two ants) and I've started the post vacation laundry.

Chores to do and planning on an early night because I leave here to pick up Bean at 7. We'll see if I can fall back into rhythm easily enough to get back to yoga or not.

Good evening, Everyone!

Tatoulia: It sounds like you're doing really good with your progress. I wish it were cool here. It is hot and humid here. Like a sauna.

I've kept busy today. I went to lunch with DH. I came home and took some pictures of some of my rooms to try to motivate and encourage myself as I progress. I had made an Instagram account, but I was afraid it wouldn't be private enough, so I got nervous and deleted it.

I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes which got in about 1.3 miles. I'm trying to build up a little each day. I used to walk a little over 3 miles a day, but that was before I ended up having foot surgery and two back surgeries (including a 3-level spinal fusion). I'm just trying to get back into it.

DH decided that he wanted to get all the stuff off the top of the washer and dryer. I always seem to let stuff pile up there. I sorted through my sock and undergarments drawers. I now realize I honestly never need to buy another pair of socks. I had a bunch of underwear that is way too big for me now. I threw those all away. The bras that never fit right went into a donation bag. There is also underwear that is a little too small for me right now but in my quest to lose more weight, I know I'll be able to wear them again pretty soon. I put them in another drawer. I didn't get quite as much accomplished as I'd hoped today, but with the fatigue levels I have, I'm just glad that I was able to get some things done after I walked.

I hope everyone has a good night!

Got a short walk in. Wow it's humid. Cool and humid.

I haven't done nearly what I need to be doing, so I'm going to put some music on and report back.

On my 4th load of laundry. Is isn't even 7PM yet and the skies are getting darker. Also, the wildfire smoke has made things hazy all day.

Heading out for a walk. My thin white quilt is in the wash. All other laundry folded and put away. I cannot leave it out, it is something that I promised myself back in the early days when I was here.

Doing a very good job on my goodwill bag. Very pleased.

Running out. Will check back later.

Hi Goodwin—I took some of my mother's things to consignment, some artwork and art glass. The textiles were also part of the zero waste day in Boston. I generally take my old towels and bedding to the animal shelter but these were old washcloths and cotton napkins, likely not of use to the shelters. Since our zero waste day recycles textiles, I took the small bag there.

Today I am taking it easy. I just started a load of wash. I had my seltzer and other things delivered. I recently started having the seltzer and other heavy stuff delivered because my BF moved overseas last year and it's been a struggle to get the heavy stuff. The delivery offered by the grocery store is excellent and fast. And the suggested tip is a very reasonable $2 so that fits in, too.

I am now making a bag for goodwill. The owner of the consignment shop told me to bring in one box at a time with no need for an appointment, which is good because appts are booking now for December.

I made myself a to do list today so I best get moving. Yes it's 330PM and I am talking about getting moving!

Good morning and coffee clinks to everyone!

SubC: Thank you so much! I'm glad you're getting to visit with Birdy. Enjoy!! I look forward to hearing how it all went later when you have time.

Tatoulia: Oh yeah, I have a ton of expired meds. That's great that you took the electronics to the hazard turn-in day and the textiles to consignment. I have terrible luck selling things too, but my husband is a master at it. He could sell ice cubes to polar bears. I sometimes say I couldn't sell water in the desert. I am trying to sell a few things on eBay that are worth money. Maybe I'll have some luck with them soon. I wish you great luck in your consignment sales.

Today I'm going to try to work on some more things in my bedroom or maybe my living room since I spend the most time in my living room.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

Hi everyone!

Goodwin you are helping m! I love the feeling of getting rid of stuff! If you have any expired medications l see if your pharmacy can take.

I took my bag of old cords, old phone, broken work headset, and remote controls to hazardous waste day. Also had a small bag of textiles. I was supposed to meet a friend for lunch but she worked closely with someone on Friday who now has covid, so she allowed me to opt out. I had reserved the car for six hours and was too late to change so I took a bag to a consignment shop. Not a lot of stuff, just some things that had been my mother's. I hadn't been to the shop in a long time and so it was good to see everyone. We shall see if anything sells. I'm not good at selling stuff as I prefer to donate but I will see what comes of this.

Tmr there's not a lot on the schedule. I'll need to get some things to goodwill which means I could take the bus or wait til the next time I have a car. A lot more I want to accomplish here inside the house. I also think that I'll end up being in the office four days next week, which I don't like the idea of but will do so if I have to.

Hi Goodwin! Just a quick post to cheer you on! It's great that you are making steady and significant progress!

We're having a great time with Birdy. Very busy.

I hope everyone's weekend is going well. I thought I'd do a post to update my progress for the day. I feel like it's helping me be accountable.

DH and I took two huge bags full of clothes and a big box full of things to the thrift store. They really make the donation process easy at the store we take things to, because they come out to help you unload everything from the back of your car.

I managed to do some PT exercises and walk on the treadmill. This evening I tackled a shelving unit that had old, expired supplements and medical supplies. Then I went through a couple of boxes and got a few more things thrown away. I did find some things I had been looking for.

I hope everyone has a good night!

Good evening everyone. I hope you are all well. I have been going all week, and I feel really tired. I did get a garbage bag filled with stuff to throw away. I am hoping to go through a few rooms to see if I can find some quick things to put in a box to donate tomorrow. I have two bags full of clothes to donate as well.

Tatoulia: It sounds like you're doing well with cleaning and have a very realistic attitude. You have been here for a long time! No one knows I'm coming here either. It is to be a private place for me to talk to others who understand. I'm proud of you for being here for so long and making progress. You're doing great at what you need to do to make yourself proud.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

EVERYONE! Wow! The progress and the decisions and the thus and the that!

Wow!

I haven't been posting but I've been doing some work in papers and mom's stuff. I have three boxes to cope with from my car and I am so ashamed that I haven't worked on them.

This morning I was thinking about what I need to do and reminded myself, as always, that it's not that I don't have enough room, it's truly that I have too much stuff.

Goodwin I have been here since before 2018. Maybe 2015? Not sure. A loooong time ago. No one knows I am here. It's my private space to have community and help.

Tonight I'm putting on some music and then will start gathering things for tomorrow's hazardous waste day. I have some electronics and some textiles that just need to be recycled. Old face cloths and a few ripped or stained things. I've reserved a car and won't have time to fool around so I need to get them gathered tonight. Unlike our Dear SubC, I am not a morning person.

I've read a bunch of the posts but not all, so I hope everyone continues to do well. Proud of you all. Now to make me proud of myself

Good morning! Coffee clinks! I hope you are all doing well, and have a wonderful day.

SubC: You probably already told me that Birdy is your other grandson. My memory is trash. I hope you have lots of fun visiting with him!

I didn't get a lot of cleaning done yesterday. I was super busy. I had a doctor's appointment in the morning. I came home and got straight on the treadmill. I ate lunch and did some of my PT exercises. Then I went to a couple of stores. I bought some body wash that DH has been wanting from Bath & Body Works that was on sale. I was proud of myself because I went to the bookstore and managed not to buy any magazines. I'm a sucker for magazines, especially ones that I really can't afford to get subscriptions for. Then I went to the Goodwill and wasn't as successful at not buying anything. I bought some birthday cards to send to some of my friends. I went to the ladies' meetup and there were 5 of us there. It was nice to have a good conversation with everyone. I'm hoping that I feel up to going next week. I have to get my MS treatment infusion on Thursday. I usually leave feeling exhausted and with body aches like you feel when you get the flu. I came home after the meetup and rested some before going to bed early.

Today I will get some cleaning/decluttering done. My goal is to fill at least 1 bag full of garbage to throw away. I'm hoping to also get more things put in a box to donate to the thrift store.

Take care, everyone!!

Hi Goodwin!

Birdy is my other grandson - my son's child. He was born early and was like a little bird. He's 7 months now and doing great.

We'll be driving all day.

I hope you find some good irl friends.

Good morning! Coffee clinks! I hope you are all doing well today.

SubC: Oh yeah, I just now created an account on Instagram and haven't posted to it yet. I will post some of my trouble areas this weekend. Have safe travels. Is Birdy your daughter? How far away do you have to travel?

Yesterday was insanely busy. I did get one of the bags of clothes to the thrift store to donate. DH ran out of time to put more bags in the back of my car. He did put a bag of his clothes out there last night, so if I have time today I'll take it to the thrift store. They make it super easy because you just pull up and open the car and they take it out for you. I somehow managed to get a trash bag full of junk to toss out. I realized there was a ton of stuff under my sink in the bathroom that needed to go. I need to get to the drawers in there and the cabinets under DH sink.

Yesterday I had to go to the chiropractor. I met DH out for lunch and walked on the treadmill for a mile when I got home.

Today, I have an early appointment and then I'll come home briefly. I will need to do a few of my therapy exercises. I'll be leaving in the late afternoon to go to a social meetup. I'm really hoping to make friends with the ladies I've been meeting with. I just started going to the meetups and I feel like I've clicked with a couple of ladies. It may take a long time, but my goal is to get my house to a point where I feel comfortable having a friend over if I want. That would be so nice. I plan on getting at least one bag of garbage ready to take out before the day is up.

Catch up with you all later! Have a wonderful day!

Good morning!
Coffee clinks!

Goodwin, I looked at your Instagram, but it was empty? Did the bag go?

This morning I do chores,pack, and head off to see Birdy.

I snacked and sat too much yesterday because I was getting things up online for my classes. The more we have to do online, the less I like my job. I'm waiting for the computer to get smart enough that I can go back to writing everything out longhand and then just read it to the computer and tell the computer to post it and not have to worry about editing it. - unlikely.

Although, last year we did finally get a computer projector that is as easy to use as an old fashioned opaque projector. (Almost no one I work with has any idea what that is)

Ok, off I go, I'll catch up when I can.

Good morning!

Coffee clinks to you too!

SubC: I totally understand not feeling rested. I don't know what happened to July either. I've been so busy this year with medical appointments and treatments. It's great that you're making time to do yoga. I used to do a little yoga and probably should start back. I haven't done any since injuring my back in 2022. I had a lumbar fusion last year and I know there will be some moves I won't be able to do anymore. Yes! I'm extremely proud of the progress made in the closet. It's a walk-in closet that has a few boxes that I'll need to go through as well. Not to mention DH's extensive shoe collection. He collects Nike sneakers and the boxes are taking up way too much space. I hesitate to ask him to find a new spot for them because I take up so much space in the rest of the house.

I've got a rather busy day scheduled for today. I plan on taking one of the bags full of clothes to the thrift store to donate sometime this morning. I have a chiropractor appointment this morning and then lunch with DH. After I get home I will need to walk on the treadmill. I really would like to get one bag of garbage filled up to put in the can before the end of the day. It will be nice just to get one of the bags out of the house. DH was running late for work and didn't have time to put the other bag in my car. It's really too heavy for me to lift, so I told him we could take more stuff on Saturday.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful morning. If anyone else has an Instagram account that they'd like to share with me, I'll be happy to add anyone. It is kind of scary for me to think of posting pictures of my piles, but it might help me get a better idea of what needs to be done. I took pictures for myself once before to try to get motivated.

Good morning!

Coffee clinks! (Resurrecting an old greeting)

Lila, you have made a huge step! I am so sorry for the pain you are going through, but glad you can let go of things that are only bringing you more heartbreak. You are incredibly strong and brave!

I am also glad to hear that teen has a safe place to live. Is this a permanent placement? As in, can she stay there as long as she needs to?

Can you put all of your kitchen things in the kitchen now?

I understand about the grandkid piles. My sleeping porch has become a messy storage room again because of things I've had to move because of Bean. It happens very fast.

CM, I'm glad to hear that you are spending time on your projects and with your cousin!

I definitely feel like the summer has gone too fast. I don't even know what happened to July! I have made so little progress on anything and truly don't even feel rested. Nor do I feel prepared. I must post my syllabi online today (they are due Friday and tomorrow we drive all day to Birdy's house.) and four of them are not written.

Goodwin, you should feel accomplished! Soon you will have a fully functional closet!

I did get some things done yesterday. I did yoga, finished cleaning out the worst stall in the barn, groomed the rabbits. (CM, I am ashamed to say that I had waited so long that girl rabbit had some mats I had to cut out of her mane), started work on my planner for fall (while avoiding my syllabi), changed the sheets and ran some laundry, mailed in my tag renewal and a rebate form I didn't let expire, froze the last batch of custard, almost caught up with the dishes, went to the feed store, and picked some beets and made a labor intensive dinner that I really like but Dh does not (he had a golf game and dinner with friends last night)

Today is a long list of things I need to get done before we leave to visit Birdy.

Hey everyone! Good to hear from you all.

I didn't get to everything I wanted to do today. I haven't gotten a lot thrown away today, but I did get in the closet and managed to fill up another lawn and garden trash bag full of clothes and some shoes that I don't need. I felt really accomplished.
I also walked on the treadmill and did PT exercises. I'm tapped out on my energy for today. Tomorrow is another day.

SubC: Thanks! The weight is slowly coming back off. I'm learning as I age that it's getting harder to lose it. Did you get any of your cleaning and organizing done?

Lila: I added a new Instagram account that I can post pictures of my progress on. You can find me as GoodwinTheSlob. Probably not the most cheerful username, but that's how I'm feeling today. I'm so sorry that the clearing-out process is so painful for you right now. I'm so proud of you for what you are doing. I have no children, but I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you. I am sending you hugs and positive vibes. You've been here a while. I hope to learn a lot from you and everyone else.

CM: Thank you so much for the welcome. I'm glad to be here and it's nice to meet you also. It sounds like you're doing a good job working on your goals. I love the pet frog. It is good that you got 2" of rain. I'm sure that didn't get your city out of drought conditions, so I hope you get more soon. The whole year has whizzed by too fast.

Just a little this & that as a way of saying hello - been keeping up with posts. I had a couple of Instagrams and then got locked out of them. One was for my dolls and then my main one (which had some dolls also; I was going to migrate most of them to the doll one). Now that I have a new phone I might get around to reviving those.

I've been doing a bit here and there, feeling a little more energy towards decluttering and picking up languishing projects and starting to do more with them again. My cousin has been able to stop by more often and that is fun because she and I like some of the same things. She likes vintage and collectibles; I'm more firm in my intentions to downsize these days so we're somewhat going in different directions. Though hopefully after dealing with my grandma's house she won't be tempted to keep too many items. And she has seen my mess, so that should serve as a warning.

I'm picking at my space and stacks, sort of like you described, Lila, though I'm glad it doesn't make me sad. It's just the stuff itself, and various decisions, nothing too weighty. More just practicality. Actually it makes me more hopeful, because one of the biggest things for me is simply that I developed such inertia on decluttering midway through the pandemic and with my roommate retiring and us starting to do things like go to the gym, so that time management got shaken up. Maybe it's settling into a groove now, who knows.

I don't know if I got a chance to say welcome to Goodwin - welcome, Goodwin. I know what you mean about focus, because I do happen to have ADHD, and I can't take the meds for it because of other health things so I try to hack it with exercise and supplements etc. I'm also artsy and collage is something I've tried in the past and would enjoy doing more of - streamlining supplies could help me be more efficient and productive in that and many other areas. So, nice to meet you.

And hello to SubC, Tatoulia, and Alanna, once again everybody has lots going on, I can tell.

My city has been under drought restrictions for a couple weeks now and my gardener roommate has had to restrict watering or carry buckets of greywater, which is tiring. But in the wee hours we got 2 inches. My pet frog, who is an amateur meterologist, croaked loudly about that.

I feel like the summer whizzed by way too fast.

slight meltdown about decluttering, but with a tip that helped me.

I worked in my bedroom and the little storage room today. I have sorted them before. This time, I started in one corner and looked at every item and in every box, working my way around the perimeter. I found things I missed last time, by doing this.

So far 45 things donated or thrown out, not including about 5 empty ripped boxes.

But sorting this time is different. Now that Teen is gone, things don't look the same. I know for a fact she isn't going to want most of this stuff, ever. So I am donating a lot of little girl things I was hanging onto, because I adore her so, and miss the little girl before she got so angry. I don't want to pass these items on to Tot because looking at them makes me sad. Sorting in there is like a gut punch and I feel physically almost ill. But I am doing it. For example, hidden in the back of a drawer was a torn up piece of folded notebook paper and a bent pretty little flower hair bow. As soon as I saw it, it reminded me of finding suicide notes in her drawers, and bent metal things she would use to self harm. (She is an adult now, and living in a placement home with supervision, so don't worry). Anyway, it is no big deal to throw out a piece of ripped folded paper (which was blank) and a bent hair clip, but it hurts me. I want to forget about that and move on.

I am about halfway around the perimeter of the storage room, consolidating things in bins and on shelves. The very last thing will be the closet, which will be very painful to sort, like a childhood time capsule, but it's time.

Good morning! So nice to read the conversation here with a cup of coffee to start my day, on days off.

SubC, hmm, where DID all the junk in the bedroom come from? I had it 90% cleared in that area not that long ago. I will think about that as I work on it today (I did not work on it yesterday). I believe I have a habit of taking things in there and tossing them on the floor there until I can deal with them. That is a bad habit, but what can I do instead? For example if my grandkids get into something they shouldn't, I will stick it in there until I find a safer place. Or hmm, I dunno what even IS there. Just piles! I am going to try to get my instagram page up and put photos on there and take feedback if any of you are willing.

Goodwin, I don't know how long I have been on this site, but it has been before my exDH left two years ago. Maybe I have posted regularly for 3 or 4 years? Tillie was still here, when did she stop showing up SubC? Before that, maybe even 10 years ago, I made a few really angry posts about my husband, using the name "wife." I did not talk to anyone, really, just ranted a lot out of anger at his hoard. Well now he is gone, and I am still working on my own habits and space.

Okay, I managed to get my instagram to let me log in! Last year we tried to connect to each other on IG but then it was locking me out. I don't know why I can get on there now. I think I have "followed" Tatoulia and SubC - take a look, you will know it is me because it has Lila in the name. Goodwin and others, if you have an account let me know and we can connect! I am only using that IG for hoarding progress. I plan to take a picture right now of my badly cluttered bedroom areas and post them, and you can see what I am dealing with and I can take some input too. Let me know if you get on there.

Will read more later.

Good morning!

I went to bed feeling overwhelmed and discouraged last night, but I am a morning person and today is a new day.

Goodwin, that is really inspirational about your weight. I think a lot of us suffer from the clothes size issue. I know Lila and I do.

You did a fantastic job on your clothes though!

I go through phases with the bread. I would like to bake all of our bread (and desserts), just because I think it is healthier, but sometimes I bake a lot and sometimes I buy a bunch of discount stuff because I think "why am I spending so much time when this is so cheap?" Then I gain weight and remember why.

Good luck on your jobs today! I am still more cleaning and organizing than clearing out, but i will let you guys know if I make any progress.

Hey there! Good morning, everyone! I hope you are all doing well today.

The chair went really well. I literally had an entire lawn/garden bag filled with clothes I didn't like, didn't fit, or no longer needed. I still had quite a few clothes that I wanted to keep. They were all piled on top of the bed, but when DH got home, he got in on the project. He partially filled up a lawn/garden bag with some of his clothes from the closet that he didn't need/want. He handed me a bunch of hangers to hang my clothes up. He put them all in the closet for me. I have some clothes in the closet that need to be donated too. Most of the problems with the clothing have come from my wild swings in weight. I used to be extremely obese, but lost 170 pounds with diet/exercise. I injured my foot and was no longer able to exercise the way I wanted to, and then I injured my back (which required 2 surgeries). I was so depressed that I gained about 70 pounds. Early in 2023 when I had my second back surgery (a 3-level lumbar fusion) the surgeon told me if I didn't lose weight, we'd be back in the same position doing more surgery. I told him I liked him and all, but didn't want to have to see him again. I have now lost 48 pounds and very much plan to get back down to my lowest weight if not lower. All this to say I have clothes of various sizes. Yesterday I got rid of all of the clothes that were too big, that I don't ever wear, or that I just had too many questions about. I literally had clothes with tags still on them. They'd gotten lost in the pile and now they're too big.

I managed to do some PT exercises and I walked for a mile on the treadmill. Today I will walk on the treadmill hopefully for a mile. I will have different PT exercises to do. I alternate what I do every other day.

I plan on going through some cabinets to get rid of things that are expired or no longer needed. My goal is to also go in the closet to get clothes out that I'm not going to wear anymore to donate.

It sounds like you were very productive yesterday, SubC. I haven't baked any loaves of bread in a good while. I hate grocery shopping. DH does the bulk of it now because it doesn't bother him too much.

I hope you all have a great day!!

Good afternoon. How did the chair go?

I can no longer remember how long I've been here. Since all the chairs in my house had piles on the seats and walls were lined with boxes?

I don't go to any other decluttering/cleaning/organizing sites, but I watch YouTube videos.

I did yoga, I spent an hour on my barn, I froze ice cream, and I baked two loaves of bread.

Then I tried to go to stores. Home depot did not have the thing they supposedly had. Lowes also didn't have it, despite it supposedly being available for curbside pickup at that location. I guess they were going to send it there by ten pm? It's out of stock on Amazon and I think I give up. I will find a different way to store my desk ephemera. They don't make refills for my packing tape dispenser anymore. - the core is too small.

I went to the grocery store. I bought soda and wine because I am weak. I bought sugar because we are almost out and pasta because it was on sale and two bananas because I just wanted them. Dh gave me a list of 15 items and I found ten of them plus what I think are reasonable substitutions for 3. Only two of them were non-ultra processed food. Literally the only reason I went to the grocery store was so we wouldn't run out of sugar.

I did get the replacement chick waterer I needed and realize I did not need another plastic feed bucket. I can adapt an empty cat litter bucket - which I have a bunch of. (I do not buy cat litter in buckets, people give them to me for clay at school, and eventually the lids break and I just bring the bucket home.)

Basically I was gone for two and a half hours and now I have a giant pile of packaged "food" in plastic bags in my kitchen and I never want to leave the house again.

CM, I am becoming concerned about you not posting. Is everything ok?

Good morning! I hope everyone has a great Monday!!

SubC: Thank you! I'm planning on starting on the chair in a little while. I'm also hoping to get one bag of garbage filled today. It's amazing how many things I have that just need to be thrown away! Yes, DH is pretty good at helping me out with things. I am really appreciative of that.
That's cool that your mom used to leave your toys out to play with. I was messy, even as a child. My mom would just make me close my bedroom door so she wouldn't have to look at the clutter.
I am a bit sore from exercising yesterday myself. I'll be continuing to walk on the treadmill each day.

How long has everyone been on this site? I just happened upon it. Do you all frequent other sites about decluttering/cleaning?

Good morning.

Goodwin, good luck with your chair today. It sounds like your Dh is really willing to pitch in on this. That's great!

I like imagining you sitting on your deck with your coffee. I start my day with coffee too. Usually sitting on the couch with my iPad (like now) but I'm trying to move to my office and do some journaling and book reading instead of news scrolling. I'm in my office now, sitting at my messy desk. I actually love this messy desk. It invites me to jump in and interact with all the materials and information I left here. A clear desk just presents me with inertia getting started and the feeling that I should try to keep it neat, which doesn't go well with my work style. My mom used to let us leave our toys out and I remember how nice it was to wake up in the morning and go right back to rearranging the dollhouse, setting up paper dolls, building with Legos or playing matchboxes with my brother. Also, the sun rises on this side of the house, and I have fairy lights all around the ceiling.

I'm a little sore from yesterday, but not too bad, so I'm going to try to get another hour cleaning stalls in this morning. I also need to get at least 4 of my syllabi uploaded (pacing myself there too) and probably go to the feed store and maybe out to do some other errands.

Clearing out will probably continue to be incidental and related to papers and trash/recycling I encounter. And I hope to get caught up on laundry and dishes again.

Good early evening, everyone! Well, it is early evening here.

SubC: Thank you so much for the advice and the encouragement. I'm definitely going to have DH help me with that mountain of clothes. I do have a smaller pile of clothes on a chair that I could easily go through on my own. I'm going to make that a priority for tomorrow. I've started making checklists to keep myself on track with tasks I want to do. It always feels nice to check something off the list.

Today I've been rather busy. This morning DH went fishing. I spend each morning out on my back deck drinking coffee and listening to birds. I have an app that helps identify the birds I'm hearing. I keep a journal each day of the birds I hear and the weather. I was inspired by my late grandfather to do the journal because I found a nature journal that he started when I was young after he passed away. I started it earlier this year. He's been gone a long time, but I just decided this year to start doing it.

I did my PT exercises and managed to walk a mile on the treadmill this afternoon. I still have some things to throw away and put in a donation box. I have a donation box filled already that I've been slowly working on for a while. DH said he'd take it out to my car for me so I could go donate it whenever I wanted.

Good morning! (Still, barely)

Goodwin, you are doing a great job. Really. Just getting the trash out can make a huge difference.

Here is my thought on the clothes. Don't just start trying them on. Grab a donate box and start picking things up. If you know it doesn't fit or you don't like it, toss it right in the donate box. You do not have to fold it. It will get jumbled up after you donate it and then somebody else will fold or hang it.

If you think you want it for your trip, and don't know if it fits, try it on. Then hang it up or put it away where you can find it when you pack for your trip. If you know you like it and it fits, put it away. It would be great if someone could help you with this so it is less physically demanding and you can get more done in a day.

Anything not in those three categories just gets tossed into a new pile until you see if you have energy for more trying on and putting away. Keep going until you are tired (or the pile is gone.)

When your clothes have been washed, hang them up or put them away so the pile doesn't get bigger. Keep doing this even after the pile is gone. And here is the last trick to kill the pile - when you get dressed for the day, you have to start with something from the pile (you can make a rule that if the first thing you put on gets donated you can dress out of your closet if you want, but even if you need a dress and the pile is nothing but t-shirts, you have to try at least one thing.)

I am feeling inspired about my body today, so I found motivation to do yoga and clean stalls for an hour. But I stopped after an hour. I tend to binge and become exhausted. I am trying to pace myself instead. I'm working on creating a master planner for myself, and I am going to add daily yoga (or 6x a week maybe) and two weekly hours of barn work to my planning list. "Barn work" will include anything that is not basic chores, not just stall cleaning - including cleaning rubbish out of the barn or projects to improve the barn or repair things. I have decided not to add goals to my planner until i have actually started them.

Good morning, everyone! I hope you are all well.

I was rather productive on Friday with my PT exercises. After all that, I was tired, but I managed to get a garbage bag filled with junk to go in the trash. I am trying to be realistic about what things are still needed and which have no place in the house.

I visited my mom's house yesterday to visit her and her identical twin sister. I hadn't seen my aunt in about a year. It was nice to be in a super clean space and to help motivate me. I was so tired by the time we got home that I didn't get any cleaning done last night.

My plan for today is to fill up at least one or two more bags of trash. Our trash collection day is tomorrow, and I have a really full garbage can. I would like to take some items to the thrift store to donate this week. I have one box that was already full, but I'm hoping to have at least one more.

Has everyone been having a good weekend?

Lila: I can totally identify with you on the bedroom being a wreck. I have a gigantic pile of clothes that need to be sorted through. Some things I know won't fit anymore and others I just won't enjoy. I hate trying on clothes and it seems like so much trouble to go through this mountain. I need to though, because I'm going on a trip soon and need to find some pants I know I have somewhere in the pile.
Congrats on the personal trainer. I hope that it works out really well for you.

SubC: It sounds like you're having a productive weekend. That's awesome!

Good afternoon!

Lila, you did tell about the personal trainer. Ask lots of questions! Take lots of notes! I hope it will help.

Do you know where the junk in your bedroom came from?

I ask because it matters - if it is simply stuff that has a place but did not get put back away, that is good. Just work on putting it away.
If it came from somewhere else in your house and the somewhere else is better now, that is ok.
If it came from unloading a space you hadn't been able to deal with before, that is still progress.

But if it came from outside of your house, or is there to make room for things that came from outside your house, you need to stop and think about why you are making these decisions.

My farm sitter came over and we went over chores. I need to send her some photos. Then I puttered around in my office space for a while. A bit more trash/recycling/school box/general organization. Dh has been working in the den on his music system. He is trying to optimize the sound quality by adjusting the room. (He has really good ears. His sister has perfect pitch - as in, she can sing a requested note into a tuner and it just lights up green.)

He brought me a brass trivet and said "this is a problem." I said "Actually, I have no need for that. It came from your mother." And he said "great!"

So, that is now in the donate box along with a charger from my desk in the basement that fits nothing we still own.

Good work on the shelf/sorter/etc stuff, SubC! I too had a box of partially used spiral notebooks. I gave them away on Buy Nothing on FB. Then found more, and gave those to Tot to draw in. She can fill a whole notebook with "drawings" in one day!

Yes, I am feeling somewhat better with the new anti inflammatory med. Did I tell you I signed up for a personal trainer for an evaluation and 3 free sessions at a small gym? Now, I know that there is going to be a membership push afterwards and this is not a usual gym, but a true coaching situation in small groups, so likely not at all cheap. But we will see what they tell me about cost and I will decide if I can continue for a few weeks. I am exceptionally weak and out of balance. I may be able to learn and progress enough to continue at home.

My bedroom is a wreck. The area between my bed and the closet is once again completely piled and scattered with junk. And all of the junk is junk I think I want. Today, if I work on anything at all in there, it will be that area. I can barely get to the closet, again. Wish me luck.

I freed the paper sorter! The "book end" was a little flat backed brass cat that I had stuck in a corner, so moving that was good too. My paper sorter (which has a little drawer) is now tucked under the end of my dining table, holding a reasonable amount of each kind of paper I regularly use, plus a box of colored pencils and a tin of paperclips. The drawer will come right out and go on or next to my desk.

While I was freeing the paper sorter, I found some books in English and Spanish from when my kids were young and my early teaching. Ddil happened to mention that they are reading to Birdy in both Spanish and English but only have one Spanish book, so I am taking them these. As they are mine, I will add them to the tally. (Ddil has been studying Spanish for five years and is very serious about becoming fluent)

Lila, you sound like you are making good progress. Also like you are feeling a bit better. I hope so.

I took care of the truck and went back to my office stuff. I've been bringing things up from the basement to sort through and I filled a paper grocery bag with recycling and a box 2/3 the size of the box of supplies I brought home from school with things to go back to school.

I decided I wanted to use a particular paper sorter in my office, but I couldn't remember where I put it. then I found it. It has a small amount of scrapbooking off cuts in it, but it is holding up a bunch of file folders on a shelf. I'm afraid to look in the file folders, but I need to do something about that shelf and get my paper sorter. I think I have an unused bookend somewhere..

I have an entire two foot long crate full of partly used spiral notebooks. Any kid who doesn't have a notebook for pottery by the first week of October this year is going to be issued a partly used spiral notebook.

Dh is home. He is happy about the clean couches.

hi SubC, oh yes! We can't forget Alanna! Come back, friend!

I have been working on the closet in the "play room." The play room has a bed, a dresser, and toys. The grandkids play in there a lot and it has already been totally decluttered, except for the closet, which I have not touched in a couple of years. I hate spaces like that, because they are time capsules full of reminders, most of which are bittersweet.

I sorted two boxes and a laundry basket from in there and got rid of more than a dozen things, listed on the Daily Tally. I vacuumed part of the space and then started on the other side of the closet. I opened two large rubbermaid totes labelled "toys." Some of them, I added to the toybox in the room. A few got sorted, repackaged, and consolidated so now instead of 2 full totes there is one, and one empty. I can't remember if I donated anything but I threw away a few trash bits and pieces.

I also saw some clothing folded in there that used to belong to Teen. I am not 100% sure if she still would fit or want them. A few nice hanging shirts belonged to Son (youngest who lives with me), and they are nice work shirts, but I don't know if they still fit him. So, I am waiting til he gets up to ask him and either he will put them in his room or I will donate them. Is it weird that I think they looks so nice that I want him to wear them? I will be disappointed if he says to donate, but hopefully someone else's Son will be blessed by them. Did I mention how nice they look??

Then there are some of Teen's old dance costumes that are fancy and expensive. I actually sold and donated 75% of her dance costumes a long time age and I kind of regret it because Tot would be about the age to wear them, but, I did keep 4 or 5 of them, so I will let Tot try them on when I am on vacation next week. That will be fun!

So all I have left is to finish vacuuming that closet and decide where those clothes go. Well, there is a box of odds and ends on the bed. It is so random. I did sort/donate/toss as I went, but some of it I was like, hmmmm... so I need to sort again and put things where they go or donate them. I have a problem with old phones. There is one in there with a cracked screen, really old. I wonder if it has photos on it? I will check, and then toss it.

Good afternoon.

Lila, I'm glad you're feeling better.

I am hoping Alanna will come back too. She wasn't here long, but it was nice having another teacher.

I am feeling tired (emotionally, not physically) and I miss Bean. I'm having trouble working on the things I planned to do today, although I have been motivated to work on my office, it's becoming a huge mess, but it's the kind of mess where I can fairly quickly put my hand on whatever I want. I have managed to add quite a few things to the recycling while sifting through piles and moving things out there from other rooms. I've completely covered the dining table, but we won't need it until thanksgiving. Dh is going to be happy because I will stop piling things on the couches.

I cleaned up the great room (except the kitchen area) and vacuumed, and I cleared out Dh parking space. I need to go sweep out the back of the truck and move it.

Wow! Look at all the new posts! Goodwin, what a blessing you are to come here and chat us up. Sometimes it has been the Lila show or the SubC show when others have been too busy, so it is so nice to have you posting often. Tatoulia is an inspiration to us all, maintaining her clean space and helping us with tips and encouragement. CM comes by often but it has been awhile - where are you CM? And Road, I often wonder about Road and where she went and how her son is. That is the basic crew here. Did I miss anyone?

How is Birdy 7 months old already??? I feel like life is just whizzing by. He was just born wasn't he?? But then again my little Star (youngest granddaughter) will be a year old this month. How is that possible?

Thank you for the veggie ideas and for the push to donate the headphones. I put them into one of the donate boxes and had my son put the box in the back of my car. Win!

I am halfway caught up with reading, so will go back and read the rest shortly. I am feeling a bit better, after another Dr appointment, a new med, and a visit to my pastor for prayer.

Good morning.

Goodwin, it sounds like you are already getting things more in order if your Dh is noticing your efforts. When I told my Dh I joined a "hoarding support group" he asked "as in supporting hoarding or as in supporting not hoarding?"

My class went really well last night. We do two kiln loads of raku at different temperatures, and a pit firing. Everything I put in the pit came out well and a few things are really good. I had three things in the first kiln. The one I liked least exploded, the one I liked best came out really well, and the other was pretty good. In the second kiln I had two and they both came out fantastic. Nice end to the class.

Today I slept super late. Dh comes home tonight, so I need to focus on all the things I've been ignoring because he cares and I don't. Cat fur on the couch, socks everywhere, empty glasses all over the place (I swear once I drink the water I can't see the glass anymore) projects spread out all over, there's a bunch of packing material from my furniture in his half of the garage, onions drying on the porch chairs, truck parked in the yard with a bed littered with little sticks, mail on the couch...

I did stop by school yesterday and take a few things that belong in my classroom and I dropped two plastic grocery bags of trash from here in the dumpster when I emptied my classroom trash can. (I have standing permission to toss one of those in my classroom can every week)

And I set up my furniture and made myself a little office on the end of the dining porch! The dining porch is 22ft x 7.5ft. One long wall is the original exterior of the house, the other is sliding glass doors with screens. One short wall is also a sliding glass door with a screen (they are all framed by thin strips of drywall and molding) and the other is drywall with high vent windows that open into the "sleeping porch" aka DD's old room - the original open porch ran the whole length of the house. Anyway, I carved 4 ft out of the end with the glass door and put my shoe sorter against the wall, and my Japanese folding table in the window corner with my dog bed (I sit on the floor) and I now have a cozy spot to work with good light and a view of the woods and an overgrown flowerbed (should maybe weed that). The shoe sorter is going to work great for my "piles not files" approach, and since my table (desk) is not in the living room anymore, Dh won't care if I leave half finished projects all over it. For holidays or special events (the only time we use this room) I can close the shoe sorter, clean off the table and fold it, and stick it and the dog bed under our bed upstairs.

Have fun with your mom and your aunt Goodwin!

Good morning, everyone! I hope you're all doing well.

Yesterday was a busy day, but I managed to throw away a full bag of garbage. I never got around to cleaning my couch, but that will have to happen this morning. I also plan to go through a couple of rooms throwing away or putting things in boxes to donate. I haven't told DH that I've joined this group yet, but he is taking notice that I am trying. I look forward to getting things more in order. I know it won't happen overnight, or even anytime soon, but I'm determined to make it happen.

Tomorrow DH and I will go to my mom's house (it's about an hour and a half away)to visit with her and her identical twin whom I haven't seen in quite some time. I've missed her and my uncle. What does everyone have planned for the weekend?

Have a great Friday!!

Good morning everyone! I'm still a bit sore from falling yesterday and doing exercises. Hopefully, it'll improve as the day goes on.

SubC: Thanks! Congrats on the new grandbaby coming soon! I'm childless unless you count my little dachshund. I hope you enjoy your pottery class today.

Tatoulia: I think that being in clear spaces will help motivate me. I'm going to visit my mom this weekend. She's very much a clean freak, and her house is usually spotless. I wish I'd inherited that trait instead of my father's and grandmother's hoarding trait. I think it's awesome that you have a clean space now. It gives me hope to one day be there.

I have several things going on today. I have to do more PT exercises. I've got to run some errands around town and while I'm out in a cool mall I will walk indoors. I am trying to do 15 minutes of walking a day. I'm preparing to go on an international vacation in October and have to build up my walking endurance. I'm going to a social group ladies' meetup late this afternoon. I've been sort of socially isolated for quite a while now, and I'm trying really hard to make some local friends.

For cleaning today, my goal is to get some order of the junk on my couch. My dad will be coming tomorrow to babysit the doggy while DH and I go to my mom's house. I need to get rid of some things and just sort through other things to put them in the correct places. Sometime before the end of the day, I plan to go to each room and find things I want to either throw away or donate. Hopefully, I'll have time for that.

Have a great day!!

Yes Tatoulia, goats. Lol.
To review:
Ten goats
36 chickens
Four ducks
Two rabbits
One husband
And an old cat.

I didn't put my furniture together last night.

I cooked dinner and then I ended up on a long call with Birdy, and then I was tired.

I have my last pottery class (taking) tonight and am thinking about leaving early and stopping at school to do some work on my classroom on the way.

More barn work this morning, but I've done a lot of physical labor the last two days and am feeling a bit tired and getting a slow start. I might go ahead and put my furniture together.

I had to stop reading to reply to Lila. Lila donate the headphones. Donate them. By the time tot will be using headphones the technology will be completely different. Let someone enjoy them today. You will make someone's day by donating them now.

SubC this whole time you've talked about your milk you've been talking about GOAT milk? How the heck did I miss that? You drink goat milk? Not judging, just gobsmacked.amazing. I triply love your life.

Goodwin, what motivates me is to be in other people's spaces where it is calm and clear and peaceful. OR looking at magazines (hint hint) where things are calm and peaceful. . I do better with positive emotions rather than negative ones like shame. I also do great with praise. My sister was staying here quite a bit in the winter and she said that my house is so clean and peaceful that it has motivated her to work on her place. Full disclosure: I started here a long time ago and now have a clean and clear house, which I have maintained since 2018 if memory serves. And vastly improved upon in the last six years. I now have house cleaners who come once a week. Right now I am working on papers from my mother's and some stuff from the trunk of my car so you can enjoy a giggle, I gave my car away to someone in March and I got the things out of the trunk last week. Hey, free car, I get free storage.

Back to reading. Also, everyone is having significant health issues and I worry so.

Nice job Goodwin!

Yes, Bean is my grandson. He just turned 4. He lives nearby and the longest in his whole life I've gone without seeing him up to now is two weeks. Birdy is my younger grandson who lives out of state and is seven months old. I've only been able to see him in person a few times. Bean is getting a baby brother in September.

I hope your tailbone feels better,

Good evening, everyone! I hope you're all doing well.

I've had a rather busy and productive day. I managed to do all my PT exercises, but I did accidentally fall onto my tailbone on the hardwood floor while going to sit down between sets of exercises. It's still a bit sore, but hopefully, it's nothing serious.

SubC: How old is Bean? Is that your grandson? I hope you get to see him soon.

I went through some more magazines and threw them away. Then I went to several rooms and filled up a big garbage bag with stuff to throw away. It feels good to get things done. Next time I do that I'm going to wear a mask though because I have a lot of dust I'm stirring up.

I've got a pretty busy day tomorrow, but I hope to get at least something done. I'll see how my day looks when I wake up. Goodnight!

It's picking up around here! I'm glad!

Lila, you could do squash, eggplant, and green onion in anny Asian sauce you like over rice.

I agree on pickles - maybe just do refrigerator pickles? And tomatoes make sauce, but tha5 is a lot of work. Probably too much for right now.

Hardware changes so fast, I would just ask the younger adults in your home what to do with the headphones.

The goats don't yell in the morning, because in the morning I just milk them and throw them out of the barn (unless I'm really late for milking, but after breastfeeding three kids it takes a crisis to make me late for milking) but they let me know if dinner is late! The police don't come anymore, so hopefully no one will decide to murder me around 8pm.

It has already been more than a week since I saw Bean - his daddy cancelled our Thursday because Bean had a doctor appointment midday. Then he didn't come Monday because Dd has Covid. I'm leaving in 8 days to go to see Birdy, so Bean can't come over because he will still be in the potential incubation period. I asked his Daddy if I can have him on the Tuesday after I get back.

Goodwin, it sounds like you are making progress. Does it feel good to get all those bits and pieces squared away?

I made a very successful to do list for today, because it is now not quite six o'clock and I did all the things on it!

Not all the things I need to do, just the ones I figured I could do today. My shoes sorter cupboard thing arrived, so I think I will try to assemble it. And also cook myself some dinner.

Hey all! Hope you're having a good day.

SubC: Thanks! I hope he'll be ok too. So far they said he has covid. That really doesn't explain some of his symptoms. I'm still leaning toward a mini-stroke (he had one not too long ago).

Lila: Thank you for the welcome! It's nice to meet you too. I'm not retired, I'm 43, but I'm permanently disabled due to bipolar disorder and MS. I was just diagnosed with MS this year. I'm a former nurse practitioner.
I'm so sorry to hear about your health troubles. I went back and read what happened. You have been through so much. I hope that everything improves for you soon.
As for the veggies, do you like roasted vegetables? You could cut up the squash, zucchini, and even the eggplant. You can put them in a ziplock bag and coat them with olive oil or whatever oil you have. I mix in salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, but you could add whatever spices you like. You shake the bag up and get the veggies all coated. Then lay them out on a cookie sheet (I line mine with parchment paper) in an even layer. They roast on 375 for about 30 min. I love eating them just as they are, but you could definitely eat them with rice or as a side. Also, I'm from the southern US, and we love fried yellow squash. I'm not really sure what to do with the green onions. The cucumbers you could try to pickle.
I'm not really sure what to tell you about the gaming headphones. I'm just getting started on my journey with cleaning up my house. I guess my answer would be if you don't know for sure if someone will need them anytime soon, then just donate them.

I still have some things to work on today. I did a quick clean a little while ago. I threw away some old mail that definitely wasn't needed in the living room. In the kitchen, I threw away a bunch of receipts and random napkins that got left there after handwashing. My goal for the rest of the day is to go through more magazines to throw away. Then I'm going to go into each room and trash what I can immediately see that isn't necessary. I'll just have to pace myself because I have expended a lot of energy doing physical therapy exercises.

hello all. So nice to read about your life, Goodwin, and I am happy to have another friend to talk to! Are you retired? Forgive me if you said so already, because yesterday I went for a re-check at my Dr and they said I have post concussion syndrome and have to take a week off work. I forget things very quickly and am on two more meds now, and I have to rest, also rest my brain, he said. No thinking hard or working out hard problems. I have something this weekend I can't get out of, but aside from that am not working. I am mid 50s with a bunch of grown up children, Teen being the youngest. She will be 20 next summer but I guess they are always our babies in a way so will stay Teen until I think of a better name for her. I will wait for her to recover from addiction to give her a nice name here. Like Victory or something.

SubC, your goats screaming like women crack me up! I can imagine you oversleeping and being jolted awake by screaming goats, running out to feed them so the police won't come! Smart goats! I am sad you won't see Bean for 3 whole weeks. I forgot or missed why?

I am home today trying to rest but also do things. I have a lot of produce people have kindly given me, and I would like suggestions from anyone on what you would make with these items. We have already eaten our fill 'as is' and in sandwiches, and I have to do something with them before they start going bad:

box of tomatoes
large bag of cucumbers
chinese, or Japanese eggplants
big zucchinis and yellow summer squashes
big bunches of gorgeous, tall green onions

I also would like input on something I am stumped on. I went to try and work on the small storage room bedroom, and managed to find a box I thought had equipment in it, but it is just full of more empty boxes, so that is going out. But then I found headphones. They are the kind with cushioned ear pieces and a mike. No name brand from what I can tell. I thought, "oh, I will donate these! They look brand new!" But when I tried to put them in the donate box, I thought, "These look brand new! Surely someone can use them. Maybe Tot will want to use them when she is in school. Maybe someone could use them for gaming." and I put them back in the room. Help?

Goodwin, I'm sorry about your fil. I hope he is ok.

It's nice to have somebody else who posts in the morning!

Good job on the magazines! The key to this is simple (note I said "simple", not "easy") all you have to do is get rid of more things than you bring in - lol!

Let us know how the trash plan goes.

I cleared out a few papers from an old file this morning while I was looking for some information. I've been trying to stack little things like that throughout my day.

Barn work break is over - carry on!